GRE care: Reading Comprehension Questions and answer Part - 7 [Short Passages]
Short Passages
Question 161 to 209:
161. The main idea of the paragraph is that
a. because fingerprints are so important in many cases, it is important to follow the correct course in taking them.
b. all fingerprints found at a crime scene should be taken and thoroughly investigated.
c. if the incorrect procedure is followed in gathering fingerprints, the ones taken may be useless.
d. the first step in investigating fingerprints is to eliminate those of non-suspects.
162. The paragraph best supports the statement
that
a. no crimes can be solved without readable fingerprints.
b. all persons who have touched an area in a crime scene are suspects.
c. all fingerprints found at a crime scene are used in court as evidence.
d. all persons who have touched a crime- scene area should be fingerprinted.
An ecosystem is a group of animals and plants liv-ing in a specific region and interacting with one another and with their physical environment. Ecosystems include physical and chemical com-ponents, such as soils, water, and nutrients that support the organisms living there. These organ¬isms may range from large animals to micro¬scopic bacteria. Ecosystems also can be thought of as the interactions among all organisms in a given habitat; for instance, one species may serve as food for another. People are part of the ecosys¬tems where they live and work. Human activities can harm or destroy local ecosystems unless actions such as land development for housing or businesses are carefully planned to conserve and sustain the ecology of the area. An important part of ecosystem management involves finding ways to protect and enhance economic and social well-being while protecting local ecosystems.
163. What is the main idea of the passage?
a. An ecosystem is a community that includes animals, plants, and microscopic bacteria.
b. Human activities can do great damage to local ecosystems, so human communities should be cautiously planned.
c. In managing the ecology of an area, it is important to protect both human interests and the interests of other members of local ecosystems.
d. People should remember that they are a part of the ecosystems where they live and work.
164. Which of the following best sums up activities
within an ecosystem?
a. predator-prey relationships
b. interactions among all members
c. human-animal interactions
d. human relationship with the environment
165. An ecosystem can most accurately be defined
as a
a. geographical area.
b. community.
c. habitat.
d. protected environment.
Once people wore garlic around their necks to ward off disease. Today, most Americans would scoff at the idea of wearing a necklace of garlic cloves to enhance their well-being. However, you might find a number of Americans willing to ingest capsules of pulverized garlic or other herbal supplements in the name of health.
Complementary and alternative medicine, which includes a range of practices outside of conventional medicine such as herbs, homeopa-thy, massage therapy, yoga, and acupuncture, hold increasing appeal for Americans. In fact, accord¬ing to one estimate, 42% of Americans have used alternative therapies. In all age groups, the use of unconventional healthcare practices has steadily increased in the last 30 years, and the trend is likely to continue, although people born before 1945 are the least likely to turn to these therapies.
Why have so many patients turned to alter-native therapies? Many are frustrated by the time constraints of managed care and alienated by conventional medicine’s focus on technology. Others feel that a holistic approach to healthcare better reflects their beliefs and values. Others seek therapies that relieve symptoms associated with chronic disease; symptoms that mainstream med-icine cannot treat.
Some alternative therapies have even crossed the line into mainstream medicine, as scientific investigation has confirmed their safety and efficacy. For example, physicians may cur¬rently prescribe acupuncture for pain manage¬ment or to control the nausea associated with chemotherapy.
Additionally, many U.S. medical schools teach courses in alternative therapies, and many health insurance companies offer some alternative medicine benefits.
166. What is the main idea of this passage?
a. Alternative medicine is now a big business in the United States with more Americans seeking it out than ever before.
b. Today, it is not unusual for mainstream doctors to incorporate alternative therapies into their practice.
c. Over the last few decades, alternative medi¬cine has become more popular, accepted, and practiced in the United States.
d. People are tired of conventional medicine’s focus on technology.
167. According to the passage, which practice would not be defined as alternative medicine?
a. pain management
b. acupuncture
c. taking herbal garlic supplements
d. massage therapy
168. Based on the information given, what kind of person would be least likely to seek out alter-native medical treatment?
a. a senior citizen suffering from chemotherapy- induced nausea
b. a young woman suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome
c. a 45-year-old man who believes that his body and mind must be treated together.
d. a 25-year-old track star with chronic back pain
169. The passage indicates that alternative treat-ments are increasingly being used by main-stream medical professionals because
a. more and more Americans are demanding alternative therapies.
b. healthcare insurance companies are now providing some benefits for alternative medical treatments.
c. they are frustrated by the time constraints of managed care.
d. scientific studies are becoming available that prove their effectiveness and safety.
On February 3,1956, Autherine Lucy became the first African-American student to attend the Uni-versity of Alabama, although the dean of women refused to allow Autherine to live in a university dormitory. White students rioted in protest of her admission, and the federal government had to assume command of the Alabama National Guard in order to protect her. Nonetheless, on her first day in class, Autherine bravely took a seat in the front row. She remembers being surprised that the professor of the class appeared not to notice she was even in class. Later, she would appreciate his seeming indifference, as he was one of only a few professors to speak out in favor of her right to attend the university.
For protection, Autherine was taken in and out of classroom buildings by the back door and driven from class to class by an assistant to the university president. The students continued to riot, and one day, the windshield of the car she was in was broken. University officials suspended her, saying it was for her own safety. When her attorney issued a statement in her name protest¬ing her suspension, the university used it as grounds for expelling her for insubordination. Although she never finished her education at the University of Alabama, Autherine Lucy’s courage was an inspiration to African-American students who followed her lead and desegregated univer¬sities all over the United States.
170. According to the passage, what did Autherine
Lucy do on her first day at the University
of Alabama?
a. She moved into a dormitory.
b. She sat in the front row of her class.
c. She became terrified of the white rioters.
d. She was befriended by an assistant to the university president.
171. Based on the information in the passage, which of the following best describes Autherine Lucy?
a. quiet and shy
b. courageous and determined
c. clever and amusing
d. overly dramatic
172. When she began classes at the university, Autherine Lucy expected to
a. stand out from the other students.
b. have the support of the university faculty.
c. join an African-American organization for protection.
d. be ridiculed by the professors.
173. Autherine Lucy never graduated from the University of Alabama because she
a. moved to another state.
b. transferred to another university.
c. dropped out because of pressure from other students.
d. was expelled for insubordination.
174. According to the passage, which of the following is true?
a. The Alabama National Guard is normally under the command of the U.S. Army.
b. In 1956, the only segregated university in the United States was in Alabama.
c. Autherine Lucy was escorted to and from class by the university president’s assistant.
d. A few white students at the university were pleased that Autherine Lucy was a student there.
Kwanzaa is a holiday celebrated by many African Americans from December 26 to January 1. It pays tribute to the rich cultural roots of Ameri¬cans of African ancestry, and celebrates family, community, and culture. Kwanzaa means the first or the first fruits of the harvest and is based on the ancient African first-fruit harvest celebrations. The modern holiday of Kwanzaa was founded in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a professor at the California State University in Long Beach, Cali¬fornia. The seven-day celebration encourages people to think about their African roots as well as their life in present-day America.
The seven fundamental principles on which Kwanzaa is based are referred to as the Nguzo Saba. These rules consist of unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. Partici¬pants celebrate by performing rituals such as light¬ing the kinara. The kinara is symbolic of the continental Africans. Each of its seven candles rep¬resents a distinct principle beginning with unity, the black center candle. Talking with family, drumming, singing, and dancing are all part of the celebration activities.
175. According to the passage, the holiday of Kwan- zaa was created in order to
a. celebrate African Americans’ harvesting skills.
b. honor Dr. Maulana Karenga.
c. encourage African Americans to think about their roots.
d. light the individual candles of the kinara.
176. Which of the seven principles does the black center candle of the kinara represent?
a. unity
b. faith
c. creativity
d. responsibility
177. According to the passage, Kwanzaa is cele-brated by all of the following EXCEPT
a. drumming and rituals.
b. dancing and singing.
c. dialogue.
d. solitude and silence.
178. Which of the following is the best definition of Kwanzaa?
a. the first song of the month
b. the first corn of the harvest
c. the first dance of the night
d. the first fruits of the harvest
In 1519, Hernando Cortez led his army of Span¬ish Conquistadors into Mexico. Equipped with horses, shining armor, and the most advanced weapons of the sixteenth century, he fought his way from the flat coastal area into the mountain¬ous highlands. Cortez was looking for gold, and he was sure that Indian groups in Mexico had mined large amounts of the precious metal. First, he conquered the groups and then seized their precious gold. His methods were very organized.
Initially, Cortez defeated the Tlascalans, and then formed an alliance with them to defeat the Aztecs, their enemies. Because of an Aztec prophecy about the return of Quetzacoatl, a leg-endary god-king who was light skinned and bearded, Cortez was believed to be a god and was received by the Aztecs with honor. Later, this warm welcome turned to mistrust and hatred when the Spaniards mistreated the Aztec people. Eventually, the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan, fell to the Spaniards. Cortez had Tenochtitlan razed and built Mexico City on its ruins.
179. According to the passage, which one of the fol-lowing did NOT cause the defeat of the
Aztecs?
a. The Aztecs initially thought that Cortez was a god.
b. Cortez knew how to form alliances with the Aztecs’ enemies.
c. The Conquistadors had advanced weapons.
d. The Spanish outnumbered the Aztecs.
180. The reader can infer from the passage that the
Aztecs thought Cortez was the god from their
prophecy because
a. he was light skinned and had a beard.
b. he rode a magnificent horse.
c. he spoke a foreign language.
d. he offered friendship.
181. According to the passage, what was Cortez’s
major goal in his exploits?
a. to befriend the Aztecs
b. to get married
c. to return to Spain
d. to gain wealth and power
182. Which of the following sayings should the
Aztecs have heeded?
a. Seeing is believing.
b. Beware of strangers.
c. There’s no place like home.
d. A friend in need is a friend indeed.
Theodore Roosevelt was born with asthma and poor eyesight, yet this sickly child later won fame as a political leader, a Rough Rider, and a hero of the common people. To conquer his handicaps, Teddy trained in a gym and became a lightweight boxer at Harvard. Out west, he hunted buffalo and ran a cattle ranch. Back east, he became a civil service reformer and police commissioner. He became President McKinley’s assistant Navy sec-retary during the Spanish-American War. Also, he led a charge of cavalry Rough Riders up San Juan Hill in Cuba. After achieving fame, he became governor of New York and went on to become the vice president.
When McKinley was assassinated, Theodore Roosevelt became the youngest president at age
42. He is famous for his motto, “Speak softly and carry a big stick.” Roosevelt battled for meat inspection and pure-food laws. Also, he wanted to save the forests and break the grip that big business had on steel and oil. Roosevelt persuaded the diplomats of warring Russia and Japan to make peace.
183. Which of the following states the main idea of the passage?
a. Theodore Roosevelt was a man of many accomplishments.
b. Presidents should speak softly and carry big sticks.
c. Presidents can help countries make peace.
d. A governor can become a president.
184. What achievement illustrates Roosevelt’s abil¬ity to overcome personal obstacles?
a. He led a charge of cavalry Rough Riders in Cuba.
b. He is famous for his motto, “Speak softly and carry a big stick.”
c. He overcame his asthma by training in a gym, and he became a boxer.
d. He became governor of New York.
185. According to the passage, how did Roosevelt first become president?
a. He won the support of his party in a politi¬cal campaign.
b. As vice president, he took over the presi¬dency when McKinley was assassinated.
c. He won the nation’s popular vote.
d. He won the necessary Electoral College votes.
186. He first worked under President McKinley in what capacity?
a. assistant Navy secretary during the Spanish-American War
b. police commissioner
c. governor of New York
d. civil service reformer
Charles Darwin was born in 1809 in Shrewsbury, England. He was a biologist whose famous theory of evolution is important to philosophy for the effect it has had on ideas relating to the nature of men. After many years of careful study, Darwin attempted to show that higher species came into existence as a result of the gradual transformation of lower species, and that the process of trans-formation could be explained through the selec-tive effect of the natural environment upon organisms. He concluded that the principles of natural selection and survival of the fittest govern all life. Darwin’s explanation of these principles is that because of the food supply problem, the young of any species compete for survival. Those young that survive to produce the next generation tend to embody favorable natural changes that are passed on by heredity. His major work that con¬tained these theories is On the Origin of the Species, written in 1859. Many religious oppo-nents condemned this work.
187. According to the passage, Charles Darwin was
which of the following?
a. a priest
b. a biologist
c. an animal trainer
d. a politician
188. Which of the following statements supports
Darwin’s belief about the origin of all species?
a. Man is descended from monkeys.
b. All life forms developed slowly over time from lower life forms.
c. Natural forces do not affect life on Earth.
d. All species were individually created.
189. Darwin’s explanation that the young of any species compete for food and survival, and those that survive are strong and pass their traits on to their young was called which of the following?
a. belief in creationism
b. the catastrophic theory
c. theory of natural selection and survival of the fittest
d. the study of anthropology
190. According to the passage, how was Darwin’s book, On the Origin of the Species, received?
a. Scientists gave their immediate approval of Darwin’s book.
b. Religious opponents condemned Darwin’s book.
c. The world ignored Darwin’s book.
d. Darwin’s book became an immediate bestseller.
The crystal clear, blue water and the magnificent sun make the Caribbean island of Saint Maarten a favorite vacation spot, one that is popular with North Americans during their winter holidays from December through March, as well as with South Americans and Europeans from April through August. The French and Dutch settled on the island in the 1600s, and to this day, the island is divided between the two of them. The French capital is Marigot; the Dutch capital is Philipsburg.
Tourists soon discover that St. Maarten has an intriguing history. Ancient artifacts found on the island date back to the Stone Age, 6,000 years ago! Tourists also learn that 1,200 years ago the Arawak Indians inhabited all the islands of the West Indies and were a peaceful people living under the guidance of their chiefs. Three hundred years after the Arawaks first arrived on St.
Maarten, in the 1300s, they were defeated and forced to abandon the island by a hostile tribe of Indians originating in South America. This new tribe was called the Carib. The Caribbean Sea was named after them. Unlike the Arawaks, they had no permanent chiefs or leaders, except in times of strife. And they were extremely warlike. Worse, they were cannibalistic, eating the enemy warriors they captured. In fact, the very word cannibal comes from the Spanish name for the Carib Indians. The Spanish arrived in the fif¬teenth century and, unfortunately, they carried diseases to which the Indians had no immunity. Many Indians succumbed to common European illnesses; others died from the hard labor forced upon them.
191. One can infer from the passage that the Stone
Age people lived on St. Maarten around the
year
a. 6000 B.C.
b. 4000 B.C.
c. 800 A.D.
d. 1300 A.D.
192. Which of the following is NOT true about the
Carib Indians?
a. The sea was named after them.
b. They were peaceful fishermen, hunters, and farmers.
c. They ate human flesh.
d. They settled after defeating the Arawak Indians.
193. According to the passage, the Carib Indians
were finally defeated by
a. sickness and forced labor.
b. the more aggressive Arawak tribe.
c. the Dutch West India Company.
d. the French explorers.
194. One can infer from the passage that the
underlined word strife means
a. cannibalism.
b. war.
c. duty-free.
d. chief.
195. According to the article, present-day St.
Maarten
a. belongs to the Spanish.
b. is independent.
c. is shared by the French and the Dutch.
d. is part of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
A metaphor is a poetic device that deals with comparison. It compares similar qualities of two dissimilar objects. With a simple metaphor, one object becomes the other: Love is a rose. Although this does not sound like a particularly rich image, a metaphor can communicate so much about a particular image that poets use them more than any other type of figurative language. The reason for this is that poets compose their poetry to express what they are experiencing emotionally at that moment. Consequently, what the poet imagines love to be may or may not be our per-ception of love. Therefore, the poet’s job is to enable us to experience it, to feel it the same way that the poet does. We should be able to nod in agreement and say, “Yes, that’s it! I understand precisely where this person is coming from.” Let’s analyze this remarkably unsophisti¬cated metaphor concerning love and the rose to see what it offers. Because the poet uses a com¬parison with a rose, first we must examine the characteristics of that flower. A rose is spectacu¬lar in its beauty, its petals are velvety soft, and its aroma is soothing and pleasing. It’s possible to say that a rose is actually a veritable feast to the senses: the visual, the tactile, and the aural [more commonly known as the senses of sight, touch, and sound]. The rose’s appearance seems to bor¬der on perfection, each petal seemingly symmet¬rical in form. Isn’t this the way one’s love should be? A loved one should be a delight to one’s senses and seem perfect. However, there is another dimension added to the comparison by using a rose. Roses have thorns. This is the com¬prehensive image the poet wants to communi¬cate; otherwise, a daisy or a mum would have been presented to the audience as the ultimate representation of love—but the poet didn’t, instead conveying the idea that roses can be treacherous. So can love, the metaphor tells us. When one reaches out with absolute trust to touch the object of his or her affection, ouch, a thorn can cause great harm! “Be careful,” the metaphor admonishes: Love is a feast to the senses, but it can overwhelm us, and it can also hurt us. It can prick us and cause acute suffering. This is the poet’s perception of love—an admo¬nition. What is the point? Just this: It took almost 14 sentences to clarify what a simple metaphor communicates in only five words! That is the artistry and the joy of the simple metaphor.
196. The main idea of this passage is
a. poetic devices are necessary for poets.
b. poetry must never cater to the senses.
c. always use words that create one specific image.
d. the metaphor is a great poetic device.
197. It can be inferred that a metaphor is
a. a type of figurative language.
b. the only poetic device.
c. not precise enough.
d. a type of flower in a poem.
198. According to the passage, thorns
a. protect the rose from harm.
b. reduce the ability to love another.
c. add a new element to the image of love.
d. are just more images to compare to a rose.
199. It can be inferred that the true meaning of the
love is a rose metaphor is that
a. love is a true joy.
b. love comes only once in a lifetime.
c. love is never permanent.
d. love is a combination of good and bad experiences.
200. According to the passage, the poet’s
intention is
a. to release anger.
b. to announce heartache.
c. to enable you to experience the poet’s point of view.
d. to reward the senses.
The composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s remarkable musical talent was apparent even before most children can sing a simple nursery rhyme. Wolfgang’s older sister Maria Anna (who the family called Nannerl) was learning the clavier, an early keyboard instrument, when her three-year-old brother took an interest in playing. As Nannerl later recalled, Wolfgang “often spent much time at the clavier picking out thirds, which he was always striking, and his pleasure showed that it sounded good.” Their father Leopold, an assistant concertmaster at
the Salzburg Court, recognized his children’s unique gifts and soon devoted himself to their musical education.
Born in Salzburg, Austria, on January 27, 1756, Wolfgang had composed his first original work by age five. Leopold planned to take Nan- nerl and Wolfgang on tour to play before the European courts. Their first venture was to nearby Munich where the children played for Maximillian III Joseph, elector of Bavaria. Leopold soon set his sights on the capital of the Hapsburg Empire, Vienna. On their way to Vienna, the family stopped in Linz, where Wolf¬gang gave his first public concert. By this time, Wolfgang was not only a virtuoso harpsichord player, but he had also mastered the violin. The audience at Linz was stunned by the six-year-old, and word of his genius soon traveled to Vienna. In a much anticipated concert, the Mozart chil-dren appeared at the Schonbrunn Palace on October 13, 1762. They utterly charmed the emperor and empress.
Following this success, Leopold was inun¬dated with invitations for the children to play, for a fee. Leopold seized the opportunity and booked as many concerts as possible at courts throughout Europe. A concert could last three hours, and the children played at least two per a day. Today, Leopold might be considered the worst kind of stage parent, but at the time, it was not uncommon for prodigies to make extensive concert tours. Even so, it was an exhausting sched¬ule for a child who was just past the age of need-ing an afternoon nap.
201. A good title for this passage would be
a. Classical Music in the Eighteenth Century: An Overview.
b. Stage Parents: A Historical Perspective.
c. Mozart: The Early Life of a Musical Prodigy.
d. Mozart: The Short Career of a Musical Genius.
202. According to the passage, Wolfgang became
interested in music because
a. his father thought it would be profitable.
b. he had a natural talent.
c. he saw his sister learning to play an instrument.
d. he came from a musical family.
203. What was the consequence of Wolfgang’s first
public appearance?
a. He charmed the emperor and empress of Hapsburg.
b. Word of Wolfgang’s genius spread to the capital.
c. Leopold set his sights on Vienna.
d. Invitations for the miracle children to play poured in.
204. Each of the following statements about Wolf-gang Mozart is directly supported by the pas-sage EXCEPT
a. Mozart’s father, Leopold, was instrumental in shaping his career.
b. Maria Anna was a talented musician in her own right.
c. Wolfgang’s childhood was devoted to his musical career.
d. Wolfgang preferred the violin to other instruments.
205. According to the passage, during Wolfgang’s early years, child prodigies were
a. few and far between.
b. accustomed to extensive concert tours.
c. expected to spend at least six hours per a day practicing their music.
d. expected to play for courts throughout Europe.
206. Based on information found in the passage, Mozart can best be described as
a. a child prodigy.
b. a workaholic.
c. the greatest composer of the eighteenth century.
d. a victim of his father’s ambition.
The sentences are numbered in the following passage to help you answer the questions.
1) The Woodstock Music and Art Fair—better known to its participants and to history simply as “Woodstock”—should have been a colossal fail-ure. 2) Just a month prior to its August 15, 2024 opening, the fair’s organizers were informed by the council of Wallkill, New York, that permission to hold the festival was withdrawn. 3) Amazingly, not only was a new site found, but word spread to the public of the fair’s new location. 4) At the new site, fences that were supposed to facilitate ticket collection never materialized, and all attempts at gathering tickets were abandoned. 5) Crowd estimates of 30,000 kept rising; by the end of the three days, some estimated the crowd at 500,000. 6) Then, on opening night, it began to rain. 7) Off and on, throughout all three days, huge summer storms rolled over the gathering. 8) In spite of these problems, most people think of Woodstock not only as a fond memory but as the defining moment for an entire generation.
207. Which of the following would be the most appropriate title for this passage?
a. Backstage at Woodstock
b. Woodstock: From The Band to The Who
c. Remembering Woodstock
d. Woodstock: The Untold Story
208. Which of the following numbered sentences of the passage best represents an opinion rather than a fact?
a. sentence 1
b. sentence 2
c. sentence 3
d. sentence 4
209. Why is the word amazingly used in sentence 3?
a. The time in which the site move was made and the word sent out was so short.
b. The fair drew such an unexpectedly enor¬mous crowd.
c. There was such pressure by New York offi¬cials against holding the fair.
d. The stormy weather was so unfavorable.
Answer to the question number 161 to 209
161. a. This idea is expressed in two of the three sen¬
tences in the passage and sums up the overall meaning of the passage.
162. d. This is stated in the final paragraph. The other
choices are not reflected in the passage.
163. c. This choice most nearly encompasses the pas¬
sage and is reflected in the final sentence.
164. b. The passage defines an ecosystem as a commu¬
nity within which all members interrelate. (See the first three sentences of the paragraph.) Choice a is only one example of an interaction. The other two choices are too limited to sum up ecosystem activities.
165. b. This is the only choice that reflects the idea of
interaction among all members of the group spoken of in the first sentence. The other choices are only physical settings.
166. c. The entire passage supports this idea. Choice a
is incorrect because the business aspect of alter¬native medicine is not discussed in the passage. Choices b and d reflect accurate supporting statements that do appear in the passage, but they are not encompassing enough to reflect the main idea.
167. a. Pain management is a generic term and pain
management treatment can be alternative or traditional, depending on the practitioner. Choices b, c, and d are not correct because they are all mentioned in the passage as being par¬ticular alternative medicine practices.
168. a. The last sentence of the second paragraph
clearly states that people born before 1945 are the least likely to turn to alternative therapies.
169. d. The beginning of the last paragraph discusses
this scientific investigation and its role in mak¬ing alternative treatments more accepted by mainstream medicine.
170. b. See the first paragraph. Choice a is contradicted
in the first paragraph. Choice c is perhaps true but is not in the passage. Choice d is incorrect because, although the president’s assistant escorted Autherine Lucy to class, the passage does not say that the assistant befriended her. Accompanying her to class may just have been his assigned job.
171. b. The first paragraph says that Autherine Lucy
bravely took her seat, and the last paragraph refers to her courage.
172. a. According to the first paragraph, Autherine
Lucy was surprised when the professor appar¬ently did not notice her.
173. d. See the fourth sentence of paragraph 2.
174. c. The other answers are all contrary to informa¬
tion in the passage.
175. c. The passage clearly states this as the reason why
Kwanzaa is celebrated.
176. a. This is the only correct choice.
177. d. The passage does not mention this choice.
178. d. This is the definition of Kwanzaa.
179. d. Nowhere in the passage is it mentioned that
the Spanish outnumbered the Aztecs.
180. a. Each statement about Cortez is true, but only
this answer matched the prophecy.
181. d. The passage explains that Cortez sought gold
and created Mexico City.
182. b. This choice best captures the theme of the
encounter.
183. a. The examples in this passage are mainly about
Roosevelt’s accomplishments.
184. c. The second sentence of the first paragraph sup¬
ports this choice.
185. b. In the second paragraph, the first sentence sup¬
ports this answer.
186. a. This is the only choice and is stated in para¬
graph 1.
187. b. This is the only correct choice.
188. b. The important part of the question the reader
should consider is “the origin of all species.” This answer best supports Darwin’s theory.
189. c. These are the only two principles mentioned in
the passage.
190. b. Religious opponents condemned his work.
191. b. Six thousand years ago must account for over
2,000 years after the birth of Christ, and that leaves almost 4,000 years in the B.C. era. All other choices are incorrect math.
192. b. The Carib were not in any way described as
peaceful but rather, hostile people. Therefore, this answer is the exception. All other choices are descriptive of the Caribs and are explicit in the passage.
193. a. The last two lines of the passage directly state
what defeated the Caribs. Choice b is incorrect since the Arawaks were defeated by the Carib, and neither the Dutch nor the French were mentioned in the role of conquerors.
194. b. Strife means war. Choice c refers to the prod¬
ucts one can buy on the modern St. Maarten. Choice d makes no sense since the time of strife is when the tribe allowed a chief to be chosen. Choice a is not mentioned in conjunction with being warlike or with strife; it is added as another characteristic.
195. c. Present-day St. Maarten belongs to the French
and the Dutch. Choices b and d have no sup-port in the passage. Choice a is incorrect. The Spanish are only mentioned in the passage in conjunction with the Indians.
196. d. The idea of the passage is to convince the reader
that the metaphor is a wonderful poetic device. None of the other choices are approached in the passage.
197. a. The first paragraph clearly states that poets use
metaphors more than any other type of figura-tive language, thereby inferring that a metaphor is a type of figurative language. Choice b is incorrect since the phrase other type offigurative language is clearly stated. Choice c is not sup¬ported in the passage. Choice d is incorrect; review the definition of a metaphor in the first and second lines of the passage.
198. c. This detail is presented in the second para¬
graph. This links thorns with the idea of adding another dimension to the image of love. Choices a and b are not supported in the pas¬sage. Choice d is incorrect because thorns are not being compared to a rose.
199. d. The explanation of the line details how love
can be wonderful and yet, with the introduction of the thorn imagery, it also presents the dan¬ger of love. Choices b and c are not mentioned in the passage. Choice a only deals with the idea of joy, disregarding the thorn/danger aspect.
200. c. This specific detail can be found in paragraph
1. “ … poets compose their best poetry to express what they are experiencing emotionally at that moment.” Choices a and b are incorrect because they each deal with only one reason for a poet to write. Choice d is incorrect since the only discussion of the senses dealt with the spe¬cific metaphor that was used as an example.
201. c. This title most nearly captures the main idea of
the passage and the author’s purpose in writing the piece. The other choices either are not men¬tioned or are secondary ideas in the passage.
202. c. The passage clearly states that Wolfgang took an
interest in the clavier when his sister was learn¬ing to play the instrument.
203. b. In the second paragraph, the passage states that
Wolfgang’s first public appearance was at Linz and that after this concert, word of his genius traveled to Vienna. This paragraph also states that Vienna was the capital of the Hapsburg Empire.
204. d. The passage does not say anything about Wolf¬
gang preferring one instrument to another.
205. b. The third paragraph states that at the time, it
was not uncommon for child prodigies to have extensive concert tours. The other choices are not supported by the information given in the passage.
206. a. The main point of the passage is to describe
Mozart’s experiences as a child prodigy, or a highly talented child. Choices b, c, and d are not mentioned in the paragraph.
207. c. The titles in choices a, b, and d all imply that the
passage will provide information, which it does not. Choice c is the most accurate choice because the passage deals mainly with remem¬bering the fair.
208. a. Sentence 1 (choice a) contains the phrase
should have been a colossal failure, which is an opinion of the author. The other choices are sentences that provide factual information about Woodstock.
209. a. The sentence preceding and leading into sen¬
tence 3 speaks of the very brief time—a month—that the organizers of the fair had to find a new site and get information out. Choices b and d are incorrect because they could not have been known about at the time the fair was moved. Choice c is incorrect because there is no indication in the passage that New York officials tried to stop the fair.
