278 Section 3 • Guide to Reading Comprehension

Questions 1-12

The technology of the North American colonies did not differ

strikingly from that of Europe, but in one respect, the colonists enjoyed
a great advantage. Especially by comparison with
(line) Britain, Americans had a wonderfully plentiful supply of wood.
(5) The first colonists did not, as many people imagine, find an entire
continent covered by a climax forest. Even along the Atlantic
seaboard, the forest was broken at many points. Nevertheless, all sorts
of fine trees abounded, and through the
early colonial period, those who pushed westward encountered new
(10) forests. By the end of the colonial era, the price of wood had risen
slightly in eastern cities, but wood was still extremely abundant.

The availability of wood brought advantages that have seldom been

appreciated. Wood was a foundation of the economy. Houses
(15) and all manner of buildings were made of wood to a degree unknown in
Britain. Secondly, wood was used as a fuel for heating and cooking. Thirdly,
it was used as the source of important
industrial compounds, such as potash, an industrial alkali; charcoal, a
component of gunpowder; and tannic acid, used for
(20) tanning leather.
The supply of wood conferred advantages but had some negative
aspects as well. Iron at that time was produced by heating iron
ore with charcoal. Because Britain was so stripped of trees, she was
unable to exploit her rich iron mines. But the American
(25) colonies had both iron are and wood; iron production was encouraged and
became successful. However, when Britain developed coke smelting, the
colonies did not follow suit because they had plenty of wood and besides,
charcoal iron was stronger than coke
iron. Coke smelting led to technological innovations and was
(30) linked to the emergence of the Industrial Revolution. In the early
nineteenth century, the former colonies lagged behind Britain in
industrial development because their supply of wood led them to
cling to charcoal iron.
1. What does the passage mainly discuss?
(A) The advantages of using wood in the colonies
(B) The effects of an abundance of wood on the colonies
(C) The roots of the Industrial Revolution
(D) The difference between charcoal iron and coke iron
Answer : A. The advantages of using wood in the colonies
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2. The word "strikingly" in line 2 is closest in meaning to

(A) realistically
(B) dramatically
(C) completely
(D) immediately
Answer : C. Completely
3. Which ofthe following is a common assumption about the forests of North America during the colonial
period?
(A) They contained only a few types of trees.
(B) They existed only along the Atlantic seaboard.
(C) They had little or no economic value.
(D) They covered the entire continent.
Answer : A. They contained only a few types of trees.

4. The use of the word "abounded" in line 8 indicates that the trees were
(A) present in large numbers
(B) restricted to certain areas
(C) cut down
(C) cultivated
Answer : A. present in large numbers

5. According to the passage, by the end of the colonial period, the price of wood in eastern cities
(A) rose quickly because wood was becoming so scarce
(B) was much higher than it was in Britain
(C) was slightly higher than in previous years
(D) decreased rapidly because of lower demand for wood
Answer : B. was much higher than it was in Britain

6. What can be inferred about houses in Britain during the period written about in the passage?
(A) They were more expensive than American houses.
(B) They were generally built with imported materials.
(C) They were typically smaller than homes in NorthAmerica.
(D) They were usually built from materials other than wood.
Answer : A. They were more expensive than American houses.

7. Why does the author mention gunpowder in line 19?

(A) To illustrate the negative aspects of some industrial processes
(B) To give an example of a product made with wood
(C) To remind readers that the Colonial era ended in warfare
(D) To suggest that wood was not the only important product of the Colonies
Answer : D. To suggest that wood was not the only important product of the Colonies
8. The word "conferred" in line 21 is closest in meaning to
(A) consulted
(B) gathered
(C) provided
(D) restricted
Answer : C. provided
9. The phrase "follow suit" in line 27 means
(A) do the same thing
(B) make an attempt
(C) have the opportunity
(D) take a risk

Answer : A. follow suit

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10. According to the passage, why was the use of coke smelting advantageous?
(A) It led to advances in technology.
(B) It was less expensive than wood smelting.
(C) It produced a stronger type of iron than wood smelting.
(D) It stimulated the demand for wood.
Answer : C. It produced a stronger type of iron than wood smelting.

11. The phrase "cling to" in line 33 is closest in meaning to

(A) try to develop
(B) avoid
(C) continue to use
(D) reconsider
Answer : D. reconsider
12. Where in the passage does the author begin to discuss in detail the disadvantages that an abundant
supply of wood brought to the colonies?
(A) Lines 1-3
(B) Lines 5-7
(C) Lines 13-14
(D) Lines 21-22
Answer : D. Lines 21-22
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Questions 13-22

The Peales were a distinguished family of American artists.

Charles Willson Peale is best remembered for his portraits of leading
figures of the American Revolution. He painted portraits
(line) of Franklin and Jefferson, and over a dozen of George Washington.
(5) His life-size portrait of his sons Raphaelle and Titian was so realistic
that George Washington reportedly once tipped his hat to the figures
in the picture.
Charles Willson Peale gave up painting in his middle age and
devoted his life to the Peale Museum, which he founded in
(10) Philadelphia. The world's first popular museum of art and natural
science, it featured paintings by Peale and his family as well as displays
of animals in their natural settings. Peale found the animals himself and
devised a method of taxidermy to make the
exhibits more lifelike. The museum's most popular display was
(15) the skeleton of a mastodon-a huge, extinct elephant-which Peale unearthed
on a New York farm in 180l.
Three of Peale's seventeen children were also famous artists.
RaphaeUe Peale often painted stilllifes of flowers, fruit, and cheese.
His works show the same luminosity and attention to
(20) detail that the works of the Dutch masters show. In the late
eighteenth century, however, portraiture was the rage, and so
RaphaeUe Peale found few buyers for his stilllifes at the time. His
brother Rembrandt studied under his father and painted portraits of
many noted people, including one of George
(25) Washington. Another brother, Rubens Peale, painted mostly
landscapes and portraits.
James Peale, the brother of Charles Willson Peale, specialized in
miniatures. His daughter Sarah Miriam Peale was probably the first
professional female portrait painter in America.
13. What is the main topic of the passage?
(A) The life of Charles Willson Peale
(B) Portraiture in the 18th century
(C) The Peale Museum
(D) A family of artists
Answer : A. The life of Charles Willson Peale
14. The author probably mentions that Washington "tipped his hat to the figures in the painting" (lines 6-
7) to indicate that
(A) Charles Willson Peale's painting was very lifelike
(B) Washington respected Charles Willson Peale's work
(C) Washington was friendly with Raphaelle and Titian Peale
(D) the painting of the two brothers was extremely large
Answer : C. Washington was friendly with Raphaelle and Titian Peale

15. The word "settings" in line 12 is closest in meaning to which of the following?
(A) Environments
(B) Categories
(C) Positions
(D) Requirements

Answer : D. Requirements
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16. For which of the following terms does the author give a definition in the second paragraph?
(A) Natural sience
(B) Skeleton
(C) Taxidermy
(D) Mastodon
Answer : A. Natural sience
17. Which of the following questions about the Peale museum does the passage NOT supply enough
information to answer ?
(A) Who found and prepared its animal exhibits?
(B) In what city was it located
(C) Where did its most popular exhibit come from
(C) In what year was it founded
Answer : B. In what city was it located

18. The word “unearthed” in line 16 is closest in meaning to

(A) displayed
(B) dug up
(C) located
(D) looked over
Answer : B. Dug up
19. Which of the following words could best be substituted for the word "rage" in line 2l?
(A) Fashion
(B) Anger
(C) Conflict
(D) Desire
Answer : B. Anger
20. According to the passage, Rembrandt Peale and his father both painted
(A) miniatures
(B) portraits of George Washington
(C) paintings of flowers. fruit, and cheese
(D) pictures of animals
Answer : A. miniatures
21. Which of the foollowing is NOT one of the children of Charles Willson Peale?
(A) Titian Peale
(B) Ruhens Peale
(C) Raphaelle Peale
(D)Sarah Miriam Peale
Answer : B. Ruhens Peale
22. The author's attitude toward the Peales is generally
(A) envious
(B) puzzled
(C) admiring
(D) disappointed
Answer : C. Admiring
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