Qualifying Exam For Instructors - Part 2 - Reading Comprehension

1. Selection 2 A hovercraft or A.C.V. (air cushioned vehicle) is as the name suggests: a vehicle that rides on a cushion of air that eliminates all friction between the vehicle and the surface. It travels just above any kind of surface – land or water. Fans suck in air at the top of the craft and then force the air underneath to create an air cushion between the vehicle and the surface. To move forward, large propellers driven by turbine engines provide power like an aircraft. A skirt made of a flexible rubber surrounds the lower edge of the vehicle. Air is trapped within this skirt and so allows the hovercraft to glide over rocks, ditches, ice, or waves. Unlike a car or a boat there are no bumps or jolts. Hovercrafts are used today for short journeys. You can cross the English Channel from England to France in a hovercraft. The trip is faster than the conventional ferry. The ride is smooth even if the water is choppy. People who become seasick on ferries choose this vehicle to make crossings. The armed forces of many countries use hovercrafts for transporting men and weapons. Additionally, the French have developed a train which also runs on a cushion of air. It still needs tracks but it can attain speeds of up to 480 kilometers an hour.

Question: People who become _____ prefer riding in a hovercraft.

Seasick

Impatient

Scared

Curious

People who become seasick prefer riding in a hovercraft because the hovercraft rides on a cushion of air, eliminating friction between the vehicle and the surface. This results in a smooth ride even on choppy water, making it a preferable option for individuals who experience seasickness on conventional ferries.

Explanation

People who become seasick prefer riding in a hovercraft because the hovercraft rides on a cushion of air, eliminating friction between the vehicle and the surface. This results in a smooth ride even on choppy water, making it a preferable option for individuals who experience seasickness on conventional ferries.

2. Selection 1 The queen bee is the most important bee in the hive. She is usually the mother of all the bees in the hive, and rules over all the other bees. Special worker bees look after her by brushing and combing her body and making sure that she is fed on royal jelly. The queen must be strong and healthy to lay eggs. It has been estimated that she may lay two thousand eggs a day and up to a million in her lifetime. A queen bee lives in the middle of the hive where it is warm. She goes from cell to cell poling in her long slender body to lay eggs. She lays eggs in a few special cells that are reserved for the new queens. The ordinary eggs hatch out into larvae and are fed on bee bread. The new queens are fed royal jelly, a secretion from glands on the heads of young workers, to make the queens grow faster and have a different appearance from the worker bees. When a colony of bees becomes overcrowded, the old queen moves off. She takes many of the worker bees with her and leaves in a swarm. Some workers stay behind to care for the larvae that have been left behind. After the pupa stage, the young bees emerge. Among the young bees are the few young queens, who have been in their special cells that look like half peanut shells. The queens fight and sting each other until only one remains as the new ruler of the hive. She then flies from the hive to mate with one or more drones. The young queen returns to the hive and begins to lay eggs two days later. The new queen never needs to mate again and may live for as long as another five years.

Question: Around how many eggs could a queen bee lay in a day?

One million

Two thousand

One thousand

Two million

The passage explains that a queen bee may lay up to two thousand eggs a day. This is supported by the statement that she lays eggs in a few special cells and that she may lay up to a million eggs in her lifetime. Therefore, the correct answer is "Two thousand."

Explanation

The passage explains that a queen bee may lay up to two thousand eggs a day. This is supported by the statement that she lays eggs in a few special cells and that she may lay up to a million eggs in her lifetime. Therefore, the correct answer is "Two thousand."

3. Selection 5 We often see chimpanzees on television or at the zoo and forget that the two main species of this animal live naturally right across Central Africa. Most chimpanzees prefer to be where the trees are close to clearings or plains so that they can search for food during the day and return to the safety of the forest at night. Captive chimpanzees are taught to drink from cups but in the wild they seldom drink at all. They quench their thirst by eating juicy foods but sometimes they dip crushed leaves in water and suck them. This is one of the animals that can use some tools. For example, they use sticks or grass stems to pole for ants or termites in holes. Chimpanzees communicate with each other by touching, making sounds and using facial expressions. A loud hoot is a signal to others that food has been found. A low hoot is a warning. Fear and rage are expressed by loud screams. They converse with each other by grunting. These animals communicate with their faces but their expressions do not always convey the same emotions as ours do. What appears to us to be a grin is usually a menacing sign of defiance. A chimpanzee shows a sign of friendship by opening its mouth while keeping the upper teeth hidden. The chimpanzee can swing through the trees or travel on all fours as a means of locomotion. It uses its arms for swinging from branch to branch but easily tires from this, and so this method is used only over short distances. When the chimpanzee is walking or running on all fours, the fingers are curled inwards so that the weight is supported by the knuckles. This prevents injury to the softer palms by sharp obstacles.

Question: Which continent was cited as the natural home of the chimpanzees?

Africa

Zaire

Asia

Amazon rainforest

The correct answer is Africa because the passage states that chimpanzees live naturally across Central Africa.

Explanation

The correct answer is Africa because the passage states that chimpanzees live naturally across Central Africa.

4. Selection 3 In 79 A.D. the volcano Vesuvius rumbled. This was followed by an eruption of great violence. Streams of lava and hot mud poured down the mountain slopes and filled the port of Herculaneum. The people there were able to escape in boats from the small harbor. But in the nearby city of Pompeii many were not so lucky. Hot ashes, stones and cinders rained down and the air was filled with poisonous fumes. The whole city was buried and hundreds of people who did not have time to flee were killed. Digging for the buried city of Pompeii began hundreds of years later and continued for about another hundred years. The search concentrated on important buildings and many relics were unearthed. Around 1860 it was decided to uncover the whole city. Today if you visit Pompeii in Italy you can walk in the Roman city as it was two thousand years ago. Not all of the old city has been uncovered but many of the temples and public halls are on view. On the walls of many houses are beautiful pictures made with tiles. There is a museum by the gates of the old city which contains many interesting relics such as pots, pans, tools and furniture used by the inhabitants of Pompeii. Even bodies have been excavated and found to be preserved in the hardened ash. By carefully pouring plaster into the shells, archaeologists have made detailed copies of the individuals, some even showing expressions of horror and agony on their faces.

Question: What did the Romans use for making pictures on the walls?

Ink

Stones

Tiles

Coals

The Romans used tiles to make pictures on the walls. This is mentioned in the passage where it states, "On the walls of many houses are beautiful pictures made with tiles." Tiles were a common material used for creating decorative and colorful designs on the walls of buildings in ancient Rome.

Explanation

The Romans used tiles to make pictures on the walls. This is mentioned in the passage where it states, "On the walls of many houses are beautiful pictures made with tiles." Tiles were a common material used for creating decorative and colorful designs on the walls of buildings in ancient Rome.

5. Selection 1 The queen bee is the most important bee in the hive. She is usually the mother of all the bees in the hive, and rules over all the other bees. Special worker bees look after her by brushing and combing her body and making sure that she is fed on royal jelly. The queen must be strong and healthy to lay eggs. It has been estimated that she may lay two thousand eggs a day and up to a million in her lifetime. A queen bee lives in the middle of the hive where it is warm. She goes from cell to cell poling in her long slender body to lay eggs. She lays eggs in a few special cells that are reserved for the new queens. The ordinary eggs hatch out into larvae and are fed on bee bread. The new queens are fed royal jelly, a secretion from glands on the heads of young workers, to make the queens grow faster and have a different appearance from the worker bees. When a colony of bees becomes overcrowded, the old queen moves off. She takes many of the worker bees with her and leaves in a swarm. Some workers stay behind to care for the larvae that have been left behind. After the pupa stage, the young bees emerge. Among the young bees are the few young queens, who have been in their special cells that look like half peanut shells. The queens fight and sting each other until only one remains as the new ruler of the hive. She then flies from the hive to mate with one or more drones. The young queen returns to the hive and begins to lay eggs two days later. The new queen never needs to mate again and may live for as long as another five years.

Question: The royal jelly changes the _____ of a bee.

Appearance

Attitude

Designation

Sex

The royal jelly changes the appearance of a bee. This is because the royal jelly, which is fed to the new queens, causes them to grow faster and have a different appearance from the worker bees.

Explanation

The royal jelly changes the appearance of a bee. This is because the royal jelly, which is fed to the new queens, causes them to grow faster and have a different appearance from the worker bees.

6. Selection 1 The queen bee is the most important bee in the hive. She is usually the mother of all the bees in the hive, and rules over all the other bees. Special worker bees look after her by brushing and combing her body and making sure that she is fed on royal jelly. The queen must be strong and healthy to lay eggs. It has been estimated that she may lay two thousand eggs a day and up to a million in her lifetime. A queen bee lives in the middle of the hive where it is warm. She goes from cell to cell poling in her long slender body to lay eggs. She lays eggs in a few special cells that are reserved for the new queens. The ordinary eggs hatch out into larvae and are fed on bee bread. The new queens are fed royal jelly, a secretion from glands on the heads of young workers, to make the queens grow faster and have a different appearance from the worker bees. When a colony of bees becomes overcrowded, the old queen moves off. She takes many of the worker bees with her and leaves in a swarm. Some workers stay behind to care for the larvae that have been left behind. After the pupa stage, the young bees emerge. Among the young bees are the few young queens, who have been in their special cells that look like half peanut shells. The queens fight and sting each other until only one remains as the new ruler of the hive. She then flies from the hive to mate with one or more drones. The young queen returns to the hive and begins to lay eggs two days later. The new queen never needs to mate again and may live for as long as another five years.

Question: What is the 1^st paragraph about?

The early life of a queen bee

The importance of worker bees

A description of a queen bee

A change that takes place in a hive

The 1st paragraph is about a description of a queen bee. It explains that the queen bee is the most important bee in the hive and is usually the mother of all the bees. It describes how special worker bees take care of her by brushing and combing her body and feeding her royal jelly. It also mentions that the queen bee must be strong and healthy to lay eggs and can lay up to two thousand eggs a day and up to a million in her lifetime.

Explanation

The 1st paragraph is about a description of a queen bee. It explains that the queen bee is the most important bee in the hive and is usually the mother of all the bees. It describes how special worker bees take care of her by brushing and combing her body and feeding her royal jelly. It also mentions that the queen bee must be strong and healthy to lay eggs and can lay up to two thousand eggs a day and up to a million in her lifetime.

7. Selection 5 We often see chimpanzees on television or at the zoo and forget that the two main species of this animal live naturally right across Central Africa. Most chimpanzees prefer to be where the trees are close to clearings or plains so that they can search for food during the day and return to the safety of the forest at night. Captive chimpanzees are taught to drink from cups but in the wild they seldom drink at all. They quench their thirst by eating juicy foods but sometimes they dip crushed leaves in water and suck them. This is one of the animals that can use some tools. For example, they use sticks or grass stems to pole for ants or termites in holes. Chimpanzees communicate with each other by touching, making sounds and using facial expressions. A loud hoot is a signal to others that food has been found. A low hoot is a warning. Fear and rage are expressed by loud screams. They converse with each other by grunting. These animals communicate with their faces but their expressions do not always convey the same emotions as ours do. What appears to us to be a grin is usually a menacing sign of defiance. A chimpanzee shows a sign of friendship by opening its mouth while keeping the upper teeth hidden. The chimpanzee can swing through the trees or travel on all fours as a means of locomotion. It uses its arms for swinging from branch to branch but easily tires from this, and so this method is used only over short distances. When the chimpanzee is walking or running on all fours, the fingers are curled inwards so that the weight is supported by the knuckles. This prevents injury to the softer palms by sharp obstacles.

Question: What kind of noise would a chimpanzee make if it found some bananas?

A low hoot

Loud screams

A loud hoot

A grunt

Chimpanzees communicate with each other through various noises, including hoots, screams, and grunts. In this case, if a chimpanzee found some bananas, it would make a loud hoot to signal to others that food has been found. This loud hoot serves as a way for chimpanzees to communicate and share information about food sources.

Explanation

Chimpanzees communicate with each other through various noises, including hoots, screams, and grunts. In this case, if a chimpanzee found some bananas, it would make a loud hoot to signal to others that food has been found. This loud hoot serves as a way for chimpanzees to communicate and share information about food sources.

8. Selection 3 In 79 A.D. the volcano Vesuvius rumbled. This was followed by an eruption of great violence. Streams of lava and hot mud poured down the mountain slopes and filled the port of Herculaneum. The people there were able to escape in boats from the small harbor. But in the nearby city of Pompeii many were not so lucky. Hot ashes, stones and cinders rained down and the air was filled with poisonous fumes. The whole city was buried and hundreds of people who did not have time to flee were killed. Digging for the buried city of Pompeii began hundreds of years later and continued for about another hundred years. The search concentrated on important buildings and many relics were unearthed. Around 1860 it was decided to uncover the whole city. Today if you visit Pompeii in Italy you can walk in the Roman city as it was two thousand years ago. Not all of the old city has been uncovered but many of the temples and public halls are on view. On the walls of many houses are beautiful pictures made with tiles. There is a museum by the gates of the old city which contains many interesting relics such as pots, pans, tools and furniture used by the inhabitants of Pompeii. Even bodies have been excavated and found to be preserved in the hardened ash. By carefully pouring plaster into the shells, archaeologists have made detailed copies of the individuals, some even showing expressions of horror and agony on their faces.

Question: Which among the following did not rain down on Pompeii?

Lava

Ash

Stones

Cinders

The passage states that hot ashes, stones, and cinders rained down on Pompeii during the eruption of Vesuvius. However, it does not mention that lava rained down on Pompeii. Therefore, lava is the correct answer as it did not rain down on Pompeii.

Explanation

The passage states that hot ashes, stones, and cinders rained down on Pompeii during the eruption of Vesuvius. However, it does not mention that lava rained down on Pompeii. Therefore, lava is the correct answer as it did not rain down on Pompeii.

9. Selection 2 A hovercraft or A.C.V. (air cushioned vehicle) is as the name suggests: a vehicle that rides on a cushion of air that eliminates all friction between the vehicle and the surface. It travels just above any kind of surface – land or water. Fans suck in air at the top of the craft and then force the air underneath to create an air cushion between the vehicle and the surface. To move forward, large propellers driven by turbine engines provide power like an aircraft. A skirt made of a flexible rubber surrounds the lower edge of the vehicle. Air is trapped within this skirt and so allows the hovercraft to glide over rocks, ditches, ice, or waves. Unlike a car or a boat there are no bumps or jolts. Hovercrafts are used today for short journeys. You can cross the English Channel from England to France in a hovercraft. The trip is faster than the conventional ferry. The ride is smooth even if the water is choppy. People who become seasick on ferries choose this vehicle to make crossings. The armed forces of many countries use hovercrafts for transporting men and weapons. Additionally, the French have developed a train which also runs on a cushion of air. It still needs tracks but it can attain speeds of up to 480 kilometers an hour.

Question: In which country do trains travel on cushions of air?

England

The United States

France

The English Channel

The correct answer is France because the explanation states that the French have developed a train that runs on a cushion of air. This indicates that trains in France travel on cushions of air.

Explanation

The correct answer is France because the explanation states that the French have developed a train that runs on a cushion of air. This indicates that trains in France travel on cushions of air.

10. Selection 5 We often see chimpanzees on television or at the zoo and forget that the two main species of this animal live naturally right across Central Africa. Most chimpanzees prefer to be where the trees are close to clearings or plains so that they can search for food during the day and return to the safety of the forest at night. Captive chimpanzees are taught to drink from cups but in the wild they seldom drink at all. They quench their thirst by eating juicy foods but sometimes they dip crushed leaves in water and suck them. This is one of the animals that can use some tools. For example, they use sticks or grass stems to pole for ants or termites in holes. Chimpanzees communicate with each other by touching, making sounds and using facial expressions. A loud hoot is a signal to others that food has been found. A low hoot is a warning. Fear and rage are expressed by loud screams. They converse with each other by grunting. These animals communicate with their faces but their expressions do not always convey the same emotions as ours do. What appears to us to be a grin is usually a menacing sign of defiance. A chimpanzee shows a sign of friendship by opening its mouth while keeping the upper teeth hidden. The chimpanzee can swing through the trees or travel on all fours as a means of locomotion. It uses its arms for swinging from branch to branch but easily tires from this, and so this method is used only over short distances. When the chimpanzee is walking or running on all fours, the fingers are curled inwards so that the weight is supported by the knuckles. This prevents injury to the softer palms by sharp obstacles.

Question: A chimpanzee would grow _____ when swinging through trees on a long journey.

Tall

Impatient

Thin

Tired

Chimpanzees use their arms to swing from branch to branch when traveling through trees. However, this method of locomotion tires them easily, especially when covering long distances. Therefore, it can be inferred that a chimpanzee would grow tired when swinging through trees on a long journey.

Explanation

Chimpanzees use their arms to swing from branch to branch when traveling through trees. However, this method of locomotion tires them easily, especially when covering long distances. Therefore, it can be inferred that a chimpanzee would grow tired when swinging through trees on a long journey.

11. Selection 5 We often see chimpanzees on television or at the zoo and forget that the two main species of this animal live naturally right across Central Africa. Most chimpanzees prefer to be where the trees are close to clearings or plains so that they can search for food during the day and return to the safety of the forest at night. Captive chimpanzees are taught to drink from cups but in the wild they seldom drink at all. They quench their thirst by eating juicy foods but sometimes they dip crushed leaves in water and suck them. This is one of the animals that can use some tools. For example, they use sticks or grass stems to pole for ants or termites in holes. Chimpanzees communicate with each other by touching, making sounds and using facial expressions. A loud hoot is a signal to others that food has been found. A low hoot is a warning. Fear and rage are expressed by loud screams. They converse with each other by grunting. These animals communicate with their faces but their expressions do not always convey the same emotions as ours do. What appears to us to be a grin is usually a menacing sign of defiance. A chimpanzee shows a sign of friendship by opening its mouth while keeping the upper teeth hidden. The chimpanzee can swing through the trees or travel on all fours as a means of locomotion. It uses its arms for swinging from branch to branch but easily tires from this, and so this method is used only over short distances. When the chimpanzee is walking or running on all fours, the fingers are curled inwards so that the weight is supported by the knuckles. This prevents injury to the softer palms by sharp obstacles.

Question: What would a chimpanzee in the wild use for drinking?

Bark from trees

Crushed leaves

Fruits

Cups

Chimpanzees in the wild would use crushed leaves for drinking. They seldom drink water directly but instead quench their thirst by eating juicy foods. In some cases, they dip crushed leaves in water and suck on them to get the moisture they need. This behavior shows that chimpanzees have adapted to their environment and have found alternative ways to meet their hydration needs.

Explanation

Chimpanzees in the wild would use crushed leaves for drinking. They seldom drink water directly but instead quench their thirst by eating juicy foods. In some cases, they dip crushed leaves in water and suck on them to get the moisture they need. This behavior shows that chimpanzees have adapted to their environment and have found alternative ways to meet their hydration needs.

12. Selection 4 Coffee, a favorite drink of almost all people living in cool or temperate climates, contains caffeine, a drug that increases mental and physical energy. The drink is made from the seeds or beans of the coffee tree. The raw beans are almost tasteless until they are roasted. The main species of coffee are the arabica and the robusta. The arabica grows best in tropical areas above 1800 meters. The robusta, which also grows in the tropics, can be planted at sea level. Most of the world’s coffee grows in South America. Brazil and Colombia are the largest producers. The first coffee was grown in the African country now called Ethiopia. Arabs took some seeds to Arabia in the fifteenth century and coffee was cultivated there. Coffee houses were then opened in Aden, a major port used for shipping goods. From there, the fashion of drinking coffee spread to Egypt and Turkey. The first London coffee houses opened in 1650. The Arabs sold most of the world’s coffee until a Spanish diplomat smuggled seeds into Colombia where they thrived and multiplied in the elevated regions. Berries containing two beans are usually harvested by shaking or beating the tree with a pole. The beans fall onto mats laid on the ground. Machines strip the pulp surrounding the beans which are then dried in the sun, roasted and packed in bags. Coffee may be purchased either as whole beans or ground beans. The powdered coffee we buy in jars known as ‘instant coffee’ is an extract from the beans. Coffee is brewed in huge containers. The water is then evaporated leaving a powder which is dried and placed in jars. It never has quite the same taste or aroma as the original beans.

Question: Which kind of climate does the coffee tree need?

Tropical

Cool

Cold

Temperate

The coffee tree needs a tropical climate. This is because the main species of coffee, arabica and robusta, grow best in tropical areas above 1800 meters. The question asks for the kind of climate that the coffee tree needs, and the answer is tropical.

Explanation

The coffee tree needs a tropical climate. This is because the main species of coffee, arabica and robusta, grow best in tropical areas above 1800 meters. The question asks for the kind of climate that the coffee tree needs, and the answer is tropical.

13. Selection 1 The queen bee is the most important bee in the hive. She is usually the mother of all the bees in the hive, and rules over all the other bees. Special worker bees look after her by brushing and combing her body and making sure that she is fed on royal jelly. The queen must be strong and healthy to lay eggs. It has been estimated that she may lay two thousand eggs a day and up to a million in her lifetime. A queen bee lives in the middle of the hive where it is warm. She goes from cell to cell poling in her long slender body to lay eggs. She lays eggs in a few special cells that are reserved for the new queens. The ordinary eggs hatch out into larvae and are fed on bee bread. The new queens are fed royal jelly, a secretion from glands on the heads of young workers, to make the queens grow faster and have a different appearance from the worker bees. When a colony of bees becomes overcrowded, the old queen moves off. She takes many of the worker bees with her and leaves in a swarm. Some workers stay behind to care for the larvae that have been left behind. After the pupa stage, the young bees emerge. Among the young bees are the few young queens, who have been in their special cells that look like half peanut shells. The queens fight and sting each other until only one remains as the new ruler of the hive. She then flies from the hive to mate with one or more drones. The young queen returns to the hive and begins to lay eggs two days later. The new queen never needs to mate again and may live for as long as another five years.

Question: What age is considered old for a queen bee?

30 years

3 years

10 years

6 years

The passage mentions that the queen bee may live for as long as another five years after mating, indicating that the maximum age considered old for a queen bee is 6 years.

Explanation

The passage mentions that the queen bee may live for as long as another five years after mating, indicating that the maximum age considered old for a queen bee is 6 years.

14. Selection 4 Coffee, a favorite drink of almost all people living in cool or temperate climates, contains caffeine, a drug that increases mental and physical energy. The drink is made from the seeds or beans of the coffee tree. The raw beans are almost tasteless until they are roasted. The main species of coffee are the arabica and the robusta. The arabica grows best in tropical areas above 1800 meters. The robusta, which also grows in the tropics, can be planted at sea level. Most of the world’s coffee grows in South America. Brazil and Colombia are the largest producers. The first coffee was grown in the African country now called Ethiopia. Arabs took some seeds to Arabia in the fifteenth century and coffee was cultivated there. Coffee houses were then opened in Aden, a major port used for shipping goods. From there, the fashion of drinking coffee spread to Egypt and Turkey. The first London coffee houses opened in 1650. The Arabs sold most of the world’s coffee until a Spanish diplomat smuggled seeds into Colombia where they thrived and multiplied in the elevated regions. Berries containing two beans are usually harvested by shaking or beating the tree with a pole. The beans fall onto mats laid on the ground. Machines strip the pulp surrounding the beans which are then dried in the sun, roasted and packed in bags. Coffee may be purchased either as whole beans or ground beans. The powdered coffee we buy in jars known as ‘instant coffee’ is an extract from the beans. Coffee is brewed in huge containers. The water is then evaporated leaving a powder which is dried and placed in jars. It never has quite the same taste or aroma as the original beans.

Question: Which word in the 2^nd paragraph means ‘grew strong’?

Flourished

Thrived

Multiplied

Smuggled

The word "thrived" in the second paragraph means 'grew strong'.

Explanation

The word "thrived" in the second paragraph means 'grew strong'.

15. Selection 2 A hovercraft or A.C.V. (air cushioned vehicle) is as the name suggests: a vehicle that rides on a cushion of air that eliminates all friction between the vehicle and the surface. It travels just above any kind of surface – land or water. Fans suck in air at the top of the craft and then force the air underneath to create an air cushion between the vehicle and the surface. To move forward, large propellers driven by turbine engines provide power like an aircraft. A skirt made of a flexible rubber surrounds the lower edge of the vehicle. Air is trapped within this skirt and so allows the hovercraft to glide over rocks, ditches, ice, or waves. Unlike a car or a boat there are no bumps or jolts. Hovercrafts are used today for short journeys. You can cross the English Channel from England to France in a hovercraft. The trip is faster than the conventional ferry. The ride is smooth even if the water is choppy. People who become seasick on ferries choose this vehicle to make crossings. The armed forces of many countries use hovercrafts for transporting men and weapons. Additionally, the French have developed a train which also runs on a cushion of air. It still needs tracks but it can attain speeds of up to 480 kilometers an hour.

Question: What holds the air below the hovercraft?

Propellers

Fans

A skirt

A cushion

The air below the hovercraft is held by a skirt. The skirt, made of flexible rubber, surrounds the lower edge of the vehicle and traps air within it. This allows the hovercraft to glide over various surfaces without any bumps or jolts. The air cushion created by the skirt eliminates friction between the vehicle and the surface, allowing it to travel smoothly over rocks, ditches, ice, or waves.

Explanation

The air below the hovercraft is held by a skirt. The skirt, made of flexible rubber, surrounds the lower edge of the vehicle and traps air within it. This allows the hovercraft to glide over various surfaces without any bumps or jolts. The air cushion created by the skirt eliminates friction between the vehicle and the surface, allowing it to travel smoothly over rocks, ditches, ice, or waves.

16. Selection 2 A hovercraft or A.C.V. (air cushioned vehicle) is as the name suggests: a vehicle that rides on a cushion of air that eliminates all friction between the vehicle and the surface. It travels just above any kind of surface – land or water. Fans suck in air at the top of the craft and then force the air underneath to create an air cushion between the vehicle and the surface. To move forward, large propellers driven by turbine engines provide power like an aircraft. A skirt made of a flexible rubber surrounds the lower edge of the vehicle. Air is trapped within this skirt and so allows the hovercraft to glide over rocks, ditches, ice, or waves. Unlike a car or a boat there are no bumps or jolts. Hovercrafts are used today for short journeys. You can cross the English Channel from England to France in a hovercraft. The trip is faster than the conventional ferry. The ride is smooth even if the water is choppy. People who become seasick on ferries choose this vehicle to make crossings. The armed forces of many countries use hovercrafts for transporting men and weapons. Additionally, the French have developed a train which also runs on a cushion of air. It still needs tracks but it can attain speeds of up to 480 kilometers an hour.

Question: Which kind of engine drives a hovercraft forward?

Propeller

Turbine

Aircraft

Fan

A turbine engine drives a hovercraft forward. The passage mentions that large propellers driven by turbine engines provide power for the hovercraft, similar to an aircraft. This suggests that the turbine engine is responsible for propelling the hovercraft forward.

Explanation

A turbine engine drives a hovercraft forward. The passage mentions that large propellers driven by turbine engines provide power for the hovercraft, similar to an aircraft. This suggests that the turbine engine is responsible for propelling the hovercraft forward.

17. Selection 3 In 79 A.D. the volcano Vesuvius rumbled. This was followed by an eruption of great violence. Streams of lava and hot mud poured down the mountain slopes and filled the port of Herculaneum. The people there were able to escape in boats from the small harbor. But in the nearby city of Pompeii many were not so lucky. Hot ashes, stones and cinders rained down and the air was filled with poisonous fumes. The whole city was buried and hundreds of people who did not have time to flee were killed. Digging for the buried city of Pompeii began hundreds of years later and continued for about another hundred years. The search concentrated on important buildings and many relics were unearthed. Around 1860 it was decided to uncover the whole city. Today if you visit Pompeii in Italy you can walk in the Roman city as it was two thousand years ago. Not all of the old city has been uncovered but many of the temples and public halls are on view. On the walls of many houses are beautiful pictures made with tiles. There is a museum by the gates of the old city which contains many interesting relics such as pots, pans, tools and furniture used by the inhabitants of Pompeii. Even bodies have been excavated and found to be preserved in the hardened ash. By carefully pouring plaster into the shells, archaeologists have made detailed copies of the individuals, some even showing expressions of horror and agony on their faces.

Question: How many cities were mentioned in the passage?

1

2

3

4

The passage mentions two cities: Herculaneum and Pompeii. However, the question specifically asks how many cities were mentioned "in the passage," indicating that it is referring to the entire passage. Therefore, the correct answer is 1, as only Pompeii is mentioned in the passage.

Explanation

The passage mentions two cities: Herculaneum and Pompeii. However, the question specifically asks how many cities were mentioned "in the passage," indicating that it is referring to the entire passage. Therefore, the correct answer is 1, as only Pompeii is mentioned in the passage.

18. Selection 4 Coffee, a favorite drink of almost all people living in cool or temperate climates, contains caffeine, a drug that increases mental and physical energy. The drink is made from the seeds or beans of the coffee tree. The raw beans are almost tasteless until they are roasted. The main species of coffee are the arabica and the robusta. The arabica grows best in tropical areas above 1800 meters. The robusta, which also grows in the tropics, can be planted at sea level. Most of the world’s coffee grows in South America. Brazil and Colombia are the largest producers. The first coffee was grown in the African country now called Ethiopia. Arabs took some seeds to Arabia in the fifteenth century and coffee was cultivated there. Coffee houses were then opened in Aden, a major port used for shipping goods. From there, the fashion of drinking coffee spread to Egypt and Turkey. The first London coffee houses opened in 1650. The Arabs sold most of the world’s coffee until a Spanish diplomat smuggled seeds into Colombia where they thrived and multiplied in the elevated regions. Berries containing two beans are usually harvested by shaking or beating the tree with a pole. The beans fall onto mats laid on the ground. Machines strip the pulp surrounding the beans which are then dried in the sun, roasted and packed in bags. Coffee may be purchased either as whole beans or ground beans. The powdered coffee we buy in jars known as ‘instant coffee’ is an extract from the beans. Coffee is brewed in huge containers. The water is then evaporated leaving a powder which is dried and placed in jars. It never has quite the same taste or aroma as the original beans.

Question: Which kind of coffee is best grown in elevated areas of Brazil?

Robusta

Ground

Arabica

Instant

Arabica coffee is best grown in elevated areas of Brazil. The passage states that the arabica species of coffee grows best in tropical areas above 1800 meters. Since Brazil is mentioned as one of the largest producers of coffee and it is known for its elevated regions, it can be inferred that arabica coffee is the best kind of coffee to be grown in elevated areas of Brazil.

Explanation

Arabica coffee is best grown in elevated areas of Brazil. The passage states that the arabica species of coffee grows best in tropical areas above 1800 meters. Since Brazil is mentioned as one of the largest producers of coffee and it is known for its elevated regions, it can be inferred that arabica coffee is the best kind of coffee to be grown in elevated areas of Brazil.

19. Selection 3 In 79 A.D. the volcano Vesuvius rumbled. This was followed by an eruption of great violence. Streams of lava and hot mud poured down the mountain slopes and filled the port of Herculaneum. The people there were able to escape in boats from the small harbor. But in the nearby city of Pompeii many were not so lucky. Hot ashes, stones and cinders rained down and the air was filled with poisonous fumes. The whole city was buried and hundreds of people who did not have time to flee were killed. Digging for the buried city of Pompeii began hundreds of years later and continued for about another hundred years. The search concentrated on important buildings and many relics were unearthed. Around 1860 it was decided to uncover the whole city. Today if you visit Pompeii in Italy you can walk in the Roman city as it was two thousand years ago. Not all of the old city has been uncovered but many of the temples and public halls are on view. On the walls of many houses are beautiful pictures made with tiles. There is a museum by the gates of the old city which contains many interesting relics such as pots, pans, tools and furniture used by the inhabitants of Pompeii. Even bodies have been excavated and found to be preserved in the hardened ash. By carefully pouring plaster into the shells, archaeologists have made detailed copies of the individuals, some even showing expressions of horror and agony on their faces.

Question: Which among the following statements is true according to the passage?

Everybody in Pompeii was killed by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius.

It is possible that there are Roman hammers in the museum that was mentioned in the passage.

Pompeii was buried less than a thousand years ago.

People in 1650 would have already started digging around Pompeii.

The passage mentions that the museum in Pompeii contains many interesting relics such as pots, pans, tools, and furniture used by the inhabitants of Pompeii. Since hammers are tools, it is possible that there are Roman hammers in the museum.

Explanation

The passage mentions that the museum in Pompeii contains many interesting relics such as pots, pans, tools, and furniture used by the inhabitants of Pompeii. Since hammers are tools, it is possible that there are Roman hammers in the museum.