TOEFL iBT Reading Practice Test 02

( 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.

There are three passages on the short format and five passages on the long for- mat. After each passage, you will answer 12-14 questions about it.

You may now begin the Reading section.

Passage 1 
Arctic Tundra

Our planet is home to many different kinds of environments, which are classified according to features such as climate and the types of plants and animals that live there. Each major classification is known as a “biome,” and these include forest, desert, grassland, and aquatic environments. One biome that is less well known, perhaps due to the lack of human settlement within it, is the tundra zone. The name comes from a Finnish word meaning “treeless plain.’ As this description implies, tundra regions are relatively flat and devoid of large vegetation. However, despite its barren appearance, there are a number of plant and animal species that make their homes in the tundra biome.

Tundra is found mostly in northern areas approaching the Arctic. There are two other types: Antarctic tundra, which is found in and around Antarctica; and alpine tundra, located on mountains that reach above a certain elevation. However, most tundra falls into the Arctic category, and when used generally, the term usually refers to that region. Tundra’s most distinguishing characteristic is situated under the ground. Beginning anywhere from two to twelve feet below the surface, the ground remains frozen year round. Called “permafrost,” this layer can be incredibly thick and does not support any kind of life.

At such high latitudes, temperatures in the tundra biome remain low for most of the year. The average annual temperature is well below freezing, and winter temperatures can drop to -94 Fahrenheit (-70 Celsius). Strong winds also blow, sometimes reaching between thirty and sixty miles per hour. On top of this, the tundra biome is one of the world’s driest, receiving only six to ten inches of precipitation annually. Life is sustained by the ice in the soil and the aboveground snow that melt during the summer months. Because this water cannot drain down through the solid permafrost, it collects at the surface, forming bogs and ponds that provide water for the survival of both plants and animals and even act as breeding grounds for some insects.

The striking appearance of the tundra’s treeless plains may make it hard to believe that over 1,700 species of plants have been found to grow in this biome. The permafrost leaves only a thin layer of active soil near the surface, so plants with shallow root systems are best adapted for survival. Low shrubs and grasses, mosses, and some flower species are common. Due to the short summer growing season (lasting only about fifty to sixty days), the plants able to grow and reproduce quickly during this brief time have the best chance of survival. Most tundra plants are also capable of functioning in low levels of sunlight, because in winter the sun is scarcely seen.

As is true of the vegetation, the animal species that inhabit tundra regions are well adapted to life in the Arctic. [A] They include mammals, birds, insects, and fish; temperatures are too low to support reptile or amphibian species. [B]Similar to tundra plants, the animals in this biome reproduce quickly during the short period in summer when resources are most abundant [C] In winter, most animals either migrate farther south or remain in hibernation until the spring. [D] The migration cycles, combined with the harsh climate conditions, lead to larger than normal fluctuations in the animal populations. In fact, they are so vulnerable to small changes in the environment that one key species can determine the population sizes of many other animals, as is the case with the lemming, a small rodent that is the tundra’s primary herbivore. A large lemming population results in an increase in the numerous predators that feed on the lemming. When the lemming population is small, the opposite occurs.

The features of the tundra make it a very fragile biome. Specific natural balances must be kept in order for the plant and animal species living there to survive. There has traditionally been only minor human activity in tundra regions, but this is beginning to change. Discoveries of oil and mineral deposits have attracted resource extraction companies, and mining and drilling operations have become more common. Hopefully, if such development continues, people will make an effort to respect this unique part of the world.

1. According to paragraph 1, a defining feature of tundra is its

(A) similarity to aquatic biomes
(B) lack of tall plants
(C) abundance of organisms
(D) lack of human inhabitants
Paragraph 1 is marked with an arrow M.

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

(A) lively
(B) empty
(C) smooth
(D) strange

3. In paragraph 2, the author states that Antarctic tundra

(A) takes up less land area than Arctic tundra does
(B) supports more kinds of life than alpine tundra does
(C) is found at higher elevations than Arctic tundra is
(D) has a thinner permafrost layer than alpine tundra does
Paragraph 2 is marked with an arrow [■*].

4. The phrase the term in the passage refers to

(A) Arctic
(B) Antarctica
(C) elevation
(D) tundra

5. 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) The permafrost causes water to remain aboveground, accessible to the animals, plants, and insects that depend on it.
(B) Bogs and ponds are used as breeding grounds by plants and animals and even by some insects.
(C) Plant and animal species living in areas with permafrost rely on frozen bodies of water for their survival.
(D) Since permafrost is thick enough that water cannot filter through it, bogs and ponds form above the frozen soil.

6 According to paragraph 4, what can be inferred about the majority of plants in the tundra?

(A) They produce flowers during the growing season.
(B) They do not require any sunlight to reproduce.
(C) Their growing season is more than two months long.
(D) Their roots do not extend deep into the ground.
Paragraph 4 is marked with an arrow [^].

7 The word scarcely in the passage is closest in meaning to

(A) softly
(B) rarely
(C) evenly
(D) fairly

8 The word fluctuations in the passage is closest in meaning to

(A) changes
(B) steps
(C) members
(D) amounts

9. Why does the author discuss the lemming in paragraph 5?

(A) To explain the feeding habits of predators in the tundra biome
(B) To provide an example of a species that is in danger of extinction
(C) To identify the most common species in the tundra biome
(D) To show how one species can affect the sizes of other populations
Paragraph 5 is marked with an arrow [■*].

10. All of the following are mentioned in the passage as differences between tundra and other biomes EXCEPT

(A) the instability of animal populations
(B) a permanently frozen layer of soil
(C) the presence of valuable minerals
(D) low yearly precipitation levels

11. Look at the four squares m that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage.
Many of them also develop excess layers of fat at this time to protect them from the approaching cold.
Where would the sentence best fit?

12. 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.

Its harsh climate and thick layer of frozen soil make the Arctic tundra one of Earth’s most unique biomes.

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Answer Choices

(A) Even though the tundra is usually very cold and dry, melting ice in summer produces surface water that can sustain various species.

(B) Plants have adapted to the tundra by developing shallow roots and taking advantage of the short summer growing season.

(C) Plants such as large trees and bushes that require a lot of sunlight to grow are unable to develop in the Arctic tundra.

(D) Many animals inhabiting the tundra survive by reproducing quickly in summer and either migrating or hibernating in winter.

(E) The sizes of the populations of many predatory animals in the tundra depend upon the size of the lemming population.

(F) Many tundra regions have been damaged beyond repair by the activities of some drilling and mining companies.

Passage 2 : Paleontology
Three Mammoth Species

The two modern elephant species maintain the exclusive status of being the largest land mammals on the planet. In the past, however, they had to share this distinction. Their closest prehistoric relatives were the mammoths, which lived during the period between approximately 4,000,000 and 5,0 years ago, and most of these species were as large as, if not larger than, the elephants that survive today.

Paleontologists have pieced together an accurate understanding of the physical structures and behavioral patterns of mammoths from fossils and other specimens that have been collected around the globe. Some of the most significant finds have involved complete mammoth carcasses preserved in the glaciers and permafrost of Siberia and Alaska, which are particularly useful to scientists because they provide samples of tissue, hair, and even undigested food from these creatures that perished so long ago. Unearthed skeletal remains are also extremely valuable, as they can explain some of the growth patterns and evolutionary transformations of the mammoth. The most frequently encountered remnants of these ancient mammals are fossilized teeth, which have been found in numerous sites in North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.

The many different mammoth species varied greatly in size, anatomy, and habitat, yet they all possessed some of the same general traits. They were vegetarians, equipped with large, flat molars to grind and chew plant material, and consumed enormous amounts of food during a typical day. Their upper incisors developed into two great tusks, and their nose and upper lip joined to create the familiar elephant-like trunk. In addition to these obvious similarities, however, each type of mammoth displayed features that set it apart from its relatives.

The Columbian mammoth (Mammuthus columbi) was the largest of all the mammoths. It stood around fourteen feet tall at the shoulder and could weigh more than ten tons—almost twice as heavy as any other species. The largest pair of tusks ever uncovered, which were sixteen feet in length, belonged to a Columbian mammoth. It made its home in the warmer regions of North America, reaching as far south as Central America. Fossil evidence shows that this species lived between 100,000 and 9,000 years ago, making it one of the last large mammoths to become extinct.

Mammuthus primigenius, commonly known as the woolly mammoth, is perhaps the most easily recognizable species. It was also the most successful, despite inhabiting, unlike many other mammoths, the far northern expanses of the globe. [A] First appearing 250,0 years ago, by about 100,000 years ago it occupied a range along the entire northern rim, from the British Isles east through Siberia, over the Bering land bridge, and into northern Canada. [B] To withstand the frigid climate, the woolly mammoth developed long, dense coats of hair and fur, giving it a truly extraordinary appearance. [C] With a height of ten feet and weighing about five tons, it was much smaller than the Columbian mammoth, and its tusks were also slightly shorter, reaching a maximum length of fourteen feet. [D] Similar to those of other mammoth species, though, they curved much more than the tusks of modem elephants do. Paleontologists estimate that the woolly mammoth disappeared around 10,000 years ago.

=> Though it may be hard to believe, not all mammoth species were large. In fact there are two well-documented cases of pygmy mammoth populations. One of these was simply a smaller version of the woolly mammoth that inhabited Wrangel Island off the coast of Siberia. The other type of pygmy mammoth is actually considered a unique species (Mammuthus exilis) and lived on the Channel Islands just west of California. This species most likely evolved from Columbian mammoths that wandered over to the islands during a period of reduced sea levels between 20,0 and 30,000 years ago. Once there, the limited space and resources available on the islands forced them to evolve smaller bodies in order to adapt. The Channel Islands pygmies had an average height of just six feet and weighed only a ton or two. Interestingly, though, these miniature mammoths lasted longer than any other species, with the extinction of the Wrangel Island pygmies occurring only about 4,000 years ago.

13. The word exclusive in the passage is closest in meaning to

(A) critical
(B) original
(C) specific
(D) unique

14. According to paragraph 1, what is true about the relationship between mammoths and elephants?

(A) Elephants evolved after mammoths became extinct.
(B) They share no common ancestors.
(C) Early elephants were larger than the mammoths.
(D) They coexisted in prehistoric times.
Paragraph 1 is marked with an arrow !■♦].

15 . 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) The sites of the some of the most exciting mammoth finds have been located in the frozen regions of the world.
(B) Under certain conditions, the food a mammoth was eating at the time of its death was preserved along with its body.
(C) Scientists can gather more information from a frozen mammoth carcass than they can from other types of remains.
(D) Important biological and dietary information has been gained from discoveries of ancient, naturally preserved mammoth bodies trapped in ice.

16. What can be inferred from the discussion of fossilized teeth in paragraph 2?

(A) Many mammoth species originated in • North America.
(B) Mammoths were present in multiple parts of the world.
(C) Fossils are most commonly found in far northern areas.
(D) Australia contains the fewest mammoth skeletal remains.
Paragraph 2 is marked with an arrow (■♦].

17. The word remnants in the passage is closest in meaning to

(A) traces
(B) results
(C) images
(D) concepts

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

(A) advantages
(B) remarks
(C) characteristics
(D) symptoms

19. Why does the author mention the elephant- like trunk in paragraph 3?

(A) To explain why all mammoths were vegetarians
(B) To argue that mammoths were similar to the modern elephants
(C) To name an identifying feature possessed by all mammoths
(D) To describe a method used to distinguish different mammoth species
Paragraph 3 is marked with an arrow [■*].

20. From paragraph 4, it can be inferred that tusk length in mammoths was

(A) generally proportionate to body size
(B) mostly related to the animals’ diets
(C) dependent on habitat and climate
(D) determined by when the species lived
Paragraph 4 is marked with an arrow [■♦i.

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

(A) support
(B) bear
(C) replace
(D) cover

22. According to paragraph 5, the woolly mammoth differed from other mammoths in all of the following EXCEPT

(A) hair growth
(B) type of habitat
(C) tusk shape
(D) extent of range
Paragraph 5 is marked with an arrow M.

23. According to paragraph 6, the Wrangel Island pygmies

(A) have not been designated a separate species
(B) appeared earlier than the Channel Islands pygmies
(C) are not considered to be mammoths
(D) were the descendants of the Channel Islands pygmies
Paragraph 6 is marked with an arrow i*^I.

24. The word them in the passage refers to

(A) Columbian mammoths
(B) sea levels
(C) resources
(D) miniature mammoths

25. Look at the four squares [] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage.
It also maintained a thick layer of fat just beneath the outer skin that served as insulation from the cold.

Where would the sentence best fit?

Click on a square B to add the sentence to the passage.

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

Drag your answer choices to the spaces where they belong. To remove an answer choice, click on it To review the passage, click View Text

Answer Choices   (A) Was probably the largest land mammal of its time (B) Is more likely to have been preserved in glaciers (C) Lost its trunk through a gradual evolutionary process (D) Became extinct most recently (E) Existed simultaneously on multiple continents (F) Evolved in isolated habitats (G) Had unusually straight tusks (H) Appeared first around 100,000 years ago (I) Is known to have lived in a tropical environment	Columbian Mammoth
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	Woodly Mammoth
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	Pygmy Mammoth
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Early American Labor Unions

The “labor movement” is a term that describes group action taken to protect the rights of laborers, especially concerning better working conditions and wages. In the first few decades after the founding of the United States, early labor activity was taking place throughout the former colonies. In 1786, the first recorded American strike occurred in Philadelphia when printers halted their work in protest against their low wages. Through the country’s first century, laborers in all kinds of trades were involved in small-scale protests to better their working conditions, but it was when the first labor unions—organizations that speak on behalf of workers for fair wages and good working conditions—began to appear in the late 1800s that the labor movement gained momentum. Unions became an embodiment of democratic ideals, voicing the concerns of common workers amid the increasing production demands, inadequate salaries, and poor work environments of an industrializing nation.

The benefits and power of labor unions are best understood by looking at specific events in labor history. The Atlanta washerwomen’s strike in 1881 and the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in 1911 show how labor unions helped workers change hazardous working conditions and raised people’s awareness of the problems facing many laborers.

In Atlanta in 1881, twenty black women who worked as washerwomen met to discuss setting a standard wage and gaining more control over their profession. They formed a union named the Washing Society and organized a strike, spreading the word by going door to door and inviting other washerwomen to join them. Within three weeks, they had organized three thousand strikers. The Washing Society’s group action could not be ignored, and city officials were eventually forced to acknowledge these women’s concerns. The union had successfully demanded recognition. Because so many Atlanta families depended on the services that these women provided, the strike encouraged this large population to think about the washerwomen’s situation. This group action was especially significant because it allowed black women to take part in a democratic system at a time when they were excluded from political participation because women were denied the right to vote.

Another important event in the history of the labor movement was the 1911 fire in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory that killed 146 of the 500 factory employees, mostly young women. On the upper floors of the ten-story building, women were trapped inside because of the owner’s policy of keeping the exits locked to prevent employees from losing work time by using the restroom. This disaster demonstrated the need for greater regulation of working conditions. The Women’s Trade Union League demanded an investigation, and soon the Factory Investigating Commission was founded, passing laws to promote safety in factories. Many other unions responded to the Triangle tragedy as well, organizing to petition for laws protecting the basic rights of laborers that were often overlooked by factory owners. At a time when much of the U.S. population was working in the manufacturing industry, and individual employees had little power to influence factory operations, unions were a means of communicating the wishes of the majority. Thus, common people could change the laws governing their daily lives— the goal of a democracy.

Opponents of the labor movement sometimes approach the issue of labor unions from the perspective of corporations and industries. [A] They say that unions are responsible for decreasing working hours and establishing safety laws, which increases costs for companies and inhibits their productivity. [B] The problem with this argument, however, is that it suggests that profit is more valuable than laborers’ well-being. [C] Workers are people with rights—a point of view that labor unions have endorsed throughout the history of the labor movement. [D] This belief has led unions to fight for the benefits that many modem working people take for granted, like eight-hour workdays, two-day weekends, laws against child labor, and minimum wages.

Because they provide people with a way of coordinating their efforts and defending : their common interests, labor unions perform a democratic function. As seen in the washerwomen’s strike and the Triangle fire, labor unions in the United States have given power to people who otherwise were denied : official representation and have responded to unjust situations by working for protective laws.

27. 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) In the late 1800s, labor unions mainly focused on increasing pay rates and bettering work environments.
(B) Before labor unions, workers staged local protests to change their situations, but these protests were mostly ineffective.
(C) The labor unions that formed in the late 1800s were the first opportunity workers had to communicate their opinions.
(D) With the emergence of labor unions, laborers found a more powerful way to protest injustices they experienced in the workplace.

28. The word ideals in the passage is closest in meaning to

(A) principles
(B) laws
(C) governments
(D) actions

29. The word hazardous in the passage is closest in meaning to

(A) burdensome
(B) dirty
(C) dangerous
(D) dishonest

30. According to paragraph 3, the Washing Society organized strikers by

(A) voting to set a standard minimum wage
(B) going from house to house to talk with people
(C) asking Atlanta families to hire more washerwomen
(D) discussing their labor union with city officials
Paragraph 3 is marked with an arrow [■♦j.

31 According to paragraph 3, what can be inferred about the general population’s attitude toward the washerwomen before the strike?

(A) People were not concerned about washerwomen’s low wages.
(B) People realized that washing work was very difficult.
(C) People thought washerwomen should be allowed to vote.
(D) People did not think the Washing Society labor union was fair.
Paragraph 3 is marked with an arrow [•*!.

32. In paragraph 4, why does the author mention the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory owner’s policy of locking the factory doors?

(A) To introduce the idea that factory owners used different methods to increase their companies’ productivity
(B) To support the idea that safety laws were needed to prevent future tragedies like the Triangle fire
(C) To give an example of the success labor unions had in changing working conditions in factories
(D) To provide an example of the steps factory owners took to protect their employees
Paragraph 4 is marked with an arrow [^¡.

33. According to paragraph 4, what can be inferred about factory safety before the founding of the Factory Investigating Commission?

(A) Employees were not aware of the dangers of working in a factory.
(B) There were few laws designed to protect factory employees.
(C) Most employers were concerned about keeping their employees safe.
(D) There were few workplace injuries among factory employees.
Paragraph 4 is marked with an arrow !■♦!.

34. The word endorsed in the passage is closest in meaning to

(A) supported
(B) questioned
(C) admired
(D) understood

35. All of the following are mentioned in paragraph 5 as results of the labor movement EXCEPT

(A) a limited work week that provides employees with two-day weekends
(B) a minimum wage that guarantees employees will receive a certain amount of compensation
(C) economic growth that occurs on a national level and increases a country’s prosperity
(D) a fixed length for workdays so that people cannot be forced to work more than eight hours a day
Paragraph 5 is marked with an arrow (■*].

36. The word they in the passage refers to

(A) wages
(B) efforts
(C) interests
(D) unions

37. The word coordinating in the passage is closest in meaning to

(A) explaining
(B) expanding
(C) organizing
(D) improving

38. Look at the four squares m that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage.
This argument is valid because companies do have to make some concessions in order to protect their employees.

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.

From the earliest days of the United States, workers have been organizing and staging group actions to improve their collective working conditions and benefits.
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Answer Choices

(A) The first and most successful strike in America took place among printers in Philadelphia who were demanding better wages.

(B) The Washing Society labor union conducted a strike in Atlanta and raised both the pay and the recognition of washerwomen.

(C) Workers were able to organize and improve the working conditions of washerwomen, but they could not prevent the deaths in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory.

(D) A fire in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory and the subsequent pressure from labor unions led the government to pass laws ensuring the safety of workers.

(E) The labor movement rejects the idea that company profit is more important than workers’ rights and instead struggles to secure better benefits for laborers.

(F) American history is full of examples of labor unions that achieved significant results and made life better for workers.

Drag your answer choices to the spaces where they belong. To remove an answer choice, click on it To review the passage, click View Text.