Chapter 01

Practice with Short Passages

A The Steel Plow (p. 16)

Mapping

The Steel Plow

- first introduced around 4,000 B.C.

- primitive sticks pulled by animals
- let farmers till the earth

- few improvements for 1,000s of - steel plow made by John Deere

years in 1837
- cast-iron plow invented - was a blacksmith
- used by some farmers - his plow cut through dirt easily
- was successful
- Deere became wealthy
- company still sells farm
equipment

Summary

Plows were first invented around 4000 B.C., but they were basically sticks in the ground that animals
pulled. For thousands of years, there were few improvements in technology. In the 1700s, cast-iron plows
were used. Then, in 1837, John Deere, a blacksmith in Illinois, made a steel plow. It easily cut through the
heavy and sticky dirt. His plow was very successful, so Deere became a wealthy man. His company still
exists and sells farm equipment today.

Practice with Short Passages

B The Brown-Headed Cowbird (p. 17)
Mapping

The Brown-Headed Cowbird

- is found in large parts of North America

- is known for being a brood parasite

- lays its eggs in nests of other - scientists wonder how baby

birds cowbirds learn proper vocalization
- some birds reject eggs or chicks - can recognize calls and songs if
- others hatch the eggs and feed exposed early
the chicks - can then form flocks

Summary

The brown-headed cowbird is a bird that lives in parts of North America and is a brood parasite. So it lays
its eggs in the nests of more than 100 other types of birds. Some of the eggs and chicks are rejected by
the birds. But other birds take care of the eggs and raise the chicks. Scientists have been curious about
how baby birds recognize the calls and songs of adult cowbirds. They have learned that if the birds are
exposed to the sounds early in life, they can learn the sounds. This lets cowbirds come together to form
flocks.
Practice with Long Passages
A The Formation of the Grand Canyon (p. 18)
Mapping

The Formation of the Grand Canyon

- located in Arizona in the United States

- 446km long, twenty-nine kilometers wide at some
points, and up to 1,800m deep

- formed due to the - Colorado River mostly - other forms of erosion

action of moving water formed it helped create the
on layers of - Grand Canyon formed canyon
sedimentary rock on a plateau - flashfloods eroded it
- took millions of years - took five or six million - ice eroded its walls 
to form years to make the water got into rocks,
- grew wider as edges Grand Canyon froze, and expanded 
eroded - the upper level is 230 cracked the rocks
million years old
- the lowest layer of
rocks is two billion
years old

Summary

The Grand Canyon is located in Arizona in the United States. It is 446 kilometers long, twenty-nine
kilometers wide at its widest part, and up to 1,800 meters deep. It formed over the course of millions of
years mainly due to moving water. The Colorado River flows through the Colorado Plateau. The water
eroded the Grand Canyon over the course of five or six million years. The rocks at the top are around 230
million years old while the lowest layer is two billion years old. Flashfloods and ice also eroded the land
and helped create the Grand Canyon.

Practice with Long Passages

B The Benefits of Sleep (p. 20)
Mapping

The Benefits of Sleep

- circadian rhythm = a daily cycle animals go through

- animals experience physical, mental, and behavioral
changes mostly based on light

- most animal active when it is - animals can hide when sleeping

light  many dangerous nocturnal
- most animals sleep in darkness predators
- are many benefits of sleep - sleeping animals are protected in
 gives the body and the brain dens or shelters
rest - small prey animals sleep a lot
 body recovers from daily  rabbits and rats
activities - larger prey animals sleep for
- humans need rest for the brain shorter periods of time
 mental abilities suffer when do  deer and elk
not sleep for a long time
 cannot concentrate and make
mistakes
 brain produces hormones when
sleeping
 lack of hormones means body
cannot resist diseases well

Summary

Every animal has a circadian rhythm, which is a daily cycle that they go through. They all experience
physical, mental, and behavioral changes. Most of these changes are based on light. Most animals are
active when it is light and sleep when it is dark. Sleep lets the body and the brain rest. Humans need rest
for the brain. If they do not sleep, they cannot concentrate, make mistakes, and cannot produce a
hormone good for resisting diseases. Prey animals also sleep to avoid predators. Small animals sleep a lot
while bigger ones sleep for shorter periods of time.
iBT Practice Test
PASSAGE 1 (p. 22)
Mapping

The Algonquin People

- lived along the Ottawa River system

- legends say that they migrated inland from the
Atlantic coast before the Europeans arrived

- in 1603, Samuel de Champlain - main enemy was the Iroquois

made first contact with them Confederation
- the Algonquins became French  lived south of the St. Lawrence
allies River and Lake Ontario
- fought with them against the  allied with the British
British - French and Algonquins lost a war
- political structure was based on against Britain fought from 1744
clans to 1763
 had a chief - still around 15,000 Algonquins
- lived in wigwams today
- mostly hunted, fished, and
gathered
- grew some crops

Summary

The Algonquin people lived in North America along the Ottawa River system. Their legends claim that
they once lived by the Atlantic coast. In 1603, Samuel de Champlain made first contact with them, and
they became allies of the French. The Algonquins hunted, fished, and gathered. They also grew some
crops such as beans, squash, and corn. Their enemies were the Iroquois Confederation. They and the
French lost a war against the British and the Iroquois. It was fought from 1744 to 1763. Today, there are
around 15,000 Algonquins living in Canada.

iBT Practice Test

PASSAGE 2 (p. 26)
 Mapping

The Effects of Glaciers on Land Formation

- glaciers = giant masses of ice that move slowly

 forms in the Arctic and the Antarctic + in mountains
 they carve up the land as they move across it

- depress the land under them - when a glacier stops moving, the
 fill with water and form lakes soil and the rock debris form a
- can make a trough-shaped valley moraine
as it passes  forms narrow ridges
 noticeable in mountain ranges  can determine the progress of
 fjords were created this way glaciers by looking for moraines
- cirque = bowl-shaped depression - kame = a small mound with an
on a mountainside irregular shape formed by water
- arête = sharp ridge of rock carrying debris from under a
formed when two glaciers meet glacier
- horn = a tall, narrow peak on a - esker = long, thin gravel beds
mountain formed by many glaciers
- drumlin = a long, teardrop-
shaped hill of soil and rock

Summary

Glaciers are giant masses of ice that move slowly. They form in the Arctic and the Antarctic as well as in
mountain ranges. As glaciers move, they change the appearance of the land. They can depress the land
around them, which forms lakes. They create valleys such as fjords. In mountain ranges, glaciers can make
cirques, arêtes, and horns. Cirques are bowl-shaped depressions, arêtes are sharp ridges of rock, and
horns are tall, narrow peaks. Moraines form when glaciers stop moving. Kames, eskers, and drumlins are
also formed by the action of glaciers.

Chapter 02
Practice with Short Passages
A The Life Cycle of the Grasshopper (p. 34)

Mapping
 The Life Cycle of the Grasshopper

- around 11,000 species of grasshoppers

- live for about a year
- have three stages in their lives

- first stage = egg - nymph stage = lack wings and

- lay eggs in summer  remain reproductive organs
underground for ten months  eat, get larger, and molt
 hatch in late spring or early - adult stage = develop wings
summer  lay eggs
 die after two months

Summary

There are around 11,000 species of grasshoppers around the world. They have a three-stage life cycle
that lasts for around one year. Grasshoppers lay their eggs in summer. The eggs stay underground for
around ten months. The eggs hatch in late spring or early summer. The second stage is the nymph stage.
Nymphs lack wings and reproductive organs. They eat a lot, get bigger, and molt by shedding their
exoskeletons. Last is the adult stage. Females lay eggs while males fertilize them. After around two
months as adults, grasshoppers die.
Practice with Short Passages
B Crowd Psychology (p. 35)

Mapping

Crowd Psychology

- people’s behavior, personalities, and characteristics

may change when they join groups
- is called crowd psychology

- do not do what they want to do - Charles Mackay wrote about it

- go along with the beliefs and - book was called Extraordinary
the actions of the group Popular Delusions and the
 can be in a harmonious state Madness of Crowds
with the group - first published in 1841
 accounts for mob behavior
 calm people can become
violent

Summary

When people join groups, their behavior, personalities, and characteristics can all change. This is called
crowd psychology. In groups, people often do not do what they want to do. Instead, they follow the group
and go along with its beliefs and actions. That lets them be in harmony with the group. This accounts for
mob behavior and explains why calm people can become violent. Charles Mackay wrote about crowd
psychology in his 1841 book called Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds.

Practice with Long Passages

A Orca Hunting Methods (p. 36)
Mapping
 Orca Hunting Methods

- orca = killer whale - consumes around - hunt seals that are on

- is an apex predator 200kg of fish a day ice sheets
 no animals hunt it - hunts herring by using - several orcas swim
- feeds on fish, seals, the carousel toward ice sheet 
dolphins, sharks, and  several orcas create a wave of water
small whales surround schools of  can rock the ice or
- is a social animal herring  move rapidly the wave knocks the
 hunts in groups and create air bubbles seals into the water 
 slap the herring to eat the seals
stun them  can eat
many
- hunts sharks with tail
slap  stuns sharks 
flip over  defenseless
 can kill and eat

Summary

Orcas are apex predators. They hunt fish, seals, dolphins, sharks, and small whales. They are social
animals and hunt in groups. When they hunt herring, they use the carousel. They swim around schools of
herring and create air bubbles. The herring then get slapped, which stuns them. The orcas can then eat
them. Orcas slap sharks with their tails. This flips the sharks over, where they are defenseless. Orca hunt
seals on ice sheets by swimming at the sheets. They can knock the seals off the sheets, or the wave they
make can knock the seals into the water.
Practice with Long Passages
B The Evolution of the Romance Languages (p. 38)
Mapping

The Evolution of the Romance Languages

- a group of 35 languages used in Europe

- five major ones: French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and
Romanian
- about 800 million people speak them today

- Latin was the root of the - no central governing authority

Romance languages after the Roman Empire fell
- the Roman Empire collapsed in - people were isolated from others
the 5th century - Vulgar Latin evolved into different
- Roman people spoke Vulgar Latin languages  regional dialects
 the language of the common  changed into individual
people languages
- Classical Latin = the language of - retained some similarities =
upper-class Romans sentence order + words with
similar spellings, pronunciations,
and meanings

Summary

The Romance language group contains thirty-five languages spoken in Europe. The five major ones are
French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Romanian. During the time of the Roman Empire, Latin was the
language spoken. The common people spoke Vulgar Latin while members of the upper-class spoke
Classical Latin. When the Roman Empire fell, people were isolated from one another. Vulgar Latin
developed into regional dialects. These then developed into different languages. Many Romance
languages have similarities such as sentence order. In addition, words in different Romance languages
may have similar spellings, pronunciations, and meanings.

iBT Practice Test

PASSAGE 1 (p. 40)
Mapping
 The Ecology of Lake Victoria

- the largest lake in Africa

- on the borders of Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania
- is fed by many streams and rivers but is drained by
the Nile River

- many mammals, reptiles, birds, - Nile perch = two meters long and
and fish live there eats lots of food
- the main species of fish was once - Nile tilapia = has a negative
the haplochromine cichlid  500 effect on cichlids
species in the lake - small fish are disappearing, and
 were so many species due to algae is growing = absorb
adaptive radiation oxygen
- cichlid population dying out today - hundreds of cichlid species
- two new invasive species: the disappearing
Nile perch and the Nile tilapia - pollution from chemical runoff
and erosion is killing fish
- more nitrogen in water = water
hyacinth  absorbs oxygen

Summary

Lake Victoria is the largest lake in Africa. It is located on the borders of Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. It
has many mammals, reptiles, birds, and fish there. The main species of fish was once the haplochromine
cichlid. Due to adaptive radiation, there were 500 species of the fish in the lake. However, the cichlid
population is dying out. First, invasive species such as the Nile perch and the Nile tilapia are eating it.
Algae that absorb oxygen are growing. Pollution is harming the lake. And a lot of water hyacinth, which
absorbs oxygen, is growing.

iBT Practice Test

PASSAGE 2 (p. 44)
Mapping

The Archaeopteryx
 - is Greek for ancient feather or ancient wing
- first fossilized remains found in Germany in 1861
- is a transitional species between dinosaurs and
birds
- lived 150 million years ago in the Late Jurassic
Period
- less than half a meter in length and less than one
kilogram in weight

- had a long, bony tail - is a debate on whether it could

- had rounded wings with feathers fly or not
- think it was a carnivore - think it was one of the first
- eleven fossils have been species of birds
unearthed in Germany - xiaotingia = birdlike animal found
- had feathers on its wings and in China  lived five million years
body earlier than archaeopteryx
- neck and head had no feathers - so maybe was not one of the
- feathers had the same first bird species
appearance and structure as - ongoing debate
modern bird feathers
- bone structure similar to modern
birds

Summary

In 1861, the first archaeopteryx fossil was found in Germany. It was a transitional species between
dinosaurs and birds. It lived around 150 million years ago. The archaeopteryx was half a meter long and
weighed less than one kilogram. Scientists think it was a carnivore. It had feathers on its body that were
similar to those of modern birds. Its bone structure was similar to that of modern birds, too. Some
believe it was one of the first birds. But the xiaotingia, a birdlike creature, lived five million years earlier
than the archaeopteryx. So there is still a debate going on.
Chapter 03
Practice with Short Passages
A (p. 52)

Mapping

Taylorism

- the mass production of goods in the U.S. started in the early

20th century
- Henry Ford  Ford Motor Company

- Frederick Winslow Taylor = - stressed efficiency

studied mass-production - wanted to create as many
methods steps as possible in the
- published Principles of manufacturing process
Scientific Management in 1911  workers need less training =
- explained the best ways to more productive
engage in large-scale - were many critics of Taylorism
manufacturing in factories - but it was very influential

Summary

Mass production of goods started in the United States in the early twentieth century. For
example, Henry Ford made cars that way at the Ford Motor Company. Frederick Winslow
Taylor studied mass-production methods and wrote about them in Principles of Scientific
Management. He explained the best ways to do large-scale manufacturing. He focused on
efficiency. He wanted to have many steps in the manufacturing process. Then, workers would
need less training and be more efficient. Many people disliked Taylorism, but it was still
influential in the first half of the 1900s.
Practice with Short Passages
B (p. 53)

Mapping

Mosaics

- old type of art form  more than 4,000

years ago
- glue together pieces of glass, stone, or other
items of different colors to make a picture

- were created by the - the Byzantine Empire made

Mesopotamians, Greeks, and mosaics
Romans - extravagant works on walls and
- decorated walls in temples ceilings
- made mosaic floors on tiles - scenes from the Bible
- used stones, shells, and ivory - images of Christian saints
- had scenes from mythology - Byzantine emperors and
- geometrical figures + scenes empresses
from daily life

Summary

Mosaics are an old art form that people made 4,000 years ago. They glued together pieces of
glass, stone, or other items of different colors and made pictures. The Mesopotamians,
Greeks, and Romans all made mosaics. They were featured in temples and villas. Stones,
shells, and ivory were used. The Greek and Romans had scenes from mythology, geometrical
figures, and scenes from daily life. In Christian times, mosaics were made in the Byzantine
Empire. The Byzantines made mosaics with scenes from the Bible and images of Christian
saints, emperors, and empresses.
Practice with Long Passages
A (p. 54)

Mapping
The Rings of Saturn

- Saturn = the second largest planet in the solar system

- the sixth planet from the sun

- has rings made of billions of - are seven main rings

ice and rock particles - are several smaller rings
- are not visible to the naked - are gaps between the rings
eye from the Earth - thickness varies  a few meters to
- Galileo Galilei saw them first one kilometer thick
 he used a telescope in 1601 - the particles making up the rings =
- in 1655, Christiaan Huygens small grains of sand + massive rock
said he thought Saturn had and ice formations
rings - ring formation theories
 the remains of a moon
 leftover material that comes from
the formation of Saturn

Summary

Saturn is known for its many rings. Galileo Galilei saw them first in 1601, but he did not know
what they were. In 1655, Christian Huygens said he thought they were rings. Saturn has
seven main rings and several small ones. There are gaps between the rings. Each ring can be
a few meters thick to one kilometer thick. Sand and massive rock and ice formations make
up the rings. The rings might be the remains of a moon of Saturn. Or they might have formed
at the same time that Saturn did.

Practice with Long Passages

B (p. 56)

Mapping
Atoll Formation

- atoll = a low-lying group of islands - an underwater volcano erupts

made of coral - a volcanic island forms
- forms in the shape of a ring that - over time, a ring of coral forms
surrounds an inner body of water around it –> a coral reef forms
called a lagoon - the volcano sinks below the
- are common in tropical areas like in water
the Pacific Ocean - the coral reef remains
- Charles Darwin thought that - the inner lagoon is where the
volcanoes were connected with their volcano once was
creation - the coral reef erodes and
becomes flat and sandy
- wind, water, and birds bring
seeds = plants grow
Summary

Atolls are low-lying groups of islands made of coral. They have the shape of a ring with an
inner body of water called a lagoon. They are common in tropical areas, especially in the
Pacific Ocean. Charles Darwin developed a theory that volcanoes helped form atolls. He
thought that underwater volcanoes erupted and formed islands. Over time, coral reefs
developed around the islands. Then, the volcanoes sank, leaving the coral. The lagoons were
the sites of the volcanos. And the coral reefs became the islands. Later, seeds were brought
to the islands, and plants grew.
iBT Practice Test
PASSAGE 1 (p. 58)
Mapping

The Ancient Sea Peoples

- appeared in the second millennium B.C.

- sailed in ships and raided coastal cities and towns
- assaulted places in Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, and
Turkey

- attacks on Egypt came during the - the Sea Peoples destroyed Kadesh
reigns of Pharaohs Ramses II, during the reign of Ramses III
Merneptah, and Ramses III from 1279 to - the Egyptians won the Battle of the
1155 B.C. Delta
- attacked with no warning and could not  the Sea Peoples were barely heard
be stopped from again afterward
- allied with Hittites - might have come from Sicily, Crete,
- Ramses II defeated the Hittites and Italy, Greece, or parts of Turkey
stopped the Sea Peoples - might have been pirates or were
- Merneptah defeated the Sea Peoples, looking to migrate to a new land
too
Summary

The Sea Peoples appeared in the second millennium B.C. and attacked areas in Egypt, Israel,
Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey. They caused many problems in Egypt during the reigns of the
Pharaohs Ramses II, Merneptah, and Ramses III. Both Ramses II and Merneptah defeated the
Sea Peoples. Then, the Sea Peoples destroyed Kadesh. Ramses III defeated them at the
Battle of the Delta. The Sea Peoples might have been from Sicily, Crete, Italy, Greece, or
Turkey. They may have been pirates. Or they may have been looking to migrate to a new
home.
iBT Practice Test
PASSAGE 2 (p. 62)
Mapping

Cotton Spinning Machines

- Industrial Revolution = England in the 1700s

- primary industry was the textile industry
- water- and steam-powered machines to spin cotton

- Calico Acts = banned the - 1738 = rolling spinning wheel

importing of cotton textiles to - 1764 = spinning jenny  spun
England eight threads of cotton yarn at
 protected England’s domestic one time
cotton industry - water frame by Richard
- making cloth from cotton was Arkwright  first cotton spinning
laborious and took a long time mechanically powered machine =
 remove seeds and then spin 96 threads
fibers - 1779 = spinning mule =
- spinning wheel was used combined spinning jenny and
- John Kay = flying shuttle in 1733 water frame
 improved speed looms could - 1793 = cotton gin = allowed the
make cotton yarn easy separation of cotton fibers
and seeds

Summary

The Industrial Revolution began in England in the 1700s. One of the first industries affected was the
textile industry. First, the Calico Acts protected England’s domestic cotton industry. Many cottage
industries were focused on spinning cotton yarn. Many inventions helped make this easier. The flying
shuttle improved the speed that looms could make cotton yarn. The rolling spinning wheel and the
spinning jenny were other inventions. Richard Arkwright invented the water frame. The spinning mule
and the cotton gin also helped the textile industry during the Industrial Revolution.

Chapter 04
Practice with Short Passages
A (p. 70)
Mapping

Patagonia

- is the southernmost part of South America

- belongs to Chile and Argentina
- goes from the Colorado River to Tierra del
Fuego

- are the Patagonian Andes and - are few human inhabitants

the Pampa - are 500 species of animals 
- the Andes Mountains are mostly birds
thousands of meters high - 60 mammals
- the Pampa is a vast grassland - 2,500 species of plants

Summary

Patagonia is the land that is at the southernmost part of South America. It is found in Chile
and Argentina from the Colorado River to Tierra del Fuego. It contains the Patagonian Andes
and the Pampa. The Andes are high mountains, and the Pampa is grassland. Few humans
lived in Patagonia. But there are 500 animal species, most of which are birds. There are
around sixty species of mammals, and there are 2,500 species of plants.
Practice with Short Passages
B (p. 71)

Mapping

Walking Fish

- some fish can survive on land

- air-breathing fish = can survive on land for weeks or months

- some are invasive species - snakehead

 the climbing perch - native to Asia
- is going from Papua New Guinea to - has been found in the U.S.
Australia - can be 1.2m long and can survive
- can survive out of water for six days out of water
- will lack natural predators in - highly aggressive
Australia  attacks humans and feeds on
- will feed on local animals and alter many animals = disrupts
ecosystems ecosystems

Summary

Fish live in the water, but some can survive on land for weeks or months. These fish can
breathe air. However, many of them are invasive species. The climbing perch is slowly
making its way from Papua New Guinea to Australia. There, it will lack natural predators and
will feed on local animals and alter ecosystems. The snakehead is native to Asia but is now in
the United States. It is 1.2 meters long and can survive out of the water. This aggressive fish
attacks humans and animals, and it disrupts ecosystems.
Practice with Long Passages
A (p. 72)

Mapping
Art Deco in New York City

- Art Deco = popular in the 1920s and 1930s

- combined Cubism, Fauvism, and styles from other countries

- used stainless steel, - Chrysler Building = - Empire State Building

chrome, and concrete completed in 1930  completed in 1931
- towering skyscrapers  massive stainless  layered design
showed off the style steel terraced crown  tall Art Deco spire
- several Art Deco and spire on its top  one of the
buildings in NYC  classics of Art Deco architectural wonders
- skyscrapers had to Design of the world
follow laws in NYC  was the world’s tallest
- layer-cake design for structure until the
buildings Empire State Building
- boxlike shapes or was built
straight sections with
rounded corners

Summary

Art Deco was a popular art style in the 1920s and 1930s. It borrowed from Cubism, Fauvism,
and the art of many countries. People made Art Deco skyscrapers that featured stainless
steel, chrome, and concrete. New York City has several Art Deco buildings that are still
standing today. They feature boxlike shapes or straight sections with rounded corners. The
Chrysler Building has a stainless steel terraced crown and spire. The Empire State Building
has a tall Art Deco spire. They are both examples of Art Deco skyscrapers in New York City.
Practice with Long Passages
B (p. 74)

Mapping
Economic Bubbles

- economic bubble = the price of an asset is much greater

than its true value

- often bursts when people realize - not sure why they occur
its true worth - are identified when the price
 price then declines dramatically declines
 people lose lots of money - in the 1990s, Internet stock
- Dutch Tulip Mania in the 1600s prices rose  made a bubble 
- the South Sea Bubble in the companies had poor business
1700s plans  only a few survived
- the Internet dotcom bubble in the when the bubble burst
1990s - speculation makes prices rise 
- the housing market bubble in some profit, but others lose their
2007 and 2008 money and go bankrupt

Summary

Economic bubbles occur when the price of an asset is much greater than its actual value.
When the bubble bursts, the price dramatically declines, and people lose a lot of money.
Dutch Tulip Mania, the South Sea Bubble, the Internet dotcom bubble, and the housing
market bubble are examples. Economists are not sure why they occur. In the 1990s, the
prices of Internet stocks rose. But the companies had bad business plans, so few of them
survived when the bubble burst. Speculation is the act of making the prices of assets rise.
Some people make money, but others go bankrupt.
iBT Practice Test
PASSAGE 1 (p. 76)
Mapping

Thales of Miletus

- an ancient Greek philosopher

- lived from 624 to 546 B.C.

- was the first major - lived in Greece, Egypt, - the First Cause = the
philosopher of the Greek and Babylon substance from which
age - predicted solar eclipses all else came
- worked in math, - determined the timing  thought it was water
astronomy, and of equinoxes and - thought Earth was
engineering, too solstices floating on a vast ocean
- challenged the accepted - discovered the seasons of water
belief that mythology - accurately calculated - two famous sayings
was enough to explain the length of a year  “Know thyself”
the world and the - discovered static  “All things are full of
universe electricity gods”
- influenced many people, - none of his writings
including Socrates, have survived
Plato, and Aristotle - Aristotle wrote about
him

Summary

Thales of Miletus lived from 624 to 546 B.C. He was the first major ancient Greek philosopher.
He also did work in math, astronomy, and engineering. He influenced many people, including
Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. He predicted solar eclipses, accurately calculated the length of
a year, and discovered static electricity. However, none of his writings have survived to the
present day. He believed in the First Cause, which he said was water. He is famous for two
sayings. The first is “Know thyself.” The second is “All things are full of gods.”

iBT Practice Test

PASSAGE 2 (p. 80)
Mapping

American Colonial Farmers in New England

- most settlers in the American colonies in the 17th and

18th centuries were farmers
- was lots of land in New England
 - much of the land was not arable - could not grow enough food to
- the soil was poor for farming survive
- short summers + long winters - hunted, picked berries, and fished
- thick forests + numerous rocks  cod, haddock, and shellfish in
- mostly grew grains, pumpkins, the Atlantic Ocean
corn, squash, and beans - lived in log cabins with dirt floors
- used crop rotation - built sawmills by rivers
- used simple tools  iron-tipped - led to the development of wood-
hoes, plows, sickles, and scythes frame housing

Summary

In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, most settlers in the American colonies were farmers. In
New England, the soil was poor, so much of the land was not arable. There were short summers and long
winters. Thick forests and numerous rocks in the soil were also problems. Farmers grew grains, pumpkins,
corn, squash, and beans while using simple tools. They could not grow enough food, so they hunted,
gathered berries, and fished in the Atlantic Ocean. They lived in log cabins with one room and dirt floors.
They later built sawmills, so wood-frame housing became popular in New England.

Chapter 05
Practice with Short Passages
A (p. 88)

Mapping

The Renaissance of the Twelfth Century

- happened because of the - learning became more formal

Crusades then
- the First Crusade = the end of - the first universities were
the eleventh century founded
- Second and Third Crusades  many students came
took place in the twelfth  mostly studied theology
century  also studied law, medicine,
 increased contact between and other subjects
the East and the West
- gained access to scientific,
philosophic, and other
knowledge known in the East
Summary

The Italian Renaissance is well known, but another one happened earlier. It was the
Renaissance of the Twelfth Century. It happened thanks to the First, Second, and Third
Crusades. They increased contact between the East and the West. So people in the West got
access to scientific, philosophic, and other knowledge in the East. Learning also became
more formal in the twelfth century. For example, the first universities were founded then.
Students studied theology as well as law, medicine, and other subjects.

Practice with Short Passages

B (p. 89)

Mapping

Robert Goddard

- is the father of modern rocket propulsion

- thanks to him, the American space program
sent astronauts to the moon

- was interested in rockets in his - 1926 = successfully tested the

youth first rocket to use liquid fuel
- received two patents in 1914 - believed he could fly to the
 a rocket using liquid fuel moon
 a two- or three-stage rocket - worked on rockets until his
- both would become standard in death in 1945
the American space program in - his research allowed rockets to
the 1950s and 1960s travel into space

Summary

Robert Goddard is considered the father of modern rocket propulsion. His work allowed the
Americans to send men to the moon. Interested in rockets in his youth, Goddard received two
patents in 1914. The first was for a rocket using liquid fuel. The second was for a two- or
three-stage rocket. The Americans would use both in the 1950s and 1960s. In 1926, he
tested the first rocket to using liquid fuel. He thought he could fly to the moon. Some people
mocked him, but he worked on rockets until he died in 1945.
Practice with Long Passages
A (p. 90)

Mapping
Sediment in Rivers

- sediment = a - is small so does not - sediment deposits =

combination of soil sink important to river
particles and organic - is often suspended in ecosystems
matter water  make nutrition-rich
 clay, silt, sand, gravel, - gets carried environments
and decaying plant and downstream  support aquatic and
animal matter - heavier particles sink land-based life
- is carried from land over time, but the - needs to be balanced
into water lighter ones get carried - not enough causes
- rainfall, wind, ice, to where a river ends = erosion
human activities, and lake or ocean - too much kills
gravity all move it - when it is deposited, it vegetation and fish +
toward water can influence a river’s can harm fish eggs
shape
 wide riverbank
 estuaries, deltas, and
large marshlands
 Mississippi River and
Nile River

Summary

Sediment is a combination of soil particles and organic matter. It is moved to rivers by rain,
wind, ice, human activities, and gravity. In the water, it is small, so it is suspended. Then, it
gets carried downstream. Some large particles sink, but smaller ones go to the end of the
river. When they are deposited there, they can create wide riverbanks, estuaries, deltas, and
marshlands. Sediment deposit provide nutrition for animals in and out of the water. But there
needs to be a balance. Not enough sediment or too much of it can cause problems.
Practice with Long Passages
B (p. 92)

Mapping
Venomous Insects

- venom = a liquid delivered by biting or stinging

- the venom then causes some kind of harm  pain, tissue
damage, paralysis, or even death

- some insects use for - more insects use for

offensive purposes defensive purposes
- others use venom for - use venom to protect
defensive purposes their homes, eggs, or
- flies, beetles, and wasps larvae
= offensive purposes  ants, bees, and beetles
 the horsefly captures - honeybees protect their
prey and injects with hives by stinging
venom that paralyzes  - ants use venom to
then feeds on victim protect their nests
 wasps can use their  harvester ant = the
stingers multiple times most venomous insect in
 some can be deadly the world
to humans  can kill small mammals
and cause intense pain
in humans

Summary

Venom is a liquid that some insects deliver to other animals by biting or stinging. The venom
may cause pain, tissue damage, paralysis, or even death. Flies, wasps, and beetles use
venom for offensive purposes. For example, the horsefly injects venom that paralyzes its
prey. Then, it feeds on the animals. Wasps use their stingers multiple times and can even kill
humans. Ants, bees, and beetles use venom for defensive purposes. They may defend their
homes, eggs, and larvae. Honeybees protect their hives with their stingers. The harvester ant
is the most venomous insect in the world.

iBT Practice Test

PASSAGE 1 (p. 94)
Mapping

The Norwich School of Art

- was based in Norwich, England

- its members painted landscapes

- established by John Crome in - Crome made Yarmouth Harbor –

1803 Evening  typical landscape of
- Crome wanted to find the best the school
methods to achieve perfection in - Norwich Market by Cotman was
art famous
- the school grew in size and - Woody Landscape has vibrant
importance colors
- held an exhibition in 1805 - the school lost favor in the 1830s
- Crome was the president of the - some students of the school
Summary

John Crome founded the Norwich School of Art in Norwich, England, in 1803. The members of
the school painted landscapes. Crome wanted to find the best methods to achieve perfection
in painting, architecture, and sculpture. He and John Sell Cotman were the two major
influences in the school. Crome painted in a realist style while Cotman added fanciful,
unrealistic touches. Yarmouth Harbor – Evening and Norwich Market are two well-known
paintings of the Norwich school. The school fell out of favor in the 1830s, but some artists
painted in that style until the late 1800s.

iBT Practice Test

PASSAGE 2 (p. 98)
Mapping

The Roles of Bees in Nature

- the world would be different without bees

- pollinate many crops people eat and wild plants
- provide food for people and animals

- pollination = the act of moving - produce honey that people and

pollen between the female and animals eat
male parts of plants - are eaten by animals like birds,
- bees pollinate many plants that spiders, moths, dragonflies, and
cannot pollinate themselves praying mantises
- 30% of human crops need - are keystone species
pollinating  pollinate so many plants
- also pollinate wild nuts, fruits,  plants would not survive without
and berries plus other trees bees
- colony collapse disorder = many
bees are dying lately
Summary

Bees are important to many ecosystems. First, they pollinate plants, which lets them reproduce. Bees
pollinate plants by moving pollen between female and male parts of plants. They pollinate around thirty
percent of human crops, and they also pollinate wild nuts, fruits, and berries as well as other trees. Next,
people eat the honey bees make. Many animals also eat bees as food. Bees are keystone species because
many plants could not survive without them. These days, colony collapse disorder is killing lots of bees,
but biologists are not sure why they are dying.

Chapter 06
Practice with Short Passages
A (p. 106)

Mapping

The Kangaroo

- is the world’s largest marsupial

- lives in Australia

- has powerful hind legs and a - no natural predators

strong tail - habitat is shrinking
- can leap more than nine meters - vulnerable to heat and drought
- female gives birth  baby = - are millions of kangaroos living in
joey Australia now
- joey is not fully developed
- lives in a pouch in its mother
- can leave the pouch for good at
ten months

Summary

The kangaroo lives in Australia and is the world’s largest marsupial. It has powerful hind legs
and a strong tail. It can leap well and can jump nine meters at a time. Females give birth to
babies called joeys. The joeys are not fully developed, so they live in a pouch in their
mothers. They can leave the pouch for good at the age of ten months. Kangaroos have no
natural predators, but heat and drought can harm them. Today, there are millions of
kangaroos living in Australia.
Practice with Short Passages
B (p. 107)

Mapping

James Fenimore Cooper

- was born in 1789

- lived in Cooperstown, New York
- was influenced by the land and the people there

- his first novel was Precaution - The Pioneers was successful

- he wrote The Pioneers  the  people wanted more
first of five books in The - wrote The Last of the Mohicans
Leatherstocking Tales  his most famous work
 woodsman Natty Bumppo  featured Bumppo
 was the first American novel - he wrote many more books
and Bumppo the first fictional before he died in 1851
American hero

Summary

James Fenimore Cooper was born in 1789 and lived in Cooperstown, New York. That area
would greatly influence him. He wrote Precaution, his first novel, in 1820. Then, he wrote The
Pioneers. It was the first book in The Leatherstocking Tales. The woodsman Natty Bumppo
was in it. The Pioneers was the first American novel while Bumppo was the first fictional
American hero. People liked the book, so Cooper wrote more. He published The Last of the
Mohicans. It was his most famous work. He would write many more books before his death in
1851.
Practice with Long Passages
A (p. 108)

Mapping

Language Acquisition by Children

- children must acquire their language skills

 do this by being together with people who are talking
- can learn their native tongue by being around others

- the speech must be - babies make simple sounds at six

conversational and dynamic weeks old
- cannot be static talking like - their first understandable work is
from TV or the radio usually mama or papa
- there must be an interactive - can say single words when they
aspect are a year and a half old
 two people speak back and - need to play with others their
forth age as they get older
- using baby talk can improve  can improve language skills
their ability to learn - play activities = dynamic
 short, simple sentences situations
 basic structures, repetitions,  can learn to make sentences
and exaggerated  simple at first but then become
pronunciation more complex

Summary

Children acquire language skills from others. They must be around people talking to learn
their native tongue. The language must be dynamic, like a conversation between two people.
It cannot be static like from TV or the radio. People can use baby talk to help babies learn.
Baby talk uses short, simple sentences, basic structures, repetitions, and exaggerated
pronunciations. Babies make simple sounds at six weeks of age and can say words at the age
of one and a half years. As they get older, they get in dynamic situations with others. So they
can learn to make sentences.

Practice with Long Passages

B (p. 110)

Mapping

The Effects of Public Transportation on Urban Life

- available in most cities - mid-1800s, cities got public

- bus, rail, streetcar, train, and transportation systems
subway systems - first streetcars
- was first introduced in the - subway in London, England, in
1800s 1863
- before public transportation, - buses in the 20th century
cities were very crowded - carry people long distances for
 people needed to live close to low prices
their workplaces - moved farther away from
 the closer they were, they workplaces
less time they spent traveling - roads expanded in size
- homes were small and - tourism industries grew in
cramped some places
- city streets were narrow  Coney Island and Brighton
Beach = connected by
Summary

Today, public transportation is available in most urban centers. It consists of bus, rail,
streetcar, train, and subway systems. Before public transportation, cities were very crowded.
People lived near their workplaces in small, cramped homes. Streets were also narrow. In the
mid-1800s, streetcars were introduced. London, England, got a subway system in 1863.
Buses were introduced in the twentieth century. People could travel far for little money. They
started moving farther away from their workplaces. Roads got wider. And places such as
Coney Island and Brighton Beach became popular with tourists since they were connected by
railways.

iBT Practice Test

PASSAGE 1 (p. 112)

Mapping

The Venetian Water System

- Venice, Italy, is on - many of the wells - Venice got enough

islands surrounded still exist today rain, so the system
by salty water - had a cover called a worked for centuries
- needed to provide wellhead - by the late 1800s,
fresh water for its - control of the wells the population had
people was strict increased to 160,000
- collected water in - local officials or people
barrels from rivers priests held keys to - needed a better
and streams near the wells source of fresh water
the city - were opened twice a - built an aqueduct
 labor intensive day  completed in 1886
 least desired - wells were social - became the main
- built a system of places source of fresh water
wells - animals could not - closed down many
 water was collected drink from them cisterns
in clay-lined cisterns - needed clean hands
to get the water

Summary

Venice, Italy, is built on islands surrounded by salty water. So the city needed to find a way to
provide fresh water for people. Some people collected water in barrels from nearby rivers
and streams. But this was very labor intensive. So many wells were built. The water was
collected in cisterns in the city. Control of the wells was strict. Local officials or priests
unlocked the wells twice a day. There were many rules surrounding how to use the wells. By
 the mid-1800s, the population of Venice was very large. So the city built an aqueduct and
closed down many cisterns.

iBT Practice Test

PASSAGE 2 (p. 116)
Mapping

Portraiture

- a major type of painting

- a picture of a person with the face featured
prominently
- dates back to ancient Egypt

- many great artists made portraits - subject must sit for artist
- Mona Lisa = most famous one  may require several sessions
- portrait artist wants to show the - most subjects were rich and
inner essence of the subject famous
- most portraits flattered their  high cost of portraits
subjects - the subject views the portrait
- overlooked ugly features after it is done  then is
- many portraits are not true displayed
likenesses of people - Winston Churchill burned a
portrait of himself  was very
displeased

Summary

Portraiture is the art of making portraits, paintings of a people whose faces are featured. This art form
dates back to ancient Egypt. Many great artists have made portraits. The Mona Lisa is the most famous.
Portrait artists do not always paint true likenesses. They tend to overlook ugly features in their subjects.
Subjects must sit for the artist, which can be tiring. In the past, only rich and famous people had their
portraits made. When a portrait is finished, if the subject likes the painting, it is displayed. But some, like
Winston Churchill, dislike their portraits. Churchill burned his.
Chapter 07
Practice with Short Passages
A (p. 124)

Mapping

Whirlpools

- where two currents meet, water may swirl

around
- can create a whirlpool
- are not as dangerous as they have been
portrayed
- may be permanent or temporary - rarely harm large ships
- size and power depend on the - few ships have been sunk by
currents them
- Old Sow Whirlpool in the Atlantic - can sink small boats and kill
Ocean = one of the largest sailors
natural whirlpools = 76m in - most are harmless though
diameter

Summary

Whirlpools are swirling waters that form where two currents meet. Sailors have claimed that
they are very dangerous, but that is not really true. There are both permanent and temporary
whirlpool. Their size and power depend upon the currents that form them. The Old Sow
Whirlpool in the Atlantic Ocean is one of the largest natural whirlpools. It can be around
seventy-six meters in diameter. Whirlpools can sink small boats and kill sailors, but they
rarely harm large ships. So most of them are harmless.
Practice with Short Passages
B (p. 125)

Mapping

The Composition of Comets

- orbit the sun

- have the most unique composition of the
objects orbiting the sun

- have three parts: the nucleus, - when pass by the sun, develop
the coma, and the tail a coma and a tail
- nucleus = the solid part  a - the nucleus melts  the coma
dirty snowball forms = water, gases, and dust
 a rocky center with frozen - dust tail = tiny dust particles
water around it up to 10 million km long
 also has frozen carbon - ion tail = plasma tail extended
dioxide, methane, ammonia, hundreds of millions of km
and carbon monoxide

Summary

Comets are some of the objects that orbit the sun. They have three parts: the nucleus, the
coma, and the tail. The nucleus is the solid center that is rocky. It is surrounded by frozen
water, carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia, and carbon monoxide. When a comet gets close
to the sun, it develops a coma and a tail when the nucleus melts. First, the coma forms. It
surrounds the nucleus and is made of water, gases, and dust. A dust tail made of tiny dust
particles forms. It can be up to ten million kilometers long. An ion tail hundreds of millions of
kilometers long and made of plasma also forms.
Practice with Long Passages
A (p. 126)

Mapping

The Golden Age of Piracy

- the popular - was a time of - targeted rich

conception of pirates increased Spanish treasure
comes from the international trade ships
Golden Age of Piracy - little naval - others preyed on
- lasted from the protection on the merchant ships
1650s to the 1730s seas + weak - Blackbeard, Captain
- piracy was at its colonies Kidd, Black Bart, and
height - trade routes were Henry Morgan
- took place in the vulnerable to pirates - by the end of the
Atlantic Ocean and - many wars fought age, most of the
the Caribbean Sea - when the wars pirates were
ended, trained captured and
sailors had no jobs executed
 many became  British Royal Navy
pirates helped
- piracy mostly over
by the 1730s

Summary

The Golden Age of Piracy lasted from the 1650s to the 1730s. Piracy was at its height and
took place in the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. At that time, there was little naval
protection on the seas, and there were weak colonies. There were also lots of sailors who
became pirates. They targeted Spanish treasure ships and merchant ships. Some famous
pirates were Blackbeard, Captain Kidd, Black Bart, and Henry Morgan. However, the British
Royal Navy fought pirates, so many were captured and executed. By the 1730s, the time of
piracy was mostly over.
Practice with Long Passages
B (p. 128)

Mapping

Trout Streams

- trout = a game fish in rivers and streams in North America

- are several different species

- all trout live in similar types of - like streams shaded from the
water sun by vegetation
- almost all species live in - keeps them cool and provides
streams cover while hunting
- live in cold or cool water - predators  eat smaller fish
 thrive in water between 10 and insects
and 16 degrees Celsius - live in pools where the current
 die if the temperature does not move too swiftly
exceeds 23 degrees Celsius  lets trout rest
 provides them with a place to
lay their eggs safely

Summary

Trout are a type of game fish that live in rivers and streams in places throughout North
America. There are many species, but they all prefer the same types of streams. They like
cold or cool water that is between ten and sixteen degrees Celsius. The warmer the water,
the more they dislike it. They will die if the water is twenty-three degrees Celsius or higher.
They prefer shaded streams, which keep them cool and let them hunt more easily. They live
in pools with slow-moving currents. They can rest in the pools and lay their eggs in them, too.
iBT Practice Test
PASSAGE 1 (p. 130)

Mapping

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

- a theory of - physiological = must - belongingness =

motivation in have to survive love, intimacy, and
psychology  food, water, friendship
- centers on human warmth, shelter, - esteem = the need
needs and the things clothing, and rest to be respected by
people require and  strong motivation others
desire in life to get needs or will  get recognized for
- first presented in die achievements
1943 - safety = obtaining - self-actualization =
- is a pyramid with freedom from fear people try to be the
five levels  protected from best they can be
- from top to bottom: danger + a desire  recognize one’s
physiological, safety, for law and order potential and try to
belongingness,  economic safety fulfill it
esteem, and self-
actualization

Summary

In 1943, Abraham Maslow published his Hierarchy of Needs, a theory of motivation on human
needs. It focuses on the things that people require and desire in life. It is a pyramid with five
levels. Physiological needs are what people need to survive. They include food, water,
warmth, shelter, clothing, and rest. People will die without them. Safety is being free from
fear. It includes personal and economic safety. Belongingness includes love, intimacy, and
friendship. Esteem is the need to be respected by other people. And self-actualization is
when people know their potential and then attempt to fulfill it.

iBT Practice Test

PASSAGE 2 (p. 134)
Mapping

Volcanic Eruptions

- occurs when lava, gas, ash, or rocks shoot out from

a volcano
- two types or eruptions: effusive and explosive

effusive eruptions = mild and - Peléan and Plinian = most violent

have lava oozing out of the eruptions
- Peléan = massive eruptions and
ground
pyroclastic flows  destroy
 lava has low viscosity and little everything
gas - Plinian = shoot masses of ash, lava,
 Icelandic and Hawaiian gas, and rocks into the air  Mt.
eruptions Vesuvius
Summary

Volcanic eruptions happen when a volcano shoots lava, gas, ash, or rocks into the air. There are two main
types of eruptions: effusive and explosive. Effusive eruptions are mild and have lava that oozes from the
ground. The lava has low viscosity and little gas. Icelandic and Hawaiian eruptions are both effusive.
Explosive eruptions are more violent and have lava with a higher gas content and viscosity. Strombolian
and Vulcanian eruptions are explosive. So are Peléan and Plinian eruptions. Surtseyan eruptions are in
the sea and involve the violent eruption of a volcano on the water’s surface.

Chapter 08
Practice with Short Passages
A (p. 142)

Mapping

Terrestrial Planets

- are four in the solar system

- Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars
- share a number of characteristics

- fairly small = smaller than gas - have few or no moons

giants  Earth has one
- orbit close to the sun  Mars has two
 have short orbits  the gas giants have many
 Mercury = 38 days - composition = made of rocky
 Mars = 687 days material and have a core,
mantle, and crust
Summary

In the solar system, there are eight planets. Four of them are terrestrial planets. They are
Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. They all share some characteristics. For example, they are
all fairly small and are much smaller than the gas giants. They orbit close to the sun. It only
takes Mercury thirty-eight days to orbit the sun once. The terrestrial planets have few or no
moons. Earth has one while Mars has two. Finally, they are made of rocky material and have
a core, mantle, and crust.

Practice with Short Passages

B (p. 143)

Mapping

Stalactites and Stalagmites

- are long, thin formations found in limestone

caves

- stalactites = form from ceilings - dripping water lands on the floor

- stalagmites = form from floors  calcite left there  formation
- water flows into caves  grows on the floor = stalagmite
dissolves calcite  drips to - sometimes they grow together to
floor, but some calcite remains form a column
on the ceiling  hardens over - can take tens of thousands of
time = stalactite years

Summary

Limestone caves often have long, thin formations in them. Stalactites form from ceilings
while stalagmites form from floors. First, water flows from the surface into caves. There, it
dissolves some calcite. It drips to the floor, but some calcite remains on the ceiling. Over
time, it hardens and creates a stalactite. In addition, some calcite drips to the floor and
makes a formation called a stalagmite. Sometimes the two combine to make a column, but
this can take tens of thousands of years.
Practice with Long Passages
A (p. 144)

Mapping

The Human Eye

- vision = one of the - cornea = focuses

five senses light into the pupil
- the eye gives people toward the lens
vision - lens = focuses light
 complicated back into the eye
structure toward the retina
- major parts = - retina = absorbs
eyeball, pupil, light by using rods
cornea, iris, lens, and cones
retina, and optic  rods are for night
nerve vision
- tear glands provide  cones are in the
fluid for the eye center of the retina
- the major parts of - light hits the retina
the eye are in the  converted to
eyeball electronic signals 
- pupil = in the center go to optic nerve 
of the eye go to brain 
 a hole allowing changed into images
light in
- iris = opens and
Summary closes to let more or
less light in
Vision is one of the five senses. The eye is the part of the body that gives people vision. It is
a complicated structure. There are tear glands that produce fluid. The other major parts of
the eye are in the eyeball. The pupil is a hole in the center of the eye that allows light in. The
iris controls how much light gets in. The cornea focuses light into the pupil toward the lens,
and the lens focuses that light toward the retina. The retina uses rods and cones to absorb
light. When light hits the retina, it is converted to electronic signals. They go to the optic
nerve, where they are taken to the brain. There, they are changed into images.

Practice with Long Passages

B (p. 146)

Mapping

The Ladybug

- a tiny, colorful insect

- 5,000 species around the world

- dome-shaped bodies with two - eats other insects  aphids

wings and six legs - is the most active in spring
- colorful patterns on their backs and summer
- seven-spotted ladybug = - lays its eggs on the undersides
common one in North America of leaves
- colored markings serve a  lays them near aphid colonies
purpose = indicate it is unsafe = food supply
for other animals to eat the  hatch after a few days
ladybug  larva becomes a pupa
 secretes an oily, foul-tasting  transforms into an adult
fluid when attacked
- helps it avoid predators
Summary

Ladybugs are tiny, colorful insects. There are around 5,000 species of them around the world.
They mostly have dome-shaped bodies with two wings and six legs. They often have colorful
bodies on their backs. The seven-spotted ladybug in North America is a well-known insect.
The spots tell predators that is unsafe for them to eat the ladybug. When it is attacked, its
legs secrete an oily, foul-tasting fluid. However, some predators have gotten used to the
taste. The ladybug hunts other insects, especially aphids. It lays its eggs on leaves near
aphid colonies. This gives the larva a food supply when they hatch from the eggs. They
become pupas before becoming adults.

iBT Practice Test

PASSAGE 1 (p. 148)

Mapping

Ancient Amazonian Agriculture

- once thought no large-scale farming in

Amazon
- was once a land of farms though

- ancient Amazonians domesticated - early European explorers said the

80+ plants  sweet potato, cacao, Amazon was highly populated
pineapple, casava, pepper, and - people were healthy and well fed
numerous fruit and nut trees - large villages + plentiful crops
- used thousands of other plants, too - millions died because of imported
- learned which plants were diseases such as smallpox
beneficial - lack of remains = hard to learn
- beneath the topsoil, there is dark, about past
rich soil  terra preta = black soil - built with wood  decayed quickly
- practiced slash-and-burn agriculture
- human waste
- two combined to make terra preta

Summary

Anthropologists once thought there was no large-scale farming in the Amazon Rainforest. But
it was a land of farms before the Europeans arrived. The ancient Amazonians domesticated
more than eighty plants, including sweet potato, cacao, and pineapple. They also learned
about the benefits of thousands of other plants. Beneath the topsoil, there was terra preta, a
dark, rich soil. It formed due to charcoal made from slash-and-burn agriculture techniques
and human waste. When European explorers arrived, they said many people lived in the
 Amazon. They were healthy and well fed. But smallpox and other diseases killed millions of
them. In addition, it is hard to study the past because of a lack of remains. The people built
with wood, and it decayed quickly.

iBT Practice Test

PASSAGE 2 (p. 152)
Mapping

Science and Technology in the Apple Industry

- apples are among the most popular fruits in the

world
- 7,000 varieties of them

- apple farmers do not plant seeds - trees attacked by insects and

in the ground diseases
- they graft parts of growing trees - aphids, moths, and maggots
onto rootstocks  new seedlings - fire blight, apple scab, apple rust,
 seedlings thrive in greenhouses molds, and mildews
 planted in orchards when they - use chemical pesticides and
mature insecticides to control
- must pollinate blossoms - use traps to kill insects
 use bees  may need tens of - fences keep out mice, rabbits,
thousands of bees for orchards and deer
- harvest by hand or with
machinery

Summary

Apples are some of the world’s most popular fruits. There are more than 7,000 varieties of them. Apple
farmers use science and technology to grow trees now. They do not plant seeds in the ground. They
create seedlings by grafting parts of trees onto rootstocks. The seedlings then grow in greenhouses until
they mature. When the trees blossom, they may need bees to pollinate the flowers. Trees are attacked by
both insects and diseases, so farmers use pesticides and insecticides to control them. Others use traps to
kill insects. They put fences around the orchards to keep out mice, rabbits, and deer. Some farmers pick
apples by hand, but others use machinery.
Chapter 09
Practice with Short Passages
A (p. 160)

Mapping

Star Carr

- a prehistoric site in England

- from the Mesolithic Period

- is in Yorkshire - many artifacts excavated there

- was occupied around 9000 B.C.  spearheads, tools, and masks
- people lived there for 200-300  many are well preserved
years - remains of wooden buildings
- was a permanent residence  were advanced for the time
- important because most people
were nomadic hunter-gatherers
then

Summary

Star Carr is a prehistoric site in England that dates back to the Mesolithic Period. It is in Yorkshire and was
occupied around 9,000 B.C. People lived there on a permanent basis for 200 or 300 years. This is
important since most people at that time were nomadic hunter-gatherers. Many artifacts have been
excavated at Star Carr. They include spearheads, tools, and masks. Many are well preserved. Some
wooden buildings that were advanced for their time have been found as well.

Practice with Short Passages

B (p. 161)

Mapping
 Skyscraper Design

- first skyscrapers made in mid-1800s

- improvements in building materials and
developments in technology let them be built

- brick and stone had limitations - elevator solved problems of

 height limitations going up and down high
 became too heavy and buildings
collapsed if we too high - elevators let people build very
- advanced in iron and steel high buildings in the 1800s and
technology in 1800s 1900s
- could make 10+ story buildings

Summary

The first skyscrapers were made in the mid-1800s thanks to improvements in building materials and
developments in technology. In the past, buildings were made of brick and stone. But they were limited
because they were heavy. If buildings got too high, they collapsed. Developments in iron and steel
technology let people make buildings with more than ten stories. The elevator also let people go up and
down those buildings instead of walking up and down stairs. So buildings became higher and higher in
the 1800s and 1900s.

Practice with Long Passages

A (p. 162)

Mapping

The Amazon Reef

 - new coral reef recently discovered in the South Atlantic Ocean
- is near the mouth of the Amazon River
- one of the world’s largest coral reefs

- believed there is a coral reef - different from most other coral

there since 1970s reefs
- water is very murky due to the - fresh water from the Amazon
outflow from the Amazon gives the ocean a low salt
- choppy water content and a high acid content
= exploring underwater is  coral does not grow well in
difficult those conditions
- 2012 = evidence of a reef - the reef is deep below the
found Amazon’s outflow = coral not
affected
- many animals living in the reef
- but has less life than other reefs

Summary

Recently, a coral reef was discovered in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is near the mouth of the
Amazon River and is one of the biggest coral reefs in the world. People have believed there is
a reef in that area since the 1970s. But the murky, choppy water is difficult for exploring
underwater. Still, in 2012, evidence of a coral reef was found. The Amazon Reef is different
from other reefs. The outflow from the Amazon makes the water less salty and higher in acid
content, which is not good for coral. But the reef is deep below the outflow from the Amazon.
There are many animals living in the reef, but the conditions are not ideal, so there are fewer
animals there than in other reefs.

Practice with Long Passages

B (p. 164)

Mapping

Michael Faraday

- a British scientist who did work - discovered the gas benzene

in the 1800s - worked in electromagnetism
- worked with gases and  moving a magnet over a wire
electromagnetism could produce electricity in the
- poor family  did not go to wire = electromagnetic
school  self-educated induction
- read books in free time and  kinetic energy
attended lectures by - discovered some laws of
professors electrochemistry
- became an apprentice to Sir  relationship between
Humphry Davy chemicals and electricity
- became a professor at the - Faraday Effect = a magnetic
Royal Institution  54 years field can cause the plane of a
there light source to rotate
- studied liquification of gases  study remote sensing in
 turned chlorine and ammonia magnetic fields + fiber optic
into liquids systems
- learned about cooling effects
of ammonia  modern
refrigeration
 Summary

Michael Faraday was a British scientist who worked in the 1800s. He worked with gases and
electromagnetism. He grew up poor, so he dropped out of school. But he read books and
attended lectures when he had time. He apprenticed with Sir Humphry Davy and became a
professor at the Royal Institution. He learned how to make chlorine and ammonia liquids. He
learned about the cooling effects of ammonia. That has influenced modern refrigeration. He
learned that running a magnetic over a wire can produce electricity in the wire. He
discovered some laws of electrochemistry as well as the Faraday Effect.

iBT Practice Test

PASSAGE 1 (p. 166)

Mapping

The Woolly Mammoth

- was an enormous - changing climate and - last ones lived on two

elephant-like animal human hunting killed it remote islands
- lived in Eurasia and North - flourished during ice age  St. Paul Island in the
America - ice age ended  glaciers Bering Sea
- extinct today but lived by retreated and more  had a freshwater lake
prehistoric men vegetation  mammoths died of thirst
- began dying out around  animals encroached on during a dry spell 5,600
10,000 years ago its territory years ago
- is thought to have gone  competition - last ones on Wrangel
extinct 4,000 years ago - more southernly herds Island in the Arctic Ocean
died out first  about 300 lived there
- others migrated north to - small gene pool
find food - maybe had genetic
- no escape from human mutations
hunters - last ones died 4,000 years
 hunted most mammoths ago
to extinction 6,000 years
ago

Summary

The woolly mammoth was an enormous elephant-like animal that lived in Eurasia and North
American before it went extinct. It began dying out around 10,000 years ago and went
extinct 4,000 years ago. The changing climate harmed it. It thrived in the ice age, but when
the glaciers retreated, more vegetation grew. So the woolly mammoth had to compete for
food with many other animals. Southernly herds died first, and then others migrated north.
Humans also hunted most mammoths to extinction around 6,000 years ago. Finally, they only
lived on St. Paul Island and Wrangel Island. The woolly mammoths on St. Paul Island died
5,600 years ago. The ones on Wrangel Island died 4,000 years ago.

iBT Practice Test

PASSAGE 2 (p. 170)
 Mapping

European and Native American Cultures

- Europeans went to the New World in the 1500s

- came into contact with Native American tribes

- Europeans saw land as private - made contact  engaged in

property trade
- getting land increased wealth - Europeans wanted to acquire
- Native Americans saw land as wealth
something everyone could use - Natives considered trade to be
- tribes set boundaries but nobody more ceremonial
owned land  build relationships with others
- in Europe, men led their families - Europeans often unintentionally
- women had greater roles in insulted Natives during trade
Native American society - the two cultures clashed
- Europeans had superior weapons
 won and pushed the Natives
westward

Summary

In the 1500s, Europeans and Native Americans began to come into contact with each other in the New
World. They had different views on things. For examples, the Europeans saw land as private property. But
Native Americans thought land was for everyone. Men led families in Europe while Native American
women played a greater role in society. The two often engaged in trade. The Europeans wanted to
acquire wealth, but the Natives saw trade as something ceremonial. The Europeans often unintentionally
insulted the Natives during trade talks. The two cultures clashed, but the Europeans had superior
weapons. So they pushed the Natives westward.

Chapter 10
Practice with Short Passages
A (p. 178)

Mapping
 Telescopes

- used to observe the sky

- are two main telescopes

- refracting telescopes = use - 1680 = Sir Isaac Newton

lenses invented the reflecting
- reflecting telescopes = use telescope
mirrors  first mirror gathered light
- Galileo Galilei used a telescope  second mirror reflected light
to look at stars in 1611 to the eyepiece
 had a refractor with two - Newton’s telescope improved
lenses on Galileo’s since people could
 first lens bent light; second make better mirrors
lens magnified the object being - both are popular today
viewed

Summary

People use two main types of telescopes to observe the sky: refracting and reflecting telescopes.
Refracting telescopes use lenses, and reflecting telescopes use mirrors. In 1611, Galileo Galilei used
a telescope to observe the stars. His refractor had two lenses. The first bent light, and the second
magnified the object being observed. In 1680, Sir Isaac Newton invented the reflecting telescope.
The first mirror gathered light. The second mirror reflected light to the eyepiece. Newton’s
telescope was better than Galileo’s since people could make better mirrors.

Practice with Short Passages

B (p. 179)

Mapping

Economic Downturns

- times when economies stagnate and get

worse
- mild ones = recessions
- severe ones = depressions
 recession = a period of negative depression = extended period
growth for at least two quarters of economic decline lasting 2+
 may last a few months to two years
years  may decline more than 10%
 economy declines +  unemployment rate may be
unemployment rises 20%
- often happen after wars in U.S. - Great Depression of the 1930s

Summary

When economies stagnate and get worse, recessions or depressions happen. A recession is a period of
negative growth for at least two quarters. It may last for a few months to up to two years. During a
recession, the economy declines, and unemployment rises. In the United States, recessions are common
after wars. A depression is a period of economic decline lasting two or more years. The economy may
decline more than ten percent while unemployment may be twenty percent or higher. The Great
Depression of the 1930s was a famous depression.
Practice with Long Passages
A (p. 180)

Mapping

Sleeping Positions

- people sleep in different positions

- are three main positions
- each affects bodies in positive and negative ways

sleeping on the back sleeping on the side sleeping on the back

- the worst method - could develop nerve - ideal position
- must turn head to problems in arms and - especially true for
breathe legs people with neck or
 can cause stress on - acid reflux problems back pain
neck and lower back - suffer from nightmares  sleeping on the back
- suffer from eases those issues
restlessness - more likely to snore
- toss and turn - could get sleep apnea

Summary

There are three major sleeping positions, each of which has positives and negatives. Sleeping
on one’s back is the worst method. People must turn their heads to breathe. This could cause
stress on the neck and the lower back. These people suffer from restlessness and often toss
and turn. People who sleep on their sides could get nerve problems in their arms and legs.
They may develop acid reflux problems and suffer from nightmares. Sleeping on the back is
the ideal position, especially for people with neck or back pain. However, they often snore
and may get sleep apnea.

Practice with Long Passages

B (p. 182)

Mapping

Types of Precipitation

- part of the water cycle liquid precipitation frozen precipitation

is precipitation - rain - snow
- when clouds get too - smaller droplets are - hail = chunks of ice
heavy, they release called drizzle that may fall in
their water - temperature is > 0 thunderstorms
- it falls as two different degrees Celsius - sleet
types: liquid or frozen - virga = rain falls but - freezing rain
evaporates before it
hits the ground
Summary

One part of the water cycle is precipitation. It happens when clouds get too heavy from all
the water in them. Then, they release the water, and it falls to the ground. Precipitation can
be liquid or frozen. Most liquid precipitation is rain. But small droplets are called drizzle. Virga
is rain that falls but evaporates before it hits the ground. There are more types of frozen
precipitation. Snow is one. Hailstones may fall during thunderstorms. Sleet and freezing rain
are two other types.
iBT Practice Test
PASSAGE 1 (p. 184)

Mapping

The Neanderthals

- humanoids that lived in - interaction between - humans might have

Europe and Western the two species = fatal spread diseases that
Asia between 400,000 for Neanderthals Neanderthals had no
and 40,000 years ago - might have had wars defenses against
- named for the Neander - humans might have - some think modern
Valley in Germany been better hunters humans had nothing to
 first evidence of them - modern human tools do with Neanderthal
found there were better than extinction
- modern humans Neanderthal tools - forests disappeared 
arrived in Europe and - DNA evidence shows replaced by plains 
Western Asia from that around 4% of volcanic eruptions
Africa around 45,000 human DNA comes - hurt Neanderthals’
years ago from Neanderthals ability to get food
- 5,000 years later, the - maybe assimilated  died out because of
Neanderthals were through interbreeding changes in climate
gone

Summary

The Neanderthals were humanoids that lived in Europe and Western Asia between 400,000
and 40,000 years ago. The first evidence for them was found in the Neander Valley in
Germany. Modern humans arrived in Europe and Western Asia 45,000 years ago. Within
5,000 years, the Neanderthals were gone. There are some theories about this. Some think
humans defeated the Neanderthals in wars. Humans might have been better hunters. Four
percent of human DNA is from Neanderthals, so they might have been assimilated through
interbreeding. Humans might have spread diseases. Some think humans did nothing.
Instead, changing climates due to volcanic eruptions hurt the Neanderthals’ ability to get
food.

iBT Practice Test

PASSAGE 2 (p. 188)
Mapping

Animal Navigation

- some animals have lengthy migrations

- migrate to avoid bad weather, to get food, or to go
to their breeding grounds

- four primary ways of navigating - genetic coding hardwired into

long distances animals’ brains
- retain memories of places they  salmon return to the same
have visited before stream in which they were
 follow landmarks = form mental hatched
map  sea turtles
Summary

Many animals migrate long distances. They migrate to avoid bad weather, to find food, and to go to their
breeding grounds. They have four main ways of navigating long distances. Some maintain memories of
places they have visited before. They form mental maps by following landmarks. Herds of animals in
Africa follow the same paths when they migrate each year. Some animals use the positions of the sun and
the stars. The monarch butterfly and the indigo bunting do this. Others have genetic coding hardwired
into their brains. Salmon and sea turtles are like this. Some animals use the Earth’s magnetic field to
navigate. Homing pigeons do this.

Actual Test
PASSAGE 1 (p. 195)

Mapping

Water on Mars

- Mars has water in ice, - most water is at the ice - in some conditions,
gas, and liquid forms caps liquid water flows on
- ice at the polar caps - the northern one is the surface
 a huge mass of ice bigger than the - dark streaks on
under a frozen layer of southern one mountains appear and
carbon dioxide - grow and shrink as the disappear
- some water vapor in seasons change  think is water flowing
the atmosphere - frozen water downhill
- evidence that liquid underground - could be life on Mars
water flows on the  NASA space probe since there is flowing
surface at times discovered a wide water
- billions of years ago, region with frozen - need to have manned
Mars was warmer and water missions there to find
had free-flowing water  may be as large as out
- less gravity and thin Lake Superior
atmosphere on Mars  - have found other
let evaporated water patches of frozen water
escape into space
Summary

Mars has ice, gaseous, and liquid water. Water once flowed on its surface. Billions of years
ago, it was much warmer. But Mars has low gravity and a thin atmosphere, so evaporated
water escaped into space. Most of the water on Mars is at the ice caps. They get larger and
smaller as the seasons change. A NASA space probe, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, found
a wide region with frozen water. It may have as much water as Lake Superior. In some
conditions, liquid water may flow on Mars. Some scientists believe that water flows down hills
at times. The presence of flowing water may mean that Mars has life. But manned missions
must go there to find out.
PASSAGE 2 (p. 202)

Mapping

Honeybees and Bumblebees

- two insects that people - each is black and - honeybee queens live
confuse with each yellow in color for three or four years
other - different body shapes - bumblebee queens live
- have some similarities  honeybees = long, for one year
- have many differences slim bodies - people raise honeybees
- both live in colonies  bumblebees = short, for honey production
with different kinds of fat, hairy bodies - bumblebees live in the
bees  honeybees have short wild
 solitary queen, male tongues - honeybees sting once
drones, and female  bumblebees have and die
worker bees long tongues - bumblebees can sting
 queens lead the hives - honeybees build hives many times
- most bees are involved above the ground in - both communicate with
in food collection high places pheromones
 consume nectar and - bumblebees build nests - honeybees use the
pollen on the ground waggle dance to
- honeybees = 20,000 explain where food
bees in a hive sources are
- bumblebees = fifty to a
few hundred bees in a
hive

Summary

Honeybees and bumblebees have some similarities but many differences. They all have a
queen, male drones, and female workers. Queen bees lead the hives. Most bees are involved
in food collection. Honeybees have long, slim bodies while bumblebees are shorter, fatter,
and hairier. Honeybees build hives high above the ground, but bumblebees build nests on the
ground. 20,000 honeybees can live in a hive, but around fifty to a few hundred bumblebees
live together. Most honeybees are raised by people for honey production while bumblebees
live in the wild. Honeybees sting once and then die. Bumblebees can sting many times.
Honeybees use the waggle dance to explain where food sources are.
PASSAGE 3 (p. 210)

Mapping

Electrical Systems and the Modern House

- before the late 1800s, - had a power war - people use electric
homes were different between AC and DC lights for their homes
because there was no currents  Edison vs. - vacuum cleaners and
electricity in them Tesla fans
- heated and cooked - came up with ways to - invented plugs and
with wood or coal use electricity in sockets
- rose when the sun homes - electric stoves and
came up and went to - put wires in homes heaters
bed when it went down - early systems were - no more fireplaces 
- no modern unsafe status symbol
entertainment devices  replaced with - many other electric
- 1879 = Thomas Edison insulated copper wire devices in homes
invented the light bulb
- 1882 = first power
station built

Summary

Before the late 1800s, people’s homes had no electricity. People heated and cooked with
wood or coal. They rose and went to bed with the sun. People knew about electricity in
ancient times, but it had no practical uses. Then, Thomas Edison invented the light bulb in
1879 and built a power station in 1882. There was a power war between AC and DC currents.
AC won. Some homes got electric wiring, but it was unsafe at first. Insulated copper wire was
used and was much safer. People’s homes began to change. They used all kinds of
appliances, including refrigerators, heaters, and vacuum cleaners.