TEAS Reading #3

If an author argues that children like strawberries more than any other fruit, what would be the best evidence to support her argument?

What might be one counterclaim to this? Choose the answer that provides a counterclaim and evaluates the speaker’s argument.

In a debate, the first speaker claims that “Students should be allowed to graduate from school after completing the 10th grade, instead of making them attend until they are 18. Most students will not go to college, so it doesn’t make sense to waste their time preparing for something that won’t happen. These students need the extra years to start working regular jobs and supporting their families. ”

For some, the poverty and deprivations of youth must be credited with the grandest achievements of adulthood. The poet Robert Burns and his brother were expected to do the work of men at the age of thirteen. He had some schooling before then, and must have improved during this time, for he could read and spell well, and had some knowledge of English grammar.
Which of the following would provide the best support for the claim made in the first line of the passage?

Which of the following information is included in the advertisement?

Welcome to Heartland Insurance
You’re going to love Heartland’s quality protection, flexible coverage, varying policy periods, low premiums and our award-winning customer service.
Auto: Heartland provides comprehensive auto insurance for drivers that other companies might not want to insure. We specialize in insuring drivers who have not previously had insurance or who have been dropped from other insurance plans. Our policies reward drivers with lower rates when their driving records improve and when they go claim-free for a certain period of time.
Motorcycle: Our preferred motorcycle insurance plans include protection you won’t find in most standard policies, such as collision coverage that includes the total cost of towing and road service, automatic coverage of up to 2,500 of optional equipment, and rental car coverage of up to 50 per day. Additional coverage can be purchased for accessories valued over 2,500. Special discounts* apply to members of approved riding clubs, riders who complete a certified training course, and riders with more than five years’ claim-free riding.
Be sure to ask about our 200 new customer discount!
Local callers to our uptown location: 575-555-4539
Local callers to our downtown location: 575-555-9587–or apply online and receive a 10% discount just for downloading our new app!
*Discounts vary and may not be available in all fifty states.

According to the advertisement, which of the following is true?

Job Description:
Assistant City Attorney – City of Elm
The City of Elm is now hiring for the position of assistant City Attorney, litigation. Candidates must be members in Good Standing of the California State Bar Association. Ideal candidates will have:
– at least 3 years litigation experience
– the ability to work both self-directed and as part of a team
– the ability to manage a large caseload
Competitive salary and excellent benefits offered. Position available immediately.
Send completed application to:
HR Department
Attention Veronica Smith
1 City Center Plaza
Elm, California 95763

According to the author’s description, which of the following is most likely to be a message from Greek mythology?

Greek mythology is a vehicle that uses mythological characters and creatures to teach people about the dangers, beauties and possible outcomes of life. In many myths, characters face moral dilemmas involving honor and practicality. The protagonists of epics face creatures that represent values and challenges such as respect, temptation and redemption. How has Greek mythology inevitably evolved with time and new story tellers? Scholars that have interpreted Greek mythology seek to maintain the universal values conveyed in these stories, while ensuring the validity of adapting these stories to their own distinct cultures. It is up to each reader to seek their own truths and learn from epic Greek mythology as best they can.

Which source provides the best material for your assignment?

You are preparing for a class discussion on a local issue: should the town acquire a wetland in order to protect it? You have access to two sources of information. Evaluate the views in both sources.
1) A retired physics professor, being interviewed on a morning news show, mentions: “It’s obvious that our town needs to buy this land. We have to protect what we have from greedy developers who only want to turn a profit.”
2) An article written by an ecologist on a well-known news site notes: “It is in our best interest to purchase this land. Wetlands are disappearing and there are not enough private donors to help with their protection.”

What is the main argument of this essay?

The next three questions are based on the following passage.
What’s Real About It?
I suppose I don’t understand why it is called reality television. It has been argued that reality television has been a part of television since the beginnings of television programming. Through game shows and daytime talk shows, real people, as in non-actors, have made appearances on television for the entertainment of others. A new genre of reality television that became the new phenomenon, however, was introduced in the year 2000, with shows such as “Survivor.”
The idea behind “Survivor” is like many in reality television. There are contestants, they are put in extreme situations, and in the end, someone wins a prize. The other main style of reality television involves cameras following someone around as they live their daily life.
My confusion comes from the title of reality. Reality means the state of which things actually exist, but reality television does not display the state in which life actually exists. In real life, not many people will be deserted on a distant island or forced to live in a house with several strangers. Additionally, cameras do not follow people around on a normal day. People live their lives, and exist in a reality that is not meant for entertainment or for masses of people to watch.
It is no surprise to discover that most audiences find it interesting to watch people who are not actors on television. There is something intriguing about fame for the average person. It is as if the viewer can relate more to the show that he or she is watching, because it is real people put in fake situations rather than fake people and characters acting in life-like situations. However, there cannot be anything called reality television that would be both an accurate description of life and provide necessary entertainment.

The passage describes recent hurricane seasons as the most expensive on record. Which of the following statements gives the implied reason for this increased expense?

The next three questions are based on the following passage. The loss of barrier islands through erosion poses a serious challenge to many communities along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts. Along with marshes and wetlands, these islands protect coastal towns from major storms. In the past seventy years, Louisiana alone has lost almost 2,000 square miles of coastal land to hurricanes and flooding. More than 100 square miles of wetlands protecting the city of New Orleans were wiped out by a single storm, Hurricane Katrina. Due to this exposure of coastal communities, recent hurricane seasons have proven the most expensive on record: annual losses since 2005 have been estimated in the hundreds of billions of dollars. This unfortunate trend is likely to continue, since meteorological research shows that the Atlantic basin is in an active storm period that could continue for decades.

Which of the following would best support the idea that “fracking,” shooting water and chemicals into the ground at a high pressure to gain access to underground gas stores, may be hazardous to the environment?

Who is the author of this article?

The following is an excerpt of an article published by The New York Times announcing the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
AWFUL EVENT
President Lincoln Shot by an Assassin
The Deed Done at Ford’s Theatre Last Night
THE ACT OF A DESPERATE REBEL
The President Still Alive at Last Accounts No Hopes
Entertained of His Recovery
Attempted Assassination of Secretary Seward
DETAILS OF THE DREADFUL TRAGEDY.
Official
War Department, Washington April 15, 1:30 A.M. – Maj. Gen. Dis.: This evening at about 9:30 P.M. at Ford’s Theatre, the President, while sitting in his private box with Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Harris, and Major Rathburn, was shot by an assassin, who suddenly entered the box and appeared behind the President. The assassin then leaped upon the stage, brandishing a large dagger or knife, and made his escape in the rear of the theatre.
The pistol ball entered the back of the President’s head and penetrated nearly through the head. The wound is mortal. The President has been insensible ever since it was inflicted, and is now dying.
About the same hour an assassin, whether the same or not, entered Mr. Sewards’ apartments, and under the pretense of having a prescription, was shown to the Secretary’s sick chamber. The assassin immediately rushed to the bed, and inflicted two or three stabs on the throat and two on the face. It is hoped the wounds may not be mortal. My apprehension is that they will prove fatal.
The nurse alarmed Mr. Frederick Seward, who was in an adjoining room, and hastened to the door of his father’s room, when he met the assassin, who inflicted upon him one or more dangerous wounds. The recovery of Frederick Seward is doubtful.
It is not probable that the President will live throughout the night.
Gen. Grant and wife were advertised to be at the theatre this evening, but he started to Burlington at 6 o’clock this evening. At a Cabinet meeting at which Gen. Grant was present, the subject of the state of the country and the prospect of a speedy peace was discussed. The President was very cheerful and hopeful, and spoke very kindly of Gen. Lee and others of the Confederacy, and of the establishment of government in Virginia.
All the members of the Cabinet except Mr. Seward are now in attendance upon the President. I have seen Mr. Seward, but he and Frederick were both unconscious.
Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War.

In the author’s opinion

But man is not destined to vanish. He can be killed, but he cannot be destroyed, because his soul is deathless and his spirit is irrepressible. Therefore, though the situation seems dark in the context of the confrontation between the superpowers, the silver lining is provided by amazing phenomenon that the very nations which have spent incalculable resources and energy for the production of deadly weapons are desperately trying to find out how they might never be used. They threaten each other, intimidate each other and go to the brink, but before the total hour arrives they withdraw from the brink.

This passage principally intends to:

Disequilibrium at the interface of water and air is a factor on which the transfer of heat and water vapor from the ocean to the air depends. The air within about a millimeter of the water is almost saturated with water vapor and the temperature of the air is close to that of the surface water. Irrespective of how small these differences might be, they are crucial, and the disequilibrium is maintained by air near the surface mixing with air higher up, which is typically appreciably cooler and lower in water vapor content. The turbulence, which takes its energy from the wind mixes the air. As the speed of wind increases, so does the turbulence, and consequently the rate of heat and moisture transfer. We can arrive at a detailed understanding of this phenomenon after further study. The transfer of momentum from wind to water, which occurs when waves are formed is an interacting-and complicated phenomenon. When waves are made by the wind, it transfers important amounts of energy-energy, which is consequently not available for the production of turbulence.

What is the author’s primary purpose in writing this passage?

The next two questions are based on the following passage.
Helen Keller was born on June 27, 1880. She was a happy and healthy child until the age of 19 months when she fell ill with a terrible fever. Although Helen recovered from the fever, it left her both deaf and blind.
Helen was loved and cared for by her doting parents, but her behavior became erratic after she lost her hearing and sight, with unpredictable outbursts of temper. Her parents were at a loss how to reach her and teach her how to behave. Helen herself was frustrated and lonely in her dark, silent world. All of that began to change in March 1887 when Anne Sullivan came to live with the Kellers and be Helen’s teacher.
Anne taught Helen to communicate by forming letters with her fingers held in another person’s hand. In this way, Teacher, as Helen called her, taught her pupil to spell cake, doll, and milk. However, it was not until Anne spelled w-a-t-e-r in Helen’s hands as cold water gushed over both of them that Helen made the exciting connection between the words and the world around her. This connection engendered an insatiable curiosity within Helen. After that day, Helen learned at an incredible rate with Teacher by her side.
Helen went on to graduate from Radcliffe College. She became a famous writer, speaker, and advocate. The story of Helen’s remarkable life is known worldwide. Anne Sullivan and Helen Keller were inseparable until Anne’s death in 1936. Teacher shined a light in Helen’s dark world and showed her the way.

Which of the following statements from the passage is a detail that supports the idea that the monarch is “facing a number of threats to its existence”?

Monarch Butterflies
Take a moment and think of a butterfly—any type of butterfly at all. Chances are good that the distinct orange, black, and yellow monarch butterfly came to mind. The monarch is perhaps the most beautiful of all butterflies in existence. That is, to a human the coloration is beautiful, but not so for other animals. The coloring is like a flashing red light to potential predators, sending a warning that the insect is foul tasting and poisonous. However, the greatest threat to the wellbeing of the monarch butterfly might not be coming from predators, but from the activities of humans.
As larvae, monarch caterpillars feed almost exclusively on the milkweed plant. This plant is critical for their survival and adults will return to areas rich in milkweed to lay their eggs directly on the plants. The milkweed that they feed on contains a poisonous toxin that is then stored in their bodies. This is what makes the monarch butterfly taste so terrible to predators. An animal that eats a monarch probably won’t die, but it will feel sick enough to avoid other monarchs in the future.
Perhaps the most amazing aspect of the monarch is its 3000-mile annual migration. Every year as winter approaches, millions of these insects leave their homes in the United States and Canada, heading south to Southern California and Mexico. They travel between fifty and one hundred miles a day, the entire journey taking up to two months to complete. The monarchs return to the same forests every year, with some landing on the same trees that their ancestors did years earlier. As many as one billion of these delicate creatures find their way to the mountains of Mexico each year. Towards the end of winter, the monarchs mate. The males die soon afterwards but the females fly north, depositing eggs on milkweed plants along the way. Eventually, they too will die along the journey. The eggs will hatch and the larvae will become butterflies. These insects then continue the journey north.
Sadly, this regal insect is facing a number of threats to its existence. For one, scientists predict that one major effect of climate change will be wetter and colder winters. If they are dry, monarchs can survive sub-freezing temperatures, but if they’re wet, they will freeze to death. Furthermore, as summers warm, habitats that are suitable for them will begin to move further and further north. This results in longer migrations. Before long, the distances may simply be too much for the insects to handle. Finally, the monarch faces extreme habitat loss in Mexico. Illegal logging there has greatly reduced the forests where the butterflies head in the winter. This problem in particular has become so serious that the International Union for Conservation of Nature listed the monarch as a “threatened phenomena.” Will the monarch survive? It seems that it is up to the actions of human beings.

Based on this information, which of the following travel guides will be best for her?

Gemma is planning her vacation and has been hoping for several years to travel to Hawaii. She only has one week to visit, though, so she has to make the most of her trip. Her goal is to see as much as possible in a short period of time, while also giving herself a chance to relax and enjoy the experience.

The author would most likely agree that Swift

Jonathan Swift’s dark view of humanity is expressed in his novel Gulliver’s Travels (1726). Swift believed that society, which is meant to protect people from inequality and injustice, actually encourages the worst evils, promotes immorality, and allows injustices to occur. In Gulliver’s Travels, Swift asks whether “civilization” is only an elaborate cover for the lowest forms of human behavior. Swift raises this question through satire, a literary form which he brings to perfection in Gulliver’s Travels. Following in the great tradition of classical satirists, Swift uses his novel to point out the underlying ridiculousness of the society around him. In one section of Gulliver’s Travels, for example, Gulliver describes his native England to the king of a land of giants. Gulliver talks enthusiastically to the giant king about the class system, laws, constitution, military glory, and history of his homeland. After carefully listening to Gulliver’s speech, however, the king proceeds to point out the many shortcomings of Gulliver’s native land. Gulliver is unable to come up with adequate responses to the criticism. He can only stand there in embarrassed silence as the king eventually concludes that the institutions of the human world should be condemned.

The primary focus of the writer’s argument in the passage is

Jonathan Swift’s dark view of humanity is expressed in his novel Gulliver’s Travels (1726). Swift believed that society, which is meant to protect people from inequality and injustice, actually encourages the worst evils, promotes immorality, and allows injustices to occur. In Gulliver’s Travels, Swift asks whether “civilization” is only an elaborate cover for the lowest forms of human behavior. Swift raises this question through satire, a literary form which he brings to perfection in Gulliver’s Travels. Following in the great tradition of classical satirists, Swift uses his novel to point out the underlying ridiculousness of the society around him. In one section of Gulliver’s Travels, for example, Gulliver describes his native England to the king of a land of giants. Gulliver talks enthusiastically to the giant king about the class system, laws, constitution, military glory, and history of his homeland. After carefully listening to Gulliver’s speech, however, the king proceeds to point out the many shortcomings of Gulliver’s native land. Gulliver is unable to come up with adequate responses to the criticism. He can only stand there in embarrassed silence as the king eventually concludes that the institutions of the human world should be condemned.

This passage is mainly about ____

The next four questions are based on the passage below.
Harriet Tubman was a runaway slave from Maryland who became known as the “Moses of her people.” Over the course of 10 years, and at great personal risk, she led hundreds of slaves to freedom along the Underground Railroad, a secret network of safe houses where runaway slaves could stay on their journey north to freedom. She later became a leader in the abolitionist movement, and during the Civil War she was a spy for the federal forces in South Carolina as well as a nurse.
Harriet Tubman’s name at birth was Araminta Ross. She was one of 11 children of Harriet and Benjamin Ross born into slavery in Dorchester County, Maryland. As a child, Ross was “hired out” by her master as a nursemaid for a small baby. Ross had to stay awake all night so that the baby wouldn’t cry and wake the mother. If Ross fell asleep, the baby’s mother whipped her. From a very young age, Ross was determined to gain her freedom.
As a slave, Araminta Ross was scarred for life when she refused to help in the punishment of another young slave. A young man had gone to the store without permission, and when he returned, the overseer wanted to whip him. He asked Ross to help but she refused. When the young man started to run away, the overseer picked up a heavy iron weight and threw it at him. He missed the young man and hit Ross instead. The weight nearly crushed her skull and left a deep scar. She was unconscious for days, and suffered from seizures for the rest of her life.
In 1844, Ross married a free black named John Tubman and took his last name. She also changed her first name, taking her mother’s name, Harriet. In 1849, worried that she and the other slaves on the plantation were going to be sold, Tubman decided to run away. Her husband refused to go with her, so she set out with her two brothers, and followed the North Star in the sky to guide her north to freedom. Her brothers became frightened and turned back, but she continued on and reached Philadelphia. There she found work as a household servant and saved her money so she could return to help others escape.

Which of the following labels best describes the previous passage?

The next four questions are based on the following passage.
Magnesium is an important nutrient that supports immune system functioning and helps protect the body against cardiovascular diseases. Symptoms of magnesium deficiency rarely surface among populations in developed countries, but concern is growing that many people may not have sufficient body stores of this metal. Surveys show that most Americans do not receive a minimum daily requirement of magnesium in their diets.
Magnesium is absorbed from foods by the intestines, before the circulatory system transports it to the body’s tissues. Less than one-half of ingested magnesium normally is taken up in this way. Health issues affecting the digestive tract may impair magnesium absorbance. For example, gastrointestinal disorders such as Crohn’s disease can limit magnesium uptake. The kidneys normally limit urinary excretion of magnesium, a function that can help make up for low dietary intake. However, alcohol abuse and certain medications can affect this balance and thereby lead to magnesium depletion.
Symptoms of magnesium deficiency include vomiting, fatigue, and loss of appetite. More severe cases can include symptoms such as muscular cramps, seizures, and coronary abnormalities. Magnesium insufficiency also can affect the body’s ability to absorb other cations, including calcium and potassium, and can lead to other health complications. Good sources of dietary magnesium include leafy green vegetables, potatoes, nuts, and seeds.

Among the following structural patterns in a paragraph, which does a writer use to show readers something instead of telling them something?

Which of the following statements represents the central idea of this passage?

The next two questions are based on the following passage.
Students may take classes in a wide variety of subjects for fun or self-improvement. Some classes provide students with training in useful life skills such as cooking or personal finance. Other classes provide instruction intended for recreational purposes, with topics such as photography, pottery, or painting. Classes may consist of large or small groups, or they may involve one-on-one instruction in subjects like singing or playing a musical instrument. Classes taught by self-enrichment teachers seldom lead to a degree, and attendance in these classes is voluntary. Although often taught in non-academic settings, these classes’ topics may include academic subjects such as literature, foreign languages, and history. Despite their informal nature, these courses can provide students with useful work-related skills such as knowledge of computers or foreign languages; these skills make students more attractive to potential employers.

What is the main argument of this essay?

The next three questions are based on the following passage.
What’s Real About It?
I suppose I don’t understand why it is called reality television. It has been argued that reality television has been a part of television since the beginnings of television programming. Through game shows and daytime talk shows, real people, as in non-actors, have made appearances on television for the entertainment of others. A new genre of reality television that became the new phenomenon, however, was introduced in the year 2000, with shows such as “Survivor.”
The idea behind “Survivor” is like many in reality television. There are contestants, they are put in extreme situations, and in the end, someone wins a prize. The other main style of reality television involves cameras following someone around as they live their daily life.
My confusion comes from the title of reality. Reality means the state of which things actually exist, but reality television does not display the state in which life actually exists. In real life, not many people will be deserted on a distant island or forced to live in a house with several strangers. Additionally, cameras do not follow people around on a normal day. People live their lives, and exist in a reality that is not meant for entertainment or for masses of people to watch.
It is no surprise to discover that most audiences find it interesting to watch people who are not actors on television. There is something intriguing about fame for the average person. It is as if the viewer can relate more to the show that he or she is watching, because it is real people put in fake situations rather than fake people and characters acting in life-like situations. However, there cannot be anything called reality television that would be both an accurate description of life and provide necessary entertainment.

During his study, Jenson finds himself increasingly drawn to information about the theaters of ancient Greece and particularly to the plays that the Greeks performed. What section of the library should he check next for more resources on the written plays that have survived from ancient Greece?

The next three questions are based on the information below.
The Dewey Decimal Classes
000 Computer science, information, and general works
100 Philosophy and psychology
200 Religion
300 Social sciences
400 Languages
500 Science and mathematics
600 Technical and applied science
700 Arts and recreation
800 Literature
900 History, geography, and biography.

In Tom Sawyer, Tom gets punished for skipping school after he disappoints his aunt. This is how he feels: “Then he betook himself to his seat, rested his elbows on his desk and his jaws in his hands, and stared at the wall with the stony stare of suffering that has reached the limit and can no further go.” This means that:

Which word best describes the author’s account of Greek mythology?

Greek mythology is a vehicle that uses mythological characters and creatures to teach people about the dangers, beauties and possible outcomes of life. In many myths, characters face moral dilemmas involving honor and practicality. The protagonists of epics face creatures that represent values and challenges such as respect, temptation and redemption. How has Greek mythology inevitably evolved with time and new story tellers? Scholars that have interpreted Greek mythology seek to maintain the universal values conveyed in these stories, while ensuring the validity of adapting these stories to their own distinct cultures. It is up to each reader to seek their own truths and learn from epic Greek mythology as best they can.

Which common mode of writing is most characterized by the author’s assumption that certain things are facts or truths?

A customer eating one of these prepared biscuits should probably limit which type of intake for the rest of the day?

What is the author’s tone in this passage?

The next two questions are based on the following passage.
Helen Keller was born on June 27, 1880. She was a happy and healthy child until the age of 19 months when she fell ill with a terrible fever. Although Helen recovered from the fever, it left her both deaf and blind.
Helen was loved and cared for by her doting parents, but her behavior became erratic after she lost her hearing and sight, with unpredictable outbursts of temper. Her parents were at a loss how to reach her and teach her how to behave. Helen herself was frustrated and lonely in her dark, silent world. All of that began to change in March 1887 when Anne Sullivan came to live with the Kellers and be Helen’s teacher.
Anne taught Helen to communicate by forming letters with her fingers held in another person’s hand. In this way, Teacher, as Helen called her, taught her pupil to spell cake, doll, and milk. However, it was not until Anne spelled w-a-t-e-r in Helen’s hands as cold water gushed over both of them that Helen made the exciting connection between the words and the world around her. This connection engendered an insatiable curiosity within Helen. After that day, Helen learned at an incredible rate with Teacher by her side.
Helen went on to graduate from Radcliffe College. She became a famous writer, speaker, and advocate. The story of Helen’s remarkable life is known worldwide. Anne Sullivan and Helen Keller were inseparable until Anne’s death in 1936. Teacher shined a light in Helen’s dark world and showed her the way.

The primary purpose of this passage is to ____

It could be argued that all American war movies take as their governing paradigm that of the Western, and that we, as viewers, don’t think critically enough about this fact. The virtuous hero in the white hat, the evil villain in the black hat, the community threatened by violence; these are the obvious elements of the paradigm. In addition, the hero is highly skilled at warfare, though reluctant to use it, the community is made up of morally upstanding citizens, and there is no place for violence in the community: the hero himself must leave the community he has saved once the battle is complete. This way of seeing the world has soaked into our storytelling of battle and conflict. It’s hard to find a U.S.-made war movie that, for example, presents the enemy as complex and potentially fighting a legitimate cause, or that presents the hero (usually the U.S.) as anything other than supremely morally worthy. It is important to step back and think about the assumptions and frameworks that shape the stories we’re exposed to; if we’re careless and unquestioning, we absorb biases and world views with which we may not agree.

Which of the following does the author not give as a reason for abolishing Black History Month?

Black History Month is unnecessary. In a place and time in which we overwhelmingly elected an African American president, we can and should move to a post-racial approach to education. As Detroit Free Press columnist Rochelle Riley wrote in a February 1 column calling for an end to Black History Month, “I propose that, for the first time in American history, this country has reached a point where we can stop celebrating separately, stop learning separately, stop being American separately.”
In addition to being unnecessary, the idea that African American history should be focused on in a given month suggests that it belongs in that month alone. It is important to instead incorporate African American history into what is taught every day as American history. It needs to be recreated as part of mainstream thought and not as an optional, often irrelevant, side note. We should focus efforts on pushing schools to diversify and broaden their curricula.
There are a number of other reasons to abolish it: first, it has become a shallow commercial ritual that does not even succeed in its (limited and misguided) goal of focusing for one month on a sophisticated, intelligent appraisal of the contributions and experiences of African Americans throughout history. Second, there is a paternalistic flavor to the mandated bestowing of a month in which to study African American history that is overcome if we instead assert the need for a comprehensive curriculum. Third, the idea of Black History Month suggests that the knowledge imparted in that month is for African Americans only, rather than for all people.

Which of the following conclusions is supported by the data in the graph above?

The word “cation” is closest in meaning to ____.

The next four questions are based on the following passage.
Magnesium is an important nutrient that supports immune system functioning and helps protect the body against cardiovascular diseases. Symptoms of magnesium deficiency rarely surface among populations in developed countries, but concern is growing that many people may not have sufficient body stores of this metal. Surveys show that most Americans do not receive a minimum daily requirement of magnesium in their diets.
Magnesium is absorbed from foods by the intestines, before the circulatory system transports it to the body’s tissues. Less than one-half of ingested magnesium normally is taken up in this way. Health issues affecting the digestive tract may impair magnesium absorbance. For example, gastrointestinal disorders such as Crohn’s disease can limit magnesium uptake. The kidneys normally limit urinary excretion of magnesium, a function that can help make up for low dietary intake. However, alcohol abuse and certain medications can affect this balance and thereby lead to magnesium depletion.
Symptoms of magnesium deficiency include vomiting, fatigue, and loss of appetite. More severe cases can include symptoms such as muscular cramps, seizures, and coronary abnormalities. Magnesium insufficiency also can affect the body’s ability to absorb other cations, including calcium and potassium, and can lead to other health complications. Good sources of dietary magnesium include leafy green vegetables, potatoes, nuts, and seeds.

How is this passage structured?

The next four questions are based on the passage below.
Harriet Tubman was a runaway slave from Maryland who became known as the “Moses of her people.” Over the course of 10 years, and at great personal risk, she led hundreds of slaves to freedom along the Underground Railroad, a secret network of safe houses where runaway slaves could stay on their journey north to freedom. She later became a leader in the abolitionist movement, and during the Civil War she was a spy for the federal forces in South Carolina as well as a nurse.
Harriet Tubman’s name at birth was Araminta Ross. She was one of 11 children of Harriet and Benjamin Ross born into slavery in Dorchester County, Maryland. As a child, Ross was “hired out” by her master as a nursemaid for a small baby. Ross had to stay awake all night so that the baby wouldn’t cry and wake the mother. If Ross fell asleep, the baby’s mother whipped her. From a very young age, Ross was determined to gain her freedom.
As a slave, Araminta Ross was scarred for life when she refused to help in the punishment of another young slave. A young man had gone to the store without permission, and when he returned, the overseer wanted to whip him. He asked Ross to help but she refused. When the young man started to run away, the overseer picked up a heavy iron weight and threw it at him. He missed the young man and hit Ross instead. The weight nearly crushed her skull and left a deep scar. She was unconscious for days, and suffered from seizures for the rest of her life.
In 1844, Ross married a free black named John Tubman and took his last name. She also changed her first name, taking her mother’s name, Harriet. In 1849, worried that she and the other slaves on the plantation were going to be sold, Tubman decided to run away. Her husband refused to go with her, so she set out with her two brothers, and followed the North Star in the sky to guide her north to freedom. Her brothers became frightened and turned back, but she continued on and reached Philadelphia. There she found work as a household servant and saved her money so she could return to help others escape.

Which of the following statements is true?

The next two questions are based on the following passage.
Students may take classes in a wide variety of subjects for fun or self-improvement. Some classes provide students with training in useful life skills such as cooking or personal finance. Other classes provide instruction intended for recreational purposes, with topics such as photography, pottery, or painting. Classes may consist of large or small groups, or they may involve one-on-one instruction in subjects like singing or playing a musical instrument. Classes taught by self-enrichment teachers seldom lead to a degree, and attendance in these classes is voluntary. Although often taught in non-academic settings, these classes’ topics may include academic subjects such as literature, foreign languages, and history. Despite their informal nature, these courses can provide students with useful work-related skills such as knowledge of computers or foreign languages; these skills make students more attractive to potential employers.

Which choice correctly matches these samples with incompletely met criteria?

In three pieces of informational writing, sample 1’s author provides evidence tangential to his argument. Sample 2’s author cites anecdotal evidence that is inaccurate. Sample 3’s author cites accurate, directly related evidence, but it is an isolated example uncorroborated by any other sources.

What is implied by the following sentence? It is hoped the wounds may not be mortal. My apprehension is that they will prove fatal.

The following is an excerpt of an article published by The New York Times announcing the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
AWFUL EVENT
President Lincoln Shot by an Assassin
The Deed Done at Ford’s Theatre Last Night
THE ACT OF A DESPERATE REBEL
The President Still Alive at Last Accounts No Hopes
Entertained of His Recovery
Attempted Assassination of Secretary Seward
DETAILS OF THE DREADFUL TRAGEDY.
Official
War Department, Washington April 15, 1:30 A.M. – Maj. Gen. Dis.: This evening at about 9:30 P.M. at Ford’s Theatre, the President, while sitting in his private box with Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Harris, and Major Rathburn, was shot by an assassin, who suddenly entered the box and appeared behind the President. The assassin then leaped upon the stage, brandishing a large dagger or knife, and made his escape in the rear of the theatre.
The pistol ball entered the back of the President’s head and penetrated nearly through the head. The wound is mortal. The President has been insensible ever since it was inflicted, and is now dying.
About the same hour an assassin, whether the same or not, entered Mr. Sewards’ apartments, and under the pretense of having a prescription, was shown to the Secretary’s sick chamber. The assassin immediately rushed to the bed, and inflicted two or three stabs on the throat and two on the face. It is hoped the wounds may not be mortal. My apprehension is that they will prove fatal.
The nurse alarmed Mr. Frederick Seward, who was in an adjoining room, and hastened to the door of his father’s room, when he met the assassin, who inflicted upon him one or more dangerous wounds. The recovery of Frederick Seward is doubtful.
It is not probable that the President will live throughout the night.
Gen. Grant and wife were advertised to be at the theatre this evening, but he started to Burlington at 6 o’clock this evening. At a Cabinet meeting at which Gen. Grant was present, the subject of the state of the country and the prospect of a speedy peace was discussed. The President was very cheerful and hopeful, and spoke very kindly of Gen. Lee and others of the Confederacy, and of the establishment of government in Virginia.
All the members of the Cabinet except Mr. Seward are now in attendance upon the President. I have seen Mr. Seward, but he and Frederick were both unconscious.
Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War.

For evaluating the credibility of a source when doing research, which of these is true?

Which of the following is a logical conclusion based on the passage?

Mahatma Ghandi was an inspirational leader who made a lot of sacrifices for the people of India. In 1921, Gandhi took charge of the Indian National Congress, a group of thirteen men in the Indian government who fought discrimination and unfair taxation against farmers and urban laborers. Using the nonviolent tactic of civil disobedience, Gandhi and his followers bravely resisted British control over Indian life, choosing not to follow unfair, discriminatory laws and policies. The British were not happy to see Ghandi and his followers rebelling in this way.
The British responded to this resistance by strengthening their military presence in India, often at the cost of human lives. While Ghandi was fighting to gain more freedom for the people of India, the British government was, often violently, suppressing it. For his effort, Gandhi was eventually imprisoned in 1942 for his “radical” beliefs, but he refused to recognize violence as a means of fighting the British. He gained international attention for his hunger strikes, refusing to eat until the British changed their unjust policies.

What is a likely purpose for including so many headlines at the start of the article?

The following is an excerpt of an article published by The New York Times announcing the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
AWFUL EVENT
President Lincoln Shot by an Assassin
The Deed Done at Ford’s Theatre Last Night
THE ACT OF A DESPERATE REBEL
The President Still Alive at Last Accounts No Hopes
Entertained of His Recovery
Attempted Assassination of Secretary Seward
DETAILS OF THE DREADFUL TRAGEDY.
Official
War Department, Washington April 15, 1:30 A.M. – Maj. Gen. Dis.: This evening at about 9:30 P.M. at Ford’s Theatre, the President, while sitting in his private box with Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Harris, and Major Rathburn, was shot by an assassin, who suddenly entered the box and appeared behind the President. The assassin then leaped upon the stage, brandishing a large dagger or knife, and made his escape in the rear of the theatre.
The pistol ball entered the back of the President’s head and penetrated nearly through the head. The wound is mortal. The President has been insensible ever since it was inflicted, and is now dying.
About the same hour an assassin, whether the same or not, entered Mr. Sewards’ apartments, and under the pretense of having a prescription, was shown to the Secretary’s sick chamber. The assassin immediately rushed to the bed, and inflicted two or three stabs on the throat and two on the face. It is hoped the wounds may not be mortal. My apprehension is that they will prove fatal.
The nurse alarmed Mr. Frederick Seward, who was in an adjoining room, and hastened to the door of his father’s room, when he met the assassin, who inflicted upon him one or more dangerous wounds. The recovery of Frederick Seward is doubtful.
It is not probable that the President will live throughout the night.
Gen. Grant and wife were advertised to be at the theatre this evening, but he started to Burlington at 6 o’clock this evening. At a Cabinet meeting at which Gen. Grant was present, the subject of the state of the country and the prospect of a speedy peace was discussed. The President was very cheerful and hopeful, and spoke very kindly of Gen. Lee and others of the Confederacy, and of the establishment of government in Virginia.
All the members of the Cabinet except Mr. Seward are now in attendance upon the President. I have seen Mr. Seward, but he and Frederick were both unconscious.
Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War.

Which of the following did the author not mention would have been found in the Old West prior to the introduction of barbed wire fencing?

In the American Southwest of the late 1800s, the introduction of barbed wire fencing led to fierce disputes between ranchers and farmers, both eager to protect their rights and their livelihood. The farmers were the clear winners of the two groups, and the barbed wire fences stayed and proliferated. Barbed wire proved to be ideal for use in western conditions; it was cheaper and easier to use than the alternatives of wood fences, stone walls, or hedges. Within a few decades, all the previously open rangeland became fenced-in private property. This change was so dramatic to the western culture that some consider the introduction of barbed wire fencing to be the event that ended the Old West period of our history.

Why does the author assume audiences like to watch reality television?

The next three questions are based on the following passage.
What’s Real About It?
I suppose I don’t understand why it is called reality television. It has been argued that reality television has been a part of television since the beginnings of television programming. Through game shows and daytime talk shows, real people, as in non-actors, have made appearances on television for the entertainment of others. A new genre of reality television that became the new phenomenon, however, was introduced in the year 2000, with shows such as “Survivor.”
The idea behind “Survivor” is like many in reality television. There are contestants, they are put in extreme situations, and in the end, someone wins a prize. The other main style of reality television involves cameras following someone around as they live their daily life.
My confusion comes from the title of reality. Reality means the state of which things actually exist, but reality television does not display the state in which life actually exists. In real life, not many people will be deserted on a distant island or forced to live in a house with several strangers. Additionally, cameras do not follow people around on a normal day. People live their lives, and exist in a reality that is not meant for entertainment or for masses of people to watch.
It is no surprise to discover that most audiences find it interesting to watch people who are not actors on television. There is something intriguing about fame for the average person. It is as if the viewer can relate more to the show that he or she is watching, because it is real people put in fake situations rather than fake people and characters acting in life-like situations. However, there cannot be anything called reality television that would be both an accurate description of life and provide necessary entertainment.

The author would most likely agree that Swift

Jonathan Swift’s dark view of humanity is expressed in his novel Gulliver’s Travels (1726). Swift believed that society, which is meant to protect people from inequality and injustice, actually encourages the worst evils, promotes immorality, and allows injustices to occur. In Gulliver’s Travels, Swift asks whether “civilization” is only an elaborate cover for the lowest forms of human behavior. Swift raises this question through satire, a literary form which he brings to perfection in Gulliver’s Travels. Following in the great tradition of classical satirists, Swift uses his novel to point out the underlying ridiculousness of the society around him. In one section of Gulliver’s Travels, for example, Gulliver describes his native England to the king of a land of giants. Gulliver talks enthusiastically to the giant king about the class system, laws, constitution, military glory, and history of his homeland. After carefully listening to Gulliver’s speech, however, the king proceeds to point out the many shortcomings of Gulliver’s native land. Gulliver is unable to come up with adequate responses to the criticism. He can only stand there in embarrassed silence as the king eventually concludes that the institutions of the human world should be condemned.

Which of the following sentences uses the word “smart” with a negative connotation, rather than a positive connotation or simply the word’s denotation?

The subject content textbooks that you were given or assigned to use in school are typically examples of which type of information source?

It can be inferred from the advertisement that ____

Job Description:
Assistant City Attorney – City of Elm
The City of Elm is now hiring for the position of assistant City Attorney, litigation. Candidates must be members in Good Standing of the California State Bar Association. Ideal candidates will have:
– at least 3 years litigation experience
– the ability to work both self-directed and as part of a team
– the ability to manage a large caseload
Competitive salary and excellent benefits offered. Position available immediately.
Send completed application to:
HR Department
Attention Veronica Smith
1 City Center Plaza
Elm, California 95763

Which of the following is not an example given by the author of an element of the Western paradigm?

It could be argued that all American war movies take as their governing paradigm that of the Western, and that we, as viewers, don’t think critically enough about this fact. The virtuous hero in the white hat, the evil villain in the black hat, the community threatened by violence; these are the obvious elements of the paradigm. In addition, the hero is highly skilled at warfare, though reluctant to use it, the community is made up of morally upstanding citizens, and there is no place for violence in the community: the hero himself must leave the community he has saved once the battle is complete. This way of seeing the world has soaked into our storytelling of battle and conflict. It’s hard to find a U.S.-made war movie that, for example, presents the enemy as complex and potentially fighting a legitimate cause, or that presents the hero (usually the U.S.) as anything other than supremely morally worthy. It is important to step back and think about the assumptions and frameworks that shape the stories we’re exposed to; if we’re careless and unquestioning, we absorb biases and world views with which we may not agree.

The author uses quotation marks around the word “civilization” in the first paragraph to convey

Jonathan Swift’s dark view of humanity is expressed in his novel Gulliver’s Travels (1726). Swift believed that society, which is meant to protect people from inequality and injustice, actually encourages the worst evils, promotes immorality, and allows injustices to occur. In Gulliver’s Travels, Swift asks whether “civilization” is only an elaborate cover for the lowest forms of human behavior. Swift raises this question through satire, a literary form which he brings to perfection in Gulliver’s Travels. Following in the great tradition of classical satirists, Swift uses his novel to point out the underlying ridiculousness of the society around him. In one section of Gulliver’s Travels, for example, Gulliver describes his native England to the king of a land of giants. Gulliver talks enthusiastically to the giant king about the class system, laws, constitution, military glory, and history of his homeland. After carefully listening to Gulliver’s speech, however, the king proceeds to point out the many shortcomings of Gulliver’s native land. Gulliver is unable to come up with adequate responses to the criticism. He can only stand there in embarrassed silence as the king eventually concludes that the institutions of the human world should be condemned.

It can be inferred that the term “post-racial” in the second sentence is an approach that ____

Black History Month is unnecessary. In a place and time in which we overwhelmingly elected an African American president, we can and should move to a post-racial approach to education. As Detroit Free Press columnist Rochelle Riley wrote in a February 1 column calling for an end to Black History Month, “I propose that, for the first time in American history, this country has reached a point where we can stop celebrating separately, stop learning separately, stop being American separately.”
In addition to being unnecessary, the idea that African American history should be focused on in a given month suggests that it belongs in that month alone. It is important to instead incorporate African American history into what is taught every day as American history. It needs to be recreated as part of mainstream thought and not as an optional, often irrelevant, side note. We should focus efforts on pushing schools to diversify and broaden their curricula.
There are a number of other reasons to abolish it: first, it has become a shallow commercial ritual that does not even succeed in its (limited and misguided) goal of focusing for one month on a sophisticated, intelligent appraisal of the contributions and experiences of African Americans throughout history. Second, there is a paternalistic flavor to the mandated bestowing of a month in which to study African American history that is overcome if we instead assert the need for a comprehensive curriculum. Third, the idea of Black History Month suggests that the knowledge imparted in that month is for African Americans only, rather than for all people.

Based on the context, which of the following is the meaning of the word “beset” in the passage?

Are you looking for a way to give back to your community, but don’t know where to start? One of the best ways you can invest in the future of your community is by helping to better educate our youngsters. Schools are under-funded, and even talented teachers are beset with the growing pressure of helping students without enough resources. With our group-funding program, you can go online and look through thousands of teacher programs that are looking for funding. These programs were designed by teachers who know what they need to help their students succeed. Very rarely do you get the chance to donate money and know exactly where your money is going. Donate today and help change the lives of a classroom of students in your community.

How did Araminta Ross come to be known as Harriet Tubman?

The next four questions are based on the passage below.
Harriet Tubman was a runaway slave from Maryland who became known as the “Moses of her people.” Over the course of 10 years, and at great personal risk, she led hundreds of slaves to freedom along the Underground Railroad, a secret network of safe houses where runaway slaves could stay on their journey north to freedom. She later became a leader in the abolitionist movement, and during the Civil War she was a spy for the federal forces in South Carolina as well as a nurse.
Harriet Tubman’s name at birth was Araminta Ross. She was one of 11 children of Harriet and Benjamin Ross born into slavery in Dorchester County, Maryland. As a child, Ross was “hired out” by her master as a nursemaid for a small baby. Ross had to stay awake all night so that the baby wouldn’t cry and wake the mother. If Ross fell asleep, the baby’s mother whipped her. From a very young age, Ross was determined to gain her freedom.
As a slave, Araminta Ross was scarred for life when she refused to help in the punishment of another young slave. A young man had gone to the store without permission, and when he returned, the overseer wanted to whip him. He asked Ross to help but she refused. When the young man started to run away, the overseer picked up a heavy iron weight and threw it at him. He missed the young man and hit Ross instead. The weight nearly crushed her skull and left a deep scar. She was unconscious for days, and suffered from seizures for the rest of her life.
In 1844, Ross married a free black named John Tubman and took his last name. She also changed her first name, taking her mother’s name, Harriet. In 1849, worried that she and the other slaves on the plantation were going to be sold, Tubman decided to run away. Her husband refused to go with her, so she set out with her two brothers, and followed the North Star in the sky to guide her north to freedom. Her brothers became frightened and turned back, but she continued on and reached Philadelphia. There she found work as a household servant and saved her money so she could return to help others escape.

Which of the following sentences would be a supporting detail to explain how “Saving Private Ryan” could be used in the classroom?

Many teachers across the country are noticing the importance of film in the modern classroom. No longer is putting a movie on meant as an invitation for students to check out while the teacher does work at their desk. Films are a versatile medium, and can function as textbooks, pieces of literature, or pieces of art that can bring a new dimension to a student’s learning. The teachers leading this charge know that teaching a film effectively means preparing lessons with the same amount of time and effort as any other days. A teacher could simply shut the lights and throw on the first 20 minutes of Steven Spielberg’s “Saving Private Ryan” because the class is studying World War II. Or, the teacher could spend a class period analyzing the scene with the class, looking at how Spielberg builds anxiety and tension, how he creates the chaos of the beach, and how he gets the audience to care for characters they haven’t even met yet.

During his study, Jenson finds himself increasingly drawn to information about the theaters of ancient Greece and particularly to the plays that the Greeks performed. What section of the library should he check next for more resources on the written plays that have survived from ancient Greece?

The next three questions are based on the information below.
The Dewey Decimal Classes
000 Computer science, information, and general works
100 Philosophy and psychology
200 Religion
300 Social sciences
400 Languages
500 Science and mathematics
600 Technical and applied science
700 Arts and recreation
800 Literature
900 History, geography, and biography.

Which of the following statements is not an opinion?

The next three questions are based on the following passage.
What’s Real About It?
I suppose I don’t understand why it is called reality television. It has been argued that reality television has been a part of television since the beginnings of television programming. Through game shows and daytime talk shows, real people, as in non-actors, have made appearances on television for the entertainment of others. A new genre of reality television that became the new phenomenon, however, was introduced in the year 2000, with shows such as “Survivor.”
The idea behind “Survivor” is like many in reality television. There are contestants, they are put in extreme situations, and in the end, someone wins a prize. The other main style of reality television involves cameras following someone around as they live their daily life.
My confusion comes from the title of reality. Reality means the state of which things actually exist, but reality television does not display the state in which life actually exists. In real life, not many people will be deserted on a distant island or forced to live in a house with several strangers. Additionally, cameras do not follow people around on a normal day. People live their lives, and exist in a reality that is not meant for entertainment or for masses of people to watch.
It is no surprise to discover that most audiences find it interesting to watch people who are not actors on television. There is something intriguing about fame for the average person. It is as if the viewer can relate more to the show that he or she is watching, because it is real people put in fake situations rather than fake people and characters acting in life-like situations. However, there cannot be anything called reality television that would be both an accurate description of life and provide necessary entertainment.

According to the author, when did the introduction of barbed wire fencing occur?

In the American Southwest of the late 1800s, the introduction of barbed wire fencing led to fierce disputes between ranchers and farmers, both eager to protect their rights and their livelihood. The farmers were the clear winners of the two groups, and the barbed wire fences stayed and proliferated. Barbed wire proved to be ideal for use in western conditions; it was cheaper and easier to use than the alternatives of wood fences, stone walls, or hedges. Within a few decades, all the previously open rangeland became fenced-in private property. This change was so dramatic to the western culture that some consider the introduction of barbed wire fencing to be the event that ended the Old West period of our history.

Which of the following choices introduces a specific claim and distinguishes it from counterclaims?

The underlined word mortal means ____

The following is an excerpt of an article published by The New York Times announcing the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
AWFUL EVENT
President Lincoln Shot by an Assassin
The Deed Done at Ford’s Theatre Last Night
THE ACT OF A DESPERATE REBEL
The President Still Alive at Last Accounts No Hopes
Entertained of His Recovery
Attempted Assassination of Secretary Seward
DETAILS OF THE DREADFUL TRAGEDY.
Official
War Department, Washington April 15, 1:30 A.M. – Maj. Gen. Dis.: This evening at about 9:30 P.M. at Ford’s Theatre, the President, while sitting in his private box with Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Harris, and Major Rathburn, was shot by an assassin, who suddenly entered the box and appeared behind the President. The assassin then leaped upon the stage, brandishing a large dagger or knife, and made his escape in the rear of the theatre.
The pistol ball entered the back of the President’s head and penetrated nearly through the head. The wound is mortal. The President has been insensible ever since it was inflicted, and is now dying.
About the same hour an assassin, whether the same or not, entered Mr. Sewards’ apartments, and under the pretense of having a prescription, was shown to the Secretary’s sick chamber. The assassin immediately rushed to the bed, and inflicted two or three stabs on the throat and two on the face. It is hoped the wounds may not be mortal. My apprehension is that they will prove fatal.
The nurse alarmed Mr. Frederick Seward, who was in an adjoining room, and hastened to the door of his father’s room, when he met the assassin, who inflicted upon him one or more dangerous wounds. The recovery of Frederick Seward is doubtful.
It is not probable that the President will live throughout the night.
Gen. Grant and wife were advertised to be at the theatre this evening, but he started to Burlington at 6 o’clock this evening. At a Cabinet meeting at which Gen. Grant was present, the subject of the state of the country and the prospect of a speedy peace was discussed. The President was very cheerful and hopeful, and spoke very kindly of Gen. Lee and others of the Confederacy, and of the establishment of government in Virginia.
All the members of the Cabinet except Mr. Seward are now in attendance upon the President. I have seen Mr. Seward, but he and Frederick were both unconscious.
Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War.

Of the following, which expression that could be found in informational text uses words in a figurative sense rather than a literal one?

To evaluate the credibility of research sources, which of the following is a valid consideration?