CliffsTestPrep TOEFL CBT PRACTICE TEST 3 READING SECTION (2)

CliffsTestPrep TOEFL CBT

PRACTICE TEST 3

READING SECTION (2)

Directions: This section measures your ability to read and understand written English similar to that which one may expect in a college or university setting. Read each passage and answer the questions based on what is stated or implied in the passage. Circle or mark the correct answer in the book or write it on a separate piece of paper.

Passage 2

Sinkholes may occur slowly and be completely harmless or may quickly cause devastating damage. It is interesting that sinkholes may be caused by two opposite conditions — extreme drought or too much rain. As depicted in the drawing, under the sandy surface soil is a layer of clay and then a layer of limestone. Sinkholes generally occur only in areas where the geology has this composition. Within the limestone areas are pockets of water and air. When the underground aquifer is full of ground water, the pockets are generally filled with water and perhaps air above the water. But when there is too much rain or not enough rain, the caverns may become unstable. When there is too much, the cavern walls can be broken through because of excess pressure, and when there is too little, the cavern walls can collapse because there is not enough internal pressure to withstand the weight from above. When that occurs, the cavern collapses, and the sandy soil close to the surface seeps or pours into the cavern. The speed of the collapse and amount of damage depends on the size of the collapsing cavern. In drought conditions, sinkholes become more common over time. They may harmlessly appear in a lawn and then stop. Sometimes, small sinkholes recur or continue to eat soil for years without causing any damage. But at other times they open in the middle of streets, surprising drivers and swallowing cars, or in residential areas, swallowing houses. Sinkholes are not discriminating. They have swallowed small inexpensive homes, as well as huge homes worth millions of dollars. It is very rare for people to be hurt when it occurs, because it usually occurs over some length of time and is noisy as the ground becomes unstable. Sinkholes have also swallowed lakes. There are areas in Florida where 40 or more homes had been built around a beautiful lake. One day, the entire lake disappeared because the cavern beneath the ground opened. Instead of sand being above the cavern, there was water, which flowed into the cavern, leaving behind dead and dying fish and plants and docks that led to nowhere. In one neighborhood, the neighbors managed to plug the hole in the lake with a huge block of concrete, and rain eventually filled the lake. But their efforts were to no avail because several years later Sinkholes are a natural phenomenon caused in particular geological areas by particular events. Unfortunately, even knowing the cause and having time to plan, it is not possible to stop a sinkholethe lake disappeared again.

12	The word occur in the first sentence is closest in meaning to A.       happen. B.       leak. C.       stop. D.       cause.	18	The word drought in paragraph three is closest in meaning to A.       lack of liquid. B.       overabundance of liquid. C.       seeping of liquid. D.       summertime.
13	The word devastating in the first sentence is closest in meaning to A.       overwhelming. B.       quick. C.       slow. D.       unpleasant.	19	The word discriminating in the third paragraph is closest in meaning to A.        discerning. B.        unusual. C.        dangerous. D.        automatic.
14	A good title for this passage would be A.       Where did the Water Go? How Lakes Disappear. B.       The Causes and Effects of Sinkholes. C.       The Dangers of Living Above Limestone. D.       How to Avoid Sinkhole Damage.	20	The word swallowed in paragraph three is closest in meaning to A.       filled. B.       consumed. C.       formed in. D.       damaged.
15	The author states that sinkholes can be caused by A.       too much precipitation or not enough precipitation. B.       too little rain or unstable sandy soil. C.       too much rain or certain types of limestone. D.       water filling limestone caverns or air filling limestone caverns.	21	According to the passage, caverns are normally filled with A.        air and water. B.        water and sand. C.        limestone and air. D.        sand and clay.
16	The author implies that sinkholes A.        can occur anywhere. B.        only occur where there are limestone caverns below the surface. C.        can be prevented. D.        occur very rapidly and without notice.	22	An example of a harmless sinkhole would be A.       one that opens in a yard and never expands. B.       one that opens in a city street so long as nobody is injured or killed. C.       one that opens under a house. D.       one that eliminates a lake.
17	The author indicates that the layers of material in soil from the top down are A.       surface, limestone, clay, and sand. B.       surface, clay, sand, and limestone. C.       surface, limestone, sand, and clay. D.       surface, sand, clay, and limestone.	23	According to the passage, how successful was the attempt to replace a lake by plugging the hole? A.       Unknown. It has not yet been completed. B.       Completely successful over the long term. C.       Initially successful, but later it failed. D.       Not successful at all.

ANSWER KEY

12	A	happen.
13	A	overwhelming.
14	B	The Causes and Effects of Sinkholes. This is the only choice that is general enough and does not contain a misstatement.
15	A	too much precipitation or not enough precipitation. This is explained in the first paragraph.
16	B	only occur where there are limestone caverns below the surface. This is explained in the second paragraph.
17	D	surface, sand, clay, and limestone. This is explained in the second paragraph and in the illustration.
18	A	lack of liquid.
19	A	discerning.
20	B	consumed.
21	A	air and water. This is explained in the second sentence.
22	A	one that opens in a yard and never expands. Harmless means that it causes no harm.
23	C	Initially successful, but later it failed. This is explained in the last paragraph, where it indicates that the effort worked for a while.