READING COMPREHENSION
This section is designed to measure your ability to read and understand short passages similar in topic and style to those that students are likely to encounter in North American universities and colleges.
The questions in reading section will be in several types, those are:
- Factual information questions.
- Negative factual informations.
- Inference questions.
- Rhetorical purpose questions.
- Vocabulary questions.
- Reference questions.
These are some of examples to solve reading test. Read the passage carefully and
(Question 1-12)
(1) Another common blues instrument that flourished in the rural South during 1920s an 1930s was the blues harp of hamonica. It was played mainly in bands called jug bands that commonly performed on street corner, in saloons and at country stores. Jug bands used a variety kinds of instruments including the banjo, guitar, washboard, kazzo, fiddle, jugs, and blues harp. In these bands, the blues harp was use
(6) Primarly for melodic and rythmic support. The earliest evidence of the harp used as a solo or lead instrument was in the late of 1920s, as heard in the recordings of George “Bullet” Williams. And other harpmen, such as Sonny Terry, Little Walter and Sonny Boy Williamson. Followed Williams, revolutioning the harp’s role as the lead instrument.
- What does the passage mainly discuss?
A. twentieth-century music of the South.
B. a change in role of the blues harp.
C. good harpmen in traditional blues harp.
D. the variety of instruments in jug bands.
This is the main idea question. The main topic is the evolution of the blues harp into a lead instrument. The final sentences of the passage emphasize the chabge from a support to a lead instrument.
- The blues harp is another name for the
A. harpsicord
B. guitar
C. harmonica
D. banjo
In the first sentence the word “or” indicates that the blues harp is the same as harmonica.
- The word “flourished” as used in line 1 could best be replaced by which of the following?
A. began to burgeon
B. was profound
C. appeared
D. entertained
The verb “to burgeon” means “to thrive.” “to grow” or “to put forth new life.” Which is similar in meaning to “flourish.”
- The author uses the phrase “rural South” in line 1 to refer to Southern...
A. landscape
B. metropolis
C. countryside
D. nation
The word “rural” means “countryside”. It is the opposite of ‘urban”or “city”.
- It can be inferred that George “Bullet” Williams
A. was the best blues harp player
B. became friends with later harpmen
C. played lead guitar in his band
D. influenced some of the later harpmen
This is an inference question. The best clue to answer is the word “followed” in the final sentence. Because they came after Williams, these other men either han heard his music or had heard of it, and they were probably influenced by their knowledge of what William did. While, it is possible that William might have become friends with some of these men, this is not mentioned in the passage. Though the passage infers that Williams was a good player, it does not say that he was the best player (answer A). Answer C is incorrect because it refers to Williams as playing guitar, not a harp.
- As used in the line 6, the word “primarily” could best be replaced by
A. chiefly
B. peculiarly
C. favorably
D. advantageously
This is a vocabulary question. The word “primarily” means “mainly” or “chiefly”.
- According to the author, when was the harp first used as a lead instrument?
A. 1920-1925
B. 1925-1930
C. 1930-1935
D. 1935-1940
In the line 6 the author states that “Bullet” Williams made recordings in the late 1920s, which is closest to 1925-1930.
- The word “lead“ as used in the line 7 is the closest meaning to which of the following?
A. model
B. only
C. control
D. principal
The word “lead” in this sentence refers to the use of the harp as the main instrument for melody, as compared to being used only for support. The word “principal” is also refers to being the main or most important thing. The answer B is similar to the word “sole”, and the other options are not synonymous with the word asked.
- In line 7, the word “recordings” most likely refers to
A. readings
B. tapes
C. records
D. movies
Since “recordings” refers to preserving sound, and the year is sometime in the 1920s, we can infer that this refers to records and not cassette tapes or compact disk.
10. The word “revolutioning” in the line 9 could best be replaced by which of the following?
A. reforming
B. fighting
C. resisting
D. turning
The words “revolutioning” and “reforming” both refer to making a change in something.
11. Which of the following would most likely be the topic of the previous paragraph?
A. the use of instruments for rhythmic support in rural southern music in the 1920s
B. lead instruments in rural southern music of the 1920s.
C. music in the American rural South before 1920
D. jug bands and their role in 1920s southern music
This is a question of the previous possible topic. The first sentence implies that the previous topic was also about rural southern music in the 1920s and 1930s and the last two sentences focus on the role of the blues harp in its change to becoming a lead instrument. By this we can enter that the previous topic was also aboul rural instruments that were lead instruments.
12. According to the passage, jug bands were likely to perform in all of the following places EXCEPT
A. on street corner
B. at country suppers
C. in concert halls
D. in saloons
According to the third sentence, jug bands community played “on the street corners, in saloons, and at country suppers.” There is no mention of performing in a concert hall.
(Question 13-24)
(1) Over the past 600 years, English has grown from a language of a few speakers to become the dominan language of International communication. English as we know it today emerged around 1350, after having incorporated many elements at French that were introduced following the Norman invatsion of 1066. Until the 1600s, English was for the most part, spoken only in England and had not extended even as far as Wales, Scotland, or Ireland.
(7) However during the course of the next two centuries, English began to spread around the globe, as a result of exploration, trade (including slave trade), colonialization, and missionary work. Thus, small enclaves of English speakers became established and grew in various parts of the worlds. As these communities proliferated, English gradually became the primary language of international business, banking and diplomacy.
(13) Currently, about 80 percent of the information stored on computer systems worldwide is in English. Two-third of the worlds science writing is in English, and English is the main language of technology, advertising, media, international airports, and air traffic controllers. Today there are more than 700 million English users in the world, and over half of these are non active speakers, constituting the largest number of nonnative speakers than any other language in the world.
13. What is the main idea of this passage?
A. The number of nonactive users of English.
B. The French influence on the English language
C. The expansion of English as an international language.
D. The use of English for science anf technology
This is a main idea question. Option A, B, and C are mentioned in the passage, but too narrow to be the general idea.
14. The word “emerged” in the line 3 could be best replaced with
A. appeared
B. hailed
C. frequented
D. engaged
This is a vocabulary question. The words “emerged” and “appeared” both refer to something gradually coming into view. In this sentence, the meaning is that English we use today began to be used around the year 1350.
15. As used in the line 3, the word “elements” is most similar to which of the following?
A. declaration
B. features
C. curiousities
D. customs
This is a vocabulary question.The word “elements” and “features” both mean “parts” of something. In this sentence, the “parts “ may be any part of a language words, structures, prononciation,spelling and so forth.
16. The word “extended” as used in line 5 is more similar to which of the following?
A. experienced
B. conferred
C. spread
D. scretched
This is a vocabulary question. The word “extended” usually means “prolonged” or “made longer”. In this sentence, however it is most similar to “spread” , which means “extend out” or “move out”. Answer (D) is also similar in meaning, but it is more commonly used to mean “extend out fully” or “extend forcibly”.
17. Approximately when did English begin to be used beyond England?
A. In 1065
B. Around 1350
C. Before 1600
D. After 1600
This is a restatement question. The passage starts that English began to spread beyond England during the two centuries after 1600.
18. According to the passage, all of the following contributed to the spread of English around the world EXCEPT?
A. The slave trade
B. The Norman invasion
C. Missionaries
D. Collonization
This is a negative question. The Norman invansion brought French influence to the English language, but it did not contribute to the spread of English worldwide, as did (A), (C), and (D).
19. As used in line 7, which of the following is close in meaning to the word “course”?
A. subject
B. policy
C. time
D. track
this is a vocabulary question. All of the above can mean “course” in some contexts, but in this sentence “course” is similar to the “development of time” or the “progression of time”.
20. The word “enclaves” in line 9 could best be replaced by which of the following?
A. communities
B. organizations
C. regions
D. countries
This is a vocabulary question. The word ‘enclaves” refers to small groups or communities that share some commonality.
21. The word “proliferated” in line 10 is closest in meaning to which of the following?
A. prospered
B. organized
C. disbanded
D. expanded
This is a vocabulary question. The verb “to proliferate” means “to grow” “to expand” or “to increase in numbers”.
22. Which the following is closest in meaning to the word “stored” as used in line 13?
A. Bought
B. Saved
C. Spent
D. Valued
This is a vocabulary question. The verb “ to store” means “to save” or “to keep for later use”.
23. Which of the following is the closest in meaning to the word “constituting” in line 17”?
A. Looking over
B. Setting down
C. Doing in
D. Making up
This is a vocabulary question. The verbs “to constitute” and “to make up” both mean “to compose”, “to comprise”, or “to form the basis of something”.
24. According to the passage, approximately how many nonnative users of English are there in the world today?
A. a quarter million
B. Half a million
C. 350 million
D. 700 million
This is a restatement computation question. The passage states that about half of the 700 million speakers of English are nonnative speakers, which is approximately 350 million.
(Question 25-36)
(1) As heart disease continues to be the number one killer in the United States, researchers have become increasingly interested in identifying the potential risk factors that trigger heart attacks. High-fat diets and “life in the fast lane” have long been known to contribute to the high incidence of heart failure. But according to new studies, the list of risk factors may be significantly longer and quite surprising.
(6) Heart failure, for example, appears to have seasonal and temporal patterns. A higher percentage of heart attacks occur in cold water, and more people experience heart failure on Monday than on any other day of the week in addition, people are more susceptible to heart attacks in the first few hours after waking. Cardiologists first observed this morning phenomenon in the mid-1980, and have since discovered a number of possible causes. An early-morning rise in blood pressure, heart rate, and concentration of heart stimulating hormones, plus a reduction of blood flow to the heart, May all contribute to the higher incidence of heart attacks between the hours of 8.00AM and 10.00 AM.
(15) In other studies, both birthdays and bachelorhood have been implicated as risk factors. Statistics reveal that heart attack rates increase significantly for both females and males in the few days immediate preceding and following their birthdays. Unmarried men are more at risk for heart attacks than their married counterparts. Though stress is thought to be linked in some way to all of the aforementioned risk factors, intense research continues in the hope of further comprehending why and how heart failure is triggered.
25. What does the passage mainly discuss?
A. Risk factors in heart attacks
B. Seasonal and temporal patterns of heart attacks
C. Cardiology in the 1980s
D. Diet and stress as factors in heart attacks
This is a main idea question. Answer (B) and (D) refer only portions of the passage, but not the main idea. Answer (C) is too general.
26. In line 2, the word “potential” could best be replaced by which of the following?
A. Harmful
B. Primary
C. Unknown
D. Possible
This is a vocabulary question. The word “potential” in this context refers to possible, but not yet confirmed, factors.
27. In line 3, the clause “life in fast lane” refers to which of the following?
A. Having quick and short term to accomplish any tasks.
B. Life is too short to waste
C. Get so many things to do
D. Changing lifestyle in many ways
This is a vocabulary question. The word “potential” in this context refers to possible, but not yet confirmed, factors.
28. The word “trigger” as used in the line 3 is closest in meaning to which of the following?
A. involve
B. affect
C. cause
D. encounter
This is a vocabulary question. The word “trigger” means “to set off” or “to cause something” or “to begin”.
29. Which of the following could be best replace the word “incidence” as used in line 4?
A. Increase
B. Rate
C. Chance
D. Factor
This is a vocabulary question. The words ‘incidence” and “rate” both refer to the frequency with which something occurs.
30. The author uses the word “temporal” in line 6 to mean
A. Affected by
B. Of a certain date
C. Expected
D. Regularly
This is a vocabulary question. In this sentence, the word “temporal” refers to time. Answer (B) is too specific, answer (C) may be inferred, but it is not the meaning of “temporal”. Answer (D) is similar in meaning to “temporal”, but it is not that specific as needed.
31. The phrase “susceptible to” in line 9 could be best replaced by
A. aware of
B. affected by
C. accustomed
D. prone to
This is a vocabulary question. The phrase “susceptible to” and “prone to” both mean that one is “vulnerable to” something.
32. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT a possible cause of many heart attacks?
- Decreased blood flow to the heart
- Increased blood pressure
- Lower heart rate
- Increase in hormones
This is a negative question. Answer (A),(B), and (D) are all mentioned as possible causes of heart attacks in early morning
33. The word “phenomenon” in line 10 refers to which of the following?
A. habit
B. illness
C. occurrence
D. activity
This is a vocabulary question. The word “phenomenon” means event or happening, this is, something that occurs.
34. The word “implicated” in line 15 could best be replaced by which of the following?
A. Indicated
B. Disregarded
C. Investigated
D. Discovered
This is a vocabulary question. The words “implicate” and “indicate” can both mean “suggest” or “inter”
35. Which of the following is NOT cited as a possible risk factor?
A. Having a birthday
B. Getting married
C. Eating fatly foods
D. Being under stress
This is a negative question. Answer (A), (C), and (D) are all mentioned as possible factors in the increase of heart attacks. Answer (B) is the opposite of what is stated.
36. Which of the following does the passage infer?
A. We now fully understand how risk factors trigger heart attacks.
B. We recently began to study how risk factors trigger heart attacks
C. We have not identified many risk factors associated with heart attacks
D. We do not fully understand how risk factors trigger heart attacks.
This is an inference question. The final sentence of the passage indicates that many risk factors have been identified over the years, but how these factors actually trigger heart attacks is not clearly understood and its still being studied.
37. As used in line 16, which of the following could best replace the word “reveal”?
A. Show
B. Observe
C. Mean
D. Explain
This is a vocabulary question. The word “reveal” and “show” both mean ”to disclose” or “to give information about” something. Answer (B) means” to see’. Answer (C) means “to may” or “to suggest”. Answer (D) is similar in that also means “to give information”, but the meaning is a bit different. The statistics do not “explain” the heart attacks; instead, they make certain facts known to all.
(Question number 37-50)
Carbohydrates, which are sugars, are an essential part of healthy diet. The provide the main source of energy for the body, and they also function to flavor and (3)sweeten foods. Carbohydrates range from simple sugars like glucose to complex sugars such as amylase and amylopectin. Nutritionist estimate that Carbohydrates should make up about one-fourth to one-fifth of a person’s diet. This translates to about 75-100 grams of Carbohydrates per day.
(7)A diet that is deficient in Carbohydrates can have an adverse effect on a person’s health. When the body lacks a sufficient amount of Carbohydrates it must then use its protein supplies for energy, a (11)process called gluconeogenesis. This, however, results in a lack of necessary protein, and further health difficulties may occur. A lack of Carbohydrates can also lead to ketosis, a build-up of ketones in the body that cause fatigue, lethargy, and bad breath.
38. What is the main idea of the passage?
A. Carbohydrates are needed for good health
B. Carbohydrates prevent a build-up of proteins
C. Carbohydrates can lead to ketosis.
D. Carbohydrates are an expendable part of a good diet
This is a main idea question. The first and last lines of passage both refer to carbohydrates as a necessary part of a good diet and good health.
39. The word “function” as used in line 2 refers to which of the following?
A. Neglect
B. Serve
C. Dissolve
D. Proteins
The verbs “to serve” and “”to function “ both refer to an action of providing for or supplying, acting in a certain way or being of a certain type of use. Answer (A) means “to ignore” or “disregard” something. Answer (C) means to become liquid or to soften. Answer (D) means to declare or to acknowledge something.
40. The word “range” as used in line 3 is closest meaning with
A. Probe
B. Proceed
C. Hall
D. Extend
The word ‘range’ and “extend” in this sentence refer to the action of encompassing a certain number of type of items. Answer (A) means to inspect or examine something. Answer (B) means to go ahead. Answer (C) means to call, to greet or to salute.
41. In line 4, the word “estimate” could be best replaced by
A. Disbelieve
B. Declare
C. Calculate
D. Wonder
The verb “to estimate” means “to guess” or calculate to the best of one’s ability.
42. According to the passage, what do most nutritionist suggest?
A. Sufficient carbohydrates will prevent gluconeogenesis.
B. Carbohydrates are simple sugars called glucose.
C. Carbohydrates should make up about a quarter of a person’s daily diet.
D. Carbohydrates should be eaten in very small quantities
This is a restatement question. In line 3 of the first paragraph, the passage states that nutritionist recommended that carbohydrates should make about ¼ to one fifth of a person’s diet. Though answers (A) and (B) are also stated on the passage, thy are not “what nutritionist suggest”.
43. Which of the following do the carbohydrates NOT do?
A. Prevent ketosis
B. Cause gluconeogenesis
C. Provide energy for the body
D. Flavor and sweeten food
This is a negative question. From the second paragraph you can infer that eating a sufficient amount of carbohydrates will prevent the body from using it’s protein for energy, so carbohydrates in take will PREVENT, not cause, gluconeogenesis.
44. Which of the following could show what the body might do when it’s lack of carbohydrates?
A. it will cause fatigue, lethargy, and bad breath
B. it must use its protein supplies for energy
C. it will cause serious illness directly.
D. it is an usual thing happens that won’t need any further actions of the body.
The answer statement is clearly declared in line 8-9. The body then will use protein to feed the body energy.
45. Which of the following words could best replace “deficient” as used in line 7?
A. Outstanding
B. Abundant
C. Insufficient
D. Unequal
Both deficient and insufficient are adjectives that refer to something that is lacking.
46. What does the word “this” refer to in line 9?
A. Using protein supplies for energy.
B. Converting carbohydrates to energy
C. Having a deficiency in carbohydrates
D. Having an insufficient amount of protein
This is a referent question. The word “this’ refers directly to the previous word, “gluconeogenesis”, which is explained as “using the body’s protein supplies for energy”.
47. According to the passage, which of the following does NOT describe carbohydrates?
A. a protein supply
B. a necessity
C. a range of sugars
D. an energy source
This is a negative question. The passage describes carbohydrates as all of the above except (A). Carbohydrates are district from proteins, and there is nothing in the passage that says that carbohydrates supply protein.
48. The word ”lack” in line 10 is most similar to which of the following?
A. Piethora
B. Shortage
C. Derivation
D. Commission
The word “lack’ and “shortage” both refer to an in sufficiency of something. Answer (A) is the opposite. Answer (C) refers to “the origin” or the source of something, or the act of obtaining something. Answer (D) refers to an appointment, an authorization, or a charge.
49. Which of the following best describes the author’s tone?
A. Sensitive
B. Emotional
C. Informative
D. Regretful
This is a question about the author’s tone. The author is attempting to give the reader some information regarding carbohydrates, and therefore “informative” is the best answer.
50. Which of the following best describes the organization of this passage?
A. Cause and effect
B. Comparison and contrast
C. Specific to general
D. Definition and example
This is an organization question. The first paragraph of the passage is a definition and description of carbohydrates. The second paragraph gives an example of what happens when the body does not have enough carbohydrates.
