PASSAGE TWO

Flatfish

Members of the flatfish family, sand dabs and flounders, have an evolutionary advantage over
many colorfully decorated ocean neighbors in that they are able to adapt their body coloration to
different environments. These aquatic chameleons have flattened bodies that are well-suited to life
along the ocean floor in the shallower areas of the continental shelf that they inhabit. They also have
remarkably sensitive color vision that registers the subtlest gradations on the sea bottom and in the sea
life around them. Information about the coloration of the environment is carried through the nerveous
system to chromatophores, which are pigment-carrying skin cells. These chromatophores are able to
accurately reproduce not only the colors but also the texture of the ocean floor. Each time that a sand
dab or flounder finds itself in a new environment, the pattern on the body of the fish adapts to fit in
with the color and texture around it.

1. It is NOT stated in the passage that A. Overly sensitive to light

sand dabs B. Able to see colors
A. Are a type of flatfish C. Able to see the sea bottom
B. Are in the same family as D. Aware of their surroundings
flounders
C. Have evolved 4. It isNOT true that chromatophores
D. Are colorfully decorated A. Are skin cells
B. Carry pigment
2. According to the passages, it is NOT C. Adapt to surrounding colors
true that sand dabs and flounders D. Change the ocean floor
A. Have flattened bodies
B. Live along the ocean floor 5. It is NOT mentioned in the passage
C. Live in the deepest part of the that sand dabs and flounders
ocean A. Move to new environments
D. Live along the continental shelf B. Adapt their behavior
C. Can change color
3. All of the following are stated about D. Adapt the textures around them
the vision of sand dabs and flounders
EXCEPT that they are

PASSAGE THREE

Whales are mammals rather than fish, yet they live in the world’s oceans rather than on land.
Because of the fact that they are mammals, scientists have believed for quite some time that whales
are desendants of land mammals.

Some interesting evidence to support this theory has recently been found. In Egypt, fossils
have been found of a forty-million-year-old whale leg, kneecap, ankle, footbones, and toes. It appears
from the fossils evidence that the bones were not very strong and not very large in comparison to the
size of the whale.

Based on this fossil evidence, the following evolutionary path has been hypothesized. As the
whale began its evolution toward the water, its legs weakened and decreased in size. Then, during its
millions of years in the water, the legs slowly dissapeared, leaving only the front flippers today.

6. The main idea of this passage is that B. There is evidence that whales may
A. Numerous whale fossils have been have descended from land
found in the world’s oceans mammals
C. Whales are mammals and not fish
 D. Whales have not evolved very D. They showed that ancient whales
much over the last millions of had flippers
years
9. Which of the following was NOT
7. All of the following are true about mentioned in the list of whale fossils
whales, EXCEPT that found in Egypt?
A. They are mammals A. A whale’s kneecap
B. They live in the ocean B. A whale’s ankle
C. They are fish C. A whale’s footbones
D. They may have come from the D. A whale’s fingers
land
10. According to the hypothesis in the
8. Which of the following is NOT passage, what happened to whales’
mentioned about the whale fossils in legs?
the passage? A. They got stronger over time
A. They were found in Egypt B. They got larger over time
B. They support the theory that C. They dissapeared quickly
whales came from land D. They became front flippers
C. They are forty million years old

PASSAGE FOUR

Autism

Autism is a developmental disorder that is characterized by severe behavioral abnormalities

across all primary areas of functioning. Its onset is often early; it generally makes itself known by
the age of two and one-half. It is not a single disease entity but is instead a syndrome defined by
patterns and characteristics of behavior; it, therefore, most likely has multiple etiologies rather than a
single causative factor. Autism is not fully understood and thus is controversial with respect to
diagnosis, etiology, and treatment strategies.

11. The word primary in the passage B. Feeling of euphoria

could best be replaced by C. Mental breakdown
A. Elementary D. Repetitive task
B. Main
C. Introductory 14. The word etiologies in the passage is
D. Primitive closest in meaning to
A. Symptoms
12. The word onset in the passage is B. Patterns
closest in meaning to C. Causes
A. Placement D. Onsets
B. Arrangement
C. Support 15. The phrase with respect to in the
D. Beginning passage could best be replaced by
A. With dignity toward
13. The word syndrome in the passage is B. In regard to
closest in meaning to C. Irrespective of
A. Concurrent set of symptoms D. Out of politeness for

PASSAGE FIVE
 Parasitic Plants

Parasitic plants are plants that survive by using food produced by host plants rather
than by producing their own food from the Sun’s energy. Because they do not need sunlight
to survive, parasitic plants are generally found in umbrageous areas rather than in areas
exposed to direct sunlight. Parasitic plants attach themselves to host plants, often to the stems
or roots, by means of haustoria, which the parasite uses to make its way into the food
channels of the host plant and absorb the nutrients that it needs to survive from the host plant.

The world’s heaviest flower, a species of rafflesia, is a parasite that flourishes among, and
lives off of, the roots of jungle vines. Each of these ponderous blooms can weigh up to 15
pounds (7 kg) and can measure up to 3 feet (1m) across.

16. The word umbrageous in paragraph 1 C. Outline

is closest in meaning to D. Eat
A. Moist
B. Well lit 19. The word ponderous in paragraph 2 is
C. Shaded closest in meaning to
D. Buried A. Smelly
B. Hidden
17. Haustoria in paragraph 1 are most C. Mature
likely D. Heavy
A. Offshoots from the parasite
B. Seeds of the host plant 20. The word across in paragraph 2 could
C. Fruits from the host plant best be replaced by
D. Food for the parasite A. In diameter
B. On the other side
18. The phrase make its way into in C. At a distance
paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to D. Inside and out
A. Develop
B. Penetrate

PASSAGE SIX

Ceographically, California’s diversity is breathtaking, and the state’s coastline from north to south
is no exception. Measuring 840 miles in length, the coast consists of the rugged cliffs of the Coast
Ranges in the north and wide sandy beaches in the south. Along the coastline there are two major
harbors, one in the north at San Fransisco and the other in the south at San Diego. Near Humboldt
and Monterey are smaller natural ports.

21. The topic of this passage is C. The rugged cliffs

A. How the state of California is D. The exceptional part of northern
divided into north and south California
B. The variations in California’s
coastal geography 23. The Coast Ranges are probably
C. The breathtaking beauty of A. Flat, sandy areas on the coast of
California California
D. The exceptions in coastal B. Found in southern California
geography C. A series of mountains
D. Hundreds of miles north of the
22. According to the passage, what cliffs
measures 840 miles in length?
A. The California coastline 24. It is implied in the passage that
B. The Coast Ranges northern California
 A. Has more beaches than southern
California 25. In line 5, “natural ports” are
B. Has the same type of coastline as A. Not human-made
southern California B. Always small in size
C. Has fewer major harbors than C. Evenly shaped
southern California D. Constructed of natural materials
D. Has a different coastline from
southern California

PASSAGE SEVEN

The deer is a distinctive animal easily recognized by the antlers that adorn most species of
male deer. These antlers are used by the males primarily to fight, either for mates or for leadership of
the herd. Deer generally lose their antlers each winter and begin growing new ones in late spring. The
new antlers are soft knobs covered with velvety hairs. Later in the year as the seasons progress, the
antlers grow and harden into solid branches. In the middle of winter, the full-grown antlers fall off and
decay on the ground. The following spring the process begins again.

26. This passage mainly discusses

A. The lifestyle of the deer 31. The word “solid” in line 6 could best
B. The seasons of the year be replaced by which of the
C. The antlers of the deer following?
D. How antlers are used A. Firm
B. Thin
27. The deer is called a distinctive animal C. Leafy
because it D. Tiny
A. Uses its antlers to recognize others
B. Has many species 32. Where in the passage does the author
C. Has antlers explain how a deer uses its antlers?
D. Has to fight for its mates A. Lines 2-3
B. Lines 4-5
28. The word “adorn” in line 1 is closest C. Lines 6
in meaning to which of the following? D. Lines 7
A. Cover
B. Decorate
C. Bother
D. Hide

29. It is NOT mentioned in the passage

that the deer uses its antlers
A. To battle other deer
B. To get a mate
C. To become a leader
D. To climb branches

30. In which month would a deer probably

have short, velvety antlers?
A. May
B. December
C. October
D. January