PRACTICE EXERCISES FOR THE TOEFL (READING)

PRACTICE EXERCISES FOR THE TOEFL (READING)

EXERCISE 57: Definition/Illustration – POPULAR CULTURE

In some questions in the Reading Section on the Paper-Based TOEFL, you will be asked to recall and relate information and content from definition or illustration about popular culture. Choose the best answer.

Mickey Mouse

Mickey Mouse was not Walt Disney's first successful cartoon

creation, but he is certainly his most famous one. It was on a cross

country train trip from New York to California in 1927 that Disney

first drew the mouse with the big ears. Supposedly, he took his

inspiration from the tame field mice that used to scamper into his old

studio in Kansas City. No one is quite sure why he dressed the

mouse in the now-familiar shorts with two buttons and gave him the

yellow shoes. But we do know that Disney had intended to call him

Mortimer until his wife Lillian intervened and christened him Mickey

Mouse.

Capitalizing on the interest in Charles Lindbergh, Disney planned

Mickey's debut in the short cartoon Plane Crazy, with Minnie as a

co-star. In the third short cartoon, Steamboat Willie, Mickey was

whistling and singing through the miracle of the modem soundtrack.

By the 1930s Mickey's image had circled the globe. He was a

superstar at the height of his career.

Although be has received a few minor changes throughout his

lifetime, most notably the addition of white gloves and the alterations

to achieve the rounder forms of a more childish body, he has

remained true to his nature since those first cartoons. Mickey is

appealing because he is nice. He may get into trouble, but he takes it

on the chin with a grin. He is both good-natured and resourceful.

Perhaps that was Disney's own image of himself. Why else would he

have insisted on doing Mickey's voice in all the cartoons for twenty

years? When interviewed, he would say. ''There is a lot of the mouse

in me." And that mouse has remained one of the most pervasive

images in American popular culture.

 

1	Which of the following is the main topic of the passage?? A.    The image of Mickey Mouse B.    The life of Walt Disney C.    The history of cartoons D.    The definition of American culture	6	Where in the passage does the author  relate how Mickey got his name? A.    Lines 8-10 B.    Lines 11- 13 C.    Lines 15- 16 D.    Lines 17-20
2	What distinguished Steamboat Willie earlier cartoons? A.       Better color B.       A sound track C.       Minnie Mouse as co-star D.      The longer format	7	What does the author mean by the statement in lines 17-20: “Although he has received a few minor changes throughout his lifetime, most notably the addition of white gloves and the alterations to achieve the rounder forms of a more childish body, he has remained true to his nature since those first cartoons”? A.       The current version of Mickey Mouse is different in every way from the early cartoons. B.       The original Mickey Mouse was one of the first cartoon characters. C.       In the first cartoons, Mickey Mouse looked more like a child. D.       The personality of Mickey Mouse has not changed over the years.
3	The word "pervasive" in line 26 could best be replaced by A.       well loved B.       widespread C.       often copied D.      expensive to buy	8	What did Disney mean when he said, ''There is a lot of the mouse in me?" A.       He was proud of the mouse that he created. B.       He knew that the mouse would be a famous creation. C.       He created the mouse with many of his own quality. D.       He had worked very hard to create the mouse.
4	The word "appealing" in line 20 is closest in meaning to A.       attractive B.       famous C.       exceptional D.      distinguishable	9	The first image of Mickey Mouse is described as all of the following EXCEPT A.       he was dressed in shorts with two buttons B.       he had big ears C.       he wore yellow shoes D.      he was wearing white gloves
5	The word "those" in line 20 refers to A.       cartoons B.       forms C.       gloves D.      changes	10	The paragraph following the passage most probably discusses A.       the history of cartoons B.       other images in popular culture C.       Walt Disney's childhood D.      he voices of cartoon characters

ANSWER KEY

1.      A 2.      B 3.      B 4.      A 5.      A 6.      A 7.      D 8.      C 9.      D 10.  B

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