ECPE Practice Test - Reading

Vicissitudes in the political arena are predominant among the events reported by today's press. Stupendous scandals have been uncovered and covert operations foiled as a result of recent media investigations. This may occur after immense and assiduous research into the particular discrepancies among various stories told by politicians or may simply result from an investigative journalist following an instinctive hunch. Had many duplicitous politicians been aware of the menace posed by such journalists, they would have been much more careful in carrying out their subterfuge.  The methods utilized in various scandals and subsequent cover-ups may include bugging governmental offices, tapping telephone lines, classifying documents as "top secret" or purging relevant data from computer systems. Such perfidy towards the democratic process is considered tantamount to espionage or treason by many patriotic Americans. Once the scandal is uncovered, the politician will be subjected to questioning at a public hearing.  Most politicians do not respond with complete candor and servility during these proceedings. However, their testimony is irrevocable and cannot be taken back without committing the act of perjury, or lying under oath. Certain politicians may phlegmatically profess no knowledge of the matter under investigation, while others may coyly state that their recollection of the events is slightly blurry. However, most parties involved will attempt to reply to questioning deftly and resolutely with cogent arguments and apposite remarks.  Ultimately, the hearing is likely to have an adverse impact on the politician's career. During the hearing, the politician may be subjected to daily jeering from throngs of spectators assembled outside the hearing room. The politician may even be forced to relinquish his or her position as a consequence of a unanimous consensus at the hearing, and, thus, be banished from public office for the remainder of his or her career.  1. Political scandals

Vicissitudes in the political arena are predominant among the events reported by today's press. Stupendous scandals have been uncovered and covert operations foiled as a result of recent media investigations. This may occur after immense and assiduous research into the particular discrepancies among various stories told by politicians or may simply result from an investigative journalist following an instinctive hunch. Had many duplicitous politicians been aware of the menace posed by such journalists, they would have been much more careful in carrying out their subterfuge.  The methods utilized in various scandals and subsequent cover-ups may include bugging governmental offices, tapping telephone lines, classifying documents as "top secret" or purging relevant data from computer systems. Such perfidy towards the democratic process is considered tantamount to espionage or treason by many patriotic Americans. Once the scandal is uncovered, the politician will be subjected to questioning at a public hearing.  Most politicians do not respond with complete candor and servility during these proceedings. However, their testimony is irrevocable and cannot be taken back without committing the act of perjury, or lying under oath. Certain politicians may phlegmatically profess no knowledge of the matter under investigation, while others may coyly state that their recollection of the events is slightly blurry. However, most parties involved will attempt to reply to questioning deftly and resolutely with cogent arguments and apposite remarks.  Ultimately, the hearing is likely to have an adverse impact on the politician's career. During the hearing, the politician may be subjected to daily jeering from throngs of spectators assembled outside the hearing room. The politician may even be forced to relinquish his or her position as a consequence of a unanimous consensus at the hearing, and, thus, be banished from public office for the remainder of his or her career.  2. Disloyal politicians may attempt to 

Vicissitudes in the political arena are predominant among the events reported by today's press. Stupendous scandals have been uncovered and covert operations foiled as a result of recent media investigations. This may occur after immense and assiduous research into the particular discrepancies among various stories told by politicians or may simply result from an investigative journalist following an instinctive hunch. Had many duplicitous politicians been aware of the menace posed by such journalists, they would have been much more careful in carrying out their subterfuge.  The methods utilized in various scandals and subsequent cover-ups may include bugging governmental offices, tapping telephone lines, classifying documents as "top secret" or purging relevant data from computer systems. Such perfidy towards the democratic process is considered tantamount to espionage or treason by many patriotic Americans. Once the scandal is uncovered, the politician will be subjected to questioning at a public hearing.  Most politicians do not respond with complete candor and servility during these proceedings. However, their testimony is irrevocable and cannot be taken back without committing the act of perjury, or lying under oath. Certain politicians may phlegmatically profess no knowledge of the matter under investigation, while others may coyly state that their recollection of the events is slightly blurry. However, most parties involved will attempt to reply to questioning deftly and resolutely with cogent arguments and apposite remarks.  Ultimately, the hearing is likely to have an adverse impact on the politician's career. During the hearing, the politician may be subjected to daily jeering from throngs of spectators assembled outside the hearing room. The politician may even be forced to relinquish his or her position as a consequence of a unanimous consensus at the hearing, and, thus, be banished from public office for the remainder of his or her career.  3. During public hearings most politicians 

Vicissitudes in the political arena are predominant among the events reported by today's press. Stupendous scandals have been uncovered and covert operations foiled as a result of recent media investigations. This may occur after immense and assiduous research into the particular discrepancies among various stories told by politicians or may simply result from an investigative journalist following an instinctive hunch. Had many duplicitous politicians been aware of the menace posed by such journalists, they would have been much more careful in carrying out their subterfuge.  The methods utilized in various scandals and subsequent cover-ups may include bugging governmental offices, tapping telephone lines, classifying documents as "top secret" or purging relevant data from computer systems. Such perfidy towards the democratic process is considered tantamount to espionage or treason by many patriotic Americans. Once the scandal is uncovered, the politician will be subjected to questioning at a public hearing.  Most politicians do not respond with complete candor and servility during these proceedings. However, their testimony is irrevocable and cannot be taken back without committing the act of perjury, or lying under oath. Certain politicians may phlegmatically profess no knowledge of the matter under investigation, while others may coyly state that their recollection of the events is slightly blurry. However, most parties involved will attempt to reply to questioning deftly and resolutely with cogent arguments and apposite remarks.  Ultimately, the hearing is likely to have an adverse impact on the politician's career. During the hearing, the politician may be subjected to daily jeering from throngs of spectators assembled outside the hearing room. The politician may even be forced to relinquish his or her position as a consequence of a unanimous consensus at the hearing, and, thus, be banished from public office for the remainder of his or her career.  4. The public hearing 

Vicissitudes in the political arena are predominant among the events reported by today's press. Stupendous scandals have been uncovered and covert operations foiled as a result of recent media investigations. This may occur after immense and assiduous research into the particular discrepancies among various stories told by politicians or may simply result from an investigative journalist following an instinctive hunch. Had many duplicitous politicians been aware of the menace posed by such journalists, they would have been much more careful in carrying out their subterfuge.  The methods utilized in various scandals and subsequent cover-ups may include bugging governmental offices, tapping telephone lines, classifying documents as "top secret" or purging relevant data from computer systems. Such perfidy towards the democratic process is considered tantamount to espionage or treason by many patriotic Americans. Once the scandal is uncovered, the politician will be subjected to questioning at a public hearing.  Most politicians do not respond with complete candor and servility during these proceedings. However, their testimony is irrevocable and cannot be taken back without committing the act of perjury, or lying under oath. Certain politicians may phlegmatically profess no knowledge of the matter under investigation, while others may coyly state that their recollection of the events is slightly blurry. However, most parties involved will attempt to reply to questioning deftly and resolutely with cogent arguments and apposite remarks.  Ultimately, the hearing is likely to have an adverse impact on the politician's career. During the hearing, the politician may be subjected to daily jeering from throngs of spectators assembled outside the hearing room. The politician may even be forced to relinquish his or her position as a consequence of a unanimous consensus at the hearing, and, thus, be banished from public office for the remainder of his or her career.  5. Which statement is true according to the passage?