THE HEINEMANN TOEFL COURSE PRACTICE TEST 1 READING PART 2

THE HEINEMANN TOEFL COURSE

PRACTICE TEST 1

READING

PART 2 (Questions 2-19)

There are many theories of aging, but virtually all fall into the category of being hypotheses with a minimum of supporting evidence. One viewpoint is that aging occurs as the body's organ systems become less efficient. Thus failures in the immune system, hormonal system, and nervous system could all produce characteristics that we associate with aging. Following a different vein, many current researchers are looking for evidence at the cellular and sub cellular level. It has been shown that cells such as human fibroblasts (generalized tissue cells) grown in culture divide only a limited number of times and then die. (Only cancer cells seem immortal in this respect.) Fibroblast cells from an embryo divide more times than those taken from an adult. Thus some researchers believe that aging occurs at the cellular level and is part of the cell's genetic makeup. Any event that disturbs the cell's genetic machinery such as mutation, damaging chemicals in the cell's environment, or loss of genetic material, could cause cells to lose their ability to divide and thus bring on aging. Other theories of aging look at different processes. Chronological aging refers to the passage of time since birth and is usually measured in years. While chronological age can be useful in estimating the average status of a large group of people, it is a poor indicator of an individual person's status because there is a tremendous amount of variation from one individual to the next in regard to the rate at which biological age changes occur. For example, on the average, aging results in people losing much of their ability to perform strenuous activities, yet some elderly individuals are excellent marathon runners. Another type of aging is cosmetic aging, which consists of changes in outward appearance with advancing age. This includes changes in the body and changes in other aspects of a person's appearance, such as the style of hair and clothing, the type of eyeglasses, and the use of a hearing aid. Like chronological aging, it is frequently used to estimate the degree to which other types of aging have occurred. However, it is an inaccurate indicator for either purpose because of variation among individuals and because a person's appearance is affected by many factors that are not part of aging, including illness, poor nutrition, and exposure to sunlight. 11 The author believes the theories of aging are A well-supported hypotheses  poorly supported hypotheses proven theories interesting ideas B C D 12 In line 6, the word "evidence" refers to A evidence of aging evidence of cancer evidence of human fibroblasts evidence of cell division B C D 13 The word "vein" in line 5 is closest in meaning to A part of the body  point of view bloodvessel        cellular level bring on aging B C D 14 The author of the article points out that cancer cells A divide infinitely divide and then die divide more in adults than in embryos bring on aging B C D 15 The word "culture" in line 7 is closest in meaning to A libraries a special environment a society's traditions and values a toxic substance B C D 16 It can be inferred from the passage that A fibroblast cells divide fewer times at later stages in human life are not a focus in cellular research on aging are similar to cancer cells in rate of division disfunction in the aging process of the body's immune system B C D 17 As explained in this passage, the theory of aging which examines the cellular level would NOT assign which of the following as a cause of aging? A Mutation  Failure of the body's organ system Loss of genetic material Chemical damage from the environment B C D 18 According to the passage, chronological aging is not a good indicator of an individual's status regarding aging because A elderly people are often athletic  there is individual variation in the rate of biological aging strenuous activities are not good measures of age it is difficult to get accurate records of birth dates B C D 19 The author implies all of the following about cosmetic aging EXCEPT A It does not occur at the same rate for all people It is a poor indicator of chronological age Illness, poor nutrition, and exposure to sunlight  cause      aging to occur It is described by changes in outward appearance B C D

ANSWER KEY

11. В   The correct answer (B) is found in lines 1-2, ... of being   hypotheses with a minimum of supporting  evidence. The other answer choices are not mentioned  in the passage. 12. A   The logical reference of "evidence" is to aging since  aging is the topic of the preceding sentence. Another clue   is the phrase produce  characteristics (that we associate) with aging in lines 4-5. In line 6 a similar structure is looking evidence at the cellular and subcellular level, but the phrase of aging is deleted and only implied. 13. B   Although the passage is about the body and its systems, the context in which "vein" is used in line 5 provides a transition from one point in the text to another  point. In this case a different vein means a different point of view. 14. A   The correct answer (A) is found in lines 8-9. The  statement that human fibroblasts... divide only a limited  number of times and then die is contrasted to Only cancer  cells seem immortal in this respect. This concept is similar in meaning to the idea divide infinitely. 15. B   The phrase cells... grown in culture is part of a scientific passage, which leads us to deduce that "culture" in this context is not related to society or traditions (C). It is not likely that cells are grown in libraries (A), and things don't usually grow in a toxic substance (D). The meaning of culture in this context is "a special environment" (B). 16. A   The correct answer (A) is found in lines 9-10. An embryo is the earliest form of life. The passage states that cells from an embryo divide more times than those taken from an adult. This is similar to saying that cells from an adult (a later stage in life) divide fewer times. (B) is not  true: fibroblast cells are used as an example of cellular research. (C) is incorrect: lines 7-9. (D) is incorrect because cells and organ systems are discussed as two different theories of aging. 17. B    The correct answer is (B) because the organ system is central to a theory of aging different from the theory which  examines the cellular level. (A), (C), and (D) all are mentioned in the passage in lines 10-14 as support for  the cellular theory. 18. B   The correct answer (B) is found in paragraph 2. Lines 17-19 state about chronological age: It is a poor indicator of an individual person's status because there is a tremendous amount of variation from one individual  to the next in regard to the rate at which biological age changes occur. Answers (A) and (D) are not mentioned in the passage, and answer (C) is not true according to the passage. 19. C   The correct answer (C) is found in paragraph 3. The last lines state that... a person's appearance is affected bymany factors that are not part of aging, including illness, poor nutrition, and exposure to sunlight. Answers (A), (B), and (D) are all true according to paragraph 3 of the passage.