1.
Cities founded around the turn of the eighteenth century, such as Williamsburg, Annapolis, and especially Philadelphia, were laid out on a regular grid with public squares, while cities laid outin the mid-seventeenth century, such as Boston, remain chaotic to this day.
Correct Answer
B. Boston was not originally laid out according to a logical plan.
Explanation
The answer suggests that Boston was not initially laid out according to a logical plan, which is why it remains chaotic to this day. It implies that Philadelphia, Williamsburg, and Annapolis, on the other hand, were founded with a regular grid layout and public squares, making Philadelphia the most regularly laid out city among the three.
2.
When apple growers talk about new varieties of apples, they don't mean something developed last month, last year, or even in the last decade.
Correct Answer
C. New varieties of apples take many years to develop.
Explanation
The correct answer is "New varieties of apples take many years to develop." This is because the passage states that apple growers don't mean something developed recently, but rather something developed over a long period of time. Therefore, it can be inferred that new varieties of apples require many years of development.
3.
Blood cholesterol used to be thought of as a problem only for adults
Correct Answer
C. Blood cholesterol affects both adults and children
Explanation
The given statement suggests that blood cholesterol was previously considered a concern solely for adults. However, this perception has changed, and it is now known that blood cholesterol affects both adults and children.
4.
A metal-worker of 3,000 years ago would recognize virtually every step of the lost-wax processused to cast titanium for jet engines.
Correct Answer
B. The lost-wax method of casting is very old.
Explanation
The answer suggests that the lost-wax method of casting is very old, which implies that the metal-worker of 3,000 years ago would recognize virtually every step of the process used to cast titanium for jet engines. This aligns with the statement in the passage that the metal-working process has changed very little in 3,000 years. Additionally, the mention of titanium being forged for thousands of years does not necessarily indicate that the lost-wax method of casting specifically has been used for titanium for that long.
5.
There is more quartz in the world than anyone kind of feldspar, but the feldspars as a group arefive times more common than quartz.
Correct Answer
B. Quartz is less common than the feldspars
Explanation
The given answer states that quartz is less common than the feldspars. This is supported by the information provided in the question, which states that there is more quartz in the world than any one kind of feldspar, but the feldspars as a group are five times more common than quartz. Therefore, the answer correctly concludes that quartz is less common than the feldspars.
6.
Compared with the rest of its brain, the visual area of a turtle's brain is comparatively small since turtles, like all other reptiles, depending on senses other than sight.
Correct Answer
A. No reptile uses sight as its primary sense.
Explanation
The given correct answer states that no reptile uses sight as its primary sense. This is supported by the information provided in the passage, which states that turtles, like all other reptiles, depend on senses other than sight. Therefore, it can be inferred that the visual area of a turtle's brain is comparatively small because sight is not their primary sense.
7.
Contrary to popular belief, there is no validity to the stories one hears of initials carved in a tree by a young boy becoming elevated high above his head when he visits the tree as an old man.
Correct Answer
A. Trees don't grow the way many people think they do.
Explanation
The explanation for the given correct answer is that trees do not grow in the way many people believe. Contrary to popular belief, carving initials in a tree does not cause the tree to grow and elevate the initials high above a person's head when they visit as an old man. This statement implies that the growth patterns of trees are not influenced by such actions.
8.
Illegible handwriting does not indicate weakness of character, as even a quick glance at the penmanship of George Washington, Franklin D. Roosevelt, or John Kennedy reveals.
Correct Answer
A. Washington, Roosevelt, and Kennedy all had handwriting that was difficult to read.
Explanation
The correct answer is that Washington, Roosevelt, and Kennedy all had handwriting that was difficult to read. This is supported by the statement in the passage that their penmanship was illegible. The passage does not make any claims about their character or suggest that their handwriting indicates weakness of character.
9.
William Faulkner set many of his novels in and around an imaginary town, Jefferson, Mississippi, which he closely patterned after his hometown of Oxford, Mississippi.
Correct Answer
C. Faulkner actually wrote about his hometown but did not use its real name.
Explanation
The answer suggests that William Faulkner wrote about his hometown, Oxford, Mississippi, but used a fictional name, Jefferson, in his novels. This implies that the town of Oxford exists in Faulkner's novels, but under a different name.
10.
Most fish take on, to a certain degree, the coloration of their natural surroundings, so it is notsurprising that the fish inhabiting warm, shallow waters around tropical reefs are colored all thebrilliant tints of the rainbow.
Correct Answer
C. Tropical reefs are brightly colored environments.
Explanation
The given correct answer suggests that tropical reefs are brightly colored environments. This is supported by the statement in the passage that fish inhabiting warm, shallow waters around tropical reefs are colored all the brilliant tints of the rainbow. Since most fish take on the coloration of their natural surroundings, it can be inferred that the brightly colored appearance of tropical fish is due to the brightly colored environment of tropical reefs.
11.
Although sheepherding is an older and more beloved occupation, shepherds never caught theattention of American filmmakers the way cowboys did.
Correct Answer
A. There have been more American films about cowboys than about shepHerds
Explanation
This answer is supported by the statement that "shepherds never caught the attention of American filmmakers the way cowboys did." This implies that cowboys have been the subject of more films compared to shepherds, indicating that there have been more American films about cowboys than about shepherds.
12.
The Okefenokee Swamp is a fascinating realm that both confirms and contradicts popular notionsof a swamp, because along with huge cypresses, dangerous quagmires, and dim waterways, theOkefenokee has sandy pine islands, sunlit prairies, and clear lakes.
Correct Answer
B. The Okefenokee has features that most people do not associate with swamps.
Explanation
The given answer is a restatement of the information provided in the passage. It states that the Okefenokee Swamp has features that are not commonly associated with swamps, such as huge cypresses, dangerous quagmires, and dim waterways. This suggests that the Okefenokee Swamp is unique and different from the typical perception of a swamp.
13.
As an architect, Thomas Jefferson preferred the Roman style, as seen in the University of Virginia,to the English style favored by Charles Bullfinch.
Correct Answer
A. The University of Virginia was influenced by the Roman style.
Explanation
The given answer is correct because it directly relates to the information provided in the question. It states that the University of Virginia was influenced by the Roman style, which aligns with Thomas Jefferson's preference for the Roman style as an architect. This answer is supported by the statement in the question that Thomas Jefferson preferred the Roman style, as seen in the University of Virginia.
14.
In all cultures, gestures are used as a form of communication, but the same gestures may havevery different meanings in different cultures.
Correct Answer
C. A person from one culture may misunderstand the gestures used by a person from another culture.
Explanation
This answer correctly identifies that a person from one culture may misunderstand the gestures used by a person from another culture. This is because gestures can have different meanings in different cultures, and what may be considered a common gesture in one culture may be completely misunderstood or misinterpreted in another culture. Therefore, it is important to be aware of cultural differences in gestures to avoid misunderstandings and miscommunication.
15.
Even spiders that do not build webs from silk use it for a variety of purposes, such asconstructing egg sacs and nursery tents.
Correct Answer
C. Silk is used by all spiders.
Explanation
The given answer is correct because it accurately states that silk is used by all spiders. The statement in the question supports this by mentioning that even spiders that do not build webs still use silk for other purposes such as constructing egg sacs and nursery tents. This implies that silk is a common material used by all spiders, regardless of whether they build webs or not.