Reading Skill 4: INSERT SENTENCES INTO THE PASSAGE

In the Reading sectian af the TOEFL iBT, yau may be asked ta determine where ta inserta
sentence inta a passage. In this type af questian, yau must click an ane af a number af squares
in a passage ta indicate that the sentence shauld be inserted in that pasitian. Laak at an
example fram the TOEFL test that asks where ta insert a particular sentence.
Example 1
-

--

--

- - -

- - - - - - - - ..
-

TOEF'l Rudmg
IIIU 1

11 ''

1 (TI''"'

1 )ll

MVWW

Ouullon 1 or 12

- - -

HUP

SA.C"

'

tUOf 111.1(

Nff

00118:38
,.. ............ t.lht..
1

1. Look at the tour squares

l Jthat indicate where the
following sentence could
be added to the passage.
When one brother was
killed, the remaining
brother had the game
inventad to explain the
tragic events to his
mother.
Where would the sentence
best fit? Click on a square
l Jto add the sentence to
the passage.

The Ongm of Chess

,....
The origins of the game of chess are not known with certainty,
and traditional stories in a number of cultures claim credit for
developing the game. EJ One legend claims that chess was
invented during the Trojan Wars. II!J According to another legend,
chess was developed to depict the battle between two royal
brothers for the crown of Persia. 111 In a third legend, chess was the
creation of the mythical Arab philosopher Sassa. 1I!J
.....
Whatever its origins, chess was known to exist in India as
early as 500 a.c., and it eventually spread from India to Persia,
where it took on much of the terminology that today is part of the
game. Foot soldiers in the Persian army were called piyadah, which
became the pawns of today's game, and the Persian chariot was a
rukh, which became the rook. The Persian king was the shah, which
evolved into the name chess. Shahmat, which means "the king is
dead," became the expression "checkmate."

This questian asks yau ta decide where a sentence cauld be added ta ane af the paragraphs. Ta
answer this questian, yau shauld study the sentence ta be inserted and then laak at the cantext
befare and after each insertian bax. The sentence mentians one brother and the remaining
brother, and the cantext befare insertian bax mentians two royal brothers. Fram this, it can
be determined that the sentence shauld be added at insertian bax
Yau shauld click an
ta
answer this questian.

m.

READING SKILLS

35

Now look at another example that asks where to insert a particular sentence.
Example 2
-

~------~~e-,-"-~.-~--~.~,-.~---,-._,.:.~~-""

TOEFL Readfnt
PAU"f
1

ff~T

StCTiN
f).IT

',

'

"

Ques.hon2of12

.-.~

<..oltl'"'
r,

t ,~ ,

<:: '""\7t.tb~~~f;V
;"

:;:,Jt-f'l,*-

-:~' "'""

.,..

'

1WV!EW /

'S~~?;_1~~q ';t~

.'\c-':r i

HCtP

'. ;

~).-~;!;"'w-y

BACtl.

,,ro ..,

..

~ '"~ ,.,-,~ ~: !

HIOETIME

'?0': ,18;38

More Awalable

'

2. Look at the four squares

ll that indicate where the
following sentence could
be added to the passage.
This expression is used
during the game to
indicate that one player's
king is on the verge of
being captured.
Where would the sentence
best fit? Click on a square
ll to add the sentence to
the passage.

'

The Origin of Chess

,..
The origins of the game of chess are not known with certainty,
and traditional stories in a number of cultures claim credit for
developing the game. One legend claims that chess was invented
during the Trojan Wars. According to another legend, chess was
developed to depict the battle between two royal brothers for the
crown of Persia. In a third legend, chess was the creation of the
mythical Arab philosopher Sassa.
,..
Whatever its origins, chess was known to exist in India as early
as 500 B.c., and it eventually spread from India to Persia, where it
took on much of the terminology that today is part of the game.
IJ Foot soldiers in the Persian army were called piyadah, which
became the pawns of today's game, and the Persian chariot was
a rukh, which became the rook. fD The Persian king was the shah,
which evolved into the name chess. fii Shahmat, which means "the
king is dead," became the expression "checkmate."

This question asks you to decide where a sentence could be added to one of'-the paragraphs. To
answer this question, you should study the sentence to be inserted and then look at the context
before and after each insertion box. The sentence mentions this expression about the king, and
the context before insertion box
mentions the king and the expression "checkmate." From
this, it can be determined that the sentence should be added at insertion box
You should
click on
to answer this question.

m.

The following chart outlines the key information that you should remember about questions testing vocabulary in context.
QUESTIONS ABOUT INSERTING SENTENCES

36

HOW TO IDENTIFY
THE QUESTION

Look at the four squares lJ ...

WHERE TO FINO
THEANSWER

The places where the sentence may be inserted are marked in the passage.

HOW TO ANSWER
THE QUESTION

l. Look at the sentence to be inserted for any key words or ideas at the beginning

READING

or the end of the sentence.

2. Read the context befare and after the insertion squares for any ideas that relate
to the sentence to be inserted.
3. Choose the insertion square that is most related to the sentence to be inserted.

READING EXERCISE 4: Study each of the passages, and choose the best answers to the
questions that follow.
PASSAGE ONE (Questions 1-2)

Popcorn

Paragraph

,..

,...

11 One method of popping corn involved skewering an ear of corn on a stick and
roasting it until the kernels popped off the ear. 1!1 Corn was also popped by first cutting the
kernels off the cob, throwing them into a fire, and gathering them as they popped out of the
fire. El In a final method for popping corn, sand and unpopped kernels of corn were mixed
together in a cooking pot and heated until the corn popped to the surface of the sand in the
pot.
fD This traditional Native American dish was quite a novelty to newcomers to the
Americas. EiJ Columbus and his sailors found natives in the West lndies wearing popcorn
necklaces, and explorer Hernando Corts described the use of popcorn amulets in
the religious ceremonies of the Aztecs. El According to legendary descriptions of the
celebratory meal, Quadequina, the brother of Chief Massasoit, contributed several deerskin
bags of popcorn to the celebration.II!J

1. Look at the four squares [1 that indicate

where the following sentence could be
added to the first paragraph of the passage.
Native Americans have been popping
corn for at least 5,000 years, using a
variety of different methods.

Where would the sentence best fit? Click

on a square [1 to add the sentence to the
passage.

2. Look at the four squares [1 that indicate

where the following sentence could be
added to the second paragraph of the
passage.
A century after these early explorers,
the Pilgrims at Plymouth may have
been introduced to popcorn at the first
Thanksgiving dinner.

Where would the sentence best fit? Click

on a square [1 to add the sentence to the
passage.

READING SKILLS

37

PASSAGE TWO (Questions 3-5)

Lions

Paragraph

1!3 Something unusual about lions is that they hunt in groups. El Group hunting is
beneficia! to lions because it means that much larger prey can be captured by the lions.
lt
also means that individual lions expend much less energy during a hunt.
.,....
There is a standard pattern to the process of hunting in groups. EJ The process is
initiated by a single female, who stations herself at a raised elevation to serve as a lookout
to spot potential prey. 1m When prey is spotted, a group of young lionesses advances on
the herd and pushes the herd in the direction of a different lioness who has hidden herself
downwind.
lt is up to this concealed female to choose the weakest member of the herd
for the kili.
,.....
ID As can be seen from this description of the process, it is the females rather than the
male or males in the pride that take part in the kili. EJ The younger and stronger females
are the ones who go on the attack. El While the females are on the attack, the males stay
behind to protect the rest of the pride from attack by predators such as hyenas.

,...

3. Look at the tour squares l1 that indicate

where the following sentence could be
added to the first paragraph of the passage.
Other cats do not.

Where would the sentence best fit? Click

on a square lJ to add the sentence to the
passage.

4. Look at the tour squares l1 that indicate

where the following sentence could be
added to the second paragraph of the
passage.
This is usually accomplished by knocking
the prey to the ground and breaking its
neck.

Where would the sentence best fit? Click

on a square lJ to add the sentence to the
passage.

38

READING

5. Look at the tour squares lJ that indicate

where the following sentence could
be added to the third paragraph of the
passage.
Thus, the males have a defensive rather
than an offensive role.

Where would the sentence best fit? Click

on a square l1 to add the sentence to the
passage.

PASSAGE THREE (Questions 6-7)

Paragraph

Accidental lnventions

A number ot products that we commonly use today were developed quite by accident.
Two ot many possible examples ot this concept are the leotard and the Popsicle, each ot
which came about when an insightful person recognized a potential benetit in a negative
situation.
~
The tirst ot these accidental inventions is the leotard, a close-titting, one-piece garment
worn today by dancers, gymnasts, and acrobats, among others. rl In 1828, a circus
performer named Nelson Hower was taced with the prospect ot missing his performance
because his costume was at the cleaners.
lnstead ot canceling his part ot the show,
he decided to perform in his long underwear. rl Soon, other circus performers began
performing the same way. 11 When popular acrobat Jules Leotard adopted the style, it
became known as the leotard.
~
fl Another product invented by chance was the Popsicle. 11 In 1905, eleven-yearold Frank Epperson stirred up a drink ot truit-tlavored powder and soda water and then
mistakenly left the drink, with the spoon in it, out on the back porch overnight. fl As the
temperature dropped that night, the soda water troze around the spoon, creating a tasty
treat.lm Years later, remembering how enjoyable the treat had been, Epperson went into
business producing Popsicles.

6. Look at the tour squares [] that indicate

where the tollowing sentence could be
added to the second paragraph ot the
passage.

7. Look at the tour squares [] that indicate

where the tollowing sentence could
be added to the third paragraph ot the
passage.

They enjoyed the comfort of performing

in underwear rather than costumes.

lt was a taste sensation that stayed on

his mind.

Where would the sentence best tit? Click

on a square [] to add the sentence to the
passage.

Where would the sentence best tit? Click

on a square [] to add the sentence to the
passage.

READING SKILLS

39

PASSAGE FOUR (Questions 8-9)

Paragraph

Uranium

,...

Uranium, a radioactiva metal named after the planet Uranus, is a primary source of
energy in nuclear power plants and certain nuclear weapons. lt occurs naturally in three
different isotopes, which differ in their facility in undergoing nuclear fission.
,...
11 The three naturally occurring isotopes of uranium are U-234, U-235, and U-238. 11
Each of these isotopes has the same atomic number of 92, which is the number of protons
in the nucleus. El However, each has a different number of neutrons and thus has a different
atomic mass, which is the sum of the number of protons and neutrons.
~
Of these three naturally occurring isotopes of uranium, U-238 is by far the most
common, while U-235 is the most capable of undergoing nuclear fission . 1'1 More than
99 percent of all naturally occurring uranium is U-238, while U-234 and U-235 each make
up less than 1 percent. 11 Nuclear fission can occur when a U-235 nucleus is struck by a
neutron, and the nucleus splits, releasing energy and releasing two or more neutrons.
However, nuclear fission rarely involves a U-238 or a U-234 nucleus because it is unusual
for either of these nuclei to break apart when struck by a neutron.

8. Look at the four squares [1 that indicate

where the following sentence could be
added to the second paragraph of the
passage.
U-234 has 92 protons and 142 neutrons
for an atomic mass of 234, U-235 has 92
protons and 143 neutrons for a total of
235, and U-238 has 92 protons and 146
neutrons for a total of 238.
Where would the sentence best fit? Click
on a square [J to add the sentence to the
passage.

40

READING

9. Look at the four squares [1 that indicate

where the following sentence could
be added to the third paragraph of the
passage.
These neutrons can create a chain
reaction by causing other U-235 nuclei to
break up.
Where would the sentence best fit? Click
on a square [J to add the sentence to the
passage.

READING EXERCISE (Skills 3-4): Read the passage.

Paragraph

Theodore Dreiser

,...

Theodore Dreiser, the American author best known for the novel Sister Carrie (1912),
introduced a powerful style of writing that hada profound influence on the writers that
followed him, from Steinbeck to Fitzgerald and Hemingway. lt was in Sister Carrie that
Theodore Dreiser created a fictional account that laid bare the harsh reality of life in the big
city and in which Dreiser established himself as the architect of a new genre.
,.
Dreiser was born in 1871 into a large family whose fortunes had in the recent past taken
a dramatic turn for the worse. Before Theodore's birth, his father had built up a successful
factory business only to lose it to a fire. The family was rather abruptly thrust into poverty,
and Theodore spent his youth moving from place to place in the Midwest as the family tried
desperately to reestablish itself financially. He left home at the age of sixteen. After earning
sorne money, he spent a year at Indiana University but left school and returned to Chicago,
yearning for the glamour and excitement that it offered. At the age of twenty-two, he began
work as a reporter for a small newspaper in Chicago, the Daily Globe, and later worked
on newspapers in Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Saint Louis, and New York City. In his work as a
reporter, he was witness to the seamier side of life and was responsible for recording events
that befell the less fortunate in the city, the beggars, the alcoholics, the prostitutas, and the
working poor.
,...
Dreiser first tried his hand at fiction by writing short stories rather than novels, and the
first four short stories that he wrote were published. Based on this, he was encouraged
to write a novel that would accurately depict the harsh life of the city, and the novel Sister
Carrie was the result of his effort. This novel chronicles the life of Carrie Meeber, a smalltown girl who goes to Chicago in a quest for fame and fortune. As Carrie progresses from
factory worker to Broadway star by manipulating anyone in her path, Dreiser sends a clear
message about the tragedy of life that is devoted purely to the quest for money.
,...
Sister Carrie, unfortunately for Dreiser, did not achieve immediate success. The novel
was accepted for publication by Doubleday, but Dreiser was immediately asked to make
major revisions to the novel. When Dreiser refused to make the revisions, Doubleday
published only a limited number of copies of the book and refused to promete or advertise
it. Published in limited release and without the backing of the company, the novel was a
dismal failure, selling fewer than 500 copies.
......
After the failure of the novel that was so meaningful to him, Dresier suffered a nervous
breakdown; he was depressed, stricken with severe headaches, and unable to sleep for
days on end. Having sunk to a point where he was considering suicide, he was sent by his
brother toa sanatorium in White Plains, New York, where he eventually recovered. After
leaving the sanatorium, he took a position asan editor for Butterick's. He was successful in
this position, and was eventually able to purchase a one-third interest in a new publishing
company, B. W. Dodge, which republished Dreiser's novel Sister Carrie. This new release
of the novel preved considerably more successful than the first release had been. In its first
year, the reissued version of Sister Carrie sold 4,500 copies, with strong reviews, and the
next year it sold more than 10,000 copies. The recognition that accompanied the success of
the novel was based not only on the power of the description of the perils of urban life but
also on the new trend in literatura that Dreiser was credited with establishing.

READING SKILLS

41

Refer to this version of the passage to answer the questions that follow.
Theodore Dreiser

Paragraph

.,...

E1 Theodore Dreiser, the American author best known tor the novel Sister Carrie (1912),

introduced a powerful style ot writing that had a protound intluence on the writers that
tollowed him, trom Steinbeck to Fitzgerald and Hemingway. 11!1 lt was in Sister Carrie that
Theodore Dreiser created a tictional account that laid bare the harsh reality ot lite in the big
city and in which Dreiser established himselt as the architect ot a new genre. 11
,....
Dreiser was born in 1871 into a larga family whose fortunas had in the recent past taken
a dramatic turn for the worse. Befare Theodore's birth, his father had built up a successtul
tactory business only to lose it to a tire. 11 The family was rather abruptly thrust into poverty,
and Theodore spent his youth moving trom place to place in the Midwest as the tamily tried
desperately to reestablish itselt tinancially. IJ He left home at the age ot sixteen. 11 After
earning sorne money, he spent a year at Indiana University but left school and returned to
Chicago, yearning for the glamour and excitement that it offered.II!J At the age of twentytwo, he began work as a reporter for a small newspaper in Chicago, the Daily Globe, and
later worked on newspapers in Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Saint Louis, and New York City. In
his work as a reporter, he was witness to the seamier side of life and was responsible for
i'ecording events that befell the less fortunate in the city, the beggars, the alcoholics, the
~stitutes, and the working poor.
,...
11 Dreiser tirst tried his hand at tiction by writing short stories rather than novels,
and the tirst tour short stories that he wrote were published. EJ Based on this, he was
encouraged to write a novel that would accurately depict the harsh lite ot the city, and the
novel Sister Carrie was the result ot his effort. ID This novel chronicles the lite ot Carrie
Meeber, a small-town girl who goes to Chicago in a quest for fame and tortune. 1m As Carrie
progresses from factory worker to Broadway star by manipulating anyone in her path,
preiser sends a clear message about the tragedy of lite that is devoted purely to the quest
,9rmoney.
,....
Sister Carrie, untortunately tor Dreiser, did not achieve immediate success. f! The novel
was accepted tor publication by Doubleday, but Dreiser was immediately asked to make
majar revisions to the novel. ID When Dreiser retused to make the revisions, Doubleday
published only a limited number ot copies ot the book and retused to promote or advertise
it. fZI Published in limited release and without the backing ot the company, the novel was a
dismal tailure, selling tewer than 500 copies. rm
,.,...
After the tailure ot the novel that was so meaningtul to him, Dreiser suffered a nervous
breakdown; he was depressed, stricken with severe headaches, and unable to sleep tor
days on end. Having sunk toa point where he was considering suicide, he was sent by his
brother to a sanatorium in White Plains, New York, where he eventually recovered. m1 After
leaving the sanatorium, he took a position as an editor tor Butterick's. m1 He was successtul
in this position, and was eventually able to purchase a one-third interest in a new publishing
company, B. W. Dodge, which republished Dreiser's novel Sister Carrie. llD This new release
ot the novel proved considerably more successful than the first release had been. m!J In
its first year, the reissued version ot Sister Carrie sold 4,500 copies, with strong reviews,
and the next year it sold more than 10,000 copies. The recognition that accompanied the
success of the novel was basad not only on the power of the description of the perils of
urban lite but also on the new trend in literatura that Dreiser was credited with establishing.

42

READING

Questions
1. Look at the three squares [J that indicate
where the tollowing sentence could be
added to paragraph 1.

4. Look at the four squares [J that indicate

where the following sentence could be
added to paragraph 2.

This forceful first novel set a new path

for American novels at the end of the
nineteenth century.

At this young age, he moved alone to

Chicago and supported himself by taking
odd jobs.

Where would the sentence best tit? Click

on a square [J to add the sentence to the
passage.

Where would the sentence best fit? Click

on a square [J to add the sentence to the
passage.

2. Which ot the sentences below best

expresses the essential intormation in the
tirst highlighted sentence in paragraph 2?
lncorrect choices change the meaning
in important ways or leave out essential
intormation.
Dreiser's tamily had tormerly been rich
betore it had become poor.
Dreiser was, untortunately, born into an
overly dramatic tamily.
The tortunes ot Dreiser's tamily had
recently increased.
Members ot Dreiser's tamily suffered
trom the serious effects ot a disease.
3. Which of the sentences below best
expresses the essential information
in the second highlighted sentence in
paragraph 2? lncorrect choices change the
meaning in important ways or leave out
essential intormation.
Dreiser served as a witness in a number
of trials that involved beggars,
alcoholics, and prostitutas.
Dreiser observed and wrote about
the poorer classes as part ot his
newspaper job.
In New York City, during Dreiser's time,
there were many people who were
less fortunate than Dreiser.
Dreiser's work involved working with
beggars, alcoholics, and prostitutas.

5. Look at the tour squares [J that indicate

where the tollowing sentence could be
added to paragraph 3.
lt was rather unusual for a novice writer
to achieve so much so quickly.

Where would the sentence best fit? Click

on a square [J to add the sentence to the
passage.

6. Which of the sentences below best

expresses the essential intormation in
the highlighted sentence in paragraph 3?
lncorrect choices change the meaning
in important ways or leave out essential
intormation.

Dreiser devoted his life primarily to

trying to become rich.
In Dreiser's novel, Carrie succeeds
by moving trom a low-level job to
stardom.
Dreiser used one of his characters to
demonstrate the negative aspects of
lust for money.
Dreiser tried to warn Carrie that she was
taking the wrong path in life.

7. Look at the tour squares [J that indicate

where the tollowing sentence could be
added to paragraph 4.
These changes were intended to tone
down sorne of the starker and more
scandalous descriptions.

Where would the sentence best fit? Click

on a square [J to add the sentence to the
passage.

READING SKILLS

43

8. Which ot the sentences below best

expresses the essential intormation in the
tirst highlighted sentence in paragraph 5?
lncorrect choices change the meaning
in important ways or leave out essential
intormation.
Dreiser recovered trom an attempted
suicide ata sanatorium.
Dreiser's brother went to a sanatorium
after attempting suicide.
After being sent to a sanatorium, Dreiser
considered committing suicide.
Dreiser's brother stepped in to help
Dreiser after Dreiser became
depressed.

9. Which ot the sentences below best

expresses the essential intormation
in the second highlighted sentence in
paragraph 5? lncorrect choices change the
meaning in important ways or leave out
essential intormation.
In Dreiser's novels, he recognized the
power ot urban lite and new trends
that existed in it.
The success ot Dreiser's novel went
unrecognized because it represented
such a new trend in literature.
Dreiser credited his urban upbringing
and literary background tor the
success that his novel achieved.
Dreiser achieved acclaim because his
writing was so powerful and because
he established a new trend.

44

READING

10. Look at the tour squares ll that indicate

where the tollowing sentence could be
added to paragraph 5.
This company was one that published
magazines to promote sewing and the
sale of clothing patterns.

Where would the sentence best tit? Click

on a square [J to add the sentence to the
passage.

READING REVIEW EXERCISE (Skills 1-4): Read the passage.

Paragraph

,....

.......

,...

,...

,.....

,...

Pulsars

There is still much for astronomers to learn about pulsars. Based on what is known,
the term pulsar is used to describe the phenomenon of short, precisely timed radio bursts
that are emitted from somewhere in space. Though all is not known about pulsars, they are
now believed in reality to emanate from spinning neutron stars, highly reduced cores of
collapsed stars that are theorized to exist.
Pulsars were discovered in 1967, when Jocelyn Bell, a graduate student at Cambridge
University, noticed an unusual pattern on a chart from a radio telescope. What made this
pattern unusual was that, unlike other radio signals from celestial objects, this series of
pulses had a highly regular period of 1.33730119 seconds. Because day after day the
pulses carne from the same place among the stars, Cambridge researchers carne to the
conclusion that they could not have come from a local source such as an Earth satellite.
A name was needed for this newly discovered phenomenon. The possibility that the
signals were coming from a distant civilization was considered, and at that point the idea
of naming the phenomenon L.G.M. (short for Little Green Men) was raised. However, after
researchers had found three more regularly pulsing objects in other parts of the sky over the
next few weeks, the name pulsar was selected instead of L.G.M .
As more and more pulsars were found, astronomers engaged in debates over their
nature. lt was determined that a pulsar could not be a star inasmuch as a normal star is too
big to pulse so fast. The question was also raised as to whether a pulsar might be a white
dwarf star, a dying star that has collapsed to approximately the size of the Earth and is
slowly cooling off. However, this idea was also rejected because the fastest pulsar known
at the time pulsed around thirty times per second and a white dwarf, which is the smallest
known type of star, would not hold together if it were to spin that fast.
The final conclusion among astronomers was that only a neutron star, which is
theorized to be the remaining core of a collapsed star that has been reduced to a highly
dense radius of only around 1O kilometers, was small enough to be a pulsar. Further
evidence of the link between pulsars and neutron stars was found in 1968, when a pulsar
was found in the middle of the Crab Nebula. The Crab Nebula is what remains of the
supernova of the year 1054, and inasmuch as it has been theorized that neutron stars
sometimes remain following supernova explosions, it is believed that the pulsar coming from
the Crab Nebula is evidently just such a neutron star.
The generally accepted theory for pulsars is the lighthouse theory, which is based
upon a consideration of the theoretical properties of neutron stars and the observed
properties of pulsars. According to the lighthouse theory, a spinning neutron star emits
beams of radiation that sweep through the sky, and when one of the beams passes over the
Earth, it is detectable on Earth. lt is known as the lighthouse theory because the emissions
from neutron stars are similar to the pulses of light emitted from lighthouses as they sweep
over the ocean; the name lighthouse is therefore actually more appropriate than the name
pulsar.

READING SKILLS

45

Refer to this version of the passage to answer the questions that follow.
Pulsars
There is still much for astronomers to learn about pulsars. Based on what is known,
the term pulsar is used to describe the phenomenon of short, precisely timed radio bursts
that are emitted from somewhere in space. Though all is not known about pulsars, they are
now believed in reality to emanate from spinning neutron stars, highly reduced cores of
collapsed stars that are theorized to exist.
Pulsars were discovered in 1967, when Jocelyn Bell, a graduate student at Cambridge
University, noticed an un usual pattern on a chart from a radio telescope. What made this
pattern unusual was that, unlike other radio signals from celestial objects, this series of
pulses had a highly regular period of 1.33730119 seconds. Because day after day the
pulses carne from the same place among the stars, Cambridge researchers carne to the
conclusion that they could not have come from a local source such asan Earth satellite.
ID A name was needed for this newly discovered phenomenon . El The possibility that
the signals were coming from a distant civilization was considerad, and at that point the
idea of naming the phenomenon L.G.M. (short for Little Green Men) was raised. 11 However,
after researchers had found three more regularly pulsing objects in other parts of the sky
over the next few weeks, the name pulsar was selected instead of L.G.M. ID
As more and more pulsars were found, astronomers engaged in debates over their
nature. lt was determinad that a pulsar could not be a star inasmuch as a normal star is too
big to pulse so fast. The question was also raised as to whether a pulsar might be a white
dwarf star, a dying star that has collapsed to approximately the size of the Earth and is
slowly cooling off. However, this idea was also rejected because the fastest pulsar known
at the time pulsad around thirty times per second and a white dwarf, which is the smallest
known type of star, would not hold together if lt were to spin that fast.
The final conclusion among astronomers was that only a neutron star, which is
theorized to be the remaining core of a collapsed star that has been reduced to a highly
dense radius of only around 1O kilometers, was small enough to be a pulsar. Further
evidence of the link between pulsars and neutron stars was found in 1968, when a pulsar
was found in the middle of the Crab Nebula. The Crab Nebula is what remalns of the
supernova of the year 1054, and inasmuch as 1t has been theorized that neutron stars....____..,~__,
sometimes remain following supernova explosions, lt is believed that the ~ulsar com~ from
the Crab Nebula is evidently just such a neutron star.
mi The generally accepted theory for pulsars is the lighthouse theory, which is
based upon a consideration of the theoretical properties of neutron stars and the observed
properties of pulsars. mi According to the lighthouse theory, a spinning neutron star emits
beams of radiation that sweep through the sky, and when one of the beams passes over
the Earth, 1t is detectable on Earth. l!llt is known as the lighthouse theory because the
emissions from neutron stars are similar to the pulses of light emitted from lighthouses as
they sweep over the ocean; the name lighthouse is therefore actually more appropriate than
the name pulsar. m1

Paragraph

,....

,...

,...

.....

.....

46

READING

Questions
1. The phrase "~e frorn" in paragraph 1
is closest in meaning to
develop from
revolve around
wander away from
receive directions from
2. Which of the sentences below best
expresses the essential information in
the highlighted sentence in paragraph 2?
lncorrect choices change the meaning
in important ways or leave out essential
information.

lt was unusual for researchers to hear

patterns from space.
lt was unusual for celestial objects to
emit radio signals.
lt was unusual that the pattern of the
pulsars was so regular.
lt was unusual that the period of pulses
was only slightly more than a second
in length.

3. The word "they" in paragraph 2 refers to

day after day
the pulses
the stars
Cambridge researchers
4. The word "raised" in paragraph 3 could
best be replaced by
lifted
suggested
discovered
elevated

5. Look at the four squares ll that indicate

became attached to
were disappointed in
made promises about
took part in

7. The word "~r" in paragraph 4 refers to

weeks
pulsars
astronomers
details
8. Which of the sentences below best
expresses the essential information in
the highlighted sentence in paragraph 4?
lncorrect choices change the meaning
in important ways or leave out essential
information.
Pulsars could not be white dwarfs
because the frequency of the pulsars
is too high.
Pulsars cannot spin very fast because
they will fall apart if they spin fast.
White dwarfs cannot be dying stars
because they cannot pulse at around
thirty times per second.
White dwarfs cannot contain pulsars
because white dwarfs spin much
faster than pulsars.

9. The word "Further" in paragraph 5 is

closest in meaning to

distant
irrelevant
additional
unreliable

where the following sentence could be

added to paragraph 3.
This name was selected because it
indicates a regularly pulsing radio
source.

Where would the sentence best fit? Click

on a square ll to add the sentence to the
passage.

READING SKILLS

47

10. Which of the sentences below best

expresses the essential information in
the highlighted sentence in paragraph 5?
lncorrect choices change the meaning
in important ways or leave out essential
information.

lt is believed that the supernova of

1054 created the Crab Nebula, which
contains a pulsing neutron star.
lt is believed that a pulsar created the
Crab Nebula, which exploded in a
supernova in 1054.
lt is believed that a neutron star
exploded in the supernova of 1054,
creating the Crab Nebula.
lt is believed that the Crab Nebula
is a pulsar that is on the verge of
becoming a supernova.
11. The word "properties" in paragraph 6 is
closest in meaning to

lands
characteristics
masses
surroundings

48

READING

12. The word "it" in paragraph 6 refers to

a spinning neutron star

the sky
one of the beams
the Earth
13. Look at the tour squares [J that indicate
where the following sentence could be
added to paragraph 6.
The periodic flashing of pulsars is
related to rotation rather than pulsing,
so the name pulsar is actually not very
accurate.

Where would the sentence best fit? Click

on a square [J to add the sentence to the
passage.