Julia Morgan was born in 1872 and grew up in Oakland, California.

At a time also oversaw the master plan of Mills College, a women’s college outside of her
when it was uncommon for women to pursue higher education and full-time hometown of Oakland, and contributed six buildings to its campus.
careers, she became one of the most successful and well-known architects in QUESTIONS
the United States.
8. Which sentence BEST states the main idea of the text?
As a child and teenager, Morgan spent most of her time in California, but she
also made several trips to New York to visit her extended family. She became A. Although it was unusual for the time, Julia Morgan attended a university and
close with an older cousin and her cousin’s husband, Pierre LeBrun, who was an then became a successful architect.
architect in New York City. Sensing Morgan’s fascination with engineering and B. Julia Morgan began her career in a large design firm and had many well-
design, LeBrun and his wife encouraged Morgan to continue her education. known clients.
While most young women her age were planning large parties to celebrate C. Julia Morgan’s early journeys to New York and Paris helped her develop a
their entrance into society, Morgan asked her parents if she could attend lifelong love of travel.
college instead. Impressed with their daughter’s ambition, they agreed, and D. Through her work with the YWCA, Julia Morgan showed her commitment to
Morgan enrolled at the University of California in Berkeley to study civil the education of young women.
engineering. Morgan was the only woman in her engineering program, and she
excelled in her classes. She dreamed of a career in architecture and decided to 9. Why does the author write, “In fact, she graduated with her architecture
apply to the Paris School of Fine Arts to continue her studies. Though it took her degree in three years instead of the usual five” in paragraph 3?
several years to gain acceptance to this competitive school, she never stopped
trying. She was eventually admitted and quickly became successful at the A. to give an example of how quickly Morgan could design buildings
institution. In fact, she graduated with her architecture degree in three years B. to help explain why people wanted to hire Morgan as an architect
instead of the usual five. C. to support the statement that Morgan was a strong student
D. to help illustrate Morgan’s desire to return to California
Morgan then returned home to California and began her career as an architect
in a large design firm. Among her many well-known clients was newspaper 10. What does the word “they” refer to in paragraph 3?
publisher William Randolph Hearst. He hired Morgan to design several
buildings, including his largest estate, Hearst Castle. During these years, Morgan A. years
developed her signature architectural style. She designed buildings using a B. buildings
variety of historic techniques while ensuring that they remained true to their C. techniques
Californian roots. She loved using redwood from Northern California and D. roots
incorporating local pottery and ceramics into her designs.
11. What phrase is closest in meaning to make a name for herself in paragraph
Working for Hearst helped Morgan make a name for herself, and she soon had 4?
enough clients to open her own architectural practice. Her services were in high
demand following the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. Thanks to her training A. grow closer to her family
as an engineer, Morgan understood how to construct buildings that could resist B. focus on her strengths
forceful movement in the event of another earthquake. She provided her C. explore new interests
services to many wealthy clients during these years. D. become well known

But the projects dearest to Morgan’s heart were those that promoted the 12. Why does the author begin paragraph 5 with the word “But”?
education of women. She designed a series of buildings for the YWCA, an
organization that provided classes and gathering spaces for young women. She A. to build suspense around an important moment in Morgan’s career
B. to show how people’s views of Morgan’s work have changed over time
C. to contrast two areas of Morgan’s architectural work More time passed. The judge asked again, “Shouldn’t they be there by now?”
D. to introduce an unexpected effect of one of Morgan’s projects The neighbor nodded. “Yes, they’re probably there.”
“The Witness Tree”
A Story from Kazakhstan “Oh?” said the judge. “Didn’t you say your neighbor never gave you anything?
How do you know where he’s going? How do you know how long it would take
Two men came before a judge in his court. “Give me justice! My neighbor has to arrive there if you’ve never been there? Bring back the gold you stole, or
robbed me!” said one man. you’ll be in serious trouble.”
When the first man returned, the judge gave back his missing money.
“He’s lying,” the other protested. “I’ve done nothing wrong.” “Let me hear what “What did the tree say?” the judge asked. “Nothing!” the bewildered man
you both have to say,” the judge said. replied. “But it revealed the truth anyway,” said the judge.

The first man began. “A while ago I went on a journey. I left my life savings – a QUESTIONS
pot of gold coins – with my neighbor, he promised to guard the money while I 1. What was the man asked to do with his neighbor’s money?
was away. When I returned, he denied that he had ever seen my gold coins. He A. Protect it B. Bury it C. Spend it D. Divide it up
says I gave him nothing!”
2. The judge invited the neighbor to sit and wait because the judge –
“My neighbor is lying!” the second man said. “I know nothing about any pot of A. knew the man was tired B. wanted to find out where the tree was
gold coins. He never gave me anything!” C. had a plan to discover the truth D. wanted to talk to someone

“Before you left, did you tell anyone about leaving the coins with your 3. People like the judge in this story can be described as –
neighbor? Did anyone see you give them to him?” the judge asked the first A. dishonest B. shrewd C. generous D. proud
man.
4. The story tells the reader –
The man replied, “For secrecy, I told no one. No one saw us because I asked my A. how the neighbor was punished
neighbor to meet me at night by a tree in the forest. There, in the dark, I gave B. why the man had trusted his neighbor
him the coins.” C. which man was lying
D. how far the man and the clerk walked
The judge frowned. “It is best to have a human witness. Since there is none, we
will have to ask the tree. Go to the forest. Ask the tree if it saw you give a pot of 5. A clue to predicting the outcome of the story occurs when the –
coins to your neighbor. My clerk will go with you to write down the tree’s A. neighbor denies that he robbed the first man
testimony.” B. judge is asked to settle the matter
C. clerk goes with the man who was robbed
The man and the clerk set off for the forest. Meanwhile, the judge invited the D. judge says, “Oh?”
neighbor to sit down.
6. Why would the robber assume that no one would find out his secret?
After a while he asked the neighbor, “Do you think they’ve reached the tree A. He thought that the judge was dishonest.
yet?” The neighbor shook his head. “Not yet.” B. He thought that he was smarter than the judge.
C. He thought his neighbor would not be able to find the tree.
Time passed. The judge asked again, “Do you think they’re there now?” “No, D. He knew that trees cannot talk.
not yet,” the neighbor answered.
7. This story was probably told in order to –
A. share a true experience
B. help the reader settle disagreements
C. help the reader become rich
D. teach a lesson