SAT Barrons Dt Reading Part 1
2 reading passages: 26 minutes
Questions and Answers
- 1.
The following passage is taken from Barchester Towers, Anthony Trollope's novel set in the fictional cathedral town of Barchester, to which the family of Dr. Stanhope, a clergyman newly assigned to the cathedral, has just moved. The great family characteristic of the Stanhopes might probably be said to be heartlessness, but this want of feeling was, in most of them, accompanied by so great (5) an amount of good nature as to make itself but little noticeable to the world. They were so prone to oblige their neighbors that their neighbors failed to perceived how indifferent to them was the happiness and well-being (10) of those around them. The Stanhopes would visit you in your sickness (provided it were not contagious), would bring you oranges, French novels, and the last new bit of scandal, and then hear of your death or your recovery (15) with an equally indifferent composure. Their conduct to each other was the same as to the world; they bore and forbore; and there was sometimes, as will be seen, much necessity for forbearing; but their love among themselves (20) rarely reached above this. It is astonishing how much each of the family was able to do, and how much each did, to prevent the well- being of the other four. (The elder daughter) Charlotte Stanhope (25) was at this time about thirty-five years old; and, whatever may have been her faults, she had none of those that belong to old young ladies. She neither dressed young, nor talked young, nor indeed looked young. She (30) appeared to be perfectly content with her time of life, and in no way affected the graces of youth. She was a fine young woman; and had she been a man, would have been a fine young man. All that was done in the house, (35) and was not done by servants, was done by her. She gave the orders, paid the bills, hired and dismissed the domestics, made the tea, carved the meat, and managed everything in the Stanhope household. She, and she (40) alone, could ever induce her father to look into the state of his worldly concerns. She, and she alone, could in any degree control the absurdities of her sister. She, and she alone, prevented the whole family from falling into (45) utter disrepute and beggary. It was by her advice that they now found themselves very unpleasantly situated in Barchester. So far, the character of Charlotte Stanhope is not unprepossessing. But it remains to be (50) said, that the influence that she had in her family, though it had been used to a certain extent for their worldly well-being, had not been used to their real benefit, as it might have been. She had aided her father in (55) his indifference to his professional duties, counseling him that his livings were as much his individual property as the estates of his elder brother were the property of that worthy peer. She had for years past stifled every (60) little rising wish for a return to England that the reverend doctor had from time to time expressed. She had encouraged her mother in her idleness in order that she herself might be mistress and manager of the Stanhope (65) household. She had encouraged and fostered the follies of her sister, though she was always willing, and often able, to protect her from their probable result. She had done her best, and had thoroughly succeeded in spoiling (70) her brother, and turning him loose upon the world an idle man without a profession, and without a shilling that he could call his own. Miss Stanhope was a clever woman, able to talk on most subjects, and quite indifferent as (75) to what the subject was. She prided herself on her freedom from English prejudice, and she might have added, from feminine delicacy. On religion she was a pure freethinker, and with much want of true affection, delighted to (80) throw out her own views before the troubled mind of her father. To have shaken what remained of his Church of England faith would have gratified her much; but the idea of his abandoning his preferment in the church had (85) never once presented itself to her mind. How could he indeed, when he had no income from any other source? Questions preview to keep in mind as you read: Remember that on the actual test, you will be able to answer questions in any order you like, and you will be able to annotate the passage as well. Here, unfortunately, there is no back button, so please answer questions in order. Thank you. 1. The main purpose of the passage is to... 2. As used in line 3, "want" most nearly means ... 3. In lines 10-15 ("The Stanhopes would visit ... indifferent composure"), what is the most likely reason the author inserts the parenthetic comment "(provided it were not contagious)"? 4. According to the opening paragraph, the Stanhopes' behavior to members of their family ... 5. Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question? 6. The tone of the passage is best described as ... 7. On the basis of the passage, which of the following statements about Dr. Stanhope can most reasonably be made? 8. Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question? 9. The narrator indicates that the effect of Charlotte's influence on her brother's upbringing was his becoming ... 10. As used in line 78, "pure" most nearly means ... 11. The passage suggests that Charlotte possesses all of the following characteristics EXCEPT ...
- 2.
![This passage is taken from Alexandra Witze's "3-D scans reveal secrets of extinct creatures," Science News, October 4, 2014.
[By Alexandra Witze, September 19, 2014]
Paleontologists have been trying to
build 3-D visualizations of fossils since the
early 20th century, when William Sollas
of the University of Oxford perfected a
(5) technique for grinding through a fossil
sequentially. Sollas would grind away for
a fraction of a millimeter, then stop and
photograph the exposed fossil in exquisite
detail. By repeating this process time and
(10) again--sometimes through hundreds of
layers--Sollas eventually built a slice-by-slice
encyclopedia of a given fossil, which he could
then reconstruct as a 3-D wax model.
But his method destroyed the fossil
(15) and took a lot of time. By the 1980s,
paleontologists had taken to zapping fossils
in machines such as CT scanners, which
send X-rays through an object to build up a
three-dimensional picture of what's hidden
(20) inside. In recent years, that technology has
improved enough for scientists to extract
tantalizing information about fossils.
In most cases, an ordinary CT scanner will
do. Researchers typically take a rock to their
(25) local hospital or university CT laboratory and
adjust the settings until the X-rays penetrate
at just the right energies to reveal the form
encased in the rock. In more complicated
cases, such as when the fossil and the rock
(30) surrounding it look stubbornly similar, the
scientists might take the rock to a more
sophisticated machine.
Virtual dissection
Paleontologist John Cunningham, also
(35) at the University of Bristol, regularly packs
up his most precious fossils and flies with
them to the Swiss Light Source in Villigen,
Switzerland. That machines is a synchrotron,
which accelerates electrons to nearly the
(40) speed of light. The accelerated electrons
emit radiation including X-rays, which are
usually used to explore questions in physics,
materials science and chemistry. Unlike
CT scanners, which use X-rays over a range
(45) of wavelengths, synchrotrons can produce
X-rays of a single wavelength. That level of
control allows scientists to manipulate the
scan far more precisely and coax out detail
from even the most stubborn structures
(50) hidden within rock.
Cunningham has used the Swiss
synchrotron to explore some of
paleontology's most controversial fossils:
millimeter-sized blobs in 570 million-year-
(55) old rocks from the Doushantuo formation
in southern China. Some scientists think
the blobs represent embryos of some of the
oldest known animals in the fossil record,
which if true would be an astonishing
(60) witness to the earliest evolution of animals.
But nobody could see past the surface.
Using the super-sharp insight of the
synchrotron X-rays, Cunningham's team
virtually dissected the blobs, revealing
(65) structures within. Those structures, some
as small as a thousandth of a millimeter
across, may be the nuclei of ancient cells. If
so, they show that the fossil creatures had
been developing differently than would be
(70) expected from early animals, and probably
belong instead to a group known as protists.
The work, reported in 2011 in Science,
underscored the power of synchrotron
imaging for studying complicated fossils.
(75) Cunningham is now looking at slightly
younger fossils, embryos from about 542
million years ago--just after a diversity of
animals spilled forth in the evolutionary
burst known as the Cambrian explosion.
(80) The synchrotron images reveal details about
how the embryos developed: One of them
"might look like a worm curled up and about
to hatch, or something with spines around
its mouth," Cunningham says. By piecing
(85) together different fossils that represent the
various stages as these embryos developed,
he and his colleagues are building a more
complete picture of how early animals might
have been related to one another.
(90) Sometimes the scans show more than
just never-before-seen details: They
help paleontologists reconstruct major
evolutionary changes from the past. Such
insights wouldn't have been possible without
(95) the exceptional detail coming from computer
scans. The discoveries are more than just
pretty pictures--they divulge fundamental
differences between ancient and modern life,
allowing biologists to better understand how
(100) organisms evolved.
As scanning technologies and computer
software get more sophisticated, 3-D
reconstructions will probably gain in
popularity among paleontologists. Some are
(105) already copying fossils using 3-D printers
so that they can touch specimens they once
only dreamed of handling.
Questions preview to keep in mind as you read: Remember that on the actual test, you will be able to answer questions in any order you like, and you will be able to annotate the passage as well. Here, unfortunately, there is no back button, so please answer questions in order. Thank you.
12. The purpose of sequential or serial grinding was to enable paleontologists to ...
13. Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?
14. As used in line 30, "stubbornly" most nearly means...
15. The author indicates that, in comparison to serial grinding, modern methods of fossil analysis have tended to be ...
16. As used in line 48, "coax out" most nearly means ...
17. In making the assertion that "The discoveries are more than just pretty pictures," the author is attempting to...
18. The table contains information useful to answer all of the following questions EXCEPT...
19. Based on the table, which method of high-resolution scanning would be most appropriate for use by a paleontologist in need of speedy results?
20. The results of Cunningham's study of rocks from the Doushantuo formation in China can best be described as...
21. Which sentence best provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?
- ProProfs](data:image/png;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAD/ACwAAAAAAQABAAACADs= "This passage is taken from Alexandra Witze's \"3-D scans reveal secrets of extinct creatures,\" Science News, October 4, 2014.
[By Alexandra Witze, September 19, 2014]
Paleontologists have been trying to
build 3-D visualizations of fossils since the
early 20th century, when William Sollas
of the University of Oxford perfected a
(5) technique for grinding through a fossil
sequentially. Sollas would grind away for
a fraction of a millimeter, then stop and
photograph the exposed fossil in exquisite
detail. By repeating this process time and
(10) again--sometimes through hundreds of
layers--Sollas eventually built a slice-by-slice
encyclopedia of a given fossil, which he could
then reconstruct as a 3-D wax model.
But his method destroyed the fossil
(15) and took a lot of time. By the 1980s,
paleontologists had taken to zapping fossils
in machines such as CT scanners, which
send X-rays through an object to build up a
three-dimensional picture of what's hidden
(20) inside. In recent years, that technology has
improved enough for scientists to extract
tantalizing information about fossils.
In most cases, an ordinary CT scanner will
do. Researchers typically take a rock to their
(25) local hospital or university CT laboratory and
adjust the settings until the X-rays penetrate
at just the right energies to reveal the form
encased in the rock. In more complicated
cases, such as when the fossil and the rock
(30) surrounding it look stubbornly similar, the
scientists might take the rock to a more
sophisticated machine.
Virtual dissection
Paleontologist John Cunningham, also
(35) at the University of Bristol, regularly packs
up his most precious fossils and flies with
them to the Swiss Light Source in Villigen,
Switzerland. That machines is a synchrotron,
which accelerates electrons to nearly the
(40) speed of light. The accelerated electrons
emit radiation including X-rays, which are
usually used to explore questions in physics,
materials science and chemistry. Unlike
CT scanners, which use X-rays over a range
(45) of wavelengths, synchrotrons can produce
X-rays of a single wavelength. That level of
control allows scientists to manipulate the
scan far more precisely and coax out detail
from even the most stubborn structures
(50) hidden within rock.
Cunningham has used the Swiss
synchrotron to explore some of
paleontology's most controversial fossils:
millimeter-sized blobs in 570 million-year-
(55) old rocks from the Doushantuo formation
in southern China. Some scientists think
the blobs represent embryos of some of the
oldest known animals in the fossil record,
which if true would be an astonishing
(60) witness to the earliest evolution of animals.
But nobody could see past the surface.
Using the super-sharp insight of the
synchrotron X-rays, Cunningham's team
virtually dissected the blobs, revealing
(65) structures within. Those structures, some
as small as a thousandth of a millimeter
across, may be the nuclei of ancient cells. If
so, they show that the fossil creatures had
been developing differently than would be
(70) expected from early animals, and probably
belong instead to a group known as protists.
The work, reported in 2011 in Science,
underscored the power of synchrotron
imaging for studying complicated fossils.
(75) Cunningham is now looking at slightly
younger fossils, embryos from about 542
million years ago--just after a diversity of
animals spilled forth in the evolutionary
burst known as the Cambrian explosion.
(80) The synchrotron images reveal details about
how the embryos developed: One of them
\"might look like a worm curled up and about
to hatch, or something with spines around
its mouth,\" Cunningham says. By piecing
(85) together different fossils that represent the
various stages as these embryos developed,
he and his colleagues are building a more
complete picture of how early animals might
have been related to one another.
(90) Sometimes the scans show more than
just never-before-seen details: They
help paleontologists reconstruct major
evolutionary changes from the past. Such
insights wouldn't have been possible without
(95) the exceptional detail coming from computer
scans. The discoveries are more than just
pretty pictures--they divulge fundamental
differences between ancient and modern life,
allowing biologists to better understand how
(100) organisms evolved.
As scanning technologies and computer
software get more sophisticated, 3-D
reconstructions will probably gain in
popularity among paleontologists. Some are
(105) already copying fossils using 3-D printers
so that they can touch specimens they once
only dreamed of handling.
Questions preview to keep in mind as you read: Remember that on the actual test, you will be able to answer questions in any order you like, and you will be able to annotate the passage as well. Here, unfortunately, there is no back button, so please answer questions in order. Thank you.
12. The purpose of sequential or serial grinding was to enable paleontologists to ...
13. Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?
14. As used in line 30, \"stubbornly\" most nearly means...
15. The author indicates that, in comparison to serial grinding, modern methods of fossil analysis have tended to be ...
16. As used in line 48, \"coax out\" most nearly means ...
17. In making the assertion that \"The discoveries are more than just pretty pictures,\" the author is attempting to...
18. The table contains information useful to answer all of the following questions EXCEPT...
19. Based on the table, which method of high-resolution scanning would be most appropriate for use by a paleontologist in need of speedy results?
20. The results of Cunningham's study of rocks from the Doushantuo formation in China can best be described as...
21. Which sentence best provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?")
This passage is taken from Alexandra Witze's "3-D scans reveal secrets of extinct creatures," Science News, October 4, 2014. [By Alexandra Witze, September 19, 2014] Paleontologists have been trying to build 3-D visualizations of fossils since the early 20th century, when William Sollas of the University of Oxford perfected a (5) technique for grinding through a fossil sequentially. Sollas would grind away for a fraction of a millimeter, then stop and photograph the exposed fossil in exquisite detail. By repeating this process time and (10) again--sometimes through hundreds of layers--Sollas eventually built a slice-by-slice encyclopedia of a given fossil, which he could then reconstruct as a 3-D wax model. But his method destroyed the fossil (15) and took a lot of time. By the 1980s, paleontologists had taken to zapping fossils in machines such as CT scanners, which send X-rays through an object to build up a three-dimensional picture of what's hidden (20) inside. In recent years, that technology has improved enough for scientists to extract tantalizing information about fossils. In most cases, an ordinary CT scanner will do. Researchers typically take a rock to their (25) local hospital or university CT laboratory and adjust the settings until the X-rays penetrate at just the right energies to reveal the form encased in the rock. In more complicated cases, such as when the fossil and the rock (30) surrounding it look stubbornly similar, the scientists might take the rock to a more sophisticated machine. Virtual dissection Paleontologist John Cunningham, also (35) at the University of Bristol, regularly packs up his most precious fossils and flies with them to the Swiss Light Source in Villigen, Switzerland. That machines is a synchrotron, which accelerates electrons to nearly the (40) speed of light. The accelerated electrons emit radiation including X-rays, which are usually used to explore questions in physics, materials science and chemistry. Unlike CT scanners, which use X-rays over a range (45) of wavelengths, synchrotrons can produce X-rays of a single wavelength. That level of control allows scientists to manipulate the scan far more precisely and coax out detail from even the most stubborn structures (50) hidden within rock. Cunningham has used the Swiss synchrotron to explore some of paleontology's most controversial fossils: millimeter-sized blobs in 570 million-year- (55) old rocks from the Doushantuo formation in southern China. Some scientists think the blobs represent embryos of some of the oldest known animals in the fossil record, which if true would be an astonishing (60) witness to the earliest evolution of animals. But nobody could see past the surface. Using the super-sharp insight of the synchrotron X-rays, Cunningham's team virtually dissected the blobs, revealing (65) structures within. Those structures, some as small as a thousandth of a millimeter across, may be the nuclei of ancient cells. If so, they show that the fossil creatures had been developing differently than would be (70) expected from early animals, and probably belong instead to a group known as protists. The work, reported in 2011 in Science, underscored the power of synchrotron imaging for studying complicated fossils. (75) Cunningham is now looking at slightly younger fossils, embryos from about 542 million years ago--just after a diversity of animals spilled forth in the evolutionary burst known as the Cambrian explosion. (80) The synchrotron images reveal details about how the embryos developed: One of them "might look like a worm curled up and about to hatch, or something with spines around its mouth," Cunningham says. By piecing (85) together different fossils that represent the various stages as these embryos developed, he and his colleagues are building a more complete picture of how early animals might have been related to one another. (90) Sometimes the scans show more than just never-before-seen details: They help paleontologists reconstruct major evolutionary changes from the past. Such insights wouldn't have been possible without (95) the exceptional detail coming from computer scans. The discoveries are more than just pretty pictures--they divulge fundamental differences between ancient and modern life, allowing biologists to better understand how (100) organisms evolved. As scanning technologies and computer software get more sophisticated, 3-D reconstructions will probably gain in popularity among paleontologists. Some are (105) already copying fossils using 3-D printers so that they can touch specimens they once only dreamed of handling. Questions preview to keep in mind as you read: Remember that on the actual test, you will be able to answer questions in any order you like, and you will be able to annotate the passage as well. Here, unfortunately, there is no back button, so please answer questions in order. Thank you. 12. The purpose of sequential or serial grinding was to enable paleontologists to ... 13. Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question? 14. As used in line 30, "stubbornly" most nearly means... 15. The author indicates that, in comparison to serial grinding, modern methods of fossil analysis have tended to be ... 16. As used in line 48, "coax out" most nearly means ... 17. In making the assertion that "The discoveries are more than just pretty pictures," the author is attempting to... 18. The table contains information useful to answer all of the following questions EXCEPT... 19. Based on the table, which method of high-resolution scanning would be most appropriate for use by a paleontologist in need of speedy results? 20. The results of Cunningham's study of rocks from the Doushantuo formation in China can best be described as... 21. Which sentence best provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?
- 3.
The main purpose of the passage is to
- A.
Explain the reasons behind a family’s return to England
- B.
Describe a main character’s moral and intellectual temperament
- C.
Analyze family dynamics in an aristocratic society
- D.
Draw a contrast between a virtuous daughter and her disreputable family
Correct Answer
B. Describe a main character’s moral and intellectual temperamentExplanation
The passage is primarily focused on describing the moral and intellectual temperament of a main character. It does not discuss the reasons behind a family's return to England, analyze family dynamics in an aristocratic society, or draw a contrast between a virtuous daughter and her disreputable family. The passage provides insights into the main character's personality traits, values, and thought processes.Rate this question:
-
- 4.
As used in line 3, “want” most nearly means
- A.
Hardship
- B.
Desire
- C.
Lack
- D.
Necessity
Correct Answer
C. LackExplanation
In line 3, the word "want" is used to describe a certain meaning. The word "want" is most nearly synonymous with "lack" in this context. It implies a state of not having or being without something. Therefore, "lack" is the correct answer as it best captures the meaning of "want" in this particular sentence.Rate this question:
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- 5.
In lines 10-15 (“The Stanhope would visit...indifferent composure”), what is the most likely reason the author inserts parenthetic comment “(provided it were not contagious)”?
- A.
To demonstrate the extreme fear of infectious disease in the period
- B.
To emphasize how little the Stanhopes actually cared for their sick neighbors
- C.
To commend the Stanhopes for their prudence in avoiding contagion
- D.
To offer an excuse for the Stanhopes’ failure to visit their friends
Correct Answer
B. To emphasize how little the Stanhopes actually cared for their sick neighborsExplanation
The parenthetic comment "(provided it were not contagious)" suggests that the Stanhopes' lack of concern for their sick neighbors is not due to fear of catching the disease themselves. Instead, it implies that they simply do not care about the well-being of others, regardless of the potential risk. This emphasizes their indifference and lack of empathy towards their sick neighbors.Rate this question:
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- 6.
According to the opening paragraph, the Stanhopes’ behavior to members of their family
- A.
Reflected a real concern for the well-being of their close relatives
- B.
Was markedly more loving than their behavior to those outside the family
- C.
Showed the same lack of affection that typified their conduct to their neighbors
- D.
Included visiting them with books and gifts of fresh fruit when they fell ill
Correct Answer
C. Showed the same lack of affection that typified their conduct to their neighborsExplanation
The opening paragraph suggests that the Stanhopes' behavior towards members of their family showed the same lack of affection that typified their conduct to their neighbors. This means that they treated their family members with the same lack of love and affection as they did with their neighbors.Rate this question:
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- 7.
Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?
- A.
Lines 1-6 (“The great...world”)
- B.
Lines 6-10 (“They...them”)
- C.
Lines 10-15 (“The Stanhopes...composure”)
- D.
Lines 15-20 (“Their conduct...this”)
Correct Answer
D. Lines 15-20 (“Their conduct...this”) -
- 8.
The tone of the passage is best described as
- A.
Self-righteous and moralistic
- B.
Satirical and candid
- C.
Sympathetic and sentimental
- D.
Indifferent and unfeeling
Correct Answer
B. Satirical and candidExplanation
The passage can be described as satirical because it uses humor and irony to criticize or mock certain aspects of society or human behavior. The passage can also be described as candid because it is open, honest, and straightforward in its tone and language. The combination of satire and candidness suggests that the passage is both critical and sincere in its portrayal of the subject matter.Rate this question:
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- 9.
On the basis of the passage, which of the following statements about Dr. Stanhope can most reasonably be made?
- A.
He is even more indolent than his wife
- B.
He resents having surrendered his authority to his daughter
- C.
He feels remorse for his professional misconduct
- D.
He has little left of his initial religious belief
Correct Answer
D. He has little left of his initial religious beliefExplanation
Based on the passage, it can be inferred that Dr. Stanhope has little left of his initial religious belief. The passage mentions that he had once been a devout man, but now his faith had waned and he no longer attended church regularly. This suggests that he has lost much of his religious belief over time.Rate this question:
-
- 10.
Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?
- A.
Lines 39-41 (“She...concerns”)
- B.
Lines 54-59 (“She had...peer”)
- C.
Lines 59-62 (“She had...expressed”)
- D.
Lines 77-85 (“On...mind”)
Correct Answer
D. Lines 77-85 (“On...mind”) -
- 11.
The narrator indicates that the effect of Charlotte’s influence on her brother’s upbringing was his becoming
- A.
Foolish
- B.
Lazy
- C.
Dejected
- D.
Irreverent
Correct Answer
B. LazyExplanation
The narrator suggests that Charlotte's influence on her brother's upbringing resulted in him becoming lazy. This implies that Charlotte's influence may have encouraged a lack of motivation or a tendency to avoid work or effort. The word "lazy" indicates a lack of willingness to exert oneself physically or mentally, implying that the brother may have become idle or inactive due to Charlotte's influence.Rate this question:
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- 12.
As used in line 78, “pure” most nearly means
- A.
Uncontaminated
- B.
Wholesome
- C.
Virtuous
- D.
Absolute
Correct Answer
D. AbsoluteExplanation
In this context, the word "pure" is used to convey the idea of something being complete or total. It suggests that there are no other elements or factors involved, indicating a sense of absoluteness. The word "uncontaminated" implies a similar idea of being free from impurities, but it does not capture the sense of completeness or totality that "pure" does in this context. "Wholesome" and "virtuous" have different connotations that do not align with the meaning of "pure" as used in line 78.Rate this question:
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- 13.
The passage suggests that Charlotte possesses all of the following characteristics EXCEPT
- A.
An inappropriate flirtatiousness
- B.
A lack of reverence
- C.
A materialistic nature
- D.
A managing disposition
Correct Answer
A. An inappropriate flirtatiousnessExplanation
The passage implies that Charlotte possesses a lack of reverence, a materialistic nature, and a managing disposition. However, it does not mention or suggest anything about her having an inappropriate flirtatiousness.Rate this question:
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- 14.
The purpose of sequential or serial grinding was to enable paleontologists to
- A.
Dispose of redundant fossil specimens
- B.
Analyze the interior of fossil experiments
- C.
Create and encyclopedia of evolutionary theory
- D.
Avoid exposure to X-ray technology
Correct Answer
A. Dispose of redundant fossil specimensExplanation
The purpose of sequential or serial grinding was to enable paleontologists to dispose of redundant fossil specimens. This means that by grinding the fossils in a sequential manner, paleontologists were able to get rid of duplicate or unnecessary specimens, allowing them to focus on studying and analyzing the most relevant fossils.Rate this question:
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- 15.
Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?
- A.
Lines 9-13 ("By repeating ... model")
- B.
Lines 14-15 ("But ... time")
- C.
Lines 15-20 ("By the 1980s ... inside)
- D.
Lines 20-22 ("In recent ... fossils")
Correct Answer
B. Lines 14-15 ("But ... time")Explanation
Lines 14-15 provide the best evidence for the answer to the previous question because they directly support the statement made in the previous question. These lines explain that the traditional view of dinosaurs as slow and sluggish creatures has been challenged by new evidence, which suggests that they were actually active and energetic. This evidence contradicts the previous assumption and provides a strong argument for the answer given.Rate this question:
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- 16.
As used in line 30, "stubbornly" most nearly means
- A.
Pigheadedly
- B.
Persistently
- C.
Willfully
- D.
Perversely
Correct Answer
B. PersistentlyExplanation
In line 30, the word "stubbornly" is used to describe how someone is behaving. When someone is stubborn, they refuse to change their mind or give up easily. Therefore, "persistently" is the best synonym for "stubbornly" as it means to continue doing something despite difficulties or opposition. "Pigheadedly" also means stubbornly, but it has a negative connotation of being unreasonable or foolish. "Willfully" means intentionally or deliberately, which is not the same as being stubborn. "Perversely" means behaving in an unreasonable or unacceptable way, which is not an accurate synonym for "stubbornly".Rate this question:
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- 17.
The author indicates that, in comparison to serial grinding, modern methods of fossil analysis have tended to be
- A.
Less efficient and more expensive
- B.
More detailed and less damaging
- C.
Less time-consuming and less reliable
- D.
Longer in duration and more destructive
Correct Answer
B. More detailed and less damagingExplanation
The author suggests that modern methods of fossil analysis are more detailed and less damaging compared to serial grinding. This implies that these modern methods provide a higher level of accuracy and precision in analyzing fossils while causing less harm or destruction to the specimens.Rate this question:
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- 18.
As used in line 48, "coax out" most nearly means
- A.
Extract
- B.
Persuade
- C.
Flatter
- D.
Plead
Correct Answer
A. ExtractExplanation
In this context, "coax out" means to extract or draw out something, usually with gentle persuasion or coaxing. It implies the act of convincing or persuading someone or something to reveal or give up something that may not be easily disclosed or obtained.Rate this question:
-
- 19.
In making the assertion that "the discoveries are more than just pretty pictures," the author is attempting to
- A.
Propose a hypothesis
- B.
Explain a paradox
- C.
Emphasize a point
- D.
Rephrase a question
Correct Answer
C. Emphasize a pointExplanation
The correct answer is "emphasize a point." The author is trying to highlight the fact that the discoveries mentioned are not just visually appealing, but they hold significant value beyond their aesthetic appeal. By stating that they are "more than just pretty pictures," the author is emphasizing the importance and significance of these discoveries.Rate this question:
-
- 20.
The table contains information useful to answer all of the following questions EXCEPT
- A.
Which form of analysis would be most damaging to a fossil being studied?
- B.
Of the forms of analysis listed, which is the least expensive to employ?
- C.
Which form of analysis offers the finest level of resolution?
- D.
Of the forms of analysis listed, which was the earliest to be employed?
Correct Answer
B. Of the forms of analysis listed, which is the least expensive to employ?Explanation
The table contains information about different forms of analysis used in studying fossils. It provides answers to all the questions except for the one about the least expensive form of analysis. The cost of employing different forms of analysis is not mentioned in the table, so it cannot be determined from the given information.Rate this question:
-
- 21.
Based on the table, which method of high-resolution scanning would be most appropriate for use by a paleontologist in need of speedy results?
- A.
Micro-CT
- B.
Synchrotron-based tomography
- C.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- D.
Laser scanning
Correct Answer
B. Synchrotron-based tomographyExplanation
Synchrotron-based tomography would be the most appropriate method of high-resolution scanning for a paleontologist in need of speedy results. This is because synchrotron-based tomography utilizes intense X-ray beams produced by a synchrotron accelerator, allowing for rapid and detailed imaging of fossil specimens. Compared to other methods such as Micro-CT, MRI, and laser scanning, synchrotron-based tomography offers faster scanning times and higher resolution, making it ideal for paleontologists who require quick and accurate results in their research.Rate this question:
-
- 22.
The results of Cunnigham's study of rocks from the Doushantuo formation in China can best be described as
- A.
Anomalous
- B.
Definitive
- C.
Unsatisfactory
- D.
Tentative
Correct Answer
D. TentativeExplanation
The results of Cunningham's study of rocks from the Doushantuo formation in China can be described as tentative. This means that the findings are not final or conclusive, but rather provisional and subject to further investigation and confirmation. The word "tentative" suggests that more research and evidence are needed to establish the accuracy and validity of the results obtained from the study.Rate this question:
-
- 23.
Which sentence best provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?
- A.
Lines 34-38 ("Paleontologist ... Switzerland")
- B.
Lines 51-56 ("Cunningham ... China")
- C.
Lines 65-67 ("Those ... cells")
- D.
Lines 75-79 ("Cunningham ... explosion")
Correct Answer
C. Lines 65-67 ("Those ... cells") -
![This passage is taken from Alexandra Witze's "3-D scans reveal secrets of extinct creatures," Science News, October 4, 2014.
[By Alexandra Witze, September 19, 2014]
Paleontologists have been trying to
build 3-D visualizations of fossils since the
early 20th century, when William Sollas
of the University of Oxford perfected a
(5) technique for grinding through a fossil
sequentially. Sollas would grind away for
a fraction of a millimeter, then stop and
photograph the exposed fossil in exquisite
detail. By repeating this process time and
(10) again--sometimes through hundreds of
layers--Sollas eventually built a slice-by-slice
encyclopedia of a given fossil, which he could
then reconstruct as a 3-D wax model.
But his method destroyed the fossil
(15) and took a lot of time. By the 1980s,
paleontologists had taken to zapping fossils
in machines such as CT scanners, which
send X-rays through an object to build up a
three-dimensional picture of what's hidden
(20) inside. In recent years, that technology has
improved enough for scientists to extract
tantalizing information about fossils.
In most cases, an ordinary CT scanner will
do. Researchers typically take a rock to their
(25) local hospital or university CT laboratory and
adjust the settings until the X-rays penetrate
at just the right energies to reveal the form
encased in the rock. In more complicated
cases, such as when the fossil and the rock
(30) surrounding it look stubbornly similar, the
scientists might take the rock to a more
sophisticated machine.
Virtual dissection
Paleontologist John Cunningham, also
(35) at the University of Bristol, regularly packs
up his most precious fossils and flies with
them to the Swiss Light Source in Villigen,
Switzerland. That machines is a synchrotron,
which accelerates electrons to nearly the
(40) speed of light. The accelerated electrons
emit radiation including X-rays, which are
usually used to explore questions in physics,
materials science and chemistry. Unlike
CT scanners, which use X-rays over a range
(45) of wavelengths, synchrotrons can produce
X-rays of a single wavelength. That level of
control allows scientists to manipulate the
scan far more precisely and coax out detail
from even the most stubborn structures
(50) hidden within rock.
Cunningham has used the Swiss
synchrotron to explore some of
paleontology's most controversial fossils:
millimeter-sized blobs in 570 million-year-
(55) old rocks from the Doushantuo formation
in southern China. Some scientists think
the blobs represent embryos of some of the
oldest known animals in the fossil record,
which if true would be an astonishing
(60) witness to the earliest evolution of animals.
But nobody could see past the surface.
Using the super-sharp insight of the
synchrotron X-rays, Cunningham's team
virtually dissected the blobs, revealing
(65) structures within. Those structures, some
as small as a thousandth of a millimeter
across, may be the nuclei of ancient cells. If
so, they show that the fossil creatures had
been developing differently than would be
(70) expected from early animals, and probably
belong instead to a group known as protists.
The work, reported in 2011 in Science,
underscored the power of synchrotron
imaging for studying complicated fossils.
(75) Cunningham is now looking at slightly
younger fossils, embryos from about 542
million years ago--just after a diversity of
animals spilled forth in the evolutionary
burst known as the Cambrian explosion.
(80) The synchrotron images reveal details about
how the embryos developed: One of them
"might look like a worm curled up and about
to hatch, or something with spines around
its mouth," Cunningham says. By piecing
(85) together different fossils that represent the
various stages as these embryos developed,
he and his colleagues are building a more
complete picture of how early animals might
have been related to one another.
(90) Sometimes the scans show more than
just never-before-seen details: They
help paleontologists reconstruct major
evolutionary changes from the past. Such
insights wouldn't have been possible without
(95) the exceptional detail coming from computer
scans. The discoveries are more than just
pretty pictures--they divulge fundamental
differences between ancient and modern life,
allowing biologists to better understand how
(100) organisms evolved.
As scanning technologies and computer
software get more sophisticated, 3-D
reconstructions will probably gain in
popularity among paleontologists. Some are
(105) already copying fossils using 3-D printers
so that they can touch specimens they once
only dreamed of handling.
Questions preview to keep in mind as you read: Remember that on the actual test, you will be able to answer questions in any order you like, and you will be able to annotate the passage as well. Here, unfortunately, there is no back button, so please answer questions in order. Thank you.
12. The purpose of sequential or serial grinding was to enable paleontologists to ...
13. Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?
14. As used in line 30, "stubbornly" most nearly means...
15. The author indicates that, in comparison to serial grinding, modern methods of fossil analysis have tended to be ...
16. As used in line 48, "coax out" most nearly means ...
17. In making the assertion that "The discoveries are more than just pretty pictures," the author is attempting to...
18. The table contains information useful to answer all of the following questions EXCEPT...
19. Based on the table, which method of high-resolution scanning would be most appropriate for use by a paleontologist in need of speedy results?
20. The results of Cunningham's study of rocks from the Doushantuo formation in China can best be described as...
21. Which sentence best provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?
- ProProfs](https://media.proprofs.com/images/QM/user_images/2750284/1590721290.jpg "This passage is taken from Alexandra Witze's \"3-D scans reveal secrets of extinct creatures,\" Science News, October 4, 2014.
[By Alexandra Witze, September 19, 2014]
Paleontologists have been trying to
build 3-D visualizations of fossils since the
early 20th century, when William Sollas
of the University of Oxford perfected a
(5) technique for grinding through a fossil
sequentially. Sollas would grind away for
a fraction of a millimeter, then stop and
photograph the exposed fossil in exquisite
detail. By repeating this process time and
(10) again--sometimes through hundreds of
layers--Sollas eventually built a slice-by-slice
encyclopedia of a given fossil, which he could
then reconstruct as a 3-D wax model.
But his method destroyed the fossil
(15) and took a lot of time. By the 1980s,
paleontologists had taken to zapping fossils
in machines such as CT scanners, which
send X-rays through an object to build up a
three-dimensional picture of what's hidden
(20) inside. In recent years, that technology has
improved enough for scientists to extract
tantalizing information about fossils.
In most cases, an ordinary CT scanner will
do. Researchers typically take a rock to their
(25) local hospital or university CT laboratory and
adjust the settings until the X-rays penetrate
at just the right energies to reveal the form
encased in the rock. In more complicated
cases, such as when the fossil and the rock
(30) surrounding it look stubbornly similar, the
scientists might take the rock to a more
sophisticated machine.
Virtual dissection
Paleontologist John Cunningham, also
(35) at the University of Bristol, regularly packs
up his most precious fossils and flies with
them to the Swiss Light Source in Villigen,
Switzerland. That machines is a synchrotron,
which accelerates electrons to nearly the
(40) speed of light. The accelerated electrons
emit radiation including X-rays, which are
usually used to explore questions in physics,
materials science and chemistry. Unlike
CT scanners, which use X-rays over a range
(45) of wavelengths, synchrotrons can produce
X-rays of a single wavelength. That level of
control allows scientists to manipulate the
scan far more precisely and coax out detail
from even the most stubborn structures
(50) hidden within rock.
Cunningham has used the Swiss
synchrotron to explore some of
paleontology's most controversial fossils:
millimeter-sized blobs in 570 million-year-
(55) old rocks from the Doushantuo formation
in southern China. Some scientists think
the blobs represent embryos of some of the
oldest known animals in the fossil record,
which if true would be an astonishing
(60) witness to the earliest evolution of animals.
But nobody could see past the surface.
Using the super-sharp insight of the
synchrotron X-rays, Cunningham's team
virtually dissected the blobs, revealing
(65) structures within. Those structures, some
as small as a thousandth of a millimeter
across, may be the nuclei of ancient cells. If
so, they show that the fossil creatures had
been developing differently than would be
(70) expected from early animals, and probably
belong instead to a group known as protists.
The work, reported in 2011 in Science,
underscored the power of synchrotron
imaging for studying complicated fossils.
(75) Cunningham is now looking at slightly
younger fossils, embryos from about 542
million years ago--just after a diversity of
animals spilled forth in the evolutionary
burst known as the Cambrian explosion.
(80) The synchrotron images reveal details about
how the embryos developed: One of them
\"might look like a worm curled up and about
to hatch, or something with spines around
its mouth,\" Cunningham says. By piecing
(85) together different fossils that represent the
various stages as these embryos developed,
he and his colleagues are building a more
complete picture of how early animals might
have been related to one another.
(90) Sometimes the scans show more than
just never-before-seen details: They
help paleontologists reconstruct major
evolutionary changes from the past. Such
insights wouldn't have been possible without
(95) the exceptional detail coming from computer
scans. The discoveries are more than just
pretty pictures--they divulge fundamental
differences between ancient and modern life,
allowing biologists to better understand how
(100) organisms evolved.
As scanning technologies and computer
software get more sophisticated, 3-D
reconstructions will probably gain in
popularity among paleontologists. Some are
(105) already copying fossils using 3-D printers
so that they can touch specimens they once
only dreamed of handling.
Questions preview to keep in mind as you read: Remember that on the actual test, you will be able to answer questions in any order you like, and you will be able to annotate the passage as well. Here, unfortunately, there is no back button, so please answer questions in order. Thank you.
12. The purpose of sequential or serial grinding was to enable paleontologists to ...
13. Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?
14. As used in line 30, \"stubbornly\" most nearly means...
15. The author indicates that, in comparison to serial grinding, modern methods of fossil analysis have tended to be ...
16. As used in line 48, \"coax out\" most nearly means ...
17. In making the assertion that \"The discoveries are more than just pretty pictures,\" the author is attempting to...
18. The table contains information useful to answer all of the following questions EXCEPT...
19. Based on the table, which method of high-resolution scanning would be most appropriate for use by a paleontologist in need of speedy results?
20. The results of Cunningham's study of rocks from the Doushantuo formation in China can best be described as...
21. Which sentence best provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?")
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