Chapter 16 Reading Practice Test 3 Answers and Explanations

1. A Choice (A) refers to a detail that comes from the description of Jacob’s job working for his uncle. During the tour guide job, Jacob pointed out completed buildings, not works in progress. Choice (B) is supported by the script the tour guide had him read. Choice (C) is supported by the fact that the tour mostly attracted Civil War enthusiasts. Choice (D) is supported by the phrase fancying himself as cutting quite a figure in his clean, pressed uniform (lines 33–34).

2. F The first few sentences of the second paragraph establish that Gettysburg is a town that is stuck in the past, or at least doing very little to modernize. This lack of innovation affects Jacob and gives him the impression that there was little of interest to be discovered outside Gettysburg (lines 26–27). Choice (G) is incorrect because the passage never offers Jacob’s ideas for improving old buildings. Choice (H) is incorrect because the passage never discusses Jacob having difficulty finding a job. Choice (J) is incorrect because the passage does not suggest Jacob planned to work for the railroad.

3. B The passage is essentially narrating Jacob’s thoughts the majority of the time, and otherwise providing exposition on Jacob’s life. Choices (A) and (C) are incorrect because there is nothing in the passage that provides an inner thought from Erin. Choice (D) is incorrect because there is no dialogue in the passage.

4. G The passage refers to a fantasy Jacob had about being called to Erin’s house and impressing her parents, but the passage never indicates that it happened. Choice (F) is supported in the second sentence of the fifth paragraph. Choice (H) is supported in the last sentence of the fifth paragraph. Choice (J) is supported in the second to last sentence of the fifth paragraph.

5. A The last sentence of the first paragraph says that Jacob’s ambition towards ascending in the field (lines 12–13) was basically to be able to impress a fetching girl on his arm (line 14) by describing architectural features of their environment. Choice (B) is incorrect because the passage never mentions Jacob devising a new approach to plumbing. Choice (C) is incorrect because the passage never mentions a desire to redesign the Dobbin House. Choice (D) is contradicted by details in the first paragraph which state that Jacob went to Mount St. Mary’s, not because it had a renowned architectural program (lines 6–7).

6. H Although Jacob’s high school is mentioned as being small in comparison to Mount St. Mary’s College, the number of students is never provided. Choice (F) is answered in the first paragraph —Jacob’s tennis scholarship and yearning for Erin are the main factors. Choice (G) is answered in the third paragraph. As each tour began, Jacob was disappointed to not see Erin, so she never came to his tour. Choice (J) is answered in the second paragraph—this lack of innovation deepened Jacob’s disinterest in personal or academic enterprise (lines 25–26).

7. B The last sentence of the fourth paragraph (lines 48–52) indicates that it wasn’t until he left the job that Jacob started thinking more about the buildings. Choice (A) is incorrect because it is the opposite of what the passage indicates. Choices (C) and (D) are incorrect because the passage provides no comparison between how historically noteworthy Jacob thought the buildings were during and after his job as a tour guide.

8. F The paragraph begins with Jacob’s frustration regarding his inability to run into Erin at college. It ends with Jacob, With a resigned sigh (line 76), recounting a memory of his one date with Erin. His final thought is that they were on two different tracks, hers a fearless stride toward the future and his an attempt to get used to the present. These sad details support choice (F)’s notion that he and Erin had grown apart. Choice (G) is incorrect because, although Jacob was frustrated by the campus size in his efforts to run into Erin, there is not support for something so strong as anger. Also, this would only relate to the beginning of the paragraph and not address the rest of it. Choice (H) is incorrect because there is no attitude mentioned or suggested towards Jacob’s marriage to Martha. Also, this answer would not address the majority of the paragraph. Choice (J) is incorrect because, although you would assume Jacob was happy to get the date, the details in the paragraph are largely relating to why a relationship with Erin failed. There is no wording in the passage that indicates Jacob’s contentment.

9. C The wording an indelible streak of humility is used in the second sentence of the first paragraph (lines 2–5), attributed to Jacob’s grandmother telling him that the rest of the world was under no obligation to think he was special. Choice (A) is incorrect because humility is never suggested by the passage to be a trait of working class communities. Choice (B) is incorrect because Jacob’s humility is more the cause of his feeling that he won’t be famous than it is a consequence. Choice (D) is incorrect because the passage never links humility to Jacob’s pursuit of Erin.

10. J This statement is from the last sentence of the passage, which begins With a resigned sigh, he remembered….Hence, all the details in the sentence are things Jacob remembers about his first date with Erin. Choice (F) is incorrect because this is Jacob’s impression, not the author’s. Choice (G) is incorrect because this detail is presented as part of Jacob’s memory of his date with Erin, not as part of his struggle to find her at college. Choice (H) is incorrect because this is part of Jacob’s reminiscence, not Erin’s.

Passage II

11. A The statement from Jergensen compares the way in which Wells looked out for her siblings to the way in which she looked out for the rights of any humans suffering from racial inequality. Choice (B) is incorrect because the passage does not suggest that any of her family members persuaded her to be an activist. Choice (C) is incorrect because the passage does not suggest she learned any lessons of equality via taking care of her siblings. Choice (D) is incorrect because the passage doesn’t suggest any family metaphor used by Wells in her speeches.

12. G The passage relays Aunt Georgine’s comment that Ida wanted to be the grown up she knew her brothers and sisters needed. Ida mourned privately in order to keep a strong appearance. Choice (F) is incorrect because frightened goes against the portrayal of Ida stepping into the caretaking role. Choice (H) is incorrect because relieved goes against the sadness Ida felt over her parents’ passing. Choice (J) is incorrect because hopeless is too strong to be supported by anything in the passage.

13. C The passage states that domestic life didn’t spell the end of Wells’s struggle against inequality (lines 60–61), and the passage proceeds to describe Wells’s activism after she was married. While care for the family did become primarily her concern rather than her husband’s, the passage does not say her efforts in the struggle for racial equality were diminished, so cross off (A). Choice (B) is incorrect because Wells met her husband in Chicago, not England. Choice (D) is incorrect because there is no implied connection between her husband and the book club, and, additionally, she didn’t start the club with that name.

14. F The passage calls Wells a hushed voice in the race debate (lines 7–8) since she was saying things people didn’t want to hear. People were unaccustomed in those times to hearing such things from a woman and often sought to deny her her voice. Choice (G) is incorrect because the word hushed is not referring to softer volume, but rather, metaphorically, to being told to “hush!” Choice (H) is the opposite of the impression given by the passage, which is that Wells did recognize her gender and race as an obstacle to getting her message across. Choice (J) is incorrect because although the passage mentions her writing under a pseudonym (line 12), it was to protect her identity and it certainly wasn’t for a “mainstream” newspaper.

15. C The passage indicates that following the publishing of Wells’s article, she became a despised figure in Memphis (line 21). Choices (A), (B), and (D) are all incorrect because the passage states and/or implies that these parties would be sympathetic to Wells’s public outcry.

16. J The passage provides a positive treatment of Wells, discussing her bold outrage in the first few paragraphs and her techniques of persuasion in the fifth paragraph. All these details correspond well with this account. Choice (F) is incorrect because the passage never calls into question the fairness of Wells’s objectives. Choice (G) is incorrect because the passage does mention, in the first few paragraphs, the danger Wells put herself in. Choice (H) is incorrect because there is nothing to support the author’s unflattering portrayal of Wells.

17. A Two sentences prior to this one, the author mentions Wells’s long toil with only occasional rewards, and then mentions women’s suffrage in 1920 as one of these “rewards.” The sense of change on a societal level that the sentence in question refers to is women achieving suffrage in 1920, so it supports choice (A). Choice (B) is unsupported by the passage, which never says that family motivated Wells’s struggle. Choice (C) is unsupported by the passage, which does not ever suggest each generation brings significant changes to society.

18. J The passage states that Wells baited her opposition into admitting certain core principles before challenging them (lines 48–49) to apply those principles to racial inequality. Choice (F) is incorrect because, though Wells certainly must have had strong philosophical convictions and Socrates sought to weaken the strong convictions of his opponents, a shared sense of certainty is not part of the comparison Jergensen makes to Socrates. Choice (G) goes against the passage since Wells definitely has an agenda to promote racial and gender equality. Choice (H) is incorrect because the passage never discusses Wells’s thoughts on the limits of what oration can accomplish.

19. D The passage states in the last sentence of the sixth paragraph (lines 66–69) that the book motivated an audience of progressive thinkers, while the practical and statistical measures of the problem it addressed did not improve. Choice (A) is incorrect because “philosophical inconsistencies” are not mentioned or suggested. There is no support for calling the book “unusually” radical as choice (B) does. The author does not praise the “scope” of the book, mentioning only its purpose of documenting racially influenced lynchings.

20. G The last paragraph states that Wells nobly walks a self-chosen path of monumental toil, with rewards few and far between (lines 80–81). This agrees best with choice (G). Choice (F) is too pessimistic for the passage’s overall heroic portrayal of Wells. Choice (H) is incorrect since the idea that Wells’s steadfast struggle to attain equality was confusing is not justified. Choice (J) is incorrect because it goes against the passage’s portrayal of Wells’s life as being filled with challenge and strife.

Passage III

21. B The last paragraph begins years later, indicating that the narrator’s explanation of his love for B.B.’s music developed years after the summer of 1953 trip. Choices (A) and (D) took place during the summer of 1953 trip. Choice (C) is suggested to have taken place before the summer of 1953 trip.

22. G In the eleventh paragraph (lines 47–57), the passage says feeling particularly fearless for a ten year old, Sis asked…Choices (F), (H), and (J) are incorrect because they contradict the age given for the narrator’s sister.

23. A Saying King’s words are difficult to process is akin to saying they are difficult to understand. Choice (B) is a trap answer due to its similarity to the normal meaning of digest. Saying something is difficult to stomach means one is reluctant to accept its meaning, not that one does not understand its meaning. Choices (C) and (D) relate to the process of learning and understanding, but neither one itself is a good substitute for the concept of understanding.

24. J The narrator is retelling events from the summer of 1953 that involve him meeting B.B. King, and describes the effect B.B.’s music came to have on him. This best supports choice (J). Choice (F) is incorrect because, other than the fact that B.B. and Uncle Randy both lived in Mississippi, there is nothing in the passage about trying to learn that state’s culture. Choice (G) is incorrect because, although some of the passage’s events take place during a vacation the narrator took with his sister to see his Uncle Randy, the narrator is describing those events in the past tense, not currently on vacation with them. Choice (H) is incorrect because it is never implied that the narrator plays guitar or learned to from B.B. King.

25. D B.B. is very polite with the narrator and his sister, having them address him informally by his first name. B.B. refuses to be acknowledged as the world’s best guitarist, substituting instead the name of T-Bone Walker. And, in talking to the narrator’s uncle about life on the road, he seemed reluctant to boast (line 44). These details all support choice (D). Choice (A) is not supported, other than by the fact that B.B. wore gold rings and his Sunday-best cologne. These are not necessarily flashy things, though, as any adult might wear such things. Choice (B) is not supported because, although B.B. plays the Blues and discusses times in his life where he is sad, the narrator describes him having a youthful, joyous spirit (line 40). Choice (C) is not supported by anything in the passage.

26. G King explains that the Blues helps him put some distance between himself and his pain, like a frosted window that muffles it and makes it fuzzy (lines 70–71). This supports the idea of dulling one’s suffering in choice (G). Choice (F) is incorrect because King is not referring to any particular instrument. Choice (H) is close, but too broad—King is speaking about one particular feeling, not multiple ones. Choice (J) is too literal. Although sleep is mentioned in the extended metaphor/simile King describes, he is primarily discussing the way the Blues softens the feeling of pain.

27. B The passage states that the narrator and his sister timidly accepted (line 33) B.B.’s handshake. They sat silently (line 36) and peered nervously. These details support the adjectives used in choice (B). Choice (A) is incorrect because the kids were not warmly greeting him if they were timidly accepting his handshake. Choice (C) is incorrect because amazement and confusion both are more extreme than the general sense of curiosity and strangeness described in the passage. Choice (D) is incorrect because there is no support for either skepticism or disappointment in the passage.

28. J The author says when B.B. started his guitar solo, it was like I turned into a bird that flew out through the waterfall (lines 81–82). Choice (F) refers to how King compared the effect the Blues has on making pain feel more distant. Choice (G) refers to how the narrator compared the verses of King’s music. Choice (J) refers to how the narrator compared the pain felt by the musician or listener.

29. C As King explains the Blues to Kathy Mae, he says she wouldn’t hear the Blues right because she hasn’t had enough pain of livin’ yet (lines 60–61). Choices (A), (B), and (D) are incorrect because King never stresses his hometown, one’s childhood upbringing, live versus recorded music, or one’s degree of religious commitment.

30. H The passage indicates that the narrator and his sister had trouble digesting King’s wisdom and resigned themselves to the idea that it was beyond a child’s understanding. Choice (F) is incorrect because by resigning themselves to the fact that King’s words were beyond them, they are giving up on understanding it, not resolving to expend more effort to understand it. Choice (G) is incorrect because the passage does not suggest any intent to speak with Uncle Randy about it. Choice (J) is incorrect because this answer sums up King’s main message, which the children did not seem to absorb.

Passage IV

31. C The paragraph explains that if we define intelligence in human terms, other species might be hopeless to meet human criteria. However, if we define intelligence relative to a given species, we can’t compare intelligence between animals of different species. These are suggested to be undesirable consequences. Choice (A) is incorrect because “human bias” is not the focus of the rest of the passage. Choice (B) is incorrect because the author does not endorse any specific definition of intelligence, and in this paragraph he explains a problem that would result from defining intelligence this way. Choice (D) is incorrect because the paragraph only mentions a general statement that every species has an evolutionary niche. This is not really background information, nor is that the focus of this paragraph.

32. J The last line of the second paragraph states that if we adopted this definition, we make intelligence something that cannot be compared across species. Choice (F) is incorrect because animals of the “given species” could definitely meet the standard as defined for their species. Choice (G) is incorrect because this definition, in being defined in terms of a given species, would take into account that species’ unique traits. Choice (H) is incorrect because this definition would not use human intelligence as a measurement, but rather the unique capacities of each species.

33. A The passage specifically states that a spider that spins a web is not considered to be displaying intelligence (lines 35–36). Choices (B) and (C) are presented in the fourth paragraph as intelligent, and choice (D) is presented in the fifth paragraph as indicative of some intelligence.

34. H The passage states that scientists frequently begin assessing an animal’s intelligence (lines 24–26) by analyzing the animal’s susceptibility to classical or operant conditioning, which involves providing a stimulus and observing the animal’s behavior. Choice (F) is incorrect because this is identified by the passage as the other primary evidence (line 33) of intelligence. Although this is an important form of evidence, it doesn’t address the wording in the question stem, which specifically asks about where scientists start their assessments. Choice (G) is given (lines 18–19) as an example of something problematic in determining intelligence. Choice (J) is incorrect because the passage never mentions testing an animal’s capacity to absorb information.

35. A The beginning of the fourth paragraph states that one of the primary sources of evidence for intelligence mentioned in the passage is the ability to solve novel problems. So if the lack of sticks is a new problem and the beaver devises a solution to address it, the author would call that intelligent behavior. Choice (B) is incorrect because long-term planning (lines 46–47) is described in the passage as evidence of intelligent behavior. Choice (C) is incorrect because there is no reason to think the beaver’s behavior is the result of operant conditioning. Choice (D) is incorrect because there is no reason to assume the Clever Hans Effect is involved.

36. J The passage makes a contrast between crab and ant shelters and octopus shelters, saying the latter’s long-term planning is better evidence of some intelligence. Choice (F) is incorrect because this would apply to crab and ant shelters. The veined octopus scours the ocean floor for coconut shells, which indicates a more extended search for materials. Choices (G) and (H) are incorrect because the passage mentions nothing about sturdiness and architectural interest, respectively.

37. B The passage spends the first four paragraphs (lines 1–48) discussing the conceptual difficulties involved in creating a definition of intelligence that would be applicable across a range of species. The rest of the passage describes the practical challenges involved in trying to measure intelligent behavior. Choice (A) is incorrect because the passage does not offer one clear definition for intelligence, but rather seeks a definition that would apply to human and non-human species alike. Choice (C) is incorrect because, although the passage describes some behavior as intelligent and other behavior as unintelligent, it does not identify specific criteria. Also, this answer is too narrow in terms of the passage’s overall subject matter. Choice (D) is incorrect because the passage is not organized around a comparison between humans and non-humans. It is organized around the search for an understanding of intelligence that would relate to all animals.

38. F The author begins the paragraph by explaining that intelligent and unintelligent behavior aren’t always what they seem. The example with Alex getting problems wrong is intended to demonstrate that although the behavior looked unintelligent, experimenters believed it was not due to a lack of understanding (lines 69–70). Choice (G) is incorrect because the author has no clear definition of intelligence, so he couldn’t possibly be applying it to parrots. Choice (H) is incorrect because the parrot example mainly illustrated the opposite of this answer. Even though the parrot is described having seemingly intelligent behavior, the passage never says that parrots are believed to be unintelligent. Choice (J) is incorrect because the word proof is too strong. The author said that Alex’s behavior suggests that it learned a concept, not that it proves it did.

39. A The sentence is making a contrast between the animal’s private experience, which scientists can’t observe, and the external behavior that scientists can observe. Choice (B) is incorrect because, although secrets are things that are hidden from some people, the adjective secretive implies an intention of hiding something, which is not present in the use of private experience. Choice (C) is incorrect because a private experience could be subtle or strong—either way it is something outsiders cannot perceive. Choice (D) is incorrect because shy implies being nervous or uncomfortable in the presence of others, and that is not what the passage implies about an animal’s private experience.

40. J This topic sentence (lines 57–58) for the last paragraph foreshadows a discussion of a parrot who behaved unintelligently despite researchers believing it knew how to behave intelligently, and a horse who behaved intelligently but ultimately seemed to not have an intelligent grasp of its behavior. Choice (F) is incorrect because the examples provided do not suggest the animals intended to trick others; this is a trap answer based on the normal meaning of “deceive.” Choice (G) is incorrect because the question asks about animal behavior, and that would not be the hardest thing to measure. The passage does not state what is the hardest, but it is suggested that the mental state of the animal is harder to measure than is the animal’s behavior (lines 49–56). Choice (H) is incorrect because the passage maintains that even trained researchers still can only hazard a guess as to the thought processes that exist behind an animal’s behavior. This answer implies that one can be trained enough to not be fooled.