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There are historical references to animal displays and athletic competitions from the earliest days of civilization.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 sentiment does the author convey about the circus?
- A. Encourages avoiding the experience.
- B. Suggests attending a circus.
- C. States that only children can enjoy the experience.
- D. Believes the experience is too intense for children.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The author expresses a positive sentiment toward the circus, emphasizing its enchanting qualities and ability to captivate individuals of all ages. The text conveys a sense of admiration for the circus experience, as seen in phrases like 'Everyone loves a circus!' and 'It allows us all to be a child again.' These lines indicate the author's fondness for the circus and encourage others to partake in its enjoyable offerings.
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Blood Pressure Regulators The body is composed of systems that have evolved and diversified in order to maintain the natural functions and processes they regulate. One such system that has these regulators is the body’s cardiovascular system. The body’s pump, which regulates the flow of vitally needed oxygen to all cells of the body, as well as the discard of carbon dioxide and other waste products, is the heart. Because blood pressure varies at different points within the body, differing components are needed to keep the body’s blood pressure regulated. Three of the basic components are baroreceptors, chemoreceptors, and the kidneys. Baroreceptors are stretch receptors composed of fine branching nerve endings and are contained along the walls of the arteries near the heart and in other areas of the body as well. Impulses are related to this stretching along the arterial walls, which causes these baroreceptors to send out even more impulses to the heart, arteries, and veins, causing the blood pressure to go either up or down. Chemoreceptors are located along the walls of the arteries and monitor changes in oxygen level, carbon dioxide, and pH. Just think! A fall in oxygen causes receptors to send impulses to raise the blood pressure. The kidneys play a role in regulating blood pressure by absorbing salts and water and removing wastes. Hormones secreted by the adrenal cortex cause the kidney to keep or let go of any salt and water. This has an influence on blood volume and consequently on blood pressure.
What is a major difference in the way baroreceptors and chemoreceptors work from the way the kidneys work?
- A. Baroreceptors and chemoreceptors both work within the walls of the arteries sending out impulses to raise or lower blood pressure, whereas the kidneys help control blood volume.
- B. Baroreceptors and chemoreceptors both work to help maintain blood volume, whereas the kidneys take care of salts, water, and waste removal.
- C. Baroreceptors and chemoreceptors must work together to control blood pressure, whereas the kidneys work with the adrenal cortex.
- D. Baroreceptors and chemoreceptors are both located near the adrenal cortex, whereas the kidneys are located near the heart.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The major difference in the way baroreceptors and chemoreceptors work compared to the kidneys is that baroreceptors and chemoreceptors are involved in regulating blood pressure by sending impulses within the walls of the arteries to adjust blood pressure levels. On the other hand, the kidneys play a role in controlling blood volume by absorbing salts and water and removing wastes. While baroreceptors and chemoreceptors focus on immediate blood pressure adjustments, the kidneys influence blood pressure indirectly through their impact on blood volume. Therefore, option A correctly highlights this key distinction by emphasizing the roles of baroreceptors, chemoreceptors, and kidneys in the body's regulatory mechanisms.
It is a well-known fact that it takes the Earth approximately 365 days to orbit the Sun. At the same time, the Earth revolves or spins around itself over the course of 24 hours, which explains why we experience day and night. One half of the Earth is always facing the Sun, while the other half is facing away. As a result, different time zones divide the globe. Moving suddenly from one time zone to another, such as when flying from Asia to North America, can cause jet lag. People often feel tired, wake up suddenly during the night, and cannot return to sleep. It takes time to adjust to a new time zone. Another important factor to consider is the slight tilt of the Earth toward the Sun. The Earth does not stand straight but leans slightly to one side. Therefore, when it revolves around the Sun, the middle part of the Earth is always closer to the Sun and receives more heat. This area is called the equator, and the regions above and below it are known as the tropics. Countries located in the tropics receive a consistent amount of daylight throughout the year, with the Sun rising at 6 AM and setting at 6 PM. In contrast, the tips of the Earth, or the poles, receive hardly any light because they are so far from the Sun. There are two main seasons at the poles: 6 months of summer, when the Sun is always shining (even at night), and 6 months of winter, characterized by constant darkness. Between the tropics and the poles lies the temperate zone, where there are four distinct seasons. The Sun rises and sets at different times throughout the year. In spring and summer, it gets light earlier; in fall and winter, it gets dark earlier. People living in temperate zones take advantage of this variation to maximize their daylight exposure. At the beginning of spring, countries in Europe and North America readjust their clocks by moving them an hour ahead. As a result, the Sun does not set around 7 or 8 PM as usual, but an hour later. This practice is called Daylight Savings Time (DST) and lasts until the beginning of fall, when people move their clocks back one hour to Standard or Regular Time. It is believed that Benjamin Franklin first suggested the introduction of Daylight Savings Time in the 18th century, but the first serious proposal came in 1907 from William Willet. However, his idea was shelved by the British government, which deemed it unnecessary. Daylight Savings Time was first implemented by the German government in 1916 in order to save energy during World War I. Shortly after, the United Kingdom followed suit, with the United States doing the same in 1918. The law was unpopular, as people had to wake up earlier, leading many to experience a feeling similar to jet lag. However, the energy crisis of the 1970s forced the U.S. to establish Daylight Savings Time as law. Studies showed that the introduction of Daylight Savings Time in the spring saved the U.S. 10,000 barrels of oil per day between 1974 and 1975. It also prevented 2,000 traffic injuries and 50 traffic-related deaths, saving the country $28 million. Currently, Americans switch to Daylight Savings Time on the first Sunday in April and revert to Standard Time on the last Sunday in October. As of 2007, the time adjustments occur even earlier in March and November.
Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage?
- A. The cause of jet lag
- B. The amount of daylight at the tropics
- C. Why the time readjustment will happen
- D. Why the British government refused Daylight Savings Time
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The passage discusses various aspects related to time zones, Earth's movement, and Daylight Savings Time. The cause of jet lag is mentioned, explaining how sudden changes in time zones can disrupt sleep patterns. The amount of daylight at the tropics is also discussed, noting that countries there receive the same amount of daylight consistently. Additionally, the passage explains the reason for the time readjustment due to Daylight Savings Time. However, the passage does not mention why the British government refused Daylight Savings Time, making option D the correct answer.
Health Care's Numbers Game
The game of health care is a risky one. Today emergency rooms are acting as primary care physicians for thousands of patients. This trend produces a vicious cycle of hospitals raising emergency room costs and passing that increase along to paying patients, who in turn pass it along to insurance companies, who in turn raise rates so even more people cannot afford the premium or the co-payment.
For years, indigent people have used emergency rooms for very minor illnesses rather than seeing an outside doctor, but now emergency rooms are seeing people with insurance, but who cannot afford the co-payment or the deductible for the office visit. If we don't change the way the healthcare game is played, we're all going to lose.
The passage implies that
- A. There is a crisis in numbers management in the healthcare industry.
- B. Primary care physicians should work out of emergency rooms.
- C. Indigent people should not be allowed into emergency rooms.
- D. Insurance companies are getting rich.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The passage discusses the reliance on emergency rooms for primary care, leading to a vicious cycle of rising costs that are passed on to patients and insurance companies. It highlights the financial burden faced by patients who cannot afford co-payments or deductibles, and the subsequent increase in insurance rates. Therefore, the implication is that there is a crisis in numbers management in the healthcare industry, indicating a systemic issue that needs to be addressed to prevent further negative consequences.
The ebb and flow of laughter and silence fills the room as four old friends gather to engage in a
round of Bridge playing. For the beginner, Bridge can be complicated, but with time, effort, and a good teacher, even the novice can become proficient. Composed of two main parts, bidding and playing, Bridge requires the player's undivided attention. The dealer deals the entire deck of playing cards evenly between the for players, with
each person receiving thirteen cards. In the bidding portion of the game, the four suits of cards in the deck are ranked highest to lowest as follows: spades, hearts, diamonds, and finally clubs. However, during play all the suits of cards are
considered equals, and they go from highest to lowest from the ace being high to the two cards
being low. The highest number of tricks wins. A trick is one card played by each player for a
total of four. After the lead player lays down his/her card, the other players follow suit, if
possible. The highest card within the four "same suit" cards played wins the trick and picks up all
four cards. If a player cannot follow suit, he/she plays any card, but to make the game more
interesting and challenging, one suit is named a trump suit which means that if a player plays a
card from the trump suit, it always wins the trick. If two cards from the trump suit are played, the
highest card within the trump suit wins the trick. Obviously, the team with the most tricks wins
the hand.
The author wants the reader to feel
- A. As though the game of Bridge is too hard for novices to learn.
- B. Frustrated and confused about playing Bridge.
- C. Confident and excited about learning the game of Bridge.
- D. Overwhelmed by all the rules for the game of Bridge.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The passage describes Bridge as a game that may seem complicated for beginners but can be learned with time, effort, and the guidance of a good teacher. The detailed explanation of the game rules and mechanics is aimed at providing a clear understanding and fostering confidence and excitement about learning Bridge. The mention of how even novices can become proficient with practice and the breakdown of the game's components in a structured manner suggests that the author's intention is to make the reader feel confident and enthusiastic about delving into the world of Bridge.
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.
The information presented is
- A. Slanted in favor of newscasters
- B. Slanted against people with deep voices
- C. Slanted against people with piercing voices
- D. Balanced in its approach
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The information presented in the text is slanted against people with piercing voices. It highlights the negative impact of harsh voice qualities such as being shrill, grating, hard, piercing, brassy, too loud, or too nasal. The text points out that these harsh voice qualities, often due to tension in the throat and jaw, can make a person's voice unpleasant and uncomfortable for others. While it briefly mentions women potentially having shriller voices than men, it does not specifically favor newscasters or target people with deep voices. Therefore, the correct answer is C, as the text focuses on the drawbacks associated with piercing voices.