THE HEINEMANN TOEFL COURSE PRACTICE TEST 2 READING PART 2 (Questions 10-19)

THE HEINEMANN TOEFL COURSE

PRACTICE TEST 2

READING

PART 2 (Questions 10-19)

As new industrialism swept over the land in the wake of the Civil War, people    flocked to the nation's cities in unprecedented numbers from rural regions,       villages, and foreign countries.  Housing  for  the  new  city-dwellers took many forms as new architectural styles were developed. During this period of urban expansion, speculative builders discovered a                 bonanza in the form of the row house. Designed for single-family occupancy, these dwellings cost relatively little to construct because they shared common walls with their neighbors and because many could be erected side by side on a narrow street frontage. Along New York's gridiron of streets and avenues rose block after block of row houses, which, by the 1880s, were almost invariably faced with brownstone. In contrast, wooden row houses on the West Coast appeared light and airy with their coats of bright paint. San Francisco developed a particularly successful row vernacular, suitable for rich and poor alike, as typified by clusters of homes like the Rountree group, which featured Queen Anne elements in their pitched roofs and heavily decorated exteriors. Although critics likened the facades of such structures to the "puffing, paint, and powder of our female friends," the houses were efficiently planned, sanitary, and well-lighted. Virtually every dwelling boasted one or more bay windows, which were as important to sun- loving San Franciscans as brownstone fronts were to New Yorkers. As an English traveler observed, California architecture, "with all the windows gracefully leaping out at themselves," should rightly be called the "bay-window order." 10 The main purpose of the author in this passage is A to contrast two versions of a similar architectural form to persuade people to live in row houses to argue for the excellence of California row houses to describe the effects of urbanization B C D 11 The phrase "a bonanza" in lines 5-6 is closest in meaning to A a confusing choice a difficult challenge an exciting design a good investment B C D 12 The phrase "almost invariably" in line 10 is closest in meaning to A usually seldom sometimes never B C D 13 According to the passage, why did speculative builders profit from row houses? A Because they cost very little to build Because they were for single families Because they were well-constructed Because they were attractive B C D 14 All of the following can be inferred about row houses from the passage EXCEPT  A they provided for high-density housing they housed people of different economic classes they  provided a new and popular form of architectural design they had no front yards B C D 15 The phrase "such structures" in line 16 refers to A West coast wooden row houses poor people's houses the homes in the Rountree group Queen Anne's home B C D 16 What can be inferred from the passage about New York row houses? A They were less colorful than row houses on the West Coast. They were windowless. They were smaller than California row houses. They were less similar in appearance than row houses  in California. B C D 17 In line 16 critics of California row houses commented on their A excessive use of bay windows ostentatious decoration repetitive nature lack of light B C D 18 In line 18 the word "boasted" is used to indicate the owners. A skill wealth intelligence pride B C D
	19	The author of the passage implies that the most important feature for Californians living in row houses was
		A	the color the price the windows the heavily decorated exteriors
		B
		C
		D

ANSWER KEY

10. A   The correct answer (A) is arrived at by quickly reading the whole passage to find key points and relationships. Lines 5-9 introduce the concept of the row house; lines 9-11 describe the row house in New York; and lines 11-21 describe the row house of California. The phrases In contrast (line 11) and which were as important to sun-loving San Franciscans as brownstone fronts were to New Yorkers (lines 18-19) indicate that contrast is made between the two forms. (B) and (C) are not correct according to the passage, and (D) is too general to be the purpose of the passage. 11. D   Clues to the meaning of "bonanza" are found in the immediate context.., speculative builders discovered a bonanza, (lines 5-6) and... these dwellings cost relatively little to construct... (lines 6-7). We infer that speculative builders want to make money, and that building row houses are a way to do this. This concept is best represented in answer choice (D) a good investment. 12. A   We can deduce the meaning of "invariably" by analyzing the parts of the word; variable means to change and in- means not. From this analysis almost invariably faced with brownstone means that brownstone is almost always the facing of row houses. Answer choice (A) usually is closest in meaning to this concept. 13. A   The correct answer (A) is found in lines 5-9. In lines 5-6 we note that speculative builders discovered a bonanza in the form of the row house; a bonanza implies a profit. Lines 6-9 tell us why:... these dwellings cost relatively little to build because ... (B) is only part of the reason; (C) and (D) are not related in the passage to the low cost or profit. 14. B   The correct answer is (B) because the other answer choices are all mentioned as true in the passage: (A) in lines 7-9 ... shared common walls with their neighbors;... many (row houses) could be erected side by side; and in lines 9-10 ... rose block after block of row houses; (C) in lines 5-6 ... discovered a bonanza in the form of row houses; and (D) in lines 8-9 ... could be erected side by side on narrow street frontage, which implies no space between the street and the building for a yard. 15. C   The phrase "such structures" refers to the noun phrase homes of the Rountree group (line 14) in the preceding sentence; these homes typified the San Francisco row house style. 16. A   The correct answer (A) can be inferred by noting the features of New York row houses and California row houses in the passage. Lines 10-11 mention that New York row houses were faced with brownstone, which means these exterior walls were made of brownstone—a material lacking in color. Line 11 states In contrast and line 12 state with their (California houses) coats of bright paint. Logical reasoning tells us the brownstone of New York is less colorful than the bright paint of California. 17. B   The correct answer is (B) because of the relation in meaning of ostentatious decoration (particularly showy, highly decorated, or attention getting) and the critics' comparison of the California row houses to the puffing, paint, and powder of our female friends. Both statements have negative connotations. 18. D  The information about row houses in line 17 tells us that the houses were efficiently planned, sanitary, and well-lighted, all very positive features of the homes. In the immediate context (lines 18-19) we read that the bay windows were important to sun-loving San Franciscans. We can infer from the positive reference to bay windows that the owners' were proud of this feature of their homes. Answer choice (D) pride best represents this concept. 19. С  The correct answer (C) is inferred from lines 18-21 where the passage states ... windows, which were as important to sun-loving San Franciscans as brownstone fronts were to New Yorkers, and later in the conclusion California architecture ... should rightly be called the "bay-window order." This labeling of the architecture according to the feature of windows indicates the great importance of windows in California row houses.