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SECTION 3: READING
COMPREHENSION

This section is designed to measure your ability to read and understand short passages similar in topic and style
to those that students are likely to encounter in North American universities and colleges.

Directions: In this section you will read several passages. Each one is followed by a number of questions about
it. You are to choose the one best answer, (A), (B), (C), or (D), to each question. Then, on your answer sheet,
find the number of the question and fill in the space that corresponds to the letter of the answer you have
chosen.

Answer all questions about the information in a passage on the basis of what is stated or implied in that
passage.

Questions 1-9 3. The word "banned" in line 4 is closest in meaning to

(A) forbidden
Carbon tetrachloride is a colorless and inflammable (B) allowed
liquid that can be produced by combining carbon (C) suggested
disulfide and chlorine. This compound is widely used in (D) instituted
industry today because of its effectiveness as a solvent
as well as its use in the production of propellants. 4. According to the passage, before 1970 carbon
Despite its widespread use in industry, carbon tetrachloride was
tetrachloride has been banned for home use. In the (A) used by itself as a cleanser
past, carbon tetrachloride was a common ingredient in (B) banned in industrial use
cleaning compounds that were used throughout the (C) often used as a component of cleaning products
home, but it was found to be dangerous: when heated, (D) not allowed in home cleaning products
it changes into a poisonous gas that can cause severe
illness and even death if it is inhaled. Because of this 5. It is stated in the passage that when carbon
dangerous characteristic, the United States revoked tetrachloride is heated, it becomes
permission for the home use of carbon tetrachloride in (A) harmful
1970. The United States has taken similar action with (B) colorless
various other chemical compounds. (C) a cleaning compound
(D) inflammable
1. The main point of this passage is that 6. The word "inhaled" in line 7 is closest in meaning to
(A) carbon tetrachloride can be very dangerous when (A) warmed
it is heated (B) breathed in
(B) the government banned carbon tetrachloride in (C) carelessly used
1970 (D) blown
(C) although carbon tetrachloride can legally be used
in industry, it is not allowed in home products 7. The word "revoked" in line 8 could most easily be
(D) carbon tetrachloride used to be a regular part of replaced by
cleaning compounds (A) gave
(B) granted
2. The word "widely" in line 2 could most easily be (C) instituted
replaced by (D) took away
(A) grandly
(B) extensively 8. It can be inferred from the passage that one role of
(C) largely the U.S. government is to
(D) hugely (A) regulate product safety
(B) prohibit any use of carbon tetrachloride
(C) instruct industry on cleaning methodologies
(D) ban the use of any chemicals
9. The paragraph following the passage most likely
discusses
(A) additional uses for carbon tetrachloride
(B) the banning of various chemical compounds by
the U.S. government
(C) further dangerous effects of carbon tetrachloride
(D) the major characteristics of carbon tetrachloride

Questions 10-19

The next artist in this survey of American artists is James Whistler; he is included in this survey of American
artists because he was born in the United States, although the majority of his artwork was completed in Europe.
Whistler was born in Massachusetts in 1834, bit nine years later his father moved the family to St. Petersburg,
Russia, to work on the construction of a railroad. The family returned to the United States in 1849. Two years later
Whistler entered the U.S. military academy at West Point, but he was unable to graduate. At the age of twenty-one,
Whistler went to Europe to study art despite familial objections, and he remained in Europe until his death.
Whistler worked in various art forms, including etchings and lithographs. However, he is most famous for his
paintings, particularly Arrangement in Gray and Black No. 1: Portrait of the Artist's Mother or Whistler's Mother, as it
is more commonly known. This painting shows a side view of Whistler's mother, dressed in black and posing against
a gray wall. The asymmetrical nature of the portrait, with his mother seated off-center, is highly characteristic of
Whistler's work.
10. The paragraph preceding this passage most likely 15. The word "objections" in line 7 is closest in meaning
discusses to
(A) a survey of eighteenth-century art (A) protests
(B) a different American artist (B) goals
(C) Whistler's other famous paintings (C) agreements
(D) European artists (D) battles

11. Which of the following best describes the 16. In line 8, the "etchings" are
information in the passage? (A) a type of painting
(A) Several artists are presented. (B) the same as a lithograph
(B) One artist's life and works are described. (C) an art form introduced by Whistler
(C) Various paintings are contrasted. (D) an art form involving engraving
(D) Whistler's family life is outlined.

17. The word "asymmetrical" in line 11 is closest in

12. Whistler is considered an American artist because meaning to
(A) he was born in America (A) proportionate
(B) he spent most of his life in America (B) uneven
(C) he served in the U.S. military (C) balanced
(D) he created most of his famous art in America (D) lyrical

13. The word "majority" in line 2 is closest in meaning 18. Which of the following is NOT true according to the
to passage?
(A) seniority (A) Whistler worked with a variety of art forms.
(B) maturity (B) Whistler's Mother is not the official name of his
(C) large pieces painting.
(D) high percentage (C) Whistler is best known for his etchings.
(D) Whistler's Mother is painted in somber tones.
14. It is implied in the passage that Whistler's family
was 19. Where in the passage does the author mention the
(A) unable to find any work at all in Russia types of artwork that Whistler was involved in?
(B) highly supportive of his desire to pursue art (A) Lines 1-3 (C) Lines 6-7
(C) working class (B) Lines 4-5 (D) Lines 8-10
(D) military
Questions 20-30

The locations of stars in the sky relative to one another do not appear to the naked eye to change, and as a
result stars are often considered to be fixed in position. Many unaware stargazers falsely assume that each star has
its own permanent home in the nighttime sky.
In reality, though, stars are always moving, but because of the tremendous distances between stars
themselves and from stars to Earth, the changes are barely perceptible here. An example of a rather fast-moving star
demonstrates why this misconception prevails; it takes approximately 200 years for a relatively rapid star like
Bernard's star to move a distance in the skies equal to the diameter of the earth's moon. When the apparently
negligible movement of the stars is contrasted with the movement of the planets, the stars are seemingly unmoving.

20. Which of the following is the best title for this Moon
passage? 26. The passage implies that from Earth it appears that
(A) What the Eye Can See in the Sky the planets
(B) Bernard's Star (A) are fixed in the sky
(C) Planetary Movement (B) move more slowly than the stars
(D) The Every moving Stars (C) show approximately the same amount of
movement as the stars
21. The expression "naked eye" in line 1 most probably (D) travel through the sky considerably more rapidly
refers to than the stars
(A) a telescope
(B) a scientific method for observing stars 27. The word "negligible" in line 8 could most easily be
(C) unassisted vision replaced by
(D) a camera with a powerful lens (A) negative
(B) insignificant
22. According to the passage, the distances between (C) rapid
the stars and Earth are (D) distant
(A) barely perceptible
(B) huge 28. Which of the following is NOT true according to the
(C) fixed passage?
(D) moderate (A) Stars do not appear to the eye to move.
(B) The large distances between stars and the earth
23. The word "perceptible" in line 5 is closest in tend to magnify movement to the eye.
meaning to which of the following? (C) Bernard's star moves quickly in comparison with
(A) Noticeable other stars.
(B) Persuasive (D) Although stars move, they seem to be fixed.
(C) Conceivable
(D) Astonishing 29. The paragraph following the passage most probably
discusses
24. In line 6, a "misconception" is closest in meaning (A) the movement of the planets
to a(n) (B) Bernard's star
(A) idea (C) the distance from Earth to the Moon
(B) proven fact (D) why stars are always moving
(C) erroneous belief
(D) theory 30. This passage would most probably be assigned
reading in which course?
25. The passage states that in 200 years Bernard's star (A) Astrology
can move (B) Geophysics
(A) around Earth's moon (C) Astronomy
(B) next to Earth's moon (D) Geography
(C) a distance equal to the distance from Earth to the
Moon
(D) a distance seemingly equal to the diameter of the
Questions 31-40

It has been noted that, traditionally, courts have granted divorces on fault grounds: one spouse is deemed to
be at fault in causing the divorce. More and more today, however, divorces are being granted on a no-fault basis.
Proponents of no-fault divorce argue that when a marriage fails, it is rarely the case that one marriage partner
is completely to blame and the other blameless. A failed marriage is much more often the result of mistakes by both
partners.
Another argument in favor of no-fault divorce is that proving fault in court, in a public arena, is a destructive
process that only serves to lengthen the divorce process and that dramatically increases the negative feelings
present in a divorce. If a couple can reach a decision to divorce without first deciding which partner is to blame, the
divorce settlement can be negotiated more easily and equitably and the post divorce healing process can begin more
rapidly.
31. What does the passage mainly discuss? 36. The passage states that a public trial to prove the
(A) Traditional grounds for divorce fault of one spouse can
(B) Who is at fault in a divorce (A) be satisfying to the wronged spouse
(C) Why no-fault divorces are becoming more (B) lead to a shorter divorce process
common (C) reduce negative feelings
(D) The various reasons for divorces (D) be a harmful process

32. The word "spouse" in line 1 is closest in meaning

to a 37. Which of the following is NOT listed in this passage
(A) judge as an argument in favor of no-fault divorce?
(B) problem (A) Rarely is only one marriage partner to blame for a
(C) divorce decree divorce.
(D) marriage partner (B) A no-fault divorce generally costs less in legal fees.
(C) Finding fault in a divorce increases negative
33. According to the passage, no-fault divorces feelings.
(A) are on the increase (D) A no-fault divorce settlement is generally easier to
(B) are the traditional form of divorce negotiate.
(C) are less popular than they used to be
(D) were granted more in the past 38. The word "present" in line 9 could most easily be
replaced by
34. It is implied in the passage that (A) existing
(A) there recently has been a decrease in no-fault (B) giving
divorces (C) introducing
(B) not all divorces today are no-fault divorces (D) resulting
(C) a no-fault divorce is not as equitable as a fault
divorce 39. The word "settlement" in line 10 is closest in
(D) people recover more slowly from a no-fault meaning to
divorce (A) development
(B) serenity
35. The word "Proponents" in line 4 is closest in (C) discussion
meaning to which of the following? (D) agreement
(A) Advocates
(B) Recipients 40. The tone of this passage is
(C) Authorities (A) emotional
(D) Enemies (B) enthusiastic
(C) expository
(D) reactionary
Questions 41-50

Whereas literature in the first half of the eighteenth century in America had been largely religious and moral
in tone, by the latter half of the century the revolutionary fervor that was coming to life in the colonies began to be
reflected in the literature of the time, which in turn served to further influence the population. Although not all
writers of this period supported the Revolution, the two best-known and most influential writers, Ben Franklin and
Thomas Paine, were both strongly supportive of that cause.
Ben Franklin first attained popular success through his writings in his brother's newspaper, the New England
Current. In these articles he used a simple style of language and common sense argumentation to defend the point
of view of the farmer and the Leather Apron man. He continued with the same common sense practicality and
appeal to the common man with his work on Poor Richard's Almanac from 1733 until 1758. Firmly established in his
popular acceptance by the people, Franklin wrote a variety of extremely effective articles and pamphlets about the
colonists' revolutionary cause against England.
Thomas Paine was an Englishman working as a magazine editor in Philadelphia at the time of the Revolution.
His pamphlet Common Sense, which appeared in 1776, was a force in encouraging the colonists to declare their
independence from England. Then throughout the long and desperate war years he published a series of Crisis
papers (from 1776 until 1783) to encourage the colonists to continue on with the struggle. The effectiveness of his
writing was probably due to his emotional yet oversimplified depiction of the cause of the colonists against England
as a classic struggle of good and evil.
41. The paragraph preceding this passage most likely
discusses 46. The expression "point of view" in line 9 could best
(A) how literature influences the population be replaced by
(B) religious and moral literature (A) perspective
(C) literature supporting the cause of the American (B) sight
Revolution (C) circumstance
(D) what made Thomas Paine's literature successful (D) trait

42. The word "fervor" in line 2 is closest in meaning to 47. According to the passage, the tone of Poor
(A) war Richard's Almanac is
(B) anxiety (A) pragmatic
(C) spirit (B) erudite
(D) action (C) theoretical
(D) scholarly
43. The word "time" in line 3 could best be replaced by
(A) hour 48. The word "desperate" in line 16 could best be
(B) period replaced by
(C) appointment (A) unending
(D) duration (B) hopeless
(C) strategic
44. It is implied in the passage that (D) combative
(A) some writers in the American colonies supported
England during the Revolution 49. Where in the passage does the author describe
(B) Franklin and Paine were the only writers to Thomas Paine's style of writing?
influence the Revolution (A) Lines 4-6
(C) because Thomas Paine was an Englishman, he (B) Lines 8-9
supported England against the colonies (C) Lines 14-15
(D) authors who supported England did not remain in (D) Lines 18-20
the colonies during the Revolution
50. The purpose of the passage is to
45. The pronoun "he" in line 8 refers to (A) discuss American literature in the first half of the
(A) Thomas Paine eighteenth century
(B) Ben Franklin (B) give biographical data on two American writers
(C) Ben Franklin's brother (C) explain which authors supported the Revolution
(D) Poor Richard (D) describe the literary influence during
revolutionary America