Nokea
Centuries ago, in the country of Siam, now known as Thailand, it was the custom of the rulers that displeased them by giving the offender a white elephant. Because the animal was could not be made to work as other elephants did, but still had to be fed hundreds of pounds of fruit and cared for in the most lavish style. The recipient could not give the elephant to anyone else, as it was the ruler, who would be greatly displeased should the recipient not receive the gift graciously or care for in a grand style. This monetary burden could be a major liability to the recipient and in many cases they became impoverished. This is the origin of the term "white elephant" as it is used today to denote an unwanted gift. The way of gift exchange played during the holiday season is an offshoot of this. In this game, everyone brings, and the gifts are exchanged by drawing numbers and picking a gift in turn. The second person can choose or steal the first one. It is all in good fun, and people enjoy giving silly gifts and "stealing" someone else.
What is the meaning of the word 'impoverished' in the first paragraph?
- A. Honored
- B. Nobility
- C. Rich
- D. Financially ruined
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The term 'impoverished' means being financially ruined or extremely poor. In the context provided, it describes the situation where the individuals who received a white elephant as a displeasure gift from the rulers ended up in a state of financial hardship due to the burden of caring for the elephant. The other choices ('honored', 'nobility', 'rich') do not accurately reflect the meaning of 'impoverished' in this context, making 'Financially ruined' the correct answer.
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The ability to see at a distance, in good light, does not diminish as a result of aging to the extent
that other visual acuities do. Myopia, or nearsightedness, is more common to younger eyes,
while presbyopia, or farsightedness, more commonly afflicts people as they age. The word
presbyopia comes from Greek presbys, "old man," and opia, "eye," and names a condition in
which, because the lens of the eye hardens slightly and loses elasticity as a person ages, one
cannot as easily focus sharply on nearby objects. This condition leads to the familiar habit of
lifting up one's glasses and bringing an object or reading material close to the face so that the
eyes can more easily focus on it. The function of the lens is to accommodate different focal
points so that sensory data can be correctly directed to the retina for interpretation into images by
the brain. Corrective lenses, particularly bifocals or progressive lenses, adjust for the focal point
aberration. In essence, they do the work that the eye can no longer do for itself.
In the context of the passage, what does the word "accommodate" mean?
- A. Arrange lodging for
- B. Contain
- C. Make allowances for
- D. Excuse
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In the context of the passage, "accommodate" means to adjust or contain different focal points so that sensory data can be correctly directed to the retina for interpretation into images by the brain. It does not refer to arranging lodging for, making allowances for, or excusing something. The function of the lens is to accommodate these different focal points, allowing for clear vision at various distances.
The Water Cycle
Water is needed to sustain practically all life functions on planet Earth. A single drop of this compound is composed of an oxygen atom that shares its electrons with each of the two hydrogen atoms.
The cycle starts when precipitation, such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail, descends from the sky onto the ground. Water that is not absorbed immediately from the precipitation is known as runoff. The runoff flows across the land and collects in groundwater reservoirs, rivers, streams, and oceans.
Evaporation takes place when liquid water changes into water vapor, which is a gas. Water vapor returns to the air from surface water and plants.
Ultimately, condensation happens when this water vapor cools and changes back into droplets of liquid. In fact, the puffy, cotton clouds that we observe are formed by condensation. When the clouds become heavily laden with liquid droplets, precipitation ensues.
What was the author's primary purpose for writing this essay?
- A. To persuade the reader to conserve water
- B. To persuade the reader that runoff is not the best way to collect water
- C. To analyze different types of runoff
- D. To inform the reader about the stages of the water cycle
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D. The essay provides a detailed explanation of the stages of the water cycle, including precipitation, runoff, evaporation, and condensation. The author's primary purpose is to inform the reader about how water moves through the environment in a continuous cycle. This information helps readers understand the importance of water in sustaining life on Earth and how different processes contribute to the distribution and conservation of water resources.
Homophones
English is a vibrant, changing, dynamic language. It allows people to express their thoughts in diverse ways, as there are many synonyms and antonyms to choose from. The hardest part for the English speaker - or those learning English as a second language - is learning about homonyms. These are words that sound alike but are spelled different ways, with different meanings.
One example is "One". This word, spelled "one" means the numeral 1, an amount. If spelled "won," it means to be victorious. No wonder spelling is a difficult skill to master! Other homonyms encountered by the beginning English speaker are "to, two, too," "four, for, fore," "there, their, they're" and "son, sun" to name just a few. This is one reason that "Spell check" programs on word processing computers cannot be completely accurate, because the way a word is spelled depends on the context of the sentence. Proofreaders will always be in demand.
Which statement is a fact rather than an opinion?
- A. Homonyms make learning English more challenging.
- B. Homonyms are the most confusing aspect of English.
- C. Homonyms are words that sound alike but have different meanings and spellings.
- D. Homonyms should be avoided in formal writing.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Choice C, 'Homonyms are words that sound alike but have different meanings and spellings,' is a fact rather than an opinion. This statement provides an objective definition of homonyms, highlighting their characteristic of sounding similar but having distinct meanings and spellings. It does not present a subjective viewpoint or evaluation. Choices A and B express opinions about the difficulty and confusion caused by homonyms, making them subjective statements. Choice D presents a recommendation regarding the use of homonyms in formal writing, reflecting a subjective stance rather than a factual statement.
Lightning Strikes
The old wives' tale of "Lightning never strikes twice" has been proven untrue time and time again. Lightning forms from negative and positive charges within clouds and from the earth below. When these charges react with each other, the air between the cloud and the earth ionizes, which produces a lightning flash. Lightning is actually a series of multiple events consisting of a leader stroke of lightning, followed by as many as 40 smaller strokes of lightning. Being just split seconds apart, these strokes of lightning often reflect off the lining of the clouds.
Lightning rods that extend from above the roof to the ground protect buildings by forming a low resistance path for the lightning so that the lightning does not enter the building, but rather defuses as it penetrates the ground.
Some myths about lightning need to be explained. Lightning does strike tall buildings often, and during a particularly violent storm, a tall building may be hit by lightning several times. The safest place during a thunder and lightning storm is in a metal car or lying flat, face down, in the open, not under a tree as the myth suggests.
Many people believe that thunder and lightning are connected; however, this proves to be true only about 50% of the time, so if you're waiting for the clap of thunder, you're missing out on some exciting strokes of lightning!
Lightning causes injuries, deaths, and forest fires each year. However, some scientists reveal the positive aspects of lightning because it releases nitrogen into the atmosphere which the raindrops then deliver to earth to fertilize our soil.
What is the meaning of the word 'penetrates'?
- A. To shield
- B. To pierce
- C. To cover
- D. To obscure
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: 'To pierce.' To penetrate means to pass into or through something. In the context provided, the sentence 'defuses as it penetrates the ground' suggests that the lightning dissipates or spreads out as it passes through the ground. Therefore, 'pierce' accurately captures the meaning of 'penetrates' in this context.
Nurseries
If you thought nurseries were just for babies, well, think again! Being special kinds of farms, nurseries are used to raise plants in mass quantities. Plants, trees, and shrubs are typically grown in nurseries and then sold to farmers and gardeners to plant in homes, businesses and farms. Most nurseries are found in the more rural parts the country because much land is required to have a viable nursery. If a nursery sells plants to others, it must obtain a special permit from the local city or county, which keeps the competition fair and does not saturate the market with a large number of nurseries selling similar products.
Also on the grounds of nurseries are greenhouses which are made of glass or plastic panes that protect the plants from weather elements that may harm them and cause them not to grow and develop. The glass panels in greenhouses allow for sunlight to enter and moisture to be trapped inside. This creates a tropical environment which allows orchids and poinsettias to grow. It ensures that vegetables and fruits will grow large, which makes them valuable to farmers.
What does 'panel' mean?
- A. A type of decorative fabric used for clothing
- B. A strip of board or other material that forms a section of a wall or door
- C. A tool used for gardening
- D. A piece of software for editing photos
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The term 'panel' refers to a strip of board or other material that forms a section of a wall or door. In the context provided, the glass panels in greenhouses are specifically mentioned, indicating that 'panel' is used to describe a part of a structure that allows sunlight to enter and protects plants from weather elements. This definition aligns most closely with choice B, making it the correct answer.