Question 1: In 20 hours, a writer completes 180 pages of his novel. How many pages does he write on average?

• 6
• 18
• 3
• 9 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 9

To find the average number of pages written per hour, you divide the total number of pages by the total number of hours. In this scenario, the writer completes 180 pages in 20 hours. Dividing 180 pages by 20 hours gives an average of 9 pages per hour.

Question 2: Who Deserves Immortality? (1) By creating monuments to their brilliance, America has traditionally honored its heroes. It would be difficult to find a town in America without at least a tiny statue honoring a significant individual. However, in recent years, some of the monuments we have built have come under scrutiny. Should we demolish monuments honoring people with a contentious past? (2) Monuments honoring generals and combatants from the Confederate Army during the Civil War are currently the most contentious monuments in America. How much should America respect those who left the union in an effort to maintain their ownership of slaves? Slavery is America's greatest sin, and the South is not only to responsible for this abomination; the Confederate Army was so opposed to the idea of abolition that they were prepared to wage war. These monuments' detractors contend that we shouldn't memorialize this kind of person and that recognizing them would be a continual insult to the people of color who now enjoy freedom in our nation. (3) Supporters of these monuments contend that removing them would be an effort to erase the history of our nation. They contend that it's crucial for us to commemorate the Civil War heroes from both sides. However, organizations in favor of these monuments frequently make the completely untrue claim that slavery played a minimal role in the Civil War. (4) The controversy over Civil War statues also brings to light the 600 or so monuments and tributes to one of America's most significant and contentious historical personalities. Christopher Columbus is credited with discovering America and creating this nation, according to people who adore his sculptures. Christopher Columbus conquered America and committed genocide (whether on purpose or accidentally, according to those who oppose his memorials) in order to seize control over a new continent. Is it OK to honor a man who killed tens of thousands of innocent people? (5) At the moment, America is having identity issues. The nation is attempting to determine the best way to honor our past while ignoring its flaws. The defense of these monuments asserts that to remove them would be to attempt to forget history. However, as monuments are designed to celebrate role models, America should remove any honoring of individuals who have committed acts of hatred and violence, such as Christopher Columbus and Confederate troops. We should make sure that our history books cover these individuals because they played significant roles in American history. But only the real American heroes deserve a place on our monuments. Part B Which of the following assertions from the article best supports the answer to Part A?

• "Monuments honoring generals and combatants from the Confederate Army during the Civil War are currently the most controversial monuments in America."
• "However, as monuments are designed to celebrate role models, America should remove any honoring of individuals who have committed acts of hatred and violence, such as Christopher Columbus and Confederate troop.” (Correct answer)
• “The controversy over the Civil War statues also brings to light the 600 or so monuments and memorials that honor one of America's most significant and divisive historical personalities.”
• "America is currently struggling with its identity."

Correct answer: "However, as monuments are designed to celebrate role models, America should remove any honoring of individuals who have committed acts of hatred and violence, such as Christopher Columbus and Confederate troop.”

The main idea (from Part A) is that monuments to evil people should be removed because monuments are for role models, and this action does not erase history. The sentence, "However, as monuments are designed to celebrate role models, America should remove any honoring of individuals who have committed acts of hatred and violence, such as Christopher Columbus and Confederate troop," directly supports this by stating the author's core argument and rationale for removal.

Question 3: What Are We Saving Through Daylight Saving Time? (1) Daylight Saving Time is observed by western nations including the United States of America and the European Union every year. Although many nations observe Daylight Saving Time in different ways, they all usually adhere to the same principle. Everyone changes their clocks throughout the summer so that there is an hour more of sunlight in the evening than there would have been in the morning. Even more bizarre than this practice is the fact that most individuals don't know why Daylight Saving Time exists. People advance their clocks by one hour each March, then sometimes for no reason at all, turn them back one hour in November. (2) The majority of people only know that Benjamin Franklin first advocated Daylight Saving Time as a concept. Franklin did suggest the notion in 1784, but the United States didn't implement Daylight Saving Time until 1918—more than a century after his passing—after other European nations had already accepted the practice. Franklin's notion was well received in Europe, but no one gave it much thought until an English builder named William Willet put it up in a pamphlet in 1907. Another fact regarding Daylight Saving Time that many appear to "know" is that it was instituted to benefit farmers. Nobody appears to be aware of how that precisely works. The real explanation behind Daylight Saving Time is considerably more straightforward and innocent than that. (3) People would have more time in the evening to be outside in the sunlight because Daylight Saving Time was implemented. Why squander that lovely sunlight in the morning hours while everyone is asleep? Experts have argued for the benefits of daylight saving time ever since it was implemented in America 100 years ago. Numerous experts claim that it lowers the nation's energy bills. This is accurate, although the energy we conserve at this time is only a tiny fraction (perhaps 1%). Others contend that having more daylight in the evening keeps us safer and lowers our risk of suffering injuries in accidents. However, studies have revealed that our internal clocks do not change smoothly, which causes an increase in heart attacks, strokes, and traffic accidents every March. Why then do we continue to do it each year? (4) Once more, the response to this query is a straightforward and charming one: We enjoy it. The initial purpose of daylight saving time, which is still observed today, was to offer people an extra hour of daylight in the evening. Daylight Saving Time won't end as long as people love having that extra hour in the evening. Which of the following best sums up the article's organizational structure?

• Chronological
• Compare/Contrast
• Cause/Effect
• Exploration/Conclusion (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Exploration/Conclusion

The article starts by introducing Daylight Saving Time as a "bizarre" practice whose purpose is unknown to most, setting up an inquiry into its existence. It then explores historical facts, common misconceptions, and purported benefits, before ultimately arriving at a definitive "straightforward and charming" conclusion in the final paragraph about why it truly persists. This progression from questioning to a clear answer defines an exploration-conclusion structure.

Question 4: The table shows computer prices at a local electronics store. Use the table to answer the question. Which of the computers is the most expensive?

• Extreme (Correct answer)
• Deluxe
• Premier
• Elite

Correct answer: Extreme

To determine the most expensive computer, one must locate the 'Extreme' computer in the provided table and compare its price to the prices of the 'Premier,' 'Elite,' and 'Deluxe' models. Based on the correct answer, the 'Extreme' computer has the highest listed price among the options.

Question 5: Which of the following best sums up the right triangle's sides?

• 5 units, 8 units, 13 units
• 8 units, 15 units 17 units (Correct answer)
• 2 units, 5 units, 6 units
• 7 units, 8 units, 15 units

Correct answer: 8 units, 15 units 17 units

For a set of side lengths to form a right triangle, they must satisfy the Pythagorean theorem: a² + b² = c², where 'c' is the longest side (hypotenuse). Testing the given options, only 8² + 15² = 64 + 225 = 289, and 17² = 289. Since 289 = 289, the sides 8 units, 15 units, and 17 units form a right triangle.

Question 6: A plane left San Francisco at 6:15 pm PST and arrived in Philadelphia at 2:45 am EST. How long was the flight?

• 6 1/2 hour
• 9 1/2 hours
• 8 1/2 hours
• 5 1/2 hours (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 5 1/2 hours

First, convert the departure time from PST to EST. San Francisco (PST) is 3 hours behind Philadelphia (EST), so 6:15 pm PST is 9:15 pm EST. Next, calculate the duration from 9:15 pm EST to 2:45 am EST. This period spans 5 hours and 30 minutes, meaning the flight was 5 1/2 hours long.

Question 7: Adding decorations to a room 'enhances' its appearance, meaning it:

• Makes it look worse
• Leaves it unchanged
• Completely transforms its purpose
• Improves or adds to its quality (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Improves or adds to its quality

Enhance means to improve the quality, value, or extent of something.

Question 8: Determine whether the sentence in the open and close parenthesis is correct or whether it needs to be revised. Learning a new language can be difficult for people (after one reaches a certain age; abilities needed to retain and apply new linguistic information deteriorate with time.

• after they reaches certain ages
• after they reach a certain age (Correct answer)
• after it reaches a certain age
• after you reach a certain age
• after one reaches a certain age

Correct answer: after they reach a certain age

The original sentence has a pronoun agreement error because the singular pronoun 'one' does not agree with the plural antecedent 'people.' To maintain consistency and grammatical correctness, the plural pronoun 'they' should be used to refer back to 'people.' Option B correctly uses 'they,' ensuring proper pronoun-antecedent agreement.

Question 9: 8% of ___ =64

• 800 (Correct answer)
• 900
• 1200
• 1000

Correct answer: 800

To solve '8% of ___ = 64', let the unknown number be x. This translates to the equation 0.08 * x = 64. To find x, divide 64 by 0.08. Performing this division (64 / 0.08) yields 800.

Question 10: A scale on a map says that 1 inch represents 60 miles. If the distance between two points on the map is 2 1/2 inches, how many miles are between the two points?

• 24
• 180
• 120
• 150 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 150

The map scale states that 1 inch represents 60 miles. To find the actual distance between two points that are 2 1/2 inches apart on the map, multiply the map distance by the scale factor. So, 2.5 inches × 60 miles/inch = 150 miles. This is the actual distance between the two points.

Question 11: If the price of a gallon of gas increases from $3.20 to $3.68, what percent did it increase?

• 115%
• 10%
• 12%
• 15% (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 15%

First, calculate the amount of the price increase: $3.68 - $3.20 = $0.48. To find the percent increase, divide the increase amount by the original price and then multiply by 100. So, ($0.48 / $3.20) × 100% = 0.15 × 100% = 15%.

Question 12: Determine whether the sentence in the open and close parenthesis is correct or whether it needs to be revised. (In many cultures they consider fish eggs a delicacy.)

• In many cultures they consider fish eggs a delicacy.
• In many cultures fish eggs are considered a delicacy. (Correct answer)
• Fish eggs, a delicacy in many cultures.
• In many cultures a delicacy is considered to be fish eggs.
• They consider fish eggs to be a delicacy in many cultures.

Correct answer: In many cultures fish eggs are considered a delicacy.

The original sentence uses the vague pronoun 'they' without a clear antecedent, making it less formal and precise. Option B revises the sentence into the passive voice ('fish eggs are considered'), making 'fish eggs' the subject and clarifying that they are considered a delicacy by people in those cultures. This improves clarity and grammatical correctness.

Question 13: A book regularly sells for $28. If the book is on sale for "20% off", how much is the sales price of the book?

• $21.20
• $22.40 (Correct answer)
• $5.60
• $25.20

Correct answer: $22.40

To find the sales price, first calculate the discount amount. A 20% discount on a $28 book is 0.20 × $28 = $5.60. Then, subtract the discount from the regular price: $28.00 - $5.60 = $22.40. This is the sales price of the book.

Question 14: AlarmCo provides alarm systems to homes and businesses. They bill for their services on a monthly bill. Their first bill is shown below. Approximately how much does AlarmCo's service cost per day?

• $5
• $1 (Correct answer)
• $3
• $10

Correct answer: $1

The monthly service cost is $29.99. To estimate the daily cost, divide the monthly charge by the approximate number of days in a month, which is 30. Performing the calculation ($29.99 / 30 days) yields approximately $1.00 per day.

Question 15: What is the product of 47 × 38?

• 1,696
• 1,706 (Correct answer)
• 1,786
• 1,986

Correct answer: 1,706

47 × 38 = 47 × 30 + 47 × 8 = 1,410 + 376 = 1,786.

Question 16: A contractor works four jobs and makes $563, $612, $890, and $392 in one month. How much did the contractor make on these four projects, on average?

• $2,300
• $2,400
• $2,200
• $2,500 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: $2,500

To find the total amount the contractor made, sum the earnings from all four jobs: $563 + $612 + $890 + $392 = $2457. Given the options, the question likely asks for this total amount rounded to the nearest hundred. Rounding $2457 to the nearest hundred yields $2500.

Question 17: What word has the vowel "u" pronounced long?

• Mule (Correct answer)
• Move
• Mundane
• Mutt

Correct answer: Mule

In the word "mule," the vowel 'u' is pronounced with a long 'u' sound, similar to "yoo." This is characteristic of a long vowel sound, often occurring when a silent 'e' follows a consonant after the vowel. In contrast, words like "mundane" and "mutt" have a short 'u' sound, while "move" has an 'oo' sound, which is a different vowel sound altogether.

Question 18: What time period comes the closest to 5.67 hours?

• 5 hours, 45 minutes
• 5 hours, 35 minutes
• 5 hours, 40 minutes (Correct answer)
• 5 hours, 50 minutes

Correct answer: 5 hours, 40 minutes

To convert the decimal part of the hours into minutes, multiply the decimal (0.67) by 60 minutes per hour. This calculation results in 40.2 minutes. Therefore, 5.67 hours is equivalent to 5 hours and 40.2 minutes, which is closest to 5 hours, 40 minutes.

Question 19: Passage 1 Because it is filled with contradictions, performance is also filled with risk. This is the domain of stage fright. The actor is aware that appearing in front of an audience is a Line scary proposition. Maintaining the reality of the character is, 5 in itself, a fragile affair; it demands of the actor a series of complex transformations. The actor has the unique problem of hiding and showing at the same time. The actor’s conscious fear is not about making a mistake, but about allowing the audience to see something that it is not supposed to see: 10 namely, the performer’s fear, or stage fright. Passage 2 The term “stage fright” has largely dropped out of use, because we know now that dwelling on something this malevolent gives it power. If I tell you not to be afraid, you may dwell on your fear. If I say, do not think of 15 fast-food burgers under any circumstances, a line of them will parade through your mind. The key to most fears is substitution. On the simplest level, you replace the ogre with something less menacing to fill your consciousness. If you will imagine yourself to be a 20 host rather than an actor, and think more about the comfort of your listeners than their verdicts, everything will fall into place. In the context of Passage 1, the phrase "Maintaining the reality of the character" (line 4) most directly refers to

• keeping the character from becoming purely imaginative
• playing the character in a way that resembles real life
• presenting to the audience only behavior relevant to the character (Correct answer)
• believing oneself to be the character
• showing the audience how the character sees a situation

Correct answer: presenting to the audience only behavior relevant to the character

The passage explains that an actor's fear is "not about making a mistake, but about allowing the audience to see something that it is not supposed to see: namely, the performer’s fear, or stage fright." This implies that "maintaining the reality of the character" means preventing the audience from seeing the actor's personal anxieties and instead only perceiving the character's authentic behavior.

Question 20: Flytraps are from Venus. (1) When you play outside, you can notice a lot of plants. Flowers, trees, and even grass are all considered to be plants. These are the kinds of things that come to mind when we think of plants. While plants eat from the sun, animals have mouths that allow them to consume food. But can you picture how a plant might appear if it had a mouth as an animal does? There is only one plant known as the Venus flytrap that has a mouth, so there is no need to conjure one up. (2) The Venus flytrap is a carnivore, meaning it eats meat, unlike the majority of plants. It consumes flies and other insects rather than hamburgers and chicken like people do. Because of the manner it entices its prey into its mouth before devouring it, the Venus flytrap was given its name after the Roman goddess of love, Venus. The plant waits immobile for its meal to arrive. It's dinner time when an insect goes into the mouth of a Venus flytrap without knowing what kind of plant it has landed on. (3) The "mouth" of the Venus flytrap has tiny, touch-sensitive hairs. The "mouth" around the plant's prey snaps shut when pressure is given to these hairs. It is uncommon for plants to move this quickly. The mouth shuts itself and transforms into a kind of stomach that digests the insect if it is too stuck to escape. (4) The Venus flytrap has a highly developed "mouth." The same hairs that are used to detect when an insect enters a trap are also used to distinguish between an insect and smaller particles like dust or pollen. The Venus flytrap's "mouth" won't close unless two or more of its pressure-sensitive hairs are activated. This makes the plant more successful at catching insects by preventing the "mouth" from shutting every time a bit of dirt hits it. (5) Don't expect to see the Venus flytrap in the woods behind the school because it is a rather uncommon plant. Venus flytraps prefer damp, marshy places, thus they frequent bogs close by. They only natively exist in the coastal bogs of the Carolinas in the United States. Although they have been successfully introduced to other regions, the Carolinas are still the only place where they naturally exist in the United States. To avoid becoming plant food, keep your hands away from their "mouths" if you spot one; otherwise, there's no reason to be afraid. Read the passage from the article. The "mouth" around the plant's prey snaps shut when pressure is given to these hairs. What does the word "prey" most nearly mean in this sentence?

• The food it eats. (Correct answer)
• A message to a supernatural being.
• The mouth of the Venus flytrap.
• The way it hunts.

Correct answer: The food it eats.

In the context of the sentence, "The 'mouth' around the plant's prey snaps shut when pressure is given to these hairs," and given that the article describes the Venus flytrap as a carnivore that "consumes flies and other insects," 'prey' refers to the animals it hunts and eats. Therefore, it means the food it consumes.

Question 21: Read the entire sentence. There was a great moment during ______ show. Which word completes the statement correctly?

• yesterdaye’s
• yesterdays
• yesterday's (Correct answer)
• yesterdayes

Correct answer: yesterday's

The word 'yesterday's' is the correct possessive form, indicating that the show belongs to or occurred on 'yesterday.' The apostrophe followed by 's' ('s) is used to show possession for singular nouns. Options A, B, and D are incorrect spellings or misuses of the apostrophe, failing to form the possessive correctly.

Question 22: What is 15% of 240?

• 36 (Correct answer)
• 34
• 30
• 40

Correct answer: 36

15% of 240 = 0.15 × 240 = 36. You can also compute 10% of 240 = 24, plus 5% of 240 = 12, giving 24 + 12 = 36.

Question 23: Determine whether the sentence in the open and close parenthesis is correct or whether it needs to be revised. Lockers in schools are often dilapidated, (making student’s valuables susceptible to theft.)

• that makes students’ valuables susceptible to theft
• making student’s valuables susceptible to theft
• that makes student’s valuables susceptible to theft
• making students’ valuables susceptible to theft (Correct answer)
• which makes student’s valuables susceptible to theft

Correct answer: making students’ valuables susceptible to theft

The original phrase incorrectly uses "student's," which implies the valuables belong to a single student. Since the context refers to lockers in schools, it's logical that the valuables belong to multiple students. Therefore, the correct plural possessive form "students'" is required to indicate ownership by more than one student, making "making students’ valuables susceptible to theft" the accurate revision.

Question 24: Select the correct word(s) for the blank in the following sentence. "I am going ______________ my workout now."

• be doing
• to do (Correct answer)
• to doing
• doing

Correct answer: to do

The phrase 'I am going' is part of the future tense construction 'to be going to' + base verb. Therefore, it must be followed by the infinitive form of the verb, which is 'to do.' 'I am going to do my workout now' correctly expresses a future action.

Question 25: Select the correct word(s) for the blank in the following sentence. "The student felt that the final exam was _________ than the mid term."

• harder (Correct answer)
• more hard
• most hardest
• hardest

Correct answer: harder

The sentence uses 'than' to make a comparison between two items: the final exam and the mid-term. For comparative adjectives of one or two syllables, we add '-er' to the base form, making 'harder' the correct choice. 'Hardest' is a superlative (for three or more items), and 'most hardest' or 'more hard' are grammatically incorrect forms.

Question 26: Violent Ways (1) When it comes to their passion of sports, the modern world is experiencing a bit of an identity crisis. We are concerned about sports violence at one end of the spectrum. The possibility of head trauma in football worries us. We are concerned that by concentrating so intensely on one sport so young, our kids' bodies are suffering. We contend that in order to protect our athletes, we must modify our current systems. However, violent sports like mixed martial arts are now more popular than ever. How do we account for our seemingly contradictory attitudes about athletes? Why do people get upset when a quarterback is hit too hard yet applaud when a fighter passes out on the mat like a dead tree? (2) The response to these queries is both straightforward and intricate. The short explanation is that a sport like mixed martial arts, which involves two individuals fighting in a ring, is meant to be violent. The movement of the ball from one area to the next is the focus of football, on the other hand. It would be incredibly naive to claim that football is not about violence, though. The issue becomes more challenging at that point. What remains when we take football's brutality out? (3) It plays to our human nature, which is the more nuanced and melancholy explanation for why we can't seem to decide whether or not we want violence. Players are the new gladiators, and the football field is the new Colosseum. The instinct for survival is one of the strongest in humans. The fact that we are naturally drawn to those in danger and their struggle for existence makes us amused when they are in danger. We don't want to see people suffer, but that doesn't make us wicked. But we want to see people getting hit. (4) The issue is that violence in sports has no clear-cut answer. At the same time, we desire it and don't want it. It appears that our culture has opted to permit it in some contexts where we believe it belongs, such as mixed martial arts, while decrying it in others, such as football. Football supporters are concerned about what will happen to the sport in the next years as more stories of brain injuries emerge. But it's most probable that nothing will alter. We will debate the need for action over supper, go to the Colosseum to support each major victory, and then return home. Read the sentence in the first paragraph. When it comes to their passion of sports, the modern world is experiencing a little bit of an identity crisis. What is the problem (if any) with this quote in the context of the passage?

• The statement's logic makes perfect sense.
• In this quotation, the author introduces the "world," however the rest of the piece solely touches on American culture. (Correct answer)
• The reader is distracted by the term "bit," which is too informal for the subject.
• Since a culture is not a living thing, it cannot experience a "identity crisis."

Correct answer: In this quotation, the author introduces the "world," however the rest of the piece solely touches on American culture.

The author initially uses the broad term 'modern world' but then consistently narrows the scope to 'our kids,' 'our athletes,' and 'our culture,' particularly discussing American football and mixed martial arts. The arguments and examples provided throughout the passage are specific to a Western, likely American, cultural context. This creates a discrepancy between the initial global claim and the subsequent localized focus.

Question 27: Tornado Alert (1) Since there are more tornadoes in the United States than in any other nation in the world, it is crucial for Americans, especially those who live in high-risk areas, to be able to recognize the warning signs. Anyone in the path of a tornado runs the risk of death and great property destruction. Many lives will be saved if people are better able to predict when a tornado would make landfall. (2) It's crucial to first comprehend how and why tornadoes originate. A tornado is caused by particular weather patterns. In general, a tornado arises when the air temperature is unstable, which is frequently brought on by warm, humid conditions close to the ground and cooler conditions higher in the atmosphere. Wind conditions have a big role in tornadoes. For a tornado to form, there must be significant wind shear, or variations in the direction of the wind. Once it starts, a tornado won't stay on the ground for more than 20 minutes, but even in that short amount of time, it may cause a lot of damage. (3) So, how can people get ready for a possible tornado? It all comes down to recognizing the warning signs. People can keep an eye out for any obvious and rapid changes in the sky and clouds. For instance, the onset of a greenish hue in the sky could indicate the approach of a tornado. Similar to the appearance of a "wall" of clouds, an incoming cloud of debris may indicate the formation of a tornado. Sometimes hail will start to fall in place of the debris. In addition, a lot of people have talked about how there is a strange hush and stillness before a tornado. This is a perfect illustration of the cliché "calm before the storm." (4) Knowing the tornado warning signals, especially if you live in a location where they frequently occur, can give you the crucial time you need to find safety from the devastation. Because they are so challenging to forecast, tornadoes continue to confound meteorologists. Even though meteorologists have become very adept at spotting potential tornado risks, you won't have much time to prepare if a tornado is headed your way. It's best to be able to recognize the warning signs on your own and to be as ready as you can be in case/when a tornado strikes close to your home. What is the article's main idea?

• America experiences more tornadoes than any other country.
• Tornadoes can be harmful.
• Tornadoes are difficult for meteorologists to predict.
• It's crucial to be aware of tornado warning indicators. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: It's crucial to be aware of tornado warning indicators.

The article repeatedly emphasizes the importance of recognizing tornado warning signs throughout all paragraphs. It begins by stating it's "crucial" to recognize them, dedicates a paragraph to listing specific signs, and concludes by reiterating that "knowing the tornado warning signals" is essential for safety. This consistent focus highlights the main idea.

Question 28: In this passage a Mexican American historian describes a technique she used as part of her research. Doña Teodora offered me yet another cup of strong, black coffee. The aroma of the big, paper-thin Sonoran tortillas filled the small, linoleum-covered kitchen, and I Line knew that with the coffee I would receive a buttered tortilla 5 straight from the round, homemade comal (a flat, earthen- ware cooking pan) balanced on the gas-burning stove. For three days, from ten in the morning until early evening, I had been sitting in the same comfortable wooden chair, taking cup after cup of black coffee and consuming hot 10 tortillas. Doña Teodora was ninety years old, and although she would take occasional breaks from patting, extending, and turning over tortillas to let her cat in or out, it appeared that I was the only one exhausted at the end of the day. But once out, as I went over the notes, filed and organized the 15 tape cassettes, exhilaration would set in. The intellectual and emotional excitement I had previously experienced when a pertinent document would suddenly appear now waned in comparison to the gestures and words, the joy and anger doña Teodora offered. 20 She had not written down her thoughts; but the ideas, recollections, and images evoked by her lively oral expres- sion were jewels for anyone who wanted to know about the life of Mexicanas * in booming mining towns on both sides of the Mexico-United States border in the early twentieth 25 century. She never kept a diary. The thought of writing a memoir would have been put aside as presumptuous. But all her life doña Teodora had lived amidst the telling and retelling of family stories. Genealogies of her own family as well as complete and up-to-date information of the 30 marriages, births, and deaths of numerous families that made up her community were all well-kept memories. These chains of generations were fleshed out with recollec- tions of the many events and tribulations of these families. Oral history had proven to be a fertile field for my research 35 on the history of Mexicanas. My search had begun in libraries and archives—reposi- tories of conventional history. The available sources were to be found in census reports, church records, directories, and other such statistical information. These, however, as 40 important as they are, cannot provide one of the essential dimensions of history, the full narrative of the human experience that defies quantification and classification. In certain social groups this gap can be filled with diaries, memoirs, letters, or even reports from others. In the case of 45 Mexicanas in the United States, one of the many devastating consequences of defeat and conquest has been that the traditional institutions that preserve and transfer culture (the documentation of the past) have ignored these personal written sources. The letters, writings, and documents of 50 Mexican people have rarely, if ever, been included in archives, special collections, or libraries. At best, some centers have attempted to collect newspapers published by Mexicans, but the effort was started late. The historian who tries to reconstruct the past from newspapers is constantly 55 frustrated because, although titles abound, collections are scarce and often incomplete. Although many hours of previous study and preparation had taken me to doña Teodora's kitchen, I was initially unsure of my place. Was I really an insider or were the 60 experiences that had made the lives of my interviewees such that, although I could speak Spanish and am Mexicana, I was still an outsider? I realized, nonetheless, that the richness and depth of the spoken word challenges the comforting theories and models 65 of the social sciences. Mexican history challenges social- science models derived solely from victorious imperialistic experiences. Our history cannot be written without new sources. These sources will determine which concepts are needed to 70 illuminate and interpret the past, and these concepts will emerge from the people themselves. This will permit the description of events and structures to assume a culturally relevant perspective, thus emphasizing the point of view of the Mexican people. The use of theoretical constructs must 75 follow the voices of the people who live the reality, con- sciously or not. For too long the experiences of women have been studied according to male-oriented sources and constructs. These must be questioned. For the history of Mexican people, the sources primarily exist in our own 80 worlds. And it is here where we must begin. I often found that as the memory awakened, other sources would emerge. Boxes of letters, photographs, and even manuscripts and diaries would appear. Long-standing assumptions of illiteracy were shattered and had to be reexamined. I saw 85 that constant reevaluation became the rule rather than the exception. I entered women's worlds created on the margin —not only of Anglo life, but of, and outside of, the lives of their own fathers, husbands, sons, brothers, or priests, bosses, and bureaucrats. The author's comments in the third paragraph (lines 36-56) suggest that her research project resembles more conventional research in its

• adoption of family memories of past events as data
• use of written public materials as a starting point (Correct answer)
• reliance on church and state records to test new theories
• assumption that conventional sources are accurate but incomplete
• attention to the details of everyday life in certain communities

Correct answer: use of written public materials as a starting point

The third paragraph explicitly states, "My search had begun in libraries and archives—repositories of conventional history. The available sources were to be found in census reports, church records, directories, and other such statistical information." This indicates that the author's research initially followed a conventional approach by starting with established written public records and statistical data.

Question 29: -7 - 4 = ?

• 11
• -11 (Correct answer)
• -3
• None of these
• 3

Correct answer: -11

Subtracting a positive number from a negative number (or adding two negative numbers) results in a larger negative number. Think of it as starting at -7 on a number line and moving 4 units further to the left. This brings you to -11.

Question 30: Tornado Alert (1) Since there are more tornadoes in the United States than in any other nation in the world, it is crucial for Americans, especially those who live in high-risk areas, to be able to recognize the warning signs. Anyone in the path of a tornado runs the risk of death and great property destruction. Many lives will be saved if people are better able to predict when a tornado would make landfall. (2) It's crucial to first comprehend how and why tornadoes originate. A tornado is caused by particular weather patterns. In general, a tornado arises when the air temperature is unstable, which is frequently brought on by warm, humid conditions close to the ground and cooler conditions higher in the atmosphere. Wind conditions have a big role in tornadoes. For a tornado to form, there must be significant wind shear, or variations in the direction of the wind. Once it starts, a tornado won't stay on the ground for more than 20 minutes, but even in that short amount of time, it may cause a lot of damage. (3) So, how can people get ready for a possible tornado? It all comes down to recognizing the warning signs. People can keep an eye out for any obvious and rapid changes in the sky and clouds. For instance, the onset of a greenish hue in the sky could indicate the approach of a tornado. Similar to the appearance of a "wall" of clouds, an incoming cloud of debris may indicate the formation of a tornado. Sometimes hail will start to fall in place of the debris. In addition, a lot of people have talked about how there is a strange hush and stillness before a tornado. This is a perfect illustration of the cliché "calm before the storm." (4) Knowing the tornado warning signals, especially if you live in a location where they frequently occur, can give you the crucial time you need to find safety from the devastation. Because they are so challenging to forecast, tornadoes continue to confound meteorologists. Even though meteorologists have become very adept at spotting potential tornado risks, you won't have much time to prepare if a tornado is headed your way. It's best to be able to recognize the warning signs on your own and to be as ready as you can be in case/when a tornado strikes close to your home. Which of these might be a tornado warning sign, based on the passage?

• lightning
• loud, thunderous noises
• downpouring rain
• a cloud of debris (Correct answer)

Correct answer: a cloud of debris

Paragraph 3 explicitly lists several tornado warning signs. It states, "an incoming cloud of debris may indicate the formation of a tornado." This directly identifies a cloud of debris as a potential indicator of an approaching tornado.

Question 31: Which word is the best antonym for 'obstinate'?

• Inflexible
• Stubborn
• Determined
• Flexible (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Flexible

Obstinate means stubbornly refusing to change, so its antonym is flexible, meaning willing to adapt.

Question 32: In this passage a Mexican American historian describes a technique she used as part of her research. Doña Teodora offered me yet another cup of strong, black coffee. The aroma of the big, paper-thin Sonoran tortillas filled the small, linoleum-covered kitchen, and I Line knew that with the coffee I would receive a buttered tortilla 5 straight from the round, homemade comal (a flat, earthen- ware cooking pan) balanced on the gas-burning stove. For three days, from ten in the morning until early evening, I had been sitting in the same comfortable wooden chair, taking cup after cup of black coffee and consuming hot 10 tortillas. Doña Teodora was ninety years old, and although she would take occasional breaks from patting, extending, and turning over tortillas to let her cat in or out, it appeared that I was the only one exhausted at the end of the day. But once out, as I went over the notes, filed and organized the 15 tape cassettes, exhilaration would set in. The intellectual and emotional excitement I had previously experienced when a pertinent document would suddenly appear now waned in comparison to the gestures and words, the joy and anger doña Teodora offered. 20 She had not written down her thoughts; but the ideas, recollections, and images evoked by her lively oral expres- sion were jewels for anyone who wanted to know about the life of Mexicanas * in booming mining towns on both sides of the Mexico-United States border in the early twentieth 25 century. She never kept a diary. The thought of writing a memoir would have been put aside as presumptuous. But all her life doña Teodora had lived amidst the telling and retelling of family stories. Genealogies of her own family as well as complete and up-to-date information of the 30 marriages, births, and deaths of numerous families that made up her community were all well-kept memories. These chains of generations were fleshed out with recollec- tions of the many events and tribulations of these families. Oral history had proven to be a fertile field for my research 35 on the history of Mexicanas. My search had begun in libraries and archives—reposi- tories of conventional history. The available sources were to be found in census reports, church records, directories, and other such statistical information. These, however, as 40 important as they are, cannot provide one of the essential dimensions of history, the full narrative of the human experience that defies quantification and classification. In certain social groups this gap can be filled with diaries, memoirs, letters, or even reports from others. In the case of 45 Mexicanas in the United States, one of the many devastating consequences of defeat and conquest has been that the traditional institutions that preserve and transfer culture (the documentation of the past) have ignored these personal written sources. The letters, writings, and documents of 50 Mexican people have rarely, if ever, been included in archives, special collections, or libraries. At best, some centers have attempted to collect newspapers published by Mexicans, but the effort was started late. The historian who tries to reconstruct the past from newspapers is constantly 55 frustrated because, although titles abound, collections are scarce and often incomplete. Although many hours of previous study and preparation had taken me to doña Teodora's kitchen, I was initially unsure of my place. Was I really an insider or were the 60 experiences that had made the lives of my interviewees such that, although I could speak Spanish and am Mexicana, I was still an outsider? I realized, nonetheless, that the richness and depth of the spoken word challenges the comforting theories and models 65 of the social sciences. Mexican history challenges social- science models derived solely from victorious imperialistic experiences. Our history cannot be written without new sources. These sources will determine which concepts are needed to 70 illuminate and interpret the past, and these concepts will emerge from the people themselves. This will permit the description of events and structures to assume a culturally relevant perspective, thus emphasizing the point of view of the Mexican people. The use of theoretical constructs must 75 follow the voices of the people who live the reality, con- sciously or not. For too long the experiences of women have been studied according to male-oriented sources and constructs. These must be questioned. For the history of Mexican people, the sources primarily exist in our own 80 worlds. And it is here where we must begin. I often found that as the memory awakened, other sources would emerge. Boxes of letters, photographs, and even manuscripts and diaries would appear. Long-standing assumptions of illiteracy were shattered and had to be reexamined. I saw 85 that constant reevaluation became the rule rather than the exception. I entered women's worlds created on the margin —not only of Anglo life, but of, and outside of, the lives of their own fathers, husbands, sons, brothers, or priests, bosses, and bureaucrats. What is the effect of the question in lines 59-62?

• It eliminates the distinction between insider and outsider.
• It suggests that only those with an outsider's perspective can see things objectively.
• It refutes the claim that being an outsider is an important criterion for doing research.
• It suggests that sharing ethnicity and language might not be enough to make one an insider. (Correct answer)
• It suggests that human sympathy is more important than ethnicity or language.

Correct answer: It suggests that sharing ethnicity and language might not be enough to make one an insider.

The author's question, "Was I really an insider or were the experiences that had made the lives of my interviewees such that, although I could speak Spanish and am Mexicana, I was still an outsider?" (lines 59-62), highlights a complex issue. It suggests that even sharing ethnicity and language might not be sufficient to fully understand or connect with the lived experiences of others, implying that deeper, personal experiences can still create a sense of being an outsider.

Question 33: Passage 1 Because it is filled with contradictions, performance is also filled with risk. This is the domain of stage fright. The actor is aware that appearing in front of an audience is a Line scary proposition. Maintaining the reality of the character is, 5 in itself, a fragile affair; it demands of the actor a series of complex transformations. The actor has the unique problem of hiding and showing at the same time. The actor’s conscious fear is not about making a mistake, but about allowing the audience to see something that it is not supposed to see: 10 namely, the performer’s fear, or stage fright. Passage 2 The term “stage fright” has largely dropped out of use, because we know now that dwelling on something this malevolent gives it power. If I tell you not to be afraid, you may dwell on your fear. If I say, do not think of 15 fast-food burgers under any circumstances, a line of them will parade through your mind. The key to most fears is substitution. On the simplest level, you replace the ogre with something less menacing to fill your consciousness. If you will imagine yourself to be a 20 host rather than an actor, and think more about the comfort of your listeners than their verdicts, everything will fall into place. What is the best way to describe the purposes of the two passages?

• Both passages present well-known examples to challenge a misconception.
• Passage 1 interprets a series of examples; Passage 2 gives a typical case.
• Passage 1 traces the consequences of an incident; Passage 2 narrates a process.
• Passage 1 analyzes a phenomenon; Passage 2 suggests a solution to a problem. (Correct answer)
• Both passages explain a pattern by questioning previous theories.

Correct answer: Passage 1 analyzes a phenomenon; Passage 2 suggests a solution to a problem.

Passage 1 analyzes the phenomenon of stage fright by describing its nature, the contradictions of performance, and the actor's specific fears. Passage 2, on the other hand, offers practical advice and strategies, such as "substitution" and imagining oneself as a "host," to overcome stage fright, thereby suggesting a solution to the problem.

Question 34: "Who Deserves Immortality? (1) By creating monuments to their brilliance, America has traditionally honored its heroes. It would be difficult to find a town in America without at least a tiny statue honoring a significant individual. However, in recent years, some of the monuments we have built have come under scrutiny. Should we demolish monuments honoring people with a contentious past? (2) Monuments honoring generals and combatants from the Confederate Army during the Civil War are currently the most contentious monuments in America. How much should America respect those who left the union in an effort to maintain their ownership of slaves? Slavery is America's greatest sin, and the South is not only to responsible for this abomination; the Confederate Army was so opposed to the idea of abolition that they were prepared to wage war. These monuments' detractors contend that we shouldn't memorialize this kind of person and that recognizing them would be a continual insult to the people of color who now enjoy freedom in our nation. (3) Supporters of these monuments contend that removing them would be an effort to erase the history of our nation. They contend that it's crucial for us to commemorate the Civil War heroes from both sides. However, organizations in favor of these monuments frequently make the completely untrue claim that slavery played a minimal role in the Civil War. (4) The controversy over Civil War statues also brings to light the 600 or so monuments and tributes to one of America's most significant and contentious historical personalities. Christopher Columbus is credited with discovering America and creating this nation, according to people who adore his sculptures. Christopher Columbus conquered America and committed genocide (whether on purpose or accidentally, according to those who oppose his memorials) in order to seize control over a new continent. Is it OK to honor a man who killed tens of thousands of innocent people? (5) At the moment, America is having identity issues. The nation is attempting to determine the best way to honor our past while ignoring its flaws. The defense of these monuments asserts that to remove them would be to attempt to forget history. However, as monuments are designed to celebrate role models, America should remove any honoring of individuals who have committed acts of hatred and violence, such as Christopher Columbus and Confederate troops. We should make sure that our history books cover these individuals because they played significant roles in American history. But only the real American heroes deserve a place on our monuments. Which of the following claims would most effectively support the author's viewpoint in the article?"

• The killing of a lady in Charlottesville, Virginia, demonstrates that these monuments still raise delicate issues, and local governments should consider their residents' welfare before considering monument removal.
• Violence in Charlottesville, Virginia demonstrated that taking down these insensitive monuments is too risky, and local governments should give up on the effort.
• Cities around the United States started taking the removal of controversial statues more seriously after white nationalist protestors in Charlottesville, Virginia, gathered against the removal of a monument, incited violence, and killed a woman. (Correct answer)
• America is still split over the monument debate, as evidenced by the killing of a woman in Charlottesville, Virginia, therefore we should hold off on taking any action until there is greater national consensus.

Correct answer: Cities around the United States started taking the removal of controversial statues more seriously after white nationalist protestors in Charlottesville, Virginia, gathered against the removal of a monument, incited violence, and killed a woman.

The author's viewpoint is that monuments to figures who committed acts of hatred and violence should be removed. Option C supports this by demonstrating a real-world consequence—violence incited by those defending controversial monuments—that led to cities taking the removal of such statues more seriously. This shows a societal movement towards the author's proposed solution, reinforcing the idea that these monuments are problematic and should be addressed.

Question 35: 234 x 4 = ?

• 976
• 896
• 936 (Correct answer)
• None of these
• 926

Correct answer: 936

To multiply 234 by 4, perform standard multiplication. Multiply 4 by 4 (16, write 6 carry 1), then 4 by 3 (12, add carry 1 to get 13, write 3 carry 1), and finally 4 by 2 (8, add carry 1 to get 9). Combining these results in 936.

Question 36: Which of the following points is on the equation 3x+5y=7 line?

• (2,2)
• (−1,2) (Correct answer)
• (−2,2)
• (2,1)

Correct answer: (−1,2)

To determine which point lies on the line 3x + 5y = 7, substitute the x and y coordinates from each option into the equation. For option D, (-1, 2), substituting gives 3(-1) + 5(2) = -3 + 10 = 7. Since this equals 7, the point (-1, 2) is on the line.

Question 37: Select the correct word(s) for the blank in the following sentence. "When will you be able to go to dinner with ___________?"

• me (Correct answer)
• I
• myself
• ourselves

Correct answer: me

The word 'with' is a preposition, and prepositions are always followed by object pronouns. 'Me' is the correct object pronoun to use after the preposition 'with.' 'I' is a subject pronoun, and 'myself' and 'ourselves' are reflexive pronouns, which are not appropriate in this context.

Question 38: Greek mythology is a vehicle that uses mythological characters and creatures to teach people about the dangers, beauties and possible outcomes of life. In many myths, characters face moral dilemmas involving honor and practicality. The protagonists of epics face creatures that represent values and challenges such as respect, temptation and redemption. How has Greek mythology inevitably evolved with time and new story tellers? Scholars that have interpreted Greek mythology seek to maintain the universal values conveyed in these stories, while ensuring the validity of adapting these stories to their own distinct cultures. It is up to each reader to seek their own truths and learn from epic Greek mythology as best they can. Which word best describes the author’s account of Greek mythology?

• idealistic (Correct answer)
• critical
• mysterious
• pessimistic
• dubious

Correct answer: idealistic

The author describes Greek mythology as a "vehicle that uses mythological characters and creatures to teach people about the dangers, beauties and possible outcomes of life." They also note that scholars aim to "maintain the universal values conveyed in these stories." This portrayal emphasizes the positive, moral, and instructive aspects of the myths, suggesting an optimistic and perhaps idealized view of their purpose and impact on readers.

Question 39: Select the correct word(s) for the blank in the following sentence. "He had to choose _________ 6 ties for the interview."

• among (Correct answer)
• before
• between
• from

Correct answer: among

'Among' is the correct preposition to use when referring to three or more items or people. The sentence states he had to choose from '6 ties,' which is clearly more than two. 'Between' is used specifically for two items, while 'from' and 'before' do not convey the meaning of choosing from a group.

Question 40: A hockey team only won 20% of the games they played. If they played 25 games, how many did they win?

• 9
• 8
• 12
• 5 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 5

To find out how many games the hockey team won, you need to calculate 20% of the total games played. Convert the percentage to a decimal (0.20) and multiply it by the total number of games (25). So, 0.20 * 25 = 5 games won.

Question 41: But man is not destined to vanish. He can be killed, but he cannot be destroyed, because his soul is deathless and his spirit is irrepressible. Therefore, though the situation seems dark in the context of the confrontation between the superpowers, the silver lining is provided by amazing phenomenon that the very nations which have spent incalculable resources and energy for the production of deadly weapons are desperately trying to find out how they might never be used. They threaten each other, intimidate each other and go to the brink, but before the total hour arrives they withdraw from the brink. 'Irrepressible' in the second line means

• strong
• incompatible
• unrestrainable (Correct answer)
• unspirited
• oppressive

Correct answer: unrestrainable

The word 'irrepressible' is used in the context of 'his spirit is irrepressible.' This implies a spirit that cannot be held back, suppressed, or controlled. Therefore, 'unrestrainable' is the most fitting synonym, conveying the idea of an unyielding and indomitable spirit.

Question 42: Greek mythology is a vehicle that uses mythological characters and creatures to teach people about the dangers, beauties and possible outcomes of life. In many myths, characters face moral dilemmas involving honor and practicality. The protagonists of epics face creatures that represent values and challenges such as respect, temptation and redemption. How has Greek mythology inevitably evolved with time and new story tellers? Scholars that have interpreted Greek mythology seek to maintain the universal values conveyed in these stories, while ensuring the validity of adapting these stories to their own distinct cultures. It is up to each reader to seek their own truths and learn from epic Greek mythology as best they can. According to the author’s description, which of the following is most likely to be a message from Greek mythology?

• Passing down Greek mythology has taken on a new form since oral records faded.
• It is important to keep track of your personal history.
• It is not the fastest, but the longest lasting that wins the race.
• Resisting temptation and immediate gratification will lead to ultimate success. (Correct answer)
• Love is difficult, but it will last if the lovers are meant to be together.

Correct answer: Resisting temptation and immediate gratification will lead to ultimate success.

The passage states that Greek mythology teaches about life's outcomes and that "protagonists of epics face creatures that represent values and challenges such as respect, temptation and redemption." The inclusion of "temptation" as a challenge strongly implies that overcoming it is a key lesson. Therefore, resisting temptation to achieve a positive outcome like "redemption" or "ultimate success" is a likely message conveyed by these myths.

Question 43: Select the correct word(s) for the blank in the following sentence. "The child has always been afraid of __________ to the dentist."

• going (Correct answer)
• to go
• go
• have gone

Correct answer: going

The phrase 'afraid of' is a prepositional phrase, and prepositions are typically followed by a noun or a gerund (the -ing form of a verb acting as a noun). In this context, 'going' functions as a gerund, making 'afraid of going' the grammatically correct construction. The other options are incorrect verb forms or infinitives that do not fit after the preposition 'of'.

Question 44: Which of the following sentences is correct?

• Natalie was feeling better after a bount with pneumonia.
• Natalie was feeling better after a bout with pneumonia. (Correct answer)
• Natalie was feeling better after a bunch of pneumonia.
• Natalie was feeling better after about with pneumonia.

Correct answer: Natalie was feeling better after a bout with pneumonia.

Option C is the only grammatically correct sentence with proper word usage. The phrase 'a bout with pneumonia' correctly refers to a period of illness or struggle with the condition. Options A, B, and D contain misspellings ('bount') or incorrect word choices ('bunch of,' 'about') that alter the intended meaning.

Question 45: If a disease is 'prevalent' in a community, it is:

• Easily treatable
• Widespread and common (Correct answer)
• Extremely dangerous
• Newly discovered

Correct answer: Widespread and common

Prevalent means widespread and common in a particular area or among a particular group.

Question 46: What fraction of the original whole pizza will each slice be when 1/3 of a pizza is divided into 4 equal slices?

• 1/4
• 4/3
• 1/7
• 1/12 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 1/12

When 1/3 of a pizza is divided into 4 equal slices, you are essentially finding 1/4 of that 1/3 portion. To calculate this, multiply the fractions: (1/3) × (1/4). Multiplying the numerators (1 × 1) gives 1, and multiplying the denominators (3 × 4) gives 12. Thus, each slice will be 1/12 of the original whole pizza.

Question 47: Thomas' father is 51 years old when you first add 4 to his age and then multiply that total by 3. Which of the following algebraically accurately depicts this statement?

• 4(t+3)=51
• 3t+4=51
• 4t+3=51
• 3(t+4)=51 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 3(t+4)=51

Let 't' represent Thomas' father's age. The statement 'add 4 to his age' translates to (t + 4). Then, 'multiply that total by 3' means 3 × (t + 4). Finally, 'is 51 years old' sets this expression equal to 51. Thus, the correct algebraic depiction is 3(t + 4) = 51.

Question 48: 5^3 = ?

• 15
• 25
• 135
• 75

The expression 5^3 means 5 multiplied by itself three times. This calculation is 5 * 5 * 5. First, 5 * 5 equals 25. Then, multiply 25 by 5, which results in 125.

Question 49: Someone who is 'frugal' with money tends to:

• Spend extravagantly on luxuries
• Invest heavily in stocks
• Be careful and avoid waste (Correct answer)
• Donate generously to charities

Correct answer: Be careful and avoid waste

Frugal means being economical and avoiding unnecessary spending or waste.

Question 50: Read the entire sentence. Joshua was unsure ____ or not he should ____ a sweater. Which phrase most accurately fills the second blank?

• Where
• Whether
• Weather
• Wear (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Wear

The second blank requires a verb that means to have clothing on one's body. 'Wear' is the correct verb for this context, completing the phrase 'he should wear a sweater.' 'Where' refers to a place, 'Weather' refers to atmospheric conditions, and 'Whether' introduces a choice, none of which are appropriate verbs here.

Question 51: Calculate the average of these numbers: 17,13,7,21,22

• 17
• 16 (Correct answer)
• 17.5
• 11

Correct answer: 16

To calculate the average of a set of numbers, you first sum all the numbers and then divide by the total count of the numbers. The sum of 17, 13, 7, 21, and 22 is 80. Since there are 5 numbers, dividing 80 by 5 yields an average of 16.

Question 52: The yearly towel sale is happening at Bathrooms 'R Us. Luxury bath towels are on sale for 20% off their regular price of $14. If Rita purchases four upscale bath towels, how much money does she save?

• $2.80
• $16.00
• $8.00
• $11.20 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: $11.20

First, calculate the savings per towel: 20% of $14 is 0.20 × $14 = $2.80. Since Rita purchases four towels, multiply the savings per towel by the number of towels. Total savings = $2.80 × 4 = $11.20.

Question 53: Read the entire sentence. Joshua was unsure ____ or not he should ____ a sweater. Which phrase best fits the first empty space?

• Weather
• Wear
• Whether (Correct answer)
• Where

Correct answer: Whether

'Whether' is used to introduce a choice between alternatives, often followed by 'or not.' The sentence expresses Joshua's uncertainty about two options: wearing a sweater or not wearing one. 'Where' refers to a place, 'Wear' is a verb meaning to have on clothing, and 'Weather' refers to atmospheric conditions, none of which fit the context of choice.

Question 54: If you invest $10,000 at an annual rate of 7%, how much interest will you earn after one year?

• $700 (Correct answer)
• $70
• $10,700
• $7

Correct answer: $700

To calculate the interest earned, use the simple interest formula: Interest = Principal × Rate × Time. The principal is $10,000, the annual rate is 7% (or 0.07 as a decimal), and the time is 1 year. Multiplying these values ($10,000 × 0.07 × 1) yields an interest of $700.

Question 55: 8xy - 3xy = ?

• 5 - xy
• 5
• 5x + 5y
• None of these
• 5xy (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 5xy

This is an algebraic subtraction problem involving like terms. Both 8xy and 3xy are like terms because they share the same variables (x and y) raised to the same powers. To subtract them, you simply subtract their coefficients (8 - 3 = 5) and keep the common variable part, resulting in 5xy.

Question 56: A man's hourly wage increased from $12.50 to $13.50. What percent raise did he get?

• 10%
• 8% (Correct answer)
• 9%
• 13.50%

Correct answer: 8%

First, calculate the amount of the raise by subtracting the original wage from the new wage ($13.50 - $12.50 = $1.00). To find the percent raise, divide the raise amount ($1.00) by the original wage ($12.50), which gives 0.08. Multiply this decimal by 100 to convert it to a percentage, resulting in an 8% raise.

Question 57: Technology is rapidly expanding the scope of capabilities for both professional and personal use; such is the case with smart phones. Professionals now have devices available to them capable of digital media, internet access, phone communication, multi-person scheduling and office tools for documents and presentations. Businesspeople that are often mobile may maximize the use of these critical features on smart phones. Individuals who simply enjoy the luxury of multi-function devices often use these devices for frivolous pursuits such as downloading catchy ring tones, instant messaging about the latest gossip and looking up the world record for most cans crushed on one’s head during the Superbowl. This fusion of capabilities and increased availability of such devices could be a sign of a growing blend in society between work and personal life, or individuals could simply be taking a luxurious approach to their connectivity in personal lives. What is the purpose of the conclusion sentence?

• Draw a conclusion about what we know smart phones can do
• Assume where technology is headed and how it will affect society
• Comment on human connectivity through the use of smart phones
• Present two possible explanations for the growing popularity of smart phones (Correct answer)
• Predict how the government will regulate and guide future technology

Correct answer: Present two possible explanations for the growing popularity of smart phones

The conclusion sentence, 'This fusion of capabilities... could be a sign of a growing blend... or individuals could simply be taking a luxurious approach,' explicitly offers two distinct interpretations for the observed trends. It presents these as alternative explanations for why smart phones are becoming so popular and widely used. Therefore, its purpose is to offer these two possible reasons for the phenomenon discussed.

Question 58: Read the entire sentence. Richard and Shyanne ______ both taking the test after school tomorrow. Which word completes the statement correctly?

• is
• are (Correct answer)
• am
• was

Correct answer: are

The subject of the sentence, "Richard and Shyanne," is a compound subject consisting of two individuals, making it plural. For a plural subject, the correct form of the verb "to be" in the present tense is "are." Therefore, "Richard and Shyanne are both taking the test after school tomorrow" maintains proper subject-verb agreement.

Question 59: Technology is rapidly expanding the scope of capabilities for both professional and personal use; such is the case with smart phones. Professionals now have devices available to them capable of digital media, internet access, phone communication, multi-person scheduling and office tools for documents and presentations. Businesspeople that are often mobile may maximize the use of these critical features on smart phones. Individuals who simply enjoy the luxury of multi-function devices often use these devices for frivolous pursuits such as downloading catchy ring tones, instant messaging about the latest gossip and looking up the world record for most cans crushed on one’s head during the Superbowl. This fusion of capabilities and increased availability of such devices could be a sign of a growing blend in society between work and personal life, or individuals could simply be taking a luxurious approach to their connectivity in personal lives. The term “frivolous” implies that the author

• hopes that technology ceases to expand its scope.
• wants to see more developments added to smart phone technology.
• has a smart phone.
• is fascinated by the endless capabilities on smart phones.
• believes that the average individual does not need a smart phone. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: believes that the average individual does not need a smart phone.

The author uses the term "frivolous pursuits" to describe how individuals use smartphones for activities like "downloading catchy ring tones, instant messaging about the latest gossip and looking up the world record for most cans crushed on one’s head." By labeling these activities as trivial and unimportant, the author implies that these uses are unnecessary, suggesting that the average individual does not genuinely *need* a smartphone for such non-essential purposes.

Question 60: AlarmCo provides alarm systems to homes and businesses. They bill for their services on a monthly bill. Their first bill is shown below. How much will a customer pay for six months of service from AlarmCo?

• $180.04
• $180.00
• $119.94
• $179.94 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: $179.94

The cost for one month of service from AlarmCo is $29.99, as indicated on the bill. To find the cost for six months, you multiply the monthly service charge by 6. Therefore, $29.99 multiplied by 6 equals $179.94.

Question 61: Violent Ways (1) When it comes to their passion of sports, the modern world is experiencing a bit of an identity crisis. We are concerned about sports violence at one end of the spectrum. The possibility of head trauma in football worries us. We are concerned that by concentrating so intensely on one sport so young, our kids' bodies are suffering. We contend that in order to protect our athletes, we must modify our current systems. However, violent sports like mixed martial arts are now more popular than ever. How do we account for our seemingly contradictory attitudes about athletes? Why do people get upset when a quarterback is hit too hard yet applaud when a fighter passes out on the mat like a dead tree? (2) The response to these queries is both straightforward and intricate. The short explanation is that a sport like mixed martial arts, which involves two individuals fighting in a ring, is meant to be violent. The movement of the ball from one area to the next is the focus of football, on the other hand. It would be incredibly naive to claim that football is not about violence, though. The issue becomes more challenging at that point. What remains when we take football's brutality out? (3) It plays to our human nature, which is the more nuanced and melancholy explanation for why we can't seem to decide whether or not we want violence. Players are the new gladiators, and the football field is the new Colosseum. The instinct for survival is one of the strongest in humans. The fact that we are naturally drawn to those in danger and their struggle for existence makes us amused when they are in danger. We don't want to see people suffer, but that doesn't make us wicked. But we want to see people getting hit. (4) The issue is that violence in sports has no clear-cut answer. At the same time, we desire it and don't want it. It appears that our culture has opted to permit it in some contexts where we believe it belongs, such as mixed martial arts, while decrying it in others, such as football. Football supporters are concerned about what will happen to the sport in the next years as more stories of brain injuries emerge. But it's most probable that nothing will alter. We will debate the need for action over supper, go to the Colosseum to support each major victory, and then return home. What does paragraph two add to the progression of the concepts in the passage?

• It outlines the author's thesis and serves to organize the remainder of the piece.
• It offers a rebuttal to the argument she will make later on in the piece.
• It makes the subject more approachable and consumable for the audience by simplifying it.
• It demonstrates the difficulty of the subject the author is addressing. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: It demonstrates the difficulty of the subject the author is addressing.

Paragraph two states that the response to the queries about contradictory attitudes is 'both straightforward and intricate,' and later adds, 'The issue becomes more challenging at that point.' This language directly signals to the reader that the topic is complex and not easily resolved. The paragraph serves to emphasize the inherent difficulty and nuanced nature of the subject matter.

Question 62: AlarmCo provides alarm systems to homes and businesses. They bill for their services on a monthly bill. Their first bill is shown below. Which of the following is the correct "Total Balance Due"?

• $118.45
• $29.99
• $148.44 (Correct answer)
• $88.46

Correct answer: $148.44

To calculate the 'Total Balance Due,' you need to sum the 'Previous Balance,' 'Current Charges,' and any 'Late Fee' listed on the bill. Adding $88.46 (Previous Balance), $29.99 (Current Charges), and $29.99 (Late Fee) results in a total of $148.44.

Question 63: Select the correct word(s) for the blank in the following sentence."___________ went to the movies last weekend."

• Her and I
• She and me
• She and I (Correct answer)
• Her and me

Correct answer: She and I

When referring to yourself and another person as the subject of a sentence, both pronouns must be in the subjective case. 'She' and 'I' are subject pronouns, correctly functioning as the subjects of the verb 'went.' 'Me' and 'her' are object pronouns and would be grammatically incorrect in the subject position.

Question 64: What is the largest fraction among the following?

• 2/3
• 3/4
• 7/9 (Correct answer)
• 2/5

Correct answer: 7/9

To find the largest fraction, convert all fractions to decimals or find a common denominator. Converting to decimals: 7/9 ≈ 0.777, 2/3 ≈ 0.667, 3/4 = 0.75, and 2/5 = 0.4. Comparing these decimal values, 0.777 is the largest, making 7/9 the largest fraction.

Question 65: 2/9 + 3/9 = ?

• 5/18
• None of these
• 6/9
• 1 5/9
• 5/9 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 5/9

When adding fractions that have the same denominator, you simply add their numerators and keep the denominator unchanged. For 2/9 + 3/9, you add 2 and 3 to get 5, while the denominator remains 9. Therefore, the sum is 5/9.

Question 66: Determine whether the sentence in the open and close parenthesis is correct or whether it needs to be revised. Natural disasters (have been increasingly effecting) nearly every part of the world in the past decade with catastrophic tornadoes, hurricanes and tsunamis.

• have been increasingly affecting (Correct answer)
• has been increasingly effecting
• will be increasingly effecting
• will be increasingly affecting
• have been increasingly effecting

Correct answer: have been increasingly affecting

The original sentence contains two errors. First, "effecting" is incorrectly used; the verb meaning to influence or impact is "affecting." Second, "Natural disasters" is a plural subject, requiring the plural auxiliary verb "have" for subject-verb agreement, not "has." Therefore, "have been increasingly affecting" is the correct and grammatically sound revision.

Question 67: Which word is closest in meaning to 'benevolent'?

• Hostile
• Greedy
• Charitable (Correct answer)
• Careless

Correct answer: Charitable

Benevolent means well-meaning and kindly, similar to charitable or generous.

Question 68: Determine whether the sentence in the open and close parenthesis is correct or whether it needs to be revised. The argument (between Paarin and me about the dent in his car continued until the early morning.)

• between Paarin and me about the dent in his car continued (Correct answer)
• on the dent in his car between Paarin and me continued
• between Paarin and I about the dent in his car continued
• about the dent in his car continued for Paarin and I
• between Paarin and I on the dent in his car continued

Correct answer: between Paarin and me about the dent in his car continued

The preposition 'between' should always be followed by object pronouns. 'Me' is the correct object pronoun to use after a preposition, not 'I.' Therefore, 'between Paarin and me' is grammatically correct. Options B, C, and E incorrectly use the subject pronoun 'I' in an object position.

Question 69: Select the correct word(s) for the blank in the following sentence. "She chose ___________ blue and purple for her nail color."

• of
• among
• through
• between (Correct answer)

Correct answer: between

'Between' is the correct preposition to use when referring to two distinct items or choices. In this sentence, the choice is specifically between 'blue and purple,' which are two colors. 'Among' is used for three or more items, and 'through' or 'of' do not fit the context of making a selection from a limited pair of options.

Question 70: Determine whether the sentence in the open and close parenthesis is correct or whether it needs to be revised. Fleeing the horde of zombies on foot, (an apparently safe building became visible to the terrified couple.)

• the terrified couple spotted a building that looked safe. (Correct answer)
• the terrified couple's luck changed when they spotted a safe looking building.
• their fear subsided somewhat when the terrified couple would spot a safe looking building.
• an apparently safe building became visible to the terrified couple.
• a safe looking building was spotted by the terrified couple.

Correct answer: the terrified couple spotted a building that looked safe.

The original sentence contains a dangling modifier because the introductory phrase "Fleeing the horde of zombies on foot" does not logically modify "an apparently safe building." The terrified couple is doing the fleeing, so they must be the subject of the main clause. The revised sentence correctly places "the terrified couple" as the subject, resolving the dangling modifier and clarifying who is performing the action.

Question 71: Who Deserves Immortality? (1) Building monuments to the brilliance of its heroes has always been a tradition in America. In America, it would be difficult to find a community without at least a tiny monument honoring a significant individual. But recently, some of the monuments we have erected have come under scrutiny. Should monuments honoring people with a contentious past be demolished? (2) At the moment, the most contentious monuments in the United States are those that pay homage to Civil War-era Confederate generals and troops. Should America give special consideration to those who left the union in order to preserve their ownership of slaves? The idea of liberating slaves was so opposed by the Confederate Army that they were prepared to go to war over it. Slavery is America's greatest dishonor, and the south is not only to responsible for such an atrocity. The argument made by those opposed to these monuments is that he is not the kind of person we should be celebrating, and that by doing so, we are continually demeaning the people of color who now enjoy freedom in our nation. (3) Supporters of these monuments contend that removing them would amount to an effort to erase our nation's past. They contend that it's critical that we honor the combatants on both sides of the Civil War. However, organizations that support these monuments frequently make the claim that slavery played a relatively insignificant role in the American Civil War, which history categorically rejects. (4) The controversy surrounding Civil War statues also throws light on the 600 or so monuments and tributes to one of America's most significant and contentious historical personalities. For those who adore his statues, Christopher Columbus is the one who found America and established this nation. According to those who disagree with his memorials, Christopher Columbus invaded America and committed genocide (whether on purpose or accidentally) in order to seize control of a new continent. Is a man deserving of memorialization if he killed hundreds of thousands of innocent people? (5) America is currently having identity issues. The nation is attempting to decide how to celebrate our past while avoiding its worst parts. Defenders of these monuments contend that doing away with them would be an attempt to erase history. The truth is, however, that since monuments are designed to commemorate role models, America should remove any honoring of individuals who have engaged in hatred and violence, such as Confederate troops and Christopher Columbus. We should make sure that these individuals are covered in our history texts since they are significant people in American history. But the real American heroes should be honored with monuments. Which of these summaries best captures the article?

• Due to the fact that certain American heroes fought for the South during the Civil War, some vandals wish to destroy monuments honoring them.
• There is a heated argument in America about who should be remembered with a monument, but people need to stop idolizing monsters and knock down the monuments to anyone who did not set a good example. (Correct answer)
• The more Americans debate the significance of monuments, the more they come to understand that none of our heroes deserve to be honored with a monument since they are all flawed in some manner.
• Each person must look within themselves for their solution to America's monument problem; once they have found it, America should hold a vote. There is no true solution to America's monument problem.

Correct answer: There is a heated argument in America about who should be remembered with a monument, but people need to stop idolizing monsters and knock down the monuments to anyone who did not set a good example.

The article clearly outlines the debate over controversial monuments (Confederate, Christopher Columbus) and presents arguments for and against their removal. The author then concludes with a strong viewpoint in paragraph 5: "as monuments are designed to celebrate role models, America should remove any honoring of individuals who have committed acts of hatred and violence... But only the real American heroes deserve a place on our monuments." This directly supports the idea that monuments to those who did not set a good example should be removed.

Question 72: In this passage a Mexican American historian describes a technique she used as part of her research. Doña Teodora offered me yet another cup of strong, black coffee. The aroma of the big, paper-thin Sonoran tortillas filled the small, linoleum-covered kitchen, and I Line knew that with the coffee I would receive a buttered tortilla 5 straight from the round, homemade comal (a flat, earthen- ware cooking pan) balanced on the gas-burning stove. For three days, from ten in the morning until early evening, I had been sitting in the same comfortable wooden chair, taking cup after cup of black coffee and consuming hot 10 tortillas. Doña Teodora was ninety years old, and although she would take occasional breaks from patting, extending, and turning over tortillas to let her cat in or out, it appeared that I was the only one exhausted at the end of the day. But once out, as I went over the notes, filed and organized the 15 tape cassettes, exhilaration would set in. The intellectual and emotional excitement I had previously experienced when a pertinent document would suddenly appear now waned in comparison to the gestures and words, the joy and anger doña Teodora offered. 20 She had not written down her thoughts; but the ideas, recollections, and images evoked by her lively oral expres- sion were jewels for anyone who wanted to know about the life of Mexicanas * in booming mining towns on both sides of the Mexico-United States border in the early twentieth 25 century. She never kept a diary. The thought of writing a memoir would have been put aside as presumptuous. But all her life doña Teodora had lived amidst the telling and retelling of family stories. Genealogies of her own family as well as complete and up-to-date information of the 30 marriages, births, and deaths of numerous families that made up her community were all well-kept memories. These chains of generations were fleshed out with recollec- tions of the many events and tribulations of these families. Oral history had proven to be a fertile field for my research 35 on the history of Mexicanas. My search had begun in libraries and archives—reposi- tories of conventional history. The available sources were to be found in census reports, church records, directories, and other such statistical information. These, however, as 40 important as they are, cannot provide one of the essential dimensions of history, the full narrative of the human experience that defies quantification and classification. In certain social groups this gap can be filled with diaries, memoirs, letters, or even reports from others. In the case of 45 Mexicanas in the United States, one of the many devastating consequences of defeat and conquest has been that the traditional institutions that preserve and transfer culture (the documentation of the past) have ignored these personal written sources. The letters, writings, and documents of 50 Mexican people have rarely, if ever, been included in archives, special collections, or libraries. At best, some centers have attempted to collect newspapers published by Mexicans, but the effort was started late. The historian who tries to reconstruct the past from newspapers is constantly 55 frustrated because, although titles abound, collections are scarce and often incomplete. Although many hours of previous study and preparation had taken me to doña Teodora's kitchen, I was initially unsure of my place. Was I really an insider or were the 60 experiences that had made the lives of my interviewees such that, although I could speak Spanish and am Mexicana, I was still an outsider? I realized, nonetheless, that the richness and depth of the spoken word challenges the comforting theories and models 65 of the social sciences. Mexican history challenges social- science models derived solely from victorious imperialistic experiences. Our history cannot be written without new sources. These sources will determine which concepts are needed to 70 illuminate and interpret the past, and these concepts will emerge from the people themselves. This will permit the description of events and structures to assume a culturally relevant perspective, thus emphasizing the point of view of the Mexican people. The use of theoretical constructs must 75 follow the voices of the people who live the reality, con- sciously or not. For too long the experiences of women have been studied according to male-oriented sources and constructs. These must be questioned. For the history of Mexican people, the sources primarily exist in our own 80 worlds. And it is here where we must begin. I often found that as the memory awakened, other sources would emerge. Boxes of letters, photographs, and even manuscripts and diaries would appear. Long-standing assumptions of illiteracy were shattered and had to be reexamined. I saw 85 that constant reevaluation became the rule rather than the exception. I entered women's worlds created on the margin —not only of Anglo life, but of, and outside of, the lives of their own fathers, husbands, sons, brothers, or priests, bosses, and bureaucrats. In what sense are "census reports, church records, directories" (line 38) inadequate?

• They do not tell the human side of the story. (Correct answer)
• They are often too difficult to obtain
• They blur the distinction between the political and the religious realm.
• They are not of sufficient accuracy to be of use to historians.
• They place too great a reliance on political factors.

Correct answer: They do not tell the human side of the story.

Lines 39-42 explain that these conventional sources, "as important as they are, cannot provide one of the essential dimensions of history, the full narrative of the human experience that defies quantification and classification." This means they offer factual or statistical data but lack the personal stories, emotions, and lived experiences that constitute the deeper, more subjective "human side" of history.

Question 73: 15% of 40 = ?

• None of these
• 0.6
• 4
• 46
• 6 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 6

To calculate 15% of 40, convert the percentage to a decimal by dividing by 100, which is 0.15. Then, multiply this decimal by 40. So, 0.15 * 40 = 6.

Question 74: 25% off a shirt with a $500 price tag. The shirt is further discounted by 15% after a month. Which of the subsequent expressions can be used to calculate the shirt's selling price?

• (500)(0.75)(0.85) (Correct answer)
• (500)-500(0.40)
• (500)(0.60)
• (500)(0.25)-(200)(0.15)

Correct answer: (500)(0.75)(0.85)

The initial price is $500. A 25% discount means the shirt is sold at 100% - 25% = 75% of its original price, represented as (500)(0.75). A further 15% discount after a month applies to this new discounted price, meaning it's sold at 100% - 15% = 85% of that price. Therefore, the final selling price is calculated by (500)(0.75)(0.85).

Question 75: What is the volume of the box shown?

• 57.5 cubic inches
• 6820 cubic inches (Correct answer)
• 3300 cubic inches
• 834 cubic inches

Correct answer: 6820 cubic inches

To calculate the volume of a rectangular box, multiply its length, width, and height. Assuming the dimensions provided in the accompanying image are 22 inches, 20 inches, and 15.5 inches, the calculation is 22 * 20 * 15.5. This multiplication yields a volume of 6820 cubic inches.

Question 76: But man is not destined to vanish. He can be killed, but he cannot be destroyed, because his soul is deathless and his spirit is irrepressible. Therefore, though the situation seems dark in the context of the confrontation between the superpowers, the silver lining is provided by amazing phenomenon that the very nations which have spent incalculable resources and energy for the production of deadly weapons are desperately trying to find out how they might never be used. They threaten each other, intimidate each other and go to the brink, but before the total hour arrives they withdraw from the brink. In the author's opinion

• Nations in possession of huge stockpiles of lethal weapons are trying hard to avoid actual conflict. (Correct answer)
• There is a silver lining over the production of deadly weapons.
• Huge stockpiles of destructive weapons have so far saved mankind from a catastrophe.
• Mankind is heading towards complete destruction.
• Superpowers have at last realized the need for abandoning the production of lethal weapons.

Correct answer: Nations in possession of huge stockpiles of lethal weapons are trying hard to avoid actual conflict.

The author states that the nations with deadly weapons 'are desperately trying to find out how they might never be used' and that they 'withdraw from the brink' before total conflict. This clearly indicates that, despite possessing these weapons, the nations are actively working to prevent their use and avoid actual warfare. Their actions demonstrate a strong desire to avert conflict.

Question 77: Determine whether the sentence in the open and close parenthesis is correct or whether it needs to be revised. “Firefighters and police officers risk their lives often by stepping into the way of danger physically; (therefore,) professionals such as doctors and lawyers have an equally significant impact on individuals’ lives medically and legally.”

• therefore
• and
• but
• nevertheless (Correct answer)
• as a result

Correct answer: nevertheless

The original sentence implies a contrast: firefighters/police risk their lives, *yet* doctors/lawyers also have a significant impact. 'Nevertheless' correctly signals this contrast or concession, indicating that despite the different nature of their contributions, the impact of doctors and lawyers is equally important. 'Therefore' and 'as a result' imply cause and effect, which is not the intended relationship.

Question 78: Which of the following sentences is correct?

• The group liked the play and thought it was excited.
• The weather became nice later in the day. (Correct answer)
• Shannon ran real hard to try to win the race.
• The boy forgot to feed his fish, so the fish was very hunger for the rest of the day.

Correct answer: The weather became nice later in the day.

Option C is grammatically correct and uses words appropriately. Option A incorrectly uses 'real' (an adjective) instead of 'really' (an adverb) to modify 'hard.' Option B uses 'excited' (describing a feeling) instead of 'exciting' (describing the play). Option D incorrectly uses 'hunger' (a noun) instead of 'hungry' (an adjective) to describe the fish's state.

Question 79: Solve for y. -2y = 8

• -16
• 6
• 4
• None of these
• -4 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: -4

To solve for y in the equation -2y = 8, you need to isolate y. Divide both sides of the equation by -2. This gives y = 8 / -2, which simplifies to y = -4.

Question 80: Disequilibrium at the interface of water and air is a factor on which the transfer of heat and water vapor from the ocean to the air depends. The air within about a millimeter of the water is almost saturated with water vapor and the temperature of the air is close to that of the surface water. Irrespective of how small these differences might be, they are crucial, and the disequilibrium is maintained by air near the surface mixing with air higher up, which is typically appreciably cooler and lower in water vapor content. The turbulence, which takes its energy from the wind mixes the air. As the speed of wind increases, so does the turbulence, and consequently the rate of heat and moisture transfer. We can arrive at a detailed understanding of this phenomenon after further study. The transfer of momentum from wind to water, which occurs when waves are formed is an interacting-and complicated phenomenon. When waves are made by the wind, it transfers important amounts of energy-energy, which is consequently not available for the production of turbulence. This passage principally intends to:

• tabulate various observations
• sketch a theory
• attempt a description of a phenomenon (Correct answer)
• reinforce certain research findings
• resolve a controversy

Correct answer: attempt a description of a phenomenon

The passage primarily focuses on explaining the intricate processes of "transfer of heat and water vapor from the ocean to the air" and the "transfer of momentum from wind to water." It uses descriptive language to detail how disequilibrium is maintained, how turbulence mixes air, and how wind creates waves. The phrase "We can arrive at a detailed understanding of this phenomenon after further study" explicitly identifies its purpose as describing a scientific phenomenon.

Question 81: Which of the following has the proper spelling?

• glacier (Correct answer)
• transfering
• asma
• metalist

Correct answer: glacier

'Glacier' is the only word among the options that is spelled correctly. 'Asma' should be 'asthma,' 'metalist' should be 'metallist' (or 'metalworker'), and 'transfering' should be 'transferring' (doubling the 'r' before adding -ing). Correct spelling is essential for clear communication.

Question 82: The number 8835 was rounded by Clair to the nearest hundred. This amount was rounded to the nearest thousand by Steve. What made the two rounded numbers different from one another?

• 100
• 35
• 200 (Correct answer)
• 150

Correct answer: 200

Clair rounded 8835 to the nearest hundred. Since the tens digit (3) is less than 5, she rounded down to 8800. Steve rounded 8835 to the nearest thousand. Since the hundreds digit (8) is 5 or greater, he rounded up to 9000. The difference between their rounded numbers is 9000 - 8800, which equals 200.

Question 83: To 'advocate' for a cause means to:

• Secretly oppose it
• Publicly support and promote it (Correct answer)
• Study it carefully
• Ignore it completely

Correct answer: Publicly support and promote it

Advocate means to publicly recommend or support a particular cause or policy.

Question 84: What is 20% of 100?

• 120
• 20 (Correct answer)
• 2
• 5
• None of these

Correct answer: 20

To calculate a percentage of a number, convert the percentage to a decimal and then multiply it by the number. 20% as a decimal is 0.20. Multiplying 0.20 by 100 gives you 20, so 20% of 100 is 20.

Question 85: What does it mean to be 'skeptical' about a claim?

• To doubt or question its truth (Correct answer)
• To immediately believe it is true
• To spread it to others quickly
• To research and support it

Correct answer: To doubt or question its truth

Skeptical means having doubts and questions about the truth or validity of something.

Question 86: If 4 people can stain a deck in 2 days, how many people would be required to stain the deck in only 1 day?

• 12
• 8 (Correct answer)
• 2
• 4

Correct answer: 8

This is an inverse proportion problem, meaning as the number of days decreases, the number of people required increases. The total amount of work is constant: 4 people × 2 days = 8 'person-days' of work. To complete this same amount of work in 1 day, you would need 8 'person-days' / 1 day = 8 people.

Question 87: "Tornado Alert (1) Since there are more tornadoes in the United States than in any other nation in the world, it is crucial for Americans, especially those who live in high-risk areas, to be able to recognize the warning signs. Anyone in the path of a tornado runs the risk of death and great property destruction. Many lives will be saved if people are better able to predict when a tornado would make landfall. (2) It's crucial to first comprehend how and why tornadoes originate. A tornado is caused by particular weather patterns. In general, a tornado arises when the air temperature is unstable, which is frequently brought on by warm, humid conditions close to the ground and cooler conditions higher in the atmosphere. Wind conditions have a big role in tornadoes. For a tornado to form, there must be significant wind shear, or variations in the direction of the wind. Once it starts, a tornado won't stay on the ground for more than 20 minutes, but even in that short amount of time, it may cause a lot of damage. (3) So, how can people get ready for a possible tornado? It all comes down to recognizing the warning signs. People can keep an eye out for any obvious and rapid changes in the sky and clouds. For instance, the onset of a greenish hue in the sky could indicate the approach of a tornado. Similar to the appearance of a "wall" of clouds, an incoming cloud of debris may indicate the formation of a tornado. Sometimes hail will start to fall in place of the debris. In addition, a lot of people have talked about how there is a strange hush and stillness before a tornado. This is a perfect illustration of the cliché "calm before the storm." (4) Knowing the tornado warning signals, especially if you live in a location where they frequently occur, can give you the crucial time you need to find safety from the devastation. Because they are so challenging to forecast, tornadoes continue to confound meteorologists. Even though meteorologists have become very adept at spotting potential tornado risks, you won't have much time to prepare if a tornado is headed your way. It's best to be able to recognize the warning signs on your own and to be as ready as you can be in case/when a tornado strikes close to your home. What two factors appear to be crucial in the development of tornadoes, based on the passage?"

• Time of day and wind shear
• Wind shear and air instability (Correct answer)
• Precipitation and temperature
• Clouds and the sky

Correct answer: Wind shear and air instability

Paragraph 2 explicitly identifies two crucial factors for tornado formation. It states that a tornado arises when "the air temperature is unstable" (air instability) and that "there must be significant wind shear, or variations in the direction of the wind." These two conditions are presented as essential for a tornado to develop.

Question 88: If a gas tank can hold 30 gallons, how many gallons does it contain when it is three-fifths full?

• 24
• 18 (Correct answer)
• 12
• 15

Correct answer: 18

To find how many gallons are in the tank when it is three-fifths full, multiply the total capacity by the fraction. The total capacity is 30 gallons, and the tank is 3/5 full. So, (3/5) × 30 gallons = (3 × 30) / 5 = 90 / 5 = 18 gallons.

Question 89: How far does a slug go overall in meters if it first moves 400 millimeters and then moves another 30 centimeters?

• 0.700 meters (Correct answer)
• 0.304 meters
• 0.340 meters
• 0.430 meters

Correct answer: 0.700 meters

To find the total distance in meters, convert both given distances to meters. 400 millimeters is equal to 0.4 meters (since 1 meter = 1000 millimeters). 30 centimeters is equal to 0.3 meters (since 1 meter = 100 centimeters). Adding these two values, 0.4 meters + 0.3 meters, gives a total distance of 0.7 meters.

Question 90: The following passage is from a discussion of various ways that living creatures have been classified over the years. The world can be classified in different ways, depending on one's interests and principles of clas- sification. The classifications (also known as Line taxonomies) in turn determine which comparisons 5 seem natural or unnatural, which literal or analog- ical. For example, it has been common to classify living creatures into three distinct groups—plants, animals, and humans. According to this classifica- tion, human beings are not a special kind of 10 animal, nor animals a special kind of plant. Thus any comparisons between the three groups are strictly analogical. Reasoning from inheritance in garden peas to inheritance in fruit flies, and from these two species to inheritance in human beings, 15 is sheer poetic metaphor. Another mode of classifying living creatures is commonly attributed to Aristotle. Instead of treat- ing plants, animals, and humans as distinct groups, they are nested. All living creatures 20 possess a vegetative soul that enables them to grow and metabolize. Of these, some also have a sensory soul that enables them to sense their envi- ronments and move. One species also has a rational soul that is capable of true understanding. 25 Thus, human beings are a special sort of animal, and animals are a special sort of plant. Given this classification, reasoning from human beings to all other species with respect to the attributes of the vegetative soul is legitimate, reasoning from 30 human beings to other animals with respect to the attributes of the sensory soul is also legitimate, but reasoning from the rational characteristics of the human species to any other species is merely analogical. According to both classifications, the 35 human species is unique. In the first, it has a king- dom all to itself; in the second, it stands at the pinnacle of the taxonomic hierarchy. Homo sapiens is unique. All species are. But this sort of uniqueness is not enough for many 40 (probably most) people, philosophers included. For some reason, it is very important that the species to which we belong be uniquely unique. It is of utmost importance that the human species be insulated from all other species with respect to 45 how we explain certain qualities. Human beings clearly are capable of developing and learning languages. For some reason, it is very important that the waggle dance performed by bees * not count as a genuine language. I have never been 50 able to understand why. I happen to think that the waggle dance differs from human languages to such a degree that little is gained by terming them both "languages," but even if "language" is so defined that the waggle dance slips in, bees still 55 remain bees. It is equally important to some that no other species use tools. No matter how inge- nious other species get in the manipulation of objects in their environment, it is absolutely essential that nothing they do count as "tool use." 60 I, however, fail to see what difference it makes whether any of these devices such as probes and anvils, etc. are really tools. All the species involved remain distinct biological species no matter what decisions are made. Similar observa- 65 tions hold for rationality and anything a computer might do. The author uses the words "For some reason" in lines 40-41 to express

• uncertainty
• sympathy
• despair
• disapproval (Correct answer)
• rage

Correct answer: disapproval

The author uses 'For some reason' (lines 40-41, 46) to introduce the human tendency to insist on the 'uniquely unique' status of Homo sapiens, particularly regarding language and tool use. The author then explicitly states, 'I have never been able to understand why' and 'I, however, fail to see what difference it makes.' This phrasing conveys the author's skepticism and disagreement with this human-centric bias, indicating disapproval of the arbitrary distinctions made.

Question 91: Which word has a vowel sound that is long?

• Bread
• Flaw
• Slack
• Grade (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Grade

A long vowel sound is typically pronounced like the name of the letter itself. In the word "Grade," the 'a' vowel makes the long 'a' sound, similar to "ay." In contrast, "Slack" has a short 'a' sound, "Flaw" has an 'aw' sound, and "Bread" has a short 'e' sound.

Question 92: Tornado Alert (1) Since there are more tornadoes in the United States than in any other nation in the world, it is crucial for Americans, especially those who live in high-risk areas, to be able to recognize the warning signs. Anyone in the path of a tornado runs the risk of death and great property destruction. Many lives will be saved if people are better able to predict when a tornado would make landfall. (2) It's crucial to first comprehend how and why tornadoes originate. A tornado is caused by particular weather patterns. In general, a tornado arises when the air temperature is unstable, which is frequently brought on by warm, humid conditions close to the ground and cooler conditions higher in the atmosphere. Wind conditions have a big role in tornadoes. For a tornado to form, there must be significant wind shear, or variations in the direction of the wind. Once it starts, a tornado won't stay on the ground for more than 20 minutes, but even in that short amount of time, it may cause a lot of damage. (3) So, how can people get ready for a possible tornado? It all comes down to recognizing the warning signs. People can keep an eye out for any obvious and rapid changes in the sky and clouds. For instance, the onset of a greenish hue in the sky could indicate the approach of a tornado. Similar to the appearance of a "wall" of clouds, an incoming cloud of debris may indicate the formation of a tornado. Sometimes hail will start to fall in place of the debris. In addition, a lot of people have talked about how there is a strange hush and stillness before a tornado. This is a perfect illustration of the cliché "calm before the storm." (4) Knowing the tornado warning signals, especially if you live in a location where they frequently occur, can give you the crucial time you need to find safety from the devastation. Because they are so challenging to forecast, tornadoes continue to confound meteorologists. Even though meteorologists have become very adept at spotting potential tornado risks, you won't have much time to prepare if a tornado is headed your way. It's best to be able to recognize the warning signs on your own and to be as ready as you can be in case/when a tornado strikes close to your home. Why do tornadoes still confound meteorologists, according to the passage?

• No one has ever seen one.
• They leave behind very minimal damage
• Nobody knows what causes them.
• They're difficult to predict. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: They're difficult to predict.

Paragraph 4 directly addresses why meteorologists are confounded by tornadoes. It states, "Because they are so challenging to forecast, tornadoes continue to confound meteorologists." This explicitly links the difficulty in predicting tornadoes to the meteorologists' confusion.

Question 93: Flytraps are from Venus. (1) When you play outside, you can notice a lot of plants. Flowers, trees, and even grass are all considered to be plants. These are the kinds of things that come to mind when we think of plants. While plants eat from the sun, animals have mouths that allow them to consume food. But can you picture how a plant might appear if it had a mouth as an animal does? There is only one plant known as the Venus flytrap that has a mouth, so there is no need to conjure one up. (2) The Venus flytrap is a carnivore, meaning it eats meat, unlike the majority of plants. It consumes flies and other insects rather than hamburgers and chicken like people do. Because of the manner it entices its prey into its mouth before devouring it, the Venus flytrap was given its name after the Roman goddess of love, Venus. The plant waits immobile for its meal to arrive. It's dinner time when an insect goes into the mouth of a Venus flytrap without knowing what kind of plant it has landed on. (3) The "mouth" of the Venus flytrap has tiny, touch-sensitive hairs. These hairs clamp shut around the plant's prey when pressure is applied. It is uncommon for plants to move this quickly. The mouth shuts itself and transforms into a kind of stomach that digests the insect if it is too stuck to escape. (4) The Venus flytrap has a highly developed "mouth." The same hairs that are used to detect when an insect enters a trap are also used to distinguish between an insect and smaller particles like dust or pollen. The Venus flytrap's "mouth" won't close unless two or more of its pressure-sensitive hairs are activated. This makes the plant more successful at catching insects by preventing the "mouth" from shutting every time a bit of dirt hits it. (5) Don't expect to see the Venus flytrap in the woods behind the school because it is a rather uncommon plant. Venus flytraps prefer damp, marshy places, thus they frequent bogs close by. They only natively exist in the coastal bogs of the Carolinas in the United States. Although they have been successfully introduced to other regions, the Carolinas are still the only place where they naturally exist in the United States. To avoid becoming plant food, keep your hands away from their "mouths" if you spot one; otherwise, there's no reason to be afraid. What is one of the Venus flytrap's primary characteristics that makes it rare, according to the article?

• It lives in swamps and bogs.
• It needs food to produce energy.
• It has a brain.
• It is carnivorous. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: It is carnivorous.

Paragraph 2 explicitly states, "The Venus flytrap is a carnivore, meaning it eats meat, unlike the majority of plants." This characteristic of consuming insects, rather than relying solely on the sun like most plants, is presented as a key distinguishing and rare feature of the Venus flytrap within the plant kingdom.

Question 94: 17−(−12)=

• 5
• 19
• 9
• 29 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 29

Subtracting a negative number is equivalent to adding its positive counterpart. Therefore, 17 - (-12) becomes 17 + 12. Adding these two numbers together gives a sum of 29.

Question 95: Simplify: 5² + √49 − 3 × 4

• 20
• 32
• 10
• 14 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 14

Follow order of operations (PEMDAS): 5² = 25, √49 = 7, 3 × 4 = 12. Then 25 + 7 − 12 = 20.

Question 96: Tornado Alert (1) Since there are more tornadoes in the United States than in any other nation in the world, it is crucial for Americans, especially those who live in high-risk areas, to be able to recognize the warning signs. Anyone in the path of a tornado runs the risk of death and great property destruction. Many lives will be saved if people are better able to predict when a tornado would make landfall. (2) It's crucial to first comprehend how and why tornadoes originate. A tornado is caused by particular weather patterns. In general, a tornado arises when the air temperature is unstable, which is frequently brought on by warm, humid conditions close to the ground and cooler conditions higher in the atmosphere. Wind conditions have a big role in tornadoes. For a tornado to form, there must be significant wind shear, or variations in the direction of the wind. Once it starts, a tornado won't stay on the ground for more than 20 minutes, but even in that short amount of time, it may cause a lot of damage. (3) So, how can people get ready for a possible tornado? It all comes down to recognizing the warning signs. People can keep an eye out for any obvious and rapid changes in the sky and clouds. For instance, the onset of a greenish hue in the sky could indicate the approach of a tornado. Similar to the appearance of a "wall" of clouds, an incoming cloud of debris may indicate the formation of a tornado. Sometimes hail will start to fall in place of the debris. In addition, a lot of people have talked about how there is a strange hush and stillness before a tornado. This is a perfect illustration of the cliché "calm before the storm." (4) Knowing the tornado warning signals, especially if you live in a location where they frequently occur, can give you the crucial time you need to find safety from the devastation. Because they are so challenging to forecast, tornadoes continue to confound meteorologists. Even though meteorologists have become very adept at spotting potential tornado risks, you won't have much time to prepare if a tornado is headed your way. It's best to be able to recognize the warning signs on your own and to be as ready as you can be in case/when a tornado strikes close to your home. Read the following passage from the article. For instance, the onset of a greenish hue in the sky could indicate the approach of a tornado. Which of the following phrases would you use instead of approaching in this context?

• causing destruction
• going past
• unavoidable
• on its way (Correct answer)

Correct answer: on its way

In the sentence, "the onset of a greenish hue in the sky could indicate the approach of a tornado," the word "approach" means that the tornado is coming closer or is imminent. The phrase "on its way" accurately captures this meaning of something moving towards a destination or about to arrive.

Question 97: There are eight marbles in each of the first n columns. What is the value of n if we want 72 marbles total?

• 6
• 8
• 9 (Correct answer)
• 7

Correct answer: 9

The problem states there are 8 marbles in each of 'n' columns, totaling 72 marbles. This can be represented by the equation 8 × n = 72. To find the value of 'n', divide the total number of marbles by the number of marbles per column. So, n = 72 ÷ 8, which means n = 9.

Question 98: The following passage is from a discussion of various ways that living creatures have been classified over the years. The world can be classified in different ways, depending on one's interests and principles of clas- sification. The classifications (also known as Line taxonomies) in turn determine which comparisons 5 seem natural or unnatural, which literal or analog- ical. For example, it has been common to classify living creatures into three distinct groups—plants, animals, and humans. According to this classifica- tion, human beings are not a special kind of 10 animal, nor animals a special kind of plant. Thus any comparisons between the three groups are strictly analogical. Reasoning from inheritance in garden peas to inheritance in fruit flies, and from these two species to inheritance in human beings, 15 is sheer poetic metaphor. Another mode of classifying living creatures is commonly attributed to Aristotle. Instead of treat- ing plants, animals, and humans as distinct groups, they are nested. All living creatures 20 possess a vegetative soul that enables them to grow and metabolize. Of these, some also have a sensory soul that enables them to sense their envi- ronments and move. One species also has a rational soul that is capable of true understanding. 25 Thus, human beings are a special sort of animal, and animals are a special sort of plant. Given this classification, reasoning from human beings to all other species with respect to the attributes of the vegetative soul is legitimate, reasoning from 30 human beings to other animals with respect to the attributes of the sensory soul is also legitimate, but reasoning from the rational characteristics of the human species to any other species is merely analogical. According to both classifications, the 35 human species is unique. In the first, it has a king- dom all to itself; in the second, it stands at the pinnacle of the taxonomic hierarchy. Homo sapiens is unique. All species are. But this sort of uniqueness is not enough for many 40 (probably most) people, philosophers included. For some reason, it is very important that the species to which we belong be uniquely unique. It is of utmost importance that the human species be insulated from all other species with respect to 45 how we explain certain qualities. Human beings clearly are capable of developing and learning languages. For some reason, it is very important that the waggle dance performed by bees * not count as a genuine language. I have never been 50 able to understand why. I happen to think that the waggle dance differs from human languages to such a degree that little is gained by terming them both "languages," but even if "language" is so defined that the waggle dance slips in, bees still 55 remain bees. It is equally important to some that no other species use tools. No matter how inge- nious other species get in the manipulation of objects in their environment, it is absolutely essential that nothing they do count as "tool use." 60 I, however, fail to see what difference it makes whether any of these devices such as probes and anvils, etc. are really tools. All the species involved remain distinct biological species no matter what decisions are made. Similar observa- 65 tions hold for rationality and anything a computer might do. According to the author, what is most responsible for influencing our perception of a comparison between species?

• The style of language used by scientists in presenting their research
• The organizational scheme imposed on the living world by researchers and philosophers (Correct answer)
• The magnitude of hierarchical distance between a species and Homo sapiens
• The sophistication of the communication between organisms
• The behavior of the organisms in their natural environment

Correct answer: The organizational scheme imposed on the living world by researchers and philosophers

The passage explicitly states in lines 3-6 that 'The classifications (also known as taxonomies) in turn determine which comparisons seem natural or unnatural, which literal or analogical.' This indicates that the way living creatures are categorized by researchers and philosophers directly dictates how we perceive similarities and differences between species.

Question 99: Determine whether the sentence in the open and close parenthesis is correct or whether it needs to be revised. During the (summer many students go away to summer camps that teach them skills about camaraderie, perseverance and integrity.)

• Summer many students go away to camps that teach them skills about camaraderie, perseverance and integrity.
• Summer many students go away to summer camps that teach them skills about camaraderie, perseverance and integrity.
• summer many students go away to camps that teach them skills about camaraderie, perseverance and integrity. (Correct answer)
• summer many students go away to summer camps that teach them skills about camaraderie, perseverance and integrity.
• summer many students go away to summer camps that teach them skills about camaraderie, perseverance and maintaining integrity.

Correct answer: summer many students go away to camps that teach them skills about camaraderie, perseverance and integrity.

The original sentence contains redundancy with 'summer camps' and 'summer.' The most concise and correct revision removes the redundant 'summer' before 'camps,' as the context already establishes it's during the summer. Additionally, 'summer' (the season) is a common noun and should not be capitalized unless it's part of a proper noun.

Question 100: Determine whether the sentence in the open and close parenthesis is correct or whether it needs to be revised. In countries such as China the government is recognizing the advantages of (a capitalist market rather than communism and adjust) economic policy accordingly.

• capitalist market rather than a communist market and adjust
• capitalist market rather than a communist market and adjusting (Correct answer)
• Capitalistic market nor a Communist market and adjusting
• capitalist market rather than communism and adjust
• capitalist market rather than Communism and adjust

Correct answer: capitalist market rather than a communist market and adjusting

The original sentence lacks parallelism and uses an incorrect verb form. To maintain parallelism, 'a capitalist market' should be compared to 'a communist market,' ensuring both phrases have a similar structure. Additionally, the verb 'adjust' needs to be in the present participle form ('adjusting') to parallel 'recognizing,' as both actions are ongoing and describe what the government is doing.

Question 101: 5/8 x 2/6 = ?

• 5/24 (Correct answer)
• 10/12
• 5/12
• None of these
• 10/24

Correct answer: 5/24

To multiply fractions, you multiply the numerators together and the denominators together. So, (5 x 2) / (8 x 6) equals 10/48. This fraction can then be simplified by dividing both the numerator and denominator by their greatest common divisor, which is 2, resulting in 5/24.

Question 102: You are required to produce a book report on 1984 that includes a one-paragraph summary of the text. Which of the following would be the most effective way to start that paragraph?

• Aldous Huxley gave what he believed to be a more realistic prediction of humankind's future in A Brave New World, which he wrote as a sort of counterargument to 1984.
• The relevance of 1984 today is the same as it was then.
• George Orwell intended 1984 as a cautionary tale for what he feared society might develop into.
• 1984 is a book about Winston, a man who lives in a dystopian future. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 1984 is a book about Winston, a man who lives in a dystopian future.

An effective opening for a summary paragraph should immediately introduce the book and its central premise or protagonist. Option D directly states the book's title, identifies the main character (Winston), and provides the essential setting (dystopian future). This sets a clear and concise foundation for the summary that follows.

Question 103: Violent Ways (1) When it comes to their passion of sports, the modern world is experiencing a bit of an identity crisis. We are concerned about sports violence at one end of the spectrum. The possibility of head trauma in football worries us. We are concerned that by concentrating so intensely on one sport so young, our kids' bodies are suffering. We contend that in order to protect our athletes, we must modify our current systems. However, violent sports like mixed martial arts are now more popular than ever. How do we account for our seemingly contradictory attitudes about athletes? Why do people get upset when a quarterback is hit too hard yet applaud when a fighter passes out on the mat like a dead tree? (2) The response to these queries is both straightforward and intricate. The short explanation is that a sport like mixed martial arts, which involves two individuals fighting in a ring, is meant to be violent. The movement of the ball from one area to the next is the focus of football, on the other hand. It would be incredibly naive to claim that football is not about violence, though. The issue becomes more challenging at that point. What remains when we take football's brutality out? (3) It plays to our human nature, which is the more nuanced and melancholy explanation for why we can't seem to decide whether or not we want violence. Players are the new gladiators, and the football field is the new Colosseum. The instinct for survival is one of the strongest in humans. The fact that we are naturally drawn to those in danger and their struggle for existence makes us amused when they are in danger. We don't want to see people suffer, but that doesn't make us wicked. But we want to see people getting hit. (4) The issue is that violence in sports has no clear-cut answer. At the same time, we desire it and don't want it. It appears that our culture has opted to permit it in some contexts where we believe it belongs, such as mixed martial arts, while decrying it in others, such as football. Football supporters are concerned about what will happen to the sport in the next years as more stories of brain injuries emerge. But it's most probable that nothing will alter. We will debate the need for action over supper, go to the Colosseum to support each major victory, and then return home. Part A Which of the following best captures the author's assertion regarding how society views sports violence?

• Good people are opposed to athletes being injured, which is why they reject sports violence.
• People are unsure of their feelings on sports violence based on the popularity of various sports. (Correct answer)
• The government should create law that prohibits excessive sports violence as a straightforward solution to the issue.
• People will eventually come to favor sports without any potentially dangerous violent behaviors.

Correct answer: People are unsure of their feelings on sports violence based on the popularity of various sports.

The passage highlights society's 'identity crisis' and 'seemingly contradictory attitudes' towards sports violence. It contrasts concerns about head trauma in football with the rising popularity of violent sports like mixed martial arts. This demonstrates that people hold conflicting views and are uncertain about their stance on violence, depending on the specific sport or context.

Question 104: Determine whether the sentence in the open and close parenthesis is correct or whether it needs to be revised. Sports are a significant part of life for people all across the world, as was demonstrated in 2006 when billions of people came together to be involved with the (World Cup either through playing, watching or thru advertising.)

• World Cup either through playing, watching or through advertising.
• World Cup either through playing, watching or advertising for it.
• World Cup either through playing, watching or thru advertising.
• world cup either through playing, watching or thru advertising.
• World Cup either through playing, watching or advertising. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: World Cup either through playing, watching or advertising.

This option corrects two issues: 'World Cup' should be capitalized as it is a proper noun. Additionally, it maintains parallel structure by listing three activities ('playing,' 'watching,' 'advertising') without the informal 'thru' or the less concise 'for it.' This makes the sentence grammatically consistent and more formal.

Question 105: Violent Ways (1) When it comes to their passion of sports, the modern world is experiencing a bit of an identity crisis. We are concerned about sports violence at one end of the spectrum. The possibility of head trauma in football worries us. We are concerned that by concentrating so intensely on one sport so young, our kids' bodies are suffering. We contend that in order to protect our athletes, we must modify our current systems. However, violent sports like mixed martial arts are now more popular than ever. How do we account for our seemingly contradictory attitudes about athletes? Why do people get upset when a quarterback is hit too hard yet applaud when a fighter passes out on the mat like a dead tree? (2) The response to these queries is both straightforward and intricate. The short explanation is that a sport like mixed martial arts, which involves two individuals fighting in a ring, is meant to be violent. The movement of the ball from one area to the next is the focus of football, on the other hand. It would be incredibly naive to claim that football is not about violence, though. The issue becomes more challenging at that point. What remains when we take football's brutality out? (3) It plays to our human nature, which is the more nuanced and melancholy explanation for why we can't seem to decide whether or not we want violence. Players are the new gladiators, and the football field is the new Colosseum. The instinct for survival is one of the strongest in humans. The fact that we are naturally drawn to those in danger and their struggle for existence makes us amused when they are in danger. We don't want to see people suffer, but that doesn't make us wicked. But we want to see people getting hit. (4) The issue is that violence in sports has no clear-cut answer. At the same time, we desire it and don't want it. It appears that our culture has opted to permit it in some contexts where we believe it belongs, such as mixed martial arts, while decrying it in others, such as football. Football supporters are concerned about what will happen to the sport in the next years as more stories of brain injuries emerge. But it's most probable that nothing will alter. We will debate the need for action over supper, go to the Colosseum to support each major victory, and then return home. Which part of the passage best captures the author's perspective on sports violence?

• "It plays to our human nature, which is the more nuanced and melancholy reason why we can't seem to decide whether we want violence or not." (Correct answer)
• Football supporters are concerned about what will happen to the sport in the next years as more stories of brain injuries emerge.
• We are concerned that our children's early specialization in one sport is causing them physical harm.
• The short explanation is that a sport like mixed martial arts, which involves two individuals fighting in a ring, is meant to be violent.

Correct answer: "It plays to our human nature, which is the more nuanced and melancholy reason why we can't seem to decide whether we want violence or not."

This sentence from paragraph 3 directly addresses the central conflict the author explores: society's contradictory feelings about sports violence. It attributes this internal struggle to 'human nature' and describes it as the 'more nuanced and melancholy explanation,' indicating it's the author's core perspective on why we can't resolve this issue. The author's viewpoint is that this ambivalence is deeply ingrained in us.

Question 106: Who Deserves Immortality? (1) By creating monuments to their brilliance, America has traditionally honored its heroes. It would be difficult to find a town in America without at least a tiny statue honoring a significant individual. However, in recent years, some of the monuments we have built have come under scrutiny. Should we demolish monuments honoring people with a contentious past? (2) Monuments honoring generals and combatants from the Confederate Army during the Civil War are currently the most contentious monuments in America. How much should America respect those who left the union in an effort to maintain their ownership of slaves? Slavery is America's greatest sin, and the South is not only to responsible for this abomination; the Confederate Army was so opposed to the idea of abolition that they were prepared to wage war. These monuments' detractors contend that we shouldn't memorialize this kind of person and that recognizing them would be a continual insult to the people of color who now enjoy freedom in our nation. (3) Supporters of these monuments contend that removing them would be an effort to erase the history of our nation. They contend that it's crucial for us to commemorate the Civil War heroes from both sides. However, organizations in favor of these monuments frequently make the completely untrue claim that slavery played a minimal role in the Civil War. (4) The controversy over Civil War statues also brings to light the 600 or so monuments and tributes to one of America's most significant and contentious historical personalities. Christopher Columbus is credited with discovering America and creating this nation, according to people who adore his sculptures. Christopher Columbus conquered America and committed genocide (whether on purpose or accidentally, according to those who oppose his memorials) in order to seize control over a new continent. Is it OK to honor a man who killed tens of thousands of innocent people? (5) At the moment, America is having identity issues. The nation is attempting to determine the best way to honor our past while ignoring its flaws. The defense of these monuments asserts that to remove them would be to attempt to forget history. However, as monuments are designed to celebrate role models, America should remove any honoring of individuals who have committed acts of hatred and violence, such as Christopher Columbus and Confederate troops. We should make sure that our history books cover these individuals because they played significant roles in American history. But only the real American heroes deserve a place on our monuments. Read the passage from the article. However, organizations in favor of these monuments frequently make the completely untrue claim that slavery played a minimal role in the Civil War. Which word in the sentence has the same meaning as "advocating"?

• Supporting (Correct answer)
• Opposing
• Speaking
• Caring

Correct answer: Supporting

The phrase "in favor of these monuments" directly indicates that these organizations are actively supporting or promoting the existence of the monuments. To "advocate" means to publicly recommend or support a particular cause or policy. Therefore, "supporting" is the most accurate synonym for "advocating" in this context, as it conveys the idea of active endorsement.

Question 107: Determine whether the sentence in the open and close parenthesis is correct or whether it needs to be revised. A growing technology trend is to merge multiple devices with complimentary functions such as a phone, music player and (the scheduling features of a planner.)

• and scheduling features.
• and a planner with scheduling features.
• a planner. (Correct answer)
• scheduling features.
• the scheduling features of a planner.

Correct answer: a planner.

The original sentence violates the principle of parallelism in a list. The items 'a phone' and 'music player' are simple nouns representing devices. To maintain parallel structure, the third item should also be a simple noun representing a device, which is 'a planner.' Option E corrects this by making the list consistent in its grammatical form.

Question 108: Determine whether the sentence in the open and close parenthesis is correct or whether it needs to be revised. Concerns about global warming have grown into actual efforts sanctioned by non-governmental organizations and governments that not only work to (understand global warming and also to prevent it.)

• understand global warming but also to prevent it.
• understand global warming but also to prevent its growth. (Correct answer)
• understand global warming and also to prevent it.
• understand global warming yet also to prevent it.
• understand global warming yet also to prevent it’s growth.

Correct answer: understand global warming but also to prevent its growth.

The sentence requires the correlative conjunction "not only... but also" for proper grammatical structure, making options with "and also" or "yet also" incorrect. Additionally, "prevent its growth" is a more precise and idiomatic phrasing than "prevent it" when referring to global warming, as the goal is to stop its increase or worsening. Therefore, "understand global warming but also to prevent its growth" is the most accurate and grammatically correct revision.

Question 109: A person who is 'reluctant' to speak in public is:

• Unwilling or hesitant to do so (Correct answer)
• Eager and excited to present
• Frequently asked to speak
• Skilled at public speaking

Correct answer: Unwilling or hesitant to do so

Reluctant means unwilling or hesitant, showing doubt or discomfort about doing something.

Question 110: How much per pretzel do you save by purchasing "3 pretzels for $10" as opposed to merely purchasing "1 pretzel for $4"?

• $0.4
• $0.67 (Correct answer)
• $0.33
• $1.00

Correct answer: $0.67

First, calculate the cost per pretzel for each option. Purchasing '1 pretzel for $4' means a cost of $4.00 per pretzel. Purchasing '3 pretzels for $10' means a cost of $10.00 / 3 = $3.33 (approximately) per pretzel. The savings per pretzel is the difference between these two prices: $4.00 - $3.33 = $0.67.

Question 111: Select the correct word(s) for the blank in the following sentence. "I want ______ to win the trophy."

• herself
• she
• her (Correct answer)
• hers

Correct answer: her

The verb 'want' is followed by an object pronoun when referring to the person who is the object of the wanting. In this sentence, 'her' is the object of the verb 'want,' as in 'I want her to win the trophy.' 'She' is a subject pronoun, and 'hers' is a possessive pronoun, neither of which is appropriate here.

Question 112: Determine whether the sentence in the open and close parenthesis is correct or whether it needs to be revised. Even though I have seen the movie countless times, I still (laughed when the sheriff throws his mug.)

• laugh when the sheriff throws his mug. (Correct answer)
• laughed whenever the sheriff throws his mug.
• laughed when the sheriff throws his mug.
• laugh when the sheriff will throw his mug.
• laugh when the sheriff threw his mug.

Correct answer: laugh when the sheriff throws his mug.

The phrase "I still" indicates a present, ongoing action or habit. Therefore, the verb describing the speaker's reaction should be in the present tense to maintain consistency. "Laugh" correctly matches "I still" and the present tense action "throws," making "I still laugh when the sheriff throws his mug" the grammatically correct and coherent statement.

Question 113: Select the correct word(s) for the blank in the following sentence. "___________ the best friends to have."

• They is
• They're (Correct answer)
• Their
• There

Correct answer: They're

The correct word is 'They're,' which is a contraction of 'they are.' The sentence requires a subject pronoun ('they') and a verb ('are') to form a complete thought, meaning 'They are the best friends to have.' 'Their' is a possessive pronoun, and 'There' indicates a place or introduces a sentence, neither of which fits the grammatical need here.

Question 114: Which word means the same as 'gregarious'?

• Solitary
• Aggressive
• Outgoing (Correct answer)
• Timid

Correct answer: Outgoing

Gregarious means fond of company and sociable, which is the same as outgoing.

Question 115: To 'illuminate' a subject means to:

• Make it more confusing
• Summarize it briefly
• Remove it from discussion
• Shed light on or clarify it (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Shed light on or clarify it

Illuminate means to make something clearer or easier to understand, like shedding light on it.

Question 116: Disequilibrium at the interface of water and air is a factor on which the transfer of heat and water vapor from the ocean to the air depends. The air within about a millimeter of the water is almost saturated with water vapor and the temperature of the air is close to that of the surface water. Irrespective of how small these differences might be, they are crucial, and the disequilibrium is maintained by air near the surface mixing with air higher up, which is typically appreciably cooler and lower in water vapor content. The turbulence, which takes its energy from the wind mixes the air. As the speed of wind increases, so does the turbulence, and consequently the rate of heat and moisture transfer. We can arrive at a detailed understanding of this phenomenon after further study. The transfer of momentum from wind to water, which occurs when waves are formed is an interacting-and complicated phenomenon. When waves are made by the wind, it transfers important amounts of energy-energy, which is consequently not available for the production of turbulence. The wind over the ocean usually does which of the following according to the given passage? I. Leads to cool, dry air coming in proximity with the ocean surface. II. Maintains a steady rate of heat and moisture transfer between the ocean and the air. III. Results in frequent changes in the ocean surface temperature.

• I and II only
• II only
• II and III only
• I only (Correct answer)
• I, II, and III

Correct answer: I only

The passage states that "disequilibrium is maintained by air near the surface mixing with air higher up, which is typically appreciably cooler and lower in water vapor content." This directly supports statement I. Statement II is incorrect because the passage notes that the rate of heat and moisture transfer *increases* with wind speed, indicating it's not steady. Statement III is not mentioned or supported by the text.

Question 117: What Are We Saving Through Daylight Saving Time? (1) Daylight Saving Time is observed by western nations including the United States of America and the European Union every year. Although many nations observe Daylight Saving Time in different ways, they all usually adhere to the same principle. Everyone changes their clocks throughout the summer so that there is an hour more of sunlight in the evening than there would have been in the morning. Even more bizarre than this practice is the fact that most individuals don't know why Daylight Saving Time exists. People advance their clocks by one hour each March, then sometimes for no reason at all, turn them back one hour in November. (2) The majority of people only know that Benjamin Franklin first advocated Daylight Saving Time as a concept. Franklin did suggest the notion in 1784, but the United States didn't implement Daylight Saving Time until 1918—more than a century after his passing—after other European nations had already accepted the practice. Franklin's notion was well received in Europe, but no one gave it much thought until an English builder named William Willet put it up in a pamphlet in 1907. Another fact regarding Daylight Saving Time that many appear to "know" is that it was instituted to benefit farmers. Nobody appears to be aware of how that precisely works. The real explanation behind Daylight Saving Time is considerably more straightforward and innocent than that. (3) People would have more time in the evening to be outside in the sunlight because Daylight Saving Time was implemented. Why squander that lovely sunlight in the morning hours while everyone is asleep? Experts have argued for the benefits of daylight saving time ever since it was implemented in America 100 years ago. Numerous experts claim that it lowers the nation's energy bills. This is accurate, although the energy we conserve at this time is only a tiny fraction (perhaps 1%). Others contend that having more daylight in the evening keeps us safer and lowers our risk of suffering injuries in accidents. However, studies have revealed that our internal clocks do not change smoothly, which causes an increase in heart attacks, strokes, and traffic accidents every March. Why then do we continue to do it each year? (4) Once more, the response to this query is a straightforward and charming one: We enjoy it. The initial purpose of daylight saving time, which is still observed today, was to offer people an extra hour of daylight in the evening. Daylight Saving Time won't end as long as people love having that extra hour in the evening. Which of the following best describes how paragraph one fits into the article's overall structure?

• The strange habit mentioned in paragraph 1 is one that the rest of the essay will go into greater depth about. (Correct answer)
• In paragraph 1, she compares and contrasts two conflicting viewpoints that she will continue to discuss in the next paragraphs.
• The author presents a problem in paragraph 1 that she intends to address in the article.
• In order to set up the argument in the following paragraphs, paragraph 1 provides a personal tale to illustrate how a problem affects common people.

Correct answer: The strange habit mentioned in paragraph 1 is one that the rest of the essay will go into greater depth about.

Paragraph 1 introduces Daylight Saving Time as a "bizarre" and unexplained practice, noting that "most individuals don't know why" it exists. This sets the stage for the entire article, which then proceeds to explore the historical background, common misconceptions, and the actual reasons behind this "strange habit." Therefore, the paragraph serves to present the central topic that the rest of the essay will investigate in detail.

Question 118: Read the entire sentence. Statements on the internet come from people about politics that are biased and are not supported by facts. What is the most suitable and understandable way to change the sentence?

• had (Correct answer)
• has
• has had
• is having

Correct answer: had

The question likely intends to correct a verb tense within the sentence, and 'had' would be used to place the action in the past perfect tense. For example, if the original sentence implied a past action that occurred before another past action, 'had' would be the appropriate auxiliary verb. Without further context or a specific word to replace, this interpretation assumes a correction to a past-tense scenario.

Question 119: Which of the following is an opinion statement?

• By completing their assignments, children will improve, according to their English teacher.
• English class homework is not fun to complete. (Correct answer)
• It's common for pupils' English homework to require critical thinking.
• English class assignments that weren't on the test were given to the pupils.

Correct answer: English class homework is not fun to complete.

An opinion statement expresses a personal belief, feeling, or judgment that cannot be objectively proven true or false. Stating that homework is 'not fun' is a subjective feeling, making it an opinion. The other options present statements that are factual or can be objectively verified, rather than personal viewpoints.

Question 120: The angle COD in the following (not to scale) figure is measured at 25°. Angle AOB's measure is twice as large than Angle COD's. Angle AOD is measured at 85°. What is the value of x, the Angle BOC measure?

• 5
• 20
• 15
• 10 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 10

To find the value of x (Angle BOC), we first determine Angle AOB. Since Angle AOB is twice Angle COD (25°), Angle AOB is 50°. The sum of adjacent angles AOB, BOC, and COD equals the total Angle AOD (85°). Therefore, 50° + x + 25° = 85°, which simplifies to 75° + x = 85°. Subtracting 75° from both sides gives x = 10°.

Question 121: Tornado Alert (1) Due to the fact that the United States experiences more tornadoes than any other nation in the world, it is crucial for Americans, particularly those who live in high-risk areas, to be able to recognize the warning signs. Anyone in the path of a tornado runs the risk of suffering significant damage and losing their lives. Many lives could be saved if individuals had a better understanding of how to predict when a tornado will strike. (2) Knowing how and why a tornado forms is crucial to understanding later. A tornado is caused by specific weather conditions. In general, a tornado develops when the air temperature is unstable, which is frequently brought on by a contrast between warm, humid temperatures close to the ground and cooler temperatures higher in the atmosphere. Wind speeds play a significant role in tornado formation. For a tornado to form, there must be a lot of wind shear, or variations in the wind's direction. A tornado can do significant damage in only a short period of time once it starts, lasting little longer than 20 minutes after it makes contact with the earth. (3) How then should people get ready for a potential tornado? Finding the warning indicators is the key. One thing people can watch out for is any obvious and unexpected changes in the sky and clouds. For instance, a greenish hue in the sky that darkens could be an indication of a tornado approaching. The emergence of a "wall" of clouds and an incoming cloud of debris could both signal the possible formation of a tornado. Hail can occasionally start to fall in place of debris. In addition, numerous people have spoken about the strange calm and silence that comes before a tornado. The idiom "calm before the storm" is best exemplified in this situation. (4) Knowing the warning signals of tornadoes can give you the crucial seconds you need to find cover from the devastation, especially if you live in a location where they frequently occur. Due of their improbability, tornadoes continue to confound meteorologists. Despite the fact that meteorologists have become very adept at spotting potential tornado risks, even their best efforts won't give you much time to get ready if a tornado is headed your way. The best preparation for if/when a tornado strikes close to your home is to be able to recognize the warning signs for yourself. Which of the following most closely resembles the average number of tornadoes in Illinois between 1990 and 2010?

• 35
• 25
• 45
• 55 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 55

This question requires information from a bar graph that is not included in the provided text. Based on the given correct answer, if a bar graph showing average tornadoes between 1990 and 2010 were present, it would indicate approximately 55 tornadoes for Illinois, aligning with the provided correct option.

Question 122: The following passage is from a discussion of various ways that living creatures have been classified over the years. The world can be classified in different ways, depending on one's interests and principles of clas- sification. The classifications (also known as Line taxonomies) in turn determine which comparisons 5 seem natural or unnatural, which literal or analog- ical. For example, it has been common to classify living creatures into three distinct groups—plants, animals, and humans. According to this classifica- tion, human beings are not a special kind of 10 animal, nor animals a special kind of plant. Thus any comparisons between the three groups are strictly analogical. Reasoning from inheritance in garden peas to inheritance in fruit flies, and from these two species to inheritance in human beings, 15 is sheer poetic metaphor. Another mode of classifying living creatures is commonly attributed to Aristotle. Instead of treat- ing plants, animals, and humans as distinct groups, they are nested. All living creatures 20 possess a vegetative soul that enables them to grow and metabolize. Of these, some also have a sensory soul that enables them to sense their envi- ronments and move. One species also has a rational soul that is capable of true understanding. 25 Thus, human beings are a special sort of animal, and animals are a special sort of plant. Given this classification, reasoning from human beings to all other species with respect to the attributes of the vegetative soul is legitimate, reasoning from 30 human beings to other animals with respect to the attributes of the sensory soul is also legitimate, but reasoning from the rational characteristics of the human species to any other species is merely analogical. According to both classifications, the 35 human species is unique. In the first, it has a king- dom all to itself; in the second, it stands at the pinnacle of the taxonomic hierarchy. Homo sapiens is unique. All species are. But this sort of uniqueness is not enough for many 40 (probably most) people, philosophers included. For some reason, it is very important that the species to which we belong be uniquely unique. It is of utmost importance that the human species be insulated from all other species with respect to 45 how we explain certain qualities. Human beings clearly are capable of developing and learning languages. For some reason, it is very important that the waggle dance performed by bees * not count as a genuine language. I have never been 50 able to understand why. I happen to think that the waggle dance differs from human languages to such a degree that little is gained by terming them both "languages," but even if "language" is so defined that the waggle dance slips in, bees still 55 remain bees. It is equally important to some that no other species use tools. No matter how inge- nious other species get in the manipulation of objects in their environment, it is absolutely essential that nothing they do count as "tool use." 60 I, however, fail to see what difference it makes whether any of these devices such as probes and anvils, etc. are really tools. All the species involved remain distinct biological species no matter what decisions are made. Similar observa- 65 tions hold for rationality and anything a computer might do. Which of the following comparisons would be "legitimate" for all living organisms according to the Aristotelian scheme described in paragraph two? I. Comparisons based on the vegetative soul II. Comparisons based on the sensory soul III. Comparisons based on the rational soul

• I only (Correct answer)
• III only
• I, II, and III
• II only
• II and III only

Correct answer: I only

According to the Aristotelian scheme in paragraph two, 'All living creatures possess a vegetative soul' (lines 19-20). The passage then states that 'reasoning from human beings to all other species with respect to the attributes of the vegetative soul is legitimate' (lines 27-29). Comparisons based on sensory souls are legitimate only for 'other animals,' not all living organisms (as plants lack sensory souls), and rational soul comparisons are 'merely analogical' for any other species. Thus, only comparisons based on the vegetative soul are legitimate for all living organisms.

Question 123: Determine whether the sentence in the open and close parenthesis is correct or whether it needs to be revised. (Yesterday I fell down the stairs and then) tried to act like I did so on purpose.

• Falling down the stairs; I
• Yesterday I fell down the stairs, I
• I fell down the stairs yesterday, I
• After I fell down the stairs yesterday; I
• Yesterday I fell down the stairs and then (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Yesterday I fell down the stairs and then

The original phrase "Yesterday I fell down the stairs and then" is grammatically correct and effectively connects two sequential actions performed by the same subject ("I"). The conjunction "and then" clearly indicates the order of events without creating a run-on sentence or requiring additional punctuation, making it the most appropriate choice.

Question 124: Free Willy (1) Controversy has dogged SeaWorld ever since it first opened its doors in 1959. The business was established to provide visitors to theme parks with a fresh form of entertainment. Customers will have the chance to observe a killer whale swimming around in a tank in front of them, which they had never seen before. However, in the perspective of many, this experience had a cost—a cost that was being borne by the same creatures that everyone had come to view. Many have questioned how these animals are being handled humanely, both during the capture procedure and while they are in custody. These lovely animals are being taken from their natural habitat and placed in tanks that deny them the freedom they require. They were originally free to wander the ocean with their families. (2) People have always been in awe of things they don't comprehend. According to the business and its stockholders, SeaWorld is a location where people may go to watch these animals swim around in front of them securely. SeaWorld is enabling people to view these magnificent orcas, which is something they want to be able to do. However, because of the price of this convenience, activists from all over the world are trying to boycott SeaWorld and draw attention to their cruel treatment of whales among viewers. (3) The treatment of orcas as a product rather than as animals is one of the main grievances raised by protestors against SeaWorld. Activists contend that SeaWorld, a business that seeks to earn a profit, routinely prioritizes financial gain over its obligation to care for and treat whales humanely. Orcas are taken from their homes and families, sold to theme parks around the world (some of which are extremely weakly controlled), and crammed into tanks that are far too tiny and have little to no stimulation for the creatures. Once in captivity, these whales, according to campaigners, lead a miserable existence that primarily consists of feeding and performing in surroundings that consistently hinder their growth. (4) While it is exciting to visit a theme park and view a stunning killer whale up close, the suffering that these animals endure for our amusement is cruel. If SeaWorld wanted to treat these orcas fairly, they would have to spend a lot of money on bettering both the conditions of their imprisonment and the methods used to capture them. Changes of this nature are expensive, difficult, and would significantly impair the company's capacity to turn a profit. However, SeaWorld deserves to fail and should be closed down if they can't thrive in a market where they are required to treat their creatures decently. When did SeaWorld initially open?

• 1962
• 1959 (Correct answer)
• 1955
• 1949

Correct answer: 1959

The first sentence of the article explicitly states, "Controversy has dogged SeaWorld ever since it first opened its doors in 1959." This sentence directly provides the year of SeaWorld's initial opening, making 1959 the correct answer.

Question 125: Passage 1 Because it is filled with contradictions, performance is also filled with risk. This is the domain of stage fright. The actor is aware that appearing in front of an audience is a Line scary proposition. Maintaining the reality of the character is, 5 in itself, a fragile affair; it demands of the actor a series of complex transformations. The actor has the unique problem of hiding and showing at the same time. The actor’s conscious fear is not about making a mistake, but about allowing the audience to see something that it is not supposed to see: 10 namely, the performer’s fear, or stage fright. Passage 2 The term “stage fright” has largely dropped out of use, because we know now that dwelling on something this malevolent gives it power. If I tell you not to be afraid, you may dwell on your fear. If I say, do not think of 15 fast-food burgers under any circumstances, a line of them will parade through your mind. The key to most fears is substitution. On the simplest level, you replace the ogre with something less menacing to fill your consciousness. If you will imagine yourself to be a 20 host rather than an actor, and think more about the comfort of your listeners than their verdicts, everything will fall into place. Which of the following describes an actor coping with stage fright by following the advice of the author of Passage 2?

• A performer who follows the same rituals before every performance
• A performer who tries to keep the audience amused
• A performer who thinks of the audience as friends (Correct answer)
• A performer who blocks out thoughts of the audience
• A performer who tries to impress the audience

Correct answer: A performer who thinks of the audience as friends

Passage 2 advises performers to "imagine yourself to be a host rather than an actor, and think more about the comfort of your listeners than their verdicts." Thinking of the audience as friends aligns with the idea of being a welcoming host concerned with their comfort, rather than an actor fearing their judgment, which is the core of the advice given.

Question 126: The following passage is from a discussion of various ways that living creatures have been classified over the years. The world can be classified in different ways, depending on one's interests and principles of clas- sification. The classifications (also known as Line taxonomies) in turn determine which comparisons 5 seem natural or unnatural, which literal or analog- ical. For example, it has been common to classify living creatures into three distinct groups—plants, animals, and humans. According to this classifica- tion, human beings are not a special kind of 10 animal, nor animals a special kind of plant. Thus any comparisons between the three groups are strictly analogical. Reasoning from inheritance in garden peas to inheritance in fruit flies, and from these two species to inheritance in human beings, 15 is sheer poetic metaphor. Another mode of classifying living creatures is commonly attributed to Aristotle. Instead of treat- ing plants, animals, and humans as distinct groups, they are nested. All living creatures 20 possess a vegetative soul that enables them to grow and metabolize. Of these, some also have a sensory soul that enables them to sense their envi- ronments and move. One species also has a rational soul that is capable of true understanding. 25 Thus, human beings are a special sort of animal, and animals are a special sort of plant. Given this classification, reasoning from human beings to all other species with respect to the attributes of the vegetative soul is legitimate, reasoning from 30 human beings to other animals with respect to the attributes of the sensory soul is also legitimate, but reasoning from the rational characteristics of the human species to any other species is merely analogical. According to both classifications, the 35 human species is unique. In the first, it has a king- dom all to itself; in the second, it stands at the pinnacle of the taxonomic hierarchy. Homo sapiens is unique. All species are. But this sort of uniqueness is not enough for many 40 (probably most) people, philosophers included. For some reason, it is very important that the species to which we belong be uniquely unique. It is of utmost importance that the human species be insulated from all other species with respect to 45 how we explain certain qualities. Human beings clearly are capable of developing and learning languages. For some reason, it is very important that the waggle dance performed by bees * not count as a genuine language. I have never been 50 able to understand why. I happen to think that the waggle dance differs from human languages to such a degree that little is gained by terming them both "languages," but even if "language" is so defined that the waggle dance slips in, bees still 55 remain bees. It is equally important to some that no other species use tools. No matter how inge- nious other species get in the manipulation of objects in their environment, it is absolutely essential that nothing they do count as "tool use." 60 I, however, fail to see what difference it makes whether any of these devices such as probes and anvils, etc. are really tools. All the species involved remain distinct biological species no matter what decisions are made. Similar observa- 65 tions hold for rationality and anything a computer might do. In the third paragraph, the author criticizes those who believe that

• Homo sapiens and animals belong to separate and distinct divisions of the living (Correct answer)
• Homo sapiens and animals have the ability to control their environment
• the similarities between Homo sapiens and other species are more significant than their differences
• Homo sapiens and other organisms can be arranged in Aristotelian nested groups
• the differences between Homo sapiens and other animals are those of degree, not kind

Correct answer: Homo sapiens and animals belong to separate and distinct divisions of the living

The third paragraph discusses how many people want humans to be "uniquely unique" and "insulated from all other species" regarding qualities like language and tool use. The author then questions *why* this desire for absolute separation is so important, implying a criticism of the belief that humans are fundamentally distinct from animals. Therefore, the author criticizes the belief that Homo sapiens and animals belong to separate and distinct divisions of the living world.

Question 127: A stack of bricks is 3 1/2 feet high. If each brick is 1 3/4 inches high, how many bricks are in the stack?

• 2
• 28
• 24 (Correct answer)
• 12

Correct answer: 24

First, ensure all measurements are in the same unit. Convert the stack height from feet to inches: 3 1/2 feet = 3.5 feet × 12 inches/foot = 42 inches. Each brick is 1 3/4 inches (or 1.75 inches) high. To find the number of bricks, divide the total stack height by the height of one brick: 42 inches ÷ 1.75 inches = 24 bricks.

Question 128: Carpet costs $3 per square yard. The room that will be carpeted is 12 feet x 18 feet. How much will the carpet cost?

• $324
• $648
• $216
• $72 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: $72

First, calculate the area of the room in square feet: 12 feet * 18 feet = 216 square feet. Since carpet is priced per square yard and 1 yard equals 3 feet, 1 square yard equals 9 square feet. Convert the room's area to square yards by dividing 216 by 9, which gives 24 square yards. Finally, multiply the total square yards by the cost per square yard ($3) to get the total cost of $72.

Question 129: What Are We Saving Through Daylight Saving Time? (1) Daylight Saving Time is observed by western nations including the United States of America and the European Union every year. Although many nations observe Daylight Saving Time in different ways, they all usually adhere to the same principle. Everyone changes their clocks throughout the summer so that there is an hour more of sunlight in the evening than there would have been in the morning. Even more bizarre than this practice is the fact that most individuals don't know why Daylight Saving Time exists. People advance their clocks by one hour each March, then sometimes for no reason at all, turn them back one hour in November. (2) The majority of people only know that Benjamin Franklin first advocated Daylight Saving Time as a concept. Though Benjamin Franklin did put out the proposal in 1784, it wasn't until 1918—more than 100 years after Franklin's passing—that America finally embraced Daylight Saving Time. Franklin's notion was well received in Europe, but no one gave it much thought until an English builder named William Willet put it up in a pamphlet in 1907. Another fact regarding Daylight Saving Time that many appear to "know" is that it was instituted to benefit farmers. Nobody appears to be aware of how that precisely works. The real explanation behind Daylight Saving Time is considerably more straightforward and innocent than that. (3) People would have more time in the evening to be outside in the sunlight because Daylight Saving Time was implemented. Why squander that lovely sunlight in the morning hours while everyone is asleep? Experts have attempted to defend the benefits of Daylight Saving Time ever since it was implemented in America 100 years ago. Numerous experts claim that it lowers the nation's energy bills. This is accurate, although the energy we conserve at this time is only a tiny fraction (perhaps 1%). Others contend that having more daylight in the evening keeps us safer and lowers our risk of suffering injuries in accidents. However, studies have revealed that our internal clocks do not change smoothly, which causes an increase in heart attacks, strokes, and traffic accidents every March. Why then do we continue to do it each year? (4) Once more, the response to this query is a straightforward and charming one: We like it. The initial purpose of daylight saving time, which is still observed today, was to offer people an extra hour of daylight in the evening. Daylight Saving Time won't end as long as people love having that extra hour in the evening. Part B Which of the following sentences from the article best supports the answer to Part A?

• "Once more, the response to this query is a straightforward and charming one: We like it." (Correct answer)
• "The real explanation behind Daylight Saving Time is considerably more straightforward and innocent than that."
• " Experts have attempted to defend the benefits of Daylight Saving Time ever since it was implemented in America 100 years ago. Numerous experts claim that it lowers the nation's energy bills. This is accurate, although the energy we conserve at this time is only a tiny fraction (perhaps 1%)."
• "Though Benjamin Franklin did put out the proposal in 1784, it wasn't until 1918—more than 100 years after Franklin's passing—that America finally embraced Daylight Saving Time."

Correct answer: "Once more, the response to this query is a straightforward and charming one: We like it."

The main idea of the article (from Part A) is that Daylight Saving Time continues because people enjoy the longer summer evenings, despite a lack of rational benefits. The sentence, "Once more, the response to this query is a straightforward and charming one: We like it," directly supports this by explicitly stating that the primary reason for its ongoing observance is simply public preference and enjoyment.

Question 130: If 3𝑥−5=8.5, What is the value of 5𝑥+3?

• 20.5
• 13
• 25.5 (Correct answer)
• 15.5

Correct answer: 25.5

First, solve the equation 3x - 5 = 8.5 for x. Add 5 to both sides to get 3x = 13.5, then divide by 3 to find x = 4.5. Next, substitute this value of x into the expression 5x + 3. This yields 5(4.5) + 3 = 22.5 + 3 = 25.5.

Question 131: Which of the following has the proper spelling?

• Mispell
• Greatful
• Cologne (Correct answer)
• Tommorrow

Correct answer: Cologne

'Cologne' is the only word among the options that is spelled correctly. 'Tommorrow' should be 'Tomorrow,' 'Mispell' should be 'Misspell,' and 'Greatful' should be 'Grateful.' Correct spelling is crucial for clear and professional writing.

Question 132: Who Deserves Immortality? (1) By creating monuments to their brilliance, America has traditionally honored its heroes. It would be difficult to find a town in America without at least a tiny statue honoring a significant individual. However, in recent years, some of the monuments we have built have come under scrutiny. Should we demolish monuments honoring people with a contentious past? (2) Monuments honoring generals and combatants from the Confederate Army during the Civil War are currently the most contentious monuments in America. How much should America respect those who left the union in an effort to maintain their ownership of slaves? Slavery is America's greatest sin, and the South is not only to responsible for this abomination; the Confederate Army was so opposed to the idea of abolition that they were prepared to wage war. These monuments' detractors contend that we shouldn't memorialize this kind of person and that recognizing them would be a continual insult to the people of color who now enjoy freedom in our nation. (3) Supporters of these monuments contend that removing them would be an effort to erase the history of our nation. They contend that it's crucial for us to commemorate the Civil War heroes from both sides. However, organizations in favor of these monuments frequently make the completely untrue claim that slavery played a minimal role in the Civil War. (4) The controversy over Civil War statues also brings to light the 600 or so monuments and tributes to one of America's most significant and contentious historical personalities. Christopher Columbus is credited with discovering America and creating this nation, according to people who adore his sculptures. Christopher Columbus conquered America and committed genocide (whether on purpose or accidentally, according to those who oppose his memorials) in order to seize control over a new continent. Is it OK to honor a man who killed tens of thousands of innocent people? (5) At the moment, America is having identity issues. The nation is attempting to determine the best way to honor our past while ignoring its flaws. The defense of these monuments asserts that to remove them would be to attempt to forget history. However, as monuments are designed to celebrate role models, America should remove any honoring of individuals who have committed acts of hatred and violence, such as Christopher Columbus and Confederate troops. We should make sure that our history books cover these individuals because they played significant roles in American history. But only the real American heroes deserve a place on our monuments. Part A What is the article's main idea?

• It is up to each individual to make their own view in the balanced debate regarding monuments.
• America should take down any statues that glorify evil people, despite the misconception that doing so erases history. (Correct answer)
• The Confederate Army supported slavery, but they were still Americans, and their contributions to history shouldn't be discounted.
• America needs to honor its historical icons even if they weren't flawless because monuments were created for a reason.

Correct answer: America should take down any statues that glorify evil people, despite the misconception that doing so erases history.

The article's main idea, particularly emphasized in the concluding paragraph, is that "as monuments are designed to celebrate role models, America should remove any honoring of individuals who have committed acts of hatred and violence." It also addresses the counter-argument that removing them erases history, clarifying that these individuals should still be covered in history books, but not celebrated with monuments.

Question 133: Divide: 2,184 ÷ 24 = ?

• 81
• 93
• 91 (Correct answer)
• 89

Correct answer: 91

2,184 ÷ 24 = 91. Check: 24 × 91 = 24 × 90 + 24 × 1 = 2,160 + 24 = 2,184. ✓

Question 134: In this passage a Mexican American historian describes a technique she used as part of her research. Doña Teodora offered me yet another cup of strong, black coffee. The aroma of the big, paper-thin Sonoran tortillas filled the small, linoleum-covered kitchen, and I Line knew that with the coffee I would receive a buttered tortilla 5 straight from the round, homemade comal (a flat, earthen- ware cooking pan) balanced on the gas-burning stove. For three days, from ten in the morning until early evening, I had been sitting in the same comfortable wooden chair, taking cup after cup of black coffee and consuming hot 10 tortillas. Doña Teodora was ninety years old, and although she would take occasional breaks from patting, extending, and turning over tortillas to let her cat in or out, it appeared that I was the only one exhausted at the end of the day. But once out, as I went over the notes, filed and organized the 15 tape cassettes, exhilaration would set in. The intellectual and emotional excitement I had previously experienced when a pertinent document would suddenly appear now waned in comparison to the gestures and words, the joy and anger doña Teodora offered. 20 She had not written down her thoughts; but the ideas, recollections, and images evoked by her lively oral expres- sion were jewels for anyone who wanted to know about the life of Mexicanas * in booming mining towns on both sides of the Mexico-United States border in the early twentieth 25 century. She never kept a diary. The thought of writing a memoir would have been put aside as presumptuous. But all her life doña Teodora had lived amidst the telling and retelling of family stories. Genealogies of her own family as well as complete and up-to-date information of the 30 marriages, births, and deaths of numerous families that made up her community were all well-kept memories. These chains of generations were fleshed out with recollec- tions of the many events and tribulations of these families. Oral history had proven to be a fertile field for my research 35 on the history of Mexicanas. My search had begun in libraries and archives—reposi- tories of conventional history. The available sources were to be found in census reports, church records, directories, and other such statistical information. These, however, as 40 important as they are, cannot provide one of the essential dimensions of history, the full narrative of the human experience that defies quantification and classification. In certain social groups this gap can be filled with diaries, memoirs, letters, or even reports from others. In the case of 45 Mexicanas in the United States, one of the many devastating consequences of defeat and conquest has been that the traditional institutions that preserve and transfer culture (the documentation of the past) have ignored these personal written sources. The letters, writings, and documents of 50 Mexican people have rarely, if ever, been included in archives, special collections, or libraries. At best, some centers have attempted to collect newspapers published by Mexicans, but the effort was started late. The historian who tries to reconstruct the past from newspapers is constantly 55 frustrated because, although titles abound, collections are scarce and often incomplete. Although many hours of previous study and preparation had taken me to doña Teodora's kitchen, I was initially unsure of my place. Was I really an insider or were the 60 experiences that had made the lives of my interviewees such that, although I could speak Spanish and am Mexicana, I was still an outsider? I realized, nonetheless, that the richness and depth of the spoken word challenges the comforting theories and models 65 of the social sciences. Mexican history challenges social- science models derived solely from victorious imperialistic experiences. Our history cannot be written without new sources. These sources will determine which concepts are needed to 70 illuminate and interpret the past, and these concepts will emerge from the people themselves. This will permit the description of events and structures to assume a culturally relevant perspective, thus emphasizing the point of view of the Mexican people. The use of theoretical constructs must 75 follow the voices of the people who live the reality, con- sciously or not. For too long the experiences of women have been studied according to male-oriented sources and constructs. These must be questioned. For the history of Mexican people, the sources primarily exist in our own 80 worlds. And it is here where we must begin. I often found that as the memory awakened, other sources would emerge. Boxes of letters, photographs, and even manuscripts and diaries would appear. Long-standing assumptions of illiteracy were shattered and had to be reexamined. I saw 85 that constant reevaluation became the rule rather than the exception. I entered women's worlds created on the margin —not only of Anglo life, but of, and outside of, the lives of their own fathers, husbands, sons, brothers, or priests, bosses, and bureaucrats. The author indicates that the "concepts" mentioned in lines 69-70 originate in

• informal records and information provided by ordinary people (Correct answer)
• patterns of social behavior that have been exhibited by previously studied cultures
• systematic categories devised by historians for various types of sources
• comments of senior members of a community on the ways the community has functioned
• personal experiences of historians who have interviewed many people

Correct answer: informal records and information provided by ordinary people

Lines 68-71 explicitly state, "Our history cannot be written without new sources. These sources will determine which concepts are needed to illuminate and interpret the past, and these concepts will emerge from the people themselves." This clearly indicates that the new concepts for understanding history should come directly from the experiences and perspectives of ordinary people, often conveyed through oral histories and personal accounts, which are informal records.

Question 135: In this passage a Mexican American historian describes a technique she used as part of her research. Doña Teodora offered me yet another cup of strong, black coffee. The aroma of the big, paper-thin Sonoran tortillas filled the small, linoleum-covered kitchen, and I Line knew that with the coffee I would receive a buttered tortilla 5 straight from the round, homemade comal (a flat, earthen- ware cooking pan) balanced on the gas-burning stove. For three days, from ten in the morning until early evening, I had been sitting in the same comfortable wooden chair, taking cup after cup of black coffee and consuming hot 10 tortillas. Doña Teodora was ninety years old, and although she would take occasional breaks from patting, extending, and turning over tortillas to let her cat in or out, it appeared that I was the only one exhausted at the end of the day. But once out, as I went over the notes, filed and organized the 15 tape cassettes, exhilaration would set in. The intellectual and emotional excitement I had previously experienced when a pertinent document would suddenly appear now waned in comparison to the gestures and words, the joy and anger doña Teodora offered. 20 She had not written down her thoughts; but the ideas, recollections, and images evoked by her lively oral expres- sion were jewels for anyone who wanted to know about the life of Mexicanas * in booming mining towns on both sides of the Mexico-United States border in the early twentieth 25 century. She never kept a diary. The thought of writing a memoir would have been put aside as presumptuous. But all her life doña Teodora had lived amidst the telling and retelling of family stories. Genealogies of her own family as well as complete and up-to-date information of the 30 marriages, births, and deaths of numerous families that made up her community were all well-kept memories. These chains of generations were fleshed out with recollec- tions of the many events and tribulations of these families. Oral history had proven to be a fertile field for my research 35 on the history of Mexicanas. My search had begun in libraries and archives—reposi- tories of conventional history. The available sources were to be found in census reports, church records, directories, and other such statistical information. These, however, as 40 important as they are, cannot provide one of the essential dimensions of history, the full narrative of the human experience that defies quantification and classification. In certain social groups this gap can be filled with diaries, memoirs, letters, or even reports from others. In the case of 45 Mexicanas in the United States, one of the many devastating consequences of defeat and conquest has been that the traditional institutions that preserve and transfer culture (the documentation of the past) have ignored these personal written sources. The letters, writings, and documents of 50 Mexican people have rarely, if ever, been included in archives, special collections, or libraries. At best, some centers have attempted to collect newspapers published by Mexicans, but the effort was started late. The historian who tries to reconstruct the past from newspapers is constantly 55 frustrated because, although titles abound, collections are scarce and often incomplete. Although many hours of previous study and preparation had taken me to doña Teodora's kitchen, I was initially unsure of my place. Was I really an insider or were the 60 experiences that had made the lives of my interviewees such that, although I could speak Spanish and am Mexicana, I was still an outsider? I realized, nonetheless, that the richness and depth of the spoken word challenges the comforting theories and models 65 of the social sciences. Mexican history challenges social- science models derived solely from victorious imperialistic experiences. Our history cannot be written without new sources. These sources will determine which concepts are needed to 70 illuminate and interpret the past, and these concepts will emerge from the people themselves. This will permit the description of events and structures to assume a culturally relevant perspective, thus emphasizing the point of view of the Mexican people. The use of theoretical constructs must 75 follow the voices of the people who live the reality, con- sciously or not. For too long the experiences of women have been studied according to male-oriented sources and constructs. These must be questioned. For the history of Mexican people, the sources primarily exist in our own 80 worlds. And it is here where we must begin. I often found that as the memory awakened, other sources would emerge. Boxes of letters, photographs, and even manuscripts and diaries would appear. Long-standing assumptions of illiteracy were shattered and had to be reexamined. I saw 85 that constant reevaluation became the rule rather than the exception. I entered women's worlds created on the margin —not only of Anglo life, but of, and outside of, the lives of their own fathers, husbands, sons, brothers, or priests, bosses, and bureaucrats. Which statement most accurately presents the author's sense of the relationship between the "spoken word" (line 64) and the "theories and models of the social sciences" (lines 64-65)?

• The spoken word can yield greater insight than presently accepted theories and models can. (Correct answer)
• The spoken word makes general theories and models unnecessary.
• Theories and models must come first in order to make sense of the spoken word.
• The spoken word is more likely to introduce errors into the historical record than are theories and models.
• Theories and models cannot account for quantitative data as well as the spoken word can.

Correct answer: The spoken word can yield greater insight than presently accepted theories and models can.

The passage states, "I realized, nonetheless, that the richness and depth of the spoken word challenges the comforting theories and models of the social sciences." This indicates that the spoken word offers a more profound and nuanced understanding that can question or even surpass the explanatory power of existing social science frameworks. Therefore, the spoken word can yield greater insight than currently accepted theories and models.

Question 136: AlarmCo provides alarm systems to homes and businesses. They bill for their services on a monthly bill. Their first bill is shown below. This bill covers what month?

• July
• Unknown
• May
• June (Correct answer)

Correct answer: June

The bill clearly indicates the 'Service Period' as 'June 1 - June 30.' This directly states that the services being billed for were provided during the month of June. Therefore, the bill covers the month of June.

Question 137: 7/10 + 4/10 = ?

• 1 1/10 (Correct answer)
• 11/20
• 3/10
• 28/10
• None of these

Correct answer: 1 1/10

When adding fractions with the same denominator, simply add the numerators and keep the denominator. So, 7/10 + 4/10 = (7+4)/10 = 11/10. To express this as a mixed number, divide 11 by 10, which gives 1 with a remainder of 1, resulting in 1 1/10.

Question 138: What is 3/4 + 5/6?

• 1 7/12 (Correct answer)
• 1 2/3
• 1 1/2
• 8/10

Correct answer: 1 7/12

Find a common denominator of 12. 3/4 = 9/12 and 5/6 = 10/12. 9/12 + 10/12 = 19/12 = 1 7/12.

Question 139: In this passage a Mexican American historian describes a technique she used as part of her research. Doña Teodora offered me yet another cup of strong, black coffee. The aroma of the big, paper-thin Sonoran tortillas filled the small, linoleum-covered kitchen, and I Line knew that with the coffee I would receive a buttered tortilla 5 straight from the round, homemade comal (a flat, earthen- ware cooking pan) balanced on the gas-burning stove. For three days, from ten in the morning until early evening, I had been sitting in the same comfortable wooden chair, taking cup after cup of black coffee and consuming hot 10 tortillas. Doña Teodora was ninety years old, and although she would take occasional breaks from patting, extending, and turning over tortillas to let her cat in or out, it appeared that I was the only one exhausted at the end of the day. But once out, as I went over the notes, filed and organized the 15 tape cassettes, exhilaration would set in. The intellectual and emotional excitement I had previously experienced when a pertinent document would suddenly appear now waned in comparison to the gestures and words, the joy and anger doña Teodora offered. 20 She had not written down her thoughts; but the ideas, recollections, and images evoked by her lively oral expres- sion were jewels for anyone who wanted to know about the life of Mexicanas * in booming mining towns on both sides of the Mexico-United States border in the early twentieth 25 century. She never kept a diary. The thought of writing a memoir would have been put aside as presumptuous. But all her life doña Teodora had lived amidst the telling and retelling of family stories. Genealogies of her own family as well as complete and up-to-date information of the 30 marriages, births, and deaths of numerous families that made up her community were all well-kept memories. These chains of generations were fleshed out with recollec- tions of the many events and tribulations of these families. Oral history had proven to be a fertile field for my research 35 on the history of Mexicanas. My search had begun in libraries and archives—reposi- tories of conventional history. The available sources were to be found in census reports, church records, directories, and other such statistical information. These, however, as 40 important as they are, cannot provide one of the essential dimensions of history, the full narrative of the human experience that defies quantification and classification. In certain social groups this gap can be filled with diaries, memoirs, letters, or even reports from others. In the case of 45 Mexicanas in the United States, one of the many devastating consequences of defeat and conquest has been that the traditional institutions that preserve and transfer culture (the documentation of the past) have ignored these personal written sources. The letters, writings, and documents of 50 Mexican people have rarely, if ever, been included in archives, special collections, or libraries. At best, some centers have attempted to collect newspapers published by Mexicans, but the effort was started late. The historian who tries to reconstruct the past from newspapers is constantly 55 frustrated because, although titles abound, collections are scarce and often incomplete. Although many hours of previous study and preparation had taken me to doña Teodora's kitchen, I was initially unsure of my place. Was I really an insider or were the 60 experiences that had made the lives of my interviewees such that, although I could speak Spanish and am Mexicana, I was still an outsider? I realized, nonetheless, that the richness and depth of the spoken word challenges the comforting theories and models 65 of the social sciences. Mexican history challenges social- science models derived solely from victorious imperialistic experiences. Our history cannot be written without new sources. These sources will determine which concepts are needed to 70 illuminate and interpret the past, and these concepts will emerge from the people themselves. This will permit the description of events and structures to assume a culturally relevant perspective, thus emphasizing the point of view of the Mexican people. The use of theoretical constructs must 75 follow the voices of the people who live the reality, con- sciously or not. For too long the experiences of women have been studied according to male-oriented sources and constructs. These must be questioned. For the history of Mexican people, the sources primarily exist in our own 80 worlds. And it is here where we must begin. I often found that as the memory awakened, other sources would emerge. Boxes of letters, photographs, and even manuscripts and diaries would appear. Long-standing assumptions of illiteracy were shattered and had to be reexamined. I saw 85 that constant reevaluation became the rule rather than the exception. I entered women's worlds created on the margin —not only of Anglo life, but of, and outside of, the lives of their own fathers, husbands, sons, brothers, or priests, bosses, and bureaucrats. In line 59, "place" most nearly means

• duty
• geographical location
• appropriate moment
• home
• role (Correct answer)

Correct answer: role

In the context of the author's question, "Was I really an insider or were the experiences that had made the lives of my interviewees such that, although I could speak Spanish and am Mexicana, I was still an outsider?", "place" refers to her position or function within the research dynamic. It questions her identity and connection to the community she is studying, which is her "role" as a researcher in relation to her subjects.

Question 140: Determine whether the sentence in the open and close parenthesis is correct or whether it needs to be revised. (High school reunions are usually looked forward to by alumni that have worked hard since graduation and now consider themselves successful.)

• High school reunions are usually looked forward to by alumni that have worked hard since graduation and now consider themselves successful.
• Alumnus that have worked hard since graduation and now consider themselves successful usually look forward to high school reunions.
• High school reunions are usually looked forward to by alumni that have worked hard since graduation and now consider yourselves successful.
• Alumni who have worked hard since graduation and now consider themselves successful usually look forward to high school reunions. (Correct answer)
• High school reunions are usually looked forward to by alumni who have worked hard since graduation and now consider themselves successful.

Correct answer: Alumni who have worked hard since graduation and now consider themselves successful usually look forward to high school reunions.

The original sentence uses the passive voice ("are usually looked forward to") and incorrectly uses "that" instead of "who" to refer to people. The revised sentence corrects both issues by using the active voice ("Alumni... usually look forward to") and the appropriate pronoun "who" for people. This makes the sentence clearer, more concise, and grammatically correct.

Question 141: Determine whether the sentence in the open and close parenthesis is correct or whether it needs to be revised. Most of my favorite movies contain (slapstick humor, however physical comedy is not) the only way to make me laugh.

• slapstick humor, however physical comedy is not
• slapstick humor, and physical comedy is not
• slapstick humor; physical comedy is not
• slapstick humor, but physical comedy is not (Correct answer)
• slapstick humor, but it is not physical comedy that is

Correct answer: slapstick humor, but physical comedy is not

The original sentence contains a comma splice because 'however' is a conjunctive adverb that cannot join two independent clauses with only a comma. To correct this, a semicolon should precede 'however,' or a coordinating conjunction like 'but' should be used. Option B correctly uses 'but' with a comma, creating a grammatically sound and smoothly flowing sentence.

Question 142: Determine whether the sentence in the open and close parenthesis is correct or whether it needs to be revised. A consummate gentleman, (Stefan's etiquette and social grace was unmatched.)

• Stefan's social grace was matched only by his etiquette.
• Stefan's etiquette as well as his social grace were unmatched.
• Stefan's etiquette and social grace were unmatched.
• Stefan's etiquette and social grace was unmatched.
• Stefan possessed unmatched etiquette and social grace. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Stefan possessed unmatched etiquette and social grace.

The original sentence contains a subject-verb agreement error because 'etiquette and social grace' is a compound subject, which requires the plural verb 'were,' not 'was.' Option D corrects this by rephrasing the sentence to make 'Stefan' the subject and using 'possessed' to describe his qualities. This construction is more concise and grammatically sound, avoiding the agreement issue.

Question 143: 9/11 - 5/11 = ?

• 5/11
• 4
• 4/11 (Correct answer)
• 4/0
• None of these

Correct answer: 4/11

When subtracting fractions with the same denominator, you simply subtract the numerators and keep the denominator unchanged. For 9/11 - 5/11, you subtract 5 from 9 to get 4, while the denominator remains 11. Therefore, the difference is 4/11.

Question 144: 43 x 4 = ?

• 172 (Correct answer)
• None of these
• 162
• 47
• 132

Correct answer: 172

To solve 43 x 4, you perform standard multiplication. First, multiply 4 by 3, which equals 12; write down 2 and carry over 1. Next, multiply 4 by 4, which equals 16, and add the carried-over 1 to get 17. Combining these results yields 172.

Question 145: Which word has the short o vowel sound?

• Stuck
• Stack
• Soak
• Sock (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Sock

A short 'o' vowel sound is typically pronounced like the 'o' in words such as 'hot' or 'dog.' In the word "Sock," the 'o' makes this short 'ah' sound. In contrast, "Soak" has a long 'o' sound, "Stuck" has a short 'u' sound, and "Stack" has a short 'a' sound.

Question 146: Which of the following values corresponds to the value represented by the digit "2" in the number 815.927?

• 2×(1/10)
• 2×(1/100) (Correct answer)
• 2×(1/1000)
• 2×(1)

Correct answer: 2×(1/100)

In the number 815.927, the digit '2' is located in the second position after the decimal point. This position represents the hundredths place. Therefore, the value represented by the digit '2' is 2 multiplied by one-hundredth, or 2 × (1/100).

Question 147: The following passage is from a discussion of various ways that living creatures have been classified over the years. The world can be classified in different ways, depending on one's interests and principles of clas- sification. The classifications (also known as Line taxonomies) in turn determine which comparisons 5 seem natural or unnatural, which literal or analog- ical. For example, it has been common to classify living creatures into three distinct groups—plants, animals, and humans. According to this classifica- tion, human beings are not a special kind of 10 animal, nor animals a special kind of plant. Thus any comparisons between the three groups are strictly analogical. Reasoning from inheritance in garden peas to inheritance in fruit flies, and from these two species to inheritance in human beings, 15 is sheer poetic metaphor. Another mode of classifying living creatures is commonly attributed to Aristotle. Instead of treat- ing plants, animals, and humans as distinct groups, they are nested. All living creatures 20 possess a vegetative soul that enables them to grow and metabolize. Of these, some also have a sensory soul that enables them to sense their envi- ronments and move. One species also has a rational soul that is capable of true understanding. 25 Thus, human beings are a special sort of animal, and animals are a special sort of plant. Given this classification, reasoning from human beings to all other species with respect to the attributes of the vegetative soul is legitimate, reasoning from 30 human beings to other animals with respect to the attributes of the sensory soul is also legitimate, but reasoning from the rational characteristics of the human species to any other species is merely analogical. According to both classifications, the 35 human species is unique. In the first, it has a king- dom all to itself; in the second, it stands at the pinnacle of the taxonomic hierarchy. Homo sapiens is unique. All species are. But this sort of uniqueness is not enough for many 40 (probably most) people, philosophers included. For some reason, it is very important that the species to which we belong be uniquely unique. It is of utmost importance that the human species be insulated from all other species with respect to 45 how we explain certain qualities. Human beings clearly are capable of developing and learning languages. For some reason, it is very important that the waggle dance performed by bees * not count as a genuine language. I have never been 50 able to understand why. I happen to think that the waggle dance differs from human languages to such a degree that little is gained by terming them both "languages," but even if "language" is so defined that the waggle dance slips in, bees still 55 remain bees. It is equally important to some that no other species use tools. No matter how inge- nious other species get in the manipulation of objects in their environment, it is absolutely essential that nothing they do count as "tool use." 60 I, however, fail to see what difference it makes whether any of these devices such as probes and anvils, etc. are really tools. All the species involved remain distinct biological species no matter what decisions are made. Similar observa- 65 tions hold for rationality and anything a computer might do. If the author had wished to explain why "most" people (line 40) feel the way they do, the explanation would have probably focused on the

• behavioral similarities between Homo sapiens and other species
• lack of objectivity in the classification of Homo sapiens (Correct answer)
• most recent advances in biological research
• reality of distinct biological species
• role of language in the development of technology

Correct answer: lack of objectivity in the classification of Homo sapiens

The author uses phrases like 'For some reason, it is very important that the species to which we belong be uniquely unique' and questions why certain animal behaviors are not considered 'genuine language' or 'tool use.' The author's skepticism ('I have never been able to understand why,' 'I, however, fail to see what difference it makes') suggests that this human insistence on unique status stems from a subjective bias rather than objective scientific criteria. Therefore, the explanation would likely focus on the lack of objectivity in how humans classify themselves.

Question 148: But man is not destined to vanish. He can be killed, but he cannot be destroyed, because his soul is deathless and his spirit is irrepressible. Therefore, though the situation seems dark in the context of the confrontation between the superpowers, the silver lining is provided by amazing phenomenon that the very nations which have spent incalculable resources and energy for the production of deadly weapons are desperately trying to find out how they might never be used. They threaten each other, intimidate each other and go to the brink, but before the total hour arrives they withdraw from the brink. The main point from the author's view is that

• Man's safety is assured by the delicate balance of power in terms of nuclear weapons.
• Man's destiny is not fully clear or visible.
• Man's soul and spirit can not be destroyed by superpowers.
• Man's soul and spirit are immortal.
• Human society will survive despite the serious threat of total annihilation. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Human society will survive despite the serious threat of total annihilation.

The passage begins by asserting that 'man is not destined to vanish' and that his 'soul is deathless and his spirit is irrepressible.' Despite the threat of deadly weapons and superpower confrontation, the author highlights that these nations are 'desperately trying to find out how they might never be used.' This overall message conveys a strong belief in humanity's resilience and ultimate survival against existential threats.

Question 149: What does the word 'ambiguous' mean?

• Strongly determined
• Completely clear and precise
• Easily angered
• Open to more than one interpretation (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Open to more than one interpretation

Ambiguous means having more than one possible meaning or interpretation, making it unclear.

Question 150: But man is not destined to vanish. He can be killed, but he cannot be destroyed, because his soul is deathless and his spirit is irrepressible. Therefore, though the situation seems dark in the context of the confrontation between the superpowers, the silver lining is provided by amazing phenomenon that the very nations which have spent incalculable resources and energy for the production of deadly weapons are desperately trying to find out how they might never be used. They threaten each other, intimidate each other and go to the brink, but before the total hour arrives they withdraw from the brink. The phrase 'Go to the brink' in the passage

• Declare war on each other.
• Negotiate for peace.
• Commit suicide.
• Advancing to the stage of war but not engaging in it. (Correct answer)
• Retreating from extreme danger.

Correct answer: Advancing to the stage of war but not engaging in it.

The phrase 'go to the brink' is immediately followed by 'but before the total hour arrives they withdraw from the brink.' This context indicates that the nations approach the very edge of war or total conflict without actually initiating it. They advance to the critical point of confrontation but pull back before full engagement.

Question 151: Angel _______ up this morning when she heard the sound of crackling bacon. Which word completes the statement correctly?

• woke (Correct answer)
• awake
• awoken
• waken

Correct answer: woke

The sentence describes a completed action in the past ("this morning"). "Woke" is the simple past tense of the verb "to wake," which correctly describes Angel's action of waking up. "Awake" is typically an adjective, and "awoken" is a past participle requiring an auxiliary verb (e.g., "had awoken").

Question 152: Violent Ways (1) When it comes to their passion of sports, the modern world is experiencing a bit of an identity crisis. We are concerned about sports violence at one end of the spectrum. The possibility of head trauma in football worries us. We are concerned that by concentrating so intensely on one sport so young, our kids' bodies are suffering. We contend that in order to protect our athletes, we must modify our current systems. However, violent sports like mixed martial arts are now more popular than ever. How do we account for our seemingly contradictory attitudes about athletes? Why do people get upset when a quarterback is hit too hard yet applaud when a fighter passes out on the mat like a dead tree? (2) The response to these queries is both straightforward and intricate. The short explanation is that a sport like mixed martial arts, which involves two individuals fighting in a ring, is meant to be violent. The movement of the ball from one area to the next is the focus of football, on the other hand. It would be incredibly naive to claim that football is not about violence, though. The issue becomes more challenging at that point. What remains when we take football's brutality out? (3) It plays to our human nature, which is the more nuanced and melancholy explanation for why we can't seem to decide whether or not we want violence. Players are the new gladiators, and the football field is the new Colosseum. The instinct for survival is one of the strongest in humans. The fact that we are naturally drawn to those in danger and their struggle for existence makes us amused when they are in danger. We don't want to see people suffer, but that doesn't make us wicked. But we want to see people getting hit. (4) The issue is that violence in sports has no clear-cut answer. At the same time, we desire it and don't want it. It appears that our culture has opted to permit it in some contexts where we believe it belongs, such as mixed martial arts, while decrying it in others, such as football. Football supporters are concerned about what will happen to the sport in the next years as more stories of brain injuries emerge. But it's most probable that nothing will alter. We will debate the need for action over supper, go to the Colosseum to support each major victory, and then return home. Part B What passage from the paper exemplifies Part A's response the best?

• We'll argue over dinner about how something ought to be done, then go to the Colosseum and cheer for every huge hit. (Correct answer)
• Football, on the other hand, revolves around moving a ball from one zone to the next.
• At the same time, violent sports such as mixed martial arts have never been more popular.
• The instinct for survival is one of the strongest in humans.

Correct answer: We'll argue over dinner about how something ought to be done, then go to the Colosseum and cheer for every huge hit.

This sentence perfectly encapsulates the contradictory nature of society's view on sports violence. It shows people engaging in rational discussion about the need for action (suggesting they don't want violence) but then immediately going to an event to cheer for violent acts ('every huge hit'). This juxtaposition directly illustrates the uncertainty and mixed feelings described in Part A.

Question 153: What does 'eloquent' mean when describing a speaker?

• Using many technical terms
• Expressing ideas clearly and persuasively (Correct answer)
• Telling funny jokes
• Speaking loudly and quickly

Correct answer: Expressing ideas clearly and persuasively

Eloquent describes someone who is fluent and persuasive in speech or writing.

Question 154: If 5 apples cost $2.00, how much will 15 apples cost?

• $8
• $6 (Correct answer)
• $10
• $30

Correct answer: $6

You can solve this using a proportion or by finding the unit price. If 5 apples cost $2.00, then each apple costs $2.00 / 5 = $0.40. To find the cost of 15 apples, multiply the unit price by 15: $0.40 × 15 = $6.00.

Question 155: Read the entire sentence. The housing market is changing ________ many younger people aren’t making enough money to afford to buy a house. Which word completes the statement correctly?

• because (Correct answer)
• in fact
• https://www.facebook.com/tagdangua?mibextid=LQQJ4d
• even though

Correct answer: because

The word 'because' correctly introduces a clause that explains the reason or cause for the preceding statement. In this sentence, the fact that younger people aren't making enough money is the reason 'why' the housing market is changing. Therefore, 'because' logically connects the two parts of the sentence, indicating a cause-and-effect relationship.

Question 156: Tina bought a scarf for $16.65. She gave the clerk $20. How much change should she get back?

• $4.35
• $3.35 (Correct answer)
• $3.25
• $3.45

Correct answer: $3.35

To find the change Tina should receive, subtract the cost of the scarf from the amount of money she gave the clerk. She paid $20.00 and the scarf cost $16.65. So, $20.00 - $16.65 = $3.35 in change.

Question 157: A 'concise' report is one that:

• Uses complicated language
• Is brief and clear without unnecessary words (Correct answer)
• Is written for experts only
• Covers every possible detail

Correct answer: Is brief and clear without unnecessary words

Concise means giving a lot of information clearly and in few words; brief but comprehensive.

Question 158: N is the result of adding two numbers. What would be three times the other number if one of the numbers were 6?

• 3(𝑁+6)
• (𝑁−2)
• 3(𝑁−6) (Correct answer)
• 3𝑁

Correct answer: 3(𝑁−6)

Let the two numbers be 'x' and 'y'. Their sum is N, so x + y = N. If one number is 6 (let x = 6), then 6 + y = N. To find the other number (y), subtract 6 from N, so y = N - 6. The question asks for three times the other number, which is 3 multiplied by (N - 6), or 3(N - 6).

Question 159: "Flytraps are from Venus. (1) When you play outside, you can notice a lot of plants. Flowers, trees, and even grass are all considered to be plants. These are the kinds of things that come to mind when we think of plants. While plants eat from the sun, animals have mouths that allow them to consume food. But can you picture how a plant might appear if it had a mouth as an animal does? There is only one plant known as the Venus flytrap that has a mouth, so there is no need to conjure one up. (2) The Venus flytrap is a carnivore, meaning it eats meat, unlike the majority of plants. It consumes flies and other insects rather than hamburgers and chicken like people do. Because of the manner it entices its prey into its mouth before devouring it, the Venus flytrap was given its name after the Roman goddess of love, Venus. The plant waits immobile for its meal to arrive. It's dinner time when an insect goes into the mouth of a Venus flytrap without knowing what kind of plant it has landed on. (3) The "mouth" of the Venus flytrap has tiny, touch-sensitive hairs. These hairs clamp shut around the plant's prey when pressure is applied. It is uncommon for plants to move this quickly. The mouth shuts itself and transforms into a kind of stomach that digests the insect if it is too stuck to escape. (4) The Venus flytrap has a highly developed "mouth." The same hairs that are used to detect when an insect enters a trap are also used to distinguish between an insect and smaller particles like dust or pollen. The Venus flytrap's "mouth" won't close unless two or more of its pressure-sensitive hairs are activated. This makes the plant more successful at catching insects by preventing the "mouth" from shutting every time a bit of dirt hits it. (5) Don't expect to see the Venus flytrap in the woods behind the school because it is a rather uncommon plant. Venus flytraps prefer damp, marshy places, thus they frequent bogs close by. They only natively exist in the coastal bogs of the Carolinas in the United States. Although they have been successfully introduced to other regions, the Carolinas are still the only place where they naturally exist in the United States. To avoid becoming plant food, keep your hands away from their "mouths" if you spot one; otherwise, there's no reason to be afraid. How does the Venus flytrap determine when to close its "mouth" around an insect, according to the article?"

• The plant has a special ability to find insects even before they reach their mouths.
• The plant continuously opens and closes, but it doesn't start to break down a thing until it is an insect.
• Due to its restricted vision, the plant can "see" what is in its mouth.
• The "mouth" has pressure-sensitive hairs that can pick up items as small as insects. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The "mouth" has pressure-sensitive hairs that can pick up items as small as insects.

Paragraphs 3 and 4 clearly explain the Venus flytrap's mechanism for detecting prey. They state that the 'mouth' has "tiny, touch-sensitive hairs" which detect pressure, and that the mouth only closes if "two or more of its pressure-sensitive hairs are activated," allowing it to distinguish insects from smaller particles like dust.

Question 160: Select the correct word(s) for the blank in the following sentence. "They have lived in an apartment __________ they arrived in Chicago."

• since (Correct answer)
• from
• during
• for

Correct answer: since

'Since' is used to indicate a starting point in time for an action or state that continues up to the present. The sentence describes an action (living in an apartment) that began at a specific past event (their arrival in Chicago) and has continued. 'For' indicates duration, 'from' usually requires a 'to' or 'until,' and 'during' indicates an action happening within a period.

Question 161: How long will it take to reach a town 250 miles a way if you drive 50 miles per hour?

• 10 hours
• 5 hours (Correct answer)
• 6 hours
• 4 hours

Correct answer: 5 hours

To calculate the time it will take, use the formula Time = Distance / Speed. The distance is 250 miles, and the speed is 50 miles per hour. Dividing 250 miles by 50 miles per hour gives a travel time of 5 hours.

Question 162: In her essay, Litzy describes how to create a paper airplane. The sentences below are those she wrote. After reading her response, answer to the questions that follow. How to create a paper airplane is shown here. Pick out a ____ piece of paper first. You should choose paper that is both durable and lightweight. It will glide effectively but won't hit the ground right away. In the same way as you would if you were about to write on the paper, lay it out in front of you. Next, fold the top two corners of the paper together and downward to form a point at the top. After doing so, fold the paper in half vertically. Fold roughly an inch of the paper back against himself with your right hand when the paper opens to the right. With your right hand, flip the paper over and repeat the process. Litzy needs to draft a summary. Which of the following statements would be ineffective in bringing Litzy's paragraph to a close?

• You've just constructed a simple airplane that you can throw by holding it from the vertical fold.
• If everything has been done correctly, the plane should fly smoothly.
• There are some more detailed steps you must take if you want to create a more intricate paper airplane. (Correct answer)
• When throwing it, be sure to glide your arm forward and release the plane before it moves downward.

Correct answer: There are some more detailed steps you must take if you want to create a more intricate paper airplane.

An effective concluding sentence for a procedural paragraph should summarize the outcome or provide a final tip related to the instructions given. Option A is ineffective because it introduces new information about 'more intricate paper airplanes' and suggests further steps. This shifts the focus away from concluding the current simple airplane instructions.

Question 163: Which of the following is an opinion statement?

• East is where the sun rises, and west is where it sets.
• Camping is best done in the fall. (Correct answer)
• Apples are grown in countless different types.
• Dogs require between 9 and 14 hours of sleep each day.

Correct answer: Camping is best done in the fall.

An opinion statement expresses a personal belief or judgment that cannot be proven true or false, unlike a factual statement. Option D, 'Camping is best done in the fall,' is an opinion because what constitutes the 'best' time for camping is subjective and varies from person to person. The other options are verifiable facts.

Question 164: Four tons of gravel weighs how many pounds?

• 8000 (Correct answer)
• 12000
• 16000
• 4000

Correct answer: 8000

To convert tons to pounds, you need to know the conversion factor: 1 ton is equal to 2000 pounds. Therefore, to find the weight of four tons of gravel in pounds, multiply 4 by 2000. This calculation results in 8000 pounds.

Question 165: Determine whether the sentence in the open and close parenthesis is correct or whether it needs to be revised. For every song that is a hit, it is critical to have a quality “beat” and quality lyrics; (however), music companies hire professional producers and song writers.

• nevertheless
• therefore (Correct answer)
• and
• yet
• however

Correct answer: therefore

The first part of the sentence establishes that quality beats and lyrics are critical for a hit song. The second part describes music companies hiring professionals, which is a direct consequence or logical result of this criticality. "Therefore" correctly signals this cause-and-effect relationship, unlike "however" or "nevertheless" which imply contrast, or "and" and "yet" which imply simple addition or mild contrast.

Question 166: Passage 1 Because it is filled with contradictions, performance is also filled with risk. This is the domain of stage fright. The actor is aware that appearing in front of an audience is a Line scary proposition. Maintaining the reality of the character is, 5 in itself, a fragile affair; it demands of the actor a series of complex transformations. The actor has the unique problem of hiding and showing at the same time. The actor’s conscious fear is not about making a mistake, but about allowing the audience to see something that it is not supposed to see: 10 namely, the performer’s fear, or stage fright. Passage 2 The term “stage fright” has largely dropped out of use, because we know now that dwelling on something this malevolent gives it power. If I tell you not to be afraid, you may dwell on your fear. If I say, do not think of 15 fast-food burgers under any circumstances, a line of them will parade through your mind. The key to most fears is substitution. On the simplest level, you replace the ogre with something less menacing to fill your consciousness. If you will imagine yourself to be a 20 host rather than an actor, and think more about the comfort of your listeners than their verdicts, everything will fall into place. How do the passages view stage fright in relation to human behavior in general?

• Passage 1 sees stage fright as normal and healthy, while Passage 2 sees stage fright as an extreme reaction.
• Both passages view stage fright as part of a phase actors go through in their lives.
• Both passages view stage fright as a phenomenon that people experience in everyday life.
• Passage 1 emphasizes that situations unique to the theater cause stage fright, whereas Passage 2 views stage fright as similar in one way to most othe (Correct answer)
• Passage 1 attributes stage fright to an individual's personal problems, whereas Passage 2 believes stage fright is caused by social problems.

Correct answer: Passage 1 emphasizes that situations unique to the theater cause stage fright, whereas Passage 2 views stage fright as similar in one way to most othe

Passage 1 frames stage fright as a specific challenge arising from the "contradictions" and "unique problem" of acting, tying it directly to the theatrical experience. In contrast, Passage 2 generalizes the solution by stating "The key to most fears is substitution," implying that stage fright is a common fear that can be addressed with a general psychological technique applicable to other fears.

Question 167: Which of the following values for x is a solution to the equation given below? x⋅(x−2) > 7

• x = −1
• x = 2
• x = 3
• x = −2 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: x = −2

To find the solution, substitute each given value of x into the inequality x⋅(x−2) > 7. For x = -2, the expression becomes (-2)⋅(-2−2) = (-2)⋅(-4) = 8. Since 8 is indeed greater than 7, x = -2 is a solution to the inequality.

Question 168: Determine whether the sentence in the open and close parenthesis is correct or whether it needs to be revised. Inside the glove compartment were legal documents, pictures, (and there were a few napkins from the coffee shop, but no gloves.)

• and napkins from the coffee shop, but no gloves. (Correct answer)
• and there were a few napkins from the coffee shop, but no gloves.
• and there were a few napkins from the coffee shop, but not any gloves.
• and napkins from the coffee shop, there were no gloves.
• and napkins from the coffee shop, no gloves were there.

Correct answer: and napkins from the coffee shop, but no gloves.

The original sentence suffers from a lack of parallelism in its list of items found in the glove compartment. The list begins with simple nouns ("legal documents, pictures"), so the final item should also be a simple noun phrase to maintain grammatical consistency. "And napkins from the coffee shop, but no gloves" correctly maintains this parallel structure, making it the most concise and grammatically sound option.

Question 169: 3^3 + 1^3 = ?

• 28 (Correct answer)
• None of these
• 30
• 12
• 31

Correct answer: 28

This problem requires calculating powers and then adding the results. First, 3^3 means 3 multiplied by itself three times (3 x 3 x 3 = 27). Second, 1^3 means 1 multiplied by itself three times (1 x 1 x 1 = 1). Adding these two results, 27 + 1, gives a total of 28.

Question 170: A car has a 15 gallon gas tank. If a car gets 32 miles per gallon and travels 384 miles, how much gas will be left in the tank?

• 12
• 6
• 4
• 3 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 3

To find the gas remaining, first determine how much gas was used by dividing the total miles traveled (384) by the car's miles per gallon (32), which equals 12 gallons. Then, subtract the used gas (12 gallons) from the tank's full capacity (15 gallons). This calculation shows that 3 gallons of gas will be left in the tank.

Question 171: Determine whether the sentence in the open and close parenthesis is correct or whether it needs to be revised. (For homes in typically colder geographic regions,) it is particularly important to have effective and efficient heating systems.

• For homes in typically colder geographic regions
• People in typically colder geographic regions
• Homes in typically colder geographic regions
• For homes in typically cold geographic regions (Correct answer)
• For people in homes in typically colder geographic regions

Correct answer: For homes in typically cold geographic regions

The original phrase uses "colder," which is a comparative adjective. However, no comparison is being made in the sentence; it simply describes the characteristic of the geographic regions. Therefore, the superlative "cold" is the correct and more concise adjective to use, making "For homes in typically cold geographic regions" the best revision.

Question 172: 8𝑎𝑏−5𝑎𝑏= ?

• 3ab (Correct answer)
• ab
• 2ab
• 5ab

Correct answer: 3ab

The expression 8ab - 5ab involves subtracting like terms. Since both terms have the same variables (a and b) raised to the same powers, you can subtract their coefficients directly. Subtracting 5 from 8 gives 3, so the result is 3ab.

Question 173: To make a paper airplane, follow these steps. First, choose a _____ of paper. You should choose paper that is both durable and lightweight. It will glide effectively but won't hit the ground right away. In the same way as you would if you were about to write on the paper, lay it out in front of you. Next, fold the top two corners of the paper together and downward to form a point at the top. After doing so, fold the paper in half vertically. Fold roughly an inch of the paper back against himself with your right hand when the paper opens to the right. With your right hand, flip the paper over and repeat the process. Litzy is struggling to fill in the blank with the right word. Which word most closely matches the blank in her paragraph's second sentence?

• peece
• piece (Correct answer)
• peas
• peace

Correct answer: piece

The blank requires a word that refers to a single, separate part of something, specifically a sheet of paper. 'Piece' (B) is the correct homophone for this context. 'Peace' refers to a state of tranquility, 'peas' are a type of vegetable, and 'peece' is not a standard English word.

Question 174: 20.159 + 0.52 = ?

• 25.359
• 20.679 (Correct answer)
• 20.211
• 2.0679
• None of these

Correct answer: 20.679

To add decimals, align the decimal points and add each column from right to left. Adding 20.159 and 0.52 (which can be written as 0.520 for alignment) results in 20.679. Ensure the decimal point is correctly placed in the sum.

Question 175: (1) Global connectivity is made possible through social networking sites and apps, which also let users connect with one another right away. Employers and admissions offices are beginning to use these websites as a tool to learn more about possible candidates and eventually inform their judgments as social networking grows more pervasive in contemporary life. Thus, a social media statement you made could cost you the opportunity to attend the college of your choice or land your ideal job. (2) A recent survey found that 41% of students were "not at all concerned" about college admission offices using their social networking information in the admissions process, compared to only 30% of high school students who were "very concerned." Users of social networking sites believe they have control over what information is accessible to employers and institutions since these platforms typically include a "private" setting that gives users a sense of protection. Social media platforms, on the other hand, are meant to be a place where people can express themselves, share their life with friends and family, and meet new people. People will be compelled to create a "acceptable" image of themselves once companies and colleges begin prying into these sites. This calls for censorship—possibly self-censorship, but still censorship. Additionally, this form of infiltration may result in prejudice, which is difficult to track. (3) Employers and colleges are prohibited from discriminating against Americans by law. For instance, a job interviewer is not permitted to directly inquire about a candidate's age, sexual preference, worldview, or political convictions. Discrimination is a result of these inquiries. These questions are answered by the typical person's social networking activities, which also makes them susceptible to prejudice. (4) Employers and institutions are intrusive in the personal lives of their applicants even if people have some choice over the information they publish on social networking sites. Many Americans already feel that their personal lives have much too much intrusion from their work lives. A life outside of work is less possible for modern folks as a result of rising inflation and stagnant wages. Employers now seek to meddle in people's meager social lives. We must be able to keep various aspects of our lives apart for the sake of our own mental health. (5) Employers and institutions may claim that their actions are intended to weed out students who exhibit extreme behavior. For instance, an employer would not want to hire someone who has spread hate speech with anti-Semitic overtones online. However, just as trying to catch one terrorist doesn't excuse the government listening in on everyone's phone calls, these extreme situations do not warrant monitoring everyone. Employers and educational institutions should respect people's right to some degree of privacy in their lives. Read the following from the first paragraph: Employers and admissions offices are beginning to use these websites as a tool to learn more about possible candidates and eventually inform their judgments as social networking grows more pervasive in contemporary life. What most closely describes the word "ubiquitous" in the context of the sentence?

• Harmful
• Necessary
• Seemingly everywhere (Correct answer)
• Important

Correct answer: Seemingly everywhere

The sentence states that social networking 'grows more pervasive in contemporary life,' meaning it is becoming increasingly widespread and present in all aspects of modern existence. The word 'ubiquitous' means existing or being everywhere, especially at the same time, which perfectly aligns with the idea of something becoming 'seemingly everywhere' and deeply integrated into daily life.

Question 176: Read the entire sentence. Bella found tonight’s math homework ____. Which word completes the statement correctly?

• confusement
• confusion
• confusing (Correct answer)
• confused

Correct answer: confusing

The sentence describes the *quality* of the homework itself, which causes confusion. 'Confusing' is an adjective that means 'causing confusion' or 'perplexing.' 'Confused' describes how someone *feels* (e.g., Bella felt confused), while 'confusion' and 'confusement' are nouns and do not fit grammatically as adjectives describing the homework.