l D l D l D l D l ü l ü l n l

DIAGNOSTIC PRE-TEST
S E C T IO N 1
L IS T E N IN G C O M P R E H E N S IO N
T im e — a p p r o x im a t e ly 3 5 m in u te s
(in c lu d in g t h e r e a d in g o f t h e d ir e c t io n s fo r e a c h p a r t)

In this section of the test, you will have an opportunity to demonstrate your ability to understand
conversations and talks in English. There are three parts to this section, with special directions for each
part. Answer all the questions on the basis of what is stated or im plied by the speakers you hear. Do
not take notes or write in your test book at any time. Do not turn the pages until you are told to do so.

Part A

Directions: In Part A you will hear short conversations between two people. After each conversation,
you will hear a question about the conversation. The conversations and questions will not be
repeated. After you hear a question, read the Four possible answers in your test book and choose the
best answer. Then, on your answer sheet, find the number of the question and fill in the space that
corresponds to the letter of the answer you have chosen.

Listen to an exam ple. Sam ple Answer

On the recording, you w ill hear:

(m an) That exam was just awful.

(w om an) Oh, it could have been worse.
(narrator) What does the w om an m ean?

In your test book, you w ill read: (A) The exam was really awful.
(B) It was the worst exam she had ever seen.
(C) It couldn't have been more difficult.
(D) It wasn't that hard.

You learn from the conversation that the man thought the exam was very difficult and that the
woman disagreed with the man. The best answer to the question, “What does the woman mean?" is
(D), "It wasn’t that hard.” Therefore, the correct choice is (D).

TOEFL* test directions and form at are reprinted by perm ission

of ETS, the copyright owner. However, all exam ples and test
questions are provided by P earson Education. Inc. LISTENING COMPREHENSION PRE-TEST 35
 l D l D l D l D l D l D l D l

1. (A) The coffee is much better this 8. (A) Housing within his budget is hard to
morning. locate.
(B) He’s feeling bitter this morning. (B) It’s hard to find his house in New
(C) The coffee isn’t very good. York.
(D) He cannot taste the butter. (C) He can’t afford to move his house to
New York.
2. (A) The two classes meet in an hour and a (D) Housing in New York is unavailable.
half.
(B) The class meets three hours per week. 9. (A) The boss was working on the reports.
(C) Each half of the class is an hour long. (B) He would have to finish the reports
(D) Two times a week the class meets for before the end of next month.
an hour. (C) He was directed to stay late and finish
som e work.
3. (A) A few minutes ago, the flight (D) He could finish the reports at home.
departed.
(B) The fight will start in a while. 10. (A) The boisterous students made the
(C) They are frightened about the teacher mad.
departure. (B) The teacher angered the students with
(D) The plane is going to take off soon. the exam results.
(C) The students were angry that the
4. (A) He hasn’t yet begun his project. teacher was around.
(B) He’s supposed to do his science (D) The angered students complained to
project next week. the teacher.
(C) He needs to start working on
changing the due date. 11. (A) The prices are reasonable.
(D) He’s been working steadily on his (B) The store is too far out of town.
science project. (C) He would like the woman to repeat
what she said.
5. (A) At the post office. (D) He agrees with the woman.
(B) In a florist shop.
(C) In a restaurant. 12. (A) It has rarely rained this much.
(D) In a hospital delivery room. (B) It hardly rained this year.
(C) It is barely raining this year.
6. (A) The professor drowned the cells in a (D) It seldom rains so little.
lab.
(B) The topic was presented in a boring 13. (A) He needs to do a better job writing
way. questions.
(C) The professor divided the lecture into (B) His writing must certainly be
parts. improved.
(D) The biologist tried to sell the results (C) Without the questions, he cannot
o f the experiment. write the answers.
(D) He needs to understand the written
7. (A) She needs to get a driver's license. questions better.
(B) It is impossible to cash a check
without two pieces of identification.
(C) The man should check to see if he
needs credit.
(D) A credit card can be used to get a
driver’s license.

GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE

36 LISTENING COMPREHENSION PRE-TEST

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14. (A) The agent was standing in line with 20. (A) She’d like som e pie.
his passport. (B) It’s easy to buy it.
(B) The line to get new passports is very (C) The task the man’s working on isn’t
long. difficult.
(C) The woman must wait her turn to get (D) It’s easier to prepare pie than do what
her passport checked. the man is doing.
(D) He can check her passport instead of
the agent. 21. (A) He reported that the tim e for the
budget meeting had been set.
15. (A) He couldn’t finish closing the library (B) He is always late in submitting his
book. accounting figures.
(B) He hadn’t finished the library (C) He never manages to budget his time
assignment, but he was close. well.
(C) He was working on the assignment (D) He is never too late in turning in his
when the library closed. reports.
(D) His homework was incomplete
because the library wasn’t open. 22. (A) The repairs would require an
extension.
16. (A) He wishes the hard work had had a (B) The car is going to need a lot of
better result. repairs.
(B) He thinks the lawyer hardly prepared. (C) Buying a new car would be quite
(C) He wishes the lawyer had prepared. expensive.
(D) He thinks the lawyer worked for free. (D) The mechanic extended the repair
warranty.
17. (A) The history class begins next week.
(B) He thinks the papers should be turned 23. (A) Betty wrote the letter as directed.
in next week. (B) The directions were given to Betty in
(C) He has already done the paper for a letter.
next week. (C) Betty will follow the instructions later.
(D) The papers are not due next week. (D) Betty worked exactly as instructed.

18. (A) He's not really happy. 24. (A) Walter's had a lack of success with his
(B) The contractor’s work was business.
satisfactory. (B) Walter’s failed in business.
(C) He would rather work with the (C) Walter's new company is doing rather
contractor himself. well.
(D) He was already contacted about the (D) Walter hoped to succeed in business.
work.
25. (A) He should put the organ in the closet.
19. (A) The man should try another type of (B) The closet has already been
paper. organized.
(B) The man should locate a typist (C) He needs to rearrange the closet.
tomorrow morning. (D) He wishes the closet were closer.
(C) The man should make a tape in the
morning. 26. (A) She didn’t do the work.
(D) The man should complete the paper (B) She gave the assignment her best
without help. effort.
(C) She finished the assignm ent even
though it was difficult.
(D) She gave the man a signal.

LISTENING COMPREHENSION PRE-TEST 37

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27. (A) She said some terrible things. 29. (A) The woman is more than a week late.
(B) She didn’t say anything nice. (B) The children would have wrecked the
(C) She didn't have any nice things. house later.
(D) She said really wonderful things. (C) The woman was so late that she was a
wreck.
28. (A) New employees are rarely initiated (D) He’s glad that she was not any later.
into the company.
(B) New workers don’t generally 30. (A) He had not gone to the store.
undertake actions on their own. (B) He was still at the market.
(C) New employees are initially rated. (C) He was going to take care of the
(D) It’s rare for employees to make new shopping.
suggestions. (D) He always went to the market.

38 LISTENING COMPREHENSION PRE-TEST

l n l D l D l n l ü l n l D l
Part B

Directions: In this part of the test, you will hear longer conversations. After each conversation, you
will hear several questions. The conversations and questions will not be repeated.
After you hear a question, read the four possible answers in your test book and choose the best
answer. Then, on your answer sheet, find the number of the question and fill in the space that
corresponds to the letter of the answer you have chosen.
Remember, you are not allowed to take notes or write in your test book.

31. (A) She's a senior. 35. (A) In a book.

(B) She’s a junior. (B) From a television program.
(C) She’s a transfer student. (C) During a trip that she took.
(D) She’s a graduate student. (D) From a lecture.

32. (A) How to transfer to a junior college. 36. (A) To communicate with other dolphins.
(B) How to find his way around campus. (B) To recognize objects in the water.
(C) The course requirements for a (C) To learn human language.
literature major. (D) To express fear.
(D) Who won the campus election.
37. (A) Five.
33. (A) Three. (B) Fifteen.
(B) Five. (C) Fifty.
(C) Eight. (D) Five hundred.
(D) Ten.
38. (A) It is limited.
34. (A) American literature. (B) It is greater than human intelligence.
(B) World literature. (C) It is less than previously thought.
(C) Literary analysis. (D) We are beginning to learn how m uch
(D) Surveying. they have.

iu im 4 n u u |
TOEFL* test directions and form at are reprinted by perm ission
of ETS, the copyright owner. However, all exam ples and test
questions are provided by P earson E ducation, Inc. LISTENING COMPREHENSION PRE-TEST 39
 l D l D l n l n l D l n l a l
Part C

D irections: In this part of the test, you will hear several talks. After each talk, you will hear some
questions. The talks and questions will not be repeated.

After you hear a question, you will read the four possible answers in your test book and choose the
best answer. Then, on your answer sheet, find the number of the question and fill in the space that
corresponds to the letter of the answer you have chosen.

Here is an exam ple.

On the recording, you w ill hear:

(narrator) Listen to an instructor talk to his class about painting.

(m an) Artist Grant Wood was a guiding force in the school o f painting know n as American
regionalist, a style reflecting the distinctive characteristics o f art from rural areas o f
the United States. Wood began drawing anim als on the family farm at the age o f
three, and when he was thirty-eight one o f his paintings received a remarkable
am ount o f public notice and acclaim. This painting, called “American Gothic," is a
starkly simple depiction o f a serious couple staring directly o u t at the viewer.

Now listen to a sample question. Sam ple Answer

(narrator) What style o f painting is known as American regionalist? (A) ® © 9

In your test book, you w ill read: (A) Art from Americas inner cities.
(B) Art from the central region of the U.S.
(C) Art from various urban areas in the U.S.
(D) Art from rural sections of America.

The best answer to the question, "What style of painting is known as American regionalist?” is (D),
"Art from rural sections of America." Therefore, the correct choice is (D).

Now listen to another sample question. Sam ple Answer

(narrator) W hat is the name o f Wood's m ost successful painting? (A )® ® ®

In your test book, you w ill read: (A)' "American Regionalist.”

(B) "The Family Farm in Iowa."
(C) "American Gothic.”
(D) "A Serious Couple.”

The best answer to the question, "What is the name of Wood's most successful painting ?” is (C).
“American Gothic.” Therefore, the correct choice is (C).
Remember, you are n ot allowed to take notes or write in your test book.

TOEFL* test directions and form at arc reprinted by perm ission

o f ETS, the copyright owner. However, all examples and test
40 LISTENING COMPREHENSION PRE-TEST q uestions are provided by Pearson Education, Inc.
l D l D l D l D l D l D l D l
39. (A) To protect its members. 45. (A) To the tennis courts.
(B) To save the natural environment. (B) To the arena.
(C) To honor the memory o f John Muir. (C) To the gymnasium.
(D) To improve San Francisco's natural (D) To the Athletic Department office.
beauty.
46. (A) Go to the Art Center.
40. (A) For less than a year. (B) Sign up for sports classes.
(B) Only for a decade. (C) Visit the exercise room.
(C) For more than a century. (D) Watch a football game.
(D) For at least two centuries.
47. (A) Science.
41. (A) San Francisco. (B) Art.
(B) All fifty states. (C) Literature.
(C) The Sierra Nevadas. (D) Music.
(D) The eastern U.S.
48. (A) They are completely different.
42. (A) All over the world. (B) They are somewhat similar but have
(B) In the entire United States. an essential difference.
(C) Only in California. (C) They are exactly the sam e in all
(D) Only in the Sierra Nevadas. respects.
(D) They are unrelated.
43. (A) Students signing up for athletic
teams. 49. (A) Objective.
(B) Students going on a tour of a (B) Idealistic.
university campus. (C) Philosophical.
(C) Students playing various sports. (D) Environmental.
(D) Students attending a university
dedication ceremony. 50. (A) Heredity.
(B) Environment.
44. (A) Membership on an athletic team. (C) Idealism.
(B) Enrollment in an exercise class. (D) Natural laws.
(C) A valid student identification card.
(D) Permission from a faculty member.

This is the end of the Listening Comprehension Pre-Test.

Turn off the recording.

(st o p) (st o p) (s t o p ) ^ ST Q p j (s t o p ) (s t o p) (s t o p )

W h e n y o u fin ish th e test, y o u m ay d o th e fo llo w in g :

• T u rn to th e D ia g n o s tic C h art o n p a g e s 585$- '>84, a n d
c ir cle th e n u m b e r s o f th e q u e s tio n s th at y o u m isse d .
• T u rn to S c o r in g I n fo r m a tio n o n p a g e s 5 8 1 - 5 8 2 , a n d
d e te r m in e y o u r T O E F L sc o r e.
• T u rn to th e P r o g r e s s C h art o n p a g e 5 9 1 , a n d a d d you r
sc o r e to th e ch art.

LISTENING COMPREHENSION PRE-TEST 4I

2 » 2 * 2 * 2 * 2 « 2 » 2 « 2

DIAGNOSTIC PRE-TEST
SECTION 2
STRUCTURE AND WRITTEN EXPRESSION
T im e — 2 5 m in u t e s
(in c lu d in g th e r e a d in g o f th e d ir e c t io n s )
N o w s e t y o u r c lo c k fo r 2 5 m in u te s .

This section is designed to measure your ability to recognize language that is appropriate for standard
written English. There are two types of questions in this section, with special directions for each type.

S tru c tu re

D irections: These questions are incomplete sentences. Beneath each sentence you will see four
words or phrases, marked (A), (B), (C), and (D). Choose the o n e word or phrase that best completes
the sentence. Then, on your answer sheet, find the number o f the question and fill in the space that
corresponds to the letter of the answer you have chosen.
Look at the following examples.

E x am p le I
S a m p le A nsw er
The president. . the election by a landslide. • ®©(§)
(A) won
(B) he won
(C) yesterday
(D) fortunately

The sentence should read, "The president won the election by a landslide.” Therefore you should
choose answer (A). ’

E xam ple II
S a m p le A nsw er
When _ . the conference? © • © ( g )
(A) the doctor attended
(B) did the doctor attend
(C) the doctor will attend
(D) the doctors attendance

The sentence should read, "When did the doctor attend the conference?” Therefore you should
choose answer (B).

GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE

TOEFL» test directions and form at are reprinted by perm ission
of ETS. the copyright owner. However, all exam ples and test
f
questions are provided by Pearson E ducation. Inc.
STRUCTURE AND WRITTEN EXPRESSION PRE-TEST 12 1
 2 * 2 * 2 * 2 * 2 * 2 * 2 * 2

1. The North P ole _____ a latitude of 90 7. _____ off the Hawaiian coastline are living,
degrees north. others are dead.
(A) has (A) Coral reefs
(B) is having (B) Some types o f coral reefs
(C) which is having (C) There are many types o f coral reefs
(D) it has (D) While some types of coral reefs

2. _____ greyhound, can achieve speeds up to 8. People who reverse the letters of words
thirty-six miles per hour. to read suffer from dyslexia.

(A) The (A) if they tried

(B) The fastest (B) when trying
(C) The fastest dog (C) when tried
(D) The fastest dog, the (D) if he tries

3. The Mayflower was bound for Virginia, but 9. Featured at the Henry Ford M useum --------
a hurricane_____ off course. of antique cars dating from 1865.

(A) blew it (A) an exhibit is

(B) to blow it (B) an exhibit
(C) it blew (C) is an exhibit
(D) blowing it (D) which is an exhibit

4. The greenhouse effect occu rs--------heat 10. Rubber_____ from vulcanized silicones
radiating from the Sun. with a high molecular weight is difficult to
distinguish from natural rubber.
(A) when does the Earth’s atmosphere
trap (A) is produced
(B) does the Earths atmosphere trap (B) producing
(C) when the Earth’s atmosphere traps (C) that produces
(D) the Earth's atmosphere traps (D) produced

5. The Rose B ow l,______ place on New Year’s 11. _____ in scope, romanticism was a
Day, is the oldest postseason collegiate reaction against neoclassical principles.
football game in the United States.
(A) Mainly literary
(A) takes (B) It was mainly literary
(B) which takes (C) The main literature was
(C) it takes (D) The literature was mainly
(D) took
12. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
6. Experim ents_______represent a giant step _____ came about as a result of the
into the medicine of the future. National Security Act of 1947.

(A) using gene therapy (A) what

(B) use gene therapy (B) it was
(C) they use (C) was what
(D) gene therapy uses (D) it was what

I 22 STRUCTURE AND WRITTEN EXPRESSION PRE-TEST

2 » 2 * 2 * 2 » 2 » 2 » 2 » 2

13. Oil shale is a soft, fine-grained 15. According to the World Health
sedimentary rock-------- oil and natural gas Organization,_____ there to be an
are obtained. outbreak of any o f the six m ost dangerous
(A) from diseases, this could be cause for
(B) is from quarantine.
(C) is which (A) were
(D) from which (B) they were
(C) there were
14. --------- appears considerably larger at the (D) were they
horizon than it does overhead is merely an
optical illusion.
(A) The Moon
(B) That the Moon
(C) When the Moon
(D) The Moon which

STRUCTURE AND WRITTEN EXPRESSION PRE-TEST 123

 2 * 2 * 2 * 2 * 2 * 2 * 2 « 2

W r it t e n E x p r e s s io n

D irections: In these questions, each sentence has four underlined words or phrases. The four
underlined parts of the sentence are marked (A), (B), (C), and (D). Identify the o n e underlined word
or phrase that must be changed in order for the sentence to be correct. Then, on your answer sheet,
find the number of the question and fill in the space that corresponds to the letter of the answer you
have chosen.
Look at the following examples.

Exam ple I Sam ple Answer

The four string on a violin are tuned

A B C D
in fifths.

The sentence should read, "The four strings on a violin are tuned in fifths.” Therefore, you should
choose answer (B).

Exam ple II Sam ple Answer

The research for the book Roots taking ® d ) # ®

A B C
Alex Haley twelve years.
D

The sentence should read, "The research for the book Roots took Alex Haley twelve years." Therefore,
you should choose answer (C).

TOEFL* test directions an d form at are reprinted by perm ission

o f ETS, the copyright owner. However, all examples an d test
124 STRUCTURE AND WRITTEN EXPRESSION PRE-TEST questions arc provided by Pearson Education, Inc.
2 * 2 * 2 * 2 * 2 * 2 * 2 * 2

16. Segregation in public schools was declare unconstitutionalby the Supreme Courtin
~A B C D
1954.

17. Sirius, the Dog Star, is the most brightest star in the sky with an absolute magnitude
A B
about twenty-three times that of the Sun.
—C D~

18. Killer whales tend to wander in family clusters that hunt, play, and resting together.
“A B C D

19. Some of the m ost useful resistor material are carbon, metals, and metallic alloys.
A B C D

20. The community of Bethesda, Maryland, was previous known as Darcy’s Store.
A B C D

21. J. H. Pratt used group therapy early in the past century when he brought
A B C
tuberculosis patients together to discuss its disease.
TT

22. Alloys of gold and copper have been widely using in various types of coins.
~~K~ B C D

23. The United States has import all carpet w ools in recent years because dom estic
A B C
wools are too fine and soft for carpets.
D

24. Banks are rushing to merge because consolidations enable them to slash theirs costs
A B C~
and expand.
D

25. That water has a very high specific heat means that, without a large temperature
~~A~ B
change, water can add or lose a large number of heat.
C D

26. Benny Goodman was equally talented as both a jazz performer as well ac a classical
A B C
musician.

b s s b }
STRUCTURE AND WRITTEN EXPRESSION PRE-TEST I25
 2 « 2 * 2 » 2 * 2 * 2 « 2 * 2

27. No longer satisfied with the emphasis of the Denishawn School, Martha Graham
A B C
is moving to the staff of the Eastman School in 1925.
D

28. Irving Berlin wrote "Oh, How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning" while serving in a
A E C
U.S. Army during World War I.
D

29. Shortly before the Allied invasion of Normandy, Ernest Hemingway has gone to
A B C
London as a war correspondent for Collier's.
D

30. During the 1960s, the Berkeley campus of the University o f California came to
A
national attention as a result its radical political activity.
“I T - C D

31. Because of the flourish with which John Hancock signed the Declaration of
A
Independence, his name become synonymous with signature.
IT ' C D

32. On the floor of the Pacific Ocean is hundreds of flat-topped mountains more than a
~~A~ B C D
mile beneath sea level.

33. William Hart was an act best known for his roles as western heros in silent films.
“A B ~C 17

34. Prior to an extermination program early in the last century, alive wolves roamed
A B C
across nearly all of North America.
D

35. The state seal still used in Massachusetts designed by Paul Revere, who also
~~A~ B ' “ C-
designed the first Continental currency.
D

36. Artist Gutzon Borglum designed the Mount Rushmore Memorial and worked on
A
project from 1925 until his death in 1941.
B —C~~ TT

126 STRUCTURE AND WRITTEN EXPRESSION PRE-TEST

2 » 2 * 2 * 2 » 2 « 2 « 2 * 2

37. It is proving less costly and more profitably for drugmakers to market directly to
A B C D
patients.

38. Sapphires weighing as much as two pounds have on occasion mined.

A B C D

39. Like snakes, lizards can be found on all others continents except Antarctica.
A B C D

40. Banks, savings and loans, and finance companies have recently been doing hom e
A B
equity loans with greater frequency than ever before.
C D

This is the end of the Structure and Written Expression Pre-Test.

W h e n y o u fin ish th e test, y o u m ay d o th e fo llow in g:

• T u r n to th e D ia g n o s tic C h art o n p a g e s 5 8 5 —5 8 7 , an d
c ir c le th e n u m b e r s o f th e q u e s tio n s th a t y o u m issed .
• T u r n to S c o r in g I n fo r m a tio n o n p a g e s 5 8 1 -5 8 2 , an d
d e te r m in e y o u r T O E F L sco re.
• T u r n to th e P r o g r e s s C h art o n p a g e 5 9 1 , a n d a d d y o u r
sc o r e to th e chart.

STRUCTURE AND WRITTEN EXPRESSION PRE-TEST I 27

3 a 3 a 3 a 3 a 3 a 3 a 3 a 3
DIAGNOSTIC PRE-TEST
SECTION 3
READING COMPREHENSION
T im e — 55 m in u t e s
( i n c l u d i n g t h e r e a d in g o f t h e d ir e c t i o n s )
N o w s e t y o u r c lo c k f o r 55 m in u t e s .

This section is designed to m easure y our ability to read and understand sh o rt passages sim ilar in
topic and style to those that students are likely to encounter in N orth Am erican universities and
colleges. This section contains reading passages and questions about the passages.

D irectio n s: In this section you will read several passages. Each one is followed by a n u m b er of
questions about it. You are to choose the o n e best answer, (A), (B), (C), o r (D), to each question. Then,
on your answ er sheet, find the num ber o f the question and fill in the space that corresponds to the
letter of the answ er you have chosen.
Answer all questions about the inform ation in a passage on the basis o f w hat is s ta te d o r im p lie d
in that passage.
Read the following passage:

John Quincy Adams, who served as the sixth president of the United S tates from 1825
to 1829, is today recognized for his m asterful statesm anship and diplomacy. He dedicated his
life to public service, b oth in the presidency and in the various ot.'-er political offices th at he
Line held. T hroughout hi ; political career he dem onstrated hie unsw ervi ig belief in freedom of
(5) speech, the antislave -y cause, uik 1 the l ight of A m ericans u; be fre from E u ro p ean and Asian
dom ination.

E x am p le I Sam ple Answer

To w hat did John Quincy Adams devote hi ; life? ® •(E )®

(A) Im proving his personal life
(B) Serving the public
(C) Increasing his fortune
(D) W orking on his private business

According to the passage, John Quincy Adams "dedicated his life to public service.” T herefore, you
should choose answ er (B).

E x am p le II Sam ple Answer

In line 4, the w ord "unswerving” is closest in m eaning to

(A) m oveable
(B) insignificant
(C) unchanging
(D) diplom atic

The passage states th a t John Quincy Adams dem onstrated his unsw erving belief “thro u g h o u t his
career.” This im plies th at the belief did not change. Therefore, you should choose answ er (C).

______________ k
GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE
TOEFL® test directions and form at are reprinted by perm ission
of ETS. th e copyright owner. However, all exam ples and test
questions are provided by P earson Education. Inc. READING CO M PREH ENSIO N PRE-TEST 269
 3 a 3 a 3 a 3 a 3 a 3 a 3 a 3
Q u e s t io n s 1 - 1 2

Algae is a prim itive form of life, a single-celled o r sim ple m ultiple-celled organism th at is able to
conduct the process of photosynthesis. It is generally found in w ater but can also be found elsewhere,
growing on such surfaces as rocks o r trees. The various types of algae are classified accoiding to their
Line pigm entation, o r coloration.
(5) Blue-green algae, o r Cyanophyta, can grow at very high tem p eratu res and u n d e r high-intensity
light. This is a m icroscopic type of algae, a n d some species consist of only one cell. Blue-gree algae is
the oldest form of life w ith photosynthetic capabilities, and fossilized rem ains of this type of algae
m ore th an 3.4 billion years old have been found in p a rts of Africa.
Green algae, or Chlorophyta, is generally found in fresh w ater. It reproduces on the surfaces of
( 10 ) enclosed bodies of w ater such as ponds o r lakes and has the appearance of a fuzzy green coating on
the water. In large quantities, this type of algae may reproduce enough to give a green color to an
entire lake. .
Brown algae, or Phaeophyta, grows in shallow, tem perate water. This type of algae is the largest
in size and is m ost recognizable as a type of seaweed; kelp is a type of brow n algae th at has grown to
(15) lengths of up to 200 feet. Its long stalks can be enm eshed on the ocean floor, o r it can float freely on
the ocean’s surface.
Red algae, or Rhodophyta, is a sm all, delicate organism found in the deep w aters of the
subtropics, w here it often grows w ith coral. This type of algae has an essential role in the form ation of
coral reefs: it secretes lim e from the seaw ater to foster the form ation of lim estone deposits.

1. What is the authors main purpose? 5. Algae rem nants found in Africa are

(A) To show what color algae is (A) still flourishing

(B) To differentiate the various (B) photogenic
classifications of algae (C) extrem ely old
(C) To describe where algae is found (D) red in color
(D) To clarify the appearance of the
different types of algae 6. G reen algae is generally found
(A) on the ocean floor
2. Which of the following is NOT true about (B) on top of the w ater
algae? (C) throughout ponds and lakes
(A) All types have only one cell. (D) surrounding enclosed bodies of w ater
(B) It can be found out of water.
(C) It can use photosynthesis. 7. The word "coating” in line 10 could best be
(D) It is not a relatively new form of life. replaced by
(A) clothing
3. The word "pigmentation" in line 4 means
(B) covering
(A) size (C) w arm th
(B) shape (D) sw eater
(C) composition
(D) color 8. B row n algae w ould m ost likely be found
(A) on trees
4. The word "microscopic” in line 6 is closest
(B) near green algae
in meaning to
(C) on rocks
(A) mechanical (D) in the ocean
(B) tiny
(C) visual

mam»
(D) bacterial

270 READING COMPREHENSION PRE-TEST

3 a 3 a 3 a 3 a 3 a 3 a 3 a 3
9. According to the passage, red algae is 11. How is the inform ation in the paragraph
(A) sturdy organized?
(B) huge (A) Various details supporting a theory
(C) fragile are explored.
(D) found in shallow w ater (B) Various classifications of a specific
life form are described.
10. It can be inferred from the passage that (C) Various stages of the chronological
lim estone deposits serve as the basis of developm ent of a life form are
(A) coral reefs presented.
(B) red algae (D) Various elem ents th a t com pose a
(C) subtropical seaw ater certain life form are outlined.
(D) secret passages
12. This passage w ould m ost probably be
assigned reading in a course on
(A) chem istry
(B) physics
(C) botany
(D) zoology

READING COMPREHENSION PRE-TEST 271

 3 a 3 a 3 a 3 a 3 a 3 a 3 a 3
Q u e s t io n s 1 3 -2 1

Narcolepsy is a disease characterized by m alfunctioning sleep m echanics. It can consist of a

sudden and uncontrollable bout of sleep during daylight hours and disturbed sleep during nighttim e
hours. It occurs m ore often in m en th an in w om en, and it com m only m akes its appearance during
Line adolescence o r young adulthood. At least a half m illion Am ericans are believed to be affected by
(5)
N arcolepsy can take a n um ber of form s during daylight hours. One com m on sym ptom of the
disease during daytim e hours is a sudden attack of REM (rapid-eye m ovem ent) sleep during norm a,
waking hours. This occurs in som e people hundreds of tim es in a single day, w hile o thers only have
rare occurrences. D uring a sleep attack, narcoleptics may experience autom atic behavior; even
( 10) though asleep, they m ay continue autom atically perform ing the activity they w ere involved in p rio r to
falling asleep. They may, for exam ple, continue walking, or driving, o r stirring a pot until the activity
is interrupted by external forces. Others experience cataplexy during daytim e hours; cataplexy
involves a sudden loss of muscle tone th a t m ay cause the head to droop o r the knees to wobble m
m in o r attacks o r a total collapse in m ore serious attacks. Cataplexy seem s to occur m ost often in
(15) conjunction w ith intense em otion or excitem ent.
D uring sleep hours, narcolepsy can also m anifest itself in a variety of ways. During the
transitional phase th at precedes the onset of sleep, it is com m on for hallucinations to occur. These
hallucinations, known as hypnagogic phenom ena, consist of realistic perceptions of sights and
sounds during the sem i-conscious state betw een w akefulness and sleep. N arcoleptics m ay also suffer
(20 ) from night w akening during sleep, resulting in extremely fragm ented and restless sleep. Then, upon
waking, a narcoleptic may experience sleep paralysis, the inability to move, perhaps for several
m inutes, im m ediately after waking.

13. W hich of the following would be the m ost 16. Approxim ately how m any narcoleptics are
appropriate title for the passage? there in the United States?

(A) A G ood N ight’s Sleep (A) Fewer than 500,000

(B) A Cure for Narcolepsy (B) More th an 500,000
(C) An U nusual Sleep D isturbance (C) Fewer than 1,500,000
(D) H allucinations during Sleep (D) More th an ! ,500,000

14. The w ord "m alfunctioning" in line 1 is 17. The word "bout” in line 2 is closest in
closest in m eaning to m eaning to

(A) im properly working (A) sym ptom

(B) regularly waking (B) lack
(C) incorrectly classifying (C ) illness
(D) harshly inte,preting (D) period

15. At w hich of the following ages w ould a 18. W hich of the following w ould be m ost
person be m ost likely to develop likely to occur during daily activities?
narcolepsy? (A) Autom atic behavior
(A) 10 (B) Hallucinations
(B) 20 (C) Night wakening
(C) 30 (D) Sleep paralysis
(D) 40

272 READING COMPREHENSION PRE-TEST

3 a 3 a 3 a 3 a 3 a 3 a 3 a 3
19. Which of the following involves a complete 21. Where in the passage does the author
collapse? describe what seems to precipitate a
sudden loss of muscle tone?
(A) Automatic behavior
(B) Cataplexy (A) Lines 12-14
(C) Hallucinations (B) Lines 14—15
(D) REM sleep (C) Lines 16-17
(D) Lines 20-22
20. When would hypnagogic phenomena most
likely occur?
(A) Just after going to bed
(B) In the middle of the night
(C) Soon after waking
(D) After getting up

READING COMPREHENSION PRE-TEST 273

 3 a 3 a 3 a 3 a 3 a 3 a 3 a 3
Questions 22-30
Whereas literature in the first half of the eighteenth century in America had been largely
religious and moral in tone, by the latter half of the century the revolutionary fen/or that was coming
to life in the colonies began to be reflected in the literature of the time, which in turn served to further
Line influence the population. Although not all writers of this period supported the Revolution, the two
(5) best-known and m ost influential writers, Ben Franklin and Thomas Paine, were both strongly
supportive of that cause. . . . . » u
Ben Franklin first attained popular success through his writings in his brothers newspaper, the
New-England Courant. In these articles he used a simple style of language and commonsense
argumentation to defend the point of view of the farmer and the Leather Apron man. He continued
( 10) with the same commonsense practicality and appeal to the common man with his work on Poor
Richard's Almanac from 1733 until 1758. Firmly established in his popular acceptance by the people,
Franklin wrote a variety of extremely effective articles and pamphlets about the colonists
revolutionary cause against England. . . . . , . f
Thomas Paine was an Englishman working as a magazine editor in Philadelphia at the time of
(1 5 ) the Revolution. His pamphlet Common Sense, which appeared in 1776, was a force in encouraging
the colonists to declare their independence from England. Then throughout the long and desperate
war years he published a series of Crisis papers (from 1776 until 1783) to encourage the colonists to
continue on with the struggle. The effectiveness of his writing was probably due to his emotional yet
oversimplified depiction of the cause of the colonists against England as a classic struggle of good
( 20 ) and evil.

22. The paragraph preceding this passage 25. It is implied in the passage that
most likely discusses
(A) som e writers in the American colonies
(A) how literature influences the supported England during the
population Revolution
(B) religious and moral literature (B) Franklin and Paine were the only
(C) literature supporting the cause of the writers to influence the Revolution
American Revolution (C) because Thomas Paine was an
(D) what made Thomas Paine’s literature Englishman, he supported England
successful against the colonies
(D) authors who supported England did
The word "fervor” in line 2 is closest in not remain in the colonies during
meaning to the Revolution

(A) war 26. The pronoun "he" in line 8 refers to

(B) anxiety
(C) spirit (A) Thomas Paine
(D) action (B) Ben Franklin
(C) Ben Franklin’s brother
The word "time” in line 3 could best be (D) Poor Richard
replaced by
27. According to the passage, the tone of Poor
(A) hour R ichard’s Almanac is
(B) period
(C) appointment (A) pragmatic
(D) duration (B) erudite
(C) theoretical
(D) scholarly

274 READING COMPREHENSION PRE-TEST

—
♦
3 a 3 a 3 a 3 a 3 a 3 a 3 a 3
The word "desperate" in line 16 could best 30. The purpose of the passage is to
be replaced by
(A) discuss American literature in the
(A) unending first half of the eighteenth century
(B) hopeless (B) give biographical data on two
(C) strategic American writers
(D) combative (C) explain which authors supported the
Revolution
Where in the passage does the author (D) describe the literary influence during
describe Thomas Paine’s style of writing? revolutionary America

(A) Lines 4-6

(B) Lines 8-9
(C) Lines 14-15
(D) Lines 18-20

READING COMPREHENSION PRE-TEST 275

 3 a 3 a 3 a 3 a 3 a 3 a 3 a 3
Questions 3 1-4 1
Federal Express is a company that specializes in rapid overnight delivery o f high-priority
packages. The first company of its type, Federal Express was founded by the youthful Fred Smith in
1971, when he was only 28 years old. Smith had actually developed the idea for the rapid delivery
Line service in a term paper for an economics class when he was a student at Yale University. The term
(5) paper reputedly received a less-than-stellar grade because of the infeasibility of the project that Smith
had outlined. The model that Smith proposed had never been tried; it was a model that was efficient
to operate but at the same time was very difficult to institute.
Smith achieved efficiency in his model by designing a system that was separate from the
passenger system and could, therefore, focus on how to deliver packages most efficiently. His strategy
(10) was to own his own planes so that he could create his own schedules and to ship all packages through
the hub city of Memphis, a set-up which resembles the spokes on the wheel of a bicycle. With this
combination of his own planes and hub set-up, he could get packages anywhere in the United States
overnight.
What made Smith’s idea difficult to institute was the fact that the entire system had to be
(15) created before the company could begin operations. He needed a fleet of aircraft to collect packages
from airports every night and deliver them to Memphis, where they were immediately sorted and
flown out to their new destinations; he needed a fleet of trucks to deliver packages to and from the
various airports; he needed facilities and trained staff all in place to handle the operation. Smith had
a $4 million inheritance from his father, and he managed to raise an additional $91 million dollars
(20) from venture capitalists to get the company operating.
When Federal Express began service in 1973 in 25 cities, the company was not an immediate
success, but success did come within a relatively short period of time. The company lost $29 million
in the first 26 months of operations. However, the tide was to turn relatively quickly. By late 1976,
Federal Express was carrying an average of 19,000 packages per night and had made a profit of $3.6
(25) million. .

31. The most appropriate title for this passage 33. What is stated in the passage about Smith's
is term paper?
(A) The Problems and Frustrations of a (A) Smith submitted it through a deliver
Business Student service.
(B) The Importance of Business Studies (B) It was written by a student of Smith'«
(C) The Capitalization of Federal Express (C) Its grade was mediocre.
(D) The Implementation of a Successful (D) The professor thought it had great
Business potential.

The word "developed” in line 3 could best 34. What was a key idea of Smith’s?
be replaced by
(A) That he should focus on passenger
(A) come up with service
(B) come about (B) That package delivery should be
(C) come across separate from passenger service
(D) come into (C) That packages could be delivered on
other companies' planes
(D) That passenger service had to be
efficient

GO ON TO THE NEXT PAGE

7
276 READING COMPREHENSION PRE-TEST
3a 3a 3a 3a 3a 3a 3a 3
35. A “hub city” in line 11 is 39. How long did it take Federal Express to
become profitable?
(A) a large city with small cities as
destinations (A) TWo months
(B) a city that is the final destination for (B) One year
many routes (C) Three years
(C) a city where many bicycle routes (D) Six years
begin
(D) a centralized city with destinations 40. Which paragraph explains what made
emanating from it Sm ith’s model effective?
(A) The first paragraph
36. It can be inferred from the passage that
(B) The second paragraph
Smith selected Memphis as his hub city
(C) The third paragraph
because it
(D) The last paragraph
(A) was near the middle o f the country
(B) had a large number of passenger 41 The tone of the passage in describing
aircraft Smith’s accom plishm ents is
(C) already had a large package delivery
(A) unflattering
service
(B) sincere
(D) was a favorite passenger airport
(C) unconvincing
(D) snobbish
37. The pronoun "they" in line 16 refers to
(A) aircraft
(B) packages
(C) airports
(D) destinations

38. It is NOT mentioned in the passage that, in

order to set up his company, Smith needed
(A) airplanes
(B) trucks
(C) personnel
(D) faculty

READING COMPREHENSION PRE-TEST 277

 3 A3 A 3 a 3 a 3 a 3 a 3 a 3
Q u e s t io n s 4 2 - 5 0

Perhaps better known than the Cullman Diamond is the Hope Diamond, a valuable and rare
blue gem with a background of more than 300 years as a world traveler. The 112-carat blue stone that
later became the Hope Diamond was mined in India sometime before the middle of the seventeenth
Line century and was first known to be owned by Shah Jahan, who built the Taj Mahal in memory of his
(5) beloved wife. From India, the celebrated blue stone has changed hands often, moving from location
to location in distant com ers of the world.
In the middle of the seventeenth century, a trader from France named Jean Baptiste Tavemier
acquired the large blue diamond, which was rumored to have been illegally removed from a temple.
Tavemier returned to France with the big blue gem, where the stone was purchased by the Sun King,
(10) Louis XIV. Louis XIV had it cut down from 112 to 67 carats to make its shape symmetrical and to
maximize its sparkle. The newly cut diamond, still huge by any standards, was passed down through
the royal family of France, until it arrived in the hands of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. During the
French Revolution, Louis XVI and his wife met their fate on the guillotine in 1793, and the big blue
diamond disappeared from public sight.
(15) The diamond somehow managed to get from France to England, where banker Henry Hope
purchased it from a gem dealer early in the nineteenth century. The huge blue stone was cut into a
45.5-carat oval, and at this point it took on the name by which it is known today. The diamond stayed
in the Hope family for around a century, when deep indebtedness brought on by a serious gambling
habit on the part of one of Henry Hope’s heirs forced the sale of the diamond.
(20) From England, the Hope Diamond may have made its way into the hands of the Sultan of
Turkey; whatever route it took to get there, it eventually went on to the United States when American
Evelyn Walsh McLean purchased it in 1911. Mrs. McLean certainly enjoyed showing the diamond off;
guests in her home were sometimes astounded to notice the huge stone embellishing the neck of Mrs.
McLean's Great Dane as the huge pet trotted around the grounds of her Washington, D.c. home. The
(25) Hope Diamond later became the property o f jeweler Harry Winston, who presented the stunning 45.5-
carat piece to the Smithsonian in 1958. The Hope Diamond is now taking a well-earned rest following
its rigorous travel itinerary and is on display at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.,
where it has been since 1958.

42. The paragraph preceding the passage m ost 44. The pronoun "it” in line 12 refers to
likely discussed
(A) its shape
(A) why gems are considered valuable (B) the newly cut diamond
(B) how the Hope Diamond was mined (C) the royal family
(C) a diamond other than the Hope (D) the French Revolution
Diamond
(D) methods for mining diamonds 45. It can be inferred from the passage that the
author is not certain
43. The main idea of this passage is that the
(A) who bought the Hope Diamond in
Hope Diamond
England
(A) came from India (B) who sold the Hope Diamond in
(B) has moved around a lot England
(C) has been cut several times (C) how the Hope Diamond went from
(D) now resides in the Smithsonian France to England
(D) how big the Hope Diamond was in the
nineteenth century

278 READING COMPREHENSION PRE-TEST

3 a 3 a 3 a 3 a 3 a 3 a 3 a 3
46. A “dealer" in line 16 is most likely a 49. Which country is NOT m entioned in the
passage as a place where the Hope
(A) card player Diamond spent some time?
(B) miner
(C) cutter (A) India
(D) businessman (B) France
(C) England
47. It can be determined from the passage that (D) Denmark
Henry Hope most likely had how many
carats cut off the Hope Diamond? 50. Where in the passage does the author
describe what happened to the royal
(A) 21.5 French owners of the diamond?
(B) 45.5
(C) 66.5 (A) Lines 7-8
(D) 67 (B) Lines 10-11
(C) Lines 12-14
48. According to the passage, Mrs. McLean (D) Lines 15-16

(A) donated the Hope Diamond to the

Smithsonian
(B) let her dog wear the Hope Diamond
(C) purchased the Hope Diamond from
the French
(D) had the Hope Diamond cut to its
present size of 45.5 carats

This Is the end of the Reading Comprehension Pre-Test.

W h e n y o u fin ish th e test, y o u m ay d o th e fo llo w in g :

• T u r n to th e D iagnostic Chart o n p a g e s 5 8 8 - 5 9 0 , a n d
c ir c le th e n u m b e r s o f th e q u e s tio n s th a t y o u m issed .
• T u r n to Scoring In form ation o n p a g e s 5 8 1 -5 8 2 , a n d
d e te r m in e you r T O E F L sco re.
• T u r n to th e P rogress Chart o n p a g e 5 9 1 , a n d ad d y o u r
sc o r e to th e chart.

READING COMPREHENSION PRE-TEST 279