Copyright © 2012 Study Island - All rights reserved.
Generation Date:	03/08/2012
Generated By:	Brooke Smith

Supplying and Developing Evidence
In the summer of 2009, a harsh drought hit central and southern Texas. Texas is the second biggest state with a 1,200-mile border with Mexico. Farmers along the southern border watched their crops wither and die. Only a few hundred miles away, the northeast quarter of the state was getting plenty of rainfall. Swimmers in South Texas, however, were being turned away from local lakes and neighborhood pools. They were being told that the dwindling water supply was for drinking, not for playing in. Floating on inner tubes down Texas rivers used to be a favorite summer pastime. Renting inner-tubes was once a strong summer business. Most rivers hardly had enough flow to keep a person afloat in 2009. In San Antonio, strict water usage rules were put into effect, and citizens were encouraged to call the police if they saw neighbors watering their lawns. One town held a prayer service, and their prayers were answered with 0.03 inches of rain. In June and July that year, Austin hit 100 degrees for 39 days. Inside the state capital in Austin, air conditioning kept things cool. Of Texas' 254 counties, 77 of them were said to be in "exceptional" drought conditions, the worst category on the drought scale. The part of the state with the worst drought was bigger than Massachusetts, New Jersey and Connecticut combined. The cattle business was especially hard hit with losses of more than $4 billion. Many rural Texans eat a lot of beef. One conservationist pointed to a silver lining that resulted from all the water restrictions and conservation measures: it made Texans pay more attention to how they use water. Many people changed their habits, and using less water became a way of life for many people in south-central Texas.
1.

Which of these sentences least supports the main idea of this passage?

A.	"Most rivers hardly had enough flow to keep a person afloat in 2009."	B.	"One town held a prayer service, and their prayers were answered with 0.03 inches of rain."	C.	"Inside the state capital in Austin, air conditioning kept things cool."	D.	"The cattle business was especially hard hit with losses of more than $4 billion."

2.

Which of these sentences most strongly supports the main idea of this passage?

A.	"Swimmers in South Texas, however, were being turned away from local lakes and neighborhood pools."	B.	"Many rural Texans eat a lot of beef."	C.	"Texas is the second biggest state with a 1,200-mile border with Mexico."	D.	"Only a few hundred miles away, the northeast quarter of the state was getting plenty of rainfall."

(1) Technology has greatly increased our knowledge of the vast ocean. (2) Advances in boats, submersibles, diving equipment, and observation tools have made researching the ocean much more effective. (3) Ships equipped with computers, sensors, and the means to launch and retrieve submersibles and other observation tools are used as research platforms. (4) The U.S. naval ship Relentless was transformed into a research vessel named Gunter by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
(5) The invention of submersibles has contributed significantly to the acquisition of new information about the ocean. (6) Manned and remotely operated submersibles make it possible to explore the ocean floor, collect samples, and discover new ecosystems. (7) Submersibles have the ability to withstand the extreme temperature and dangerous pressure at depths below 2,000 meters.
3.

Which sentence provides evidence that best supports the main idea of the second paragraph?

A.	Although sailors can use sonar to monitor what lies below the water, they probably still get nervous about underwater landforms.	B.	Greek scholars believed that the ocean floor should look like the land above sea level, which is not completely false.	C.	The first hydrothermal vents in the Pacific Ocean were discovered in 1977 by researchers using a submersible called Alvin.	D.	One data point mapped by acoustic echo sounding does not give scientists a lot of information about such an expansive ocean.

4.

Which of the following is a supporting statement that could best be added after sentence 4?
(4) The U.S. naval ship Relentless was transformed into a research vessel named Gunter by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

A.	New non-invasive technology has allowed scientists to investigate the ocean without harming the natural environment, such as kelp beds where a variety of animals live.	B.	Instruments such as satellites provide us with information about weather conditions and coordinates to help researchers navigate through the ocean's vast waters.	C.	Modifications to the ship included several labs, as well as a seawater sampling system, and an instrument for measuring surface seawater temperature, salinity, and radiation.	D.	Scuba, the acronym for self-contained underwater breathing apparatus, makes it possible for divers to stay underwater for longer periods of time and to go deeper than what is possible without it.

In life, Leona Helmsley was known as the "Queen of Mean" for the way she treated employees in her luxury hotels. She once said, "Only the little people pay taxes." In death, it is her generosity that is making headlines. A billionaire, Helmsley famously did not like her fellow human beings, but she did like dogs. She loved Trouble, her Maltese, so much that she left him a $12 million trust fund. A Maltese dog is a small breed known for its loyalty. Trouble's $12 million was just the beginning, however. Helmsley also created a charitable trust now worth an estimated $5 billion. Helmsley's husband had died many years before her. According to the terms of the will, this money should be distributed to good causes, showing special preference for the care of dogs. Unfortunately, both these gifts have been struck down in court. New York courts, as with most courts, prefer people to dogs. Trouble's award has been reduced to just $2 million. How will he get by since his security detail alone costs $100,000 a year? That's a lot of dog biscuits! A judge ruled that the managers of the $5-billion charitable trust are free to give the money to whichever good causes they see fit. The Humane Society and other animal charities are appealing this ruling because of the first $136 million given away, only $1 million was dog-related. They say the charitable trust is ignoring Helmsley's will.
5.

Which of these sentences best supports the main idea of this passage?

A.	"In life, Leona Helmsley was known as the "Queen of Mean" for the way she treated employees in her luxury hotels."	B.	"She once said, 'Only the little people pay taxes.' "	C.	"Helmsley's husband had died many years before her."	D.	"According to the terms of the will, this money should be distributed to good causes, showing special preference for the care of dogs."

6.

Which of these sentences least supports the main idea of this passage?

A.	"Helmsley's will also created a charitable trust now worth an estimated $5 billion."	B.	"Trouble's award has been reduced to just $2 million."	C.	"A Maltese dog is a small breed known for its loyalty."	D.	"She loved Trouble, her Maltese, so much that she left him a $12 million trust fund."

In 1995, Michael Mayor of the University of Geneva in Switzerland found the first "exoplanet." An exoplanet is a planet orbiting a star other than our Sun. Astronomers are competitive, and Mayor's discovery started a race that has grown faster ever since. As of 2009, 360 such planets have been discovered, though none are exactly like the Earth. Could any support life? The most Earth-like exoplanet so far is called Gliese 581c, which was discovered in 2007. Like Earth, it is both rocky and orbits its parent star at a distance where liquid water might exist. Water is required for life as we know it. Unlike Earth, Gliese 581c is "tidally locked," which means that it does not rotate on its axis like our planet. In other words, the same side of the planet is always facing the star it orbits. This is similar to the Moon, which always has the same side facing Earth. Having half the planet in constant light and the other half in permanent darkness does not sound like a good recipe for life. The United States and France have launched unmanned space probes in an attempt to find more star-planet combinations like our own. The French probe called CoRoT has already found 80 exoplanets. The American probe named Kepler has not found any so far, and that is making the scientists nervous. They say it is because it was launched later. The American scientists have high hopes for Kepler because it carries more sensitive instruments than CoRoT.
7.

A main idea of this passage involves the hunt for exoplanets. Which of these sentences least supports that idea?

A.	"In other words, the same side of the planet is always facing the star it orbits."	B.	"As of 2009, 360 such planets have been discovered, though none are exactly like the Earth."	C.	"The French probe called CoRoT has already found 80 exoplanets."	D.	"The United States and France have launched unmanned space probes in an attempt to find more star-planet combinations like our own."

8.

The main idea of this passage involves the effort to find exoplanets. Which of these sentences supports that idea?

A.	"Water is required for life as we know it."	B.	"The most Earth-like so far is called Gliese 581c, which was discovered in 2007."	C.	"Astronomers are competitive, and Mayor's discovery started a race that has gotten faster ever since."	D.	"This is similar to the Moon, which always has the same side facing Earth."

Nationwide, kids are watching too much television. According to researchers, most kids know how to program a VCR before they learn how to walk. In some cases, kids learn to operate a remote control before they can talk. It's an increasing problem that seems to get worse with relaxed television standards. In the year 2009, Sony will launch its new 85-inch plasma, flat panel TV. Now, not only do parents have to deal with the increase of violence on TV, but they must contend with inappropriate language on some of the most popular shows on television. Shows like Friends, NYPD Blue, and CSI can say whatever they want without repercussion. Most of the time, it's with language that's inappropriate for the time of day and for the audience watching. Most prime-time television shows say things that would make a sailor blush.
9.

Which sentence supports the main idea that kids watch too much TV?

A.	"Most prime-time television shows say things that would make a sailor blush."	B.	"In some cases, kids learn to operate a remote control before they can talk."	C.	"Shows like Friends, NYPD Blue, and CSI can say whatever they want without repercussion."	D.	"Most of the time, it's with language that's inappropriate for the time of day and for the audience watching."

10.

Which sentence below least supports the main idea?

A.	"Nationwide, kids are watching too much television."	B.	"It's an increasing problem that seems to get worse with relaxed television standards."	C.	"In the year 2009, Sony will launch its new 85-inch plasma, flat panel TV."	D.	"According to researchers, most kids know how to program a VCR before they learn how to walk."

11.

Which sentence supports the main idea that the language on TV is inappropriate?

A.	"Nationwide, kids are watching too much television."	B.	"According to researchers, most kids know how to program a VCR before they learn how to walk."	C.	"Shows like Friends, NYPD Blue, and CSI can say whatever they want without repercussion."	D.	"In some cases, kids learn to operate a remote control before they can talk."

When Les Paul died in the summer of 2009 at age 93, rock musicians all over the world mourned. The rock music we know today would not be possible without him: He invented the solid-body electric guitar.
Before his invention, all guitars were called "acoustic." The only sound they made came from the sound box of the guitar, or the part with a hole in it. The acoustic guitar is at least 500 years old.
A solid-body electric guitar doesn't have a hole in the middle because it does not have a hollow sound box. Instead, electrical devices called pickups take in the vibration of the strings and amplify them through speakers. These amplified sounds are really the basis for the rock music we know today. Classical music does not rely on electric guitars. Solid-body electric guitars come in many different colors.
At the request of the Gibson Guitar Co., a well known maker of acoustic guitars, Les Paul produced his Les Paul signature model electric guitar. The Les Paul model is still considered by many musicians to be the best electric guitar. Many of the most famous rock musicians visited Les Paul at his home, and sometimes he joined them onstage at rock concerts. A 2005 album made with many of his admirers, including Sting, won him two Grammy awards. Not bad for a man who was 90 years old at the time.
12.

Which of these sentences most strongly supports the main idea of this passage?

A.	"Classical music does not rely on electric guitars."	B.	"Solid-body electric guitars come in many different colors."	C.	"The rock music we know today would not be possible without him: He invented the solid-body electric guitar."	D.	"The acoustic guitar is at least 500 years old."

13.

Which of these sentences least supports the main idea of this passage?

A.	"The Les Paul model is still considered by many musicians to be the best electric guitar."	B.	"Instead, electrical devices called pickups take in the vibration of the strings and amplify them through speakers."	C.	"At the request of the Gibson Guitar Co., a well known maker of acoustic guitars, Les Paul produced his Les Paul signature model electric guitar."	D.	"The only sound they made came from the sound box of the guitar, or the part with a hole in it."

14.

A beginning piano player should regularly practice on an upright or, even better, grand piano instead of an electronic keyboard. Keyboards can be convenient to transport, but unless a student has first learned to use a piano, he or she will be at a disadvantage. Pianos are created with weighted keys. Although some electronic keyboards have weighted keys, most cannot achieve the same heaviness as a real piano. The weightiness of the keys helps to strengthen the finger muscles and allows a student to learn better technique and control. It is much easier to go from playing on a piano to playing on a keyboard, than to switch from playing on a keyboard to a piano.
Which sentence least supports the main idea?

A.	Lack of practice on a piano can sometimes lead to a bad hand technique.	B.	Practicing on a keyboard does not allow a piano student's fingers to develop strength.	C.	Some music can require a lot of hand strength, and this is best achieved by using a piano.	D.	A piano looks more authentic as an instrument than any type of electronic keyboard.

(1) Building solar power stations in the Sahara desert and sending the electricity they generate to Europe is an old idea. (2) The nomads of the desert use camels for transport and don't have any use for the electricity. (3) The Saharan grid would use high-voltage, direct-current cables to ship the power to Europe. (4) This type of cable can transmit power over long distances and through water without leaking electricity. (5) Sending solar power to Europe is simple in theory, but hard in practice and very expensive. (6) However, it is a pollution-free way of making a lot of power. (7) A solar collection area the size of Austria could supply enough electricity to power the whole world. (8) Austria is a small country in Europe. (9) The power stations would be "solar thermal," which concentrates the sun's rays to make steam to turn a turbine. (10) A turbine is a mechanical device that spins and produces electricity. (11) At the moment, no form of solar power is as cheap as coal. (12) There is a lot of coal in the U.S. and China, which are the world's biggest users of electricity. (13) Turning sunlight into electricity is a bold proposal but is one that is becoming more likely every year. (14) An old Chinese proverb says that even a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
15.

Which sentences least supports the main idea of this passage?

A.	sentence 6	B.	sentence 12	C.	sentence 7	D.	sentence 13

16.

Which of these sentences best supports the main idea of this passage?

A.	sentence 2	B.	sentence 3	C.	sentence 8	D.	sentence 14

John Davis has produced several films, including "I, Robot" and "Norbit." He also invests in businesses as varied as fast food and cement. These days he is more optimistic about the film industry than anything else. It is a measure of the recession's severity that a business built on fickle teenage audiences and multi-million dollar deals has come to seem fairly reliable. Young people have more free time. The economic downturn has affected Hollywood in an unexpected way. Most executives thought people would stay home in 2009 watching the big screen TVs they bought rather than go to movies. After all, they spent so much money on those TVs. However, in 2009, box office receipts were 12% higher than in 2008. Sales of DVDs, on the other hand, fell in 2009. Odder still in 2009 is that the film business appeared to be financially healthier than the big corporations connected to Hollywood studios. Sony made $300 million dollars on film and television last year, but it lost $100 million on electronics. Other big film producers Disney, Fox, and Universal all reported healthy profits on films in 2009.
17.

Which sentence best supports the main idea of this passage?

A.	"Young people have more free time."	B.	"He also invests in businesses as varied as fast food and cement."	C.	"However, in 2009, box office receipts were 12% higher than in 2008."	D.	"Most executives thought people would stay home in 2009 watching the big screen TVs they bought rather than go to movies."

18.

Which of these sentences least supports the main idea of this passage?

A.	"Sony made $300 million dollars on film and television last year, but it lost $100 million on electronics."	B.	"It is a measure of the recession's severity that a business built on fickle teenage audiences and multi-million dollar deals has come to seem fairly reliable."	C.	"Odder still in 2009 is that the film business appeared to be financially healthier than the big corporations connected to Hollywood studios."	D.	"After all, they spent so much money on those TVs."

19.

Which sentence best supports the statement below?

Julie Jacony is a popular person.

A.	Julie is always wearing the latest fashions in clothes and hairstyles.	B.	Julie can speak several languages, including Itlaian and Portuguese.	C.	Julie gets invited to parties and events by different people all the time.	D.	Julie teaches Tae Kwan Do on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

20.

If the main idea of a paragraph is the importance of getting to bed early, which of the following would be an appropriate supporting sentence?

A.	People tend to have a more productive day when they wake up early.	B.	Staying up late allows more time to work on projects without interruption.	C.	Research has shown the quality of sleep is best before midnight.	D.	Most late night television shows and movies are a waste of time.

(1) Sacha and Randy were in charge of organizing a vacation for the whole family. (2) They had to take many factors into consideration when deciding on where to go and what to do. (3) The first factor they had to consider was how much members of the family could afford to spend on a vacation. (4) Once they set a budget, they had to think about what the relatives like to do. (5) All of them enjoy spending time in nature, and most of them love water-related activities, such as fishing and swimming. (6) Next, Sacha and Randy had to choose a vacation spot. (7) Since most of the relatives live in Indiana and Sacha and Randy live in Texas, they had to choose a centralized meeting place. (8) With a location in mind, the choice of activities became narrowed down. (9) Randy thought it would be a good idea to rent a large houseboat to accommodate the entire family in Arkansas for a week. (10) Sacha agreed wholeheartedly, so she started researching houseboat rentals. (11) She found a nice houseboat rental for a price that would be very affordable when divided among the family members. (12) Randy advised Sacha to make a reservation, while he contacted the rest of the family to let them know the vacation plan. (13) Everyone is excited about the river trip scheduled for next month. (14) Sacha and Randy are very relieved that everyone is satisfied with the trip they planned.
21.

Which sentence best supports the idea that Sacha considered the family's budget when she and Randy planned the vacation?

A.	(13) Everyone is excited about the river trip scheduled for next month.	B.	(11) She found a nice houseboat rental for a price that would be very affordable when divided among the family members.	C.	(14) Sacha and Randy are very relieved that everyone is satisfied with the trip they planned.	D.	(10) Sacha agreed wholeheartedly, so she started researching houseboat rentals.

22.

Which sentence from the paragraph best supports the idea that organizing a vacation for the entire family is a difficult task?

A.	(2) They had to take many factors into consideration when deciding on where to go and what to do.	B.	(12) Randy advised Sacha to make a reservation, while he contacted the rest of the family to let them know the vacation plan.	C.	(5) All of them enjoy spending time in nature, and most of them love water-related activities, such as fishing and swimming.	D.	(7) Since most of the relatives live in Indiana and Sacha and Randy live in Texas, they had to choose a centralized meeting place.

23.

Which sentence best supports the idea that Sacha and Randy did well at organizing the family vacation?

A.	(3) The first factor they had to consider was how much members of the family could afford to spend on a vacation.	B.	(14) Sacha and Randy are very relieved that everyone is satisfied with the trip they planned.	C.	(8) With a location in mind, the choice of activities became narrowed down.	D.	(6) Next, Sacha and Randy had to choose a vacation spot.

24.

Which sentence best supports the idea that Randy and Sacha considered the whole family's convenience when deciding on a location?

A.	(7) Since most of the relatives live in Indiana, and Sacha and Randy live in Texas, they had to choose a centralized meeting place.	B.	(12) Randy advised Sacha to make a reservation, while he contacted the rest of the family to let them know the vacation plan.	C.	(4) Once they set a budget, they had to think about what the relatives like to do.	D.	(9) Randy thought it would be a good idea to rent a large houseboat to accommodate the entire family in Arkansas for a week.

25.

Which sentence best supports the idea that renting a houseboat for a week would be something that Randy and Sacha's whole family would like to do?

A.	(9) Randy thought it would be a good idea to rent a large houseboat to accommodate the entire family in Arkansas for a week.	B.	(1) Sacha and Randy were in charge of organizing a vacation for the whole family.	C.	(5) All of them enjoy spending time in nature, and most of them love water-related activities, such as fishing and swimming.	D.	(3) The first factor they had to consider was how much members of the family could afford to spend on a vacation.

(1) Angelina Jolie, a well-known American actress, has made incredible efforts to help refugees of unstable countries. (2) Ms. Jolie has worked in refugee camps, donated large sums of money, and spoken to political officials regarding the problems that refugees face. (3) Angelina is a dedicated member of the United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees (UNHCR). (4) She has donated millions of dollars to fund organizations that shelter and rehabilitate refugees. (5) Besides working in the field with other UNHCR staff, Ms. Jolie has become active in the political arena. (6) Angelina Jolie's humanitarian acts and campaigns have raised awareness of the appalling circumstances refugees around the world are forced to confront.
26.

Which sentence could best be added after sentence 5?
(5) Besides working in the field with other UNHCR staff, Ms. Jolie has become active in the political arena.

A.	She has spoken about humanitarian issues in meetings with many political leaders, including the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos.	B.	She wrote about many of her encounters with refugees in a book called Notes from My Travels: Visits with Refugees in Africa, Cambodia, Pakistan and Ecuador.	C.	Recently, she has been nominated for an Oscar Award for Best Actress for her role in her latest movie, Changeling, which was directed by Clint Eastwood.	D.	While filming the movie Tomb Raider in Cambodia, in the year 2000, she became motivated to start her humanitarian work so she contacted the UNHCR.

27.

Which sentence in the passage best supports the idea that Angelina Jolie is a generous and wealthy person?

A.	Sentence 1	B.	Sentence 4	C.	Sentence 5	D.	Sentence 3

28.

Which sentence could best be added after sentence 3?
(3) Angelina is a dedicated member of the United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees (UNHCR).

A.	She and her life partner, Brad Pitt, handed out Christmas presents on December 25, 2006, to Colombian children at a refugee camp in Costa Rica.	B.	She has traveled the world with the UNHCR helping refugees by building shelters, distributing food and supplies, and listening to their needs.	C.	She visited Myanmar refugees in camps located in northern Thailand in order to convince the Thai government to allow them more freedom of movement.	D.	She has stated that she should learn from the spirited girls of the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya, who strongly desire to have an education.

29.

Which sentence could best be added after sentence 4?
(4) She has donated millions of dollars to fund organizations that shelter and rehabilitate refugees.

A.	Angelina encourages refugees to use their skills such as sewing, baking, hairdressing, etc. to contribute to their local economies and to integrate into their new surroundings.	B.	Angelina contributed $1 million to help Afghan refugees, $200,000 to UNHCR's work in Kenya in 2002, and she and her partner, Brad Pitt, donated $1 million to the UNHCR in 2007.	C.	Angelina has received many awards including the Citizen of the World Award in 2003, and in 2005 she was awarded the Global Humanitarian Award, as well as Cambodian citizenship.	D.	Angelina Jolie was named as a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador in 2001 and has visited over twenty countries worldwide to bring attention to refugees and advocate for their protection.

(1) The Pew Oceans Commission noted that high-tech fishing practices are depleting the numbers of fish within many prime species. (2) Also, high-tech practices produce wasteful by-catch (catching species that are not the target) and destroy breeding grounds for fish. (3) Another problem associated with the highly efficient methods used by industrial fishing fleets is that the large catches create an ample supply for the market, which in turn decreases the value of the fish. (4) The lower market value of the fish causes a profit loss for all, big business and local fishermen alike. (5) The decrease in value of the fish leads to the fishing companies' need to catch more fish to sell, which fuels a vicious cycle.
30.

Which of the following would be the best thesis to go along with the supporting statements given in the paragraph?

A.	Around the world, people still use traditional, relatively low-tech approaches like nets for fishing.	B.	One way consumers can help stop overfishing is to eat fish that are not in danger of being overfished.	C.	People who fish recreationally and competitively are drastically diminishing the ocean's supply of fish.	D.	Overfishing by big industries has created serious problems for fish and everyone in the fishing industry.

31.

Which statement from the paragraph best supports the idea that non-industrial fishermen suffer from the effects of overfishing?

A.	(4) The lower market value of the fish causes a profit loss for all, big business and local fishermen alike.	B.	(1) The Pew Oceans Commission noted that high-tech fishing practices are depleting the numbers of fish within many prime species.	C.	(5) The decrease in value of the fish leads to the fishing companies' need to catch more fish to sell, which fuels a vicious cycle.	D.	(2) Also, high-tech practices produce wasteful by-catch (catching species that are not the target) and destroy breeding grounds for fish.

32.

Which of these statements can best be added after sentence 1 as a supporting detail?
(1) The Pew Oceans Commission noted that high-tech fishing practices are depleting the numbers of fish within many prime species.

A.	Organizations like the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Environmental Defense, and Audubon are making efforts to thwart the overfishing problem by offering free seafood resource guides to the public.	B.	The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations did a study in 2005 and found that almost a quarter of commercial species now being fished are close to, at, or beyond their capacity.	C.	Bottom trawling is a method in which fishing nets are drug across the ocean floor in coastal and deep waters. Satellite images show the paths of destruction left behind by this method of fishing.	D.	The ocean contains more life than anywhere else on earth and is divided into several zones, including oceanic, profundal, benthic, intertidal, estuaries, mangroves, coral reefs, salt marshes, and hydrothermal vents.

The city of Irving, Texas, has long been known as a middle-class white suburb of Dallas. One of the world's largest companies, ExxonMobil, has its corporate headquarters there. For more than 37 years it was home to the Dallas Cowboys professional football team. Football is a real passion for many Texans. Driving into Irving from the east, you're greeted by the town's most famous building: the white-domed Texas Stadium with the big hole in its roof. Until 2009, it was where the Cowboys played their home games. The Cowboys have now moved to a neighboring city, where a larger stadium was built. The Cowboys won five Super Bowl titles while based in Irving.
However, Irving is changing fast. The Cowboys have moved out, and Texas Stadium will be torn down. The ethnic makeup of the city is also changing. According to the most recent census data, Latinos made up 41 percent of Irving's population in 2007. The low home prices have attracted many people. Irving also has many city parks. In 1980, Irving was 93 percent Anglo. Many expect Irving's Latino population to increase to more than 50 percent.
You don't need census data to see the change. Many restaurant signs and billboards are in Spanish. Bookstores have large sections devoted to books in Spanish. At a coffee shop, many of the customers order in Spanish. Many customers will order café con leche, or coffee with milk, a favorite drink in Mexico. Latin America has definitely made its way to suburban Texas.
33.

Which of these sentences least supports the main idea of the passage?

A.	"The ethnic makeup of the city is also changing."	B.	"Football is a real passion for many Texans."	C.	"The Cowboys have moved out, and Texas Stadium will be torn down."	D.	"Until 2009, it was where the Cowboys played their home games."

34.

Which of these sentences most strongly supports the main idea of this passage?

A.	"Driving into Irving from the east, you're greeted by the town's most famous building: the white-domed Texas Stadium with the big hole in its roof."	B.	"Many customers will order café con leche, or coffee with milk, a favorite drink in Mexico."	C.	"Irving also has many city parks."	D.	"Many expect Irving's Latino population to increase to more than 50 percent."

(1) For almost a century, the fate and fortune of Windsor, Ontario, in Canada, have been intertwined with that of Detroit, Michigan. (2) For years, General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler have made cars on both sides of the Detroit River. (3) They would send parts and vehicles back and forth at will. (4) The children of the workers on both sides of the border have experienced similar problems regarding obesity. (5) Those living in Windsor worked in the car plants, bought the cars, and followed American sports teams. (6) They often spent a night entertaining themselves in downtown Detroit, just like the American workers. (7) There have been some differences however—like the Canadian French language and Canadian nationalized health care system. (8) Additionally, the Canadian passion for hockey has never been matched by their American neighbors. (9) Still, the Canadian and American autoworkers have lived remarkably similar lives. (10) Then, in 2008, the two suffered a similar fate as the American car industry, headquartered in Detroit, shrunk in response to the global economic downturn.
35.

Which sentence supports the main idea stated in the first sentence?

A.	sentence 9	B.	sentence 8	C.	sentence 7	D.	sentence 10

36.

Which sentence least supports the main idea of this passage?

A.	sentence 4	B.	sentence 2	C.	sentence 5	D.	sentence 10

37.

Dolphins are considered to be one of the most intelligent animals known to man. Their high intelligence is credited to their large brain size. This accounts for their ability to be trained to perform and to adapt well to human contact. Dolphins are also thought to communicate—or talk—to one another through various forms of vocalization. There are a number of documented instances where dolphins saved a human life. Dolphins have also been employed by a number of armed forces for various purposes, from finding mines to rescuing lost or trapped humans.
Which sentence supports the main idea that dolphins are intelligent animals?

A.	Dolphins are social animals, living in pods of up to a dozen individuals.	B.	Dolphins have been observed strategizing and using tools to solve problems.	C.	Dolphins are marine mammals that are closely related to whales and porpoises.	D.	Dolphins seem to enjoy riding waves and frequently surf coastal swells.

38.

Which sentence best supports the statement below?

Dave, a huge fan of piano music, would have really enjoyed the concert on Friday night.

A.	The famous pianist played every note of Dave's favorite song with zeal and perfection.	B.	The flute soloist received a standing ovation at the end of her passionate performance.	C.	Dave's ex-girlfriend, Sandy, and her new boyfriend, Joe, sat directly two rows in front of us.	D.	Even though the tickets were expensive, every seat in the grand concert hall was occupied.

(1) Adrian's mom, Beth, and I get along extremely well. (2) We share similar interests such as reading, kickboxing, and shopping. (3) We both like to shop for bargains. (4) Also, we have such a great time in our kickboxing class. (5) Beth has been showing me ways to improve my technique. (6) As fate would have it, we even share the same favorite author, Nora Brown.
39.

Which sentence could best be added after sentence 6?
(6) As fate would have it, we even share the same favorite author, Nora Brown.

A.	I have read every single one of the Nora Brown novels at the local public library.	B.	I should invite Adrian to come with us to the next book club meeting on Friday.	C.	Each time one of us finishes a Nora Brown novel, we loan it to the other.	D.	One of my other favorite authors is Science Fiction writer Michael Crichton.

40.

Which sentence could best be added after sentence 3?
(3) We both like to shop for bargains.

A.	We spent an entire day going from one neighborhood yard sale to the next.	B.	Another good friend of mine just went snow skiing at a resort in Colorado.	C.	I've always wanted to go shopping for the trend-setting fashions in Paris.	D.	One of my favorite hobbies is solving crossword puzzles in the newspaper.

41.

Which sentence best supports the statement below?

My grandmother was a talented cook.

A.	People would wait in line for hours to eat the food she prepared at a restaurant in Paducah, Kentucky, her hometown.	B.	She loved to make all kinds of desserts, such as apple pie, chocolate cake, butterscotch pudding, and cheesecake.	C.	My grandmother's favorite food to prepare from scratch and to consume slowly was chicken and dumplings.	D.	My grandfather was thin, even though he never went without a hearty meal while married to my grandmother.

42.

Which sentence best supports the statement below?

Jerome would be a good leader for the community art project.

A.	Jerome has gotten involved in the local art scene by attending shows, and he sometimes exhibits his own work.	B.	Jerome and I have visited the Chicago Institute of Art on several occasions over the past year and a half.	C.	Jerome's teachers never thought that he would be a great leader, but his mother and father disagreed with them.	D.	Jerome's favorite movie, entitled Pollock, is about the life of a famous American artist named Jackson Pollock.

43.

(1) The pomegranate is an ancient fruit that is cultivated and enjoyed around the world. (2) Pomegranates are believed to have several health benefits. (3) It is native to the region from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran to the Himalayas in northern India. (4) It is widely cultivated throughout Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, India, Southeast Asia, Peninsular Malaysia, the East Indies, and tropical Africa. (5) Introduced into Latin America and California by Spanish settlers in 1769, pomegranate is now cultivated mainly in the drier parts of California and Arizona where its fruits are exploited commercially as juice products.
Which sentence least supports the main idea?

A.	sentence 1	B.	sentence 2	C.	sentence 5	D.	sentence 3

44.

(1) Bonsai is the art of aesthetic miniaturization of trees by growing them in containers. (2) Bonsai are not genetically dwarfed plants. (3) They are created from nearly any tree or shrub species and remain small through pot confinement and crown and root pruning. (4) Originating in China, Bonsai is a Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese word Penzai. (5) The small size of the tree and the dwarfing of foliage are maintained through a consistent regiment of pruning of both the leaves and the roots.
Which sentence least supports the main idea?

A.	sentence 3	B.	sentence 4	C.	sentence 5	D.	sentence 2

45.

There have been many studies that suggest that color affects mood. Blue is a positive color that is symbolic of the sky and ocean. It often helps to promote peace and tranquility. It can also suggest loyalty, strength, and cleanliness. Blue is a popular color found in bedrooms.
Which sentence would be inappropriate as a supporting sentence for the passage above?

A.	Blue can be considered cold and depressing.	B.	A pure blue can be a source of inspiration.	C.	People are often more productive in blue rooms.	D.	Blue is considered to have the most global appeal.

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kokeslo

2012-03-15