TOEFL 8 (READING PASSAGE 1) TOEFL READING PRACTICE WITH ANSWERS

 

TOEFL READING PRACTICE WITH ANSWERS TOEFL 8 (READING PASSAGE 1)

 

Question 1-9 In the 1600's when the Spanish moved into what later was to become the southwestern United States, they encountered the ancestors of the modern-day Pueblo, Hopi, and Zuni peoples. These ancestors, known variously as the Basket Makers, the Anasazi, or the Ancient Ones, had lived in the area for at least 2,000 years. They were an advanced agricultural people who used irrigation to help grow their crops. The Anasazi lived in houses constructed of adobe and wood. Anasazi houses were originally built in pits and were entered from the roof. But around the year 700 A.D., the Anasazi began to build their homes above ground and join them together into rambling multistoried complexes, which the Spanish called pueblos or villages. Separate subterranean rooms in these pueblos - known as kivas or chapels - were set aside for religious ceremonials. Each kiva had a fire pit and a hole that was believed to lead to the underworld. The largest pueblos had five stories and more than 800 rooms. The Anasazi family was matrilinear, that is, descent was traced through the female. The sacred objects of the family were under the control of the oldest female, but the ritual ceremonies were conducted by her brother or son. Women owned the rooms in the pueblo and the crops, once they were harvested. While still growing, crops belonged to the man who, in contrast to most other Native American groups, planted them. The women made baskets and pottery, the men wove textile and crafted turpoise jewelry. Each village had two chiefs. The village chief dealt with land disputes and religious affairs. The war chief led the men in fighting during occasional conflicts that broke out with neighboring villages and directed the men in community building projects. The cohesive political and social organization of the Anasazi made it almost impossible for other groups to conquer them.   1 The Anasazi people were considered "agriculturally advanced" because of the way they (A) stored their crops (B) fertilized their fields. (C) watered their crops. (D) planted their fields. 2 The word "pits" in line 7 is closest in meaning to (A) stages (B) scars (C) seeds (D) holes. 3 The word "stories" in line 12 is closest in meaning to (A) articles (B) tales (C) levels (D) rumors 4 Who would have been most likely to control the sacred objects of an Anasazi family? (A) A twenty-year-old man (B) A twenty-year-old woman (C) A forty-year-old man (D) A forty-year-old woman 5 The word "they" in line 16 refers to (A) women (B) crops (C) rooms (D) pueblos 6 The word "disputes" in line 20 is closest in meaning to (A) discussions (B) arguments (C) developments (D) purchases 7 Which of the following activities was NOT done by Anasazi men? (A) Making baskets (B) Planting crops (C) Building homes (D) Crafting jewelry. 8 According to the passage, what made it almost impossible for other groups to conquer the Anasazi? (A) The political and social organization of the Anasazi (B) The military tactics employed by the Anasazi (C) The Anasazi's agricultural technology. (D) The natural barriers surrounding Anasazi Villages. 9 The passage supports which of the following generalizations? (A) The presence of the Spanish threatened Anasazi society. (B) The Anasazi benefited from trading relations with the Spanish. (C) Anasazi society exhibited a well-defined division of labor. (D) Conflicts between neighboring Anasazi villages were easily resolved.

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ANSWER KEY

1.  C 2. D 3. C 4. D 5. B 6. B 7. A 8. A 9. C