01.11, TST Prep Test 11, The Reading Section

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FO R TH E TO EFL®
READIN G SECTIO N
Practice Test #11
For the TOEFL® Reading Section
Practice Test #11

For the TOEFL®
Reading Section
1
Practice Test #11
The TOEFL Reading Section:

Directions
In this section, you will be able to demonstrate your ability to understand academic passages in English.
There are two passages in this section. You have 36 minutes to complete the entire section. You may read
the passages and answer the questions in any order you choose but plan to spend about 18 minutes on
each passage and the accompanying questions.
Most questions are worth one point, but the last question for each passage is worth more than one point.
The directions for the last question indicate how many points you may receive.
At the end of this practice test, you will find an answer key, information to help determine your score and
explanations of the answers.
Turn the page to begin the reading section.
2
Practice Test #11
The Importance of Seed Plants
Seed plants are the foundation of human diets across the world. Many societies eat vegetarian fare almost
exclusively and depend solely on seed plants for their nutritional needs. A few crops (rice, wheat, and
potatoes) dominate the agricultural landscape. Many crops were developed during the agricultural
revolution when human societies made the transition from nomadic hunter-gatherers to horticulture and
agriculture. Cereals, rich in carbohydrates, provide the staple of many human diets. Beans and nuts supply
proteins. Fats are derived from crushed seeds, as is the case for peanut and rapeseed (canola) oils or fruits
such as olives. Livestock, like cows and sheep, also consume large amounts of crops.
Staple crops are not the only foods derived from seed plants. Fruits and vegetables provide nutrients,
vitamins, and fiber. Sugar, to sweeten dishes, is produced from sugarcane and sugar beets. Drinks are
made from infusions of tea leaves, chamomile flowers, crushed coffee beans, or powdered cocoa beans.
Spices come from many different plant parts: saffron and cloves are stamens and buds, black pepper and
vanilla are seeds, the bark of a bush in the Laurales family supplies cinnamon, and the herbs that flavor
many dishes come from dried leaves and fruit, such as the red chili pepper. Additionally, no discussion of
seed plant contribution to the human diet would be complete without the mention of alcohol.
Fermentation of plant-derived sugars and starches is used to produce alcoholic beverages in all societies.
In some cases, the beverages are derived from the fermentation of sugars from fruit, as with wines, and in
other cases, they’re derived from the fermentation of carbohydrates from seeds, as with beers.
Seed plants have many other uses, including providing wood as a source of timber for construction and
material to build furniture. Most paper is derived from the pulp of coniferous trees. Fibers of seed plants,
such as cotton, flax, and hemp, are woven into cloth. Textile dyes, such as indigo, were mostly of plant
origin until the advent of synthetic chemical dyes. The medicinal properties of plants have been known to
human societies since ancient times. There are references to the use of plants’ curative properties in
Egyptian, Babylonian, and Chinese writings from 5,000 years ago.
Biodiversity ensures a resource for new food crops and medicines. Plantlife balances ecosystems, protects
watersheds, mitigates erosion, moderates climates and provides shelter for many animal species. Threats
to plant diversity, however, come from many angles. The explosion of the human population, especially in
tropical countries where birth rates are highest and economic development is in full swing, is leading to
human encroachment into forested areas. To feed the larger population, humans need to obtain arable
land, so there is a massive clearing of trees. The need for more energy to power larger cities and economic
growth therein leads to the construction of dams, the consequent flooding of ecosystems, and increased
emissions of pollutants.
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Practice Test #11
The number of plant species becoming extinct is increasing at an alarming rate. Because ecosystems are in
a delicate balance, and seed plants maintain close symbiotic relationships with animals, the disappearance
of a single plant can lead to the extinction of connected animal species. A real and pressing issue is that
many plant species have not yet been cataloged, and so their place in the ecosystem is unknown. These
unknown species are threatened by logging, habitat destruction, and loss of pollinators. They may become
extinct before we have the chance to begin to understand the possible impact of their disappearance.
Efforts to preserve biodiversity take several lines of action, from preserving heirloom seeds to barcoding
species. Heirloom seeds come from plants that were traditionally grown in human populations, as
opposed to the seeds used for large-scale agricultural production. Barcoding is a technique in which one
or more short gene sequences, taken from a well-characterized portion of the genome, are used to
identify a species through DNA analysis.
Source: The role of seed plants (n.d.).
Reading Paragraph 1
Seed plants are the foundation of human diets across the world. Many societies eat vegetarian fare almost
exclusively and depend solely on seed plants for their nutritional needs. A few crops (rice, wheat, and
potatoes) dominate the agricultural landscape. Many crops were developed during the agricultural
revolution when human societies made the transition from nomadic hunter-gatherers to horticulture and
agriculture. Cereals, rich in carbohydrates, provide the staple of many human diets. Beans and nuts supply
proteins. Fats are derived from crushed seeds, as is the case for peanut and rapeseed (canola) oils or fruits
such as olives. Livestock, like cows and sheep, also consume large amounts of crops.
1. According to paragraph 1, which of the following is true?
a. Most societies have vegetarian diets and do not consume meat or fish
b. Humans started farming after relying on hunting and gathering
c. Nuts and beans make up an essential part of the human diet
d. Humans get protein from foods like oil and olives
4
Practice Test #11
Reading Paragraph 2
Staple crops are not the only foods derived from seed plants. Fruits and vegetables provide nutrients,
vitamins, and fiber. Sugar, to sweeten dishes, is produced from sugarcane and sugar beets. Drinks are
made from infusions of tea leaves, chamomile flowers, crushed coffee beans, or powdered cocoa beans.
Spices come from many different plant parts: saffron and cloves are stamens and buds, black pepper and
vanilla are seeds, the bark of a bush in the Laurales family supplies cinnamon, and the herbs that flavor
many dishes come from dried leaves and fruit, such as the red chili pepper. Additionally, no discussion of
seed plant contribution to the human diet would be complete without the mention of alcohol.
Fermentation of plant-derived sugars and starches is used to produce alcoholic beverages in all societies.
In some cases, the beverages are derived from the fermentation of sugars from fruit, as with wines, and in
other cases, they’re derived from the fermentation of carbohydrates from seeds, as with beers.
2. The phrase derived from in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to
a. Given to
b. Prepared for
c. Obtained from
d. Moved from
3. What does the author say about spices?
a. They are made by infusions of crushed beans, leaves, and flowers

b. They all come from seeds that are ground down
c. The majority are from dried leaves and fruit
d. They are sourced from a variety of parts of the plant
4. The author mentions all of the following about alcohol EXCEPT
a. Alcohol is made by the fermentation of sugars and starches from plants

b. Some alcoholic beverages are made with the sugars from fruit
c. Wines are made with fermented fruit sugars
d. Most alcohol is made by fermenting carbohydrates from seeds
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Practice Test #11
Reading Paragraph 4
Biodiversity ensures a resource for new food crops and medicines. Plantlife balances ecosystems, protects
watersheds, mitigates erosion, moderates climates and provides shelter for many animal species. Threats
to plant diversity, however, come from many angles. The explosion of the human population, especially in
tropical countries where birth rates are highest and economic development is in full swing, is leading to
human encroachment into forested areas. To feed the larger population, humans need to obtain arable
land, so there is a massive clearing of trees. The need for more energy to power larger cities and economic
growth therein leads to the construction of dams, the consequent flooding of ecosystems, and increased
emissions of pollutants.
5. According to paragraph 4, how does plant life positively affect the environment?
a. Creates watersheds and controls erosion rates

b. Creates biodiversity for new food crops and medicines
c. Provides shelter for and feeds the majority of animal species
d. Stabilizes ecosystems and moderates the climate
6. Which of the following best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in
paragraph 4? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential
information.
a. Tropical countries have higher birth rates and faster economic growth
b. Birth rates are highest in developing countries when compared to other nations
c. More people move into areas that were once reserved for forests as the population grows
d. Tropical countries specifically are taking over forest lands
6
Practice Test #11
Reading Paragraph 5
The number of plant species becoming extinct is increasing at an alarming rate. Because ecosystems are in
a delicate balance, and seed plants maintain close symbiotic relationships with animals, the disappearance
of a single plant can lead to the extinction of connected animal species. A real and pressing issue is that
many plant species have not yet been cataloged, and so their place in the ecosystem is unknown. These
unknown species are threatened by logging, habitat destruction, and loss of pollinators. They may become
extinct before we have the chance to begin to understand the possible impact of their disappearance.
Efforts to preserve biodiversity take several lines of action, from preserving heirloom seeds to barcoding
species. Heirloom seeds come from plants that were traditionally grown in human populations, as
opposed to the seeds used for large-scale agricultural production. Barcoding is a technique in which one
or more short gene sequences, taken from a well-characterized portion of the genome, are used to
identify a species through DNA analysis.
7. Why does the author talk about “unknown species”?
a. To show that researchers have identified almost all known species

b. To emphasize that humans do not fully grasp the impact of their use of plants
c. To suggest that the planet might be more biodiverse than we know
d. To imply that we need more biologists studying plant life
8. According to paragraph 5, how do we identify and catalog organisms?
a. Through barcoding and subsequent DNA analysis

b. By preserving heirloom seeds
c. Via a process of barcoding and hi-tech photographs
d. Through advanced DNA analysis
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Practice Test #11
9. Look at the four squares (A, B, C, D) that indicate where the following sentence could be added to
the passage.
Their use in medicine has only increased as the human population and subsequent demand has grown
significantly, and this is putting a strain on the environment and affecting biodiversity.
Where would the sentence best fit?
Fibers of seed plants such as cotton, flax, and hemp are woven into cloth. A Textile dyes, such as indigo,
were mostly of plant origin until the advent of synthetic chemical dyes. B The medicinal properties of
plants have been known to human societies since ancient times. C There are references to the use of
plants’ curative properties in Egyptian, Babylonian, and Chinese writings from 5,000 years ago. D
10. DIRECTIONS: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below.
Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important
ideas in the passage. Some sentences do not belong in the summary because they express ideas
that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage. This question is worth 2
points.
Seed plants have been essential to human survival, however, their continued overuse by a growing
population has catastrophic effects for the planet.
-
-
-
a. Unidentified species are put through a process where some pieces of DNA from their genome are
analyzed
b. Seed plants have been used for food, alcohol, and medicine
c. Ecosystems and animal populations are negatively affected by plant overconsumption
d. The increased construction of dams causes flooding and greater pollutants emission
e. The use of plants for their medicinal properties is documented as far back as 5,000 years ago
f. Forested areas are being destroyed for human development as the human population and
economies grow
8
Practice Test #11
Telescopes
Most popular depictions in TV shows and movies portray an astronomer as someone who spends most
nights in a cold observatory looking through a telescope, but this is not very accurate today. Most
astronomers do not live at observatories but near the universities or laboratories where they work. An
astronomer might only spend a week or so each year observing at the telescope and the rest of the time
measuring or analyzing the data acquired from large projects or surveys. Many astronomers use radio
telescopes for space experiments, which work just as well during the daylight hours. Still, others work on
purely theoretical problems using supercomputers and never observe at a telescope of any kind.
Even when astronomers are observing with large telescopes, they rarely peer through them. Electronic
detectors permanently record the data for detailed analysis later. At some observatories, observations
may be made remotely, with the astronomer sitting at a computer thousands of miles away from the
telescope.
Telescopes used by modern-day astronomers are large and sophisticated machines that sometimes cost
up to $100 million to build. That kind of investment demands that the telescope be placed in the best
possible site. Earth’s atmosphere, so vital to life, presents challenges for the observational astronomer, so
there are a few conditions that astronomers look for when picking a site for an observatory.
The most obvious limitation is weather conditions such as clouds, wind, and rain. At the best sites, where
most telescopes are located, the weather is clear as much as 75% of the time. Still, even on a clear night,
the atmosphere filters out a certain amount of starlight. Astronomers, therefore, prefer dry sites with little
water vapor, which is generally found at higher altitudes. The sky above the telescope should be dark.
Near cities, the air scatters the glare from lights, producing an illumination that hides the faintest stars and
limits the distances that can be probed by telescopes. Observatories are best located at least 100 miles
from the nearest large city. The best observatory sites are, therefore, high, dark, and dry. The world’s
largest telescopes are found in such remote mountain locations as the Andes Mountains of Chile, the
desert peaks of Arizona, and Mauna Kea in Hawaii, a dormant volcano.
In addition to gathering as much light as they can, astronomers also want to have the sharpest images
possible. Resolution refers to the precision of detail present in an image, that is, the smallest features that
can be distinguished. Astronomers are always eager to make out more detail in the images they study,
whether they are following the weather on Jupiter or trying to peer into a galaxy that recently ate its
neighbor for lunch. One factor that determines how good the resolution will be is the size of the telescope.
Larger apertures produce sharper images. Until very recently, however, telescopes on Earth’s surface
could not produce images as sharply as the theory of light said they should.
The problem is our planet’s atmosphere. It contains many small pockets of cell gas that range in size from
inches to several feet. Each cell has a slightly different temperature from its neighbor, and each cell acts
like a lens, bending (refracting) the path of the light by a small amount. This bending slightly changes the
position where each light ray finally reaches the telescope. The cells of air are in motion, constantly being
9
Practice Test #11
blown through the light path of the telescope by winds, often in different directions at different altitudes.
As a result, the path followed by the light is constantly changing.
Astronomers have devised a technique called adaptive optics that can beat Earth’s atmosphere at its own
game of blurring. This technique makes use of a small flexible mirror placed in the beam of a telescope. A
sensor measures how much the atmosphere has distorted the image, and as often as 500 times per
second, it sends instructions to the flexible mirror on how to change shape in order to compensate for
distortions produced by the atmosphere. The light is thus brought back to an almost perfectly sharp focus.
Source: Beck, J. et al., (2016).
Reading Paragraph 1
Most popular depictions in TV shows and movies portray an astronomer as someone who spends most
nights in a cold observatory looking through a telescope, but this is not very accurate today. Most
astronomers do not live at observatories but near the universities or laboratories where they work. An
astronomer might spend only a week or so each year observing at the telescope and the rest of the time
measuring or analyzing the data acquired from large projects or surveys. Many astronomers use radio
telescopes for space experiments, which work just as well during the daylight hours. Still, others work on
purely theoretical problems using supercomputers and never observe at a telescope of any kind.
1. What does the author say about astronomers in the first paragraph?
a. Most of their time is spent making observations through telescopes

b. Those who work on theoretical problems never use telescopes
c. Most live at observatories in order to look through telescopes at night
d. Many do not have time to measure and analyze data on their space experiments
10
Practice Test #11
Reading Paragraph 3
Telescopes used by modern-day astronomers are large and sophisticated machines that sometimes cost
up to $100 million to build. That kind of investment demands that the telescope be placed in the best
possible site. Earth’s atmosphere, so vital to life, presents challenges for the observational astronomer, so
there are a few conditions that astronomers look for when picking a site for an observatory.
2. In the third paragraph, what does the author point out about telescopes?
a. That they are usually invested in by universities and labs

b. That they are always $100 million to build
c. That most are very high-tech and economical
d. That they need to be placed in the most advantageous location
3. Which of the following best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in
paragraph 3? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential
information.
a. The atmosphere creates challenges for astronomers to find a site for observatories on Earth
b. Earth’s atmosphere has conditions that astronomers must analyze before viewing space through a
telescope
c. Astronomers have factors to consider when choosing an observatory’s site because of the Earth’s
atmosphere
d. Observational astronomers look at weather conditions when they pick the site for an observatory
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Practice Test #11
Reading Paragraph 4
most telescopes are located, the weather is clear as much as 75% of the time. Still, even on a clear night,
water vapor, which is generally found at higher altitudes. The sky above the telescope should be dark.
limits the distances that can be probed by telescopes. Observatories are best located at least 100 miles
desert peaks of Arizona, and Mauna Kea in Hawaii, a dormant volcano.
4. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in paragraph 4?
a. There are large telescopes in Arizona and Hawaii

b. The atmosphere separates out some starlight in telescopes
c. Telescopes are best located where the weather is clear the majority of the time
d. The worse place for telescopes is in tropical climates near the ocean
Reading Paragraph 5
possible. Resolution refers to the precision of detail present in an image, that is, the smallest features that
could not produce images as sharp as the theory of light said they should.
5. Why does the author mention “a galaxy that recently ate its neighbor for lunch” in paragraph 5?
a. To explain how much detail high-quality resolutions can show

b. To illustrate an exciting observation using a metaphor
c. To provide a comprehensive list of the different uses of the telescope by astronomers
d. To show why a previously existing galaxy is no more
12
Practice Test #11
Reading Paragraph 5
possible. Resolution refers to the precision of detail present in an image: that is, the smallest features that
could not produce images as sharply as the theory of light said they should.
6. According to paragraph 5, what does the author say about resolution?
a. It can only show the small details in an image when it is up close

b. It cannot create sharp images if there is too much light
c. It does not work on telescopes on the Earth’s surface
d. It is sharper on telescopes with bigger openings
Reading Paragraph 6
The problem is our planet’s atmosphere. It contains many small pockets of cell gas that range in size from
inches to several feet. Each cell has a slightly different temperature from its neighbor, and each cell acts
like a lens, bending (refracting) the path of the light by a small amount. This bending slightly changes the
position where each light ray finally reaches the telescope. The cells of air are in motion, constantly being
blown through the light path of the telescope by winds, often in different directions at different altitudes.
As a result, the path followed by the light is constantly changing.
7. In paragraph 6, the author says as a result in order to
a. To provide the cause for why the light path is constantly changing
b. To define the reason the wind blows the light paths in different directions
c. To explain the effect of the cells of air constantly being blown by the winds through light paths
d. To describe one problem with the Earth’s atmosphere
13
Practice Test #11
Reading Paragraph 7
Astronomers have devised a technique called adaptive optics that can beat Earth’s atmosphere at its own
game of blurring. This technique makes use of a small flexible mirror placed in the beam of a telescope. A
sensor measures how much the atmosphere has distorted the image, and as often as 500 times per
second, it sends instructions to the flexible mirror on how to change shape in order to compensate for
distortions produced by the atmosphere. The light is thus brought back to an almost perfectly sharp focus.
8. In paragraph 7, the word distorted is closest in meaning to
a. Ruined
b. Corrected
c. Diluted
d. Altered
9. Look at the four squares (A, B, C, D) that indicate where the following sentence could be added to
the passage.
The Extremely Large Telescope, which will be five times larger than the world’s largest telescope, is
currently under construction in the driest desert in the world, the Atacama Desert in Chile.
Where would the sentence best fit?
most telescopes are located, the weather is clear as much as 75% of the time. A Still, even on a clear night,
water vapor, which is generally found at higher altitudes. The sky above the telescope should be dark. B
limits the distances that can be probed by telescopes. C Observatories are best located at least 100 miles
desert peaks of Arizona, and Mauna Kea in Hawaii, a dormant volcano. D
14
Practice Test #11
10. DIRECTIONS: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below.
Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important
ideas in the passage. Some sentences do not belong in the summary because they express ideas
that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage. This question is worth 2
points.
Telescopes have evolved and improved over the years, as has the relationship astronomers have with
these powerful machines.
-
-
-
a. Sometimes astronomers can work thousands of miles away from observatories

b. Large telescopes with large openings can be very expensive to build
c. The lights produced by big cities make it impossible to see through telescopes
d. Light paths in the atmosphere change with the season creating challenges for smaller telescopes
e. Adaptive optics, invented by Horace Babcock in 1953, allows astronomers to see images in sharp focus
f. The best placements for telescopes are in remote, high, dry, and dark locations
15
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Practice Test #11
Practice Test #11

Answer Key
17
Practice Test #11
The Grading Rubric

Use the chart below to determine your score in the reading section. Most questions are worth one point,
but the last question for each passage is worth more than one point.
There are only 20 questions in this reading section, but the raw score is either 22 or 23. The last question
of each passage is either a Summary or an Organization question. There is always at least one Summary
question, and sometimes two.
Summary questions are worth two points. If all three choices are correct, award yourself two points. If two
choices are correct and one is incorrect, award yourself one point. If two or more choices are incorrect,
you earn zero points for the given question.
Organization questions are worth three points. If all five choices are correct, award yourself three points. If
four choices are correct and one is incorrect, award yourself two points. If three choices are correct and
two are incorrect, award yourself one point. If three or more choices are incorrect, you earn zero points
for the given question.
Raw Score Estimate Raw Score Estimate

Points Points
22 30 11 15
21 29 10 14
20 27 9 12
19 26 8 11
18 24 7 9
17 23 6 8
16 22 5 7
15 20 4 5
14 19 3 4
13 18 2 3
12 16 1 1
18
Practice Test #11
The Importance of Seed Plants: Answer Key

Source: The role of seed plants (n.d.).
1. B (factual information)
B is correct because the paragraph says that the agricultural revolution was “when human societies made
the transition from nomadic hunter-gatherers to horticulture and agriculture". Option A is wrong because the
original sentence says that “Many societies eat vegetarian fare almost exclusively...,” not that most societies
do - the modifier changes the meaning significantly. Also, it is never mentioned whether or not they
consume meat or fish. Option C is incorrect because the paragraph says that nuts and beans are a source
of protein, not that they are an essential part of the human diet. Option D is wrong because humans get
fats from oil and olives, not protein - “beans and nuts supply proteins".
2. C (vocabulary)
C is correct because “obtained from” is closest in meaning to “derived from”, which means “taken, acquired,
or obtained from". Options A and B can be eliminated because “given to” and “prepared for” imply that
something is being given to seed plants when the point of the sentence and paragraph is about the food
“obtained from” seed plants. Option D is wrong because “moved from'' changes the meaning of the
sentence. Staple crops are not moved from one place to another; they are “derived from” seed plants.
3. D (factual information)
D is correct because the paragraph says, “Spices come from many different plant parts...black pepper and
vanilla are seeds...and herbs that flavor many dishes come from dried leaves…". Option A is incorrect because
“Drinks [not spices] are made from infusions of tea leaves...crushed coffee beans...". Option B is wrong because
this is not stated in the paragraph, and C is wrong because the paragraph does not say that the majority
are from dried leaves and fruit, but that “herbs that flavor many dishes come from dried leaves and fruit… ”.
4. D (negative factual information)
D is correct because the statement is false. The modifier “most” changes the meaning of the original
statement, which says that some alcohol is made by “the fermentation of carbohydrates derived from seeds,
as with beers”. Options A to C are incorrect because they are all accurate statements from the paragraph.
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Practice Test #11
D is correct because the second sentence says, “plantlife balances ecosystems...moderate climates...". which
is the same as saying plants stabilize ecosystems. Option A is wrong because plants do not “create”
watersheds, but instead “protect” them. Option B is incorrect because it misstates the first sentence. Plants
do not create biodiversity, “biodiversity ensures a resource for new food crops and medicines". Option C is
incorrect because the paragraph says plantlife “provides shelter for many animal species,” not that they feed
the majority of animal species.
6. C (sentence simplification)
C is correct because it properly summarizes the main point of the sentence, which is that the growing
human population is affecting and encroaching upon forested areas. Option A is incorrect because, while
true, it is just a detail adding information to the main point. Option B is incorrect because, again, it is true,
but it is a small detail of the sentence. Option D is incorrect because this changes what the sentence is
stating.
7. B (rhetorical purpose)
B is correct because the paragraph deals with the impact that humans have on the environment as they
continue to use plants to extinction. This sentence shows that humans don’t even understand the full
scope of their impact on the environment because they don’t even know all the species of plants nor how
their extinction will affect ecosystems. Option A is wrong because this is the opposite of what is mentioned
in the paragraph. Option C might be true, but it is not the point of the sentence, nor is it related to the rest
of the information in the paragraph. Option D is incorrect because the author does imply this by talking
about unknown species, and this is not the point of the paragraph or the passage.
8. A (factual information)
A is correct because the last sentence says, “Barcoding is a technique in which one or more short gene
sequences…are used to identify a species through DNA analysis". Option B is incorrect because preserving
heirloom seeds does not answer the question though it is stated in the paragraph as something that
needs to be done. Option C is wrong because the second half of the answer is not mentioned in the
paragraph. Option D is incorrect because DNA analysis is only one part of the process, thus it is an
incomplete response.
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Practice Test #11
9. D (insert text)
D is correct because the sentence is a concluding one that summarizes the paragraph. This sentence
makes a statement about the information in the paragraph and provides a nice transition to the next
paragraph. The pronoun referents “their use” and “medicine” signal that the sentence should follow the
previous sentences that discuss the uses of the subject, “plants".
10. B, C, F (prose summary)
B, C, and F are correct. These options contain critical information that is further explained throughout the
passage. They are broad statements that require elaboration but are directly related to the summary
statement and the main discussion of the whole passage. Options A, D, and E are details that provide
more information about the main topic but are not necessarily essential to the discussion.
Telescopes: Answer Key

Source: Beck, J. et al., (2016)
1. B (factual information)
B is the correct answer because the author says this in the last sentence. A and C are not correct because
they misstate the information in the paragraph. They do not spend most of their time looking through
telescopes, and most do not live at observatories. D is also incorrect because the paragraph never says
that they do not have time to measure and analyze their data.
D is the correct answer because the author points out that telescopes need to be “placed in the best
possible site” in the second sentence. A is not correct because it does not appear in the paragraph. B is not
correct because of the word “always". Also, C is not correct because they are expensive, not economical.
3. C (sentence simplification)
C is the correct answer because it best paraphrases the main idea of the sentence. In this sentence, the
author is explaining that astronomers must consider conditions or factors for the site because of the
Earth’s atmosphere. A and B are not correct because they change the meaning of this sentence. D is
incorrect because this sentence leaves out essential information.
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Practice Test #11
4. D (negative factual information)
D is correct because it is not in the paragraph. The author does not state what the worse location for a
telescope is. A is incorrect because the paragraph states that the world’s largest telescopes are in “the
desert peaks of Arizona, and Mauna Kea in Hawaii". B is also incorrect because the paragraph says, “the
atmosphere filters out a certain amount of starlight". C is not correct because it is true; the best site is where
“the weather is clear as much as 75% of the time".
5. B (rhetorical purpose)
B is the correct answer because the phrase illustrates an exciting high-resolution observation using a
metaphor. The sentence explains that astronomers are interested in routine observations, such as the
weather, as well as rare occurrences, such as one galaxy being subsumed by another. Seeing a galaxy "eat
their neighboring galaxies for lunch" is an example of a rare occurrence. A is wrong because it does not
explain how much resolution can show. D is also not correct because the author’s purpose is not to show
why but that it is something astronomers can see. C is incorrect because while this is a use of the
telescope, it is not part of a “comprehensive list”, just a few examples.
D is the correct answer because, according to the paragraph, resolution refers to precise and sharp details
of images, and “larger apertures produce sharper images". A and B are not correct because they include
details in the answer not found in the paragraph. C is also incorrect because it misstates the facts in the
last sentence.
7. C (rhetorical purpose)
C is the correct answer because the phrase explains the effect of the cells of air constantly blown in the
wind is that the path followed by the light is constantly changing. A is wrong because the changing path is
not the cause, it is an effect. B is also incorrect because this phrase does not define the reason the wind
blows but the effect of it. D is the author’s overall purpose in this paragraph, but not the purpose of using
this phrase.
8. D (vocabulary)
D is correct because “altered” is closest in meaning to “distorted". A (“ruined”) is incorrect because the
paragraph later states that the light brought it back to focus, so we know from the context that the image
is not ruined. B (“corrected”) means the opposite of “distorted". C (“diluted”) does not make sense because
this is not something that we would say the atmosphere can do to an image.
22
Practice Test #11
9. D (insert text)
D is the correct answer because the sentence best fits here. This sentence states there is another
telescope that will be five times larger than the largest telescopes being built in the driest desert.
Therefore, it makes the most sense to put this sentence here after the sentence listing the largest
telescopes found in high, dark, and dry locations. A is not correct because it does not fit with the
sentences before and after it. B and C are also incorrect because, in this part, the author is talking about
why cities are not good places for a telescope’s location.
10. A, B, F (prose summary)
A, B, and F are the correct answers. A is correct because it’s an example of how telescopes have “evolved".
B is correct because it refers to the “modern-day” telescopes that are discussed throughout the passage. C
is not correct because the passage does not say city lights make it impossible, only that distant stars
cannot be seen. D is incorrect because it misstates the facts about light paths in paragraph six. E is not
correct because it includes facts about adaptive optics that do not appear in the passage.
23
Practice Test #11
References
The role of seed plants. (n.d.). In Biology. Retrieved from:
https://cnx.org/contents/[email protected]:s-fzktFA@4/The-Role-of-Seed-Plants
Beck, J., Benecchi, S.D., Bochanski, J., Bond, H., Carson, J., Dunne, B. Elvis, M., … Fischer, D. (2016).
Astronomy. Retrieved from:
https://openstax.org/details/books/astronomy
24
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01.11, TST Prep Test 11, The Reading Section

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Practice Test #11

The TOEFL Reading Section:

Turn the page to begin the reading section.

The Importance of Seed Plants

Source: The role of seed plants (n.d.).

1. According to paragraph 1, which of the following is true?

2. The phrase derived from in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to

3. What does the author say about spices?

a. They are made by infusions of crushed beans, leaves, and flowers

4. The author mentions all of the following about alcohol EXCEPT

a. Alcohol is made by the fermentation of sugars and starches from plants

a. Creates watersheds and controls erosion rates

7. Why does the author talk about “unknown species”?

a. To show that researchers have identified almost all known species

8. According to paragraph 5, how do we identify and catalog organisms?

a. Through barcoding and subsequent DNA analysis

Where would the sentence best fit?

Source: Beck, J. et al., (2016).

a. Most of their time is spent making observations through telescopes

a. That they are usually invested in by universities and labs

4. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in paragraph 4?

a. There are large telescopes in Arizona and Hawaii

a. To explain how much detail high-quality resolutions can show

6. According to paragraph 5, what does the author say about resolution?

a. It can only show the small details in an image when it is up close

7. In paragraph 6, the author says as a result in order to

8. In paragraph 7, the word distorted is closest in meaning to

Where would the sentence best fit?

a. Sometimes astronomers can work thousands of miles away from observatories

Practice Test #11

The Grading Rubric

Raw Score Estimate Raw Score Estimate

The Importance of Seed Plants: Answer Key

4. D (negative factual information)

10. B, C, F (prose summary)

Telescopes: Answer Key

4. D (negative factual information)

10. A, B, F (prose summary)

The role of seed plants. (n.d.). In Biology. Retrieved from:

Astronomy. Retrieved from:

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