The
following passage is adapted from Charles Dickens’s
Reading Test
65 Minutes — 52 Questions
Turn to Section 1 of your answer sheet to answer the
questions in this section.
Directions
Each passage or pair of passages below is followed by a
number of questions. After reading each passage or pair,
choose the best answer to each question based on what is
stated or implied in the passage or passages and in any
accompanying graphics (such as a table or graph).
Questions 1-10 are based on the following passage.
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1860 novel Great Expectations. In this scene, the narrator,
a boy named Pip, eats breakfast with his older sister’s
acquaintance, Mr. Pumblechook. Pumblechook has agreed
to take Pip to see Miss Havisham, a wealthy woman who
has requested this visit, although Pip has never met her.
Mr. Pumblechook and I breakfasted at eight o’clock
in the parlor behind the shop, while the shopman
took his mug of tea and hunch of bread and butter
on a sack of peas in the front premises. I considered
(5) Mr. Pumblechook wretched company. Besides being
possessed by my sister’s idea that a mortifying and
penitential character ought to be imparted to my
diet,1—besides giving me as much crumb as pos-
sible in combination with as little butter, and putting
(10) such a quantity of warm water into my milk that it
would have been more candid to have left the milk
out altogether,—his conversation consisted of nothing
but arithmetic. On my politely bidding him Good
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 morning, he said, pompously, “Seven times nine,
(15) boy?” And how should I be able to answer, dodged
in that way, in a strange place, on an empty stomach!
I was hungry, but before I had swallowed a morsel,
he began a running sum that lasted all through the
breakfast. “Seven?” “And four?” “And eight?” … And
(20) so on. And after each figure was disposed of, it was
as much as I could do to get a bite or a sup, before the
next came; while he sat at his ease guessing nothing,
and eating bacon and hot roll, in (if I may be allowed
the expression) a gorging and gormandizing manner.
(25) For such reasons, I was very glad when ten o’clock
came and we started for Miss Havisham’s; though
I was not at all at my ease regarding the manner
in which I should acquit myself under that lady’s
roof. Within a quarter of an hour we came to Miss
(30) Havisham’s house, which was of old brick, and
dismal, and had a great many iron bars to it. Some
of the windows had been walled up; of those that
remained, all the lower were rustily barred. There
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was a courtyard in front, and that was barred; so we
(35) had to wait, after ringing the bell, until some one
should come to open it. While we waited at the gate,
I peeped in (even then Mr. Pumblechook said, “And
fourteen?” but I pretended not to hear him), and
saw that at the side of the house there was a large
(40) brewery. No brewing was going on in it, and none
seemed to have gone on for a long long time.
A window was raised, and a clear voice demand-
ed “What name?” To which my conductor replied,
“Pumblechook.” The voice returned, “Quite right,”
(45) and the window was shut again, and a young lady
came across the court-yard, with keys in her hand.
“This,” said Mr. Pumblechook, “is Pip.”
“This is Pip, is it?” returned the young lady, who
was very pretty and seemed very proud; “come in, Pip.”
(50) Mr. Pumblechook was coming in also, when she
stopped him with the gate.
“Oh!” she said. “Did you wish to see Miss
Havisham?”
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 “If Miss Havisham wished to see me,” returned
(55) Mr. Pumblechook, discomfited.
(A) eaten on the run.
“Ah!” said the girl; “but you see she don’t.” (B) small and of poor quality.
She said it so finally, and in such an (C) better than Pip usually receives.
undiscussible way, that Mr. Pumblechook,
(D) carefully cooked and served.
though in a condition of ruffled dignity, could not
(60) protest. But he eyed me severely,—as if I had done

anything to him!—and departed with the words

2. As used in line 5, “wretched” most nearly means
reproachfully delivered: “Boy! Let your behavior
here be a credit unto them which brought you up
(A) shameful.
by hand!”2 I was not free from apprehension that
(B) deprived.
(65) he would come back to propound through the gate,
(C) distressing.
“And sixteen?” But he didn’t.
(D) heartbroken.
1Pip’s sister indicated to Pumblechook that Pip should be grateful, even

penitent (unreasonably so) for his help.

2Pumblechook is speaking of Pip’s sister, who often boasts that she raised him
3. Based on the passage, it can be inferred that Mr.
“by hand.” Pumblechook

1. According to the first paragraph, Pip’s breakfast with

Mr. Pumblechook is

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 (A) has looked forward to his morning with Pip.
(B) is as uncomfortable as Pip is during breakfast.
(C) has known Pip and his sister for a very long time.
(D) is indifferent to Pip’s discomfort during breakfast.
4. Which choice provides the best support for the answer to
the previous question?
(A) Lines 1-4 (“Mr. Pumblechook and I . . . premises”)
(B) Lines 5-13 (“Besides . . . arithmetic”)
(C) Lines 43-44 (“To which my . . . Pumblechook”)
(D) Lines 57-60 (“She said . . . not protest”)
5. What theme is communicated through the experiences of
Pip, the narrator?
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(A) The world can be a puzzling and sometimes cruel
place.
(B) Young people are misunderstood by their elders.
(C) Mean-spirited people deserve to be treated harshly.
(D) The favors one receives in life should be reciprocated.
6. Which word best describes the young lady’s ​demeanor
when she approaches Pip and Mr. ​Pumblechook?
(A) Rude
(B) Timid
(C) Self-centered
(D) Authoritative
7. Which of the following is true when Mr. Pumblechook
leaves Pip at Miss Havisham’s house?
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 (A) Pip is excited to finally meet Miss Havisham. (A) illness.
(B) Pip is nervous about being away from his sister for so (B) prerequisite.
long. (C) state.
(C) Pip is relieved to be away from Mr. Pumblechook. (D) limitation.
(D) Pip is anxious about spending time with the young
lady who greets them.
10. The function of the parenthetical comment in lines 23-24
is to reveal that
8. Which choice provides the best support for the answer to
the previous question? (A) Pip is usually more polite in his references to others.
(B) Mr. Pumblechook appreciates gourmet food.
(A) Lines 1-4 (“Mr. Pumblechook . . . premises”) (C) Pip is very angered that his own breakfast is so
(B) Lines 42-43 (“A window . . . name”) meager.
(C) Lines 57-60 (“She said it . . . protest”) (D) Mr. Pumblechook has no qualms about overeating in
(D) Lines 64-66 (“I was not . . . he didn’t”) public.

9. As used in line 59, “condition” most nearly means

Questions 11-20 are based on the following passage.

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 This passage is adapted from Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “Letter because we were invited here. I am here because I

from Birmingham Jail.” have basic organizational ties here. Beyond this, I
(20) am in Birmingham because injustice is here….

…I think I should give the reason for my being Moreover, I am cognizant of the interrelatedness

in Birmingham, since you have been influenced of all communities and states. I cannot sit idly

by the argument of “outsiders coming in.” I have by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what

the honor of serving as president of the Southern happens in Birmingham. Injustice anywhere is a
(5) Christian Leadership Conference, an organization (25) threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an

operating in every Southern state with headquarters inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single

in Atlanta, Georgia. We have some eighty-five garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly

affiliate organizations all across the South, one affects all indirectly. Never again can we afford to

being the Alabama Christian Movement for live with the narrow, provincial “outside agitator”
(10) Human Rights. Whenever necessary and possible (30) idea. Anyone who lives inside the United States can

we share staff, educational, and financial resources never be considered an outsider anywhere in this

with our affiliates. Several months ago our local af- country….

filiate here in Birmingham invited us to be on call to You may well ask, “Why direct action? Why sit-ins,

engage in a nonviolent direct action program if such marches, etc.? Isn’t negotiation a better path?” You
(15) were deemed necessary. We readily consented and (35) are exactly right in your call for negotiation. Indeed,

when the hour came we lived up to our promises. So this is the purpose of direct action. Nonviolent direct

I am here, along with several members of my staff, action seeks to create such a crisis and establish such

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 creative tension that a community that has constantly
refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue. It
(40) seeks so to dramatize the issue that it can no longer
be ignored. I just referred to the creation of tension
as a part of the work of the nonviolent resister. This
may sound rather shocking. But I must confess that
I am not afraid of the word tension. I have earnestly
(45) worked and preached against violent tension, but
there is a type of constructive nonviolent tension that
is necessary for growth. Just as Socrates felt that it
was necessary to create a tension in the mind so that
individuals could rise from the bondage of myths and
(50) half-truths to the unfettered realm of creative analysis
and objective appraisal, we must see the need
of having nonviolent gadflies to create the kind of
tension in society that will help men rise from the
dark depths of prejudice and racism to the majestic
(55) heights of understanding and brotherhood. So the
purpose of the direct action is to create a situation
so crisis-packed that it will inevitably open the door
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to negotiation. We, therefore, concur with you in
your call for negotiation. Too long has our beloved
(60) Southland been bogged down in the tragic attempt to
live in monologue rather than dialogue….
My friends, I must say to you that we have
not made a single gain in civil rights without
determined legal and nonviolent pressure.
(65) History is the long and tragic story of the fact that
privileged groups seldom give up their privileges
voluntarily. Individuals may see the moral light
and voluntarily give up their unjust posture; but
as Reinhold Niebuhr has reminded us, groups are
(70) more immoral than individuals.
We know through painful experience that free-
dom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor;
it must be demanded by the oppressed…. For years
now I have heard the word “Wait!” It rings in the
(75) ear of every African American with a piercing
familiarity. This “wait” has almost always meant
“never.” It has been a tranquilizing thalidomide,
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 relieving the emotional stress for a moment, only 12. Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer
to give birth to an ill-formed infant of frustra- to the previous question?
(80) tion. We must come to see with the distinguished

jurist of yesterday that “justice too long delayed is (A) Lines 1-2 (“I think . . . in Birmingham”)
justice denied.” We have waited for more than three
(B) Lines 3-7 (“I have . . . Atlanta, Georgia”)
hundred and forty years for our constitutional and
(C) Lines 7-10 (“We have some . . . Rights”)
God-given rights. The nations of Asia and Africa
(D) Lines 24-25 (“Injustice anywhere . . . everywhere”)
(85) are moving with jet-like speed toward the goal of

political independence, and we still creep at horse

and buggy pace toward the gaining of a cup of cof-
13. The passage most strongly suggests that which of the
fee at a lunch counter….
following statements is true?

11. King’s purpose for writing this letter is

(A) King was warmly welcomed when he arrived in
Birmingham.
(A) to explain why he came to Birmingham to protest.
(B) King received criticism for his decision to come to
(B) to launch a nonviolent protest movement in
Birmingham.
Birmingham.
(C) King did not want to cause a disruption by coming to
(C) to open an affiliate of the Southern Christian
Birmingham.
Leadership Conference in Birmingham.
(D) King was abandoned by his supporters when he
(D) to support fellow civil rights activists in Birmingham.
arrived in Birmingham.

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 14. As used in lines 21-22, “interrelatedness of all
communities and states” most nearly means that
(A) King has personal connections to people in the town.
(B) the Southern Christian Leadership Conference needs
national support.
(C) events in one part of the country affect everyone in
the nation.
(D) local civil rights groups operate independently of one
another.
15. Based on paragraph 3, it can be reasonably inferred that
King believed circumstances in Birmingham at the time
(A) were unfair and wrong.
(B) constituted an isolated event.
(C) justified his arrest.
(D) required federal intervention.
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16. Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer
to the previous question?
(A) Lines 21-22 (“Moreover, . . . states”)
(B) Lines 24-25 (“Injustice anywhere . . . everywhere”)
(C) Lines 25-27 (“We are caught . . . destiny”)
(D) Lines 28-30 (“Never again . . . idea”)
17. As used in line 40, “dramatize” most nearly means
(A) cast events in an appealing light.
(B) draw attention to significant events.
(C) exaggerate events to seem more important.
(D) turn events into a popular performance.
18. Which choice most clearly paraphrases a claim made by
King in paragraph 4?
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 (A) A failure to negotiate in the South has provoked
secret action by civil rights activists.
(B) A focus on dialogue blinds reformers to the necessity
for direct action to promote change.
(C) Direct action is necessary to motivate people to talk
about prejudice and racism.
(D) Nonviolent protest encourages a sense of brotherhood
and understanding among citizens.
19. Paragraph 4 best supports the claims made in paragraph
3 by
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(A) arguing that nonviolent pressure is most likely to spur
just action by individuals.
(B) clarifying that throughout history, privileged classes
have been reluctant to let go of privilege.
(C) drawing a distinction between the morality of
individuals and of groups.
(D) pointing out that few gains in civil rights have been
made without nonviolent pressure.
20. King refers to “the gaining of a cup of coffee at a lunch
counter” (lines 87-88) primarily to
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 (A) call attention to the sedative effect of delaying civil
rights reform in the United States.
(B) emphasize that white Americans will not willingly
end oppression against black Americans.
(C) describe the progress made toward the winning of
equal rights in other countries.
(D) underscore the contrast between progress made in
other countries and the United States.
Questions 21-31 are based on the following passages
and supplementary material.
The idea of a World Bank became a reality in 1944, when
delegates to the Bretton Woods Conference pledged to “outlaw
practices which are agreed to be harmful to world prosperity.”
Passage 1 discusses the benefits of the World Bank, while
Passage 2 focuses on the limited lifespan of the Bretton Woods
system.
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Passage 1
In 1944, 730 delegates from forty-four Allied
nations met in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire,
just as World War II was ending. They were attend-
ing an important conference. This mostly forgotten
(5) event shaped our modern world because delegates
at the Bretton Woods Conference agreed on the
establishment of an international banking system.
To ensure that all nations would prosper, the
United States and other allied nations set rules
(10) for a postwar international economy. The Bretton
Woods system created the International Monetary
Fund (IMF). The IMF was founded as a kind of
global central bank from which member countries
could borrow money. The countries needed money
(15) to pay for their war costs. Today, the IMF facilitates
international trade by ensuring the stability of the
international monetary and financial system.
The Bretton Woods system also established the
World Bank. Although the World Bank shares
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 (20) similarities with the IMF, the two institutions remain
distinct. While the IMF maintains an orderly system
of payments and receipts between nations, the World
Bank is mainly a development institution. The World
Bank initially gave loans to European countries dev-
(25) astated by World War II, and today it lends money
and technical assistance specifically to economic
projects in developing countries. For example,
the World Bank might provide a low-interest loan
to a country attempting to improve education or
(30) health. The goal of the World Bank is to “bridge the
economic divide between poor and rich countries.”
In short, the organizations differ in their purposes.
The Bank promotes economic and social progress so
people can live better lives, while the IMF represents
(35) the entire world in its goal to foster global monetary
cooperation and financial stability.
These two specific accomplishments of the
Bretton Woods Conference were major. However,
the Bretton Woods system particularly benefited
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(40) the United States. It effectively established the U.S. dollar as
a global currency. A global currency is one
that countries worldwide accept for all trade, or
international transactions of buying and selling.
Because only the U.S. could print dollars, the United
(45) States became the primary power behind both the
IMF and the World Bank. Today, global currencies
include the U.S. dollar, the euro (European Union
countries), and the yen (Japan).
The years after Bretton Woods have been
(50) considered the golden age of the U.S. dollar. More
importantly, the conference profoundly shaped
foreign trade for decades to come.
Passage 2
The financial system established at the 1944 Bretton
Woods Conference endured for many years. Even
(55) after the United States abrogated agreements made at
the conference, the nation continued to experience
a powerful position in international trade by having
other countries tie their currencies to the U.S. dollar.
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 The world, however, is changing.
(60) In reality, the Bretton Woods system lasted only
three decades. Then, in 1971, President Richard
Nixon introduced a new economic policy by ending
the convertibility of the dollar to gold. It marked
the end of the Bretton Woods international monetary
(65) framework, and the action resulted in worldwide
financial crisis. Two cornerstones of Bretton Woods,
however, endured: the International Monetary Fund
(IMF) and the World Bank.
Since the collapse of the Bretton Woods system,
(70) IMF members have been trading using a flexible
exchange system. Namely, countries allow their
exchange rates to fluctuate in response to changing
conditions. The exchange rate between two
currencies, such as the Japanese yen and the U.S.
(75) dollar, for example, specifies how much one cur-
rency is worth in terms of the other. An exchange
rate of 120 yen to dollars means that 120 yen are
worth the same as one dollar.
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Even so, the U.S. dollar has remained the most
(80) widely used money for international trade, and
having one currency for all trade may be better
than using a flexible exchange system.
This seems to be the thinking of a powerful group
of countries. The Group of Twenty (G20), which has
(85) called for a new Bretton Woods, consists of govern-
ments and leaders from 20 of the world’s largest
economies including China, the United States,
and the European Union. In 2009, for example, the
G20 announced plans to create a new global currency
(90) to replace the U.S. dollar’s role as the anchor currency.
Many believe that China’s yuan, quickly climbing the
financial ranks, is well on its way to becoming a major
world reserve currency.
In fact, an earlier 1988 article in The Economist
(95) stated, “30 years from now, Americans, Japanese,
Europeans, and people in many other rich countries
and some relatively poor ones will probably be paying
for their shopping with the same currency.”
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 The article predicted that the world supply of
Australian Dollar 6.6% 6 7.6% 5 8.6% 5
(100) currency would be set by a new central bank of (AUD)
the IMF. This prediction seems to be coming to
Swiss Franc (CHF) 6.8% 5 6.3% 6 5.2% 6
fruition since the G20 indicated that a “world cur-
rency is in waiting.” For an international construct Canadian Dollar 4.3% 7 5.3% 7 4.6% 7
(CAD)
such as the original Bretton Woods to last some 26
(105) years is nothing less than amazing. But move over Mexican Peso (MXN) 1.3% 12 1.3% 14 2.5% 8
Bretton Woods; a new world order in finance could
Chinese Yuan (CNY) 0.5% 20 0.9% 17 2.2% 9
be on the fast track.
New Zealand Dollar 1.9% 11 1.6% 10 2.0% 10

Top 10 International Currencies Adapted from Mauldin Economics; Bank for International Settlements, September 2013 Triennial
Central Bank Survey.
(Percent Shares of Average Daily Currency Trading)

2007 2010 2013

21. Based on Passage 1, it can reasonably be inferred that
Share Rank Share Rank Share Rank

U.S. Dollar (USD) 85.6% 1 84.9% 1 87.0% 1

Euro (EUR) 37.0% 2 39.1% 2 33.4% 2

Japanese Yen (JPY) 17.2% 3 19.0% 3 23.0% 3

UK Pound (GBP) 14.9% 4 12.9% 4 11.8% 4

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 (A) world leaders recognized the need for markets to (A) publicize.
function independently. (B) rear.
(B) Bretton Woods increased U.S. economic influence (C) stabilize.
around the world. (D) encourage.
(C) the IMF and the World Bank work closely together to
ensure prosperity.
(D) the conclusion of World War II had little influence on 24. Which statement best explains the difference between
events at Bretton Woods. the purposes of the IMF and the World Bank?

22. Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer
to the previous question?

(A) Lines 8-10 (“To ensure . . . economy”)

(B) Lines 10-12 (“The Bretton . . . Fund”)
(C) Lines 44-46 (“Because only . . . World Bank”)
(D) Lines 50-52 (“More importantly . . . to come”)

23. As used in line 35, “foster” most nearly means

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 (A) The IMF provides money to pay for war costs, while
the World Bank offers assistance to rebuild countries
recovering from war across the globe.
(B) The IMF encourages stability in the global financial
system, while the World Bank promotes economic
development in relatively poor nations.
(C) The IMF supports the U.S. dollar in international
markets, while the World Bank provides low-interest
loans to many nations around the world.
(D) The IMF offers governments advice about
participation in global markets, while the World Bank
encourages monetary cooperation between nations.
25. Based on the second paragraph in Passage 2, it can be
reasonably inferred that
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(A) the United States did not support the goals of the IMF
and the World Bank.
(B) Bretton Woods was originally intended to last for
three decades.
(C) President Nixon acted to reinforce the decisions made
at Bretton Woods.
(D) some U.S. policy decisions differed from
international consensus over Bretton Woods.
26. Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer
to the previous question?
(A) Lines 60-61 (“In reality . . . three decades”)
(B) Lines 61-63 (“Then, in 1971 . . . to gold”)
(C) Lines 66-68 (“Two cornerstones . . . World Bank”)
(D) Lines 69-71 (“Since the collapse . . . exchange
system”)
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 27. As used in line 90, “anchor” most nearly means 29. The last paragraph of Passage 2 can be described as

(A) key. (A) a refutation of opponents’ criticisms.

(B) fastening. (B) an indication of the author’s opinion.
(C) rigid. (C) a summary of the author’s main points.
(D) supporting. (D) an introduction of a contradictory position.

28. It can reasonably be inferred from both Passage 2 and 30. Which statement most effectively compares the authors’
the graphic that purposes in both passages?

(A) international markets are increasingly comfortable

using the yuan as trade currency.
(B) the United States favors using the yuan as one of the
world’s reserve currencies.
(C) the G20 wants to replace the yuan and other
currencies with a new global currency.
(D) the IMF continues to support the yuan and other
currencies in a flexible exchange system.

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 (A) Passage 1’s purpose is to contrast the functions of the
IMF and World Bank, while Passage 2’s purpose is to
outline the benefits of a flexible trade system to the
United States.
(B) Passage 1’s purpose is to describe the history of
international trade in the 20th century, while Passage
2’s purpose is to explain why the Bretton Woods
system collapsed.
(C) Passage 1’s purpose is to describe Bretton Woods’
effect on the global economy, while Passage 2’s
purpose is to suggest that a new currency for global
trade may soon be implemented.
(D) Passage 1’s purpose is to promote the economic
benefits of the IMF and World Bank, while Passage
2’s purpose is to encourage the reestablishment of the
Bretton Woods system.
31. Both passages support which generalization about the
global economy?
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(A) U.S. influence on global trade has continued under a
flexible exchange system.
(B) The purposes of the International Monetary Fund and
the World Bank are indirectly related.
(C) The Group of Twenty represents the financial
interests of the world’s largest economies.
(D) International institutions such as the IMF continue to
influence economic trade and development.
Questions 32-42 are based on the following passage.
This passage is adapted from an article about treating
paralysis.
According to a study conducted by the Christopher
and Dana Reeve Foundation, more than six million
people in the United States suffer from debilitating
paralysis. That’s close to one person in every fifty
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 (5) who suffers from a loss of the ability to move or feel
in areas of his or her body. Paralysis is often caused
by illnesses, such as stroke or multiple sclerosis, or
injuries to the spinal cord. Research scientists have
made advances in the treatment of paralysis, which
(10) means retraining affected individuals to become as
independent as possible. Patients learn how to use
wheelchairs and prevent complications that are caused
by restricted movement. This retraining is key in main-
taining paralytics’ quality of life; however, an actual
(15) cure for paralysis has remained elusive—until now.
In 2014, surgeons in Poland collaborated
with the University College London’s Institute of
Neurology to treat a Polish man who was paralyzed
from the chest down as a result of a spinal cord in-
(20) jury. The scientists chose this patient for their study
because of the countless hours of physical therapy
he had undergone with no signs of progress.
Twenty-one months after their test subject’s initial
spinal cord injury, his condition was considered
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(25) complete as defined by the American Spinal Injury
Association (ASIA)’s Impairment Scale. This meant
that he experienced no sensory or motor function
in the segments of his spinal cord nearest to his
injury.
(30) The doctors used a technique refined during forty
years of spinal cord research on rats. They removed
one of two of the patient’s olfactory bulbs, which
are structures found at the top of the human nose.
From this structure, samples of olfactory ensheath-
(35) ing cells, responsible for a portion of the sense of
smell, were harvested. These cells allow the olfactory
system to renew its cells over the course of a human
life. It is because of this constant regeneration that
scientists chose these particular cells to implant into
(40) the patient’s spinal cord. After being harvested, the
cells were reproduced in a culture. Then, the cells
were injected into the patient’s spinal cord in 100
mini-injections above and below the location of his
injury. Four strips of nerve tissue were then placed
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 (45) across a small gap in the spinal cord.
After surgery, the patient underwent a tailor-
made neurorehabilitation program. In the nineteen
months following the operation, not only did the
patient experience no adverse effects, but his condi-
(50) tion improved from ASIA’s class A to class C. Class
C is considered an incomplete spinal cord injury,
meaning that motor function is preserved to a
certain extent and there is some muscle activity. The
patient experienced increased stability in the trunk
(55) of his body, as well as partial recovery of voluntary
movements in his lower extremities. As a result, he
was able to increase the muscle mass in his thighs
and regain sensation in those areas. In late 2014, he
took his first steps with the support of only a walker.
(60) These exciting improvements suggest that the
nerve grafts doctors placed in the patient’s spinal cord
bridged the injured area and prompted the regenera-
tion of fibers. This was the first-ever clinical study that
showed beneficial effects of cells transplanted into the
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(65) spinal cord. The same team of scientists plans to treat
ten more patients using this “smell cell” transplant
technique. If they have continued success, patients
around the world can have both their mobility and
their hope restored.
32. The passage is primarily concerned with
(A) how various diseases and injuries can cause
permanent paralysis.
(B) ways in which doctors and therapists work to improve
patients’ quality of life.
(C) one treatment being developed to return mobility to
patients suffering paralysis.
(D) methods of physical therapy that can help patients
with spinal cord injuries.
33. The author includes a description of retraining paralytics
in lines 8-13 primarily to
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 (A) describe how people with paralysis cope with
everyday tasks.
(B) appeal to the reader’s sympathies for people with
paralysis.
(C) show that most research scientists do not believe a
cure can be found.
(D) help readers appreciate the significance of research
that may lead to a cure.
34. Based on the information in the passage, it can be
inferred that the author
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(A) believes more research should be done before patients
with paralysis are subjected to the treatment described
in the passage.
(B) feels that increased mobility will have a positive
impact on patients suffering from all levels of
paralysis.
(C) thinks that more scientists should study paralysis and
ways to improve the quality of life for patients with
limited mobility.
(D) was part of the research team that developed the new
method of treating paralysis described in the passage.
35. Which choice provides the best support for the answer to
the previous question?
(A) Lines 6-8 (“Paralysis is . . . spinal cord”)
(B) Lines 16-20 (“In 2014 . . . injury”)
(C) Lines 53-56 (“The patient . . . extremities”)
(D) Lines 67-69 (“If they . . . restored”)
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 36. As used in line 13, “restricted” most nearly means
(A) confidential.
(B) dependent.
(C) increased.
(D) limited.
37. In lines 46-47, the author’s use of the word “tailor-
made” helps reinforce the idea that
(A) the injected cells were from the patient and were
therefore well-suited to work in his own body.
(B) spinal cord cells were replaced during the transplant
portion of the individualized treatment.
(C) olfactory bulbs were removed from rats and placed in
the patient’s spinal cord during surgery.
(D) the method used by doctors to locate the damaged
area required expertise and precision.
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38. It can reasonably be inferred from the passage that
(A) the patient’s treatment would have been more
successful if scientists had used cells from another
area of his body instead of from his olfactory bulbs.
(B) cells from olfactory bulbs will be used to cure
diseases that affect areas of the body other than the
spinal cord.
(C) the patient who received the experimental treatment
using cells from olfactory bulbs would not have
regained mobility without this treatment.
(D) soon doctors will be able to treat spinal injuries
without time-consuming and demanding physical
therapy.
39. Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer
to the previous question?
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 (A) Lines 8-11 (“Research scientists . . . possible”) (A) studies done on other patients.
(B) Lines 20-22 (“The scientists . . . progress”) (B) research conducted by other doctors in Poland.
(C) Lines 31-33 (“They removed . . . nose”) (C) many experiments performed on rats.
(D) Lines 60-63 (“These exciting . . . fibers”) (D) multiple attempts on various types of animals.

40. As used in line 30, “refined” most nearly means 42. The procedure described in which cells from olfactory
bulbs are injected into a damaged area of the spinal cord
(A) advanced. is most analogous to which of the following?
(B) improved.
(C) experienced. (A) Replacing a diseased organ in a patient with an organ
(D) treated. from a donor who has the same tissue type
(B) Giving a patient with a high fever an injection of
medication to bring the core body temperature down
41. The success of the patient’s treatment was due in large (C) Placing a cast on a limb to hold the bone in place to
part to encourage healing after suffering a break
(D) Grafting skin from a healthy area of the body and
transplanting it to an area that has suffered severe
burns

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Questions 43-52 are based on the following passage and
supplementary material.
The following passage is adapted from an essay about mercury
in fish.
Mercury is an unusual element; it is a metal but
is liquid at room temperature. It is also a neuro-
toxin and a teratogen, as it causes nerve damage
and birth defects. Mercury can be found just about
(5) everywhere; it is in soil, in air, in household items,
and even in our food. Everyday objects, such as
thermometers, light switches, and fluorescent light-
bulbs, contain mercury in its elemental form. Bat-
teries can also contain mercury, but they contain
(10) it in the form of the inorganic compound mercury
chloride. Mercury can also exist as an organic
compound, the most common of which is meth-
ylmercury. While we can take steps to avoid both
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elemental and inorganic mercury, it is much harder
(15) to avoid methylmercury.
Most of the mercury in the environment comes
from the emissions of coal-burning power plants;
coal contains small amounts of mercury, which are
released into the air when coal burns. The concen-
(20) tration of mercury in the air from power plants is
very low, so it is not immediately dangerous. However,
the mercury is then washed out of the air by rain-
storms and eventually ends up in lakes and oceans.
The mercury deposited in the water does not in-
(25) stantaneously get absorbed by fish, as elemental mer-
cury does not easily diffuse through cell membranes.
However, methylmercury diffuses into cells easily,
and certain anaerobic bacteria in the water convert
the elemental mercury to methylmercury as a by-
(30) product of their metabolic processes. Methylmer-
cury released into the water by the bacteria diffuses
into small single-celled organisms called plankton.
Small shrimp and other small animals eat the plank-
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 ton and absorb the methylmercury in the plankton
(35) during digestion. Small fish eat the shrimp and then
larger fish eat the smaller fish; each time an animal
preys on another animal, the predator absorbs the
methylmercury. Because each animal excretes the
methylmercury much more slowly than it absorbs
(40) it, methylmercury builds up in the animal over time
and is passed on to whatever animal eats it, resulting
in a process called bioaccumulation.
As people became aware of the bioaccumulation
of mercury in fish, many reacted by eliminating
(45) seafood from their diet. However, seafood contains
certain omega-3 fatty acids that are important for
good health. People who do not eat enough of these
fatty acids, especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)
and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are more likely
(50) to have heart attacks than people who have enough
EPA and DHA in their diet. Because fish and shell-
fish, along with some algae, are the only sources of
these fatty acids, eliminating them from our diet
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might have worse health effects than consuming
(55) small amounts of mercury.
Scientists have studied the effects of mercury by
conducting tests on animals and by studying vari-
ous human populations and recording the amount
of mercury in their blood. By determining the lev-
(60) els of mercury consumption that cause any of the
known symptoms of mercury poisoning, they were
able to identify a safe level of mercury consump-
tion. The current recommendation is for humans
to take in less than 0.1 microgram of mercury for
(65) every kilogram of weight per day. This means that
a 70-kilogram person (about 155 pounds) could
safely consume 7 micrograms of mercury per day.
Because haddock averages about 0.055 micrograms
of mercury per gram, that person could safely eat
(70) 127 grams (about 4.5 ounces) of haddock per day.
On the other hand, swordfish averages about 0.995
micrograms of mercury per gram of fish, so the
70-kilogram person could safely eat only about 7
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 grams (about one-quarter of an ounce) of swordfish
Atlantic 100–600 84
(75) per day.
Herring
Nutritionists recommend that, rather than
eliminate fish from our diet, we try to eat more of
Chub 100–750 88
the low-mercury fish and less of the high-mercury Mackerel
fish. Low-mercury species tend to be smaller
(80) omnivorous fish while high-mercury species tend
Cod 800–4,000 111
to be the largest carnivorous fish. Awareness of
the particulars of this problem, accompanied by
Skipjack 2,000–10,000 144
mindful eating habits, will keep us on the best
Tuna
course for healthy eating.

Black- 6,820–15,900 152

Species Average Weight Average Mercury Concentration
Striped Bass
Range (grams) (parts per billion)

Albacore 4,540–21,364 358

Alaskan 227–1,000 31
Tuna
Pollock

Marlin 180,000 485

Atlantic 900–1,800 55
Haddock

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 43. The author of the passage would most likely agree with
which of the following statements?
(A) Mercury poisoning is only one of many concerns that
should be considered when choosing which fish to
add to one’s diet.
(B) More should be done by scientists and nutritionists to
inform people about the dangers of mercury
poisoning.
(C) Fish is an essential part of a healthy diet and can be
eaten safely if recommendations for mercury
consumption are kept in mind.
(D) The mercury present in the air is more dangerous to
people than the mercury consumed by eating fish with
high mercury levels.
44. Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer
to the previous question?
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(A) Lines 16-17 (“Most of . . . plants”)
(B) Lines 30-32 (“Methylmercury released . . . plankton”)
(C) Lines 56-59 (“Scientists . . . their blood”)
(D) Lines 81-84 (“Awareness . . . eating”)
45. In addition to the levels of mercury in a specific species
of fish, people should also consider which of the
following when determining a safe level of
consumption?
(A) Their own body weight
(B) Where the fish was caught
(C) The other meats they are eating
(D) What they ate the day before
46. As used in lines 19-20, “concentration” most nearly
means
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 (A) focus.
(B) application.
(C) density.
(D) awareness.
47. The passage most strongly suggests which of the
following statements is accurate?
(A) It is not possible to completely avoid environmental
exposure to mercury.
(B) Inorganic mercury is more dangerous to humans than
organic mercury.
(C) Most of the exposure to mercury experienced by
humans comes from fish consumption.
(D) Mercury is one of the most abundant elements found
in nature.
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48. Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer
to the previous question?
(A) Lines 1-2 (“Mercury is an unusual . . . temperature”)
(B) Lines 4-6 (“Mercury . . . our food”)
(C) Lines 19-21 (“The concentration . . . dangerous”)
(D) Lines 27-30 (“However, methylmercury . . .
processes”)
49. The main purpose of paragraph 3 is to explain
(A) the reasons why mercury deposited in water is not
harmful to fish.
(B) the relationships between predators and prey in
aquatic animals.
(C) how the largest fish accumulate the greatest amounts
of mercury.
(D) the difference between methylmercury and other
types of mercury.
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 50. Which of the following pieces of evidence would most
strengthen the author’s line of reasoning?
(A) More examples in paragraph 1 of places mercury is
found
(B) Details in paragraph 2 about the levels of mercury
found in the air
(C) An explanation in paragraph 4 of how to treat
mercury poisoning
(D) More examples in paragraph 5 of how many
micrograms of mercury people of different weights
could eat
51. As used in line 82, “particulars” most nearly means
(A) data.
(B) specifics.
(C) points.
(D) evidence.
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52. Based on the information in the passage and the graphic,
which of the following statements is true?
(A) The fish with the lowest average weight is the safest
to eat.
(B) A person can safely eat more marlin than albacore
tuna in one day.
(C) Eating large fish carries a lower risk of mercury
poisoning than eating small fish.
(D) A person can safely eat more Alaskan pollock than
black striped bass in one day.
STOP
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