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Name: English Test MP3

Read the passage and answer the questions 1-17 that follow.

Dogs of the USDA from Nosing Around U.S. Borders

Susan Essoyan

1 The well-dressed tourist took her eyes off the baggage carousel for a moment, smiled and cooed in Japanese, “Hello, little Mr. Woof-Woof. Here you are.”

2 She plopped her bag on the ground for the veteran detective, a beagle called Junior, who trotted forward to get a whiff. When the dog finished and turned away, signaling that the bag had passed inspection, the woman dissolved into laugher.

3 “They think he’s cute,” said Junior’s handler, Mike Simon, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) senior canine officer in Honolulu. Travelers don’t object to Junior’s search, which is not always the case with traditional inspections. “He’s more like a mascot,” Simon said.

4 Despite Junior’s engaging personality, the 6-year-old dog has a serious mission: to help protect U.S. agriculture from foreign pests and diseases. He and the 60 other dogs in the USDA’s Beagle Brigade cruise international airports across the country in search of forbidden fruit, vegetables, plants, and meat.

5 Many international travelers don’t realize that even a single piece of fruit packed in a suitcase has the potential to unleash a pest that could devastate U.S. crops. Working in concert with X-ray and visual searches conducted by the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the Beagle Brigade helps to prevent prohibited goods from crossing U.S. borders.

6 The brigade began in 1984 with one dog at Los Angeles International Airport but has proved so effective that teams now patrol 20 international airports in the United States. John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York has the largest contingent with 10 dogs, and Bangor, Maine, the smallest with just one working part time. Across the country, the Beagles and their handlers are responsible for about 60,000 seizures of prohibited agricultural products yearly.

1.The passage is an example of ____________ writing.

a. fiction b. nonfiction c. conflict d. instructional

2. What is the author’s purpose for the entire passage?

a. entertain b. persuade c. inform d. none

3. What is the passage’s setting in time?

a.1984 b. the past c. the future d. the present

4. From the information in the passage, you can predict that--

a. the USDA Beagle Brigade will continue to be used to protect U.S. agriculture

b. Junior will soon be replaced on the Beagle Brigade

c. other dogs in the Beagle Brigade will learn from Junior

d. travelers will quit carrying forbidden agricultural products into the United States

5. What is the connotation for the word cooed as used in the following passage from paragraph 1?

The well-dressed tourist took her eyes off the baggage carousel for a moment, smiled and cooed in Japanese, “Hello, little Mr. Woof-Woof. Here you are.”

a. positive b. negative c. a denotation d. not enough information to tell

6. Use the following passage from paragraph 5 to answer:

“the Beagle Brigade helps to prevent prohibited goods from crossing U.S. borders.”

The word prohibited in this passage means

a. tropical b. agricultural c. forbidden d. perishable

7. The author of the passage gives you enough information to conclude that--

a. John F. Kennedy Airport probably has the greatest number of international flights

b. tourists slow the process of bag inspection by playing with the dogs

c. the United States has little reason to fear forbidden fruits and vegetables

d. other breeds of dogs might successfully be trained to work in the USDA

8. Which of these is the best summary of the passage?

a. The author uses a scene from Honolulu International Airport to illustrate an ongoing danger to U.S. agriculture.

b. The author explains how beagles like Junior help protect U.S. agriculture from foreign pests and diseases.

c. The author shows that beagles like Junior make not only good pets but also good workers.

d.The author shows how searches by the USDA’s Beagle Brigade amuse rather than offend tourists.

9. The author wrote about the incident with the Japanese tourist to show that--

a. tourists don’t mind inspections from the Beagle Brigade

b. tourists should be treated with respect

c. animals get nicknames from the sounds they make

d. people speak respectfully to dogs in the Beagle Brigade

10. Which of the following is an opinion found in the passage?

a. The brigade began in 1984 with one dog at Los Angeles International Airport.

b. The beagles are cute.

c. The 6-year old dog has a mission.

d. The Beagle Brigade helps to prevent prohibited goods from crossing the U.S. borders.

11. Which paragraph contains all facts and no opinions?

a. paragraph 1 b. paragraph 3 c. paragraph 4 d. paragraph 6

12. Which of these questions does the passage NOT answer?

a. What is the danger in bringing illegal food and plant items into the United States?

b. What does USDA stand for?

c. What is the punishment for bringing illegal food and plant items into the United States?

d. How has the Beagle Brigade grown since the program’s beginning?

13. In paragraph 6, what would the root word of international be?

a. inter b. al c. national d. nation

14. What part of speech is the word Junior, as it is used in paragraph 2?

a. noun b. adjective c. pronoun d. preposition

15. What part of speech is the word Junior’s, as it is used in paragraph 3?

a. noun b. adjective c. pronoun d. preposition

Use the following to answer 16. Definitions for the word contingent are:

adjective

1. dependent for existence, occurrence, character, etc., on something not yet certain; conditional (often followed by on  or upon  ): Our plans are contingent on the weather.

2. happening by chance or without known cause; fortuitous; accidental: contingent occurrences.

noun

3. a quota of troops furnished.

4. the proportion that falls to one as a share to be contributed or furnished.

16. Which best defines the word contingent as it is used in paragraph 6?

“John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York has the largest contingent with 10 dogs, and Bangor, Maine, the smallest with just one working part time.”

a. definition 1 b. definition 2 c. definition 3 d. definition 4

Use the following to answer 17. Definitions for the word seize are:

verb

1. to take hold of suddenly or forcibly; grasp: to seize a weapon.

2. to grasp mentally; understand clearly and completely: to seize an idea.

3. to take possession of by force or at will: to seize enemy ships.

4. to take possession of by legal authority; confiscate: to seize smuggled goods.

17. Seize is the root word for seizure. Which best defines the word seizure as it is used in paragraph 6?

“Across the country, the Beagles and their handlers are responsible for about 60,000 seizures of prohibited agricultural products yearly.”

a. definition 1 b. definition 2 c. definition 3 d. definition 4

The Three Wishes

Once upon a time there lived a poor old woodcutter and his wife in a little cottage at the edge of the forest. Every day the poor man came back home tired, hungry, and weary after the heavy work he had done.

“Ah, he said to his wife one evening, “if only my wishes could come true, how happy we should be!”

“What do you mean, husband?” asked the wife crossly. “You are never satisfied. We have health and strength and a cottage to live in, so why grumble?”

But the poor man was not content and he kept on thinking how nice it would be if his wishes could come true.

One morning he was just about to fell a huge tree with his axe, when a little elf appeared at his elbow from nowhere and said, “Good morning, Mr. Woodcutter, please don’t cut this tree down. If you don’t, I will grant you any three wishes that may be made in your cottage.”

The old woodcutter was so dazed he did not know what to say or do. So he muttered in confusion:

“All right, just as you say.” And the elf disappeared into thin air and was never seen again.

The old woodcutter rushed home to his wife and in great excitement told her what happened. But instead of being delighted as he expected she would be, she was more cross than ever and said:

“Silly husband, fancy listening to an elf. We need that firewood. Don’t let it happen again.” And she went on scolding the poor woodcutter all day long until suppertime came. And she was still cross even then and would not give him any supper.

“Ah!” said the man as he sat by the empty table almost famished, “I wish I had a good string of sausages. I’m fair starvin’.”

No sooner were the words out of his mouth than there was a great clatter, clatter, clatter, the door flew open, and a long string of juicy red sausages came to land on the table in front of him.

Was his wife surprised? Not at all! She became crosser than ever.

“What a silly thing to wish!” she cried. “I only wish they had landed at the end of your nose.” No sooner had she said these words than -- SWISH, SWIZZLE, and YAKKITY-DOZE and the sausages hung at the end of his nose.

“Goodness gracious me,” cried the wife, “I didn’t know that my wishes would come true as well.”

“Yes, yes!” said her poor husband. “Any wishes that are made in this cottage. That’s what the elf said.”

Well, he started to pull at the sausages. He pulled and pulled with all his might and main, but they still stuck to his nose.

“Help me, good wife,” he pleaded. “Please help me!”

His wife realized he looked rather silly like that so she began to tug as well. They both tugged and tugged until they nearly pulled the poor woodcutter’s nose off. But the sausages stuck fast and refused to budge.

“What will the neighbors think?” thought the wife.

“Well, I’ve got one wish left,” said the husband, “I wish these sausages were off and gone.”

No sooner had he said these words than – SWISH, SIZZLE, and YAKKITY-BON and the juicy sausages were off and gone!

So now all three wishes had been made. And so the woodcutter and his wife settled down once more to their usual life at the cottage, but from now on the husband remained content with his work and never again spent his time dreaming of wishes coming true.

18. This story is an example of what type of writing?

a. nonfiction b. science c. personal narrative d. fiction

19. What is the author’s purpose for the entire passage?

a. entertain b. persuade c. inform d. none

20. What is the setting of this story?

a. in the middle of a forest b. modern day time

c. in a castle in a magical time d. in a cottage in a magical time

21. What is the type of conflict is demonstrated when the wife wishes for the sausages to be on her husband’s nose?

a. person vs. person b. person vs. himself

c. person vs. technology d. person vs. nature

22. What is the theme of the story?

a. Don’t ever wish for sausages, they may get stuck on your nose.

b. Be happy with what you have and don’t wish for more.

c. Always wish for more than you have.

d. Don’t ever trust an elf.

23. Which sentence best summarizes the story?

a. A woodcutter doesn’t use the three wishes he is given wisely.

b. A woodcutter hates the life that he has.

c. An elf tries to trick a simple woodcutter.

d. A woodcutter’s wife tricks him into uses his wishes unwisely.

24. The woodcutter’s wife thinks that her husband might run into the elf again and get 3 more wishes.

This is an example of:

a. inference b. prediction c. conclusion d. summary

25. What does the underlined word fell mean in the following passage from the story?

One morning he was just about to fell a huge tree with his axe, when a little elf appeared at his elbow from nowhere and said, ”Good morning, Mr. Woodcutter, please don’t cut this tree down.

a. to trip b. to grow c. to cut d. to cook

26. What does the underlined word famished mean in the following passage from the story?

“Ah!” said the man as he sat by the empty table almost famished, “I wish I had a good string of sausages. I’m fair starvin’.”

a. asleep b. angry c. lonely d. hungry

27. Which of the following contains a synonym for the underlined word, as it is used in the passage?

“But the poor man was not content and he kept on thinking how nice it would be if his wishes could come true.”

a. The content of the book was written above grade level.

b. The teacher was pleased with the student’s work.

c. The wife was unhappy with the meal.

d. When someone tells a lie, it makes me angry!

28. Which of the following distinguishes fiction from nonfiction?

a. a narrator describes events in the selection

b. one or more characters and events are imagined

c. conversations take place among characters

d. events make up the action in the selection

29. A conflict in a story is

a. the highest point of excitement

b. the most interesting part

c. the outcome of a fight

d. a problem between characters or within the mind of a character

30. Which of the following best demonstrates a conflict between a character and society?

a. A woman wants to take her children into a quiet restaurant

b. A man cannot decide which color suit to wear to court

c. The neighbor’s dog keeps barking at night

d. A woman is angry because her city has banned owning cats and she has three

31. The following is an example of which figurative language?

The little boy grew like a weed.

a. simile b. metaphor

c. personification d. hyperbole

32.The following sentence is an example of which figurative language?

Her watermelon head barely fit through the door!

a. simile b. metaphor c. personification d. both b and c

33. The following is an example of which figurative language?

The wind played a game of toss with the man’s hat.

a. hyperbole b. simile c. metaphor d. personification

34. The following is an example of which figurative language?

When Yvonne learned she had won the lottery, she was on top of the world!

a. hyperbole b. simile c. metaphor d. personification

35. Identify the preposition in the following sentence:

Our black tabby cat sat near the table.

a. our b. black c. sat d. near

36. Identify the preposition in the following sentence:

I left the classroom and I went to the cafeteria.

a. I b. after c. went d. left

37. What is the prepositional phrase in the following sentence?

The Old London Bridge was designed by a priest.

a. The Old London Bridge b. was designed

c. by a priest d. none of the above

38.What is the prepositional phrase in the following sentence?

For thirty years, bridge builders worked to build it.

a. For thirty years b. bridge builders c. worked to build it d. none of the choices

39. What is the object of the preposition in the following sentence?

Someone in the store can help me.

a. someone b. in c. store d. can help

40. How many prepositions does the following sentence contain?

Down the road beside the tree in the grass, a little dog sat by his mother during her nap.

a. 5 b. 3 c. 4 d. 6

41. Which of the following is an example of a simile?

a. The print in my book is larger than the print in yours.

b. The baby’s belly was as round as a beach ball.

c. Of all the candy choices, I like chocolate the best.

d. She talked about me as if I were not there.

42. Which of the following is an example of a metaphor?

a. The newly paved road was a black satin ribbon in the moonlight.

b. The old lady’s hands were rough and scratchy.

c. The old brick building crumbled like a piece of stale bread.

d. The wind whistled through the cracks in the old house.

43. Which of the following is an example of personification?

a. The little girl’s giraffe legs made it hard to find pants that were long enough for her.

b. Her broomstick body swept across the floor.

c. The dog’s constant barking told me something was wrong.

d. The sunshine hugged me as I sat on the park bench.

44. Which of the following is an example of hyperbole?

a. Thousands of stars twinkled brightly in the night sky

b. My car was so hot, I could fry an egg on the hood!

c. Her hair is as dry as cotton hanging in the sun!

d. The dark clouds laughed at me when my umbrella blew away.

45-53 Identify the following words as synonyms, antonyms, homophones, or none of them.

45. knot, not

a. synonyms b. antonyms c. homophones d. none

46. note, letter

a. synonyms b. antonyms c. homophones d. none

47. demonstrate, hide

a. synonyms b. antonyms c. homophones d. none

48. cough, tough

a. synonyms b. antonyms c. homophones d. none

49. silence, noise

a. synonyms b. antonyms c. homophones d. none

50. dolphin, whale

a. synonyms b. antonyms c. homophones d. none

51. picture, photograph

a. synonyms b. antonyms c. homophones d. none

52. aisle, I’ll

a. synonyms b. antonyms c. homophones d. none

53. paste, paced

a. synonyms b. antonyms c. homophones d. none

54. Study the following words and definitions. Pay attention to the word part each has in common. Then answer the question that follows.

Unit -a single thing or person

United- made into or caused to act as a single entity

Unicorn -a mythical creature resembling a horse, with a single horn on its forehead

Unique -existing as the only one or as the sole example; single

Unicycle -a vehicle with one wheel

Based on the definitions, determine the meaning of the word unify. Which sentence correctly uses the word unify?

a. In order to win the game, the team members would have to unify their tactics.

b. The class will unify into several groups for the project.

c. If we unify at 9am for lunch, we won’t be hungry.

d. The policeman had to unify the judge to win the case.

For numbers 55-70, match the organizational pattern to each definition or example. You will use each twice.

a. Chronological

b. Comparison and contrast

c. Cause and effect

d. Problem and solution

e. Process

f. Enumeration or Listing

g. Concept/ definition

h. Generalization

55. identifies a problem and then proposes a solution

56. Explains the meaning of new words or phrases; a word or concept is introduced then explained or described

57. shows the relationship among events

58. a sequence of actions is described. It instructs the reader on how to do something (is basically a set of directions)

59. shows the ways in which two or more subjects are similar and different

60. lists information; may be items, facts, reasons, examples, features or characteristics

61. author gives a general (main) statement or idea supported by one or more examples.

62.presents details in time order, from first to last- or sometimes from last to first

63. All matter, all things can be changed in two ways: chemically and physically. Both chemical and physical changes affect the state of matter. Physical changes are those that do not change the make-up or identity of the matter. For example, clay will bend or flatten if squeezed, but it will still be clay. Changing the shape of clay is a physical change, and does not change the matter’s identity. Chemical changes turn the matter into a new kind of matter with different properties. For example, when paper is burnt, it becomes ash and will never be paper again. The difference between them is that physical changes are temporary or only last for a little while, and chemical changes are permanent, which means they last forever. Physical and chemical changes both affect the state of matter.

64. When I got home from school after a long boring day, I took out the peanut butter, jelly, and bread. After taking the lid off of the jars, I spread the peanut butter on one side of the bread and the jelly on the other, and then I put the two pieces of bread together. After that, I enjoyed it while watching “Cops” on the TV. I swear, that was the best peanut butter and jelly sandwich I ever ate.

65. Eating cereal is easy.  First, get out your materials.  Next, pour your cereal in the bowl. Then, add milk, and enjoy.

66. Thousands of people die each year in car accidents involving drugs or alcohol.  Lives could be saved if our town adopts a free public taxi service. By providing such a service, we could prevent intoxicated drivers from endangering themselves or others.

67. In recent decades, cities have grown so large that now about 50% of the Earth's population lives in urban areas. There are several reasons for this occurrence. First, the increasing industrialization of the nineteenth century resulted in the creation of many factory jobs, which tended to be located in cities. These jobs, with their promise of a better material life, attracted many people from rural areas. Second, there were many schools established to educate the children of the new factory laborers. The promise of a better education persuaded many families to leave farming communities and move to the cities. Finally, as the cities grew, people established places of leisure, entertainment, and culture, such as sports stadiums, theaters, and museums. For many people, these facilities made city life appear more interesting than life on the farm, and therefore drew them away from rural communities.

68. Many modern people are turning themselves into social victims. One example is a Tennessee woman who is suing McDonald’s because she was badly burned on the chin by a hot pickle in her hamburger. A Canadian woman is another example. She wants to ban the South Park television show because her son Kenny is victimized by the show’s Kenny character, who is killed in each episode. A third example is a group of European and Australian women who want to ban urinals in men’s restrooms becausethe require men to stand in a way that suggests violence toward women. Another group argues that single people are victimized because society ignores them.

69. Being a clown isn’t all fun and games. Rodeo clowns expose themselves to great danger every time they perform. When cowboys dismount or are bucked off of bulls at riding competitions, rodeo clowns jump in front of the bulls and motion wildly to get their attention. In this way rodeo clowns provide an alternate target, and in doing so protect the rider. So you see, sometimes clowning around can be serious business.

70. A boycott is an organized refusal by people to deal with a person or group in order to reach a certain goal. An example is the famous boycott that began in 1955 when Mrs. Rosa Parks of Montgomery, Alabama, refused to obey a law requiring black people to sit at the back of city buses. Mrs. Parks was arrested, and her arrest sparked a boycott of the city bus system by African Americans. The boycott was organized and led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Rather than continue to lose money needed to run the bus system, the city changed the law.

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