PHAN 2: DOC HIEU - VSTEP

Thoi gian: 60 ph6t

S6 eSu hoi: 40

Directions: In this section of the test, you will read FOUR different passages,
each followed by 10 questions about it. For questions 1-40, you are to choose
the best answer A, B, C, or D for each question. Then, on your answer sheet, find
the number of the question andfill in the space that corresponds to the letter of
the answer you have chosen. Answer all questions following a passage on the
basis of what is stated or implied in that passage.
You have 60 minutes to answer all the questions, including the time to transfer
your answers to the answer sheet.
PASSAGE 1 - Questions 1-10
It takes a long time to raise a family of owlets, so the great homed owl
begins early in the year. In January and February, or as late as March in the
North, the male calls to the female with a resonant hoot. The female is larger
than the 'male. She sometimes reaches a body length of twenty-two to twenty-
four inches, with a wingspread up to fifty inches. To impress her, the male does a
strange courtship dance. He bobs. He bows. He ruffles his feathers and hops
around with an important air. He flutters from limb to limb and makes flying
sorties into the air. Sometimes he returns with an offering of food. They share the
repast, after which she joins the dance, hopping and bobbing about as though
keeping time to the beat of an inner drum.
Owls are poor home builders. They prefer to nest in a large hollow in a tree
or even to occupy the deserted nest of a hawk or crow. These structures are large
and rough, built of sticks and bark and lined with leaves and feathers. Sometimes
owls nest on a rocky ledge, or even on the bare ground.
The mother lays two or three round, dull white eggs. Then she stoically
settles herself on the nest and spreads her feather skirts about her to protect her
precious charges from snow and cold. It is five weeks before the first downy
white owlet pecks its way out of the shell. As the young birds feather out, they
look like wise old men with their wide eyes and quizzical expressions. They
clamor for food and keep the parents busy supplying mice, squirrels, rabbits,
crayfish, and beetles. Later in the season baby crows are taken. Migrating
songsters, waterfowl, and game birds all fall prey to the hungry family. It is
nearly ten weeks before fledglings leave the nest to search for their own food.
The parent birds weary of family life by November and drive the young owls
away to establish hunting ranges of their own.
1. What is the topic of this passage?
A. Raising a family of great homed owls
B. Mating rituals of great homed owls
C. Nest building of great homed owls
D. Habits of young great homed owls
2. The phrase "a resonant hoot" in the passage is closest in meaning to.
A. an instrument B. a sound
C. a movement D. an offering of food
3. It can be inferred from the passage that the courtship of great horned
owls 1 .
A. takes place on the ground B. is an active process
C. happens in the fall D. involves the male alone
4. According to the passage, great horned owls.
A. are discriminate nest builders
B. need big nests for their numerous eggs
C. may inhabit a previously used nest
D. build nests on tree limbs
5. According to the passage, which of the following is the mother owl’s job?
A. To initiate the courtship ritual
B. To feed the young
C. To sit on the nest
D. To build the nest
 The phrase "precious charges" in paragraph 3 refers to.
A. the eggs thenest
C. the hawks and crows D. other nesting owls
According to the passage, young owlets eat everything
EXCEPT.
A. other small birds B. insects
C. small mammals D. nuts and seeds

8. The word "they" in the passage refers to

A. the wise old men B. the adult birds
C. the young birds D. the prey
9. What can be inferred from the passage about the adult parents of the
young great horned owls?
A. They are sorry to see their young leave home.
B. They are lazy and careless about feeding the small owlets.
C. They probably don’t see their young after November.
D. They don’t eat while they are feeding their young.
10. The phrase "weary of* in the passage is closest in meaning to

A. tire of B. become sadabout

C. support D. are attracted to
PASSAGE 2 - Questions 11-20
In the early 1800s, to reach the jump-off point for the West, a family
from the East of the United States could either buy steamboat passage to
Missouri for themselves, their wagons, and their livestock or - as happened
more often- simply pile everything into a wagon, hitch up a team, and begin
their overland trek right in their front yard.
Along the macadamized roads and turnpikes east of the Missouri JRiver,
travel was comparatively fast, camping easy, and supplies plentiful. Then, in
one river town or another, the neophyte emigrants would pause to lay in
provisions. For outfitting purposes, the town of Independence had been
preeminent ever since 1827, but the rising
 momentum of pioneer emigration had produced some rival jump-off
points. Westport and Fort Leavenworth flourished a few miles upriver. St. Joseph
had sprung up 55 miles to the northwest; in fact, emigrants who went to Missouri
by riverboat could save four days on the trail by g staying on the paddle-
wheelers to St. Joe before striking overland.
At whatever jump-off point they chose, the emigrants studied
guidebooks and directions, asked questions of others as green as themselves, and
made their final decisions about outfitting. They had various, sometimes
conflicting, options. For example, either pack animals or two-wheel carts or
wagons could be used for the overland crossing. A family man usually chose the
wagon. It was the costliest and slowest of the three, but it provided space and
shelter for children and for a wife who likely as not was pregnant. Everybody
knew that a 5 top-heavy covered wagon might blow over in a prairie wind or be
overturned by mountain rocks, that it might mire in river mud or sink to its hubs
in desert sand - but maybe if those things happened on this trip, they would
happen to someone else. Anyway, most pioneers, with their farm background,
were used to wagons.
11. What is the topic of this passage?
A. Important river towns
B. Getting started on the trip west
C. The advantages of traveling by wagon
D. Choosing a point of departure
12. AU of the following can be inferred from the passage about
travel east of the Missouri EXCEPT that it.
A. was faster than in the West
B. was easier than in the West
C. took place on good roads
D. was usually by steamboat
13. The phrase "jump-off point” in the passage is closest in meaning
to.
A. a bridge across a river B. a point of departure
C. a gathering place D. a trading post
 14. Which of the cities that served as a jump-off point can be inferred
from the passage to be farthest west?
A. Independence B. St Joseph
C. Westport
D. Fort Leavenworth
15. The word "preeminent" in the passage is closest in meaning to

A. oldest B. superior
C. most easily reached D. closest

16. The author implies in the passage that the early emigrants •
A. knew a lot about travel
B. were well stocked with provisions when they left their homes
C. left from the same place in Missouri
D. preferred wagon travel to other types of travel
17. The word "neophyte" in the passage is closest in meaning to

A. eager B. courageous
C. prosperous D. inexperienced
18. All of the following were mentioned in the passage as options for
modes of transportation from the Missouri River to the West EXCEPT.
A. a wagon B. a riverboat
C. a pack animal D. a two-wheel cart
19. The word "striking" in the passage is closest in meaning to •
A. hitting B. orienting
C. departing D. marking
20. All of the following features of the covered wagon made it
unattractive to the emigrants EXCEPT.
A. speed at which it could travel B. its bulk
C. its familiarity and size D. its cost
?e
PASSAGE 3 - Questions 21-30
Alexander the Great commissioned the city of Alexandria to create a
Mediterranean stronghold in Egypt to rival Rome and cities in Greece. He died
before his idea came to fruition, but his successors , built it into one of the
greatest cities of the Hellenistic world. The co
Royal Library of Alexandria has achieved an almost mythical status
among scholars of classical studies. As with many ancient topics,
scholarship on the matter often conflicts and relies heavily on hearsay and
supposition. We will examine the importance of the library during its
heyday and how it operated.
ts
As with many ancient landmarks, there is much debate and
controversy over Alexandria's library, especially regarding its destruction. The
tale has been retold by countless historians and s attributed to just as many
different factions and. rulers, not to profile this landmark of education, but as a
tool for political slander. It is estimated that there are over 4000 writings
regarding its destruction, yet very little data exists regarding the structure, layout,
organization, 5 administration, or whereabouts of the complex. The accuracy of
the available information is suspect. However, 20 th century scholars have reached
some general consensus from the remaining sources.
Most historians have come to the conclusion that the original library
(also known as the Temple of the Muses) was commissioned - by Ptolemy I,
Alexander's key general. More accurately, it was commissioned by the Athenian
exile Demetrius of Phaleron under Ptolemy l's patronage. Traditionally it was
attributed to his son Ptolemy II. However, it was later shown that Demetrius was
~ antagonistic toward Ptolemy II and did not survive for much of his reign.
Ptolemy II can be seen as responsible for the fruition and completion of the
library and museum complex. H.G. Wells asserts that Ptolemy and his son
encouraged 'a blaze of knowledge and discovery at Alexandria' through their
funding of the library and other endowments.
The library itself was not a 'library' in the modem etymology. In
fact, the library was essentially a collection of scholars and scribes
encouraged to expand scientific and philosophical wisdom and
musings brought about because of the ambition and drive of Ptolemy
I. It was not the first institution of its type, developing about a half-
century after Plato's Academy and Jjvristotle's Lyceum,./About 30-50
scholars were probably permanently housed there, fed, and funded, first
by the royal family, and later, according to an early Roman scroll, by
public money. It served a religious, as well as an intellectual, function and
it was the centerpiece of a so-called cult of the muses, governed by a
priest.
[A] The library’s output was created through observation and deduction in
math, medicine, astronomy, and geometry, the editing of texts and manuscripts,
and debating various advances in Western knowledge. [B] For two or three
generations, the scientific output at Alexandria was considerably good. Its
achievements included the introduction of the first steam engine, the first star
map, and an astoundingly accurate estimate of the Earth’s diameter. [C] Famous
scholars employed there included Euclid, Eratosthenes, Apollonius, and Hero.
[D]
The library may have consisted of a group of buildings, including lecture
halls, study rooms, dining rooms, gardens, and an astronomical observatory. In
organization of the library, it is believed that, in the time of Ptolemy II, the
scrolls were haphazardly stored and grouped by general category. From the time
of Callimachus onwards, they used an early iteration of a subject catalog. Subject
divisions outlined by Callimachus included mathematics, medicine, astronomy,
and geometry, as well as philology. At its peak, it is estimated about 600,000
scrolls were held within its walls, although that is likely an overstatement.
The Ptolemys achieved their goal of creating the largest collection of its
kind by varied and often forceful means. At the time of its founding, Greek
libraries were usually collections of manuscripts by private individuals. Ptolemy
had a vision to collect all accepted literature on all matters scientific,
philosophical and spiritual. The library tried to get copies of all known books and
would send agents far and wide to acquire them. Ptolemy III wrote a letter "to all
the world’s sovereigns" asking to borrow their books. On more than a few
occasions, scribes made copies and kept the originals. Supposedly, all ships
entering Alexandria’s harbor were searched for books to copy.
The Royal Library of Alexandria was created at an ideal time and place in
world history. It was able to combine the deductive techniques of Greek thought
toward the learning of other world cultures. As such, it holds a legendary
position among historians as an
[
d important center of classical knowledge. Although much of the story
¥ has been buried with time and conflict, the importance and
n
significance of its contributions are clear.
21. All of the following sentences express important ideas in the
passage EXCEPT.
o A. The library was essentially a collection of scholars and
scribes encouraged to expand scientific and philosophical wisdom.
B. In the time of Callimachus, the scrolls were haphazardly stored
and grouped by general category.
C. It is estimated that there were over 4000 writings about its
destruction, yet very little evidence exists.
 D. The library tried to get copies of all known books and would
employ several methods of acquiring them.
22. The word "factions" in the passage is closest in meaning to.
A. sections B. insubordinates
C. cliques D. conspiracies
23. The word "its" in the passage refers to.
A. data
B. education
C. the Royal Library of Alexandria
D. destruction
24. The author mentions "its destruction" in the passage in order to.
A. introduce the idea that the destruction was caused by natural
disaster
B. illustrate that there are so many arguments surrounding its
demise and disappearance
C. indicate the difference between its destruction and other
libraries destruction
D. highlight the difference between the library and other historic
sites
25. Which of the following best expresses the essential information in
the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect answer choices
change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential
information.
A. Commissioned by Ptolemy I, the Royal Library was a place
where people who wanted to learn gathered to study and record their
philosophies.
B. The library was a large building where students gathered to
research and study.
C. Philosophers often visited the library to further their studies.
D. Many people gathered at the Royal Library in Alexandria in order
to socialize with their friends.
26. According to paragraph 6, what was true about the early iteration
of a subject catalog?
A. All the books were grouped within two general categories.
B. The books were chosen for their innovation, thematic impact, and
popular appeal.
C. The librarians organized the collection of books systematically.
D. The library achieved an astonishing collection and many
developments.
27. The word "overstatement” in the passage is closest in meaning to.
A. estimation B. falsehood
C. exaggeration D. presumption
28. Which of the following can be inferred about the Royal Library
from the passage?
A. Most of the manuscripts from the library are preserved in modem
museums.
B. Several writings from the library have been scanned and can be
viewed on the Internet. ■
C. Little of the manuscripts contained in the library are in existence
today.
D. The library is currently being reconstructed.
29. According to historians, all of the following were true about the
Royal Library of Alexandria EXCEPT.
A. It probably contained over 600,000 writings.
B. Little is known of its exact location.
C. It was responsible for the first star map.
D. It was the largest and most magnificent library in history.
30. Look at the four squares [ J that indicate where the following
sentence can be added to the passage.
It remained an important intellectual center for over 500 years until
numerous fires and other problems eroded its significance.
Where would the sentence best fit?
A.[A] B. [B]
 C. [C] D. [D]
PASSAGE 4 - Questions 31-40
The Pacific Ocean contains approximately 20,000 to 30,000 islands.
Islands, excluding Australia, that are south of the Tropic of Cancer are
grouped into three divisions: Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia.
( Melanesia includes the nation of Papua New Guinea, provinces of
Indonesia, and the Solomon Islands. Micronesia means ‘small islands,’ most
of which are north of the equator. Finally, Polynesia, which means ‘many
islands,’ includes the Hawaiian Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Easter Island,
among others. Migrants from South East Asian cities were the first settlers.
The next wave of migrants populated New Guinea, gradually spreading to
Fiji. The last of the Pacific islands to be settled was Polynesia. Hawaii was
discovered sometime between the 7th and 13th centuries.
Bats were the only mammals on these islands until the arrival of the
first humans. Birds adapted to environmental niches, like grazers and
insectivores. Due to the cool and humid location, New Zealand lost plants
and animals, like the giant flightless bird, that were intolerant of its climate.
However, the extinction coincided with the arrival of the Melanesians, so it
was probably caused by hunting and fires. Adding to that, mining and a
natural drought destroyed a majority of the natural habitat. This was
repeated on Easter Island, where early settlers wiped out 22 species of sea
birds and land birds. By the time the Europeans had arrived, most of the
plant life was extinct and nearly 30% of the forests were cleared.
The invasion of New Zealand by the Europeans resulted in a
complete transformation of the island, importing over 3,198 species of plants
and animals and filling most of the wetlands. Australia also imported animals
and plants from many Pacific island countries. Sheep, pigs, goats and foxes
were brought to Australia, which further disrupted the native ecosystems.
Many plants and animals are. - presently endangered.
The plants and animals that inhabit Pacific islands are found nowhere
else on earth. They are often adapted to specific habitats and live on a small
part of a few islands. New Caledonia is an island that has been isolated from
other lands for over 80 million years. 66 percent of the plant life there
evolved on the island. Numerous plant species, unique in the world, are on a
small area of one mountain and are represented by only a few specimens.
This varied genetic heritage is of such scientific importance that New
Caledonia has been listed as one of the ten hot spots where the primary forest
is in danger of extinction. It also boasts 68 species of bird; the most diverse
 bird life in the Southwest Pacific.
. During the first Ice Age, ocean levels were much lower than they are at
present. Levels in the shallow seas, now separating Asia from North America
near the present-day Bering strait, dropped approximately 300 feet, creating
1,000 miles of grassland plain. Called the ‘Bering Land Bridge,’ this linked
Asia and North America together. The Bering Sea has a long history of stable
animal < populations, despite the harsh environments, which sustain human
life.- Lemmings, ox, and mammoths all made the journey across the land L
bridge. Although mammoths have been extinct for quite a while now, ; the
other two have remained. !
Pacific walruses inhabit shallow waters of the Bering Sea during winter.
They congregate to feed on clams, their principal food. [A] This type of
feeding releases nutrients into the water, providing food for starfish and
increasing the roughness of the sea floor. [B] Actual : impact of the ecology
of bottom communities is unknown, but
1 a walruses, along with other animals like beavers and sea otters, id, have
huge effects on the biological communities they occupy. [C] ds. Animals such
as seals, bowhead whales, and walruses are important as for the subsistence of
their community. [D]
Pacific islands have the same pollution and over fishing problems i a
as most countries. Destructive forms of fishing in Asian nations have of taken
their toll on marine animals such as birds and tuna. Many of so these nations have
now entered joint venture agreements to enable ;s- them to develop their marine
resources more efficiently, er
re 31. The word "populated" in the passage is closest in meaning to

A. inhabited B. exiled
C. traveled D. governed
at 32. The word "it" in the passage refers to
$ A. arrival B. extinction
it
d C. climate D. hunting
33. Why does the author mention "The invasion of New Zealand it
by the Europeans" in the passage?
£ A. To demonstrate its destructive effect on local ecosystems

8. To explain how many of New Zealand’s species came into

being
1
C. To show the lack of responsibility that early settlers had
J toward new places
t D. To draw a comparison to the way Australia expanded in the
[ Pacific
34. According to paragraph 5, what is unique about the Pacific
Islands?
A. They have a long history of traditional management approaches
for marine resources.
B. They are home to rare and unique animals.
C. They are made up of 66% plant life.
D. They have all been damaged by European settlers.
35. The word "specimens" in the passage is closest in meaning to
A. genres B. features
C. examples D. images
36. According to paragraph 7, how has the Bering Sea aided life forms
in the past?
A. By providing creatures with plentiful food
B. By being home to a diverse and varied ecosystem
C. By allowing transit across the great iceshelves in the Americas
D. By keeping creatures cool and comfortable in the ice
37. According to the passage, which of the following is true of
walruses?
A. They protect the surrounding ecosystem by preventing overfishing.
B. Their unique feeding habits enrich the ecosystem with nutrients.
C. They are solitary animals which hunt and eat by themselves.
D. They are usually found living in the deepest regions of the Bering Sea.
38. Which of the following best expresses the essential information in
the highlighted sentence? Incorrect answer choices change the meaning in
important ways or leave out essential information.
A. Although ecological impacts are hot known, many species are largely
dependent on animals occupying a sub-level. j
B. The true biological diversity of all the walruses is revealed • only
below the species level.
C. Beavers and otters are strongly related to the walrus family 1 because
there is a clear cause-effect relationship. |
D. There is a great deal that still needs to be learned about biological
communities and ecosystems.
39. According to paragraph 9, what measures have been taken to
protect sea creatures?
A. Protection agencies have begun guarding areas known for high fish
population.
B. Destructive fishing methods such as drag-nets have been outlawed.
C. Agreements have been made to ensure that marine resources are used
carefully.
D. Restrictions have been placed on amounts permitted to be fished in
certain areas.
40. Look at the four squares [ ] that indicate where the following
sentence can be added to the passage.
Walruses blow the clams loose with a jet of water, then suck them from their
shells.
Where would the sentence best fit?
A. [A] B. [B]
C.[C] D.[D]

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