READING DAY 12 - READING PRACTICE 3

PASSAGE 1
It is commonly believed in the United States that school is where people go to get an
education. Nevertheless, it has been said that today children interrupt their education to go to
school. The distinction between schooling and education implied by this remark is important.
Education is much more open-ended and all-inclusive than schooling. Education knows no
bounds. It can take place anywhere, whether in the shower or on the job, whether in a kitchen or
on a tractor. It includes both the formal learning that takes place in schools and the whole universe
of informal learning. The agents of education can range from a revered grandparent to the people
debating politics on the radio, from a child to a distinguished scientist. Whereas schooling has a
certain predictability, education quite often produces surprises. A chance conversation with a
stranger may lead a person to discover how little is known of other religions. People are engaged
in education from infancy on. Education, then, is a very broad, inclusive term. It is a lifelong
process, a process that starts long before the start of school, and one that should be an integral
part of one's entire life.
Schooling, on the other hand, is a specific, formalized process, whose general pattern varies
little from one setting to the next. Throughout a country, children arrive at school at approximately
the same time, take assigned seats, are taught by an adult, use similar textbooks, do homework,
take exams, and so on. The slices of reality that are to be learned, whether they are the alphabet or
an understanding of the workings of government, have usually been limited by the boundaries of
the subject being taught. For example, high school students know that they are not likely to find
out in their classes the truth about political problems in their communities or what the newest
filmmakers are experimenting with. There are definite conditions surrounding the formalized
process of schooling.
1. What is the main idea of the passage?
A. The best school teach a wide variety of subjects.
B. Education and schooling are quite different experiences.
C. Students benefit from schools, which require long hours and homework.
D. The more year students go to school, the better their education is.
2. The word “bounds” in line 5 is closest in meaning to ___________.
A. rules B. limits C. experience D. exceptions
3. The word “chance” in line 9 is closest in meaning to_________________.
A. unplanned B. lengthy C. unusual D. lively
4. The word “integral” in line 12 is closest in meaning to ____________.
A. equitable B. pleasant C. profitable D. essential
5. The word “they” in line 16 refers to ____________.
A. slices of reality B. boundaries C. similar textbooks D. seats
6. The phrase “For example,” introduces a sentence that gives examples of _________.
A. similar textbooks. C. the workings of a government.
B. the results of schooling. D. the boundaries of classroom subjects.
7. The writer seems to agree that ________________________.
A. Schooling is more important than education.
B. Schooling is unlimited and more informal.
C. Education is not as important as schooling.
D. Education is more influential than schooling.

PASSAGE 2
Humans have struggled against weeds since the beginnings of agriculture. The global need
for weed control had been answered mainly by the chemical industry. Its herbicides are effective
and sometimes necessary, but some pose serious problems, particularly if misused.
Toxic compounds threaten animal and public health when they accumulate in food plants,
groundwater, and drinking water. They also harm workers who apply them.
In recent years, the chemical industry has introduced several herbicides that are more
ecologically sound. Yet new chemicals alone cannot solve the world's weed problems. Hence,
scientists are exploring the innate weed-killing powers of living organisms, primarily insects and
microorganisms.
The biological agents now in use are environmentally benign and are harmless to humans.
They can be chosen for their ability to attack selected targets and leave crops and other plants
untouched. In contrast, some of the most effective chemicals kill virtually all the plants they come
in contact with, sparing only those that are naturally resistant or have been genetically modified
for resistance. Furthermore, a number of biological agents can be administered only once, after
which no added applications are needed. Chemicals typically must be used several times per
growing season.
1. What is the passage primarily about?
A. The importance of the chemical industry.
B. Advantages of biological agents over chemical ones.
C. The dangers of toxic chemicals.
D. A proposal to ban the use of all herbicides.
2. What have humans struggled since the beginning of agriculture?
A. grass B. trash C. weed D. none are correct
3. According to the passage, the use of chemical agents ____________.
A. has become more dangerous in recent years. C. is perfectly safe
B. is occasionally required. D. should be increased.
4. According to the passage, biological agents mainly consist of ____________.
A. insects and microorganisms C. various types of mammals.
B. food plants D. weeds
5. Toxic compounds threaten animals and public health when they are _________.
A. present in air. C. present in food plants, ground water and drink water.
B. present in environment D. none are correct
6. Which of the following is NOT GIVEN as an advantage of using biological agents
over chemical herbicides?
A. They are less likely to destroy desirable plants.
B. They are safer for workers.
C. They are more easily available.
D. They do not have to be used as often.
7. According to the text, some of the most effective chemicals __________.
A. revive all the plants in some areas. C. provide minerals for plants.
B. kill almost all naturally resistant plants D. none are correct
8. Biological agents can be chosen for _________.
A. their ability to attack selected targets. C. both are correct.
B. leave crops and other plants untouched. D. none are correct.
9. How many times that chemicals must be used per growing season?
A. 1 B. 2 C. 3 D. many
10. The word Toxic in line 3 means _________.
A. harmless B. useless C. useful D. poisonous
PASSAGE 3
A pilot cannot fly a plane by sight alone. In many conditions, such as flying at night and
landing in dense fog, a pilot must use radar, an alternative way of navigating. Since human eyes
are not very good at determining speeds of approaching objects, radar can show a pilot 5 how fast
nearby planes are moving.
The basic principle of radar is exemplified by what happens when one shouts in a cave.
The echo of the sounds against the walls helps a person determine the size of the cave. With radar,
however, the 10 waves are radio waves instead of sound waves. Radio waves travel at the speed
of light, about 300,000 kilometers in one second. A radar set sends out a short burst of radiation
waves. Then it receives the echoes produced when the waves bounce off objects. By determining
the time it takes for the echoes to return to the radar set, a trained 15 technician can determine the
distance between the radar set and other objects. The word "radar," in fact, gets its name from the
term "radio detection and ranging." "Ranging" is the term for detection of the distance between an
object and the radar set. Besides being of critical importance to pilots, radar is essential for air
traffic control, 20 tracking ships at sea, and for tracking weather systems and storms.
1. What is the main idea of this passage?
A. the nature of radar C. alternatives to radar
B. types of ranging D. history of radar
2. In line 2, the word "dense" could be replaced by _________.
A. cold B. wet C. dark D. thick
3. According to the passage, what can radar detect besides location of objects?
A. size B. weight C. speed D. shape
4. The word "shouts" in line 5 is most similar in meaning to which of the following?
A. eavesdrops B. yells C. confesses D. whispers
5. Which of the following words best describes the tone of this passage?
A. argumentative B. imaginative C. explanatory D. humorous
6. The phrase "a short burst" in line 8 is closest in meaning in which of the following?
A. an attachment B. a light B. a discharge D. a ray
7. The word "it" in line 9 refers to which of the following?
A. a radar set C. a radiation wave
B. a short burst D. light
8. Which type of waves does radar use?
A. sound B. heat C. radio D. light

PRACTICE 4
The day after Thanksgiving is the start of the holiday shopping season. Thanksgiving is always
on a Thursday, so the day after is a Friday. This day has come to be known as Black Friday. It has
been the busiest shopping day of the year since 2005.
Most stores offer great deals on Black Friday. They open their doors in the wee hours of the
morning. They try to attract shoppers with big discounts. Some items like TVs are much cheaper
than usual. Stores may even lose money on these items. They hope that shoppers will buy gifts for
other people while they are in the store.
Black Friday is a great time to get good deals. The problem is that there are not enough low-
priced items to go around. Each store may only have a few. These items are in high demand. People
stand in long lines to get such great deals. They may line up hours before a store opens. They may
be hoping to get a low price on a TV or laptop, but not everyone who wants one will get one. Some
people leave disappointed.
The situation can be tense. Some Black Friday events have been violent. Large, eager crowds
have trampled workers. Fights have broken out over toys or people cutting in line. People have
shot one another over parking spots. But most Black Friday events are safe and fun. Still, if you
plan on going, expect large crowds and a bit of shoving.
So where does the name "Black Friday" come from? It was first used in Philadelphia in the
1950s. The police called this day Black Friday because of the heavy traffic it drew. In the 1960s,
stores tried to rename the day "Big Friday." It did not stick. The name "Black Friday" continued
to spread across the country. It seems that it is here to stay.
Now people all over the country take part in the event known as Black Friday. It is even
spreading to other parts of the world. Stores have held Black Friday events in the U.K., Australia,
and Brazil since 2012. In Costa Rica Black Friday is known as "Viernes Negro" because Spanish
is the main language of this country. And in Mexico, stores offer an annual weekend of discounts.
They call it "El Buen Fin," which means "the good weekend" in Spanish. I guess the language of
savings is universal.
1. According to the text, why do stores set prices so low on some items that they lose money?
A. They want people to enjoy the holidays.
B. They hope people will buy other gifts while they are in the store.
C. They are in a giving mood because the holiday season is just beginning.
D. They are trying to get rid of old items from last year to make room for new items.
2. Which is not true about Black Friday?
A. Black Friday is always the day after Thanksgiving.
B. Black Friday is the busiest shopping day of the year.
C. Black Friday is a national holiday.
D. Black Friday is the start of the holiday shopping season.
3. Where does the name Black Friday come from?
A. The police called this day Black Friday because there is a lot of traffic.
B. The stores called this day Black Friday because it is a serious shopping day.
C. The police called this day Black Friday to remember the victims of violence.
D. The stores called this day Black Friday because they make a lot of money.
4. Which best explains the main idea of the third paragraph?
A. People stand in long lines on Black Friday.
B. Black Friday is the best time of the year to get good deals.
C. Black Friday is a really disappointing time of the year.
D. Black Friday deals are limited and not everyone will get one.
5. Which country does not participate in Black Friday?
A. France B. Brazil C. Costa Rica D. United Kingdom
6. Which happened first?
A. Stores tried to rename the day after Thanksgiving "Big Friday."
B. Black Friday events began happening in Australia.
C. Police began calling the day after Thanksgiving "Black Friday."
D. Black Friday became the busiest shopping day of the year.
7. Which title best expresses the author's purpose in writing this text?
A. Black Friday: Stories from the Parking Lot
C. Black Friday: The Stuff That You Should Know
B. Black Friday: Why You Should Go This Year
D. How to Save Money on the Big Day.
8. Which best describes the overall structure of the fifth paragraph?
A. chronological order C. compare and contrast
B. problem and solution D. order of importance
9. Which was NOT cited as one of the downsides of Black Friday?
A. Stores run out of high demand items quickly.
B. Nobody really saves any money on Black Friday.
C. There are large crowds and lots of shoving.
D. Sometimes violence occurs at Black Friday events.
10. Which best explains why Costa Ricans call Black Friday "Viernes Negro"?
A. Costa Rican stores don't want the shopping day associated with American violence.
B. Viernes Negro sounds more exotic and exciting than Black Friday.
C. Costa Ricans want to establish their own shopping tradition.
D. This is how you say "Black Friday" in Spanish, the main language of Costa Rica.