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TOEFL READING PRACTICE WITH ANSWERS
TOEFL 3 (READING PASSAGE 1)
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Questions 1-12
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Orchids are unique in having the most highly
developed of all blossoms, in which the usual male and female reproductive
organs are fused in a single structure called the column. The column is designed
so that a single pollination will fertilize hundreds of thousands, and in
some cases millions, of seeds, so microscopic and light they are easily
carried by the breeze. Surrounding the column are three sepals and three
petals, sometimes easily recognizable as such, often distorted into
gorgeous, weird, but always functional shapes. The most noticeable of the
petals is called the labellum, or lip. It is often dramatically marked as
an unmistakable landing strip to attract the specific insect the orchid has
chosen as its pollinator.
To lure their pollinators from afar, orchids use
appropriately intriguing shapes, colors and scents. At least 50 different
aromatic compounds have been analyzed in the orchid family, each blended to
attract one or at most a few species of insects or birds. Some orchids even
change their scents to interest different insects at different times.
Once the right insect has been attracted, some
orchids present all sorts of one-way obstacle courses to make sure it does
not leave until pollen has been accurately placed or removed. By such ingenious
adaptations to specific pollinators, orchids have avoided the hazards of
rampant crossbreeding in the wild, assuring the survival of species as
discrete identities. At the same time they have made themselves
irresistible to collectors.
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1
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What does the passage mainly discuss?
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(A)
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Birds
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(B)
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Insects
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(C)
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Flowers
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(D)
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Perfume
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2
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The orchid is unique because of
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(A)
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the habitat in
which it lives
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(B)
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the structure of its blossom
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(C)
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the variety of
products that can be made from it
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(D)
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the length of its life
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3
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The word "
fused" in line 2 is closest in meaning to
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(A)
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combined
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(B)
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hidden
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(C)
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fertilized
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(D)
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produced
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4
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How many orchid seeds are typically pollinated at one time?
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(A)
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200
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(B)
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2,000
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(C)
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20,000
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(D)
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200,000
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5
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Which of the
following is a kind of petal?
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(A)
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The column
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(B)
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The sepal
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(C)
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The stem
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(D)
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The labellum
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6
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The labellum( line 7) is most comparable to
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(A)
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a microscope
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(B)
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an obstacle course
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(C)
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an airport
runway
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(D)
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a racetrack
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7
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The word
"lure" in line 10 is closest in meaning to
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(A)
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attract
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(B)
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recognize
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(C)
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follow
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(D)
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help
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8
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Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a means by which an orchid
attracts insects?
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(A)
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size
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(B)
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Shape
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(C)
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Color
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(D)
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Perfume
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9
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The word
"their" in line 13 refers to
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(A)
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orchids
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(B)
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birds
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(C)
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insects
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(D)
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species
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10
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Which of the following statements about orchids' scents does the
passage support?
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(A)
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They are effective
only when an insect is near the blossom.
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(B)
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Harmful insects are repelled by them.
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(C)
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They are
difficult to tell apart.
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(D)
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They may change at different times.
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11
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The word
"placed" in line 15 is closest in meaning to
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(A)
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estimated
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(B)
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measured
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(C)
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deposited
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(D)
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identified
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12
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The word "discrete" in line 18 is closest in meaning to
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(A)
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complicated
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(B)
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separate
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(C)
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inoffensive
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(D)
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functional
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CLICK HERE FOR READING TOEFL 2
CLICK HERE FOR READING POST TEST
ANSWER
KEY
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1
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C
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2
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B
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3
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A
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4
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D
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5
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D
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6
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C
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7
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A
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8
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A
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9
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A
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10
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D
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11
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C
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12
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B
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