Question 1

Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 at 7:55 a.m. This attack precipitated the United States' entry into World War II. Prior to the attack, relations between the United States and Japan were rapidly deteriorating. It had invaded China and its alliance with Germany and Italy (the Axis Powers), along with its occupation of French Indochina strained diplomatic relations. The United States put a freeze on all of Japan's assets and declared an embargo on oil and scrap metal shipments to Japan.
The oil embargo caused the most resentment, among the Japanese, because Japan did not have any oil of its own. Japan wanted freedom from their dependency on the United States. Japan declared war on the United States because of its national pride and the possibility of economic destruction.
Initially, Japan was going to invade the Philippines, not attack Pearl Harbor. The commander in chief of Japan's fleet Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto believed that attacking Pearl Harbor would allow Japan to rebuild its defenses. With the destruction of Pearl Harbor, Japan's military then be able to conquer all of Southwest Asia and open the Indonesian Archipelago. He plans the attack on Pearl Harbor with considerable care and trained his men extensively.
On the day of the attack three cruisers, two tankers, two battleships, six aircraft carriers, and nine destroyers sailed to a point north of Hawaii. From there, approximately 360 planes took off. Yamamoto planned to attack the naval base on a Sunday morning because he thought it would not be fully armed. The United States was unprepared for the attack, and Japan destroyed a majority of its planes. Four U.S. battleships was sunk, and the rest were badly damaged. The Japanese only lost twenty-nine aircrafts and less than one hundred aircrew members were killed. Because of the preemptive strike, Japan was able to carry out its plans for Southwest Asia and the Indonesian Archipelago.
Prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor what other act of aggression had Japan made toward another nation?

Accepted Answer

A) Japan invaded the Philippines. 
B) Japan conquered the Indonesian Archipelago. 
C) Japan formed an alliance with Germany 
D) Japan invaded China

Question 2

Etiquette, which is sometimes unwritten, is a code that governs the expectations of social behavior of people. It usually reflects the cultures and traditions of countries. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is the second largest country in African. It is also known as Congo (Kinshasa) or DRC. With over 200 ethnic groups represented the people of the Congo have a wide variety of customs, traditions, and values. They vary from place to place and group to group, especially when it comes to living in urban areas and rural areas. Therefore the etiquette rules differs depending on where a person lives.
Congolese that live in urban areas tend to have more Western customs and traditions. It is important to greet each other, and inquire about each others situation before other matters are discussed. Greetings consists of speaking, shaking their hands, and smiling. In the rural areas, men and women do not shake hands. Men will shake the hands of other men. Some women will greet men by clapping their hands and bowing slightly.
When dining in the Congo hands should be washed before and after eating. People should only eat with their right hands, especially if they are eating with their fingers. Men and women use separate communal bowls; often, women may sit together. When eating out of a communal bowl, people eat from the space directly in front of them. When utensils are used, the left hand holds the fork and the right hand holds the knife.
Dressing in the Congo is greatly influenced by the Western world, however, they are mixed with traditional clothing such as kikwembe, abacos, or a dashiki. The nicer a person look, the more respect he or she will receive. Jewelry is often made from wood, ivory bones, or shells. Many people in rural areas walk barefoot, but sandals and slippers are commonly worn.
Because of the way communal bowls are shared in Congolese dining, what other division may occur during dining?

Accepted Answer

A) Those who use utensils may sit separately from those who eat with their fingers. 
B) People may rearrange themselves to eat from a different area of the communal bowl. 
C) Women may sit together during dining. 
D) Those who have not washed their hands may sit separately from those who have.

Question 3

The Northern Cities Vowel Shift and Speakers That Adopt It "The Northern Cities Vowel Shift" is not adopted by all speakers that live in the geographic regions where it is in progress. Studies (1) illustrate that it is mostly European Americans who show evidence of taking on the shift; however, there is little to no research indicating that speakers of African American Vernacular English employ the shift in their speech. Canadians that share proximity to the Great Lakes with speakers that live in the United States also show no evidence of adopting the shift.
This shift, also called "The Northern Cities Shift" (NCS), is a (2) linguistic phenomenon that occurs in the northern geographic area of the United States known as the Inland North, which includes such cities as Rochester, Buffalo, Detroit, and Chicago. Although prominent among some urban inhabitants of the region, NCS is not considered the standard. (3) Linguists describe one change that occurs in speakers of NCS in which the vowel in milk (4) "shifts" down and back (the tongue is lowered and travels back) from a short "i" to a short "e" that could be represented as melk.
William Labov, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, is one of the largest contributors to research on the subject of the NCS. His theory is that the shift possibly started when speakers from different (5) language varieties were brought together in the early 1800's when the Erie Canal was being constructed. People from the East Coast moved to the Great Lakes region, and their dialects mixed resulting in an ongoing shift. However, not all speakers of the Great Lakes region participate in this linguistic variation.
The concept "language varieties", bolded after the (5) in the third paragraph, is closet in meaning to

Accepted Answer

A) Slang 
B) Dialects 
C) Jargon 
D) Foreign languages

Question 4

Spanish in the U.S. Did you know that the United States has the second largest Spanish-speaking population in the world? With over 37 million speakers the age of five and older the U.S. alone has more inhabitants that speak Spanish than the whole country of Venezuela.
Spanish students don't have to study abroad to get a good look into Latin-American culture. There are many cities here in the U.S. with (1) thriving Latino (2) districts that any student of Spanish can visit to practice speaking. Miami, for example, is home to a multitude of diverse Hispanics from all over Latin America and Europe. When walking down the streets of Little Havana (one of the predominantly Hispanic barrios, or neighborhoods) you will hear the Cuban Spanish (3) language variety. In Chicago, the place to hear Mexican Spanish is La Villita.
Since Spanish-speaking U.S. citizens are the fastest growing linguistic group in the United States, it is common to find Spanish-language television channels (such as Univisión and Telemundo) in larger cities. In fact, it's thanks to these mass media that there are people (although few) that spend their whole lives in the United States without ever having to learn or speak English. The governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, even commented once that Hispanics in the U.S. need to "turn off the TV in Spanish" in order to learn English more quickly.
But Governor Schwarzenegger ought to know that, according to linguistic research on (4) bilingualism, families of Hispanic heritage (as well as other non-English speaking families) produce English dominant (or English only) speakers by the third generation after their immigration. That means, it is more common than not that the grandchildren of the Mexican immigrant cannot communicate with their grandparent in Spanish. Thus, the Spanish language does not seem to (5) pose a threat in the U.S. society, contrary to what many politicians often suggest in their political rhetoric.
The word "districts", in bold after the (2) in the second paragraph, is closest in meaning to

Accepted Answer

A) Zones 
B) Countries 
C) Cities 
D) Suburbs

Question 5

Spanish in the U.S. Did you know that the United States has the second largest Spanish-speaking population in the world? With over 37 million speakers the age of five and older the U.S. alone has more inhabitants that speak Spanish than the whole country of Venezuela.
Spanish students don't have to study abroad to get a good look into Latin-American culture. There are many cities here in the U.S. with (1) thriving Latino (2) districts that any student of Spanish can visit to practice speaking. Miami, for example, is home to a multitude of diverse Hispanics from all over Latin America and Europe. When walking down the streets of Little Havana (one of the predominantly Hispanic barrios, or neighborhoods) you will hear the Cuban Spanish (3) language variety. In Chicago, the place to hear Mexican Spanish is La Villita.
Since Spanish-speaking U.S. citizens are the fastest growing linguistic group in the United States, it is common to find Spanish-language television channels (such as Univisión and Telemundo) in larger cities. In fact, it's thanks to these mass media that there are people (although few) that spend their whole lives in the United States without ever having to learn or speak English. The governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, even commented once that Hispanics in the U.S. need to "turn off the TV in Spanish" in order to learn English more quickly.
But Governor Schwarzenegger ought to know that, according to linguistic research on (4) bilingualism, families of Hispanic heritage (as well as other non-English speaking families) produce English dominant (or English only) speakers by the third generation after their immigration. That means, it is more common than not that the grandchildren of the Mexican immigrant cannot communicate with their grandparent in Spanish. Thus, the Spanish language does not seem to (5) pose a threat in the U.S. society, contrary to what many politicians often suggest in their political rhetoric.
The word "bilingualism", in bold after the (4) in paragraph 4, can best be defined as

Accepted Answer

A) The ability to communicate in two languages 
B) The ability to communicate in both Spanish and English 
C) The ability to communicate in with your grandparents 
D) The ability to communicate in a language other than English

Question 6

There have been many famous political firsts in the history of the United States. Jeannette Pickering Rankin is no exception. She was the first woman elected to the United States Congress in 1917. Interestingly, she was a member of Congress before the U.S. Constitutional Amendment XIX granting women the right to vote was ratified.
Jeannette Rankin was born near Missoula, Montana on June 11, 1880. Her father was a rancher and her mother was a schoolteacher. Jeannette was their first child. She attended public schools in Montana, and graduated from the University of Montana at Missoula in 1902 with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology. She began promoting the women's suffrage movement - an effort to secure women's voting rights - in 1910.
After working for the New York Women Suffrage Party and the American Woman Suffrage Association, Jeannette Rankin returned to Montana. She continued her working on women's suffrage through speaking engagements and organization efforts. Rankins involvement helped Montanan women gain the right to vote in 1914.
Rankin decided to run as a Republican for the United States House of Representatives in 1916. Her brother a prominent businessman supported her financially. Some people thought that her campaign would sour the fight for women's voting rights. Her victory on August 29, 2016 sealed her place in history; she became the first women elected to U.S. Congress.
Jeannette Rankin was officially sworn in as a member of 65th Congress on April 2, 1917. One of her first votes was against declaring war on Germany, which marked the United States's entry into World War I. She continued supporting women's suffrage, and she is appointed to a committee formed to examine the issue. In 1918, she opened debate in the U.S. House of Representatives on a resolution to grant women the right to vote. It was the precursor to the eventual constitutional amendment ratified two years later.
Rankin did not run for reelection to the U.S. House of Representatives. Instead, she sought election to the United States Senate. Her bid was very unsuccessful. She left Montana and moved to Georgia, where she purchased a farm. Despite the move, she maintained her status as a Montana resident. More than 20 years after her first term in Congress, Rankin won the 1940 election for the 77th Congress as a Montana Representative. In her second term she was an outspoken opponent of World War II. After leaving Congress in 1943, she continued to advocate for women's rights and world peace until her death in 1973.
What does the author's tone indicate about his or her opinion of Jeannette Rankin?

Accepted Answer

A) The author believes Rankin is an important historical figure. 
B) The author feels Rankin took advantage of a unique time in history to further her career. 
C) The author believes Rankin should not have given up and moved to Georgia after losing the Senate race. 
D) The author believes Rankin was one of the best educated women of her era.

Question 7

Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 at 7:55 a.m. This attack precipitated the United States' entry into World War II. Prior to the attack, relations between the United States and Japan were rapidly deteriorating. It had invaded China and its alliance with Germany and Italy (the Axis Powers), along with its occupation of French Indochina strained diplomatic relations. The United States put a freeze on all of Japan's assets and declared an embargo on oil and scrap metal shipments to Japan.
The oil embargo caused the most resentment, among the Japanese, because Japan did not have any oil of its own. Japan wanted freedom from their dependency on the United States. Japan declared war on the United States because of its national pride and the possibility of economic destruction.
Initially, Japan was going to invade the Philippines, not attack Pearl Harbor. The commander in chief of Japan's fleet Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto believed that attacking Pearl Harbor would allow Japan to rebuild its defenses. With the destruction of Pearl Harbor, Japan's military then be able to conquer all of Southwest Asia and open the Indonesian Archipelago. He plans the attack on Pearl Harbor with considerable care and trained his men extensively.
On the day of the attack three cruisers, two tankers, two battleships, six aircraft carriers, and nine destroyers sailed to a point north of Hawaii. From there, approximately 360 planes took off. Yamamoto planned to attack the naval base on a Sunday morning because he thought it would not be fully armed. The United States was unprepared for the attack, and Japan destroyed a majority of its planes. Four U.S. battleships was sunk, and the rest were badly damaged. The Japanese only lost twenty-nine aircrafts and less than one hundred aircrew members were killed. Because of the preemptive strike, Japan was able to carry out its plans for Southwest Asia and the Indonesian Archipelago.
Prior to 8:00 AM on December 7, 1941, which statement was true, according to this article?

Accepted Answer

A) The United States had more than twice as many battleships as Japan in the Hawaii-area. 
B) Japan had more working battleships than the United States in the Hawaii area. 
C) Japan had access to more fuel oil than did the United States. 
D) U.S. military leaders were better trained than Japanese military leaders.

Question 8

Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 at 7:55 a.m. This attack precipitated the United States' entry into World War II. Prior to the attack, relations between the United States and Japan were rapidly deteriorating. It had invaded China and its alliance with Germany and Italy (the Axis Powers), along with its occupation of French Indochina strained diplomatic relations. The United States put a freeze on all of Japan's assets and declared an embargo on oil and scrap metal shipments to Japan.
The oil embargo caused the most resentment, among the Japanese, because Japan did not have any oil of its own. Japan wanted freedom from their dependency on the United States. Japan declared war on the United States because of its national pride and the possibility of economic destruction.
Initially, Japan was going to invade the Philippines, not attack Pearl Harbor. The commander in chief of Japan's fleet Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto believed that attacking Pearl Harbor would allow Japan to rebuild its defenses. With the destruction of Pearl Harbor, Japan's military then be able to conquer all of Southwest Asia and open the Indonesian Archipelago. He plans the attack on Pearl Harbor with considerable care and trained his men extensively.
On the day of the attack three cruisers, two tankers, two battleships, six aircraft carriers, and nine destroyers sailed to a point north of Hawaii. From there, approximately 360 planes took off. Yamamoto planned to attack the naval base on a Sunday morning because he thought it would not be fully armed. The United States was unprepared for the attack, and Japan destroyed a majority of its planes. Four U.S. battleships was sunk, and the rest were badly damaged. The Japanese only lost twenty-nine aircrafts and less than one hundred aircrew members were killed. Because of the preemptive strike, Japan was able to carry out its plans for Southwest Asia and the Indonesian Archipelago.
Which reader would most likely find this article valuable?

Accepted Answer

A) A naval officer studying military strategy. 
B) A Japanese student interested in multiple perspectives on this event. 
C) An American student interested in multiple perspectives on this event. 
D) A Japanese tourist planning a visit to the site of the attack in Hawaii.

Question 9

There have been many famous political firsts in the history of the United States. Jeannette Pickering Rankin is no exception. She was the first woman elected to the United States Congress in 1917. Interestingly, she was a member of Congress before the U.S. Constitutional Amendment XIX granting women the right to vote was ratified.
Jeannette Rankin was born near Missoula, Montana on June 11, 1880. Her father was a rancher and her mother was a schoolteacher. Jeannette was their first child. She attended public schools in Montana, and graduated from the University of Montana at Missoula in 1902 with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology. She began promoting the women's suffrage movement - an effort to secure women's voting rights - in 1910.
After working for the New York Women Suffrage Party and the American Woman Suffrage Association, Jeannette Rankin returned to Montana. She continued her working on women's suffrage through speaking engagements and organization efforts. Rankins involvement helped Montanan women gain the right to vote in 1914.
Rankin decided to run as a Republican for the United States House of Representatives in 1916. Her brother a prominent businessman supported her financially. Some people thought that her campaign would sour the fight for women's voting rights. Her victory on August 29, 2016 sealed her place in history; she became the first women elected to U.S. Congress.
Jeannette Rankin was officially sworn in as a member of 65th Congress on April 2, 1917. One of her first votes was against declaring war on Germany, which marked the United States's entry into World War I. She continued supporting women's suffrage, and she is appointed to a committee formed to examine the issue. In 1918, she opened debate in the U.S. House of Representatives on a resolution to grant women the right to vote. It was the precursor to the eventual constitutional amendment ratified two years later.
Rankin did not run for reelection to the U.S. House of Representatives. Instead, she sought election to the United States Senate. Her bid was very unsuccessful. She left Montana and moved to Georgia, where she purchased a farm. Despite the move, she maintained her status as a Montana resident. More than 20 years after her first term in Congress, Rankin won the 1940 election for the 77th Congress as a Montana Representative. In her second term she was an outspoken opponent of World War II. After leaving Congress in 1943, she continued to advocate for women's rights and world peace until her death in 1973.
Under what political affiliation did Rankin run for Congress in 1917?

Accepted Answer

A) Suffrage 
B) Independent 
C) Republican 
D) Democrat

Question 10

The Northern Cities Vowel Shift and Speakers That Adopt It "The Northern Cities Vowel Shift" is not adopted by all speakers that live in the geographic regions where it is in progress. Studies (1) illustrate that it is mostly European Americans who show evidence of taking on the shift; however, there is little to no research indicating that speakers of African American Vernacular English employ the shift in their speech. Canadians that share proximity to the Great Lakes with speakers that live in the United States also show no evidence of adopting the shift.
This shift, also called "The Northern Cities Shift" (NCS), is a (2) linguistic phenomenon that occurs in the northern geographic area of the United States known as the Inland North, which includes such cities as Rochester, Buffalo, Detroit, and Chicago. Although prominent among some urban inhabitants of the region, NCS is not considered the standard. (3) Linguists describe one change that occurs in speakers of NCS in which the vowel in milk (4) "shifts" down and back (the tongue is lowered and travels back) from a short "i" to a short "e" that could be represented as melk.
William Labov, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, is one of the largest contributors to research on the subject of the NCS. His theory is that the shift possibly started when speakers from different (5) language varieties were brought together in the early 1800's when the Erie Canal was being constructed. People from the East Coast moved to the Great Lakes region, and their dialects mixed resulting in an ongoing shift. However, not all speakers of the Great Lakes region participate in this linguistic variation.
According to paragraphs 2 and 3, all of the following statements are true of the Northern Cities Vowel Shift EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A) The NCS occurs in the Inland North geographic region of the United States. 
B) The NCS is possibly a result from a mixing of language varieties. 
C) William Labov is one the largest contributor to research on the NCS. 
D) One change that occurs in speakers of NCS is that the vowel in milk "shifts" up and to the front.

Question 11

Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 at 7:55 a.m. This attack precipitated the United States' entry into World War II. Prior to the attack, relations between the United States and Japan were rapidly deteriorating. It had invaded China and its alliance with Germany and Italy (the Axis Powers), along with its occupation of French Indochina strained diplomatic relations. The United States put a freeze on all of Japan's assets and declared an embargo on oil and scrap metal shipments to Japan.
The oil embargo caused the most resentment, among the Japanese, because Japan did not have any oil of its own. Japan wanted freedom from their dependency on the United States. Japan declared war on the United States because of its national pride and the possibility of economic destruction.
Initially, Japan was going to invade the Philippines, not attack Pearl Harbor. The commander in chief of Japan's fleet Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto believed that attacking Pearl Harbor would allow Japan to rebuild its defenses. With the destruction of Pearl Harbor, Japan's military then be able to conquer all of Southwest Asia and open the Indonesian Archipelago. He plans the attack on Pearl Harbor with considerable care and trained his men extensively.
On the day of the attack three cruisers, two tankers, two battleships, six aircraft carriers, and nine destroyers sailed to a point north of Hawaii. From there, approximately 360 planes took off. Yamamoto planned to attack the naval base on a Sunday morning because he thought it would not be fully armed. The United States was unprepared for the attack, and Japan destroyed a majority of its planes. Four U.S. battleships was sunk, and the rest were badly damaged. The Japanese only lost twenty-nine aircrafts and less than one hundred aircrew members were killed. Because of the preemptive strike, Japan was able to carry out its plans for Southwest Asia and the Indonesian Archipelago.
Why did Yamamoto ultimately choose to attack Pearl Harbor before carrying out his plans in Southwest Asia?

Accepted Answer

A) Hawaii was geographically located between Japan and Southwest Asia. 
B) Japan needed scrap metal and the attack would free shipments from the U.S. to Japan 
C) Attacking Pearl Harbor first would disengage the U.S. Navy and give Japan time to attack the other nations and prepare for the American counter-attack simultaneously. 
D) There were already hundreds of aircraft staged on a fleet of ships near Hawaii.

Question 12

Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 at 7:55 a.m. This attack precipitated the United States' entry into World War II. Prior to the attack, relations between the United States and Japan were rapidly deteriorating. It had invaded China and its alliance with Germany and Italy (the Axis Powers), along with its occupation of French Indochina strained diplomatic relations. The United States put a freeze on all of Japan's assets and declared an embargo on oil and scrap metal shipments to Japan.
The oil embargo caused the most resentment, among the Japanese, because Japan did not have any oil of its own. Japan wanted freedom from their dependency on the United States. Japan declared war on the United States because of its national pride and the possibility of economic destruction.
Initially, Japan was going to invade the Philippines, not attack Pearl Harbor. The commander in chief of Japan's fleet Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto believed that attacking Pearl Harbor would allow Japan to rebuild its defenses. With the destruction of Pearl Harbor, Japan's military then be able to conquer all of Southwest Asia and open the Indonesian Archipelago. He plans the attack on Pearl Harbor with considerable care and trained his men extensively.
On the day of the attack three cruisers, two tankers, two battleships, six aircraft carriers, and nine destroyers sailed to a point north of Hawaii. From there, approximately 360 planes took off. Yamamoto planned to attack the naval base on a Sunday morning because he thought it would not be fully armed. The United States was unprepared for the attack, and Japan destroyed a majority of its planes. Four U.S. battleships was sunk, and the rest were badly damaged. The Japanese only lost twenty-nine aircrafts and less than one hundred aircrew members were killed. Because of the preemptive strike, Japan was able to carry out its plans for Southwest Asia and the Indonesian Archipelago.
Prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, what "staging" or preparations did the Japanese military make?

Accepted Answer

A) Three cruisers, two battleships, six aircraft carriers, and nine destroyers were sailed to a point north of Hawaii. 
B) Other offensive plans, including invading the Philippines, and conquering Southwest Asia, were considered and evaluated. 
C) The difference between a preemptive and offensive strike was considered. 
D) The other Axis powers, Italy and Germany, were consulted.

Question 13

There have been many famous political firsts in the history of the United States. Jeannette Pickering Rankin is no exception. She was the first woman elected to the United States Congress in 1917. Interestingly, she was a member of Congress before the U.S. Constitutional Amendment XIX granting women the right to vote was ratified.
Jeannette Rankin was born near Missoula, Montana on June 11, 1880. Her father was a rancher and her mother was a schoolteacher. Jeannette was their first child. She attended public schools in Montana, and graduated from the University of Montana at Missoula in 1902 with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology. She began promoting the women's suffrage movement - an effort to secure women's voting rights - in 1910.
After working for the New York Women Suffrage Party and the American Woman Suffrage Association, Jeannette Rankin returned to Montana. She continued her working on women's suffrage through speaking engagements and organization efforts. Rankins involvement helped Montanan women gain the right to vote in 1914.
Rankin decided to run as a Republican for the United States House of Representatives in 1916. Her brother a prominent businessman supported her financially. Some people thought that her campaign would sour the fight for women's voting rights. Her victory on August 29, 2016 sealed her place in history; she became the first women elected to U.S. Congress.
Jeannette Rankin was officially sworn in as a member of 65th Congress on April 2, 1917. One of her first votes was against declaring war on Germany, which marked the United States's entry into World War I. She continued supporting women's suffrage, and she is appointed to a committee formed to examine the issue. In 1918, she opened debate in the U.S. House of Representatives on a resolution to grant women the right to vote. It was the precursor to the eventual constitutional amendment ratified two years later.
Rankin did not run for reelection to the U.S. House of Representatives. Instead, she sought election to the United States Senate. Her bid was very unsuccessful. She left Montana and moved to Georgia, where she purchased a farm. Despite the move, she maintained her status as a Montana resident. More than 20 years after her first term in Congress, Rankin won the 1940 election for the 77th Congress as a Montana Representative. In her second term she was an outspoken opponent of World War II. After leaving Congress in 1943, she continued to advocate for women's rights and world peace until her death in 1973.
What is the main idea of this passage?

Accepted Answer

A) Jeanette Rankin, the first woman elected to Congress, was an advocate for women's suffrage. 
B) Jeanette Rankin won a seat in the United States Senate, but lost the election to become a senator. 
C) Jeannette Rankin helped women in Montana win the right to vote in 1914. 
D) Jeannette Rankin served in the U.S. Congress for two terms, twenty years apart.

Question 14

Spanish in the U.S. Did you know that the United States has the second largest Spanish-speaking population in the world? With over 37 million speakers the age of five and older the U.S. alone has more inhabitants that speak Spanish than the whole country of Venezuela.
Spanish students don't have to study abroad to get a good look into Latin-American culture. There are many cities here in the U.S. with (1) thriving Latino (2) districts that any student of Spanish can visit to practice speaking. Miami, for example, is home to a multitude of diverse Hispanics from all over Latin America and Europe. When walking down the streets of Little Havana (one of the predominantly Hispanic barrios, or neighborhoods) you will hear the Cuban Spanish (3) language variety. In Chicago, the place to hear Mexican Spanish is La Villita.
Since Spanish-speaking U.S. citizens are the fastest growing linguistic group in the United States, it is common to find Spanish-language television channels (such as Univisión and Telemundo) in larger cities. In fact, it's thanks to these mass media that there are people (although few) that spend their whole lives in the United States without ever having to learn or speak English. The governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, even commented once that Hispanics in the U.S. need to "turn off the TV in Spanish" in order to learn English more quickly.
But Governor Schwarzenegger ought to know that, according to linguistic research on (4) bilingualism, families of Hispanic heritage (as well as other non-English speaking families) produce English dominant (or English only) speakers by the third generation after their immigration. That means, it is more common than not that the grandchildren of the Mexican immigrant cannot communicate with their grandparent in Spanish. Thus, the Spanish language does not seem to (5) pose a threat in the U.S. society, contrary to what many politicians often suggest in their political rhetoric.
Based on the information in the passage, how would you best describe the term "language variety", bolded after the (3) in the second paragraph?

Accepted Answer

A) An erroneous style of speech 
B) A Cuban accent 
C) A dialect 
D) Slang

Question 15

Spanish in the U.S. Did you know that the United States has the second largest Spanish-speaking population in the world? With over 37 million speakers the age of five and older the U.S. alone has more inhabitants that speak Spanish than the whole country of Venezuela.
Spanish students don't have to study abroad to get a good look into Latin-American culture. There are many cities here in the U.S. with (1) thriving Latino (2) districts that any student of Spanish can visit to practice speaking. Miami, for example, is home to a multitude of diverse Hispanics from all over Latin America and Europe. When walking down the streets of Little Havana (one of the predominantly Hispanic barrios, or neighborhoods) you will hear the Cuban Spanish (3) language variety. In Chicago, the place to hear Mexican Spanish is La Villita.
Since Spanish-speaking U.S. citizens are the fastest growing linguistic group in the United States, it is common to find Spanish-language television channels (such as Univisión and Telemundo) in larger cities. In fact, it's thanks to these mass media that there are people (although few) that spend their whole lives in the United States without ever having to learn or speak English. The governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, even commented once that Hispanics in the U.S. need to "turn off the TV in Spanish" in order to learn English more quickly.
But Governor Schwarzenegger ought to know that, according to linguistic research on (4) bilingualism, families of Hispanic heritage (as well as other non-English speaking families) produce English dominant (or English only) speakers by the third generation after their immigration. That means, it is more common than not that the grandchildren of the Mexican immigrant cannot communicate with their grandparent in Spanish. Thus, the Spanish language does not seem to (5) pose a threat in the U.S. society, contrary to what many politicians often suggest in their political rhetoric.
Which of the following is true according to the passage?

Accepted Answer

A) Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world. 
B) Spanish students should study abroad to practice speaking Spanish. 
C) Spanish speakers are the fastest growing linguistic group in the U.S. 
D) Governor Schwarzenegger speaks Spanish.

Question 16

Etiquette, which is sometimes unwritten, is a code that governs the expectations of social behavior of people. It usually reflects the cultures and traditions of countries. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is the second largest country in African. It is also known as Congo (Kinshasa) or DRC. With over 200 ethnic groups represented the people of the Congo have a wide variety of customs, traditions, and values. They vary from place to place and group to group, especially when it comes to living in urban areas and rural areas. Therefore the etiquette rules differs depending on where a person lives.
Congolese that live in urban areas tend to have more Western customs and traditions. It is important to greet each other, and inquire about each others situation before other matters are discussed. Greetings consists of speaking, shaking their hands, and smiling. In the rural areas, men and women do not shake hands. Men will shake the hands of other men. Some women will greet men by clapping their hands and bowing slightly.
When dining in the Congo hands should be washed before and after eating. People should only eat with their right hands, especially if they are eating with their fingers. Men and women use separate communal bowls; often, women may sit together. When eating out of a communal bowl, people eat from the space directly in front of them. When utensils are used, the left hand holds the fork and the right hand holds the knife.
Dressing in the Congo is greatly influenced by the Western world, however, they are mixed with traditional clothing such as kikwembe, abacos, or a dashiki. The nicer a person look, the more respect he or she will receive. Jewelry is often made from wood, ivory bones, or shells. Many people in rural areas walk barefoot, but sandals and slippers are commonly worn.
How do Congolese diners use eating utensils differently from how American diners do so?

Accepted Answer

A) Congolese have communal utensils, and share the knives and forks with other diners. 
B) The Congolese hold the fork in the left hand, while American diners use the right. 
C) Very few Congolese use eating utensils, while the majority of Americans do. 
D) Congolese eating utensils are made from wood or bone, rather than metal or plastic.

Question 17

S. Congress (Government and Civics 3­) Did you ever wonder where federal laws come from? For example, who proposed that it be illegal to (1) operate a vehicle without a driver's license? Who is responsible for making decisions about war? In the United States rules and decisions that affect its citizens (and visitors) are proposed and put into effect by what is known as the U.S. Congress.
The U.S. Congress is made of up two (2) bodies: the Senate and the House of Representatives. Both representatives and senators are elected by voters. Congress has 535 members: 435 members in the House of Representatives and 100 members in the Senate. Each member of the House of Representatives serves two-year terms and each state in the union has at least one representative. Each of the 50 states has two senators; therefore, there are 100 senators in Congress, and each member of the Senate serves a six-year (3) term.
Congress works together to create (4) bills that are then later signed into law by the President of the United States. It also has power over financial concerns. It is the Congress who has the authority to make and collect taxes. Congress also plays an important role in the decisions of the national defense. It alone has the power to (5) wage war on another country.
So, next time your hear someone say they dislike a President's decision to go to war with another country, you can tell them that Congress has the ultimate say, and not the President, in how the country is run.
The word "bodies", bolded after the (2) in the second paragraph, is closest in meaning to

Accepted Answer

A) Corpses 
B) Cadavers 
C) Carcasses 
D) Organizations

Question 18

The Northern Cities Vowel Shift and Speakers That Adopt It "The Northern Cities Vowel Shift" is not adopted by all speakers that live in the geographic regions where it is in progress. Studies (1) illustrate that it is mostly European Americans who show evidence of taking on the shift; however, there is little to no research indicating that speakers of African American Vernacular English employ the shift in their speech. Canadians that share proximity to the Great Lakes with speakers that live in the United States also show no evidence of adopting the shift.
This shift, also called "The Northern Cities Shift" (NCS), is a (2) linguistic phenomenon that occurs in the northern geographic area of the United States known as the Inland North, which includes such cities as Rochester, Buffalo, Detroit, and Chicago. Although prominent among some urban inhabitants of the region, NCS is not considered the standard. (3) Linguists describe one change that occurs in speakers of NCS in which the vowel in milk (4) "shifts" down and back (the tongue is lowered and travels back) from a short "i" to a short "e" that could be represented as melk.
William Labov, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, is one of the largest contributors to research on the subject of the NCS. His theory is that the shift possibly started when speakers from different (5) language varieties were brought together in the early 1800's when the Erie Canal was being constructed. People from the East Coast moved to the Great Lakes region, and their dialects mixed resulting in an ongoing shift. However, not all speakers of the Great Lakes region participate in this linguistic variation.
The word "shifts", bolded after the (4) in the second paragraph, is closest in meaning to

Accepted Answer

A) Links 
B) Moves 
C) Curls 
D) Jumps

Question 19

Once upon a time, a mouse, a bird, and a sausage, entered into partnership and set up house together. For a long time all went well; they lived in great comfort, and prospered so far as to be able to add considerably to their stores. The bird's duty was to fly daily into the wood and bring in fuel; the mouse fetched the water, and the sausage saw to the cooking. When people are too well off they always begin to long for something new. And so it came to pass, that the bird, while out one day, met a fellow bird, to whom he boastfully expatiated on the excellence of his household arrangements. But the other bird sneered at him for being a poor simpleton, who did all the hard work, while the other two stayed at home and had a good time of it. For, when the mouse had made the fire and fetched in the water, she could retire into her little room and rest until it was time to set the table. The sausage had only to watch the pot to see that the food was properly cooked, and when it was near dinner-time, he just threw himself into the broth, or rolled in and out among the vegetables three or four times, and there they were, buttered, and salted, and ready to be served. Then, when the bird came home and had laid aside his burden, they sat down to table, and when they had finished their meal, they could sleep their fill till the following morning: and that was really a very delightful life.
Influenced by those remarks, the bird next morning refused to bring in the wood, telling the others that he had been their servant long enough, and had been a fool into the bargain, and that it was now time to make a change, and to try some other way of arranging the work. Beg and pray as the mouse and the sausage might, it was of no use; the bird remained master of the situation, and the venture had to be made. They therefore drew lots, and it fell to the sausage to bring in the wood, to the mouse to cook, and to the bird to fetch the water.
And now what happened? The sausage started in search of wood, the bird made the fire, and the mouse put on the pot, and then these two waited till the sausage returned with the fuel for the following day. But the sausage remained so long away, that they became uneasy, and the bird flew out to meet him. He had not flown far, however, when he came across a dog who, having met the sausage, had regarded him as his legitimate booty, and so seized and swallowed him. The bird complained to the dog of this bare-faced robbery, but nothing he said was of any avail, for the dog answered that he found false credentials on the sausage, and that was the reason his life had been forfeited.
He picked up the wood, and flew sadly home, and told the mouse all he had seen and heard. They were both very unhappy, but agreed to make the best of things and to remain with one another.
So now the bird set the table, and the mouse looked after the food and, wishing to prepare it in the same way as the sausage, by rolling in and out among the vegetables to salt and butter them, she jumped into the pot; but she stopped short long before she reached the bottom, having already parted not only with her skin and hair, but also with life.
Presently the bird came in and wanted to serve up the dinner, but he could nowhere see the cook. In his alarm and flurry, he threw the wood here and there about the floor, called and searched, but no cook was to be found. Then some of the wood that had been carelessly thrown down, caught fire and began to blaze. The bird hastened to fetch some water, but his pail fell into the well, and he after it, and as he was unable to recover himself, he was drowned.
How did the mouse and the sausage feel about the bird's plan to change their responsibilities?

Accepted Answer

A) They agreed it was time for everyone to take on a different chore. 
B) They thought it was a terrible idea and tried to convince the bird to change his mind. 
C) The mouse thought it was a great idea, but the sausage was not certain. 
D) The sausage was pleased with a chance to do something new, but the mouse was worried it would be too much work.

Question 20

There have been many famous political firsts in the history of the United States. Jeannette Pickering Rankin is no exception. She was the first woman elected to the United States Congress in 1917. Interestingly, she was a member of Congress before the U.S. Constitutional Amendment XIX granting women the right to vote was ratified.
Jeannette Rankin was born near Missoula, Montana on June 11, 1880. Her father was a rancher and her mother was a schoolteacher. Jeannette was their first child. She attended public schools in Montana, and graduated from the University of Montana at Missoula in 1902 with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology. She began promoting the women's suffrage movement - an effort to secure women's voting rights - in 1910.
After working for the New York Women Suffrage Party and the American Woman Suffrage Association, Jeannette Rankin returned to Montana. She continued her working on women's suffrage through speaking engagements and organization efforts. Rankins involvement helped Montanan women gain the right to vote in 1914.
Rankin decided to run as a Republican for the United States House of Representatives in 1916. Her brother a prominent businessman supported her financially. Some people thought that her campaign would sour the fight for women's voting rights. Her victory on August 29, 2016 sealed her place in history; she became the first women elected to U.S. Congress.
Jeannette Rankin was officially sworn in as a member of 65th Congress on April 2, 1917. One of her first votes was against declaring war on Germany, which marked the United States's entry into World War I. She continued supporting women's suffrage, and she is appointed to a committee formed to examine the issue. In 1918, she opened debate in the U.S. House of Representatives on a resolution to grant women the right to vote. It was the precursor to the eventual constitutional amendment ratified two years later.
Rankin did not run for reelection to the U.S. House of Representatives. Instead, she sought election to the United States Senate. Her bid was very unsuccessful. She left Montana and moved to Georgia, where she purchased a farm. Despite the move, she maintained her status as a Montana resident. More than 20 years after her first term in Congress, Rankin won the 1940 election for the 77th Congress as a Montana Representative. In her second term she was an outspoken opponent of World War II. After leaving Congress in 1943, she continued to advocate for women's rights and world peace until her death in 1973.
How old was Jeannette Rankin when she died?

Accepted Answer

A) 93 
B) 71 
C) 60 
D) 52

Exam 2: Act-Compass-Reading-Practice-Test