TOEFL 12 (READING PASSAGE 3) TOEFL READING PRACTICE WITH ANSWERS

 

TOEFL READING PRACTICE WITH ANSWERS TOEFL 12 (READING PASSAGE 3)

 

Question 33-41 A pioneering set of experiments has been important in the revolution in our understanding of animal behaviour a revolution that eroded the behaviorist dogma that only humans have minds. These experiments were designed to detect consciousness-that is, signs of self-awareness or self-recognition-in animals other than humans. The scientific investigation of an experience as private as consciousness is frustratingly beyond the usual tools of the experimental psychologist. This may be one reason that many researchers have shied away from the notion of mind and consciousness in nonhuman animals. In the late1960's, however, psychologist Gordon Gallup devised a test of the sense of self: the mirror test. if an animal were able to recognize its reflection in a mirror as "self," then it could be said to possess an awareness of self, or consciousness. It is known that a cat or a dog reacts to its own image in mirror, but often it treats it as that of another individual whose behavior very soon becomes puzzling and boring. The experiment called for fanuliarizing the animal with the mirror and then marking the animal's forehead with a red spot. If the animal saw the reflection as just another individual, it might wonder about the curious red spot and might even touch the mirror. But if the animal realized that the reflection was of itself, it would probably touch the spot on its own body. The first time Gallup tried the experiment with a chimpanzee, the animal acted as if it knew that the reflection was its own, it touched the red spot on its forehead. Gallup' report of the experiment, published in a. 1970 article, was a milestone in our understanding of animal minds and psychologists wondered how widespread self-recognition would prove to be.   33 The word "dogma" in line 3 is closest in meaning to (A) evaluation (B) proof (C) intention (D) belief 34 The word "detect" in line 3 is closest in meaning to (A)imitate the behavior of (B)provide a reason for (C)discover the presence of (D)report a need for 35 Which of the following statements best describes the behaviorist position with regard to consciousness in nonhuman animals? (A) Most nonhuman animals show signs of self-consciousness. (B) Most monhuman animals can be taught self-consciousness. (C) Chimpanzees are the only nonhuman animals that have a human level of selfconsciousness. (D) Nonhuman animals do not possess selfconsciousness 36 The author suggests that researchers before 1960 probably avoided studying nonhuman animal consciousness because they (A) did not wish to experiment with live animal subjects (B) were discouraged by earlier unsuccessful experiments that studied human consciousness (C) had not yet devised adequate research methods for animal consciousness experiments (D) lacked the necessary laboratory equipment 37 The phrase "shied away from" in line 8 is closest in meaning to (A) approached (B) avoided (C) respected (D) allowed 38 What does the author mean when stating in line 14 that "The experiment called for familiarizing the animal with the mirror? (A) The experiment required the use of a chimpanzee that had not participated in previous mirror tests. (B) Gallup had to allow the chimpanzee to become accustomed to the mirror before he began the experiment. (C) Gallup had to teach the chimpanzee to recognize its reflection in the mirror. (D) The chimpanzee had to first watch the experiment being conducted with another chimpanzee. 39 The word "it" in line 16 refers to (A) red spot (B) animal (C) reflection (D) another individual 40 The chimpanzee in Gallup's first experiment responded to the mirror test by touching (A) its own forehead (B) the researcher's forehead (C) the red spot on the mirror (D) the red spot on another chimpanzee 41 The word "milestone" in line 20 is closest in meaning to (A) significant development (B) initial step (C) universal concept (D)obstruction to progress

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ANSWER KEY

33.    D 34.   C 35.   D 36.   C 37.    B 38.   B 39.   B 40.   A 41.    A