CliffsTestPrep TOEFL CBT PRACTICE TEST 2 READING SECTION (1)

CliffsTestPrep TOEFL CBT

PRACTICE TEST 2

READING SECTION (1)

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 1

Hummingbirds are small, often brightly colored birds of the family Trochilidae that live exclusively in the Americas. About 12 species are found in North America, but only the ruby-throated hummingbird breeds in eastern North America and is found from Nova Scotia to Florida. The greatest variety and number of species are found in South America. Another hummingbird species is found from southeastern Alaska to northern California. Many hummingbirds are minute. But even the giant hummingbird found in western South America, which is the largest known hummingbird, is only about 8 inches long and weighs about two-thirds of an ounce. The smallest species, the bee hummingbird of Cuba and the Isle of Pines, measures slightly more than 5.5 centimeters and weighs about two grams. Hummingbirds’ bodies are compact, with strong muscles. They have wings shaped like blades. Unlike the wings of other birds, hummingbird wings connect to the body only at the shoulder joint, which allows them to fly not only forward but also straight up and down, sideways, and backward. Because of their unusual wings, hummingbirds can also hover in front of flowers so they can suck nectar and find insects. The hummingbird’s bill, adapted for securing nectar from certain types of flowers, is usually rather long and always slender, and it is curved slightly downward in many species. The hummingbird’s body feathers are sparse and more like scales than feathers. The unique character of the feathers produces brilliant and iridescent colors, resulting from the refraction of light by the feathers. Pigmentation of other feathers also contributes to the unique color and look. Male and female hummingbirds look alike in some species but different in most species; males of most species are extremely colorful. The rate at which a hummingbird beats its wings does not vary, regardless of whether it is flying forward, flying in another direction, or merely hovering. But the rate does vary with the size of the bird — the larger the bird, the lower the rate, ranging from 80 beats per second for the smallest species to 10 times per second for larger species. Researchers have not yet been able to record the speed of the wings of the bee hummingbird but imagine that they beat even faster. Most hummingbirds, especially the smaller species, emit scratchy, twittering, or squeaky sounds. The wings, and sometimes the tail feathers, often produce humming, hissing, or popping sounds, which apparently function much as do the songs of other birds.

1	According to the passage, where are hummingbirds found? A.    Throughout the world B.    In South America only C.    In North America only D.    In North and South America	7	The author implies that the hummingbird’s unique wing structure makes it similar to what type of vehicle? A.    A helicopter B.    A sea plane C.    A jet airplane D.    A rocket
2	The author indicates that the ruby-throated hummingbird is found A.       throughout North America. B.       in California. C.       in South America. D.       in the eastern part of North America.	8	The word bill in the third paragraph is closest in meaning to A.       beak B.       body C.       tail D.       wing
3	The word minute in the second paragraph is closest in meaning to A.       extremely tiny. B.       extremely fast. C.       unique. D.       organized.	9	The word sparse in the fourth paragraph is closest in meaning to A.       meagre B.       thick C.       fishlike D.       unique
4	The word which in the second paragraph refers to A.       western South America. B.       the giant hummingbird. C.       all hummingbirds. D.       Florida hummingbirds.
5	What does the author imply about the rate hummingbirds’ wings beat? A.       Although the bee hummingbird is the smallest, its wings don’t beat the fastest. B.       The hummingbird’s wings beat faster when it is sucking nectar than when it is just flying. C.       The rate is not much different than that of other birds of its size. D.       The speed at which a bee hummingbird’s wings beat is not actually known.
6	The author indicates that a hummingbird’s wings are different from those of other birds because A.        they attach to the body at one point only. B.        they attach to the body at more points than other birds. C.        they attach and detach from the body. D.        they are controlled by a different section of the brain.

 

ANSWER KEY

1	D	In North and South America. This is explained in the first paragraph.
2	D	in the eastern part of North America. This is explained in the first paragraph.
3	A	extremely tiny.
4	B	the giant hummingbird.
5	D	The speed at which a bee hummingbird’s wings beat is not actually known. The author explains in paragraph five that they have not measured this species yet.
6	A	they attach to the body at one point only. This is explained in the third paragraph.
7	A	A helicopter. This is the only aircraft listed that can hover and move in different directions.
8	A	beak. The bill or beak is the mouth of the bird.
9	A	meager.