Peterson’s TOEFL Practice TEST 5 READING COMPREHENSION PART 4

Peterson’s TOEFL Practice

TEST 5

READING COMPREHENSION

PART 4

Direction: This section contains several passages, each followed by a number of questions. Read the passages and, for each question, choose the one best answer – (A), (B), (C), or (D) – based on what is stated in the passage or on what can be inferred from the passage. Then fill in the space on your answer sheet that matches the letter of the answer that you have selected. READ THE FOLLOWING PASSAGE Like mammals, birds claim their own territories. A bird’s territory may be small or large. Some birds claim only their nest and the area right around it, while others claim for larger territories that include their feeding areas. Gulls, penguins, and other waterfowl nest in huge colonies, but even in the biggest colonies, each males and his mate have small territories of their own immediately around their nests. Male birds defend their territory chiefly against other males of the same species. In some cases, a warning call or threatening pose may be all the defense needed, but on other cases, intruders may refuse to leave peacefully. Example 1 What is the main topic of this passage? A.                 Birds that live in colonies B.                 Bird’s mating habits C.                 The behaviour of birds D.                Territoriality in birds The passage mainly concerns the territories of birds. You should fill in (D) on your answer sheet.

QUESTIONS 33-44

The first animated film, Humorous Phases of Funny Faces, was made in 1906 by newspaper illustrator James Blackton. He filmed faces that were drawn on a blackboard in progressive stages. In New York city, Winsor McCay exhibited his most famous films, Little Nemo (1910) and Gertie the Dinosaur (1914). His films featured fluid motion and characters drawn of lines seemed to live on the screen. In 1914, John R. Bray streamlined the animation process, using assembly-line techniques to turn out cartoons. By 1915, film studios began producing cartoon series. The Pat Sullivan studio produced the series featuring Felix the Cat. He became one of the most beloved characters of the silent-film era. The Max Fleischer studio produced series starring Ko-Ko the Clown and, later, Betty Boop and Popeye. The first cartoon with sound was Steamboat Willie (1928), which introduced Mickey Mouse. This film was produced by Walt Disney, the most famous of American animators. His early success enabled Disney to train his animators in anatomy, acting, drawing, and motion studies. The results of this era apparent in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), the first full-length animated feature. It became an instant success, and still remains popular. Other important Disney films followed. Warner Brothers’ studio challenged Disney for leadership in the field with cartoons starring Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and other characters. These film were faster-paced and featured slapstick humor. In the 1950s, a group of animators splintered off from Disney and formed United Production of America which rejected Disney’s realism and employed a bold, modernistic approach. in the 1950s, children’s cartoons began to be broadcast on Saturday morning television and, later, in prime time. Among the most successful were those made by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, such as those featuring Yogi Bear and the Flintstones. The full-length animated film became popular again in 1980s and ‘90s.producer Steven Spielberg released his first animated film, An American Tail (1989), and Disney began a series of remarkable annual hits with The Little Mermaid (1989). Who Framed Roger Rabbit?  (1988), a joint production of Spielberg and Disney, blurred the lines between live action and animation. Animation returned to prime-time television with the Fox Network’s The Simpsons. Animators had experimented with computer animation as early as the 1950s, but Toy Story (1995) was the first full-length film to be entirely computer animated. These developments promise to bring about the most exciting era in animation since its heyday.

 

33	what does the passage mainly discuss? A.        the history of animated films B.        the life of Walt Disney C.        the development of one animated cartoon D.        the use of computers in animation	39	The phrase splintered off from in line 24 is closest in meaning to A.       competed with B.       broke away from C.       merged with D.       released from
34	It can be inferred from the passage that the characters in Little Nemo and Gertie the Dinosaur A.       were first drawn on a blackboard B.       were part of a cartoon series C.       seemed to have their own personalities D.       did not look as lifelike as Black-ton’s characters	40	The author does NOT specifically mention characters produced by A.       Walt Disney B.       Hanna and Barbera C.       United Productions of America D.       Warner Brothers
35	The word streamlined in line 6 closest in meaning to A.       simplified B.       revolutionized C.       bypassed D.       invented	41	The phrase blurred the lines in line 33 is closest in meaning to A.       eliminated the distinctions B.       obscured the issues C.       answered the questions D.       emphasized the problems
36	The word he in line 10 refers to A.        Pat Sullivan B.        Felix the Cat C.        Max Fleischer D.        Ko Ko the Clown	42	The first experiments with computer animation took place during the A.        1950s B.        1960s C.        1980s D.       1990s
37	What can be inferred from the passage about animated films produced before 1928 A.        They were not very popular. B.        They were longer than later movies. C.        They were not drawn by hand. D.        They were silent films.	43	Which of the following is closest in meaning to the word heyday in line 38? A.       Beginning B.       Decline C.       Prime D.       Rebirth
38	According to the passage, the film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs A.       showed the benefits of training the Disney Animators B.       was the first movie produced by Walt Disney C.       was the last movie Disney made before his death D.       did not become successful until many years later.	44	Where in the passage does the author first mention animation on television A.       Line 9 B.       Lines 13-14 C.       Lines 25-26 D.       Lines 34-35

 

ANSWER KEY

33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40	41	42	43	44
A	C	A	B	D	A	B	C	A	A	C	C