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Glass
I wonder who first discovered glass. This commodity has been a part of civilization from the very beginning. Imagine a world without glass! How dark and dismal it would be. No windows, corrective lenses, telescopes, microscopes, cameras, sparkly drinking containers or mirrors. Life would not be the same without this wonderful discovery. Thank you, whoever found glass!
Glass is not an element, but a combination of several elements. It is a hard, brittle, transparent solid material composed mainly of silica, with additives to change the character of the glass. Common additives are soda, lime, lead, and boron. Each additive changes the properties of the final product. Soda and lime are the most common additives, accounting for about 90% of glass production. Adding lead increases reflectivity, causing the glass to "sparkle." The addition of boron changes the thermal and electrical properties of glass, allowing cookware that can be used in the oven without shattering.
What statement is a fact stated in the article?
- A. Glass isnÄ€™t an element, but a combination of several elements.
- B. Glass is the most important material in modern technology.
- C. Glass can only be used in decorative items.
- D. Glass is naturally occurring and needs no processing.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: 'Glass isnÄ€™t an element, but a combination of several elements.' This statement is a factual detail mentioned in the article provided. It explains that glass is not an element itself but is made up of various elements like silica, soda, lime, lead, and boron. These additives are used to alter the properties of the glass. The article clearly states that glass is not an element, but rather a composite material. The other options are incorrect based on the information given in the article. Glass is not limited to decorative items, it has various practical uses in technology, and it is not naturally occurring but manufactured through specific processes.
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Mr. Rogers' Biography
"It's a wonderful day in the neighborhood!" This familiar line always began the Mister Rogers' Neighborhood program on PBS. The amazing Fred Rogers brought a special message to children around the world. He believed that each person is unique and wonderful in his or her own way and we should accept others just the way they are without trying to change or improve them. Mr. Rogers spread his tolerance message far and wide through the daily broadcasts of his television show, his many books, and finally after his retirement through his website specifically designed for children. Through these venues, Mr. Rogers helped children deal with the real world things that bothered them, such as doctor visits, haircuts, and new siblings.
Fred Rogers left a legacy of kindness, acceptance, and an unending love of learning for all generations
According to the passage, what did Fred Rogers believe in?
- A. Uniformity
- B. Conformity
- C. Uniqueness
- D. Obedience
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Fred Rogers believed in uniqueness, as stated in the passage. He advocated that each person is unique and wonderful in their own way, promoting acceptance without trying to change or improve others. This aligns with the message of embracing individuality and diversity, rather than conformity or uniformity. Therefore, the correct answer is C: 'Uniqueness'.
Blood Pressure
Lub-dub! Lub-dub! Lub-dub! This sound is made by the rapid contracting and extending of the chamber doors on the inside of the heart. This ventricular contracting injects roughly 70 mL of blood into a vascular system with a given volume at differing pressure. Blood pressure refers to the pressure in the arterial system; and it is typically taken in the brachial artery of the arm because the pressure at different places along the circulatory route is different. Blood pressure is simply the force that the blood exerts in all directions within any given area and is the basis for the movement of blood from the heart, through the body, and back to the heart. This pressure is commonly expressed as a ratio of the systolic pressure over the diastolic pressure. The systolic pressure or “high peak†pressure takes place within the arterial system as ventricles contract and force blood into the arteries. The diastolic pressure or “low peak†pressure takes place within this arterial system just before the next ventricular contraction. An increase in blood pressure can occur if the arterial walls lose some of their elasticity with age or disease.
Which is the best summary of this passage?
- A. The heart pumps roughly 70 mL of blood by rapidly contracting and extending the chamber doors of the heart. Disease and age affect the pressure of blood on arterial walls.
- B. The brachial artery of the arm is usually used to take blood pressure, although the pressure is different in different parts of the body.
- C. The measurement of the ratio of systolic pressure over the diastolic pressure is known as blood pressure.
- D. The force that blood exerts on arterial walls is known as blood pressure and is measured as a ratio of the systolic pressure or "high peak" over the diastolic pressure or "low peak"
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct summary of the passage is that blood pressure is the force exerted by blood on arterial walls, measured as a ratio of systolic pressure over diastolic pressure. This summary encapsulates the key points discussed in the passage, including the definition of blood pressure, its measurement, and the role of systolic and diastolic pressures. The other options either focus on specific details or do not encompass the main concept of blood pressure as explained in the passage.
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.
According to the passage, which statement is false?
- A. Puffy, cotton clouds are the result of a heating process.
- B. The compound for a single drop of water is H2O.
- C. Lake water is produced as a result of the runoff.
- D. Water is an essential element for living things.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The passage explains that puffy, cotton clouds are formed by condensation, not by a heating process. Therefore, statement A is false. The other statements (B, C, and D) are true according to the information provided in the passage. The compound for a single drop of water is indeed H2O, runoff contributes to the production of lake water, and water is essential for living things as stated in the passage.
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.
Which statement best describes the importance of the sugars produced during photosynthesis?
- A. They increase the water content in the air
- B. They are used by plants for energy and growth
- C. They help to cool the plant leaves
- D. They attract insects for pollination
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Choice B, 'They are used by plants for energy and growth,' best describes the importance of the sugars produced during photosynthesis. The sugars serve as the primary source of energy for plants, fueling their metabolic processes and providing the necessary building blocks for growth and development. While water content in the air, cooling of plant leaves, and insect attraction are all relevant processes in plants, the primary function of the sugars produced during photosynthesis is to support the plant's energy needs and growth.
Homonyms: 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 'Our'. This word, spelled 'one' means the numeral 1, an amount. If spelled 'won,' it means to be victorious. Now words 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.
What inference can be drawn from the article?
- A. English should be learned by all people.
- B. Spelling is an easy skill to learn.
- C. Spell check' should be used by all computer users.
- D. English is a difficult language to master.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: English is a difficult language to master. The rationale behind this is based on the content of the article, which highlights the challenges of learning English, particularly in relation to homonyms. The article mentions that homonyms, words that sound alike but are spelled differently with different meanings, pose a challenge for English speakers and learners. It emphasizes that mastering words' spelling can be difficult. This indicates that English is not an easy language to learn, as highlighted by the complexities of homonyms and spelling variations.
Choice A is incorrect because the article does not explicitly state that English should be learned by all people. Choice B is incorrect as the article emphasizes that spelling, especially with homonyms, is a difficult skill to master. Choice C is incorrect as the article does not focus on the use of spell check programs but rather on the challenges of spelling and homonyms in English.