Nokea
Have you ever found yourself staring at the ceiling at 2:00 a.m.? Have you kicked the blankets off to the floor from tossing and turning? Many longtime suffers of Insomnia know these situations all too well. As many as 17% of Americans find the restful break of sleep hard to achieve.
Lack of sleep affects intellectual abilities at work or school by causing a deficit in memory, attention, and concentration which in turn creates a feeling of irritation or depression. Chronic insomnia can result from a medical illness, a psychiatric condition, or from sleep apnea, a condition where an individual actually stops breathing during sleep. Sleep hygiene, developing good sleep habits, and non- pharmacological therapies such as herbs and spices are some solutions to Insomnia.
When the author wrote this passage, what was his/her intent?
- A. To be a satire for those with insomnia.
- B. To convince readers that insomnia is not a real medical condition.
- C. To explain insomnia and propose some solutions for the condition.
- D. To suggest ways to heal insomnia.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The passage is factual and aims to inform readers about insomnia, its effects, and possible solutions. The tone is educational rather than satirical, and the intent seems to be to explain the condition and propose non-pharmacological remedies. By discussing the impact of insomnia on intellectual abilities and suggesting solutions like sleep hygiene and non-pharmacological therapies, the author's main goal is to provide information and potential strategies for managing insomnia.
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Linking San Francisco to Marin County in California, the Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most famous bridges in the world. The bridge crosses over a narrow strait which connects the Pacific Ocean to San Francisco Bay. Prior to the bridge, people traveled by ferry boat across the strait.
Although most people thought a bridge was necessary to expedite travel, some residents of the
bay area felt the risk of building the bridge was too great. Joseph Strauss believed that nothing was impossible, and dreams would never come to fruition if risks weren't taken. So, he decided to gather the best and brightest builders, architects, and workers to embark on the challenge of
building a bridge across the Golden Gate Strait. With safety nets in place, the construction began in 1937. Building the anchorages first, the
builders then move on to the towers on each end, and then to the three-foot thick cables to support the suspension bridge. Lastly, workers labored to complete the roadway which became
the most dangerous and treacherous part of the entire task. The builders had to keep the bridge
balance, so it wouldn't fall into the bay.
Today, over sixty-five years later, the bridge remains a life-line for the people of the San Francisco Bay Area.
What body of water does the Golden Gate Bridge cross?
- A. San Francisco Bay
- B. Pacific Ocean
- C. Marin Strait
- D. Golden Gate Strait
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The Golden Gate Bridge crosses over the Golden Gate Strait, linking San Francisco to Marin County in California. The strait connects the Pacific Ocean to San Francisco Bay. It is essential to understand the specific geography of the area to correctly identify the body of water crossed by the bridge. Therefore, the correct answer is D, Golden Gate Strait.
Doppler Effect
Have you ever wondered why the whistle of a traveling, distant locomotive predicts its approach several yards before anyone actually sees it? Or why an oncoming ambulanceÄ€™s screaming siren is heard momentarily several feet before the ambulance comes into full view, before it passes you, and why its siren is still heard faintly well after the ambulance is out of sight?
What you are witnessing is a scientific phenomenon known as the Doppler Effect. What takes place is truly remarkable. In both of these instances, when the train or ambulance moves toward the sound waves in front of it, the sound waves are pulled closer together and have a higher frequency. In either instance, the listener positioned in front of the moving object hears a higher pitch. The ambulance and locomotive are progressively moving away from the sound waves behind them, causing the waves to be farther apart and to have a lower frequency. These fast-approaching modes of transportation distance themselves past the listener, who hears a lower pitch.
What is the author's primary purpose in discussing the Doppler Effect in this essay?
- A. To entertain the reader with information about trains and ambulances
- B. To inform the reader about avoiding accidents involving trains and ambulances
- C. To inform the reader about how movement affects sound
- D. To analyze the difference between train and ambulance sounds
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The author's primary purpose in writing the essay about the Doppler Effect is to inform the reader about how movement affects sound. The essay explains the scientific phenomenon of the Doppler Effect and how it influences the perception of sound when objects like trains and ambulances are in motion. The focus is on how the movement of these objects toward or away from the listener alters the frequency and pitch of the sound waves. The essay aims to educate the reader on this specific aspect of physics rather than entertain or analyze differences between train and ambulance sounds.
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 has been added to the basic design of the bicycle?
- A. Gears and hand-operated brakes
- B. Electric motors and GPS systems
- C. Air conditioning and heated seats
- D. Folding frames and built-in speakers
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Gears and hand-operated brakes. Over the years, the basic design of the bicycle has evolved through various innovations and improvements. Gears and hand-operated brakes were added to enhance the efficiency, speed, and safety of bicycles. These additions have significantly contributed to making bicycles more versatile and practical for both recreation and transportation purposes. Electric motors and GPS systems, air conditioning and heated seats, as well as folding frames and built-in speakers are not traditional features found in the basic design of bicycles.
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.
What would likely happen if chlorophyll was absent in plants?
- A. The rate of photosynthesis would increase
- B. Plants would not be able to capture light energy effectively
- C. Plants would produce more oxygen
- D. The Calvin cycle would be more efficient
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: If chlorophyll was absent in plants, they would not be able to capture light energy effectively. Chlorophyll is the pigment responsible for absorbing sunlight, a crucial step in the process of photosynthesis. Without chlorophyll, plants would lack the ability to convert light energy into chemical energy, leading to a significant impairment or cessation of photosynthesis. This would ultimately hinder the production of sugars, oxygen release, and overall plant growth and survival.
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 information is given in the paragraph?
- A. Ernest Hemingway did not like circuses.
- B. The Romans staged extravaganzas.
- C. "Circus" is an Italian word.
- D. The costumes of the clowns are outrageous.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The passage directly mentions the historical connection between the Romans and large-scale entertainment spectacles, stating: 'The Romans were famous for their extravaganzas in the Coliseum.' This sentence clearly refers to the Roman tradition of hosting grand and elaborate events, which aligns with the idea of 'staging extravaganzas.' The paragraph does not provide information about Ernest Hemingway's personal opinion on circuses, the linguistic origin of the word 'circus,' or the specific nature of clown costumes.