Reading Comprehension – 02

Structure / Tone / Attitude

Passage A

(1) The sharing economy is a little like online

shopping, which started in America 15 years ago. At
first, people were worried about security. But having
made a successful purchase from, say, Amazon, they
(5) felt safe buying elsewhere. Similarly, using Airbnb or
a car-hire service for the first time encourages people to
try other offerings. Next, consider eBay. Having started
out as a peer-to-peer marketplace, it is now dominated
by professional “power sellers” (many of who started
(10) out as ordinary eBay users). The same may happen with
the sharing economy, which also provides new
opportunities for enterprise. Some people have bought
cars solely to rent them out, for example. Incumbents
are getting involved too. Avis, a car-hire firm, has a share
(15) in a sharing rival. So do GM and Daimler, two carmakers.
In the future, companies may develop hybrid models,
listing excess capacity (whether vehicles, equipment or
office space) on peer-to-peer rental sites. In the past,
new ways of doing things online have not displaced the
(20) old ways entirely. But they have often changed them.
Just as internet shopping forced Walmart and Tesco to
adapt, so online sharing will shake up transport, tourism,
equipment-hire and more.
The main worry is regulatory uncertainty. Will
(25) room-4-renters be subject to hotel taxes, for example?
In Amsterdam officials are using Airbnb listing to track
down unlicensed hotels. In some American cities,
peer-to-peer taxi services have been banned after
lobbying by traditional taxi firms. The danger is that
(30) although some rules need to be updated to protect
consumers from harm, incumbents will try to destroy
competition. People who rent out rooms should pay tax,
of course, but they should not be regulated like a Ritz-
Carlton hotel. The lighter rules that typically govern
(35) bed-and-breakfasts are more than adequate. The sharing
economy is the latest example of the internet’s value to
consumers. This emerging model is now big and
disruptive enough for regulators and companies to have
woken up to it. That is a sign of its immense potential. It
(40) is time to start caring about sharing.
 1. The author suggests that the sharing economy (line 11) could eventually

A. grow larger than the traditional economy.

B. Be controlled by a particular group of sellers.
C. Rely mostly on hybrid models.
D. Depend exclusively on former eBay users.
E. Force retail to shut business

2. Which choice best describes the structure of the first paragraph (line 1-23)?

A. A comparison is presented and developed through supporting examples.

B. A principle is described, and an opposing principle is then introduced.
C. The strengths and weakness of several competing explanations are discussed.
D. A personal account of an experience is provided, followed by a reflection on that experience.
E. An old trend is discussed followed by a new trend.

3. What main effects do the author’s statements about the sharing economy in lines (20-24)
have on the tone of the passage?

A. They create an emphatic tone, conveying the strength of the author’s convictions.
B. They create a resigned tone, focusing on the inevitability of economic change.
C. They create a celebratory tone, praising regulators for adapting.
D. They create mournful tone, focussing on the destruction of traditional lifestyles.
E. They create a stern tone admonishing the regulators

Passage B

(1) These are stimulating times for anyone interested

in questions of animal consciousness. On what seems
like a monthly basis, scientific teams announce the
results of new experiments, adding to a preponderance
(5) of evidence that we’ve been underestimating animal
minds, even those of us who have rated them fairly
highly. New animal behaviours and capacities are
observed in the wild, often involving tool use – or at
least object manipulation – the very kinds of activity
(10) that led the distinguished zoologist Donald R Griffin to
found the field of cognitive ethology (animal thinking)
in 1978: octopuses piling stones in front of their
hidey-holes, to name one recent example; or dolphins
fitting marine sponges to their beaks in order to dig for
(15) food on the seabed; or wasps using small stones to
smooth the sand around their egg chambers, concealing
them from predators. At the same time neurobiologists
have been finding that the physical structures in our
own brains most commonly held responsible for
(20) consciousness are not as rare in the animal kingdom as
had been assumed. Indeed, they are common. All of this
work and discovery appeared to reach a kind of
crescendo last summer, when an international group of
prominent neuroscientists meeting at the University of
(25) Cambridge issued “The Cambridge Declaration on
Consciousness in Non-Human Animals,” a document
stating that “humans are not unique in possessing the
neurological substrates that generate consciousness.”
It goes further to conclude that numerous documented
(30) animal behaviours must be considered “consistent with
experienced feeling states.”

4. Which choice best describes the organization of this passage?

A. A theory is offered, an experiment is presented, and a critique is offered.

B. An existing model is discussed, its flaws are examined, and a new model is proposed.
C. Several examples of animal behaviour are presented, and their significance is analysed.
D. An assertion is made, and specific examples are provided to support it.
E. A declaration is made and man’s uniqueness is undermined.

5. In line 21, the author’s focus shifts from

A. A series of examples to a description of an outcome.

B. Focus on an individual to a consideration of a group.
C. An examination of a problem to a proposal of a solution.
D. A discussion of a claim to a questioning of that claim.
E. Observation of the animal kingdom to a discussion of their activities.

6. The author’s attitude towards Donald R Griffin (Line 10) is best described as one of

A. Resignation
B. Admiration
C. Defensiveness
D. Scepticism.
E. Nonchalance

Passage C

The Rosetta Stone! What a providential find that was!

and what a remarkable set of circumstances it took for
people to be able to read Egyptian hieroglyphics after a
hiatus of some 1400 years. It even took a military cam-
paign. In 1798, Napoleon Bonaparte’s army attacked
British-held Egypt, seeking to cut off England from the
riches of the Middle East. Rebuilding a fortress, a French
soldier uncovered a block of basalt inscribed with writing in
three distinct scripts; Greek, demotic script (an everyday
cursive form of Egyptian), and Egyptian hieroglyphs. At that
moment, modern Egyptology began.

1) The primary purpose of first five lines is to

A) Describe the physical attributes of an artefact

B) Underscore the difficulty of translating ancient texts
C) Indicate a new direction for linguistic research
D) Qualify an excessively sweeping generalization
E) Emphasize the unusual background of a discovery

2) The author’s tone in writing of the discovery of the Rosetta Stone can best be
characterized as

A) Ironic
B) Enthusiastic
C) Condescending
D) Nostalgic
E) Objective

Passage D

Echinosorex gymnura, known colloquially as the moon rat or gymnure, is one of the many
fascinating creatures that inhabit the jungles of Southeast Asia. A close relative of the
hedgehog, the moon rat likewise belongs to the order Insectivore and the family Erinaceidae.
However, the family then splits into the sub family Hylomyinae, which contains three
separate genera and eight distinct species. The appearance and habitat of the moon rat are
actually far more similar to those of various member of the order Rodentia, though its eating
habits are more in line with its fellow insectivores. Ultimately the taxonomic classification of
this animal is useful only when considered along with other information regarding the
animal’s ecological niche.

1. Consider each of the choices separately and select all that apply.
Which of the following scenarios demonstrates the idea put forth by the author of this
passage regarding animal classification?

A. While studying a population of bears, scientists rely solely on the traditional

taxonomic designations to identify likely hunting grounds.
B. The team of medical researchers closely monitors the actions of the animals
involved in a study and compares its findings with prevailing beliefs about those
animals.
C. A zookeeper designs a habitat for a new acquisition disregards taxonomic
classifications and instead focuses on observational data.
 2. The authors tone could best be described as

A. Exasperated
B. Didactic
C. Ambivalent
D. Morose
E. Laudatory

3. Click on the sentence that most directly exemplifies the rationale behind the author’s
conclusion.

Passage E

The Second World War was a watershed event for all Americans. It brought the Great depression to
an end and marked the beginning of significant socioeconomic and political changes for women and
racial minorities. Chinese American women played an important role in these long-term changes.

Galvanized by motives ranging from Chinese nationalism to American patriotism and feminism,
Chinese American women initiated an outpouring of highly organized activities in such areas as fund-
raising, propaganda, civil defence, and Red Cross work. While some women in San Francisco’s
Chinatown enlisted in the armed services, many others went to work in businesses outside their
neighbourhood and in industries for the first time.

1) The primary purpose of the passage is to

A) Highlight the contributions of San Francisco’s Chinatown to the war effort

B) Describe the different jobs held by women during the Second World War
C) Explain how the Second World War helped to end the Great Depression
D) Discuss the impact of the Second World War on Chinese American women.
E) Highlight the influence of feminism on Chinese American women

2) Which best characterizes the relationship between the first paragraph and the second
paragraph?

A) The first paragraph relates an anecdote that illustrates a generalization made in the second
paragraph
B) The first paragraph presents a claim that is supported in the second paragraph
C) The paragraphs offer different explanations for the same phenomenon.
D) The second paragraph digresses from the topic discussed in the first paragraph
E) The second paragraph challenges the validity of the argument made in the first paragraph.
Passage F

Archaeological discoveries frequently undermine accepted ideas,

giving rise to new theories. Recently, a set of 3.3 – million-year-old
fossils, the remains of the earliest well-preserved child ever found,
were discovered in Ethiopia. Estimated to be 3 years old at death, the
female child was of the Australopithecus afarensis species, a human
ancestor that lived in Africa over 3 million years ago. “Her
completeness, antiquity and age at death make this find of
unprecedented importance in the history of paleo-anthropology,”
said Zeresenay Alemseged, a noted paleo-anthropologist, opining that
the discovery could reconfigure conceptions about early humans’
capacities.

Previously, afarensis was believed to have abandoned

arboreal habitats. However, while the new fossil’s lower limbs support
the view of an upright stance, its gorilla-like arms suggest that
afarensis was still able to swing through trees, initiating a re-
examination of long-held theories of early human development. Also,
the presence of a hyoid bone, a rarely preserved larynx bone that
supports throat muscle, has dramatically affected concepts of the
origin of speech. Although primitive and more ape-like than human-
like, this fossil hyoid is the first found in such an early human-related
species.

1. The organization of the passage could best be described as

A) discussing a controversial scientific discovery
B) contrasting previous theories of development with current findings
C) illustrating a contention with a specific example
D) arguing for the importance of a particular field of study
E) refuting a popular misconception

2. The passage quotes Zeresenay Alemseged in order to

A) provide evidence to qualify the main idea of the first paragraph
B) question the claims of other scientists
C) provide evidence to support the linguistic abilities of the afarensis species
D) provide evidence that supports the significance of the find
E) provide a subjective opinion that is refuted in the second paragraph

3. Each of the following is cited as a factor in the importance of the discovery of the fossils
EXCEPT

A) the fact that the remains were those of a child

B) the age of the fossils
C) the location of the discovery
D) the species of the fossils
E) the intact nature of the fossils
Passage G

Because of the proximity and likeness of Mars to Earth, scientists

have long speculated about the possibility of life on Mars. Roughly
three centuries ago, astronomers observed Martian polar ice caps,
and later scientists discovered other similarities to Earth, including
length of day and axial tilt. But in 1965, photos taken by Mariner 4
probe revealed a Mars without rivers, oceans or signs of life.
Moreover, in the 1990’s, it was discovered that unlike Earth, Mars
no longer possessed a substantial global magnetic field, allowing
celestial radiation to reach the planet’s surface and solar wind to
eliminate much of Mar’s atmosphere over the course of several
billion years.

More recent probes have investigated whether there was once

liquid water on Mars. Some scientists believe that the presence of
certain geological landforms definitively resolves this question.
Others posit that wind erosion or carbon dioxide oceans may be
responsible for these formations. Mars, rovers, Opportunity and
Spirit, which landed on Mars in 2004, have both discovered
geological evidence of past water activity. These findings
substantially bolster claims that there was once life on Mars.

1. The author’s stance on the possibility of life on Mars can be described as

A) Optimistic
B) Disinterested
C) Sceptical
D) Simplistic
E) Cynical

2. The passage is primarily concerned with which of the following?

A) Disproving a widely accepted theory.

B) Initiating a debate about the possibility of life on Mars.
C) Presenting evidence in support of a controversial claim.
D) Describing the various discoveries made concerning the possibility of life on Mars.
E) Detailing the findings of the Mars rovers, Opportunity and Spirit.

3. Each of the following discoveries is mentioned in the passage EXCEPT

A) Wind erosion and carbon dioxide oceans are responsible for certain geological landforms on
Mars.
B) Mars does not have a substantial global magnetic field
C) Mars does not currently have water activity
D) The length of day on Mars is similar to that on Earth
E) The axial tilt of Mars is similar to that of Earth
 4. The passage suggests which of the following about the polar ice caps?

A) Until recently, the ones on Mars were thought to consist largely of carbon dioxide.
B) The ones on Mars are made almost entirely of frozen water.
C) They are also found on Earth.
D) Their formation is tied to length of day and axial tilt.
E) They indicate that conditions on the planet Mars were once very different than they are at
present.

Passage H

The recent news that local hospitals have had to reroute seriously ill patients because the community’s
critical-care beds are full is worrisome. Earlier this week, four of the six local hospitals ran out of space
for the critically ill and had to turn people away. Federal law requires hospitals to treat anyone who
walks in. As a result of having to treat large numbers of uninsured patients, the emergency rooms
often become an economic drain on the hospitals. Doctors now want to set up their own free-standing
ambulatory surgical facilities and diagnostic centers. Critics contend this would leave hospitals with
less revenue and the same number of indigents to treat.

A bill was recently introduced to phase out the need for a “certificate of public need” for non-hospital-
based facilities, provided those facilities met stringent regulations and requirements. This would have
made it easier to setup alternative facilities to help indigent patients. The finance committee balked
at the hefty price and killed the bill, another casualty of a failed legislative session. Unfortunately, the
problem of access to medical care for those of limited means is not going to go away anytime soon
and, despite the well-intended regulations, too-full hospitals compromise everyone’s welfare. Healthy
competition with small neighbourhood surgical and diagnostic centers may be what is necessary to
help dampen rising medical costs. But under no circumstances should the hospitals be forced to care
for everybody without health insurance while competitors operate free of the burden of caring for
those unable to pay.

1) Which of the following is a conclusion supported by the passage?

A) If doctors want to run their own facilities, they should be required to take in at least some of
the indigents.
B) The government should provide health insurance for those unable to buy their own.
C) Voters should tell the finance committee members that they will not be re-elected if they do
not pass some new legislation.
D) Emergency rooms that turn patients away due to overcrowding are derelict in their duty.
E) The fundamental problem facing hospitals now is that health care costs have risen
dramatically in recent years.

2) Which of the following best describes the tone of the passage?

A) Neutral
B) Positive
C) Persuasive
D) Angry
E) Reverential