TOEFL iBT Reading Practice Test 01

( From TOEFL iBT IVY’s Reading 15 Actual Tests)

This section measures your ability to understand academic passages in English.

The Reading section is divided into 2 separately timed parts.

Most questions are worth 1 point but the last question in each set is worth more than 1 point. The directions indicate how many points you may receive.

You may now begin the Reading section. In this part, you will read 1 passage. You will have 20 minutes to read the passage and answer the questions.

Passage 1

Energy from the Waves

The quest for sustainable sources of energy has led humans to study the energy potential of the sun and the wind, as well as the immense power created by dammed rivers. The oceans, too, represent an impressive source of potential energy. For example, it has been estimated that the oceans could provide nearly 3,000 times the energy generated by hydroelectric dams such as the Hoover Dam. Yet. this source remains quite difficult to exploit.

But this challenge has not prevented scientists from trying. Within the last few decades, several technologies that can transform the ocean’s immense forces into usable electricity have been invented and introduced. Some focus on capturing the power of the changing tides, while others rely on thermal energy created by oceans in certain tropical regions. However, the most common and easiest-to-develop technologies are those designed to harness the power inherent in the ocean’s waves.

There are several methods by which ocean-wave energy can be collected. All of them work because the movement of the water that the waves induce creates storable energy by directly or indirectly driving a power generator. In one such technology, the changing water levels in the ocean that are produced by waves lift a long floating tube comprised of many sections connected by hinges. As the sections move up and down with the water, they pump a special fluid through the tube that can be used to drive a generator. Another technique works on a similar principle, only the floating object rocks back and forth with the motion of the water instead of up and down. A third method of collecting wave energy relies on the rising water from the waves to compress air in a partially submerged chamber. As the waves rush into the chamber, they push the air out through a narrow tunnel. Located inside this tunnel is a turbine connected to a power generator. The movement of the air turns the turbine, which feeds energy into the generator.

[A] The drawback to each of these concepts is that they make it necessary to have many pieces of machinery linked together. [B] This presents a problem because the larger the device, the more vulnerable it is to damage from hazardous ocean environments, and the more likely it is to interfere with otherwise unspoiled coastal scenery. [C] Also, these methods demand the construction of site-specific machines that take into consideration average local wave heights and sea conditions. [D] In other words, the ability to get power from waves differs from region to region.

Japan, Norway, and the UK have all attempted to generate energy by capturing the power of ocean waves. In northern Scotland, the first power plant to use wave power, OSPREY (Ocean Swell Powered Renewable Energy), began operating in 1995. It followed the principle of the third method described above: waves entering a partially submerged chamber pushed air into turbines; to generate electricity. The electricity was then transmitted to power collectors on the shore via underwater cables. Unfortunately, the OSPREY plant was destroyed in a large storm, highlighting an unavoidable difficulty associated with this kind of power generation.

The potential benefits of wave-based energy are hard to ignore. Once the proper machinery is produced and installed, the energy is free. Maintenance costs are small, and the equipment does not pose any threats of environmental pollution. And best of all, the amounts of energy produced are enormous.

However, these theoretical advantages have yet to be fully realized. In many cases, a lack of government funding has inhibited the technologies from advancing. For example, despite the relative abundance of proposed wave-power devices, many have not been adequately tested, and most have been evaluated only in artificial pools where they are not subjected to the harsh marine conditions that exist in actual oceans. Protecting the equipment from the sea’s destructive forces, as well as the fundamental task of determining feasible locations for collecting energy, also present formidable challenges. All in all, while ocean power offers some intriguing possibilities, the difficulties involved in harnessing this energy source are substantial and will require more time to overcome.

1. The phrase this source in the passage refers to

(A) sun

(B) wind

(C) dammed rivers

(D) oceans

2. The word exploit in the passage is closest in meaning to

(A) utilize
(B) declare
(C) contain
(D) determine

3. Why does the author mention the Hoover Dam in paragraph 1?

(A) To give a current example of ocean-based energy technology
(B) To explain that dams are effective producers of sustainable energy
(C) To draw a comparison between two sources of renewable energy
(D) To show that alternative energy sources have not been successful

4. In paragraph 2, the author states that

(A) waves do not represent the only form of ocean power
(B) tropical oceans produce the greatest amount of energy
(C) scientists first attempted to collect power from ocean tides
(D) most of the electricity created by oceans is not usable

5. The word induces in the passage is closest in meaning to

(A) cause
(B) define
(C) order
(D) monitor

6. According to paragraph 3, which of the following is true about wave-power technologies?

(A) Many of them use submerged objects to obtain the waves’ energy.
(B) Compressed air must be present for them to work properly.
(C) They undertake three steps in order to collect wave power.
(D) They rely on the water’s motion to create electricity.

7. According to paragraph 5, what part did the cables play in OSPREY’s design?

(A) They attached the partially submerged chamber to the sea floor.
(B) They generated the electricity which was then collected in turbines.
(C) They conducted the electricity from the generator to the shore.
(D) They provided stability during powerful ocean storms.

8. The word inhibited in the passage is closest in meaning to

(A) delivered
(B) prevented
(C) protected
(D) approved

9. The word feasible in the passage is closest in meaning to

(A) secure
(B) exposed
(C) necessary
(D) appropriate

10. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

(A) Most of the numerous wave-energy concepts that exist have been insufficiently examined, usually in situations that do not simulate real ocean conditions.
(B) Artificial testing pools can be used to evaluate wave-power technologies, but they do not provide as much data as researchers would like.
(C) Even though the ocean-based energy industry has not yet proven to be profitable, a number of devices that can capture wave power have been proposed.
(D) No testing of wave-energy collectors can lead to conclusive results because the conditions present in actual oceans are often unpredictable and hazardous.

11. What can be inferred from paragraph 7 about governments?

(A) They do not believe wave-energy devices can withstand ocean forces.
(B) Their interests often conflict with those of the energy industries.
(C) They demand much scientific research before they provide funding.
(D) Their support is often essential to the success of new endeavors.

12. All of these are problems associated with the collection of wave energy EXCEPT

(A) the difficulty of finding feasible locations

(B) the destructive power of the ocean

(C) the size of the equipment involved

(D) the constant changing of the tides

13. Look at the four squares [] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage.

Such a requirement can be quite cost-prohibitive because engineers must create unique power generation mechanisms for each site.

Where would the sentence best fit?

14. 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.

The quest to establish a reliable source of renewable energy has led researchers to explore a variety of means of harnessing the energy of ocean waves.

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Answer Choices

(A) Tidal power and thermal energy are also examples of how the ocean can meet the growing energy needs of humankind.

(B) Several different methods of gathering wave energy have been developed, including floating generators and partially submerged air chambers with turbines.

(C) People must weigh the benefits of ocean-

(D) Many countries have already succeeded in powered generators against the negative constructing equipment that can transform effects such machinery will have on coastal waves into a limitless source of electricity, habitats.

(E) Some of the advantages offered by ocean energy include low maintenance costs, little or no environmental harm, and huge production levels.

(F) Wave-energy projects are confronted by many problems, particularly the great diversity of ocean sites and the difficulty of avoiding damage to the equipment.

 

Passage 2

Art History

Contrasting Greek and Egyptian Sculpture

For about three millennia, the ancient Egyptians maintained their unique approach to sculpture with little deviation. Because they were not significantly influenced by other cultures, they sustained a consistent style from approximately 3000 BC to 200 AD. In order to understand the sculptural art produced by ancient Egyptians, it is essential to consider the nature of their culture — it had a deeply religious orientation, which is evident in frequent depictions of divine figures, like deities and pharaohs. Another fundamental characteristic of ancient Egyptian culture was its interest in order and balance. In sculptures, this theme is manifested as the symbolic style artists used to represent human figures.

When sculpting human figures, an ancient Egyptian artist’s primary concern was to express the essence of the figure—that is, the permanent aspect of a human being, beyond the physical form that was considered to be impermanent. Few ancient Egyptian sculptors attempted to capture the individual features of a person’s face or body. Creating; an accurate external likeness was not the artist’s goal. In fact, Egyptian artists followed strict conventions about how to appropriately depict human figures in their sculptures, and, as a result, most sculptures of human forms have a very similar look. The ancient Egyptian style of representing human figures, though unrealistic, was intentional.

 Carved from blocks of stone, ancient Egyptian sculptures in their finished forms generally retained cubical characteristics, as sculptors depicted humans in rigid, balanced poses—a style that does not mimic natural human posture. Figures appear very vertical and motionless. Permanence was an important theme in ancient Egyptian sculptures, and artists tried to evoke a sense of stability by fixing figures on sturdy block-shaped bases. Not only did these bases contribute to the visual illusion of permanence, they made Egyptian sculptures particularly enduring—so much so that many of these well-preserved works of art survive today.

Ancient Egyptian sculptures were not created for the sake of making art. Rather, these symbolic art forms were considered functional, as they helped link the Egyptians with the divine. Sculptures were believed to be means for communication with their gods.

Emerging more than a millennium after the ancient Egyptians, the ancient Greeks had a cultural perspective that —though heavily influenced by the Egyptian civilization — differed from the Egyptians’ spiritual understanding of the world, and the contrast is visible in the two cultures’ approaches to sculptural art Although the Greeks also had an elaborate pantheon of gods, the culture gradually became more interested in the lives of humans than of gods. Initially, ancient Greek sculptures, like ancient Egyptian sculptures, depicted idealized human forms rather than actual people. Figures were represented in a more symbolic than naturalistic way. However, that changed as the ancient Greeks began to question their mythology, and in 500 BC Greek sculptors began to model their figures on real individuals. .

As the ancient Greeks probed the concept of democracy, their sculptures became very realistic. Like the Egyptians, the Greeks developed sculptural guidelines, but these were not rules about how to create symbolic figures. Instead, the ancient Greeks’ guidelines established lifelike human proportions to help sculptors increase the realism of their figures.

[A] Breaking away from the cubical, rigid poses of ancient Egyptian sculptures, ancient Greek artists portrayed humans in a wide range of postures and endeavored to capture the individuality of the figures represented in their sculptures.[B] Individuality was an important theme for a culture so invested in the concept of democracy. [C] Unfortunately, much of the original work of ancient Greek sculptors has been lost or disfigured, sometimes purposely destroyed and other times damaged by neglect. [D]

Unlike ancient Egyptian artists, ancient Greek artists did not produce sculptures solely to be functional. Although sculptures were sometimes commissioned as public memorials or as offerings to gods, many were created to be nothing more than art. This attitude toward Greek sculpture allowed artists a great deal of freedom when choosing the subjects and content of their sculptures.

Ancient Greek sculpture was shaped by the earlier style of ancient Egyptian art, but the two civilizations had very different ideas about how to represent human figures in their sculptural art. These notions about the human form were primarily influenced by each culture’s worldview and the expectations about the role of humans within it.

15. In paragraph 1, the author explains the consistency of ancient Egyptian sculptural art by

(A) comparing ancient Egyptian sculptures with the artistic styles of other civilizations
(B) identifying similarities between sculptures made at the beginning, middle, and end of the ancient Egyptian civilization
(C) mentioning that the ancient Egyptian civilization was only minimally influenced by other cultures
(D) describing the limitations of the carving method used by ancient Egyptian sculptors

16. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

(A) Ancient Egyptian art cannot be understood in the context of modern values, so it is difficult to comprehend the culture’s sculptures.
(B) Because ancient Egyptian sculptures depict religious figures, sculpture is believed to have been an important art form.
(C) It must be understood that religion significantly influenced ancient Egyptian sculpture, which often drew its content from religious figures.
(D) Ancient Egyptian sculptors were products of a religious culture and chose to focus their work on deities and pharaohs.

17 . According to paragraph 2, the conventions that ancient Egyptian sculptors followed

(A) described how to express the essence of a human figure
(B) provided sculptors with information about human proportions
(C) enabled sculptors to increase the realism of the figures they sculpted
(D) prevented sculptors from expressing spiritual concepts in their work

18. The word intentional in the passage is closest in meaning to

(A) deliberate
(B) skillful
(C) complex
(D) uniform

19. According to paragraph 3, many ancient Egyptian sculptures had block-shaped bases because

(A) they were never finished
(B) they created a feeling of stability
(C) they were meant to survive for thousands of years
(D) they imitated normal human posture

20. Why does the author mention the year 500 BC in paragraph 5?

(A) To emphasize that ancient Egyptian sculptures are older than ancient Greek sculptures
(B) To imply that ancient Greek sculptures are more sophisticated than ancient Egyptian sculptures
(C) To indicate when an important change in ancient Greek sculpture took place
(D) To give a date for the oldest known piece of ancient Greek sculpture

21. The word probed in the passage is closest in meaning to

(A) investigated
(B) inherited
(C) distributed
(D) normalized

22. The word endeavored in the passage is closest in meaning to

(A) feuded
(B) attempted
(C) sculpted
(D) proposed

23 The word solely in the passage is closest in meaning to

(A) quickly
(B) exclusively
(C) regularly
(D) obviously

24. The word it in the passage refers to

(A) art
(B) form
(C) worldview
(D) role

25. Look at the four squares H that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage.

This ideal was conveyed in sculpture by accurately representing the human body.

Where would the sentence best fit?

26. Directions: Complete the table by matching the phrases below.
Select the appropriate phrases from the answer choices and match them to the type of sculpture to which they relate. TWO of the answer choices will NOT be used. This question is worth 4 points.

Type of sculpture:

• Ancient Egyptian Sculpture
• Ancient Greek Sculpture 

(A) Tried to represent the permanent essence of human beings

(B) Underwent a stylistic change, rejecting idealized forms in favor of realistic figures

(C) Was often produced purely for the sake of making art

(D) Adopted conventions that set proportions for human bodies

(E) Focused mostly on non-human subjects

(F) Was never related to religion

(G) Used poses that were very balanced and vertical

(H) Was durable enough for much of it to survive for thousands of years

(I) Was functional in a religious sense, helping people communicate with the divine

 

Passage 3

Environmental Science

Protecting the Florida Manatee

With an average length of ten feet and a weight of 1,200 pounds, the large, slow-moving Florida manatee is perhaps the most distinctive marine mammal of the southeastern United States. Found predominantly in the oceans, rivers, and estuaries around southern Florida in the cooler months, manatees frequently travel as far west as Texas and as far north as Virginia during the summer. They have been inhabitants of these marine environments for 45 million years. In recent times, however, the manatee has become an endangered species, and an intense debate has ensued over some of the measures implemented to protect its survival.

The Florida manatee faces numerous threats from both natural and human¬generated causes. The most immediate survival needs for manatees are warm water and an adequate source of food. The animals will suffer if either of these necessities cannot be found. For example, in water below 68 degrees Fahrenheit, a manatee’s large body cannot convert food into energy fast enough to keep the animal warm, and it will most likely die. Sometimes, entire groups of manatees perish when they are caught too far north at the time of a sudden cold spell. Two other potentially lethal hazards are blooms of poisonous marine algae and catastrophic weather events such as hurricanes.

==>Despite their sensitivity to these natural conditions, the biggest threats to the survival of the manatee come from human activities.

One major concern is the loss of habitat due to increases in land development and the introduction of pollutants to the environment. Manatees’ access to seagrass, their main food source, and warm water during the winter is limited in this way, forcing them into more northern areas where they are less likely to find the resources they need to survive. They can also be severely harmed by discarded fishing lines and nets, and, more significantly, frequently die after being hit by watercraft. In addition, general harassment by individual humans has led to many manatee deaths.
The state of Florida has been passing laws to safeguard manatees from such threats since 1893. The animal’s listing as an endangered species in 1967 led to the creation of several protected wildlife areas in Florida, and conservationists are hoping to both expand the existing areas and establish new protection zones.

The primary activity which such zones seek to control is boating. Collisions with watercraft are the leading cause of death for the Florida manatee, accounting for 25 percent of all recorded mortalities, and some research has found that as many as 90 percent of observed Florida manatees bear scars from run-ins with boat propellers. More disturbingly, these incidents are responsible for the most deaths of adult manatees of reproductive age. This is detrimental to the overall population, because it affects the manatees best able to multiply the species. Current and proposed protected areas either place speed limits on boat travel or ban the use of marine motor vehicles altogether.

These conservationist measures have angered the region’s boating and fishing communities, who see no need for such restrictions. Members of these groups argue that existing regulations are more than adequate, and that manatee populations are on the rise and are no longer in danger. Indeed, successive surveys from the 1980s to the present have tallied larger and larger numbers of manatees living around Florida. However, this increase may be due as much to advances in surveying techniques, which simply enable counters to find more manatees, as it is to an actual rise in the population. Other allegations that have become points of contention, such as the suggestions that expanded refuge zones will devalue property, raise taxes, or hurt the regional economy, have so far proved to be unfounded.

As awareness about the plight of the Florida manatee spreads, the majority of the public chooses to support efforts to protect the creatures. 10 The manatee is now a recognized symbol of Florida’s wildlife and has become well known throughout the world. B Companies offering tourists the opportunity to view manatees in the wild are growing in popularity. 0 Though no one denies that the endangered Florida manatee still faces many challenges, with the help of conservationists and other concerned members of the public, it can hopefully continue to overcome them.

27. The word ensued in the passage is closest in meaning to

(A) combined
(B) resolved
(C) resulted
(D) argued

28. According to paragraph 2, what factor is responsible for the manatee’s inability to survive in cold water?

(A) its diet
(B) Its size
(C) Its habitat
(D) Its behavior

29. From the information in paragraph 3, what can be inferred about species recognized as endangered?

(A) They are eligible for special treatment
(B) They succeed in stabilizing their populations.
(C) They mostly inhabit the state of Florida.
(D) They have been the subject of laws for over 100 years.
Paragraph 3 is marked with an arrow [■*).

30. The word detrimental in the passage is closest in meaning to

(A) specialized

(B) confusing

(C) harmful

(D) evident

31. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

(A) Researchers report that 90 percent of all known Florida manatee deaths have been the result of boat collisions.
(B) Watercraft collisions have led to more manatee deaths than any other cause, and most manatees possess injuries from such encounters.
(C) While 90 percent of the Florida manatee population has been injured by watercraft, only 25 percent of these incidents resulted in the death of the animal.
(D) More Florida manatees die as a result of boat collisions than die from any other single cause.

32. Why does the author present the arguments of the boating and fishing communities in paragraph 5?

(A) To illustrate the controversy caused by the manatee protection issue
(B) To give examples of some successful conservation efforts
(C) To explain why new regulations are unnecessary
(D) To emphasize the importance of the economy over wildlife concerns
Paragraph 5 is marked with an arrow [■♦].

33. The word it in the passage refers to

(A) Florida
(B) increase
(C) rise
(D) population

34 The word contention in the passage is closest in meaning to

(A) proof
(B) interest
(C) research
(D) disagreement

35. According to the passage, which of the following statements most accurately reflects the author’s opinion about the Florida manatee?

(A) It has recovered remarkably when compared to the 1980s.
(B) It has become a burden on the taxpayers of southern Florida.
(C) It should be more fully protected from dangerous algae blooms.
(D) It should receive further guardianship from humans in the future.

36. According to paragraph 6, which of the following is true about manatees?

(A) They can be found in many regions of the world.
(B) They are expected to migrate farther south.
(C) They receive limited support from the public.
(D) They benefit the tourism industry in Florida.
Paragraph 6 is marked with an arrow [»*1.

37. All of these are mentioned in the passage as threats to the Florida manatee EXCEPT

(A) the spread of diseases
(B) toxic water plants
(C) submerged fishing equipment
(D) the loss of feeding grounds

38. Look at the four squares HI that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage.
Conservation groups funded by private donations have played a key role in promoting this understanding.
Where would the sentence best fit?

39. 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.

The manatee has always faced certain natural dangers in the waters around Honda, but in modem times humans pose the greatest threat to the survival of the species.

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Answer Choices

(A) Manatees were once able to travel to other regions of the United States, but now are confined to the areas around southern Florida.

(B) Coastal development projects and pollution runoff destroy marine environments that provide manatees with the resources that are essential to their survival.

(C) Boating collisions are responsible for a quarter of all Florida manatee deaths and inhibit the species’ ability to multiply.

(D) Florida has a long history of promoting legal protections for the manatee, beginning in 1893.

(E) Money generated from tourism related to manatees has helped pay for some of the conservation programs that benefit the animals.

(F) Though some organizations have taken a leading role in protecting the manatee, others strongly oppose the expansion of conservation measures.