182 READING COMPREHENSION

Sruu- 5: VOCABULARY lN CONTEXT QUESTIONS

On the TOEFL test you will sometimes be asked to determine the meaning of a dif-
ficult word or expression, a word or expression that you do not know. In this case,
the passage often gives yori a.clear indication of what the word or expression
means.

Example
A line in the passage:

. . . She has a large geranium growing in a pot in the colner of her

apartment. . . .

The queltion:
.t
A "gdianium" is probably which of the following?
(A) A sofa
(B) A chair
(C) A fish
(D) A plant

In this type of question, you are notexpected to know the meaning of the word
geranium.Instead, you should understand from the context that if the geranium is
grouing in a pot, then it is probably a plant. Answer (D) is therefore the best
ansrver.

The following chart outlines the key information that you should remember
about vocabulary questions on the TOEFL test.
 READING COMPREHENSION I83

TOEFL E)(ERCXSE 5: Study each of the passages and choose the best answers to
the questions that follow.

PASSAGE ONE ( Quations, I 4)

When babies are born, they always have blue eyes. This is because the melanil, the
pigment that colors the eyes, is not on the surface of the iris. Instead, it is within ttie
i.ia.es oi the iris. Because there is littli melanin on the surface of the iris, the eyes appear
Line blue.
(5) After a few months, the melanin moves to the surface of the iris. It is the amount of
melanin on the surface that determines a person's permanent eye color, so it is at this
point that a baby's eyes develop the color they will have for a lifetime.

t. The word "pigment" in line 2 is 3. The word *permanent" in line 6

closest in meaning to could best be replaced by
(A) changeable
(B) muscle ,t (B) lasting
(C) tissue r (C) dark
(D) color (D) possible

2. The word 'surface" in line 2 is 4. The lvord "point" in line 7 could best
closest in meaning to ' be renlaced by which of the
(A) top following?
(B) inside (A) Dot
(C) back (B) Era
(D) bottom (C) Time
(D) Place

i i .1.!+i
 184 READING COMPREHENSION

PASSAGE TWO (Questions 5-9)

The chili pepper is native to the Americas, but nowadays it is found all over the
world. It is an extremely popular spice in many cultures and is, in fact, the world's second
favorite spice, after salt. There are more tharn a hundred species of chili peppers, some
Linz which are quite mild and otfiers which are incredibly hot and spicy.
(5) Today chili peppers are used to spice a variety of foods; e.g., salsa, meat and ricc
4

dishes, and evenjam andjelly. In the past, chili peppers had some other, more unusual
uses. In ancient Mexico, for example, chilies could be used to pay ttlxes. In addiion, in
Panama, thpse peppers were used to protect against sharks.

5- The word "favorite'in line 3 is 8. 'Ju*" in line 6 is probably

closest in meaning to (A) a rype of chili
(A) most popular (B) something to eat
(B) most delicious (C) something to wear
(C) best known (D) a container for chilies
(D) most recognized
'I 9. The expression "protect against" in
6. The word "spe6ies" in line 3 is closest line 8 could best be replaced by
irimeaning to which of the folrowing? (A) rean against
(A) Plants (B) hunt for
(B) Uses (C) flirt with
(C) Types (D) defend against
(D) Sizes
7. The word "mild" in line 4 could best
be replaced by
(A) strong tasting
(B) cold
(C) delicate tasting
(D) amiable
 READ]NG COMPREHENSION t85

PASSAGE THREE (Questions 10-15)

At the end of the Revolutionary War, America wa\ no longer a colony; instead,
America was a new, young country that needed to set rip its own.government. There was a
lot of disagreement throughout the country as to the type of government that was besl
Li.ne One of the major issues was whether there should be a strong federal government with
(5) little power in the hands of the individual states or'a weak central government and
powerful states.
It is interesting to note that it was many of the Revolutionary War veterans who were
in favor of a strong central government. Because of their efforts in winning the lvar over
the British, after the war they became a porverful political force, and as a whole they were
(10) extremely nationalistic.
There were also financial reasons why veterans suPPorted a strong national
government. The revolutionary congress had ended the war with a large amount of debt,
and a large portion of this debt was in back pay and pensions to soldiers. Many soldiers
beliFved that with a strong federal government, they had a better chance of collecting the
(15) money owed to them.
't
10. A "colony" ift line 1 is 13. In line 7, \eterans" refers to
lel an independent country (-\) governmentofficials
(B) a t,?e of government (B) former soldiers
(C) a dependenL area (C) voters
_
(D) a continent (D) current members of the armed
forces
ll. . The expression."set up" in line 2
could best be replaced by which of
-the
14. The word "financial" in line l1 is
following? closest in meaning to
(A) Defend (A) monetary
(B) ()rganize (B) important
(C) Argue about (C) military
(D) Protect (D) national

12. The word "federal" in line 4 is closest 15. The word "back" in line 13 could
in meaning to best be replaced by which of the
(A) state
following?
(B) weak (A) Reverse
(C) central (B) Low-income
(D) new . (C) Returnable
(D) Already earned
 186 READ]NG COMPREHENSION

TOEIL REVIE"W EIGRCISE (Skills l-5): Study.u.i'of the passages and choose
the best ulns\4/ers to the questions that follow.

PASSAGE ONE (Questions 1-9)

Geographically, California's diversity is breathtaking, and the state's coastline from

north to south is no exception. Measuring 840 mlles in length, the coast consists of the
rugged cliffs of the Coast Ranges in the north and wide sandy beaches in the south. Along
Line the coastline tirere are two major harbors, one in the north at San Francisco, tlte other in
(5) the south at San Diego. Near Humboldt and Monterey are smaller narural harbors.

I. The topic of this passage is 6. It is implied in the passage that

(A) how the state of California is northern California
divided into north and south (A) has more beaches than
(B) the variations in California's soutJrern California
coastal geography (B) has the same type of coastline
(C) the breathtaking beaury of assouthern California
CaliforpiA (C) has fewer major harbors than
(D,) the exceptions in coasral southern California
. geography (D) has a different coastline from
southern California
2. The word "breathtaking" in line I
probably means 7. According to the passage, where are
(A) breathing the major harbors located in
(B) amazing Californiai
(C) stolen (A) In San Diego
(D) usual (B) Only in northern California
(C) Near Humboldt and Monterey
3. According to the passage, what (D) In the north and in the south
measures 840 miles in length?
(A) The California coastline B. In line 5, a "natural harbor" is
(B) The Coast Ranges (A) not human-made
(C) The rugged cliffs (B) in size
always small
(D) The exceptional part of (C) evenly shaped
northern California (D) constructed of natural t
materials
4. The Coast Ranges are probably
(A) flat, sandy areas on the coast of 9. Which of the following geographical
California features is NOT mentioned in the
(B) found in sorrrhern California passage?
(C) a series of mounrains (A) Cliffs
(D) hundreds of miles north of the (B) Canyons
cliffs (C) Beaches
(D) Harbors
5. "Harbors'n in Iine 4 are
(A) cliffs
(B) ports
(C) beaches
(D) mountains
 READING COMPREHENSION 187

PASSAGE TWO (Questions 10-18)

Among some groups of people, cats have a reputation as rather silly animals that are
always getting themselves stuck in trees. Cats have often been known to become frightened
of something, to run up a tree, and then cry sadly until they are rescued.
" Line There is, in reality, a reasonable explanation for this type of behavior, and it has to do
(5) with the shape of the cat's claws. A cat's claws are hooked in a direction that makel
climbing up a tree a rather easy task. Howevei when it comes to climbing back down the
tree, these claws are not very helpful.

10. The main idea of the passage is that 15. According to the Passage, a cat
CANNoT
(A) cats really are silly animals
(B) cats have good reason for their (A) climb up a tree
behavior (B) get stuck in a tree
(C) cats enjoy climbing trees (C) cry easily
(D) cats' sharp claws are (D) climb dorvn easily
unneceisary for survival
" t 16. The passage states that a cat gets
11. The passage fndicates that some stuck in a tree because
people think that cats are silly (A) it is crying
because the cats (B) of the shape of its claws
(A) have funny-looking claws (C) it does not know how to climb
(B) frighten other cats (D) it is afraid of other cals
(C) climb trees and cannot get
-
dorvn 17. It is implied in the passage that if a
(D) are unable to rescue ottrer cats cat tries to climb down a tree, it rvill
(A) be able to do it successfully
12. The rvorcr "rescued" in line 3 is
closesr in meaning to [3] il',:'"",1I"*]X
(A) left (D) probably fall
(B) saved
(c) scared 18. The word "helpful" in line 7 could
(D) tired best be rePlaced bY
(A) friendlv
13. The expression "in realiry" in line 4 iti ,r.i,rt '
could best be replaced by (C) nlce
(A) in contrast (D) sincere
(B) in fact
(C) in agreement
(D) in all probability

14. The word "hooked" in line 5 is

closest in meaning to
(A) curved
(B) straightened
(C) sharpened
(D) shortened
 READING COMPREHENSION

PASSAGE THREE (Questions 19-27)

In the 1890's, bicycles became quite popular in the United States as the new "safety"
bicycles replaced the older penny-farthing bicycles. On the penny-farthing bicycles, one
wheel was much larger than the other, and these bicycles were not very stable; they were
always falling over. On the new "safety" bicycles, both wheels were equal in size, and they
were much easier to control. .
Many women also enjoyed these new "safety" bicycles, but they had to take measures
to deal with their clothing while riding the bicycles. The fashion at the time was for long,
full skirts that did nor go well with bicycles. Some women put lead weights in their skirts to
keep their skirts from blowing up. Other women changed from long skirts to bloomers,
which were long, full, wide pants, but some people felt that bloomers were inappropriate
for women to wlar; in fact, some newspapers and magazines of the day criticized the new
bicycle fashion as a danger to ladies' morals-

19. The passage is mainly about 23. The word 'measures" in line 6 could
best be replaced by
(A) the populaiity of safety bicycles,
even arlong women (A) counts
(B) the diffdrences between safety (B) numbers
' and penny-farthing bicycles (C) steps
(C) women's fashions in the (D) problems
nineteenth centurY
(D) the lack of stability of the 24. The passage indicates that it was
penny-farthing bicycles fashionable in the 1890's for women
to wear
20. According to the passage, the penny- (A) long skirs
farthing bicycle had (B) . short pants,
(A) two small wheels (C) small hats
(R) trvo large wheels (D) men's clothing
(C) rwo equal wheels
(D) two unequal wheels 25. It is implied in the passage that lead is
(A) heavy
21. The word "stable" in Iine 3 is closest (B) soft
in meaning to (C) delicate
(A) dangerous (D) light
(B) expensive
(C) bis 26. In line 9, "bloomers" are
(D) steady (A) shirts
(B) skirts
22. Which of the following is NOT true (C) hats
about the safety bicycle? (D) pants
(A) It had equal wheels.
(B) It was fairly simple to control. 27. It is i-nplied in the passage that
(C) It preceded the penny-farthing newspapers expressed the opinion
bicycle. that women
(D) It became PoPular in the (A) should wear bloomers
1890's. (B) should not ride bicycles
(C) should not wear long, full skirts
(D) should always follow the fashion