Reading Comprehension: Social Science
Reading Comprehension: 20 questions / 30 minutes (After 30 minutes, the window will be closed. )
Check you select right topic according to your major.
Topic for Social Science (major: sociology, psychology, education, anthropology, archeology )
Questions and Answers
- 1.
Choose the meaning that is closest to the meaning of the verb underlined. The teacher had her class writie a composition.
- A.
Gave them no choice
- B.
Persuaded them
- C.
Requested them to do this
Correct Answer
C. Requested them to do thisExplanation
The sentence states that the teacher had her class write a composition. This implies that the teacher asked or requested the students to write a composition, rather than giving them no choice or persuading them. Therefore, the closest meaning to the underlined verb is "requested them to do this".Rate this question:
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- 2.
* Choose the meaning that is closest to the meaning of the verb underlined. Mrs. Wilson made the children wash their hands before dinner.
- A.
Gave them no choice
- B.
Persuaded them
- C.
Requested them to do this
Correct Answer
A. Gave them no choiceExplanation
The correct answer is "gave them no choice." This means that Mrs. Wilson forced the children to wash their hands before dinner and did not allow them to refuse or have any other options.Rate this question:
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- 3.
* Read the descriptions of some TV news programs. Choose the correct words and phrases. < Regional Recap > Are you addicted to the news? This Friday morning program features all of your favorite stories from the previous week, so you can enjoy them all again. Especially useful for busy people who didn’t catch all of the details of their favorite stories during the week. < All news is Good News! > If you need to (1) _______ from negative news stories, you’ll appreciate our coverage of only positive stories. We (2) ________ stories about success, lucky breaks, and ordinary people who have become heroes in their communities. Join us for our daily message of hope and happiness. Q) Fill the blank 1)
- A.
Underlying
- B.
Get the scoop on
- C.
Coverage
- D.
Take a break
- E.
Catch
Correct Answer
D. Take a breakExplanation
The blank should be filled with "take a break" because the description mentions that if you need to take a break from negative news stories, you'll appreciate their coverage of only positive stories. This suggests that the program offers a break from negative news and focuses on positive stories.Rate this question:
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- 4.
Q) Fill the blank (2)
- A.
Underlying
- B.
Get the scoop on
- C.
Coverage
- D.
Take a break
- E.
Catch
Correct Answer
B. Get the scoop onExplanation
The phrase "get the scoop on" means to obtain or gather information or details about something. It is often used when wanting to find out the latest news or inside information about a particular topic or situation.Rate this question:
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- 5.
Q) Fill the blank 3)
- A.
Underlying
- B.
Get the scoop on
- C.
Coverage
- D.
Take a break
- E.
Catch
Correct Answer
A. Underlying -
- 6.
< The San Andreas Fault > Chapter 1: Southern and central segments. Chapter 2: Northern Segments Chapter 3: Notable Earthquakes Chapter 4: Scientific Research Chapter 5: Pop Culture Reference Chapter 6: The Next Big one. Q) The reader is looking for a description of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. The reader would probably find this information most quickly and easily by looking first in which part of the book?
- A.
Chapter one
- B.
Chapter three
- C.
Chapter five
- D.
Chapter six
Correct Answer
B. Chapter threeExplanation
Chapter three, titled "Notable Earthquakes," would be the most likely place to find a description of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. This chapter specifically focuses on significant earthquakes, and since the 1906 San Francisco earthquake is a notable event, it is reasonable to assume that it would be discussed in this chapter.Rate this question:
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- 7.
Choose one sentence which is not relate to the main idea of the passage. The discovery of America was an accident. It was the result of Europe’s desire for trade with China and India. In 1492, Christopher Columbus set out under the flag of Spain to find a direct sea route to the rich trading areas of the Far East. (1) He hoped to find a shorter route to China and India. (2) So he sailed due west across the Atlantic. (3) Instead, he found two huge continents that were until then unknown to Europe. (4) They blocked his way to the Far East. (5) These two continents were North America and South America.
- A.
(1)
- B.
(2)
- C.
(3)
- D.
(4)
- E.
(5)
Correct Answer
D. (4) -
- 8.
* Read the passage and answer the question. It is easy to say, “Enlarge your vocabulary: first, that you may enter upon the privileges of a cultivated person: and second, that you may be able to to tell the truth easily and accurately.” But it is another and more difficult matter to prescribe the means by which this is to be done. Every student must, to a large degree, work out his or her own method. the reading of the best books and conversation with cultivated people are both helps to the free use of words. The dictionary is the best friend for your task. Never allow a strange word to pass unchallenged. Usually, it is wide to look it up at the moment. If that is impossible, it must be written firmly on the memory and traced at the first opportunity. It is good to encourage in yourself the habit of dawdling a little over the dictionary. It is the only place where dawdling reaps a harvest. To learn two new words a day-thoroughly to learn them, so that their use will not have a foreign accent-is to insure a large vocabulary before you reach middle age. Q) The paragraph states that you can enlarge your vocabulary by:
- A.
Any means possible.
- B.
Using the dictionary often.
- C.
Accepting the privileges of a cultivated person.
- D.
Developing your memory.
Correct Answer
B. Using the dictionary often.Explanation
The paragraph suggests that one way to enlarge your vocabulary is by using the dictionary often. The passage mentions that when encountering a strange word, it is important to look it up in the dictionary. If looking it up immediately is not possible, one should make a note of it and find the definition later. The passage also encourages the habit of spending time with the dictionary, implying that it is a valuable resource for expanding one's vocabulary.Rate this question:
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- 9.
* Read the passage and answer the question. Talking with a young man about success and a career, Doctor Samuel Johnson advised the youth to “know something about everything, and everything about something.” The advice was good--in Doctor Johnson’s day, when London was an isolated village, and it took a week to get the news from Paris, Rome, and Berlin. Today, if a man were to take all knowledge for his province and try to know something about everything, the allotment of time would give one minute to each subject, and soon the youth would flit from topic to topic as a butterfly from flower to flower, and life would be about as evanescent as the butterfly, that lives for the present honey and moment. Today commercial, literary, or inventive success means concentration. Q) In order to be successful, the writer would probably advise youth:
- A.
To act more seriously and live life day to day.
- B.
To spend more time studying subjects they like.
- C.
To know something about everything only.
- D.
To concentrate and specialize in one area.
Correct Answer
D. To concentrate and specialize in one area.Explanation
The passage states that in today's world, success requires concentration and specialization. The advice given by Doctor Samuel Johnson, to "know something about everything, and everything about something," was relevant in his time when information was not easily accessible. However, in the present day, with an overwhelming amount of information available, it is more important to focus on one area and become an expert in that field. Therefore, the writer would advise the youth to concentrate and specialize in one area in order to be successful.Rate this question:
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- 10.
* Read the passage and answer the question. Chemical weapons were first used by Germany during World War 1. Britain, France, and the United States soon followed suit. Soldiers suffocated in poisonous clouds of chlorine; when the gas mask was invented, combatants deployed the more pervasive and persistent mustard gas, which caused severe blistering, clouded eyes, seared lungs, and if the victim survived, a greater chance of developing cancer. Immediately following the war, members of the League of Nations began formulating a comprehensive international ban on chemical weapons, although many signatories reserved the right to produce them as a retaliatory measure. The United States did not add its signature until fifty years later, in 1975. Q) We can conclude from the last sentence that the United States:
- A.
Suffered more than most countries in chemical warfare.
- B.
Was reluctant to give up its right to produce chemical weapons.
- C.
Waited until all countries signed the 1925 Geneva Protocol.
- D.
Detested war and all its horrible weapons.
Correct Answer
B. Was reluctant to give up its right to produce chemical weapons.Explanation
The last sentence states that the United States did not sign the international ban on chemical weapons until fifty years later, suggesting that they were reluctant to give up their right to produce chemical weapons. This implies that the United States had reservations about completely abandoning the production of chemical weapons.Rate this question:
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- 11.
[ Question 12-15 ] Read the passage below and answer the FOUR questions that follow. Before one begins to read an unfamiliar work of literature, it is often helpful to know what kind of work it is--that is, what genre it belongs to. If we know what expectations we should have, we are less likely to misunderstand what the author is trying to accomplish. The Lord of the Rings is a work of fiction written in the middle of this century about a world that greatly resembles medieval times in Europe. It is unmistakably a novel, yet the real significance of the events and the characters will be clearer to readers who know something about the literary tradition, or genre, called the epic, and who have read, for example, The Odyssey or Beowulf. Moreover, there is a special kind of pleasure in the recognition of familiar patterns of events and characterization, which are varied and even deliberately reversed. The skillful interplay of a great storyteller like Tolkien. No one, of course, knows exactly what the Middle Ages were really like, but readers get an illusion in The Lord of the Rings of being in an ancient world which is in some mysterious way part of the history of our own world. Then, after the fashion of the epic tradition, they will expect that the story will follow the movements of a particular person who is of heroic stature (physically and mentally) and who embodies the ideals and values of a particular people. Readers feel sure that the hero will, like the heroes in The Odyssey and Beowulf, go on a journey and experience a variety of adventures, which he will survive after many hardships and will then return to his own home and people. Q) Which of the following is probably the intended audience for this passage?
- A.
Students of the Middle Ages
- B.
Those preparing to read The Odyssey
- C.
Those preparing to read The Lord of the Rings
- D.
Those preparing to read Beowulf
Correct Answer
C. Those preparing to read The Lord of the RingsExplanation
The passage discusses the significance of understanding the genre of a work of literature before reading it, specifically mentioning The Lord of the Rings as an example. It mentions that readers who are familiar with the epic genre and have read The Odyssey or Beowulf will have a clearer understanding of the events and characters in The Lord of the Rings. Therefore, the intended audience for this passage is likely those who are preparing to read The Lord of the Rings.Rate this question:
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- 12.
[ Question 12-15 ] Q) The central point of the passage is best summarized as follows:
- A.
The heroes in Tolkien's story are identical to those in The Odyssey or Beowulf.
- B.
Ons should read familiar works of literature before reading and unfamiliar one.
- C.
The history of the ancient world is related to the history of our own world.
- D.
Fully appreciating The Lord of the Rings involves familiarity with the epic tradition.
Correct Answer
D. Fully appreciating The Lord of the Rings involves familiarity with the epic tradition.Explanation
The central point of the passage is that in order to fully appreciate The Lord of the Rings, one needs to be familiar with the epic tradition. This implies that the heroes in Tolkien's story are similar to those in other epic works like The Odyssey or Beowulf, and that reading familiar works of literature before reading an unfamiliar one is important. Additionally, the passage suggests that the history of the ancient world is related to the history of our own world, further emphasizing the need for familiarity with the epic tradition to fully appreciate The Lord of the Rings.Rate this question:
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- 13.
[ Question 12-15 ] Q) The author implies which of the following about the conclusion of The Lord of the Rings?
- A.
It is a happy one.
- B.
It is a unique one.
- C.
It has been plagiarized.
- D.
It is very much like the opening of the novel.
Correct Answer
A. It is a happy one.Explanation
The author implies that the conclusion of The Lord of the Rings is a happy one. This can be inferred from the given options where the only relevant statement is "It is a happy one." The other options, such as "It is a unique one" or "It has been plagiarized," do not provide any information about the conclusion being happy. Additionally, the option "It is very much like the opening of the novel" does not provide any information about the conclusion being happy either. Therefore, the correct answer is that the conclusion of The Lord of the Rings is a happy one.Rate this question:
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- 14.
[ Question 12-15 ] Q) It may be inferred that readers who expect The Lord of the Rings to contain elements of the epic tradition will:
- A.
Have a background that the author of this passage does not share.
- B.
Have ignored this passage.
- C.
Have misread this passage.
- D.
Have their expectations fulfilled.
Correct Answer
D. Have their expectations fulfilled.Explanation
Readers who expect The Lord of the Rings to contain elements of the epic tradition will have their expectations fulfilled. This can be inferred from the information given in the question stem, which states that readers who expect elements of the epic tradition will have their expectations fulfilled. Therefore, it can be concluded that these readers will find what they are looking for in The Lord of the Rings.Rate this question:
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- 15.
Topic C. Social science (major: sociology, psychology, education, anthropology, archeology ) [ Text ] (1) Vicious crimes can contribute to a sense of unease among citizens who feel defenseless against the perpetrators. Continued concern over public protection has triggered recurring discussions about violence in media, political and social arenas, and the proliferation of a plentitude of theories about the cause of violence, which attribute it variously to war, drug addiction, class or race frustrations, even suggesting that it is inherently present in cultural identity. As part of an effort to understand the predispostions to violence, scientists have attempted to speculate on a biological explanation for this behavior. (2) Some scientists have considered a direct relationship between the likelihood a person will commit a violent crime and the level of serotonin, an organic compound believed to play an integral role in the regulation of mood, sleep, sexuality, and appetite, present in the brain. In the central nervous system, serotonin is part of the biochemistry that is related to several psychological conditions; depression, migraines, bipolar disorder, and anxiety are all linked to an overproduction or underproduction of the compound. If violent behavior could be clinically linked to an imbalance in brain chemicals, then scientists would be able to control aggressive tendencies through medication before the behavior escalates. (3) The first government sponsored study into the possibility of inherited propensity for violence was conducted in 1998 by the Violence Initiative Project, which was led by two Columbia University professors, covering a wide scope of interdisciplinary subjects such as biochemistry, neurophysiology, and genetics. The team chose to examine the brains of 34 young boys, none of whom had previously committed a violent act. They were selected because each had an older sibling (all boys) who had been incarcerated for a violent crime. The scientists assumed that the younger brothers would display a similar inclination toward violence as their older siblings and thus hypothesized that they would exhibit low levels of serotonin, which is genetically determined. During the test, the subjects fasted for 12 hours, drank only water, and were administered an oral dose of fenfluramine hydroxide, a volatile chemical that, when consumed, heightens serotonin levels in normal brains and produces severe mood-related side effects, such as the abnormally high incidences of fatigue, headache, and irritability. By introducing the chemical, researchers claimed that they would be capable of raising their subjects’ supposedly low serotonin levels to those of average brains and that medication would, regardless of race, class, or any other environmental stressors, inhibit their desire for executing violent acts. (4) While withdrawing hourly blood samples of the subjects to test brain chemistry, the scientists disproved their own theories because the medicated younger siblings, 44% African-American and 56% Hispanic, in fact, began to show some of the side effects of the drug, indicating that fenfluramine hydroxide had not balanced serotonin levels, but actually produced an abrupt spike. A complete post-trial review, which compared pre-trial samples with the hourly samples, revealed that the boys did not possess the expected lower than average serotonin levels, challenging the professors’ main argument. (5) Social scientists examining the clinical tests promptly suggested that the main reason for the failure of the professors to link serotonin to violence was because aggressive behavior is determined through a variety of mitigating factors, including a prior history of offensive behavior, childhood experiences, and socio-economic status. According to common social theories, children who are exposed to violence and situations in which they are hurt either physically or emotionally often display tendencies toward hurting others, and sociologists are quick to point out that this is based not on biology, but rather on circumstances. In fact, studies with twins raised in different households, one violent and one non-violent, evidently show that the causation is exposure, not genetic similarity. In addition, criminologists warn that heredity cannot be seen as a driving force behind the predisposition to violence because it denies personal responsibility of the perpetrator, makes judgements of individuals who have never committed a violent act based on biology, and fails to address a myriad of social agents influencing behavior. (6) According to social scientists, any scientific study that excludes data about the test subject’s historical and social background should be considered reductionists, having a tendency to use an inadequately simple set of structures to explain a more complex one. In response, clinical researchers have adjusted many of their clinical trials to account for differences in social and historical context. C-16. The word unease in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to
- A.
Irresolution
- B.
Despair
- C.
Anxiety
- D.
Euphoria
Correct Answer
C. AnxietyExplanation
The word "unease" in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to anxiety. This is because the sentence mentions that vicious crimes can contribute to a sense of unease among citizens, indicating that it is referring to a feeling of worry, fear, or discomfort.Rate this question:
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- 16.
Topic C. Social science (major: sociology, psychology, education, anthropology, archeology ) C-17 . It is implied in paragraph 2 that the goal of research into the biological cause of violent behavior is to:
- A.
Understand how brain chemistry reacts to artificial drugs.
- B.
Develop medicines to prevent violent actions from occurring.
- C.
Increase the ability of society to recognize potential threats.
- D.
Encourage those at risk to go through an examination.
Correct Answer
B. Develop medicines to prevent violent actions from occurring.Explanation
The goal of research into the biological cause of violent behavior is to develop medicines to prevent violent actions from occurring. This can be inferred from the information given in the paragraph, which suggests that understanding the biological causes of violent behavior can lead to the development of interventions or treatments to prevent such behavior. The other options mentioned in the question, such as understanding brain chemistry reactions or increasing society's ability to recognize threats, may be relevant to the research but are not specifically stated as the goal.Rate this question:
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- 17.
Topic C. Social science (major: sociology, psychology, education, anthropology, archeology ) C-18. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage?
- A.
Those exposed to the environmental triggers of violence would be affected by the increase in serotonin fenfluramine hydroxide produced.
- B.
It was believed that the use of fenfluramine hydroxide would keep the subjects from employing violence by normalizing their serotonin levels.
- C.
Fenfluramine hydroxide was given to the subjects from various backgrounds in the belief that it would increase their serotonin levels.
- D.
Researchers had to adjust fenfluramine hydroxide according to the serotonin levels which varied depending on a variety of factors.
Correct Answer
B. It was believed that the use of fenfluramine hydroxide would keep the subjects from employing violence by normalizing their serotonin levels.Explanation
The correct answer suggests that the use of fenfluramine hydroxide was believed to prevent subjects from engaging in violence by normalizing their serotonin levels. This implies that those exposed to environmental triggers of violence would be affected by the increase in serotonin levels caused by the drug. The other options either do not mention the purpose of using fenfluramine hydroxide or do not connect it to the prevention of violence.Rate this question:
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- 18.
Topic C. Social science (major: sociology, psychology, education, anthropology, archeology ) C-19. According to the passage, the author implies that the research done with twins
- A.
Denies the argument that a combination of different elements causes violence.
- B.
Suggests that exposure to violence fosters a genetic predisposition to aggression.
- C.
Promotes the notion that inheritance is not a major factor in violence.
- D.
Recommends that scientific studies should be done with no consideration of historical background.
Correct Answer
C. Promotes the notion that inheritance is not a major factor in violence.Explanation
The correct answer suggests that the research done with twins promotes the notion that inheritance is not a major factor in violence. This implies that the author believes that genetics or heredity does not play a significant role in determining violent behavior.Rate this question:
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- 19.
Topic C. Social science (major: sociology, psychology, education, anthropology, archeology ) C-20. Complete the summary by selecting three answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. Studies on violence have focused on finding an underlying cause. 1) 2) 3)
- A.
Violence is a major concern among many people and is widely discussed in a variety of fields in society.
- B.
Many scholars claim that environmental and social factors are the cause of the onset of violent conduct.
- C.
People who committed a violent crime have to take the responsibility under the law.
- D.
Studies aimed at connecting serotonin to violence have not produced concrete evidence.
- E.
Continued and abusive use of medicines is able to set off brute acts.
- F.
Researchers have attempted to discover the intrinsic nature of violence by looking at biological determinants.
Correct Answer(s)
B. Many scholars claim that environmental and social factors are the cause of the onset of violent conduct.
D. Studies aimed at connecting serotonin to violence have not produced concrete evidence.
F. Researchers have attempted to discover the intrinsic nature of violence by looking at biological determinants.Explanation
The passage discusses various factors related to violence and the studies conducted to understand its causes. The first answer choice, "Many scholars claim that environmental and social factors are the cause of the onset of violent conduct," is important because it highlights the belief that environmental and social factors contribute to violent behavior. The second answer choice, "Studies aimed at connecting serotonin to violence have not produced concrete evidence," is significant because it suggests that research linking serotonin to violence has been inconclusive. The third answer choice, "Researchers have attempted to discover the intrinsic nature of violence by looking at biological determinants," is important because it mentions the approach of studying biological determinants to understand the nature of violence.Rate this question:
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