Nokea
The Rainforest
The Amazon River Basin is home to the largest rainforest on Earth. The basin -- roughly the size of the forty-eight contiguous United States -- covers some 40% of the South American continent, and portions of eight countries. The basin is drained by the Amazon River, the world's largest river in terms of discharge, and the second longest river in the world after the Nile.
Since 1970, over 600,000 square kilometers (232,000 square miles) of Amazon rainforest have been destroyed. This deforestation is mainly due to land clearing for pastureland by commercial and speculative interests, misguided government policies, and commercial exploitation of forest resources.
Deforestation of the rainforest has long-term implications. The loss of habitat for many creatures ensures their extinction. The loss of vegetation depletes the oxygen in the atmosphere, which some say causes global warming.
Which statement is a fact rather than an opinion?
- A. Deforestation causes global warming.
- B. The rainforest is essential to life on Earth.
- C. South American countries must stop deforestation of the rainforest immediately.
- D. Over 600,000 square kilometers (232,000 square miles) of Amazon rainforest have been destroyed since 1970.
Correct Answer: D
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Option D states a measurable fact: 'A vast amount of square mileage of Amazon rainforest has been destroyed since 1970,' supported by the specific figure provided in the passage (over 600,000 square kilometers or 232,000 square miles). The other options express opinions or interpretations about the consequences of deforestation rather than stating factual information. It is crucial for students to differentiate between facts, which are objective and verifiable, and opinions, which are subjective beliefs or interpretations.
You may also like to solve these questions
Select the meaning of the underlined word in the sentence: The child developed a labile condition that worried the parents, so they brought the child to the doctor's office for a checkup.
- A. Fevered
- B. Volatile
- C. Stomach
- D. Vision
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B, 'Volatile.' In this context, 'labile' means prone to change rapidly or unpredictably, similar to the meaning of 'volatile.' The child's condition was unstable and fluctuating, causing concern to the parents. 'Fevered' (choice A) refers specifically to having a fever, 'Stomach' (choice C) relates to the abdomen area, and 'Vision' (choice D) pertains to sight, none of which capture the intended meaning of 'labile' in the sentence.
Exams
Subjective exams measure your ability in several areas. Besides recall information, you must be able to organize content logically and intelligently express yourself in a clearly understood manner. Subjective tests provide a greater opportunity for students to show their broad knowledge of a subject area. Answers may be in the form of paragraphs or lengthy essays.
When you review for an essay exam, concentrate on main ideas rather than details. Since essay tests are limited to a few questions, they are likely to deal with more important ideas of a subject. Prepare a list of questions that you think might be asked. Write an answer to each of your questions. Rather than writing complete sentences, jot down your thoughts in outline form. Doing so will help you organize the information so that you can express yourself clearly.
When you take the test, read through all the questions before you start to write. Allot time for each question, allowing more time for questions worth the most points. Read each question carefully to determine exactly what is being asked. Pay attention to words such as define, illustrate, explain, list, compare, and contrast. Each word requires a different type of response.
Compared to objective exams, essay tests contain
- A. no good answers.
- B. more questions.
- C. harder questions.
- D. fewer questions.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Essay tests are limited to a few questions, focusing on the more important ideas of a subject. This means they contain fewer questions compared to objective exams, which typically cover a wider range of topics and have more questions. The passage emphasizes that essay tests require students to organize their thoughts and express themselves clearly, indicating a deeper examination of essential concepts rather than a larger quantity of questions.
Nurseries: If you thought nurseries were just for babies, well, think again! Being special kinds of farms, nurseries are used to raise plants in mass quantities. Plants, trees, and shrubs are typically grown in nurseries and then sold to farmers and gardeners to plant in homes, businesses, and farms. Most nurseries are found in the more rural parts of the country because much land is required to have a viable nursery. If a nursery sells plants to others, it must obtain a special permit from the local city or county, which keeps the competition fair and does not saturate the market with a large number of nurseries selling similar products.
Also on the grounds of nurseries are greenhouses which are made of glass or plastic panes that protect the plants from weather elements that may harm them and cause them not to grow and develop. The glass panels in greenhouses allow for sunlight to enter and moisture to be trapped inside. This creates a tropical environment which allows orchids and poinsettias to grow. It ensures that vegetables and fruits will grow large, which makes them valuable to farmers.
Nurseries are
- A. Places to care for infants.
- B. Special kinds of farms used to raise plants.
- C. Found only in rural areas.
- D. Used to grow vegetables and fruits.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Special kinds of farms used to raise plants. The passage explicitly states that nurseries are farms used to raise plants in mass quantities such as plants, trees, and shrubs. This is reinforced by the description of nurseries being special kinds of farms and selling plants to farmers and gardeners.
Choice A is incorrect because nurseries are not places to care for infants, as mentioned in the passage. Choice C is incorrect as nurseries are found in rural parts but not exclusively. Choice D is incorrect as the passage mentions that vegetables and fruits are grown in greenhouses on the grounds of nurseries, but the primary purpose of nurseries is to raise plants in mass quantities.
Electrocardiogram
The rhythmic sounds of "beep... beep... beep..." signify the measurement of the heart muscle's strength. This rhythmic signal varies from person to person and is recorded as an electrocardiogram (ECG). Within the body, a complex array of systemic neural responses generates electric currents that can be detected on the skin's surface. When a person is connected to an amplifier, these impulses are captured by an electrocardiograph. Most of the information gathered pertains to the heart, as it emits electric currents in waves. This "wave of excitation" propagates through the heart wall and is associated with electrical changes. The process occurs in three distinct phases. First, the "wave of excitation," accompanied by an electrical change, lasts for about 1 to 2 seconds following the contraction of the cardiac muscle. These electrical impulses are rhythmically discharged from the sinoatrial (SA) node, which acts as the heart's natural pacemaker, signaling the atrium to contract. The peak of the ECG reading is attributed to the atrioventricular (AV) node, which triggers the excitation of the ventricles. Finally, as the ventricles relax, any changes in the wave pattern can alert trained medical personnel to potential abnormalities within the heart.
What is the best summary of the passage?
- A. Electric currents within the body are due to electrostatic charges set off by the heart. Medical staff are trained to recognize any abnormalities within the heart.
- B. Every individual has unique electric currents on the surface of the body. The ECG measures and records these electric currents.
- C. The ECG systematically and rather quickly measures the stages at which the "wave of excitation" occurs within the heart and records them. This wave has three distinct steps that spread from the SA node to the AV node.
- D. The ECG measures the electric currents within the body. These currents are detected on the surface of the body when the body is connected to an amplifier.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C because it accurately summarizes the passage by highlighting that the ECG systematically measures the stages of the 'wave of excitation' within the heart. This wave has three distinct steps that spread from the SA node to the AV node. The other options either focus on general information about electric currents or do not capture the specific details provided in the passage about the ECG and the heart's electrical activity.
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 bodyĆ¢Ä‚¬Ä„¢s cardiovascular system. The bodyĆ¢Ä‚¬Ä„¢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 bodyĆ¢Ä‚¬Ä„¢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 along the arterial walls and send out messages in response to stretching.
- 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, regulating the flow of oxygen to all cells and removing waste products.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because the statement incorrectly describes baroreceptors as rigid and static nerve endings when, in fact, they are stretch receptors composed of fine branching nerve endings. The passage clearly states that baroreceptors are stretch receptors along the arterial walls that send messages in response to stretching, not rigid and static. Choices B, C, and D are all accurate details from the passage regarding chemoreceptors, the kidneys' role in regulating blood pressure, and the heart's function in oxygen transport and waste removal, respectively.