PETERSON TOEFL PBT
PRACTICE TEST 3 PART 6
READING
QUESTION
12-23
Although both
Luther Burbank and George Washington Carver drastically changed American
agriculture and were close friends besides, their methods of working could
hardly have been more dissimilar. Burbank’s formal education ended with high
school, but he was inspired by the works of Charles Darwin. In 1872, on his
farm near Lunenberg, Massachusetts, he produced his first “plant creation” – a superior
potato developed from the Early Rose variety. It still bears his name. After
moving to Santa Rosa, California, in 1875, Burbank a stream of creations,
earning the nickname “the plant wizard.” He developed new varieties of fruits,
vegetables, flowers, and other plants, many of which are still economically
important. He began his work some thirty years before the rediscovery of Gregor
Mendel’s work on heredity, and while he did not participate in the developing
science of plant genetics, his work
opened the country’s eyes to the productive possibilities of plant breeding. However,
the value of his contributions was diminished by his methods. He relied on his
keen memory and powers of observation and kept records only for his own use. He
thus thwarted attempts by other
scientists to study his achievements.
Carver, on
the other hand, was a careful researcher who took thorough notes. Born a slave, he attended high school in Kansas,
Simpson College in Iowa, and Iowa State College, which awarded him a master’s
degree. When eminent black educator Booker T. Washington offered him a position
at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, he accepted. While Burbank concentrated on
developing new plants, Carver found new uses for existing ones. He produced
hundreds of synthetic products made from the soybean, the sweet potato, and
especially the peanut, helping the free Southern agriculture from the tyranny of cotton.
12. What is the author’s main purpose in writing the passage?
A.
To compare the products created by two agricultural scientists
B.
To demonstrate how Carver and Burbank influenced American
agriculture
C.
To contrast the careers and methods of two scientists
D.
To explain how Charles Darwin inspired both Carver and Burbank
13. The word drastically in
line 1 closest in meaning to
A.
dramatically
B.
initially
C.
unintentionally
D.
potentially
14.
According to the passage, which of the following best describes
the relationship between Burbank and Carver?
A.
They were competitors.
B.
Carver was one of Burbank’s teachers.
C.
Burbank invited Carver to work with him.
D.
They were personal friends.
15.
It can be inferred that Burbank’s first “plant creation” is known
as the
A.
Early Rose potato
B.
Burbank potato
C.
Lunenberg potato
D.
Wizard potato
16. The word his in line 10
refers to
A.
George Washington Carver’s
B.
Gregor Mendel’s
C.
Luther Burbank’s
D.
Charles Darwin’s
17. Which of the following is closest in meaning to the word thwarted in line 13?
A.
Restored
B.
Predated
C.
Nurtured
D.
Defeated
18. The word thorough in
line 15 is closest in meaning to
A.
complete
B.
general
C.
puzzling
D.
precise
19.
The author implies that a significant difference between the
techniques of Burbank and those of Carver is that
A.
while Carver kept careful research records, Burbank did not
B. Carver popularized his achievements, but those of Burbank were
relatively unknown
C.
unlike Burbank, Carver concentrated mainly on developing new
varieties of plants
D.
Burbank bred both plants and animals, but Carver worked only with
plants
20.
According to the passage, what school awarded Carver a master’s
degree?
A.
Simpson College
B.
Iow(a State College
C.
Tuskegee Institute
D.
The University of Alabama
21. Carver developed new uses for all of the following crops EXCEPT
A.
cotton
B.
soybeans
C.
peanuts
D.
sweet potatoes
22. The word tyranny in line
22 closest in meaning to
A.
history
B.
dependence
C.
control
D.
unreliability
23. At what point in the passage does the author focus on Burbank’s
weaknesses as researcher?
A.
Lines 2-5
B.
Lines 6-8
C.
Lines 12-14
D.
Lines 16-19
ANSWER KEY
12. (C) The passage compares the scientific accomplishments and
methodologies of Luther Burbank and George Washington Carver. The products
created by the two scientists (A) are mentioned, but only as details. There is
very little information about their influence as scientists (B), and only
Burbank is mentioned as being influenced by Darwin (D).
13. (A) The word drastically is
closest in meaning to dramatically.
14. (D) According to line 2, they “were close friends.”
15. (B) The potato still “bears his name” (line 6), so it must be called
Burbank potato.
16. (C)The reference is to Burbank’s work.
17. (D) The word thwarted means defeated, obstructed.
18. (A) The word thorough means complete.
19. (A)
Line 13 states that Burbank “kept records only for his own use.” Lines
15 states that “Carver, on the other hand, was a careful researcher who took
thorough notes.”
20. (B)Lines 16-17 indicate that Carver earned his master’s degree at
Iowa State College.
21. (A)There is no mention that Carver developed new uses for cotton. In fact,
according to lines 20-21, these other products were developed to “free Southern
agriculture from the tyranny of cotton.”
22. (C)The word tyranny is closest
in meaning to the word control.
23. (C)The reference to his weaknesses as a researcher starts on line 12,
beginning “However, the value of his contributions was diminished ….”
19
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