Deck 31: Praxis Core Reading

Question 1

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.
According to context, the word "term", bolded after the (3) in the third paragraph, is closest in meaning to ALL of the following words EXCEPT

A)Duration
B)Limit
C)Label
D)Cycle

Answer 1

Label

Question 2

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.
According to the passage, why are there 100 senators in Congress?

A)Because there are 435 members of the House of Representatives.
B)Because Congress has 535 members.
C)Because each state has two members to represent the Senate.
D)Both A and C.

Answer 2

Because each state has two members to represent the Senate.

Question 3

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 "bills", bolded after the (4) in paragraph 3, can best be defined as

A)Marks or notes used in the exchange of currency for goods
B)Slips indicating the price of goods or a service
C)The muzzles of a species from the aviary family
D)A proposal of rules for appropriate conduct laid down by a governing authority

Answer 3

A proposal of rules for appropriate conduct laid down by a governing authority

Question 4

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.
According to the passage, all of the following statements are false EXCEPT:

A)The U.S. Congress is made up of the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the President.
B)Each of the members of the House of Representatives is in office for a two-year duration.
C)Congress lacks the authority to collect taxes from the U.S. citizens.
D)Senators and representatives are elected by the President of the U.S.

Question 5

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 "operate", bolded after the (1) in paragraph 1, can best be described as

A)Drive
B)Pilot
C)Influence
D)Both A and B

Question 6

Tomato Fights as Tradition in One Spanish Town Have you ever heard of people throwing rotten tomatoes at actors who perform poorly on stage? Well, in Spain they take the tomato throwing one step further. Each year in the village of Buñol, located in the eastern region near the Mediterranean, there is a tomato throwing festival known as the Tomatina. It is a food fight in which over 400,000 pounds (200,000 kilograms) of tomatoes are smashed and juiced over the bodies of more than 40,000 people each year.
This festival began in 1945 and there are several different (1) theories about where it got its start. According to one theory, once a group of teenagers were attending a religious procession in the main (2) plaza or town square. It is said that one person aggressively pushed another, and everyone started fighting. There just happened to be a vegetable stand in the street and the teens began throwing the tomatoes at each other until the police came and broke the fights up. The same teens decided to repeat the fighting match the next year, for fun, with tomatoes that they took from home. Since then people meet up the same day, on the last Wednesday of August, at the same plaza, to participate in this unique tomato fight.
During the Tomatina the (3) participants, dressed in old clothing, throw tomatoes at each other from balconies, trucks, throughout the streets…there is no way to escape it. The streets and the participants all end up covered in tomato sauce. The tomatoes have to be (4) ripe. One of the rules of this battle is that before throwing the tomatoes you must crush them in your hands to prevent hurting someone. The fight only lasts an hour. Trucks full of tomatoes arrive at the plaza and everyone gets prepared. A (5) rocket signals the beginning and the end of the fun battle. When the second rocket is heard, the fight stops, but the party continues.
Apart from having a great time at this celebration, all that tomato juice is apparently good for your skin. It's an excellent treatment that helps with cleansing and toning.
According to the author, which of the following was not a way to describe the Tomatina in the passage?

A)A food fight
B)A battle
C)Gathering
D)A fighting match

Question 7

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, also known as (1) NOAA (pronounced "Noah"), (2) descends from President Thomas Jefferson's Survey of the Coast, which was established in the early 1800's in efforts to promote safe (3) maritime commerce, or coastal trade. NOAA is therefore often considered the oldest scientific government (4) agency in the United States.
It was officially established in 1970 by President Richard Nixon, who thought it was necessary to (5) consolidate a number of agencies into one. Today, NOAA consists of multiple offices, where scientists explore the atmosphere and oceans using tools ranging from satellites that orbit Earth, to submarines that scrape the far depths of the oceans' floor.
NOAA's National Weather Service (NWS) is the organization responsible for weather forecasting and providing important storm warnings and advisories. It's National Ocean Service (NOS) is in charge of mapping the country's coastal waterways and promoting the conservation of the national marine sanctuaries; the marine equivalent of national parks. NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS) is tasked with managing fisheries around the country. The National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS) is NOAA's office that oversees the environmental satellite programs and manages the data collected from the NWS.
Few people know that NOAA plays such an important role in our daily lives, yet it does none-the-less. It's thanks to NOAA that we know when to take an umbrella with us to avoid getting soaking wet while walking to work, and to take refuge when an unexpected tornado strikes. Not only is it one of the oldest institutions, but also some will argue that it is also one of the most essential resources for the American people.
The acronym "NOAA", in bold after the (1) in the first paragraph, stands for

A)National Oceanographic and Atmosphere Association
B)National Oceanic and Aeronautical Administration
C)National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
D)Nation's Oceans and Atmospheres Agency

Question 8

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.
Which of following is true according to the passage?

A)People from the Great Lakes moved to the East Coast during the 1800's.
B)European Americans do not show evidence of adopting the NCS.
C)African Americans show evidence of adopting the NCS.
D)Canadians do not show evidence of adopting the NCS.

Question 9

Tomato Fights as Tradition in One Spanish Town Have you ever heard of people throwing rotten tomatoes at actors who perform poorly on stage? Well, in Spain they take the tomato throwing one step further. Each year in the village of Buñol, located in the eastern region near the Mediterranean, there is a tomato throwing festival known as the Tomatina. It is a food fight in which over 400,000 pounds (200,000 kilograms) of tomatoes are smashed and juiced over the bodies of more than 40,000 people each year.
This festival began in 1945 and there are several different (1) theories about where it got its start. According to one theory, once a group of teenagers were attending a religious procession in the main (2) plaza or town square. It is said that one person aggressively pushed another, and everyone started fighting. There just happened to be a vegetable stand in the street and the teens began throwing the tomatoes at each other until the police came and broke the fights up. The same teens decided to repeat the fighting match the next year, for fun, with tomatoes that they took from home. Since then people meet up the same day, on the last Wednesday of August, at the same plaza, to participate in this unique tomato fight.
During the Tomatina the (3) participants, dressed in old clothing, throw tomatoes at each other from balconies, trucks, throughout the streets…there is no way to escape it. The streets and the participants all end up covered in tomato sauce. The tomatoes have to be (4) ripe. One of the rules of this battle is that before throwing the tomatoes you must crush them in your hands to prevent hurting someone. The fight only lasts an hour. Trucks full of tomatoes arrive at the plaza and everyone gets prepared. A (5) rocket signals the beginning and the end of the fun battle. When the second rocket is heard, the fight stops, but the party continues.
Apart from having a great time at this celebration, all that tomato juice is apparently good for your skin. It's an excellent treatment that helps with cleansing and toning.
The word "rocket", in bold after the (5) in the third paragraph, can best be defined as

A)A vehicle used to travel in space
B)A plant from the mustard family
C)A weapon
D)A firework

Question 10

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

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

Question 11

Tomato Fights as Tradition in One Spanish Town Have you ever heard of people throwing rotten tomatoes at actors who perform poorly on stage? Well, in Spain they take the tomato throwing one step further. Each year in the village of Buñol, located in the eastern region near the Mediterranean, there is a tomato throwing festival known as the Tomatina. It is a food fight in which over 400,000 pounds (200,000 kilograms) of tomatoes are smashed and juiced over the bodies of more than 40,000 people each year.
This festival began in 1945 and there are several different (1) theories about where it got its start. According to one theory, once a group of teenagers were attending a religious procession in the main (2) plaza or town square. It is said that one person aggressively pushed another, and everyone started fighting. There just happened to be a vegetable stand in the street and the teens began throwing the tomatoes at each other until the police came and broke the fights up. The same teens decided to repeat the fighting match the next year, for fun, with tomatoes that they took from home. Since then people meet up the same day, on the last Wednesday of August, at the same plaza, to participate in this unique tomato fight.
During the Tomatina the (3) participants, dressed in old clothing, throw tomatoes at each other from balconies, trucks, throughout the streets…there is no way to escape it. The streets and the participants all end up covered in tomato sauce. The tomatoes have to be (4) ripe. One of the rules of this battle is that before throwing the tomatoes you must crush them in your hands to prevent hurting someone. The fight only lasts an hour. Trucks full of tomatoes arrive at the plaza and everyone gets prepared. A (5) rocket signals the beginning and the end of the fun battle. When the second rocket is heard, the fight stops, but the party continues.
Apart from having a great time at this celebration, all that tomato juice is apparently good for your skin. It's an excellent treatment that helps with cleansing and toning.
According to passage, all of the following statements are true EXCEPT:

A)40,000 people take part in the Tomatina each year.
B)200,000 pounds of tomatoes are used each year.
C)Participants wear clothing during the tomato fight.
D)Measures are taken to prevent people from getting hurt.

Question 12

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.
According to the author, who is responsible for making decisions about war?

A)The President
B)The Senate
C)The House of Representatives
D)Both B and C

Question 13

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 "linguistic", in bold after the (2) in paragraph 2, is closest in meaning to

A)Relative to geographic region
B)Relative to language
C)Relative to African Americans
D)Relative to shift

Question 14

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:

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 15

Tomato Fights as Tradition in One Spanish Town Have you ever heard of people throwing rotten tomatoes at actors who perform poorly on stage? Well, in Spain they take the tomato throwing one step further. Each year in the village of Buñol, located in the eastern region near the Mediterranean, there is a tomato throwing festival known as the Tomatina. It is a food fight in which over 400,000 pounds (200,000 kilograms) of tomatoes are smashed and juiced over the bodies of more than 40,000 people each year.
This festival began in 1945 and there are several different (1) theories about where it got its start. According to one theory, once a group of teenagers were attending a religious procession in the main (2) plaza or town square. It is said that one person aggressively pushed another, and everyone started fighting. There just happened to be a vegetable stand in the street and the teens began throwing the tomatoes at each other until the police came and broke the fights up. The same teens decided to repeat the fighting match the next year, for fun, with tomatoes that they took from home. Since then people meet up the same day, on the last Wednesday of August, at the same plaza, to participate in this unique tomato fight.
During the Tomatina the (3) participants, dressed in old clothing, throw tomatoes at each other from balconies, trucks, throughout the streets…there is no way to escape it. The streets and the participants all end up covered in tomato sauce. The tomatoes have to be (4) ripe. One of the rules of this battle is that before throwing the tomatoes you must crush them in your hands to prevent hurting someone. The fight only lasts an hour. Trucks full of tomatoes arrive at the plaza and everyone gets prepared. A (5) rocket signals the beginning and the end of the fun battle. When the second rocket is heard, the fight stops, but the party continues.
Apart from having a great time at this celebration, all that tomato juice is apparently good for your skin. It's an excellent treatment that helps with cleansing and toning.
According to the passage, which of the following statements is true?

A)The tomato fight only lasts several days.
B)Buñol is a Spanish town
C)Trucks full of tomatoes supply the police with their vegetable weapons.
D)Both A and B

Question 16

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, also known as (1) NOAA (pronounced "Noah"), (2) descends from President Thomas Jefferson's Survey of the Coast, which was established in the early 1800's in efforts to promote safe (3) maritime commerce, or coastal trade. NOAA is therefore often considered the oldest scientific government (4) agency in the United States.
It was officially established in 1970 by President Richard Nixon, who thought it was necessary to (5) consolidate a number of agencies into one. Today, NOAA consists of multiple offices, where scientists explore the atmosphere and oceans using tools ranging from satellites that orbit Earth, to submarines that scrape the far depths of the oceans' floor.
NOAA's National Weather Service (NWS) is the organization responsible for weather forecasting and providing important storm warnings and advisories. It's National Ocean Service (NOS) is in charge of mapping the country's coastal waterways and promoting the conservation of the national marine sanctuaries; the marine equivalent of national parks. NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS) is tasked with managing fisheries around the country. The National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS) is NOAA's office that oversees the environmental satellite programs and manages the data collected from the NWS.
Few people know that NOAA plays such an important role in our daily lives, yet it does none-the-less. It's thanks to NOAA that we know when to take an umbrella with us to avoid getting soaking wet while walking to work, and to take refuge when an unexpected tornado strikes. Not only is it one of the oldest institutions, but also some will argue that it is also one of the most essential resources for the American people.
According to the passage, the reason that Nixon established NOAA was...

A)…To combine other organizations to form a single administration.
B)…To provide important data collection.
C)…To explore the atmosphere.
D)…To promote safe coastal trade.

Question 17

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.
Based on the information in the passage, how would you best describe the general term "linguists", bolded after the (3) in the second paragraph?

A)People who study phenomena linked with language.
B)People who study European Americans.
C)People who study linguistic phenomena in the Great Lakes region.
D)People who study worker migration

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.
According to the passage, a possible reason that the NCS began is...

A)…Due to proximity to the Great Lakes in the Inland North.
B)…Due to the Canadians that live near the Great Lakes.
C)…Due to the construction of the Erie Canal in the 1800's.
D)…Due to the interaction of speakers from other geographic origins with speakers in the Great Lakes region.

Question 19

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.
Which of the following is false according to the passage?

A)There are 535 members of Congress.
B)Congress signs bills into law.
C)Senators serve terms of at least six years.
D)Congress holds the power to start a war.

Question 20

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.
What is the main idea of this essay?

A)There are many studies that show that African Americans do not participate in the NCS.
B)The NCS takes place in the Inland North.
C)William Labov is one of the largest contributors to research on the subject of NCS.
D)The NCS is not adopted by all speakers that live in the geographic region of the Inland North.

Question 21

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.
Which of following is true according to the passage?

A)It is legal to drive a vehicle with a driver's license.
B)Congress makes many of the decisions about how the country is run.
C)U)S. citizens are affected by the decisions made by Congress.
D)All of the above.

Question 22

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.
Based on the information in the passage, which of the following is a synonym (having the same or nearly same meaning) of the term "wage", bolded after the (5) in the third paragraph?

A)Declare
B)Salary
C)Recall
D)Revoke

Question 23

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 "illustrate", in bold after the (1) in the first paragraph, is closest in meaning to

A)Draw
B)Copy
C)Display
D)Indicate

Question 24

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

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

Question 25

Tomato Fights as Tradition in One Spanish Town Have you ever heard of people throwing rotten tomatoes at actors who perform poorly on stage? Well, in Spain they take the tomato throwing one step further. Each year in the village of Buñol, located in the eastern region near the Mediterranean, there is a tomato throwing festival known as the Tomatina. It is a food fight in which over 400,000 pounds (200,000 kilograms) of tomatoes are smashed and juiced over the bodies of more than 40,000 people each year.
This festival began in 1945 and there are several different (1) theories about where it got its start. According to one theory, once a group of teenagers were attending a religious procession in the main (2) plaza or town square. It is said that one person aggressively pushed another, and everyone started fighting. There just happened to be a vegetable stand in the street and the teens began throwing the tomatoes at each other until the police came and broke the fights up. The same teens decided to repeat the fighting match the next year, for fun, with tomatoes that they took from home. Since then people meet up the same day, on the last Wednesday of August, at the same plaza, to participate in this unique tomato fight.
During the Tomatina the (3) participants, dressed in old clothing, throw tomatoes at each other from balconies, trucks, throughout the streets…there is no way to escape it. The streets and the participants all end up covered in tomato sauce. The tomatoes have to be (4) ripe. One of the rules of this battle is that before throwing the tomatoes you must crush them in your hands to prevent hurting someone. The fight only lasts an hour. Trucks full of tomatoes arrive at the plaza and everyone gets prepared. A (5) rocket signals the beginning and the end of the fun battle. When the second rocket is heard, the fight stops, but the party continues.
Apart from having a great time at this celebration, all that tomato juice is apparently good for your skin. It's an excellent treatment that helps with cleansing and toning.
Based on the information in the passage, how would you best describe the term "participants", in bold after the (3) in the third paragraph?

A)People that take part in a study
B)People that oversee an event
C)People who take part in an activity or event
D)People that observe an activity

Question 26

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, also known as (1) NOAA (pronounced "Noah"), (2) descends from President Thomas Jefferson's Survey of the Coast, which was established in the early 1800's in efforts to promote safe (3) maritime commerce, or coastal trade. NOAA is therefore often considered the oldest scientific government (4) agency in the United States.
It was officially established in 1970 by President Richard Nixon, who thought it was necessary to (5) consolidate a number of agencies into one. Today, NOAA consists of multiple offices, where scientists explore the atmosphere and oceans using tools ranging from satellites that orbit Earth, to submarines that scrape the far depths of the oceans' floor.
NOAA's National Weather Service (NWS) is the organization responsible for weather forecasting and providing important storm warnings and advisories. It's National Ocean Service (NOS) is in charge of mapping the country's coastal waterways and promoting the conservation of the national marine sanctuaries; the marine equivalent of national parks. NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS) is tasked with managing fisheries around the country. The National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS) is NOAA's office that oversees the environmental satellite programs and manages the data collected from the NWS.
Few people know that NOAA plays such an important role in our daily lives, yet it does none-the-less. It's thanks to NOAA that we know when to take an umbrella with us to avoid getting soaking wet while walking to work, and to take refuge when an unexpected tornado strikes. Not only is it one of the oldest institutions, but also some will argue that it is also one of the most essential resources for the American people.
Based on the information in the passage, the term "consolidate", in bold after the (5) in the second paragraph, is closest in meaning to

A)Separate
B)Merge
C)Segregate
D)Accumulate

Question 27

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

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

Question 28

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?

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 29

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, also known as (1) NOAA (pronounced "Noah"), (2) descends from President Thomas Jefferson's Survey of the Coast, which was established in the early 1800's in efforts to promote safe (3) maritime commerce, or coastal trade. NOAA is therefore often considered the oldest scientific government (4) agency in the United States.
It was officially established in 1970 by President Richard Nixon, who thought it was necessary to (5) consolidate a number of agencies into one. Today, NOAA consists of multiple offices, where scientists explore the atmosphere and oceans using tools ranging from satellites that orbit Earth, to submarines that scrape the far depths of the oceans' floor.
NOAA's National Weather Service (NWS) is the organization responsible for weather forecasting and providing important storm warnings and advisories. It's National Ocean Service (NOS) is in charge of mapping the country's coastal waterways and promoting the conservation of the national marine sanctuaries; the marine equivalent of national parks. NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS) is tasked with managing fisheries around the country. The National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS) is NOAA's office that oversees the environmental satellite programs and manages the data collected from the NWS.
Few people know that NOAA plays such an important role in our daily lives, yet it does none-the-less. It's thanks to NOAA that we know when to take an umbrella with us to avoid getting soaking wet while walking to work, and to take refuge when an unexpected tornado strikes. Not only is it one of the oldest institutions, but also some will argue that it is also one of the most essential resources for the American people.
Which of following is true according to the passage?

A)NOAA is definitely the oldest scientific government agency.
B)NOAA consists of offices that explore the atmosphere and oceans.
C)Thomas Jefferson established NOAA.
D)NOAA doesn't play an important role in our daily lives.

Question 30

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.
In paragraph 4, why does the author mention that speakers from families of Hispanic heritage often become English dominant by the third generation?

A)To explain why Mexican immigrants come to the U.S.
B)To support the claim that Spanish-speaking U.S. citizens are the fastest growing linguistic group.
C)To provide evidence that Arnold Schwarzenegger is the governor of California.
D)To show that Spanish poses no threat to the U.S. society and its English dominance.

Question 31

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.
In paragraph 1, why does the author include the information that African Americans do not participate in the NCS?

A)To explain why African Americans do not say "melk" instead of "milk".
B)To support the claim that African Americans in the Great Lakes region do not participate in the NCS.
C)To provide evidence that not all speakers in the Great Lakes region adopt the NCS.
D)To show that there is little to no research that African Americans take on the NCS.

Question 32

Tomato Fights as Tradition in One Spanish Town Have you ever heard of people throwing rotten tomatoes at actors who perform poorly on stage? Well, in Spain they take the tomato throwing one step further. Each year in the village of Buñol, located in the eastern region near the Mediterranean, there is a tomato throwing festival known as the Tomatina. It is a food fight in which over 400,000 pounds (200,000 kilograms) of tomatoes are smashed and juiced over the bodies of more than 40,000 people each year.
This festival began in 1945 and there are several different (1) theories about where it got its start. According to one theory, once a group of teenagers were attending a religious procession in the main (2) plaza or town square. It is said that one person aggressively pushed another, and everyone started fighting. There just happened to be a vegetable stand in the street and the teens began throwing the tomatoes at each other until the police came and broke the fights up. The same teens decided to repeat the fighting match the next year, for fun, with tomatoes that they took from home. Since then people meet up the same day, on the last Wednesday of August, at the same plaza, to participate in this unique tomato fight.
During the Tomatina the (3) participants, dressed in old clothing, throw tomatoes at each other from balconies, trucks, throughout the streets…there is no way to escape it. The streets and the participants all end up covered in tomato sauce. The tomatoes have to be (4) ripe. One of the rules of this battle is that before throwing the tomatoes you must crush them in your hands to prevent hurting someone. The fight only lasts an hour. Trucks full of tomatoes arrive at the plaza and everyone gets prepared. A (5) rocket signals the beginning and the end of the fun battle. When the second rocket is heard, the fight stops, but the party continues.
Apart from having a great time at this celebration, all that tomato juice is apparently good for your skin. It's an excellent treatment that helps with cleansing and toning.
The word "theories", in bold after the (1) in the second paragraph, is closest in meaning to

A)Speculations
B)Certainties
C)Assurances
D)Facts

Question 33

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

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

Question 34

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 following is true according to the passage?

A)There is only one variety of Spanish spoken in the U.S.
B)There are over 37 million speakers of Spanish in the U.S. that speak the Venezuela language variety.
C)Spanish can be heard in Chicago if you go to Little Havana.
D)The U.S. can be considered the second largest Spanish-speaking country in the world.

Question 35

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.
According to the author, the reason that students of Spanish do NOT have to study abroad to practice speaking is…

A)…Because the U.S. has more inhabitants that speak Spanish than Venezuela.
B)…Because there are flourishing Hispanic neighborhoods in cities in the U.S.
C)…Because Spanish language students can practice the Mexican variety in Chicago.
D)Both A and C

Question 36

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, also known as (1) NOAA (pronounced "Noah"), (2) descends from President Thomas Jefferson's Survey of the Coast, which was established in the early 1800's in efforts to promote safe (3) maritime commerce, or coastal trade. NOAA is therefore often considered the oldest scientific government (4) agency in the United States.
It was officially established in 1970 by President Richard Nixon, who thought it was necessary to (5) consolidate a number of agencies into one. Today, NOAA consists of multiple offices, where scientists explore the atmosphere and oceans using tools ranging from satellites that orbit Earth, to submarines that scrape the far depths of the oceans' floor.
NOAA's National Weather Service (NWS) is the organization responsible for weather forecasting and providing important storm warnings and advisories. It's National Ocean Service (NOS) is in charge of mapping the country's coastal waterways and promoting the conservation of the national marine sanctuaries; the marine equivalent of national parks. NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS) is tasked with managing fisheries around the country. The National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS) is NOAA's office that oversees the environmental satellite programs and manages the data collected from the NWS.
Few people know that NOAA plays such an important role in our daily lives, yet it does none-the-less. It's thanks to NOAA that we know when to take an umbrella with us to avoid getting soaking wet while walking to work, and to take refuge when an unexpected tornado strikes. Not only is it one of the oldest institutions, but also some will argue that it is also one of the most essential resources for the American people.
The term "descends", bolded after the (2) in paragraph 1, is closest in meaning to

A)Originating
B)Going down
C)Lowering in number
D)Ending

Question 37

Tomato Fights as Tradition in One Spanish Town Have you ever heard of people throwing rotten tomatoes at actors who perform poorly on stage? Well, in Spain they take the tomato throwing one step further. Each year in the village of Buñol, located in the eastern region near the Mediterranean, there is a tomato throwing festival known as the Tomatina. It is a food fight in which over 400,000 pounds (200,000 kilograms) of tomatoes are smashed and juiced over the bodies of more than 40,000 people each year.
This festival began in 1945 and there are several different (1) theories about where it got its start. According to one theory, once a group of teenagers were attending a religious procession in the main (2) plaza or town square. It is said that one person aggressively pushed another, and everyone started fighting. There just happened to be a vegetable stand in the street and the teens began throwing the tomatoes at each other until the police came and broke the fights up. The same teens decided to repeat the fighting match the next year, for fun, with tomatoes that they took from home. Since then people meet up the same day, on the last Wednesday of August, at the same plaza, to participate in this unique tomato fight.
During the Tomatina the (3) participants, dressed in old clothing, throw tomatoes at each other from balconies, trucks, throughout the streets…there is no way to escape it. The streets and the participants all end up covered in tomato sauce. The tomatoes have to be (4) ripe. One of the rules of this battle is that before throwing the tomatoes you must crush them in your hands to prevent hurting someone. The fight only lasts an hour. Trucks full of tomatoes arrive at the plaza and everyone gets prepared. A (5) rocket signals the beginning and the end of the fun battle. When the second rocket is heard, the fight stops, but the party continues.
Apart from having a great time at this celebration, all that tomato juice is apparently good for your skin. It's an excellent treatment that helps with cleansing and toning.
Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A)Tomatoes are used for tomato sauce after the fight is over.
B)The police arrest several people each year for participating in this food fight.
C)Tomatoes are said to be a good skin treatment.
D)The Tomatina got is origin from women who would throw tomatoes from their balconies to stop kids from fighting during religious processions.

Question 38

Tomato Fights as Tradition in One Spanish Town Have you ever heard of people throwing rotten tomatoes at actors who perform poorly on stage? Well, in Spain they take the tomato throwing one step further. Each year in the village of Buñol, located in the eastern region near the Mediterranean, there is a tomato throwing festival known as the Tomatina. It is a food fight in which over 400,000 pounds (200,000 kilograms) of tomatoes are smashed and juiced over the bodies of more than 40,000 people each year.
This festival began in 1945 and there are several different (1) theories about where it got its start. According to one theory, once a group of teenagers were attending a religious procession in the main (2) plaza or town square. It is said that one person aggressively pushed another, and everyone started fighting. There just happened to be a vegetable stand in the street and the teens began throwing the tomatoes at each other until the police came and broke the fights up. The same teens decided to repeat the fighting match the next year, for fun, with tomatoes that they took from home. Since then people meet up the same day, on the last Wednesday of August, at the same plaza, to participate in this unique tomato fight.
During the Tomatina the (3) participants, dressed in old clothing, throw tomatoes at each other from balconies, trucks, throughout the streets…there is no way to escape it. The streets and the participants all end up covered in tomato sauce. The tomatoes have to be (4) ripe. One of the rules of this battle is that before throwing the tomatoes you must crush them in your hands to prevent hurting someone. The fight only lasts an hour. Trucks full of tomatoes arrive at the plaza and everyone gets prepared. A (5) rocket signals the beginning and the end of the fun battle. When the second rocket is heard, the fight stops, but the party continues.
Apart from having a great time at this celebration, all that tomato juice is apparently good for your skin. It's an excellent treatment that helps with cleansing and toning.
The word "ripe", in bold after the (4) in the third paragraph, can best be described as

A)Immature
B)Unfinished
C)Undeveloped
D)Matured

Question 39

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, also known as (1) NOAA (pronounced "Noah"), (2) descends from President Thomas Jefferson's Survey of the Coast, which was established in the early 1800's in efforts to promote safe (3) maritime commerce, or coastal trade. NOAA is therefore often considered the oldest scientific government (4) agency in the United States.
It was officially established in 1970 by President Richard Nixon, who thought it was necessary to (5) consolidate a number of agencies into one. Today, NOAA consists of multiple offices, where scientists explore the atmosphere and oceans using tools ranging from satellites that orbit Earth, to submarines that scrape the far depths of the oceans' floor.
NOAA's National Weather Service (NWS) is the organization responsible for weather forecasting and providing important storm warnings and advisories. It's National Ocean Service (NOS) is in charge of mapping the country's coastal waterways and promoting the conservation of the national marine sanctuaries; the marine equivalent of national parks. NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS) is tasked with managing fisheries around the country. The National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS) is NOAA's office that oversees the environmental satellite programs and manages the data collected from the NWS.
Few people know that NOAA plays such an important role in our daily lives, yet it does none-the-less. It's thanks to NOAA that we know when to take an umbrella with us to avoid getting soaking wet while walking to work, and to take refuge when an unexpected tornado strikes. Not only is it one of the oldest institutions, but also some will argue that it is also one of the most essential resources for the American people.
According to paragraph 2, all of the following statements are true EXCEPT:

A)NWS is in charge of providing storm warnings.
B)NESDIS manages satellite date.
C)NOS maps the coasts all over the world.
D)NMFS is responsible for the fisheries.

Question 40

Tomato Fights as Tradition in One Spanish Town Have you ever heard of people throwing rotten tomatoes at actors who perform poorly on stage? Well, in Spain they take the tomato throwing one step further. Each year in the village of Buñol, located in the eastern region near the Mediterranean, there is a tomato throwing festival known as the Tomatina. It is a food fight in which over 400,000 pounds (200,000 kilograms) of tomatoes are smashed and juiced over the bodies of more than 40,000 people each year.
This festival began in 1945 and there are several different (1) theories about where it got its start. According to one theory, once a group of teenagers were attending a religious procession in the main (2) plaza or town square. It is said that one person aggressively pushed another, and everyone started fighting. There just happened to be a vegetable stand in the street and the teens began throwing the tomatoes at each other until the police came and broke the fights up. The same teens decided to repeat the fighting match the next year, for fun, with tomatoes that they took from home. Since then people meet up the same day, on the last Wednesday of August, at the same plaza, to participate in this unique tomato fight.
During the Tomatina the (3) participants, dressed in old clothing, throw tomatoes at each other from balconies, trucks, throughout the streets…there is no way to escape it. The streets and the participants all end up covered in tomato sauce. The tomatoes have to be (4) ripe. One of the rules of this battle is that before throwing the tomatoes you must crush them in your hands to prevent hurting someone. The fight only lasts an hour. Trucks full of tomatoes arrive at the plaza and everyone gets prepared. A (5) rocket signals the beginning and the end of the fun battle. When the second rocket is heard, the fight stops, but the party continues.
Apart from having a great time at this celebration, all that tomato juice is apparently good for your skin. It's an excellent treatment that helps with cleansing and toning.
The word "plaza", in bold after the (2) in the second paragraph, is closest in meaning to

A)Shopping center
B)Town square
C)Balcony
D)Garden

Question 41

Tomato Fights as Tradition in One Spanish Town Have you ever heard of people throwing rotten tomatoes at actors who perform poorly on stage? Well, in Spain they take the tomato throwing one step further. Each year in the village of Buñol, located in the eastern region near the Mediterranean, there is a tomato throwing festival known as the Tomatina. It is a food fight in which over 400,000 pounds (200,000 kilograms) of tomatoes are smashed and juiced over the bodies of more than 40,000 people each year.
This festival began in 1945 and there are several different (1) theories about where it got its start. According to one theory, once a group of teenagers were attending a religious procession in the main (2) plaza or town square. It is said that one person aggressively pushed another, and everyone started fighting. There just happened to be a vegetable stand in the street and the teens began throwing the tomatoes at each other until the police came and broke the fights up. The same teens decided to repeat the fighting match the next year, for fun, with tomatoes that they took from home. Since then people meet up the same day, on the last Wednesday of August, at the same plaza, to participate in this unique tomato fight.
During the Tomatina the (3) participants, dressed in old clothing, throw tomatoes at each other from balconies, trucks, throughout the streets…there is no way to escape it. The streets and the participants all end up covered in tomato sauce. The tomatoes have to be (4) ripe. One of the rules of this battle is that before throwing the tomatoes you must crush them in your hands to prevent hurting someone. The fight only lasts an hour. Trucks full of tomatoes arrive at the plaza and everyone gets prepared. A (5) rocket signals the beginning and the end of the fun battle. When the second rocket is heard, the fight stops, but the party continues.
Apart from having a great time at this celebration, all that tomato juice is apparently good for your skin. It's an excellent treatment that helps with cleansing and toning.
In paragraph 1, why does the author ask the reader if he or she has ever heard of people throwing rotten tomatoes at people who perform poorly on stage?

A)To introduce the topic of the essay
B)To support the claim that tomatoes are used all over the world.
C)To provide evidence that Spain is a country where tomatoes are wasted.
D)To show that the Tomatina is famous all over the world.

Question 42

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.
According to paragraph 3, all of the following statements are true EXCEPT:

A)People who speak Spanish are the number one linguistic group to increase in size.
B)Univisión and Telemundo can be accessed on TVs anywhere in the U.S.
C)Arnold Schwarzenegger is governor of California.
D)Some Hispanics living in the U.S. never have to learn English.

Question 43

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, also known as (1) NOAA (pronounced "Noah"), (2) descends from President Thomas Jefferson's Survey of the Coast, which was established in the early 1800's in efforts to promote safe (3) maritime commerce, or coastal trade. NOAA is therefore often considered the oldest scientific government (4) agency in the United States. It was officially established in 1970 by President Richard Nixon, who thought it was necessary to (5) consolidate a number of agencies into one. Today, NOAA consists of multiple offices, where scientists explore the atmosphere and oceans using tools ranging from satellites that orbit Earth, to submarines that scrape the far depths of the oceans' floor.
NOAA's National Weather Service (NWS) is the organization responsible for weather forecasting and providing important storm warnings and advisories. It's National Ocean Service (NOS) is in charge of mapping the country's coastal waterways and promoting the conservation of the national marine sanctuaries; the marine equivalent of national parks. NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS) is tasked with managing fisheries around the country. The National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS) is NOAA's office that oversees the environmental satellite programs and manages the data collected from the NWS.
Few people know that NOAA plays such an important role in our daily lives, yet it does none-the-less. It's thanks to NOAA that we know when to take an umbrella with us to avoid getting soaking wet while walking to work, and to take refuge when an unexpected tornado strikes. Not only is it one of the oldest institutions, but also some will argue that it is also one of the most essential resources for the American people.
In paragraph 2, why does the author include information about the various offices of which NOAA consists?

A)To explain how NOAA is responsible for weather forecasting.
B)To support the claim that NOAA is important.
C)To provide evidence that NOAA was establish by Richard Nixon.
D)To show that NOAA provides services in a number of different areas.

Question 44

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, also known as (1) NOAA (pronounced "Noah"), (2) descends from President Thomas Jefferson's Survey of the Coast, which was established in the early 1800's in efforts to promote safe (3) maritime commerce, or coastal trade. NOAA is therefore often considered the oldest scientific government (4) agency in the United States. It was officially established in 1970 by President Richard Nixon, who thought it was necessary to (5) consolidate a number of agencies into one. Today, NOAA consists of multiple offices, where scientists explore the atmosphere and oceans using tools ranging from satellites that orbit Earth, to submarines that scrape the far depths of the oceans' floor.
NOAA's National Weather Service (NWS) is the organization responsible for weather forecasting and providing important storm warnings and advisories. It's National Ocean Service (NOS) is in charge of mapping the country's coastal waterways and promoting the conservation of the national marine sanctuaries; the marine equivalent of national parks. NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS) is tasked with managing fisheries around the country. The National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS) is NOAA's office that oversees the environmental satellite programs and manages the data collected from the NWS.
Few people know that NOAA plays such an important role in our daily lives, yet it does none-the-less. It's thanks to NOAA that we know when to take an umbrella with us to avoid getting soaking wet while walking to work, and to take refuge when an unexpected tornado strikes. Not only is it one of the oldest institutions, but also some will argue that it is also one of the most essential resources for the American people.
The word "maritime", in bold after the (3) in the first paragraph, is closest in meaning to

A)Of, or relating to, the ocean
B)Of, or relating to, marine animals
C)Of, or relating to, weather
D)Of, or relating to, people who work for NOAA

Question 45

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, also known as (1) NOAA (pronounced "Noah"), (2) descends from President Thomas Jefferson's Survey of the Coast, which was established in the early 1800's in efforts to promote safe (3) maritime commerce, or coastal trade. NOAA is therefore often considered the oldest scientific government (4) agency in the United States.
It was officially established in 1970 by President Richard Nixon, who thought it was necessary to (5) consolidate a number of agencies into one. Today, NOAA consists of multiple offices, where scientists explore the atmosphere and oceans using tools ranging from satellites that orbit Earth, to submarines that scrape the far depths of the oceans' floor.
NOAA's National Weather Service (NWS) is the organization responsible for weather forecasting and providing important storm warnings and advisories. It's National Ocean Service (NOS) is in charge of mapping the country's coastal waterways and promoting the conservation of the national marine sanctuaries; the marine equivalent of national parks. NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS) is tasked with managing fisheries around the country. The National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS) is NOAA's office that oversees the environmental satellite programs and manages the data collected from the NWS.
Few people know that NOAA plays such an important role in our daily lives, yet it does none-the-less. It's thanks to NOAA that we know when to take an umbrella with us to avoid getting soaking wet while walking to work, and to take refuge when an unexpected tornado strikes. Not only is it one of the oldest institutions, but also some will argue that it is also one of the most essential resources for the American people.
The word "agency", bolded after the (4) in paragraph 1, is closet in meaning to

A)Tool
B)Executor
C)Determinant
D)Organization

Question 46

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 concept "posing a threat", bolded after the (5) in paragraph 4, can best be described, based on what many politicians often suggest, as

A)Becoming popular
B)Attracting attention
C)Becoming dominant
D)Becoming challenging

Question 47

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?

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

Question 48

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 term "thriving", in bold after the (1) in paragraph 1, is closest in meaning to

A)Suffering
B)New
C)Prosperous
D)Unsuccessful

Question 49

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, also known as (1) NOAA (pronounced "Noah"), (2) descends from President Thomas Jefferson's Survey of the Coast, which was established in the early 1800's in efforts to promote safe (3) maritime commerce, or coastal trade. NOAA is therefore often considered the oldest scientific government (4) agency in the United States.
It was officially established in 1970 by President Richard Nixon, who thought it was necessary to (5) consolidate a number of agencies into one. Today, NOAA consists of multiple offices, where scientists explore the atmosphere and oceans using tools ranging from satellites that orbit Earth, to submarines that scrape the far depths of the oceans' floor.
NOAA's National Weather Service (NWS) is the organization responsible for weather forecasting and providing important storm warnings and advisories. It's National Ocean Service (NOS) is in charge of mapping the country's coastal waterways and promoting the conservation of the national marine sanctuaries; the marine equivalent of national parks. NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS) is tasked with managing fisheries around the country. The National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS) is NOAA's office that oversees the environmental satellite programs and manages the data collected from the NWS.
Few people know that NOAA plays such an important role in our daily lives, yet it does none-the-less. It's thanks to NOAA that we know when to take an umbrella with us to avoid getting soaking wet while walking to work, and to take refuge when an unexpected tornado strikes. Not only is it one of the oldest institutions, but also some will argue that it is also one of the most essential resources for the American people.
According to the passage, who established NOAA?

A)Thomas Jefferson
B)Richard Nixon
C)Scientists
D)The American people

Question 50

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

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