Toefl Reading Exercise 2020
Toefl Reading Exercise 2020
Toefl Reading Exercise 2020
10010219001
Hes B
SECTION 3
READING COMPREHENSION
Time – 55 minutes
This section contains reading passages and questions about the passages.
Directions: In this section you will read several passages. Each one is followed by a number of
questions about it. You are to choose the one best answer, (A), (B), (C), or (D), to each question. Then
darken on the answer you have chosen.
Answer all questions about the information in a passage on the basis of what is stated or implied in
that passage.
John Quincy Adams, who served as the sixth president of United States from1825 to 1829, is today
recognized for his masterful statesmanship and diplomacy. He dedicated his life to public service,
both in the presidency and in various other political offices that he held. Throughout his political
career he demonstrated his unswerving belief in freedom of speech, the antislavery cause, and the
right of Americans to be free from European and Asian domination.
Example
According to the passage, John Quincy Adams “dedicated his life to public service.” Therefore, you
should darken on answer (B).
Passage 1
In 1880, a scientist in France made an important discovery about mineral quartz. This scientist
discovered that quartz can oscillate, or move back and forth, at a constant rate. There is a specific
process to make the quartz oscillate. The quartz must be cut in a certain way, and then electricity must
be passed through it.
It was not until the 1920s that clockmakers began using quartz in their clocks. Prior to 1920, clocks had
moving parts that made a noisy tic-toc. When quartz oscillators were used in place of the noisy moving
parts, there were two distinct advantages. The clocks with oscillators worked quietly, and they were
extremely accurate.
2. According to the passage, when did the scientist in France make his discovery?
(A) Quartz
(A) difficult
(B) straight
(C) varied
(D) specific
6. According to the passage, when did clockmakers start using quartz in clocks?
(A) In 1850
(A) poor
(B) unusual
(C) clear
(D) regular
10. Where in the passage does the author explain how to make quartz oscillate?
Passage 2
Many people have a mistaken idea about ostriches, those large, graceful, long-necked, and
flightless birds. It is very popular, but most likely not very accurate, belief that ostriches burry their
heads in the sand.
Ostriches often keep their heads low to the ground, and they have good reasons for doing so.
They sometimes lower their heads to the ground to give the muscles of their necks some rest. They
sometimes put their heads close to the ground to pick up sounds better. In addition, they sometimes
lower their heads inquisitively into foliage. In this way, they can check out what is going on in the low-
lying leaves and branches.
However, contrary to common belief, ostriches have never been known actually to bury
their heads in the earth. In fact, were they for some unknown reason to try to do so, it is highly likely
that they would suffocate from a lack of oxygen.
11. Which of the following best expresses the title of the passage?
12. Which of the following is NOT stated in the passage about ostriches?
(A) They are big
(A) Eat
(B) Swim
(C) Hear
(D) Fly
(A) correct
(B) common
(C) complete
(D) constant
15. It can be inferred from the passage that an ostrich with its head up might have?
A. better hearing
B. a tired neck
C. sandy feathers
D. difficulty breathing
16. The expression “pick up sounds” in paragraph 2 could best be replaced by?
(A) hear
(B) clean up
(D) choose
(B) water
(C) plants
(D) clouds
(A) globe
(B) world
(C) ground
(D) planet
19. According to the passage, what would happen if an ostrich buried its head in the sand?
20. The word “highly” in paragraph 3 could best replaced by which of the following?
(A) Grandly
(B) Extremely
(C) Sharply
(D) Expensively
Passage 3
Numerous explanations have been offered as to the origin of the dollar sign, the sign that is today
written as the letter S with one or two vertical lines through it. The explanation that is given the most
credence among scholars is that the dollar sign was originally an abbreviation, or shortened form, of the
Spanish word peso.
The peso has long been a unit of Spanish money. The United States did not have its own
money until 1794, and prior to that time the use of Spanish money was common in America. When a
sum of money was written down, it was common practice not to write out the complete word peso.
For example, people usually wrote down 50ps instead of 50 pesos. A further shortening of the word
peso occurred when people started writing the P on the top of the S and came up with the sign that
represents the dollar sign of today.
22. Which of the following is NOT stated in the passage about the dollar sign?
(A) intersect
24. It can be inferred from the passage that concerning the derivation of the dollar sign?
26. According to the passage, when did the United States develop its own money?
(C) In 1794
27. It can be inferred from the passage that the Spanish peso came into existence?
(B) In 1794
29. According to the passage, how many letters of the word peso were used in its abbreviation?
(A) One
(B) Two
(C) Three
(D) Four
30. According to the passage, the current dollar sign was created from a combination of two?
(B) words
(D) letters
Passage 4
King Camp Gillette (1855-1932) was a travelling salesman from Winconsin who came up with a really
beneficial idea. The helpful concept that he had was for a safer way for men to shave. The practice in the
last half of the nineteenth century was for a man to shave with a big, sharp, dangerous, and open blade.
This blade, if the shaver made even the slightest mistake, was capable of causing a deep and serious cut.
Gillette and a friend together designed a razor that was much smaller and safer than a
traditional razor. In Gillette’s safety razor, only a small part of the blade was exposed.
This made it difficult for the safety razor to cause more than a small amount of damage. Gillette and his
friend put together this simple but helpful product, and Gillette began selling it on his regular sales
route.
Safety razors did not become immediately successful, though success did come later. In fact,
only 51 razors and about three times as many blades were sold in the first year of business. Within
two years, however sales had soared to 90.000 razors.
(A) unusual
(B) helpful
(C) successful
(D) harmless
33. According to the passage, what is NOT true about the blade that men used in the second half of
the nineteenth century?
34. According to the passage, how did Gillette’s razor compare to the traditional razor?
35. According to the passage, how much damage might Gillette’s razor cause?
36. The passage states that Gillette started selling the safety razor?
37. According to the passage, what happened immediately after Gillette began selling his safety
razors?
38. It can be inferred from the passage that Gillette sold approximately how many blades in the first
year?
(A) 17
(B) 51
(C) 150
(D) 12 million
(A) decreased
(B) jumped
(C) fallen
(D) changed
40. Where in the passage does the author describe the result of a shaver’s error?
Passage 5
Soon after the Pilgrims arrived at Plymouth in 1620, they met up with a Native American named
Squanto from the Pawtuxet tribe. Squanto became their friend and helped them learn how to live in the
unknown wilderness. One of the main reasons that Squanto was able to be so helpful to the newly
arrived settlers was that he spoke English.
The facts of Squanto’s life prior to the arrival of the Pilgrims are not known for sure. However, it
is pretty certain that Squanto had learned to speak English in England. Squanto may have been brought
to England for the first time in 1605 by an early English visitor to the North American continent. In 1614,
he returned to his North American homeland with Captain John Smith. Soon after, he was captured, sold
into slavery, and sent to Spain. He eventually escaped from his Spanish captors and made his way back
to America.
On his return to America, he discovered that the rest of his tribe had died. The demise of the
tribe had probably occurred as a result of an epidemic brought to America by English. In 1621, Squanto
was introduced to the settlers at Plymouth. Because he could speak English so well and because he was
familiar with English ways, he became a member of the colony.
41. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage about Squanto?
(A) unfamiliar
(B) forgetful
(C) lost
(D) unsure
43. What enabled Squanto to assist the settlers, according to the passage?
(A) beautiful
(B) barely
(C) charming
(D) rather
45. Which of the following most likely did NOT happen to Squanto after 1614?
46. It can be inferred from the passage that the fact that is most in question is?
47. The expression “made his way back” in paragraph 2 could best be replaced by?
(A) inverted
(B) rediscovered
(C) returned
48. According to the passage, Squanto actually met the Pilgrim settlers in?
(A) 1605
(B) 1614
(C) 1620
(D) 1621
(D) In battle
50. Where in the passage does the author explain how Squanto got out of slavery?