READING TOEFL EXERCISES (1-11) LONGMAN COMPLETE COURSE FOR THE TOEFL

LONGMAN COMPLETE COURSE FOR THE TOEFL

READING

TOEFL EXERCISES (1-11)

TOEFL EXERCISE (Skills 1-11): Study each of the passages and choose the best answers to the questions that follow.

PASSAGE ONE (Questions 1-9)

Big foot is a humanlike creature reportedly living in the Pacific Northwest. Bigfoot sightings have been noted most often in the mountainous areas of Northern California, Oregon, and Washington in the United States. The creature has also been spotted numerous times in British Columbia in Canada, where it is known as Sasquatch. The creature described by witnesses is tall by human standards, measuring 7 to 10 feet (2 to 3 meters) in height. It resembles an ape with its thick, powerful, fur-covered arms and short, strong neck; however, its manner of walking erect is more like that of Homo sapiens. Although there have been hundreds of reported sightings of Bigfoot, most experts have not seen enough evidence to be convinced of its existence. The fact that some purported evidence has been proven fake may have served the discredit other more credible information.

1	Which of the following best states the topic of the passage?		6	Look at the word that in paragraph 2. Click on the word or phrase that that refers to.
	A	Differences between Bigfoot and Sasquatch
	B	A description of Bigfoot
	C	Where Bigfoot, or Sasquatch, can be found
	D	The creature Bigfoot and its questionable existence
2	The word “noted” in line 2 is closest in meaning to which of the following?		7	The expression “Homo sapiens” in line 8 is closest in meaning to
	A	Reported		A	apes
	B	Written in a letter		B	creatures
	C	Refuted		C	humans
	D	Discussed		D	furry animals
3	It is implied in the passage that Bigfoot would probably NOT like to live		8	According to the passage, how do experts feel about the evidence concerning Bigfoot’s existence?
	A	in Oregon		A	They feel certain as to its existence.
	B	in the Pacific Northwest		B	They are not yet certain.
	C	on coastal plains		C	They are sure that it does not exist.
	D	in mountainous areas		D	They feel that all the evidence is fake.
4	Which of the following is NOT true about the appearance of Bigfoot?		9	Click on paragraph that explains how knowledgeable people feel about the existence of Bigfoot
	A	Its arms and neck look like those of an ape.
	B	Its arms are covered with fur.
	C	It is short-necked.
	D	It walks like an ape.
5	Click on the drawing that shows how Bigfoot compares in height to an average man.

PASSAGE TWO (Questions 10-18)

The next hormone is epinephrine, or adrenaline. This hormone is a natural secretion of the adrenal glands, which are located just above the kidneys in the human body. Its primary function in the human body is to help the body to cope with sudden surges of stress. When a person unexpectedly finds himself in a stressful situation filled with fear or anger, a large amount of epinephrine is released into the blood and the body responds with an increased heartbeat, higher blood pressure, and conversion of glycogen into glucose for energy to enable the body to deal with stress. It is possible to extract epinephrine from the adrenal glands of animals or synthesize it chemically in order to put it to further use. It is used in the treatment of severe asthma, where it relaxes the large muscles of the bronchi, the large air passages leading into the lungs. It is also used in cases of severe allergic reaction of cardiac arrest.

10	The paragraph preceding the passage most probably discusses		15	It is implied in the passage that increased heartbeat
	A	further uses of epinephrine		A	harms the body
	B	the treatment of cardiac arrest		B	causes the release of epinephrine into the body
	C	a different hormone		C	is helpful in combating the stressful situation
	D	the secretions of the adrenal glands		D	is useful in treating asthma
11	What is another name for epinephrine?		16	The passage indicates that epinephrine is used in the treatment of all of the following EXCEPT
	A	Adrenal glands		A	asthma
	B	Stressful situation		B	high blood pressure
	C	Bronchi		C	serous allergic reactions
	D	Adrenaline		D	heart problems
12	Click on the drawing that shows where epinephrine is produced in the human body.		17	Look at the word bronchi in paragraph 2. Bronchi are
				A	large muscles
				B	air passages
				C	part of the lungs
				D	part of the heart
13	Look at the word cope in paragraph 1. Click on another word or phrase in paragraph 1 that is close in meaning to cope.		18	Which of the following best expresses the organization of the information in the passage?
				A	Epinephrine and adrenaline
				B	Various effects of epinephrine on the body
				C	Causes of sudden stress
				D	Epinephrine’s natural functions and further applications
14	Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a result of the release of epinephrine in the blood?
	A	Severe asthma
	B	An increase in blood pressure
	C	Higher heartbeat
	D	Increased energy

PASSAGE THREE (Questions 19-25)

A massive banking crisis occurred in the United States in 1933. In the two preceding years, a large number of banks had failed, and fear of lost savings had prompted many depositors to remove their funds from banks. Problems became so serious in the state of Michigan that Governor William A. Comstock was forced to declare a moratorium on all banking activities in the state on February 14, 1933. The panic in Michigan quickly spread to other states, and on March 6, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared a banking moratorium throughout the United States that left the entire country without banking services. Congress immediately met in a special session to solve the banking crisis, and on March 9 it passed the Emergency Banking Act of 1933 to assist financially healthy banks to reopen. By March 15, banks controlling 90 percent of the country’s financial reserves were again open for business.

19	The passage states that all the following occurred prior to 1933 EXCEPT that		23	Look at the word it in paragraph 2. Click on the word or phrase that it refers to.
	A	many banks went under
	B	many bank patrons were afraid of losing their deposit
	C	a lot of money was withdrawn from accounts
	D	Governor Comstock cancelled all banking activities in Michigan
20	Look at the word failed in paragraph 1. This word could best be replaced by which expression?		24	Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?
	A	Not passed a test		A	Congress did not give any special priority to the banking situation.
	B	Forgotten something important		B	The Emergency Banking Act helped all banks to reopen.
	C	Gone out of business		C	Ten percent of the country’s money was in financially unhealthy banks.
	D	Paid little interest		D	Ninety percent of the banks reopened by the middle of March.
21	The word “moratorium” in line 4 is closest in meaning to which of the following?		25	Which of the following best describes the organization of the passage?
	A	Death		A	A theme followed by an example
	B	Temporary cessation		B	A problem and a solution
	C	Murder		C	Opposing viewpoints of an issue
	D	Slow decline		D	A problem and its causes
22	The passage indicates that the moratorium declared by Roosevelt affected
	A	the banks in Michigan		A
	B	the banks in most of the U.S		B
	C	only the financially unhealthy banks		C
	D	all the banks in the U.S.		D

ANSWER KEY

1	D	11	D	21	B
2	A	12	C	22	D
3	C	13	deal	23	congress
4	D	14	A	24	C
5	B	15	C	25	B
6	manner of walking	16	B
7	C	17	B
8	B	18	D
9	P3	19	D
10	C	20	C