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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.
Which of the following words is an antonym for the word 'comprised'?
- A. Incorporate
- B. Encompass
- C. Exclude
- D. Embody
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The term 'comprised' means to include or contain. An antonym would be a word that signifies the opposite of including or containing. The correct answer, 'Exclude,' means to leave out or omit, which is the opposite of comprising.
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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.
Foodborne illnesses are contracted by eating food or drinking beverages contaminated with bacteria, parasites, or viruses. Harmful chemicals can also cause foodborne illnesses if they have contaminated food during harvesting or processing. Foodborne illnesses can cause symptoms ranging from upset stomach to diarrhea, fever, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and dehydration. Most foodborne infections are undiagnosed and unreported, though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that every year about 76 million people in the United States become ill from pathogens in food. About 5,000 of these people die. Harmful bacteria are the most common cause of foodborne illness. Some bacteria may be present at the point of purchase. Raw foods are the most common source of foodborne illnesses because they are not sterile; examples include raw meat and poultry contaminated during slaughter. Seafood may become contaminated during harvest or processing. One in 10,000 eggs may be contaminated with Salmonella inside the shell. Produce, such as spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, sprouts, and melons, can become contaminated with Salmonella, Shigella, or Escherichia coli (E. coli). Contamination can occur during growing, harvesting, processing, storing, shipping, or final preparation. Sources of produce contamination vary, as these foods are grown in soil and can become contaminated during growth, processing, or distribution. Contamination may also occur during food preparation in a restaurant or a home kitchen. The most common form of contamination from handled foods is the calicivirus, also called the Norwalk-like virus. When food is cooked and left out for more than two hours at room temperature, bacteria can multiply quickly. Most bacteria don’t produce an odor or change in color or texture, so they can be impossible to detect. Freezing food slows or stops bacteria’s growth but does not destroy the bacteria. The microbes can become reactivated when the food is thawed. Refrigeration also can slow the growth of some bacteria. Thorough cooking is required to destroy the bacteria.
What is the main subject of the passage?
- A. foodborne illnesses
- B. the dangers of uncooked food
- C. bacteria
- D. proper food preparation
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The main subject of the passage is foodborne illnesses, as it extensively covers how they are contracted, symptoms they can cause, common sources of contamination, and preventive measures like thorough cooking. While the text mentions bacteria and proper food preparation as related topics, the primary focus is on foodborne illnesses caused by various contaminants.
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 were 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 were absent in plants, they would not be able to capture light energy effectively. Chlorophyll is the pigment responsible for absorbing light energy during photosynthesis. Without chlorophyll, plants would lack the key component needed to convert light energy into chemical energy, resulting in a significant impairment of the photosynthesis process. This would lead to a decrease in the plant's ability to produce sugars and oxygen, ultimately impacting their growth and survival. Therefore, option B is the correct answer as the absence of chlorophyll would hinder the plant's ability to capture light energy efficiently.
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.
Which statement is not a detail from the passage?
- A. Baroreceptors are stretch receptors composed of fine branching nerve endings that are contained along the arterial walls and send out messages related to stretching along the arterial walls.
- B. Chemoreceptors are located along the walls of the arteries and monitor changes in oxygen level, carbon dioxide, and pH.
- C. The kidneys play a role in regulating blood pressure by absorbing salts and water.
- D. The heart is the body's pump, which regulates the flow of vitally needed oxygen to all cells of the body.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The passage describes baroreceptors as stretch receptors composed of fine branching nerve endings that send out messages related to stretching along the arterial walls. However, the statement in option A incorrectly describes baroreceptors as rigid and static nerve endings. This misrepresentation makes option A the correct answer as it does not align with the details provided in the passage about baroreceptors.
Homophones
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 "One". This word, spelled "one" means the numeral 1, an amount. If spelled "won," it means to be victorious. No wonder 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 conclusion can be drawn from the article?
- A. In order to master English, the student must learn about homonyms.
- B. Learning homonyms is optional for mastering English.
- C. Mastering English requires avoiding homonyms.
- D. Homonyms are not important for learning English.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: 'In order to master English, the student must learn about homonyms.' The article clearly emphasizes the importance of learning about homonyms, which are words that sound alike but are spelled differently and have different meanings. Understanding homonyms is crucial for mastering English, as they can significantly impact the meaning of sentences. Therefore, to become proficient in English, one must grasp the distinctions between homonyms to communicate effectively and avoid misunderstandings.