CliffsTestPrep TOEFL CBT PRACTICE TEST 2 READING SECTION (4)

CliffsTestPrep TOEFL CBT

PRACTICE TEST 2

READING SECTION (4)

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 4

Hepatitis C is an illness, unknown until recently, that has been discovered in many individuals. It has been called an epidemic, yet unlike most illnesses with that designation, it is not easily transmitted. It is accurately referred to as epidemic in that so many people have been discovered with the illness, but it is different in that these people have actually carried the virus for many years. It is only transmitted by direct blood-to-blood contact; casual contact and even sexual contact are not believed to transmit the illness. Hepatitis means an inflammation or infection of the liver. Hepatitis C is generally chronic, as opposed to acute. This means that it continues to affect the patient and is not known to have a sudden onset or recovery. The great majority of people infected with the illness either had a blood transfusion before the time that the disease was recognized in donated blood, or experimented with injecting illegal drugs when they were young. Many victims are educated, financially successful males between the ages of 40 and 50 who experimented with intravenous drugs as teenagers. There are frequently no symptoms, so the illness is discovered through routine blood tests. Most commonly, people learn they have the illness when they apply for life insurance or donate blood. The blood test reveals elevated liver enzymes, which could be caused by any form of hepatitis, by abuse of alcohol, or by other causes. Another test is then performed, and the result is learned. Because the illness produces no symptoms, it of itself does not affect the victim’s life, at least at first. But the constant infection in the liver can eventually lead to cirrhosis of the liver, which is scarring and death of portions of the liver. The cirrhosis in turn can lead to liver cancer and, ultimately, death. Severe cases can be reversed with a liver transplant. Yet, because the virus may exist in the body for more than 20 years before being discovered, after reviewing the condition of the liver, doctors often suggest waiting and periodically checking the condition rather than performing radical treatment procedures. The liver’s condition is determined by a biopsy, in which a device is inserted into the liver and its condition is viewed. If there is little or no cirrhosis, it is more likely that treatment will be postponed. Treatment frequently causes more discomfort than the illness itself. It consists of some form of chemotherapy. Currently, the most frequent treatment is a combination therapy, with one drug injected three times a week and another taken orally, costing hundreds of dollars a week. The therapy causes the patient to have symptoms similar to influenza, and some patients suffer more than others. Unfortunately, many patients do not respond, or do not respond completely to the therapy. There is no alternative therapy at this time for non-responders, although researchers are continually trying to find a cure.

38	The author implies that A.       physicians have been treating patients for hepatitis C for over 20 years. B.       other forms of hepatitis were known before the hepatitis C strain was discovered. C.       hepatitis C is generally seen as an acute illness. D.    hepatitis C is easily transmitted through any type of contact.	44	The author implies that A.       patients usually learn of the illness because they have severe symptoms. B.       liver transplants are a very common form of treatment. C.       many people with hepatitis C were not addicts but simply experimented with illegal drugs. D.       people are still in danger of acquiring the illness from blood transfusions.
39	The word onset at the end of paragraph one is closest in meaning to A.       illness B.       termination C.       inception D.       treatment	45	The author indicates that a biopsy is performed in order to A.       prepare for a liver transplant. B.       determine whether one has the virus. C.       learn the degree of damage to the liver. D.       decide which form of drug to prescribe.
40	The best title for this passage would be A.       Treatment Choices for Hepatitis C. B.       The History of Different Forms of Hepatitis. C.       Hepatitis C — Its Characteristics and Treatment. D.       The Causes and Symptoms of Hepatitis C.	46	The author implies that hepatitis C A.       attacks rapidly. B.       does not affect many people. C.       only rarely results in liver cancer. D.       attacks the central nervous system.
41	The word great at the beginning of paragraph two is closest in meaning to A.       vast. B.       magnificent. C.       small. D.       important.	47	The author states that people sometimes choose not to take treatment for hepatitis C for all of the following reasons except A.        the medicine must be taken intravenously. B.        the treatment does not work for everybody. C.        often the level of illness is not severe. D.        the side effects of the medicine are sometimes worse than the symptoms of the illness.
42	The word routine in paragraph two is closest in meaning to A.       standard. B.       elevated. C.       required. D.       complex.	48	The word its in the third paragraph refers to A.        device. B.        liver. C.        biopsy. D.        doctor.
43	The word they in paragraph two refers to A.       symptoms. B.       illness. C.       enzymes. D.       people.

ANSWER KEY

38	B	other forms of hepatitis were known before the hepatitis C strain was discovered. The author refers to hepatitis in general, and hepatitis C specifically, implying that there are others.
39	C	inception.
40	C	Hepatitis C — Its Characteristics and Treatment
41	A	vast. The word in this context is an intensifier, modifying majority.
42	A	standard
43	D	people
44	C	many people with hepatitis C were not addicts but simply experimented with illegal drugs.
45	C	learn the degree of damage to the liver.
46	C	only rarely results in liver cancer.
47	A	the medicine must be taken intravenously. It is injected, but not in the vein.
48	B	liver