Nokea
Let's Go to the Circus
Everyone loves a circus! The bright lights, fanciful costumes, and fierce wild animals delight and entertain folks of all ages. The circus calls to the child in each one of us. Ernest Hemingway wrote that it "is the only ageless delight that you can buy for money..."
"Circus" is a magic word inspiring all sorts of exciting, colorful images. It's a theater of mind-boggling feats, elephants thundering around the rings, horses dancing, clowns cavorting and the sequins glittering under the lights.
There are historical references to animal displays and athletic competitions from the earliest days of civilization. The Romans were famous for their extravaganzas in the Coliseum. The shows we see today cannot compare to those great spectacles, but all who go to a circus enjoy the experience. It allows us all to be a child again and watch in awe as the athletes perform on the high wire or control the savage beasts in the center ring.
What seems to be the author's motive for writing the paragraph?
- A. Provide historical facts that are interesting to know.
- B. Berate the reader for not going to the circus.
- C. Encourage people to attend a circus.
- D. Recover the child-like awe for the reader.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The passage emphasizes how the circus 'calls to the child in each one of us' and describes awe-inspiring performances like 'thundering elephants' and 'glittering sequins.' These vivid descriptions aim to evoke a sense of wonder, reminding readers of the magic and excitement associated with childhood. Thus, the author's motive is to rekindle this childlike awe, rather than providing historical facts, scolding the reader, or promoting attendance at a circus.
You may also like to solve these questions
What effect does your voice have on others? Does it persuade or irritate, attract or repel? One of
the worst qualities is harshness. If you ever get the feeling that people are uncomfortable when you speak, it may be that your harsh tones are jarring their eardrums. Your voice will sound
unpleasant if it is shrill, grating, hard, piercing, brassy, to loud, or too nasal. Harsh voice qualities usually come from too much tension in the throat and jaw. Tension tightens muscles and blocks the relaxed voice tones essential to a pleasing impression. Because tension occurs in higher pitched voices, women tend to have shriller voices than men, which usually makes them
less desirable public speakers, newscasters, or political candidates.
What is the main idea presented in this paragraph?
- A. Some men possess harsh voices.
- B. Harsh voices are often associated with relaxed individuals.
- C. Women are perceived as less appealing political candidates due to their shriller voices.
- D. Not everyone is bothered by a harsh voice.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C. The paragraph discusses how women tend to have shriller voices than men, making them less desirable as public speakers, newscasters, or political candidates. It explains that harsh voice qualities usually stem from tension in the throat and jaw, more prevalent in higher-pitched voices like those of women. This suggests that women may face challenges in certain professions due to voice characteristics, impacting their perception as political candidates.
Photosynthesis is a process used by plants, algae, and certain bacteria to convert light energy into chemical energy stored in sugar molecules. This process is fundamental to life on Earth as it provides the primary source of energy for nearly all organisms. The energy is captured from sunlight by a pigment in the plants called chlorophyll, which gives plants their green color.
During photosynthesis, carbon dioxide from the air and water from the soil react in the presence of light to form sugars and oxygen. The oxygen is released into the atmosphere, which is crucial for the survival of most life forms on Earth. The sugars produced are used by the plant for energy and growth, storing excess energy as starch.
The process occurs in two main stages: the light-dependent reactions and the Calvin cycle. In the light-dependent reactions, energy from sunlight is absorbed by chlorophyll and converted into stored chemical energy in the form of ATP and NADPH. The Calvin cycle uses the ATP and NADPH produced in the light-dependent reactions to convert carbon dioxide into glucose.
Photosynthesis not only sustains plant life but also maintains the atmospheric oxygen levels and is a key factor in the carbon cycle, helping to regulate Earth's climate.
Why is photosynthesis important for life on Earth?
- A. It helps plants grow faster
- B. It maintains atmospheric oxygen levels
- C. It increases water availability in the soil
- D. It decreases carbon dioxide levels
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Photosynthesis is crucial for life on Earth because it maintains atmospheric oxygen levels. During photosynthesis, plants, algae, and certain bacteria convert light energy into chemical energy stored in sugars, releasing oxygen into the atmosphere. This oxygen is essential for the survival of most life forms on Earth. While photosynthesis does support plant growth and energy storage, its primary significance lies in its role in oxygen production, which is vital for sustaining life on our planet.
A BIT ABOUT BICYCLES
Today, bicycles are so common that it's hard to believe they haven't always been around. But two hundred years ago, bicycles didn't even exist, and the first bicycle, invented in Germany in 1818, was nothing like our bicycles today. It was made of wood and didn't even have pedals. Since then, however, numerous innovations and improvements in design have made the bicycle one of the most popular means of recreation and transportation around the world. In 1839, Kirkpatrick Macmillan, a Scottish blacksmith, dramatically improved upon the original bicycle design. Macmillan's machine had tires with iron rims to keep them from getting worn down. He also used foot-operated cranks like pedals, so his bicycle could be ridden at a quick pace. It didn't look much like a modern bicycle, though, because its back wheel was substantially larger than its front wheel. In 1861, the French Michaux brothers took the evolution of the bicycle a step further by inventing an improved crank mechanism. Ten years later, James Starley, an English inventor, revolutionized bicycle design. He made the front wheel many times larger than the back wheel, put a gear on the pedals to make the bicycle more efficient, and lightened the wheels by using wire spokes. Although this bicycle was much lighter and less tiring to ride, it was still clumsy, extremely top heavy, and ridden mostly for entertainment. It wasn't until 1874 that the first truly modern bicycle appeared on the scene. (14) Invented by another Englishman, H.J. Lawson, the "safety bicycle" would look familiar to today's cyclists. This bicycle had equal-sized wheels, which made it less prone to toppling over. Lawson also attached a chain to the pedals to drive the rear wheel. With these improvements, the bicycle became extremely popular and useful for transportation. Today they are built, used, and enjoyed all over the world.
What was the author's intention in the text?
- A. Learn about repairing modern bicycles
- B. Understand the history of bicycles
- C. Compare various types of bicycles
- D. Discover the latest bicycle technologies
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Understand the history of bicycles. The passage provides a detailed historical account of the evolution of bicycles over time, from their early designs without pedals to the development of the modern 'safety bicycle.' The author's intention is to educate readers about the origins and transformations in bicycle design, highlighting key innovations and improvements that have shaped bicycles into the popular means of transportation and recreation they are today. The text does not focus on repairing bicycles, comparing different types, or discussing the latest technologies, making these choices incorrect.
Not only the students but also the professor ___ stunned by the test results.
- A. was
- B. were
- C. are
- D. be
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: In this sentence, 'students' and 'professor' are part of a compound subject joined by 'not only...but also,' which makes the subject singular. Since the subjects are singular, the correct verb to use is 'was,' making choice A the correct answer.
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.
Why do they need a special permit?
- A. To ensure that nurseries follow safety regulations.
- B. Too many nurseries mean that there are not enough buyers for the plants that need to be sold.
- C. To control the quality of plants sold in nurseries.
- D. To provide financial assistance to new nursery owners.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Nurseries need a special permit to prevent oversaturation of the market with a large number of nurseries selling similar products. If there are too many nurseries, it can lead to a situation where there are not enough buyers for the plants being produced, which can impact the businesses' sustainability and profitability. By regulating the number of nurseries through permits, the local government aims to maintain a balance between supply and demand in the market.