Duval County Public Schools / Homepage



Practice FTCE General Knowledge (GK) Reading TestThis practice test is in place to help you assess your level of comfort and skill with the Reading Portion of the GK Exam. The answers and explanations can be found towards the end of this document. The Reading exam is 55 minutes long, has 40 questions, and is in multiple choice format. Strive to simulate the testing environment.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).Line510152025303540Questions 1-10 are based on the followingpassage.This passage is adapted from Iain King, “Can Economics BeEthical?” ?2013 by Prospect Publishing. Recent debates about the economy haverediscovered the question, “is that right?”, where“right” means more than just profits or efficiency. Some argue that because the free markets allowfor personal choice, they are already ethical. Othershave accepted the ethical critique and embracedcorporate social responsibility. But before we canlabel any market outcome as “immoral,” or sneer ateconomists who try to put a price on being ethical,we need to be clear on what we are talking about. There are different views on where ethics shouldapply when someone makes an economic decision.Consider Adam Smith, widely regarded as thefounder of modern economics. He was a moralphilosopher who believed sympathy for others wasthe basis for ethics (we would call it empathynowadays). But one of his key insights in The Wealthof Nations was that acting on this empathy could becounter-productive—he observed people becomingbetter off when they put their own empathy aside,and interacted in a self-interested way. Smith justifiesselfish behavior by the outcome. Whenever plannersuse cost-benefit analysis to justify a new railway line,or someone retrains to boost his or her earningpower, or a shopper buys one to get one free, they areusing the same approach: empathizing withsomeone, and seeking an outcome that makes thatperson as well off as possible—although the personthey are empathizing with may be themselves in thefuture. Instead of judging consequences, Aristotlesaid ethics was about having the rightcharacter—displaying virtues like courage andhonesty. It is a view put into practice wheneverbusiness leaders are chosen for their good character.But it is a hard philosophy to teach—just how muchloyalty should you show to a manufacturer that keepslosing money? Show too little and you’re a “greed isgood” corporate raider; too much and you’re wastingmoney on unproductive capital. Aristotle thoughtthere was a golden mean between the two extremes,and finding it was a matter of fine judgment. But ifethics is about character, it’s not clear what thosecharacteristics should be.,45 5055606570758085 There is yet another approach: instead of rootingethics in character or the consequences of actions, wecan focus on our actions themselves. From thisperspective some things are right, some wrong—weshould buy fair trade goods, we shouldn’t tell lies inadvertisements. Ethics becomes a list ofcommandments, a catalog of “dos” and “don’ts.”When a finance official refuses to devalue a currencybecause they have promised not to, they are definingethics this way. According to this approachdevaluation can still be bad, even if it would makeeverybody better off. Many moral dilemmas arise when these threeversions pull in different directions but clashes arenot inevitable. Take fair trade coffee (coffee that issold with a certification that indicates the farmersand workers who produced it were paid a fair wage),for example: buying it might have goodconsequences, be virtuous, and also be the right wayto act in a flawed market. Common ground like thissuggests that, even without agreement on whereethics applies, ethical economics is still possible. Whenever we feel queasy about “perfect”competitive markets, the problem is often rooted in aphony conception of people. The model of man onwhich classical economics is based—an entirelyrational and selfish being—is a parody, asJohn Stuart Mill, the philosopher who pioneered themodel, accepted. Most people—even economists—now accept that this “economic man” is a fiction.We behave like a herd; we fear losses more than wehope for gains; rarely can our brains process all therelevant facts. These human quirks mean we can never makepurely “rational” decisions. A new wave of behavioraleconomists, aided by neuroscientists, is trying tounderstand our psychology, both alone and ingroups, so they can anticipate our decisions in themarketplace more accurately. But psychology canalso help us understand why we react in disgust ateconomic injustice, or accept a moral law asuniversal. Which means that the relatively newscience of human behavior might also define ethicsfor us. Ethical economics would then emerge fromone of the least likely places: economists themselves.Question 1The main purpose of the passage is toconsider an ethical dilemma posed by cost-benefit analysis.describe a psychology study of ethical economic behavior.argue that the free market prohibits ethical economics.examine ways of evaluating the ethics of economics.Question 2In the passage, the author anticipates which of the following objections to criticizing the ethics of free markets?Smith’s association of free markets with ethical behavior still applies today.Free markets are the best way to generate high profits, so ethics are a secondary consideration.Free markets are ethical because they are made possible by devalued currency.Free markets are ethical because they enable individuals to make choices.Question 3Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?Lines 4-5 (“Some . . . ethical”)Lines 7-10 (“But . . . about”)Lines 21-22 (“Smith . . . outcome”)Lines 52-54 (“When . . . way”)Question 4As used in line 6, “embraced” most nearly meanslovingly held.readily adopted.eagerly hugged.reluctantly used.Question 5The main purpose of the fifth paragraph (lines 45-56) is todevelop a counterargument to the claim that greed is good.provide support for the idea that ethics is about character.describe a third approach to defining ethical economics.D) illustrate that one’s actions are a result of one’s character. Question 6As used in line 58, “clashes” most nearly meansconflicts.mismatches.collisions.brawls.Question 7Which choice best supports the author’s claim that there is common ground shared by the different approaches to ethics described in the passage?Lines 11-12 (“There . . . decision”)Lines 47-50 (“From . . . advertisements”)Lines 59-64 (“Take . . . market”)Lines 75-77 (“We . . . facts”)Question 8The main idea of the final paragraph is thathuman quirks make it difficult to predict people’s ethical decisions accurately.people universally react with disgust when faced with economic injustice. understanding human psychology may help to define ethics in economics.economists themselves will be responsible for reforming the free market.Question 9Data in the graph about per-pound coffee profits in Tanzania most strongly support which of the following statements?Fair trade coffee consistently earned greater profits than regular coffee earned.The profits earned from regular coffee did not fluctuate.Fair trade coffee profits increased between 2004 and 2006.Fair trade and regular coffee were earning equal profits by 2008.Questions 10Data in the graph indicate that the greatest difference between per-pound profits from fair trade coffee and those from regular coffee occurred during which period?2000 to 20022002 to 20042004 to 20052006 to 2008Line5101520Questions 11-21 are based on the followingpassage.This passage is adapted from A Study in Scarlet,Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s first story in his acclaimedSherlock Holmes series. In this excerpt the narrator,Dr. Watson, observes Mr. Holmes, with whom he hasrecently entered into a shared housing arrangement,although he knows very little about this new roommateas of yet. As the weeks went by, my interest in him and mycuriosity as to his aims in life gradually deepenedand increased. His very person and appearancewere such as to strike the attention of the mostcasual observer. In height he was rather over sixfeet, and so excessively lean that he seemed to beconsiderably taller. His eyes were sharp and piercing,save during those intervals of torpor to which I havealluded; and his thin, hawk-like nose gave hiswhole expression an air of alertness and decision.His chin, too, had the prominence and squarenesswhich mark the man of determination. His handswere invariably blotted with ink and stained withchemicals, yet he was possessed of extraordinarydelicacy of touch, as I frequently had occasion toobserve when I watched him manipulating hisfragile philosophical instruments. . . . He was not studying medicine. He had himself,in reply to a question, confirmed Stamford’s1opinion upon that point. Neither did he appear tohave pursued any course of reading which might fithim for a degree in science or any other recognized1 Stamford is the mutual acquaintance who introduced Dr. Watson to Mr. Holmes. In a previous scene he told Watson that Holmes was not a medical student.25303540455055606570 portal which would give him an entrance intothe learned world. Yet his zeal for certain studieswas remarkable, and within eccentric limits hisknowledge was so extraordinarily ample andminute that his observations have fairly astoundedme. Surely no man would work so hard or attainsuch precise information unless he had somedefinite end in view. Desultory readers are seldomremarkable for the exactness of their learning. Noman burdens his mind with small matters unless hehas some very good reason for doing so.His ignorance was as remarkable as his knowledge.Of contemporary literature, philosophy and politicshe appeared to know next to nothing. Upon myquoting Thomas Carlyle,2 he inquired in the na?vestway who he might be and what he had done. Mysurprise reached a climax, however, when I foundincidentally that he was ignorant of the CopernicanTheory and of the composition of the solar system.That any civilized human being in this nineteenthcentury should not be aware that the earth travelledround the sun appeared to be to me such anextraordinary fact that I could hardly realize it.“You appear to be astonished,” he said, smiling atmy expression of surprise. “Now that I do know it Ishall do my best to forget it.”“To forget it!” “You see,” he explained, “I consider that a man’sbrain originally is like a little empty attic, and youhave to stock it with such furniture as you choose.A fool takes in all the lumber of every sort that hecomes across, so that the knowledge which might.be useful to him gets crowded out, or at best isjumbled up with a lot of other things so that hehas a difficulty in laying his hands upon it. Nowthe skillful workman is very careful indeed as towhat he takes into his brain-attic. He will havenothing but the tools which may help him in doinghis work, but of these he has a large assortment,and all in the most perfect order. It is a mistake tothink that that little room has elastic walls and candistend to any extent. Depend upon it there comesa time when for every addition of knowledge youforget something that you knew before. It is of thehighest importance, therefore, not to have uselessfacts elbowing out the useful ones.” “But the solar system!” I protested. “What the deuce is it to me?”2Thomas Carlyle was an influential writer and philosopher whose work was well known at the time of this novel’s publication.QUESTION 11According to the passage, as time passes, Watson finds Holmesincreasingly intriguing frequently irritating.somewhat snobby.occasionally generous.QUESTION 12As used in line 5, “casual” most nearly fortable.relaxed.occasional.QUESTION 13As presented in the passage, Sherlock Holmes is best described asvery secretive and hard to understand.an excellent companion to Watson.highly regarded by his peers.an unusual and extraordinary man.QUESTION 14As used in line 8, “torpor” most nearly meansagitation.sluggishness.alertness.illness.QUESTION 15The passage most strongly suggests that which of the following is true of Holmes?He tried, but failed, to become a doctor.He was an excellent student at the university.He studies things he is passionate about.He is considered an expert in philosophy.QUESTION 16Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?Lines 12-17 (“His hands were . . .instruments”)Lines 18-20 (“He was not . . . that point”)Lines 24-28 (“Yet his . . . astounded me”)Lines 28-30 (“Surely no man . . . in view”)QUESTION 17The passage most strongly suggests that Holmes believes which of the following about learning?People should study broadly to know something about everything.Philosophy is not a valid field of study to pursue.The brain is limited in capacity, so you should prioritize what you learn.The Copernican Theory is unfounded and therefore should not be studied.QUESTION 18Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?Line 34 (“His ignorance . . . his knowledge”)Lines 35-36 (“Of contemporary . . . nothing”)Lines 42-45 (“That any . . . realize it”)Lines 66-68 (“It is of the . . . ones”)QUESTION 19The comparison of the brain to an attic mainly serves todemonstrate Holmes’s unique views on how a person should make use of knowledge.illustrate Watson’s combative nature.provide an alternate explanation for why Holmes doesn’t know about Copernicus.resolve the conflict between Watson and Holmes.QUESTION 20The decision to tell the story from Watson’s point of view suggests that the authorwants the reader to dislike Holmes.needed a sympathetic narrator.will focus the rest of the story on Watson’s actions.hopes the reader will share Watson’s curiosity about Holmes.Line5101520253035Questions 22-31 are based on the followingpassage.This passage is adapted from Elizabeth Cady Stanton’saddress to the 1869 Woman Suffrage Convention inWashington, DC. I urge a sixteenth amendment, because “manhoodsuffrage,” or a man’s government, is civil, religious,and social disorganization. The male element is adestructive force, stern, selfish, aggrandizing, lovingwar, violence, conquest, acquisition, breeding in thematerial and moral world alike discord, disorder,disease, and death. See what a record of blood andcruelty the pages of history reveal! Through whatslavery, slaughter, and sacrifice, through whatinquisitions and imprisonments, pains andpersecutions, black codes and gloomy creeds, thesoul of humanity has struggled for the centuries,while mercy has veiled her face and all hearts havebeen dead alike to love and hope! The male element has held high carnival thus far;it has fairly run riot from the beginning,overpowering the feminine element everywhere,crushing out all the diviner qualities in humannature, until we know but little of true manhood andwomanhood, of the latter comparatively nothing, forit has scarce been recognized as a power until withinthe last century. Society is but the reflection of manhimself, untempered by woman’s thought; the hardiron rule we feel alike in the church, the state, and thehome. No one need wonder at the disorganization, atthe fragmentary condition of everything, when weremember that man, who represents but half acomplete being, with but half an idea on everysubject, has undertaken the absolute control of allsublunary matters. People object to the demands of those whom theychoose to call the strong-minded, because they say“the right of suffrage will make the womenmasculine.” That is just the difficulty in which we areinvolved today. Though disfranchised, we have fewwomen in the best sense; we have simply so manyreflections, varieties, and dilutions of the masculinegender. The strong, natural characteristics ofwomanhood are repressed and ignored in40 455055606570758085dependence, for so long as man feeds woman shewill try to please the giver and adapt herself to hiscondition. To keep a foothold in society, womanmust be as near like man as possible, reflect his ideas,opinions, virtues, motives, prejudices, and vices. Shemust respect his statutes, though they strip her ofevery inalienable right, and conflict with that higherlaw written by the finger of God on her own soul.... . . . [M]an has been molding woman to his ideasby direct and positive influences, while she, if not anegation, has used indirect means to control him,and in most cases developed the very characteristicsboth in him and herself that needed repression.And now man himself stands appalled at the resultsof his own excesses, and mourns in bitterness thatfalsehood, selfishness, and violence are the law of life.The need of this hour is not territory, gold mines,railroads, or specie payments but a new evangel ofwomanhood, to exalt purity, virtue, morality, truereligion, to lift man up into the higher realms ofthought and action. We ask woman’s enfranchisement, as the first steptoward the recognition of that essential element ingovernment that can only secure the health, strength,and prosperity of the nation. Whatever is done to liftwoman to her true position will help to usher in anew day of peace and perfection for the race. In speaking of the masculine element, I do notwish to be understood to say that all men are hard,selfish, and brutal, for many of the most beautifulspirits the world has known have been clothed withmanhood; but I refer to those characteristics, thoughoften marked in woman, that distinguish what iscalled the stronger sex. For example, the love ofacquisition and conquest, the very pioneers ofcivilization, when expended on the earth, the sea, theelements, the riches and forces of nature, are powersof destruction when used to subjugate one man toanother or to sacrifice nations to ambition.Here that great conservator of woman’s love, ifpermitted to assert itself, as it naturally would infreedom against oppression, violence, and war,would hold all these destructive forces in check, forwoman knows the cost of life better than man does,and not with her consent would one drop of bloodever be shed, one life sacrificed in vain.QUESTION 22The central problem that Stanton describes in the passage is that women have beendenied equal educational opportunities, which has kept them from reaching their potential.prevented from exerting their positive influence on men, which has led to societal breakdown.prevented from voting, which has resulted in poor candidates winning important elections.blocked by men from serving as legislators, which has allowed the creation of unjust laws.QUESTION 23Stanton uses the phrase “high carnival” (line 15) mainly to emphasize what she sees as theutter domination of women by men.freewheeling spirit of the age.scandalous decline in moral values.growing power of women in society.QUESTION 24Stanton claims that which of the following was a relatively recent historical development?The control of society by menThe spread of war and injusticeThe domination of domestic life by menThe acknowledgment of women’s true characterQUESTION 25Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?Lines 3-7 (“The male... death”)Lines 15-22 (“The male... century”)Lines 22-25 (“Society... home”)Lines 48-52 (“[M]an... repression”)QUESTION 26As used in line 24, “rule” most nearly refers toa general guideline.a controlling force.an established habit.a procedural method.QUESTION 27It can reasonably be inferred that “the strong-minded” (line 32) was a term generally intended topraise women who fight for their long-denied rights.identify women who demonstrate intellectual skill.criticize women who enter male-dominated professions.condemn women who agitate for the vote for their sex.QUESTION 28As used in line 36, “best” most nearly meanssuperior.excellent.genuine.rarest.QUESTION 29Stanton contends that the situation she describes in the passage has become so dire that even men have begun tolament the problems they have created.join the call for woman suffrage.consider women their social equals.ask women how to improve civic life.QUESTION 30Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?Lines 25-30 (“No one... matters”)Lines 53-55 (“And now... life”)Lines 56-60 (“The need... action”)Lines 61-64 (“We ask... nation”)QUESTION 31The sixth paragraph (lines 67-78) is primarily concerned with establishing a contrast betweenmen and women.the spiritual world and the material world.bad men and good men.men and masculine traits.Line51015202530354045Questions 32-41 are based on the followingpassage.The following passages are concerned with meditation,particularly the practice of mindfulness. Passage 1provides an overview of meditation, while Passage 2focuses on a particular practitioner, Congressmen TimRyan.Passage 1Meditation has been around for thousands ofyears, starting as a religious practice. Hindu scripturefrom around 1500 BCE describes meditating onthe divine, and art from this time period showspeople sitting cross-legged and solitary in a garden. In China and India around the fifth century BCE,other forms of meditation developed. Severalreligions, including Taoism, Buddhism, Islam, andChristianity, have meditative rites. In 20th-centuryEurope and America, secular forms of meditationarrived from India. Rather than focusing on spiritualgrowth, secular meditation emphasizes stress reduction,relaxation, and self-improvement. Although it still isn’t exactly mainstream,many people practice meditation. Mindfulnessmeditation, in particular, has become morepopular in recent years. The practice involvessitting comfortably, focusing on one’s breathing,and bringing the mind’s attention to the present.Concerns about the past or future are let go of. An individual can picture worries popping like abubble or flitting away like a butterfly.Mindfulness is about increasing awarenessand practicing acceptance. To be present is tohave sharpened attention, or to be in a stateof heightened consciousness. Practitioners ofmindfulness report having a better quality ofexperience, deeper engagement, and greatermeasure of fulfillment. There are also health benefits. According tothe Mayo Clinic, “Meditation can give you asense of calm, peace and balance that benefitsyour emotional well-being.” Among the emotionalbenefits are reducing negative emotions, increasedself-awareness, and stress management skills.Asthma, depression, and sleep disorders are allconditions worsened by stress. Several studies haveshown that patients with these conditions benefitfrom meditation. Dr. Robert Schneider, director of the Institutefor Natural Medicine and Prevention, says, “I havebeen researching effects of meditation on healthfor thirty years and have found it has compellingbenefits. The benefits of meditation are coming tobe widely accepted by health professionals, businessleaders, and the media. It is now time for themedical profession to catch up.”50556065707580859095100Passage 2 In 2008, hoping to relax from his stressful job,Congressman Tim Ryan took a weekend retreat where he first practiced mindfulness meditation.“I came out of it,” he says, “with a whole new way of relating with what was going on in the world.”Now Ryan is an advocate for the benefits of meditation on health, performance, and social aware-ness. In the busy and aggressive world of Washington politics, he’s a voice for calm consideration. Every week Ryan, a Democrat representing the 13th congressional district of Ohio, hosts a meditation session for his staff and any other members of Congress who want to join. Despite the fact that Republicans and Democrats are considered politically opposed, Ryan believes that the benefits of meditation ought to appeal to membersof both parties. Meditation promotes self-reliance and fiscal conservation because it’s a health practice that can be self-sustained and doesn’t require costly memberships or equipment. In 2010, Ryan wrote the book A Mindful Nation: How a Simple Practice Can Help Us Reduce Stress, Improve Performance, and Recapture the American Spirit, in which he advocates increased mindfulness in many disciplines and professions. After its publication, kindergarten classes in his Ohio district started using deep-breathing techniques;now teachers rave about their students’ improvedbehavior. “Mental discipline, focus, self-reliance,deep listening—these are fundamental skills thatare essential to kids’ education,” Ryan says. “We yellat kids to pay attention, but we never teach themhow to pay attention.” Word seems to be spreading around Capitol Hill.“I’ve had members of Congress approach me andsay, ‘I want to learn more about this,’” Ryan says.“Between the fundraising, being away from family,(and) the environment of hyperpartisanship,Washington is really stressing people out.” Ryan supports legislation that puts meditation togood use for everyone. Among other bills, he hassponsored one to increase the holistic-medicineofferings of the Department of Veterans Affairs.“And I haven’t met anyone in the country that isn’tfeeling a high level of anxiety right now, given theeconomy and what’s going on in the world. Somindfulness is for everyone.” Mr. Ryan is quick to point out that mindfulnessis not a religious practice, but rather a secularmental technique that can be effective regardless ofspiritual beliefs. He compares it to his grandparentspraying and to athletes working out until they feel“in the zone.” “Your mind and body sync up into a flow state,without a lot of mental chatter,” Mr. Ryan says.QUESTION 32The central idea of Passage 1 is that meditation and mindfulnesswere first practiced as religious rites.are becoming more accepted because of their benefits.are valuable tools for psychologists.help practitioners focus on their inner lives.QUESTION 33Passage 1 most strongly suggests that which of the following is true?Individuals who practice mediation are less likely to develop illness.Meditation helps people advance in their careers.Not many studies have been done on the results of daily meditation.Many medical professionals embrace the benefits of meditation.QUESTION 34Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?Lines 2-5 (“Hindu scripture . . . in a garden”)Lines 15-17 (“Mindfulness meditation . . .in recent years”)\Lines 24-26 (“To be present . . . consciousness”)Lines 30-33 (“According to . . . well-being”)QUESTION 35As used in line 43, “compelling” most nearly meanscreative.judicial.persuasive.adaptable.QUESTION 36In Passage 2, what can be inferred about the author’s point of view on meditation?The author is uncertain about its value.The author likes it but acknowledges its limits.The author appreciates its value.The author is devoted to it.QUESTION 37Passage 2 most strongly suggests that which of the following is true of Mr. Ryan?He acts on his beliefs.He is afraid to try new things.\He likes to try new things.He is concerned about bipartisanship.QUESTION 38Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?Lines 48-50 (“In 2008 . . . mindfulness meditation”)Lines 64-67 (“Meditation promotes . . . or equipment”)Lines 88-90 (“Among other bills . . . Affairs”)Lines 95-98 (“Mr. Ryan . . . spiritual beliefs”)QUESTION 39As used in line 96, “secular” most nearly meansnonreligious.serious.impersonal.pristine.QUESTION 40In Passage 2, the author’s use of the word “chatter” (line 102) implies thathaving an inner dialogue is a useful tool.people enjoy imagining themselves in various situations.meditation supporters talk about its surprises.much of what people think is relatively unimportant.QUESTION 41Both passages support which generalization about mindfulness meditation?It has become an acceptable way to show spirituality.It is making inroads into U.S. culture.It should be utilized in public institutions.It will soon be embraced by the American public.QUESTION 42Data in the graph provide most direct support for which claim from the passages?Meditation improves a person’s focus and discipline.Children benefit from learning deep breathing techniques.Meditation makes a person more generous.Health professionals are open to the idea of meditation being healthful.Answers & ExplanationsQUESTION 1.Choice D is the best answer. In lines 11-12, the author introduces the main purpose of the passage, which is to examine the “different views on where ethics should apply when someone makes an economic decision.” The passage examines what historical figures Adam Smith, Aristotle, and John Stuart Mill believed about the relationship between ethics and economics.Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because they identify certain points addressed in the passage (cost-benefit analysis, ethical economic behavior, and the role of the free market), but do not describe the passage’s main purpose.QUESTION 2.Choice D is the best answer. In lines 4-5, the author suggests that people object to criticizing ethics in free markets because they believe free markets are inherently ethical, and therefore, the role of ethics in free markets is unnecessary to study. In the opinion of the critics, free markets are ethical because they allow individuals to make their own choices about which goods to purchase and which goods to sell.Choices A and B are incorrect because they are not objections that criticize the ethics of free markets. Choice C is incorrect because the author does not present the opinion that free markets depend on devalued currency.QUESTION 3.Choice A is the best answer. In lines 4-5, the author states that some people believe that free markets are “already ethical” because they “allow for personal choice.” This statement provides evidence that some people believe criticizing the ethics of free markets is unnecessary because free markets permit individuals to make their own choices.Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because they do not provide the best evidence of an objection to a critique of the ethics of free markets.QUESTION 4.Choice B is the best answer. In lines 6-7, the author states that people “have accepted the ethical critique and embraced corporate social responsibility.” In this context, people “embrace,” or readily adopt, corporate social responsibilityby acting in a certain way.Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because in this context “embraced” does not mean lovingly held, eagerly hugged, or reluctantly used.QUESTION 5.Choice C is the best answer. The third and fourth paragraphs of the passage present Adam Smith’s and Aristotle’s different approaches to defining ethics in economics. The fifth paragraph offers a third approach to defining ethical economics, how “instead of rooting ethics in character or the consequences of actions, we can focus on our actions themselves. From this perspective some things are right, some wrong” (lines 45-48).Choice A is incorrect because the fifth paragraph does not develop a counterargument. Choices B and D are incorrect because although “character” is briefly mentioned in the fifth paragraph, its relationship to ethics is examined in the fourth paragraph.QUESTION 6.Choice A is the best answer. In lines 57-59, the author states that “Many moral dilemmas arise when these three versions pull in different directions but clashes are not inevitable.” In this context, the three different perspectives on ethical economics may “clash,” or conflict, with one another.Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because in this context “clashes” does not mean mismatches, collisions, or brawls.QUESTION 7.Choice C is the best answer. In lines 59-64, the author states, “Take fair trade coffee . . . for example: buying it might have good consequences, be virtuous, and also be the right way to act in a flawed market.” The author is suggesting that in the example of fair trade coffee, all three perspectives about ethical economics—Adam Smith’s belief in consequences dictating action, Aristotle’s emphasis on character, and the third approach emphasizing the virtue of good actions—can be applied. These three approaches share“common ground” (line 64), as they all can be applied to the example of fair trade coffee without contradicting one another.Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because they do not show how the three different approaches to ethical economics share common ground. Choice A simply states that there are “different views on ethics” in economics, choice B explains the third ethical economics approach, and choice D suggests that people “behave like a herd” when considering economics.QUESTION 8.Choice C is the best answer. In lines 83-88, the author states that psychology can help “define ethics for us,” which can help explain why people “react in disgust at economic injustice, or accept a moral law as universal.”Choices A and B are incorrect because they identify topics discussed in the final paragraph (human quirks and people’s reaction to economic injustice) but not its main idea. Choice D is incorrect because the final paragraph does not suggest that economists may be responsible for reforming the free market.QUESTION 9.Choice A is the best answer. The data in the graph show that in Tanzania between the years 2000 and 2008, fair trade coffee profits were around $1.30 per pound, while profits of regular coffee were in the approximate range of 20–60 cents per pound.Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because they are not supported by information in the graph.QUESTION 10.Choice B is the best answer. The data in the graph indicate that between 2002 and 2004 the difference in per-pound profits between fair trade and regular coffee was about $1. In this time period, fair trade coffee was valued at around $1.30 per pound and regular coffee was valued at around 20 cents per pound. The graph also shows that regular coffee recorded the lowest profits between the years 2002 and 2004, while fair trade coffee remained relatively stable throughout the entire eight-year span (2000 to 2008).Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because they do not indicate the greatest difference between per-pound profits for fair trade and regular coffee.QUESTION 11Choice A Difficulty: Easy Category: DetailGetting to the Answer: Eliminate answers that go against your understanding of the characters in the passage. The first paragraph explicitly states that Watson’s curiosity about Holmes “gradually deepened and increased” (lines 2-3). Choice (A) is the correct answer.QUESTION 12Choice D Difficulty: Medium Category: Vocab-in-ContextGetting to the Answer: Predict a word that could be substituted for “casual“ in context. Watson is explaining that Holmes’ appearance is noticeable even to someone who hasn’t seen him very often; therefore, (D) is correct.QUESTION 13Choice D Difficulty: Easy Category: GlobalGetting to the Answer: The central idea in this passage should reflect the overall picture the author paints of Sherlock Holmes. The passage develops Holmes as an unusual and eccentric character. Watson marvels at Holmes’ failure to pursue a typical path for an intelligent person, for example, and describes in detail how Holmes’ behavior and knowledge deviate from the ordinary. Choice (D) is the only answer choice that is directly supported by details in the passage.QUESTION 14Choice B Difficulty: Medium Category: Vocab-in-ContextGetting to the Answer: Use context clues to help you predict the meaning of the word as it is used in the sentence. In this sentence, the context clues provide a contrast to the target word. Watson says Holmes is usually “sharp” and “hawk-like” with great “alertness” except when he is in a period of "torpor" (lines 7-10). You can predict that the meaning of “torpor” will be something close to the opposite of sharp and alert. Choice (B) is the correct answer.QUESTION 15Choice C Difficulty: Easy Category: InferenceGetting to the Answer: Look for clues in the passage about how and why Holmes studies and learns. Watson notes that Holmes has not studied anything “which might fit him for a degree” (lines 21-22). This suggests that his learning is not motivated by something external, like a degree, but by his personal interests. Likewise, he has a “zeal” for particular subjects (line 24). Choice (C) reflects Holmes’s motives for studying.QUESTION 16Choice C Difficulty: Medium Category: Command of EvidenceGetting to the Answer: Eliminate answer choices that don’t explain why Holmes studies. A correct answer will allow you to make a logical guess as to Holmes’s motives for studying. Choice (C) provides the best evidence by illustrating that Holmes pursues topics that he is passionate about rather than studying for external motivations.QUESTION 17Choice C Difficulty: Medium Category: InferenceGetting to the Answer: Closely read Holmes’s own statements for clues about his views. Holmes clearly suggests that the brain can only hold a limited amount of information, so one should prioritize the things that are most important. Therefore, (C) is the correct answer.QUESTION 18Choice D Difficulty: Easy Category: Command of EvidenceGetting to the Answer: Reread each quote in the context of the passage. Find the one that supports the previous answer by giving evidence of Holmes’ own ideas about learning. Of all the answer choices, Holmes’ own statement about the necessity of prioritizing useful facts most directly supports the previous answer. Choice (D) is the correct answer.QUESTION 19Choice A Difficulty: Medium Category: RhetoricGetting to the Answer: Consider what this figurative use of “attic” helps reveal about the character of Holmes. The author has Holmescompare the human brain to an attic to help illustrate Holmes’s beliefs about useful facts versus those not worth learning. Choice (A) is the correct answer.QUESTION 20Choice D Difficulty: Medium Category: RhetoricGetting to the Answer: Think about what insights the reader gains by having Watson narrate the story. The author is able to establish Holmes as an intriguing character by showing Watson’s thoughts and reactions to Holmes. Presumably, readers will want to find out more about Holmes because the narrator depicts him as a fascinating person. Choice (D) fits this situation.QUESTION 21Choice B is the best answer. In lines 16-31, Stanton argues that men make all the decisions in “the church, the state, and the home.” This absolute power has led to a disorganized society, a “fragmentary condition of everything.” Stanton confirms this claim when she states that society needs women to “lift man up into the higher realms of thought and action” (lines 60-61).Choices A and D are incorrect because Stanton does not focus on women’s lack of equal educational opportunities or inability to hold political positions. Choice C is incorrect because although Stanton implies women are not allowed to vote, she never mentions that “poor candidates” are winning elections.QUESTION 22Choice B is the best answer. In lines 16-31, Stanton argues that men make all the decisions in “the church, the state, and the home.” This absolute power has led to a disorganized society, a “fragmentary condition of everything.” Stanton confirms this claim when she states that society needs women to “lift man up into the higher realms of thought and action” (lines 60-61).Choices A and D are incorrect because Stanton does not focus on women’s lack of equal educational opportunities or inability to hold political positions. Choice C is incorrect because although Stanton implies women are not allowed to vote, she never mentions that “poor candidates” are winning elections.QUESTION 23Choice A is the best answer. Stanton argues that women are repressed in society because men hold “high carnival,” or have all the power, and make the rules in “the church, the state, and the home” (lines 16-31). Stanton claims that men have total control over women, “overpowering the feminine element everywhere” (line 18).Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because Stanton does not use the term “high carnival” to emphasize that the time period is freewheeling, or unrestricted; that there has been a scandalous decline in moral values; or that the power of women is growing.QUESTION 24Choice D is the best answer. In lines 16-23, Stanton states that men’s absolute rule in society is “crushing out all the diviner qualities in human nature,” such that society knows very “little of true manhood and womanhood.” Stanton argues that society knows less about womanhood than manhood, because womanhood has “scarce been recognized as a power until within the last century.” This statement indicates that society’s acknowledgement of “womanhood,” or women’s true character, is a fairly recent historical development.Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because Stanton describes men’s control of society, their domination of the domestic sphere, and the prevalence of war and injustice as long-established realities.QUESTION 25Choice B is the best answer. In lines 16-23, Stanton provides evidence for the claim that society’s acknowledgement of “womanhood,” or women’s true character, is a fairly recent historical development: “[womanhood] has scarce been recognized as a power until within the last century.”Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because they do not provide the best evidence that society’s acknowledgement of “womanhood,” or women’s true character, is a fairly recent historical development. Rather, choices A, C, and D discuss men’s character, power, and influence.QUESTION 26Choice B is the best answer. In lines 23-26, Stanton states, “Society is but the reflection of man himself, untempered by woman’s thought; the hard iron rule we feel alike in the church, the state, and the home.” In this context, man’s “rule” in “the church, the state, and the home” means that men have a controlling force in all areas of society.Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because in this context “rule” does not mean a general guideline, an established habit, or a procedural method.QUESTION 27Choice D is the best answer. In lines 32-35, Stanton argues that people use the term “the strong-minded” to refer to women who advocate for “the right to suffrage,” or the right to vote in elections. In this context, people use the term “the strong-minded” to criticize female suffragists, as they believe voting will make women too “masculine.”Choices A and B are incorrect because Stanton does not suggest that people use the term “the strong-minded” as a compliment. Choice C is incorrect because Stanton suggests that “the strong-minded” is a term used to criticize women who want to vote, not those who enter male-dominated professions.QUESTION 28Choice C is the best answer. In lines 36-39, Stanton states that society contains hardly any women in the “best sense,” and clarifies that too many women are “reflections, varieties, and dilutions of the masculine gender.” Stanton is suggesting that there are few “best,” or genuine, women who are not completely influenced or controlled by men. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because in this context “best” does not mean superior, excellent, or rarest.QUESTION 29Choice A is the best answer. In lines 54-56, Stanton argues that man “mourns,” or regrets, how his power has caused “falsehood, selfishness, and violence” to become the “law” of society. Stanton is arguing that men are lamenting, or expressing regret about, how their governance has created problems.Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because Stanton does not suggest that men are advocating for women’s right to vote or for female equality, nor are they requesting women’s opinions about improving civic life.QUESTION 30Choice B is the best answer. In lines 54-56, Stanton provides evidence that men are lamenting the problems they have created, as they recognize that their actions have caused “falsehood, selfishness, and violence [to become] the law of life.”Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because they do not provide the best evidence that men are lamenting the problems they have created. Choice A explains society’s current fragmentation. Choices C and D present Stanton’s main argument for women’s enfranchisement.QUESTION 31Choice D is the best answer. In the sixth paragraph, Stanton differentiates between men and masculine traits. Stanton argues that masculine traits or “characteristics,” such as a “love of acquisition and conquest,” serve to “subjugate one man to another” (lines 680). Stanton is suggesting that some masculine traits position men within certain power structures.Choices A and B are incorrect because the sixth paragraph does not primarily establish a contrast between men and women or between the spiritual and material worlds. Choice C is incorrect because although Stanton argues that not “all men are hard, selfish, and brutal,” she does not discuss what constitutes a “good” man.QUESTION 32Choice B Difficulty: Medium Category: GlobalGetting to the Answer: Focus on the big picture rather than supporting details. Choice (B) correctly identifies the central idea in the passage. The other choices are based on misinformation or are details.QUESTION 33Choice D Difficulty: Hard Category: InferenceGetting to the Answer: Keep the central idea of the passage in mind as you look for information in the passage about each of the choices. Determine which one can be inferred as true. The last two paragraphs of Passage 1 discuss “health benefits” of meditation (line 30), studies showing positive results of meditation, and a quote from a professional about meditation's advantages. This matches choice (D).QUESTION 34Choice D Difficulty: Medium Category: Command of EvidenceGetting to the Answer: Avoid choices that do not provide direct evidence to support your answer to the previous question. Choice (D) supports the inference that some medical professionals accept meditation as beneficial.QUESTION 35Choice C Difficulty: Easy Category: Vocab-in-ContextGetting to the Answer: Predict a word that could substitute for "compelling" in context. The context of the sentence suggests that meditation has great or convincing benefits. Therefore, (C) is correct.QUESTION 36Choice C Difficulty: Easy Category: InferenceGetting to the Answer: Remember that you’re analyzing the author’s point of view on meditation, not Tim Ryan’s view. Since the author makes statements such as calling Ryan a “voice for calm consideration,” (line 56), the author must hold a positive view ofmeditation. However, there is little evidence that the author is devoted to meditation. Choice (C) correctly reflects the author’s point of view.QUESTION 37Choice. A Difficulty: Easy Category: InferenceGetting to the Answer: Determine what can be inferred about Ryan’s personality from what is stated in the passage. The passage contains numerous examples of Ryan putting his belief in the value of mindfulness into action. For instance, he hosts meditation sessions for his staff and supports legislation promoting meditation. Choice (A) is the correct answer.QUESTION 38Choice C Difficulty: Medium Category: Command of EvidenceGetting to the Answer: Be careful of choices that do not provide direct evidence to support the inference about Ryan from the previous question. Choice (C) is correct. Mr. Ryan shows that he acts on what he believes by supporting legislation that encourages meditation, such as the bill supporting the increase in holistic medicine offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs.QUESTION 39Choice A Difficulty: Easy Category: Vocab-in-ContextGetting to the Answer: Predict a word that is a synonym for "secular" in context. In the context of the sentence, “but rather” indicates that “secular” means the opposite of “religious,” so (A) is the correct answer.QUESTION 40Choice D Difficulty: Easy Category: RhetoricGetting to the Answer: Reread the sentence to determine what connotative meaning the author suggests through the use of “chatter.” Since “chatter” in this sentence is contrasted with the “mind and body” syncing together, the word has a negative connotationthat suggests background noise or frequent talk. Only (D) fits with this meaning.QUESTION 41Choice. B Difficulty: Medium Category: SynthesisGetting to the Answer: Look for an answer that fits with the purposes of both passages. Avoid choices that are suggested by only one of the passages. Both passages discuss changing attitudes regarding the efficacy of mindfulness meditation: Passage 1 states it is becoming “more popular” (lines 16–17) and “widely accepted by health professionals” (line 45), while Passage 2 describes the impact of a politician who is promoting meditation. Only (B) reflects this.QUESTION 42Choice A Difficulty: Medium Category: SynthesisGetting to the Answer: Examine the graphic and the two passages to figure out which answer choice is supported by all three. The passages both discussed benefits of meditation. The graphic shows that workers were more productive and had fewer injuries after being in a meditation program. Choice (A) is the only one that relates to the information in the graphic.Works CitedCollege Board. SAT Suite of Assessments. January 2018. SAT Practice Test 2 (Questions 1-10)SAT Kaplan Test 1 (Questions 11-21) ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download