Reading Practice Test 3

1. Despite their claims, many vegans find it difficult to add enough protein to their diet.                , compare the amount of protein in a serving of meat to the amount of protein found in a serving of nuts. While the nuts offer a substantial amount of protein, it would take multiple servings to match the amount of proteins in the meat.

Which transition best connects the evidence to the claim that supports it?

2. DIRECTIONS: Identify the structure of each passage. Penguins evolved to live both on ice and in the sea. Consequently, they are accomplished swimmers, and they can propel themselves out of the water as far as 7 feet into the air and up onto ice if they need to escape a predator.

3. DIRECTIONS: In the 4th century B.C., the Greek philosopher Socrates was accused of "corrupting” the youth of Athens. The passage below is from the speech he gave to an Athens jury in his defense. Read the speech, then draw inferences from it to answer the questions.

Young men of the richer classes, who have not much to do, come about me of their own accord; they like to hear the pretenders examined, and they often imitate me and proceed to examine others; there are plenty of persons, as they quickly discover, who think that they know something, but really know little or nothing; and then those who are examined by them instead of being angry with themselves are angry with me: This confounded Socrates, they say; this villainous misleader of youth! And then if somebody asks them, why, what evil does he practice or teach? They do not know, and cannot tell; but in order that they may not appear to be at a loss, they repeat the ready‐made charges which are used against all philosophers about teaching things up in the clouds and under the earth, and having no gods, and making the worse appear the better cause; for they do not like to confess that their pretense of knowledge has been detected―which is the truth; and as they are numerous and ambitious and energetic, and are drawn up in battle array and have persuasive tongues, they have filled your ears with their loud and inveterate calumnies. And this is the reason why my three accusers, Meletus and Anytus and Lycon, have set upon me; Meletus, who has a quarrel with me on behalf of the poets; Anytus, on behalf of the craftsmen and politicians; Lycon, on behalf of the rhetoricians: and as I said at the beginning, I cannot expect to get rid of such a mass of calumny all in a moment. And this, O men of Athens, is the truth and the whole truth; I have concealed nothing, I have dissembled nothing. And yet, I know that my plainness of speech makes them hate me, and what is their hatred but a proof that I am speaking the truth? Hence has arisen the prejudice against me; and this is the reason for it, as you will find out either in this or in any future inquiry.

Why has Socrates been accused? 

4. Read the following text and answer the following question.There are many different ways to prepare hot chocolate. One way is to heat water until it starts boiling. Be careful so you do not burn your hand. Add the cocoa to your water and stir until it mixes. Then you can add a splash of milk for taste and to help cool it down a little. `Adding marshmallows gives it a creamy taste and it is fun to drink the half melted ones. Marshmallows melt quickly, so be sure to add a few extra. The hot chocolate treat is delicious.

What is the Author's Purpose?

5. 3

The albatross is a big bird that spends most of its time flying over oceans. It is about three feet tall when it is standing, and its wingspan can get up to eight feet, which is quite a bit longer than an average‐sized man.
The albatross returns to land to breed and mates for life. The female lays only one egg, and both parents care for the baby. Most albatrosses live for around 30 years, but they can live to
be as old as 70! Albatrosses eat crabs, fish, squid, and sometimes dead penguins. They either snatch food from the water’s surface or dive for it. They have to be careful of tiger sharks, who will make a meal out of an albatross if they can catch one. The albatross is an endangered species. They often die when diving into the ocean for food because they get tangled in fishing lines and drown. Being followed by an albatross while at sea is supposed to be good luck.

How many eggs does an albatross lay?

6. 0

Read the following short biography below and identify the main idea.If the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning is turn on a light, you can thank Thomas Edison. This inventor - who was born in Ohio but spent much of his time working in New Jersey - is famous for a variety of inventions, including the light bulb. But that's not all he contributed. Thomas Edison was known for inventing the phonograph, which was a machine that is able to record sound and play it back. It was the first of its kind back then! He also invented not just the light bulb, but the switches that we use to turn the lights on and off. Another one of his most famous inventions is the motion picture camera, which was used to make movies. These were groundbreaking inventions in his day!

What is the main idea of this biography?

7. Which word/phrase in the sentence below is redundant and can be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence?Although the football coach was liked by all of the players, he was known for having a volatile and unpredictable temper at times.

8. 0

Read about the artist. Then answer the question below.

Vincent Van Gogh was born in 1853. He is a very famous artist now. But during his lifetime, hardly anyone knew about him or his work. Today his paintings are among the most expensive artworks in the world. But Vincent only sold one painting while he was alive. Vincent was born in Holland, where the weather is usually dark and rainy. When he grew up, he moved to the south of France, where the sun shines more brightly and the colors are more vivid. Vincent loved bright colors, and he used them boldly in all of his paintings. He used a lot of paint and applied it in very thick strokes so that his paintings actually have texture. Vincent painted a lot of pictures of flowers in vases, and a lot of landscapes. He also painted still lifes, buildings, and people. Two of his most famous paintings are called Starry Night, and Sunflowers. Most artists sign their names on their paintings when they have finished it. But in 1888, Vincent painted four pictures of sunflowers. He only signed two of the paintings. Art experts believe that this is because he wasn’t happy with the other two. Today you can see his paintings in museums all around the world.

Name one of Vincent’s most famous paintings.

9. DIRECTIONS: Identify the structure of each passage. Penguins often catch fish that are caught underneath the ice. They swim under the ice, catching the fish with their beaks and swallowing them whole. Though penguins don’t have teeth, they have stiff spines on their tongue that point backward, down towards the throat, so that when they are swallowing their prey, it can’t wriggle back out of their mouths.

10. Read the following short biography below and identify the main idea.Even though George Washington Carver is very well known for the agricultural work that he did with the peanut plant, he also did a lot of work with research and education about other types of crops. In his adult life, George Washington Carver did research into soybean and sweet potato plants, and taught many farming families proper nutrition so that they could feed themselves well and live a healthy lifestyle. He also created around 100 products that could be made directly from peanuts, such as various types of makeup, gasoline, and plastics.

What is the main idea of this biography?