Perform

Now try a test-like Writing & Language passage on your own. Give yourself 5 minutes to read the passage and answer the questions.

1. Questions 9-16 are based on the following passage.

2. Genetically Modified Organisms

   Although biotechnology companies and the chronically naïve imagine that there is no danger to be feared from genetically modified foods, they overlook a plethora of evidence indicating that they may be gambling with people’s lives by continuing to interfere and tamper with nature to create these “Frankenfoods.” Potential problems range from the relatively minor—increased possibilities of allergic reactions to certain foods, for instance—to the potentially devastating—the complete skewing of the balance of an ecosystem. All of these factors should be carefully considered before we choose to risk so much for the possibility of a better tomato.

   For example, the cultivation of insect-resistant plants could lead to the reduction or even destruction of certain insect species that naturally feed on those plants. A change in the insect population could have a disastrous impact on certain bird species. They rely on the affected insects as their food source. Also, alterations in the balance of the bird population could have further-reaching consequences, all the way up the food chain. An ecosystem is a delicate thing, and the ripple created by genetically altering one variety of soybean will translate into a shock wave of unforeseen repercussions in the long term.

   The actual impact on the genetically modified organisms themselves, and on those who consume foods produced from genetically modified organisms, also remains to be seen. Some studies indicate that certain genetically modified foods have negative effects on the digestive systems and cardiac health of rats that consume those foods in high quantities; although human studies have not been performed, the possibility that tampering with an organism’s genetic structure could cause far-reaching health consequences for the people who eat genetically modified foods must be confronted.

   Arguments about the potential for genetic engineering to end world hunger by maximizing the quantity and quality of food grown around the world are based on an essential fallacy: people do not starve because there is a lack of food. People starve because it is more profitable to let food go to waste than to distribute it to the world’s impoverished and famine-stricken regions. We have plenty of farmland sitting fallow and plenty of food rotting in warehouses. Many of the agribusinesses arguing that genetically modified foods can solve world hunger are the same companies that accept government subsidies now to limit their production of crops in order to avoid flooding the market. These companies are primarily concerned with profit, and whatever lip service they pay to global well-being, the driving force behind genetically modified organisms and foods is profit, not people. In conclusion, the benefits and risks of any new technology must be carefully considered before implementing that technology.

9. 1. NO CHANGE
   2. insist
   3. hope
   4. think
10. 1. NO CHANGE
    2. thoughtlessly interfere and casually tamper
    3. interfere by casually tampering
    4. tamper
11. 1. NO CHANGE
    2. we as a society
    3. those of us who comprise society
    4. the citizens making up our population

12. Which choice most effectively combines the sentences at the underlined portion?

    1. NO CHANGE
    2. certain bird species that rely on the affected insects
    3. certain bird species relying on the affected insects
    4. certain bird species, and they rely on the affected insects
13. 1. NO CHANGE
    2. must
    3. would
    4. could
14. 1. NO CHANGE
    2. What also remains to be seen, on both the genetically modified organisms themselves and on those who consume foods produced from genetically modified organisms, is the actual impact.
    3. Remaining to be seen is the actual impact on genetically modified organisms themselves and those who consume genetically modified organisms.
    4. The actual impact remains to be seen on genetically modified organisms themselves and those who consume genetically modified organisms.
15. 1. NO CHANGE
    2. a harmful delusion:
    3. a fanciful illusion:
    4. a fundamental untruth:

16. Which choice most effectively concludes the paragraph and the passage?

    1. NO CHANGE
    2. It would be nice if we could trust the very companies that could benefit most from the creation of genetically modified organisms.
    3. Unfortunately, those companies affect so many aspects of modern life that we have no choice but to trust them.
    4. Why would we trust our own well-being and that of the planet to companies recklessly pursuing money at the risk of Mother Earth?