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BARRON Practice Exercises - McDonaldization
BARRON Practice Exercises - McDonaldization
l . Which of the following best expresses the 3. The phrase subject to in the passage is
main idea of the passage? closest in meaning to
© McDonald's has developed a very © influenced by
efficient business plan for global chains. ® studied by
® The McDonald's organization is being © eliminated by
copied in many aspects of society. ® purchased by
© George Ritzer has outlined the benefits
of the McDonald's process. 4. The word caR_acity in the passage is closest
® Many societies around the world in meaning to
now have McDonald's as well as local © patience
restaurants. ® potential
© pleasure
2. What is calculability? ® pattern
© Efficient steps in the production of
goods
® Similarity of all products at diverse
locations
© Replacement of people by new
technologies
® Precise inventories of and use of
supplies
148 PRACTICE EXERCISES FOR READING
5. The word em in the passage refers to 10. Four squares (D) indkate where the
© characteristics following sentence can be added to the
® nicknames passage.
<D industries
® chains It is virtually impossible to tell the
difference.
6. According to paragraph 3, which is the Where would the sentence best fit into the
most important dimension of passage?
McDonaldization? ~
© Control [fil
® Efficiency @]
<D Calculability @]
® Predictability
11 . Complete the table below by matching
7. Which of the sentences below best
each of the answer choices with one of the
expresses the information in the
four dimensions of the McDonaldization
highlighted statement in the passage? The
process. One of the answer choices will not
other choices change the meaning or leave
be used.
out important information.
© Machines measure exact quantities of
© Employees get the work done
each ingredient.
efficiently for customers.
® Customer service calls are monitored
<ID Customers work with employees in an
by supervisors.
efficient business.
<D Prices are determined by the value of
<D Customers are responsible for work
the local currency.
that employees used to do.
® All of the supplies must be carefully
CID Employees do the work once for
inventoried.
customers in an efficient business.
<D Every sandwich is the same in every
McDonald's.
8. The author mentions all of the following as
<D Customers prepare their own salads at
benefits of McDonaldization EXCEPT
the salad bar.
© wider access to goods and services
® more exposure to diverse products
<D greater convenience for the consumer
<ID highly standardized prices for products Efficiency .
Calculability .
9. It can be inferred from this passage that .
Ritzer
© does not support the McDonaldization Predictability .
of world societies Control .
® does not understand the term
McDonaldization as it is used here
<D has developed organizational principles
for the McDonald's chain
® has consulted with international
companies to help them use
McDonald's plan
READING SECTION: EXERCISE 64 149
12. Complete a summary of the passage by selecting THREE answer choices that express the most
important ideas. The other three sentences do not belong in the summary becau e they express
ideas that are not in the passage or they do not refer to the major ideas. This question is worth 2
points.
Bureaucracy can have widespread effects.
© Tourists who travel to Paris or Los Angeles can eat at the same chain restaurants and order
the same food.
® The principles developed for the fast-food industry are being used in many aspects of
society.
<D McDonald's model includes efficient production, accountability, uniform products, and
control.
CID McPaper is used as a nickname for the nation's newspaper, USA Today.
<D Ritzer has called the process described in the passage "McDonaldization."
CD The purpose of the McDonald's business model was to dominate many other organizations
in society.
minister chooses the cabinet. Choice (C) Moreover, hydrgoen is found in inorganic
contradicts the fact that the members of the compounds." Choices (A) and (C) are not
House of Commons are elected directly by correct because pure hydrogen seldom
voters in general elections. Choice (B) is not occurs naturally. Choice (D) is not correct
mentioned and may not be concluded from because hydrogen is added, not released,
information in the passage. during hydrogenation.
9. (D) Choice (A) is mentioned in paragraph 2,
sentence 1. Choice (B) is mentioned in para-
EXERCISE 63: Definition/Illustration-
graph 4, sentence 4. Choice (C) is mentioned
Natural Sciences in paragraph 3, sentence 2. Choice (D) con-
1. (A) The main idea is found in the topic sen- tradicts the fact that liquids are changed to
tence, "It [hydrogen] is among the ten most semi-solids, not the reverse.
common elements on Earth as well and one l 0. (B) Because several uses for hydrogen
of the most useful for industrial purposes." It in a number of industries are mentioned
is repeated in the first sentence in the second in the passage, it may be concluded that
paragraph "hydrogen . . . has several proper- hydrogen has many purposes in a variety of
ties that make it valuable for many indus- industries. Choices (A) and (D) contradict the
tries." Choices (B), (C), and (D) are major fact that several industrial purposes are men-
" . .. points that support the main idea, "the tioned in the passage. Choice (C) contradicts
industrial uses of hydrogen." the fact that hydrogen has several properties
2. (D) " . .. hydrogen is used with oxygen for that make it valuable for many industries.
welding torches that produce temperatures as
high as 4,000 degrees F and can be used in
EXERCISE 64: Definition/lllustration-
cutting steel." Choice (A) is not correct
because the hydrogen is heated, and the steel
Social Sciences
is not cooled. Choice (B) is not correct 1. (B) The main idea is found in the topic
because the hydrogen is heated, not cooled. sentence, "Ritzer noticed that the principles
Choice (C) is not correct because the hydro- that characterize fast-food organizations
gen, not the temperature of the steel, is heated. are increasingly coming to dominate more and
3. (D) In the context of this passage, readily more aspects of U.S. society, indeed,
means "easily." Choices (A), (B), and (C) of societies around the world." Choices
are not accepted meanings of the word (A), (C}, and (D) are major points that support
readily. the main topic, 'The McDonald's organization
4. (B) In the context of this passage, combining is being copied in many aspects of society."
means "adding." Choices (A), (C), and (D) 2. (D) "Calculability means that there is an
are not accepted meanings of the word emphasis on the quantitative aspects ...
combining. everything has to be accounted for." Choice
5. (B) "Hydrogen also serves to prevent metals (A) is not correct because it refers to effi-
from tarnishing during heat treatments by ciency, not calculability. Choice (B) refers to
removing the oxygen from them [metals]." predictability. Choice (C) is not mentioned
6. (D) "Hydrogen is also one of the coolest and may not be concluded from information
refrigerants. [because] It does not become a in the passage.
liquid until it reaches temperatures of -425 3. (A) In the context of this passage, subject to
degrees F." None of the other lines explains means "influenced by." Choices (B), (C), and
why hydrogen is used as a refrigerant. (D) are not accepted meanings of the phrase
7. (D) Choice (D) is a paraphrase of the state- subject to.
ment. In both sentences, the oxygen and 4. (B) In the context of this passage, capacity
hydrogen are combined, and then heated. means "potential." Choices (A), (C}, and (D)
None of the other choices paraphrases what are not accepted meanings of the word
the author means. capacity.
8. (B) "Pure hydrogen seldom occurs naturally, 5. (C) "Ritzer argues that McDonald's has been
but it exists in most organic compounds .... such a successful model of business organi-
READING: EXERCISE 65 437
zation that other industries have adopted the topic sentence, " Every musical culture of
same organizational characteristics, so much the world uses only a certain number of fre-
so that their nicknames associate them [other quencies from the audible spectrum." Choice
industries] with the McDonald's chain." The (C) is a major point that supports the main
pronoun them does not refer to Choices (A), topic, "a definition of the audible spectrum."
(B), or (D). Choice (D) is a topic introduced at the end
6. (A) "Control is the primary organizational of the passage in anticipation of the next
principle that lies behind McDonaldization." passage. Choice (A) is not mentioned in the
Choices (B), (C), and (D) refer to other passage.
dimensions, but they are not identified as the 2. (B) "In European-based music, the octave
most important. represents an eight-pitch structure, but if you
7. (C) Choice (C) is a paraphrase of the state- count the number of white and black piano
ment. Choices (A), (B), and (D) change the keys in an octave, you will count thirteen."
meaning of the statement. Choice (A) is not correct because seven
8. (B) Choices (A), (C), and (D) are mentioned refer to the number of letters to label the
in paragraph 4, sentence 2. pitches, not to the number of pitches them-
9. (A) Because Ritzer points out the danger of selves. Choice (C) is not correct because
dehumanization in the McDonald 's model twelve refers to the number of half steps, not
and refers to its presence as "ubiquitous," it to the number of pitches. Choice (D) is not
must be concluded that he does not support correct because thirteen refers to the number
it. Choice (B) is not correct because Ritzer of keys.
coined the term. Choices (C) and (D) are not 3. (B) In the context of this passage, particular
mentioned and may not be concluded from means "specific." Choices (A), (C), and (D)
information in the passage. are not accepted meanings of the word
JO. (C) Paraphrase is a transitional device that particular.
connect the inserted sentence with a previ- 4. (A) In the context of this passage, adjacent
ous entence. The two sentences are related means " beside each other." Choices (B), (C),
by the restatement of "exactly the same" in and (D) are not accepted meanings of the
a previous sentence and " impossible to tell word adjacent.
the difference" in the inserted sentence. In 5. (D) "Some cultures, such as that [the culture
this case, the sentences are separated by an among some cultures] of Bali (Indonesia),
example. Choices (A), (B), and (D) do not use fewer pitches with wider distances
include transitional devices that connect with between them; others use more pitches-
the sentences marked in the passage. twenty-two in Indian music, twenty-four in
11. (F) refers to efficiency. (A) and (D) refer to Arabic music." The pronoun that does not
calculability. (E) refers to predictability. (B) refer to Choices (A), (B), and (C).
refers to control. Choice (C) is not mentioned 6. (A) "Half steps and whole steps are exam-
in the passage. ples of what are caJled intervals-specifiable
12. (B) (C) (E) summarize the passage. Choice distances between two pitches." Choice (B)
(A) is true, but it is a minor point that is men- refers to the term register. Choice (C) refers
tioned as an example of McDonaldization on to the term octave. Choice (D) refers to the
a global scale. Choice (D) is true, but it is a term enharmonic.
minor point that is mentioned as an example 7. (A) Choice (A) is a paraphrase of the state-
of the association of an organization with the ment. At least two means "two or more."
McDonald's business model. Choice (F) is Choices (B), (C), and (D) change the
not mentioned in the passage. meaning of the statement.
8. (D) Choice (A) is mentioned in paragraph 4,
sentence 6. Choice (B) is mentioned in para-
EXERCISE 65: Definition/Illustration-
graph 5, sentence 4. Choice (C) is mentioned
Arts/Architecture in paragraph 5, sentences I and 2.
1. (B) The main topic is found in the title, "The 9. (C) Because the author state that this
Audible Frequency Spectrum," and in the discussion was "fundamental to understand-