TOEFL READING EXERCISE 1

Carbon tetrachloride is a colourless and inflammable liquid that can be produced by combining carbon disulphide and chlorine. This compound is widely used in industry today because of its effectiveness as a solvent as well as its use in the production of propellants.

Despite its widespread use in industry, carbon tetrachloride has been banned for home use. In the past, carbon tetrachloride was a common ingredient in cleaning compounds that were used throughout the home, but it was found to be dangerous; when heated, it changes into a poisonous gas that can cause severe illness and even death if it is inhaled. Because of this dangerous characteristics, the United States revoked permission for the home use of carbon tetrachloride in 1970. The United States has taken similar action with various other chemical compounds.

1.    The main point of this passage is that

a)    carbon tetrachloride can be very dangerous when it is heated

b)   the government banned carbon tetrachloride in 1970

c)    although carbon tetrachloride can legally be used in industry, it is not allowed in home products

d)   carbon tetrachloride used to be a regular part of cleaning compounds

2.    The word ‘widely’ in line 2 could most easily replaced by

a)    grandly

b)   extensively

c)    largely

d)   hugely

3.    The word ‘banned’ in line 4 is closest in meaning to

a)    forbidden

b)   allowed

c)    suggested

d)   instituted

4.    According to the passage, before 1970 carbon tetrachloride was

a)    used by itself as a cleanser

b)   banned in industrial use

c)    often used as a component of cleaning products

d)   do not allowed in home cleaning products

5.    It is stated in the passage that when carbon tetrachloride is heated, it becomes

a)    harmful

b)   colourless

c)    a cleaning compound

d)   inflammable

6.    The word ‘inhaled’ in line 7 is closest in meaning to

a)    warmed

b)   breathed in

c)    carelessly used

d)   blown

7.    The word ‘revoked’ in line 8 could most easily replaced by

a)    gave

b)   granted

c)    instituted

d)   took away

8.    It can be inferred from the passage that one role of the U.S. government is to

a)    regulate product safety

b)   prohibit any use of carbon tetrachloride

c)    instruct industry on cleaning methodologies

d)   ban the use of any chemicals

9.    The paragraph following the passage most likely discusses

a)    additional uses for carbon tetrachloride

b)   the banning of various chemical compounds by the U.S. government

c)    further dangerous effects of carbon tetrachloride

d)   the major characteristics of carbon tetrachloride

ANSWER KEY

1.        C

2.        B

3.        A

4.        C

5.        A

6.        B

7.        D

8.        A

9.        B