THE HEINEMANN TOEFL COURSE PRACTICE TEST 4 READING PART 1 (Questions 1-11)

THE HEINEMANN TOEFL COURSE

PRACTICE TEST 4

READING

PART 1 (Questions 1-11)

line 5 Swans are among the most beautiful of North American waterfowl and have always enjoyed the admiration and even the protection of bird lovers. Of the six species in the swan genus, only two are native to North America. The trumpeter Line    swan, the largest of the group, breeds in the northern United States and Alaska, and was nearly wiped out during the nineteenth century craze for elaborately line 10 feathered hats. The whistling swan, which winters in large flocks on the Chesapeake Bay, has recently been renamed the tundra swan because it breeds and summers on the northernmost tundra regions of the continent. Recently, populations of mute swans—an exotic species introduced to North America from Europe in the early 1900s—have begun increasing by an alarming line 15 30 to 40 percent annually in some states. Most wildlife biologists today believe the majestic white creatures, with their tendency to destroy a pond's plant life and drive away native waterfowl, might create havoc on the scale of the gypsy moth, starling, or English sparrow. Both native species of swans are wild and require large areas of uninhabited line 20 summer ground for nesting and feeding. Mutes, however, semi-domesticated and accustomed to people, can nest in pairs of as many as three or four on one small coastal pond, which can burden delicate and environmentally essential brackish waters. Furthermore, mute swans usually form lifelong pair bonds and after selecting a pond, they make it their permanent home. Wildlife reserve managers have had little success in relocating mute swans to different ponds after the pair has established itself in one location. 1 author's main purpose in this passage is to A interest people in wildlife biology describe swans of North America prevent extinction of a swan species forewarn an environmental problem B C D 2 According to the passage, the main issue concerning mute swans is that they are A not native to North America semi-domesticated increasing very rapidly possessive of their habitat B C D 3 The phrase "wiped out" in line 5 is closest in meaning to A miscalculated admired cleaned up  killed off B C D 4 The phrase "an alarming 30-40 percent" in lines 10-11 is closest in meaning to A a general 30-40 percent a worrisome 30-40 percent an established 30-40 percent a conservative 30-40 percent B C D 5 The author states that the native species of swans can live best A in close contact with people in the southern part of the United States in unpopulated areas in a similar habitat to mute swans B C D 6 The passage comments on all features of swans EXCEPT their A life span breeding and nesting habits habitats origins B C D 7 Which swan was close to extinction? A The mute swan The whistling swan The tmmpeter swan The tundra swan B C D 8 The phrase "majestic white creatures" in line 12 refers to A mute swans trumpeter swans whistling swans swans in general B C D 9 The word "burden" in line 18 is closest in meaning to A isolate regulate endanger beautify B C D 10 From the passage it can be concluded that mute swans are A more numerous than other types of swans a problem for coastal ponds welcome in most parts of North America unattractive in appearance B C D
	11	It can be inferred from the passage that the author
		A	approves of all swans is concerned about mute swans is a wildlife biologist prefers trumpeter swans
		B
		C
		D

ANSWER KEY

1. D   The correct answer (D) is found by reading the passage quickly to note the key concepts and relationships of swans, mute swans, and the problem they are causing. Paragraph one gives general information on North American swans; paragraph two introduces mute swans and the problem: ... are increasing at an alarming 30 to 40 percent annually; destroy a pond's plant life and drive away native waterfowl. The third paragraph adds more facts about the danger of mute swans to the environment:... which can burden delicate and environmentally essential brackish waters. (A) is too general for the purpose of this passage; (B) is incorrect because the passage goes beyond description; and (C) is not correct according to this passage. 2. С   The correct answer (C) is found in lines 9-11: ... are increasing at an alarming 30 to 40 percent; and in lines 17-19: can nest in pairs of as many as three or four on one small coastal pond, which can burden.... (A) is a fact that is not related to the environmental problem; (B) and (D) are facts about swans that are only of concern when there are too many mute swans. 3. D   The clue to the meaning of "wiped out" is found in the immediate context. The trumpeter swan... was nearly wiped out during the nineteenth century craze for elaborately feathered hats. It can be inferred that the craze for feathered hats was detrimental to the swans, and therefore, answer choice (D) killed off is best. 4. B    The information in the sentences following the phrase... have begun increasing by an alarming 30-40% ... states that mute swans destroy a pond's plant life and drive away native waterfowl, and might create havoc on the scale of the gypsy moth,... (lines 12-14). This negative effect of the mute swan leads us to infer that an increase of 30-40% would cause worry or concern. Therefore, answer choice (B) a worrisome 30-40% is correct. 5. C   The correct answer (C) is stated in lines 15-16:... uninhabited summer ground for nesting and feeding is best restated as unpopulated areas, (A) is incorrect because it is the opposite of uninhabited; (B) is not mentioned in the passage and (D) is untrue according to lines 13-17. 6. A   The correct answer is (A) because the other answer choices are mentioned as features of swans in the passage: (B) in lines 15-19; (C) in paragraphs one and two, and (D) in lines 3-10 7. C   The correct answer is (C) according to lines 5-8 which describe the trumpeter swan. The phrase was nearly wiped out is similar in meaning to close to extinction. 8. A   The phrase "majestic white creatures" refers to mute swans, which is the topic of the preceding sentence. 9. C   The immediate context of "burden" is Mutes ... nest in pairs of as many as three or four on one small coastal pond, which can burden the delicate and environmentally essential brackish waters. We infer that the occurrence of so many mute swans living on a small and delicate pond is a negative thing. Therefore, answer choice (C) endanger is correct. 10. B   The correct answer is (B) according to lines 12-14:... with their tendency to destroy a pond's plant life and drive away native waterfowl, might create havoc...; and lines 18-19 which can burden... waters. The other answer choices are incorrect because: (A) the passage only states that numbers of mute swans are increasing and does not compare them to other types of swans; (C) is implied as not true because of the problems the mute swans pose for coastal ponds and waterfowl; (D) is implied as untrue in line 12 ... the majestic white creatures ... Majestic implies an attractive appearance. 11. B   The correct answer (B) can be inferred because the tone of the article is one of concern. Key words are: alarming, create havoc, burden delicate waters. The issue the author writes about is the problem that the mute swans create.