Section Three: Reading Comprehension

1. What aspect of potash does the passage mainly discuss?
(A) How it was made
(B) Its value as a product for export
(C) How it differs from other alkalis
(D) Its importance in colonial North America

2. All of the following statements are true of both potash and soda EXPECT:
(A) They are alkalis.
(B) They are made from sea plants.
(C) They are used in making soap.
(D) They are used in making glass.

3.They phrase "the latter" in line 4 refers to
(A) alkali
(B) glass
(C) sand
(D) soap

4.The word "stressed" in line 6 is closest in meaning to
(A) defined
(B) emphasized
(C) adjusted
(D) mentioned

5. The word "interchangeable" in line 7 is closest in meaning to
(A) convenient
(B) identifiable
(C) equivalent
(D) advantageous

6. It can be inferred from the passage that potash was more common than soda in colonial North America because
(A) the materials needed for making soda were not readily available
(B) making potash required less time than making soda
(C) potash was better than soda for making glass and soap
(D) the colonial glassworks found soda more difficult to use

7. According to paragraph 4, all of the following were needed for making potash EXCEPT
(A) wood
(B) fire
(C) sand
(D) water

8. The word "adjunct" in line 22 is closest in meaning to
(A) addition
(B) answer
(C) problem
(D) possibility

9. According to the passage, a major benefit of making potash was that
(A) it could be exported to Europe in exchange for other goods
(B) it helped finance the creation of farms
(C) it could be made with a variety of materials
(D) stimulated the development of new ways of glassmaking

10. According to paragraph 5, the softwoods in the South posed which of the following problems for southern settles?
(A) The softwoods were not very plentiful.
(B) The softwoods could not be used to build houses.
(C) The softwoods were not very marketable.
(D) The softwoods were not very useful for making potash.

11. What does the passage mainly discuss?
(A) Characteristics of pterosaur wings
(B) The discovery of fossil remains of Archaeopteryx
(C) Reasons for the extinction of early flying vertebrates
(D) The development of flight in reptiles and birds

12. Which of the following is true of early reptile wings?
(A) They evolved from strong limb muscles.
(B) They consisted of an extension of skin.
(C) They connected the front and back limbs.
(D) They required fingers of equal length.

13. The word "literally" in line 3 is closest in meaning to
(A) creating
(B) meaning
(C) related to
(D) simplified

14. It can be inferred from the passage that birds were probably dominant in the skies
(A) in the early Triassic period
(B) before the appearance of pterosaurs
(C) after the decline of pterosaurs
(D) before dinosaurs could be found on land.

15. The author mentions airplanes in line 8 in order to
(A) illustrate the size of wingspans in some pterosaurs
(B) compare the energy needs of dinosaurs with those of modern machines
(C) demonstrate the differences between mechanized flight and animal flight
(D) establish the practical applications of the study of fossils

16. The word "They" in line 10 refers to
(A) powerful muscles
(B) bodies
(C) jaws
(D) flying reptiles

17. According to the passage, pterosaurs were probably "not skillful fliers" (line 11) because
(A) of their limited wingspan
(B) of their disproportionately large bodies
(C) they lacked muscles needed for extended flight
(D) climate conditions of the time provided insufficient wind power

18. In paragraph 2, the author discusses the development of flight in birds as resulting from
(A) a similarity in body structure to pterosaurs
(B) an evolution from pterosaurs
(C) the dominance of birds and pterosaurs over land animals
(D) a separate but parallel development process to that of pterosaurs

19. The word "classified" in line 21 is closest in meaning to
(A) perfected
(B) replaced
(C) categorized
(D) protected

20. Which of the following helped researchers determine that Archaeopteryx was not a dinosaurs?
(A) Its tail
(B) Its teeth
(C) The shape of its skull
(D) Details of its bone structure

21. What is the significance of the discovery that was made in southern Germany?
(A) It is thought to demonstrate that birds evolved from dinosaurs.
(B) It is proof that the climate and soils of Europe have changed over time.
(C) It suggests that dinosaurs were dominant in areas rich in limestone.
(D) It supports the theory that Archaeopteryx was a powerful dinosaur.

22. The passage mentions which of the following with respect to the fragments of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9?
(A) They were once combine in a larger body.
(B) Some of them burned up before entering
(C) Some of them are still orbiting Jupiter.
(D) They have an unusual orbit.

23. The word "collectively" in line 3 is closest in meaning to
(A) respectively
(B) popularly
(C) also
(D) together

24. The author compares the fragments of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 to all of the following EXCEPT
(A) a dismembered body
(B) a train
(C) a pearl necklace
(D) a giant planet

25. Before comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 hit Jupiter in July 1994, scientists
(A) had been unaware of its existence
(B) had been tracking it for only a few months
(C) had observed its breakup into twenty-odd fragments
(D) had decided it would not collide with the planet

26.Before the comet fragments entered the atmosphere of Jupiter, they were most likely
(A) invisible
(B) black
(C) frozen
(D) exploding

27. Superheated fireballs were produced as soon as the fragments of comet shoemaker- Levy 9
(A) hit the surface of Jupiter
(B) were pulled into Jupiter's orbit the atmosphere of Jupiter.
(C) were ejected back through the tunnel
(D) entered the atmosphere of Jupiter

28. The phrase "incinerated itself" in line 9 is closest in meaning to
(A) burned up
(B) broke into smaller pieces
(C) increased its speed
(D) grew in size

29. Which of the following is mentioned as evidence of the explosions that is still visible on Jupiter?
(A) fireballs
(B) ice masses
(C) black marks
(D) tunnels

30. Paragraph 2 discusses the impact of the comet Shoemaker-levy 9 primarily in terms of
(A) its importance as an event of-great scientific significance
(B) its effect on public awareness of the possibility of damage to Earth
(C) the changes it made to the surface of Jupiter
(D) the effect it had on television broadcasting

31. The "target" in line 20 most probably referred to
(A) Earth
(B) Jupiter
(C) the solar system
(D) a comet

32. This passage is mainly about
(A) the most influential watercolor painters in the mid-1800's
(B) efforts to organize watercolor painters in New York City during the mid-1800's
(C) a famous exhibition of watercolor paintings in New York City in the mid-1800's
(D) styles of watercolor painting in New York City during the mid-1800's

33. The year 1850 was significant in the history of watercolor painting mainly because
(A) a group of artists established a watercolorpainting society
(B) watercolor painting was first introduced to New York City
(C) John Falconer established his studio for watercolor painters
(D) The first book on watercolor painting was published

34.The word "securing" in line 5 is closest in meaning to
(A) locking
(B) creating
(C) constructing
(D) acquiring

35. All of the following can be inferred about the Society for the promotion of Painting in
Water Color EXCEPT:
(A) The society exhibited paintings in lower Manhattan.
(B) Instruction in watercolor painting was offered by members of the society
(C) The society exhibited only the paintings of its members.
(D) Scenes of the Hudson River appeared often in the work of society members.

36. The exhibition at the Crystal Palace of the works of the Society for the Promotion of Painting in Water Color was significant for which of the following reasons?
(A) It resulted in a dramatic increase in the popularity of painting with watercolor.
(B) It was the first time an exhibition was funded by a private source.
(C) It was the first important exhibition of the society's work.
(D) It resulted in a large increase in the membership of the society.

37. The word "it" in line 15 refers to
(A) time
(B) group
(C) building
(D) studio

38. Which of the following is true of watercolor painters in New York City in the late 1850's?
(A) They increased in number despite a lack of formal organization.
(B) They were unable to exhibit their paintings because of the lack of exhibition space.
(C) The Artists Fund Society helped them to form The American Society of Painters in Water Colors.
(D) They formed a new society because they were not allowed to join groups run by other kinds of artists.

39. Henry Warren's Painting in Water Color was important to artists because it
(A) received an important reward
(B) was the only textbook published that taught painting
(C) was much better than an earlier published
(D) attracted the interest of art collectors

40. The word "considerable" in line 19 is closest in meaning to
(A) sensitive
(B) great
(C) thoughtful
(D) planned

41. The year 1866 was significant for watercolor painting for which of the following reasons?
(A) Elements of Graphic Art was republished.
(B) Private collections of watercolors were first publicly exhibited.
(C) The neo-Venetian Gothic building on Twenty-Third Street in New York City was built.
(D) The National Academy of Design held an exhibition of watercolor paintings.

42. The word "prominent" in line 25 is closest in meaning to
(A) wealthy
(B) local
(C) famous
(D) organized

43. The word "implications" in line 2 is closest in meaning to
(A) significance
(B) motives
(C) foundations
(D) progress

44. It can be inferred that the purpose of the legislation passed by England in 1750 was to
(A) reduce the price of English-made iron goods sold in the colonies
(B) prevent the outbreak of the War of Independence
(C) require colonists to buy manufactured
(D) keep the colonies from establishing new markets for their raw materials.

45. The author compares iron furnaces to which of the following?
(A) Cannons
(B) Pyramids
(C) Pots
(D) Windows

46. The word "rushing" in line 21 is closest in meaning to
(A) reliable
(B) fresh
(C) appealing
(D) rapid

47. Pennsylvania was an ideal location for the Hopewell ironworks for all of the following reasons EXCEPT
(A) Many workers were available in the area.
(B) The center of operations of the army was nearby.
(C) The metal ore was easy to acquire
(D) There was an abundance of wood.

48. The passage mentions "roads, canals, and railroads" in line 25 in order to explain that
(A) improvements in transportation benefited the Hopewell ironworks
(B) iron was used in the construction of various types of transportation
(C) the transportation system of Pennsylvania was superior to that of other states.
(D) Hopewell never became a major transportation center

49. The word "they" in line 26 refers to
(A) links
(B) parts
(C) workers
(D) sites

50. The word "some" in line 29 is closest in meaning to
(A) only
(B) a maximum of
(C) approximately
(D) a variety of