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Cystic fibrosis is a disease that is passed down through families. It is caused by a defective gene
that makes the body produce abnormally thick and sticky fluid, called mucus. This mucus builds
up in the breathing passages of the lungs and in the pancreas. The buildup of mucus results in
life-threatening lung infections and serious digestion problems. The disease may also affect the
sweat glands and a man's reproductive system. Millions of Americans carry a CF gene, but do
not have symptoms. This is because a person with CF must inherit two defective genes, one from
each parent. About 1 in 29 Caucasian Americans have the CF gene. It is more common among
those of northern or central European descent. Most children with CF are diagnosed by age 2.
For a small number, the disease is not detected until age 18 or older. These children often have a
milder form of the disease.
Which of the following describes the purpose of the passage?
- A. Describing the causes of cystic fibrosis
- B. Explaining how cystic fibrosis is passed down through families
- C. Providing an overview of the causes of CF and how it is carried
- D. Reviewing why some Americans have CF, but others do not
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The passage serves the purpose of providing an overview of cystic fibrosis, including its causes and how it is inherited. It explains the genetic aspect of the disease and how it is passed down through families, emphasizing the need to inherit two defective genes to develop CF. The passage touches on the prevalence of the CF gene in the population and the age at which most children are diagnosed. Therefore, choice C, 'Providing an overview of the causes of CF and how it is carried,' best encapsulates the purpose of the passage.
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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.
What was the author's intention when writing this passage?
- A. Developing good sleep habits and using herbs and spices.
- B. To explain insomnia and propose some solutions for the condition.
- C. Watching television before bed.
- D. Taking frequent naps during the day.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because the author's intention in the passage is to explain insomnia and provide solutions for the condition. The passage discusses the impact of insomnia on intellectual abilities and mentions solutions such as developing good sleep habits, non-pharmacological therapies like herbs and spices, and addressing underlying causes like medical illnesses or psychiatric conditions. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect as they do not accurately reflect the primary focus of the passage, which is to address insomnia and its solutions.
Croatian-born inventor Nikola Tesla is often called the "forgotten scientist". Although he
invented the alternating current (AC) motor and developed an AC electricity generation system, he never received historical credit for many of his achievements, unlike one of his first employer and eventual nemesis, inventor Thomas Edison
Tesla made the first sketches of his idea for a brushless of his idea for a brushless AC motor while he was a student at the University of Prague in 1882. His interest in electricity generation led him to Paris where he was employed by the Continental Edison Company later that year to repair Edison's direct current (DC) power plants. Two years later, Tesla immigrated to New York City and acquired a job as an engineer at
Thomas Edison's headquarters in Manhattan. Edison was impressed with Tesla's work ethic and
ingenuity. He challenged the young scientist to develop an improved design for his DC
generators for $50,000. Tesla experimented for months, finally presenting Edison with the
solution he needed. Edison reneged on the deal, telling Tesla that he didn't understand American humor. Tesla soon left Edison in order to begin his own electric light company
Tesla filed and was granted more than 30 patents for his inventions in 1887 and 1888. He soon
had financial backing for his ideas from one of Edison' main competitors, Westinghouse. In the
1890's Tesla experimented with x-rays, developed a high-voltage electrical transformer call the
Tesla coil, and demonstrated the propagation of radio waves two years before the "Father of
Radio" Guglielmo Marconi. He was also the first to harness the mammoth potential energy of
Niagara Falls. He worked with General Electric to install AC generators with turbines driven by the falling waters of the Niagara River, creating the first modern power plant although a brilliant scientist, Tesla was not an astute businessman. He created his own obscurity by relinquishing
royalty rights for his inventions to major corporations for the purpose of raising funds for future projects.
What is the meaning of the word obscurity as it is used in the last paragraph?
- A. Poverty
- B. Celebrity
- C. Confusion
- D. Insignificance
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The word 'obscurity' in the context of the passage refers to being unknown or in the state of insignificance. Nikola Tesla, despite his significant scientific contributions, did not gain the recognition or fame he deserved due to his decisions to relinquish royalty rights for his inventions. This led to his work being underappreciated and him remaining in obscurity, meaning he was not recognized or valued as he should have been. Therefore, the correct answer is 'Insignificance.'
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.
What is a solution to insomnia?
- A. Developing good sleep habits and using herbs and spices.
- B. Increasing caffeine intake.
- C. Watching television before bed.
- D. Taking frequent naps during the day.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Developing good sleep habits, such as maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, creating a relaxing bedtime routine, and ensuring a comfortable sleep environment, along with using herbs and spices like chamomile or lavender, can help in managing insomnia. These strategies promote better sleep quality, aid in falling asleep faster, and staying asleep longer by relaxing the mind and body before sleep.
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.
Which sound waves have a higher pitch?
- A. Sound waves that are closer together
- B. Sound waves that are farther apart
- C. Sound waves that travel a long distance
- D. Sound waves that travel a short distance
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Sound waves that are closer together. The Doppler Effect explains that when a source of sound is moving towards an observer, the sound waves are compressed, resulting in a higher frequency and thus a higher pitch. This phenomenon occurs when the source of the sound moves closer, causing the waves to be closer together. As the object moves away, the waves stretch out, leading to a lower frequency and a lower pitch. Therefore, sound waves that are closer together have a higher pitch, while those that are farther apart have a lower pitch.
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.
In the passage, a trick is described as
- A. A special look given to your partner across the table
- B. A book that gives strategies on how to win at Bridge
- C. A collection of one card played by each of the four players
- D. A specific card the dealer gives to the person to her right
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In the passage, a trick is defined as a collection of one card played by each of the four players. During gameplay, each player plays one card, and the highest card of the same suit wins the trick. The team with the most tricks wins the hand. Understanding what constitutes a trick is essential in mastering the game of Bridge. It is crucial for players to grasp the concept of a trick to strategize their gameplay effectively and aim to win as many tricks as possible to secure victory in the game.