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TOEFL READING PRACTICE WITH ANSWERS
TOEFL 2 (PART 3)
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Questions 19-29
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A folk culture is small, isolated, cohesive,
conservative, nearly self-sufficient group that is homogeneous in custom
and race, with a strong family or clan structure and highly developed rituals.
Order is maintained through sanctions based in the religion or family, and
interpersonal relationships are strong. Tradition is paramount, and change
comes infrequently and slowly. There is relatively little division of labor
into specialized duties. Rather, each person is expected to perform a great
variety of tasks, though duties many differ between the sexes. Most goods
are handmade, and a subsistence economy prevails. Individualism is weakly
developed in folk cultures, as are social classes. Unaltered folk cultures
no longer exist in industrialized countries such as the United States and
Canada. Perhaps the nearest modern-equivalent in Anglo-America is the
Amish, a German American farming sect that largely renounces the products
and labor saving device of the industrial age. In Amish areas, horse -
drawn buggies still serve as a local transportation device, and the
faithful are not permitted to own automobiles. The Amish's central religious
concept of Demut, "humility", clearly reflects the weakness of
individualism and social class so typical of folk cultures, and there is a
corresponding strength of Amish group identity. Rarely do the Amish marry
outside their sect. The religion, a variety of the Mennonite faith, provides
the principal mechanism for maintaining -order.
By contrast, a popular culture is a large
heterogeneous group, often highly individualistic and constantly changing.
Relationships tend to be impersonal, and a pronounced division of labor exists,
leading to the establishment of many specialized professions. Secular
institutions of control such as the police and army take the place of
religion and family in maintaining order, and a money-based economy
prevails. Because of these contrasts, "popular" may be viewed as
clearly different from "folk". The popular is replacing the folk
in industrialized countries and in many developing nations, Folk-made
objects give way to their popular equivalent, usually because the popular
item is more quickly or cheaply produced, is easier or time saving to use,
or lends more prestige to the owner.
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19
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What does the passage mainly discuss?
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(A)
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Two decades in modern society.
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(B)
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The influence
of industrial technology
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(C)
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The characteristics of "folk" and "popular"
societies.
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(D)
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The specialization
of labor in Canada and United States
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20
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The word "homogeneous" in line 2 is closest in meaning to
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(A)
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uniform
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(B)
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general
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(C)
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primitive
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(D)
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traditional
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21
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Which of the
following is typical of folk cultures?
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(A)
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There is a money- based economy.
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(B)
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Social change
occurs slowly.
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(C)
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Contact with other cultures is encouraged
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(D)
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Each person
develops one specialized skill.
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22
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What does the author imply about the United States and Canada?
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(A)
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They value folk
cultures
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(B)
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They have no social classes.
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(C)
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They have
popular cultures.
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(D)
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They do not value individualism.
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23
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The phrase
"largely renounces" in line 11 is closest in meaning to
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(A)
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generally rejects
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(B)
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greatly
modifies
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(C)
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loudly declares
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(D)
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often
criticizes
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24
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What is the main source of order in Amish society?
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(A)
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The government
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(B)
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The economy
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(C)
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The clan
structure
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(D)
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The religion
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25
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Which of the
following statements about Amish beliefs does the passage support?
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(A)
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A variety of religious practices is tolerated.
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(B)
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Individualism
and competition are important.
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(C)
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Pre-modern technology is preferred.
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(D)
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People are
defined according to their class.
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26
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Which of the following would probably NOT be found in a folk
culture?
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(A)
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A carpenter
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(B)
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A farmer
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(C)
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A weaver
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(D)
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A banker
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27
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The word
"prevails" in line 23 is closest in meaning to
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(A)
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dominates
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(B)
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provides
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(C)
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develops
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(D)
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invests
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28
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The word "their" in line 26 refer to
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(A)
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folk
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(B)
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nations
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(C)
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countries
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(D)
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objects
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29
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Which of the
following is NOT given as a reason why folk-made objects are replaced by
mass-produced objects?
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(A)
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Cost
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(B)
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Prestige
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(C)
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Quality
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(D)
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Convenience
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CLICK HERE FOR READING PASSAGE 1
CLICK HERE FOR READING POST TEST
ANSWER
KEY
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19
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C
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20
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A
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21
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B
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22
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C
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23
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A
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24
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D
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25
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C
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26
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D
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27
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A
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28
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D
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29
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C
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