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A Day with Humpbacks

I sit on the headlands of Neah Bay, Washington, and watch a mother humpback and her calf slip through the icy Pacific waters. I recognize this whale by her distinctive tail pattern, as unique to this humpback as my fingerprints are to me. Once, heavy hunting using harpoons extirpated the species from the region, and only a ban on whaling allowed populations of humpbacks to recover.

As this gray female rises to the surface, she exhales, sending up a spout nearly 20 feet high. She rolls on her side and lifts her scalloped-edge flipper in salute, then slaps it on the water. I adjust my lens and take my shot. This is the only type of whale hunting I find acceptable-hunting with a camera.

What is the main idea conveyed in the passage?

• A. Humpback whales are commonly found in the waters near Washington.
• B. Humpback whale populations have rebounded after nearly being eradicated.
• C. The author has never encountered this specific humpback whale before.
• D. Both cameras and harpoons are utilized for hunting humpback whales.

Egg Replacements in Baking
Eggs are an important staple of many baking recipes. They serve several crucial functions, such as binding, leavening, and providing moisture to the final product. However, some people are unable to consume eggs for a variety of reasons. If you are one of these people, baking can seem daunting. Fortunately, there are several substitutions that will allow you to continue enjoying your delicious treats without using eggs.
Two popular egg replacements are applesauce and banana. These things work well enough to provide moisture to your dessert, but they are suboptimal replacements overall, because providing moisture is only one function of the egg. When using applesauce or banana in place of eggs, you may find that your baked goods crumble or do not rise properly. Luckily, here are other ways to achieve binding and leavening effects that are more similar to those of eggs.

Eggs help emulsify the disparate ingredients of your recipe into one homogenous batter or dough. To achieve this, it is most effective to use something with protein or fat that will bind to the starch. One option is a quarter cup of plain yogurt, sour cream, or buttermilk for each egg- either dairy or non-dairy will work just fine. Another option is ground flax or chia seeds. For each egg, combine 1 tablespoon of ground seeds with 3 tablespoons of warm water and leave the mixture to rest at room temperature for about 10 minutes before using.

Eggs help emulsify the disparate ingredients of your recipe into one homogenous batter or dough. To achieve this, it is most effective to use something with protein or fat that will bind to the starch. One option is a quarter cup of plain yogurt, sour cream, or buttermilk for each egg- either dairy or non-dairy will work just fine. Another option is ground flax or chia seeds. For each egg, combine 1 tablespoon of ground seeds with 3 tablespoons of warm water and leave the mixture to rest at room temperature for about 10 minutes before using.

Either of these options will effectively bind your ingredients. However, if you are baking something that needs to rise, like a cake, you may want to give your dessert a little additional help. In this case, mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda with 1 tablespoon of a neutral-flavored vinegar, such as white or apple cider, and add this mixture alongside the other wet ingredients.

Which one of the following statements is false or misleading based on the given textual evidence?

• A. When using egg alternatives, the substitutes can be vegan or dairy-based.
• B. When using egg alternatives, a proper substitute needs the ability to emulsify.
• C. When using egg alternatives, you do not need to use fat to bind the starch.
• D. When using egg alternatives, people with egg allergies can still enjoy their favorite recipes.

Alice was not scared. Not at all. Maybe a little bit. But she was determined to confront the ghost in her house. Alice lived in a farmhouse built in 1921. All of the floors and doors were original; the doors even had skeleton key locks. But by far the most terrifying part of the house was the basement. She kept that door locked and ignored the thumps, crashes, and cries that came from below the house. What made Alice determined to confront the ghost today was the especially loud crashes the previous night. She'd gotten no sleep, convinced the ghost was going to break through the door and do something horrible. What, she wasn't sure, but the ghost would do something.
Alice hadn't seen the ghost, but what else could be making loud noises in an old house? The one time she had been down in the basement was after buying the house unseen. Once she saw the shelves with old glass jars, she was a little put off. But what made her keep the door shut and locked was the abrupt end of the concrete floor halfway across the room. Because nothing good ever happened in a basement with a dirt floor. Alice had seen enough horror movies to know that.
Alice stared at the basement door, trying to gather enough confidence to open it and march down the stairs like she owned the place. Because she did-or she would, once she finished paying her mortgage in 30 years. Alice took a deep breath and yanked the door open. She marched down the stairs, only to stop abruptly at the bottom. Because she was face to face with not a ghost at all. It was a calico cat, one who looked utterly unimpressed by her brave journey into the basement.

Which of the following would be relevant evidence to conclude the basement has a ghost?

• A. The previous owners said that they had experienced supernatural events as well
• B. The country cemetery is a mile from Alice's house
• C. Alice's horoscope said that she would have an unexpected encounter
• D. There were cobwebs in the corner of the stair leading to the basement

What is all this talk of cicadas lately in the United States? You may be wondering why the media has featured it, but in fact, the discussion about Cicadas has emerged about as predictably as the Cicadas themselves from their underground refuge. Let’s get oriented with some background on Cicadas.
What is a Cicada? A typical definition will at least tell you that a cicada is a large, loud insect with transparent wings, mostly found in warm countries. A more detailed response might also inform you that cicadas have short antennae and wide-set eyes that jut out, with delicate, translucent wings- and not only is the cicada loud, but few creatures make a louder sound. In fact, it is male cicadas that are the noisy ones, to the tune of 80 to 100 decibels, which is like the roar od a loud engine. This is because male cicadas make a strident high buzzing by vibrating two membranes on its abdomen called tymbals, effectively turning its body into a kind of echo chamber or drum. Female cicadas cannot replicate the buzzing, though they respond with a clicking sound when they are ready to mate.
Although there are several species of cicada, mating typically takes place in trees whereafter the female deposits the eggs into the bark. When the eggs hatch, the larval cicadas, called nymphs, drop to the ground and burrow. They then live as nymphs for the most of their lives over 6 feet underground, with both male and female cicadas dying within weeks of their emergence from the soil. This is particularly true for north American cicadas, especially the Magicicada, or periodical cicadas, which regularly emerge in intervals of 13 or 17 years, depending on the species and the location. This is why talk of cicadas in the media is as predictable as their emergence in the U.S.

Which of the following words does the author use to express a derogatory tone?

• A. Noisy
• B. Roar
• C. Predictable
• D. Delicate

Which of the following is the best source to consult for information about the famous Jazz Saxophonist Charlie 'Yardbird' Parker's childhood in Kansas City in the 1940s?

• A. The 'ARTS' section of the 1940 issue of a Kansas City newspaper
• B. Photographs of Jazz Clubs in Kansas City from 1941
• C. A greatest hits album of Charlie Parker's most popular songs
• D. A published magazine interview with Charlie Parker