English Online Test

2. The process by which nerve cells send signals is ____ clearly understood.
A none
B no
C not
D nothing

3. Arctic animals ____ a means of controlling body temperature in such a cold ,barren climate if they are to survive .
A need
B needing
C to need
D was needed

4. ____ state of California is also known as the "Golden State" because California's hills were once believed to be made of gold.
A The
B There is a
C That the
D As the

5. Aspartame is a combination of proteins that is much sweeter ____ .
A than sugar does
B does cane sugar
C cane sugar
D than cane sugar

6. Current patterns and topography maps of the seas ____ from satellite photographs.
A can be drawn
B can drawn
C to draw
D drawn

7. By the middle of the nineteenth century,the scientists and engineers in the United States had begun to exert ____ over technology.
A influence worldwide a great
B a great worldwide influence
C influence a great worldwide
D a worldwide influence great

8. ____ billions of barrels of oil exist in the vast caverns beneath the Pacific Ocean.
A It is estimated that
B An estimate that
C That is estimated
D That the estimate

9. The extent of the stimulant effect of coffee on people depends on the circumstances____ the plants grow.
A which
B which in
C in which
D in

10. The guitar solo first ____ as a popular form of musical performance in the twentieth century.
Ato emerge
Bemerging
Chas emerged
Demerged

11. ____ complex organic compounds originating in cells.
ALipids
BLipids are
CLipids which are
DLipids while they

12. In the western part of Nevada ____ , a major tourist and entertainment center.
Alies the city of Las Vegas
Bthe city of Las Vegas Lies there
Caround the city of Las Vegas lies
Dthere lies the city of Las Vegas around

13.Work on superconductivity,____ has attracted a relatively small number of reseachers.
Ais a very specialized field
Bwhich a very specialized field is
Ca very specialized field
Da field very specialized which

14. ____ ,the First Amendment to the Constitution provided for freedom of speech ,press and assembly.
AIn 1791 they drafted
BThe draft in 1791
CIn 1791 was drafted
DDrafted in 1791

15. When ____ in desert climates, the Navajo construct lean-tos as temporary summer shelters.
Atravel
Bto travel
Ctraveling them
Dtraveling

16. For years small communities of researchers (A) have living underground(B) in parts of the arctic(C) where the climate is harsh and the winds are(D) strong.
A
B
C
D

17. Thomas Edison(A) made the first microphone(B) for self (C) by combining a thin reed and a metal conductor (D) together.
A
B
C
D

18.(A)Not only do hydroelectric power (B) systems provide (C) people with irrigation and drinking water, but they also provide(D) importantly sources of electrical power.
A
B
C
D

19. The Federal Communications Commission (A) supervises the (B) suitable and (C) quality of (D) radio .
A
B
C
D

20.(A) All cars, (B)alike most trains and(C) a few propeller planes, depend on combustion(D) inside a piston cylinder.
A
B
C
D

21. The (B) expansion of adult education centers has resulted (B) partially from the service-based economy , which (C) encouraging employees to update (D) their skills for the changing job market.
A
B
C
D

22.The most (A) significant evolutionary characteristic of the primates (B) are the development (C) of the (D) opposable thumb.
A
B
C
D

23.Ludwig Beethoven was often (A) indifferent to the (B) titles of his (C)composed and was generally oblivious to the names given them (D)years after their completion .
A
B
C
D

24.Benny Goodman's orchestra , playing his original (A) compositions and arrangements , (B) achieving a (C) fine distinction among his peers and contributed numerous innovations to (D) modern big band jazz .
A
B
C
D

25. Mosquioes are (A) almost completely deaf , although (B) its (C) tiny ears (D) can distinguish noise from silence.
A
B
C
D

26.Weed is a (A) horticultural term referring (B) toward unpleasant , (C) unwanted , or intolerable plant (D) growth .
A
B
C
D

27.Susan B. Anthony , the first woman to vote in the United States , (A) founded the American Women's Suffrage Movement , (B) an institution that (C) have always had a women's rights (D) agenda .
A
B
C
D

28.Criminal assault , (A) committed against a (B) member of the public , may (C) consist of harassing behavior , (D) threatening , or physical harm to others .
A
B
C
D

29.The realist movement in art was a (A) reaction against (B) abstract methods of (C) portray (D) reality .
A
B
C
D

30.During the 1950's (A) skilled (B) computer programmers (C) scarce were in (D) what is now Silicon Valley.
A
B
C
D

Questions 31 - 40

In America,the movement of housing away from the high-rise buildings of the inner-cities originated in the 1920s,but was stalled by the Great Depression of the 1930s and by World War II .After the war a tremendous surge occurred in the real estate market with the advent of single-family homes on relatively small lots -- typically less than one-tenth of an acre. During the 1950s, many large tract developments encroached on former farmlands near metropolitan areas. The most dramatic instances of this sprawling effect were vitnessed in western municipalities such as San Jose and San Diego whose city charters defined their boundaries over several hundred square kilometers. These large parcels of land were overrun by standard three bedroom,two bath ,"ranch-style" homes in a few short decades.

By the 1960s construction had subsided significantly and developers began building different kinds of plans to try and accommodate the changes in the market. Those who had taken advantage of the suburbanization trend in the post-war years had seen the value of their real estate increase dramatically and many were anxious to re-invest their assets.In an effort to reap this affluence,certain contractors moved away from the standard models and began designing larger buldings on increasingly spacious parcels even farther from city centers. Other builders began working on homes to meet the needs of young couples starting new families. The townhouse, a two to three-story brick and frame structure containing more than 4 but less than 30 units per structure ,was seen as the solution. These apartments were successful in luring many young adult city dwellers out to the suburbs.

In subsequent development ,traditional single family ranch-style designs continued to be embraced , but new forms were also introduced : the condominium, a single-family attached dwelling;the triplex and fourplex, three- and four-family structures, and prefabs, which have become significantly more popular during the last 20 years owing to their low cost and ease of construction . The prefabs have the additional distinction of being mobile. It is not uncommon to see semi-trailers hauling these modular living units along the freeways to remote destinations. In a very real sense ,this phenomena marks the cutting edge of suburbanization: a move out of the traditional suburbs and into areas that were formally considered wilderness.

31.What is the primary topic of the passage?
AReal-estate finance
BSuburban housing
CConstruction techniques
DPopulation increase

32.According to the passage, when did suburban housing experience its greatest increase in America?
A1940's
B1950's
C1960's
D1970's

33.In the first paragraph,the underlined word "surge" is closest in meaning to
Aincrease
Bdecline
Cdesire
Dorder

34.It can be inferred that the large population incrases in San Diego and San Jose were due to
Aincreased employment in the area
Bexcellent year-round weather
Cproximity to the coast
Dlarge municipal areas

35.How did suburban construction change in the 1960's?
AIt inceased in the cities of San Diego and San Jose.
BIt slowed and developed more specific markets.
CIt slowed and developed a unified approach.
DIt relied more on prefab housing.

36.Which of the following was NOT true of the larger suburban houses built in the sixties?
AThey were built larger than traditional suburban homes.
BThey were mainly sold to people who already owned homes.
CThey were on larger pieces of land.
DThey were closer to the city

37.In the second paragraph ,the underlined word "reap" is closest in meaning to
Aovercome
Bharvest
Calter
Davoid

38.According to the passage,how did the townhouse differ from a traditional suburban home?
AThey costs more to build.
BThey were built near cities.
CSeveral homes were grouped together.
DThey attracted older buyers.

39.Which of the following is NOT mentioned as an alternative to traditional suburban housing?
AHigh-rise buildings
BPrefabricated housing
CTriplexes and fourplexes
DCondominiums

40.What does the author imply about future housing development?
AIt will continue to move away from the city centers.
BIt will slow down as the economy falters.
CAll housing will be mobilized.
DThe move towards suburbs has cut to the end.

Questions 41 - 50

When European explorers came across the densely clustered earthen homes of the southwestern American Indians,they described them as pueblos -- the Spanish word for town or village.The name conveys the complexity of these ancient multi-storied buildings which marked a high point in the engineering feats of the region's native people.

The earthen homes were typically built beneath a large rock overhang to take advantage of the shelter from winter rains and the hot desert sun. An additional advantage of this carefully chosen lacation was the ability to maintain steady internal temperatures through contact with the thermal mass of solid rock along the rear walls.

In the earliest times,the exteriors were made of sandstone blocks.Since this mateial was relatively soft , it was easy to cut slabs from the mountains and build thick walls mortared with mud from a nearby stream. In areas where the stone was either too difficult to cut ,or where there was a short supply of suitable material ,the blocks could be built from mud mixed with dried grass and small sticks ; this product was known as "adobe".

Ingenious techniques were involved in the construction of the roofs.Although there were few trees available in the desert regions,the men of the tribe would collect any lumber long enough to cover the span between the walls.These flexible poles were then interlaced with smaller sticks,and finally with small twigs and leaves. Once the covering was strong enough to walk on , river mud and dried grasses were applied in several layers until a sufficient thickness had been accumulated to give the final rigid form.

The second story was typically set back a dozen meters allowing a "front yard" for cooking,basket weaving and tanning animal skins.This terraced effect created a spacious living environment and allowed both an organized area for domestic activities as well as an easy method of passage from one house to another.

41.What is the primary topic of the passage?
AThe southwesern American Indians
BThe ancient uses of Sandstone blocks
CThe architecture of the southwestern Indian
DThe most practical ancient housing

42.What can be inferred about the buildings fromthe fact they were named "pueblos"?
AThey were only built near a city.
BThey could contain many people.
CThe style was created by the Spanish.
DThey were built of local materials.

43.In the first paragraph ,the underlined word " feats " is closest in meaning to
Aaccomplishments
Bdestinies
Cexertions
Dcelebrations

44.It can be inferred that the interior section of the pueblo with the most regular temperature would be
Athe front
Bthe terrace
Cthe left side
Dthe rear section

45.What were the original pueblos built of ?
ASticks and grass
BAdobe
CRiver mud
DCarved blocks

46.What method was used in areas where it was too difficult to cut stone?
ASofter stones were used.
BRiver rocks were used.
CMud was molded into bricks.
DSticks were used.

47.According to the passage,what aspect of pueblo construction was most interesting?
AThe cutting of rocks
BThe mixing of mud
CThe building of roofs
DThe terraced patios

48.In the fifth paragraph , the underlined word "terraced" is closest in meaning to
AStepped
BOpened
CEnclosed
DNoteworthy

49.Which of the following was not mentioned as an activity performed on the front section of the pueblo
ACooking
BSun tanning
CMaking leather
DWeaving

50.It can be inferred that every level of the pueblo had a terrace EXCEPT
Athe second story
Bthe top story
Cthe first story
Dthe third story