THE HEINEMANN TOEFL COURSE PRACTICE TEST 5 READING PART 1 (Questions 1-10)

THE HEINEMANN TOEFL COURSE

PRACTICE TEST 5

READING

PART 1 (Questions 1-10)

line 5 Long ago prehistoric man began to domesticate a number of wild plants and animals for his own use. After centuries of being nomadic, of moving from place to place in pursuit of game or of fresh supplies of plant food, humans were finally able to stay in one place and systematically exploit the seasonal resources of one locality. This not only provided more abundant food but also allowed more people line 10 to live on a smaller plot of ground. As a result, societies developed knowledge and experience about the world around them; our present-day pets, livestock, and food plants were taken from the wild and developed into the forms we know today. As centuries passed and human cultures evolved and blossomed, humans (began to organize their knowledge of nature into the broad field of natural history. line 15 One aspect of early natural history concerned the use of plants for drugs and medicine. The early herbalists sometimes overworked their imaginations in this respect. For instance, it was widely believed that a plant or part of a plant that resembled an internal organ would cure ailments of that organ. Thus, an extract made from a heart-shaped leaf might be prescribed for a person suffering from line 20 heart problems. All early societies included individuals who learned to use plants for medicinal purposes. Salves, potions, and brews made from leaves, roots, and the fruits of plants were devised to cure illnesses, to heal wounds, to ward off depression, and even as birth-control measures for women. Often the early herbalists of a society guarded the knowledge of medicinal uses of plants for their select group. They became very powerful members of the early societies and were sometimes credited with magical or religious powers.  Nevertheless, the overall contributions of these early observers provided the rudiments of our present knowledge of drugs and their uses. 1 What does this passage mainly discuss? A One aspect of early natural history The beginning of agriculture Drugs and their uses The imagination of prehistoric man B C D 2 According to the passage, domestication of plants and animals probably occurred because of A need for more readily available food lack of wild animals and plants early man's power as a hunter the desire of prehistoric man to be nomadic B C D 3 The word "this" in line 5 refers to A providing food for man man's domestication of plants and animals man's ability to live on a smaller plot of land the earliest condition of prehistoric man B C D 4 The word "blossomed" in line 9 is closest in meaning to A produced flowers changed learned flourished B C D 5 It can be inferred from the passage that an herbalist is which of the following? A A dreamer An early historian Someone who uses plants in medicine A farmer B C D 6 The phrase "in this respect" in lines 12-13 refers to A the development of human culture the development of the field of natural history the use of plants for drugs and medicine the origin of knowledge of nature B C D 7 The word "extract" in line 14 is closest in meaning to A design substance fungus ailment B C D
	8	Which of the following statements can be inferred from the passage?
		A	The shape of a plant is indicative of its ability to cure ailments of a similarly shaped organ. Early herbalists were unimaginative. The work of early herbalists has nothing to do with present day medicine. There is little relation between a cure for illness and the physical shape of a plant.
		B
		C
		D
	9	What is the purpose of the author in this passage?
		A	To persuade To inform To entertain To ridicule
		B
		C
		D
	10	The word "rudiments' in meaning to
		A	beginnings history requirements protocol
		B
		C
		D

ANSWER KEY

1. A   The correct answer is (A) because the central idea of the passage describes one aspect of early natural history. Paragraph one includes a general introduction to early man and his developing knowledge from the natural world; paragraph two focuses the topic on herbalists and plants and drugs in early medicine. 2. A   The correct answer is (A) because lines 1-6 state: Long ago prehistoric man began to domesticate a number of wild plants and animals for his own use. This not only provided more abundant food but also ... (B), (C), and (D) are not mentioned as reasons for domestication of plants and animals in the passage. 3. В   The pronoun "this" refers to the statement in the preceding sentence that man began to ... domesticate a number of wild plants and animals for his own use (lines 1-2). 4. D   The meaning of the word "blossomed" is found in the immediate context of the sentence, ... human cultures evolved and blossomed, and humans began to organize their knowledge of nature into the broad field of natural history (lines 9-10). It can be inferred from the positive connotation of cultures evolved and humans organize their knowledge of nature that answer choice (D) flourished is correct. 5. С   The correct answer (C) can be inferred from lines 11-13. Lines 11-12 tell us: One aspect of early natural history concerned the use of plants for drugs and medicine. This sentence establishes the specific topic of plants for drugs and medicine. The next sentence introduces the early herbalist, the sequencing of information in the passage implies a direct relationship between plants and medicine and the early herbalist. This inference is supported by the details about how herbalists used plants as medicine in the rest of the passage. 6. C   The phrase "in this respect" refers to... the use of drugs and medicine in the preceding sentence. The example that supports "in this respect" gives further information that the use of plants for drugs and medicine is the referent of the phrase "in this respect." 7. В   The meaning of the word "extract" can be deduced by reasoning that something that is made from a leaf and prescribed for a person... (lines 14-15) will be a substance (answer B). 8. D   The correct answer (D) can be inferred from lines 12-24. Lines 12-13 state that the early herbalists sometimes verworked their imaginations in this respect (plants for drugs and medicine). This information is followed by an example of overworked imagination:.. .it was widely believed that a plant or part of a plant that resembled an internal organ would cure ailments of that organ. The inference that this belief  is not well founded is further supported by the contrast word Nevertheless in line 23 of the conclusion. 9. B    The correct answer is (B) because the tone of the passage is informational. The passage contains general information and supporting details and examples. 10. A   The meaning of the word "rudiments" can be understood from the immediate context of the sentence in relation to the whole passage... the overall contributions of these early observers provided the rudiments of our present knowledge of drugs and their uses (lines 23-24) concludes the description of prehistoric man and his development of plants as a contribution to medicine. It can be inferred that this knowledge, though incomplete, was the basis on which present day science has been built. Therefore, answer choice (A) beginnings represents this concept.