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Question 1
A turning leaf stays green at first, then reveals splotches of yellow and red as chlorophyll gradually breaks down. Dark green seems to stay longest in the veins, outlining and defining them. During the summer, chlorophyll breaks down in the heat and light, but it is also being steadily replaced. In the fall, on the other hand, no new pigment is produced, and so we notice the other colors that were always there, although chlorophyll's shocking green hid them from view. With their camouflage gone, we see these colors for the first time all year, and marvel, but they were always there, hidden like a vivid secret beneath the hot glowing greens of summer.
Which sentence should be deleted from the passage because it contains irrelevant information?
Your Answer: Option(s)
Correct Answer: Option(s) D
Rationale
Sentence 12 should be deleted from the passage because it contains irrelevant information.
This sentence discusses how most people have adapted to consolidated sleep, which deviates from the main point of the passage about the natural human sleep pattern of having two distinct sleep periods.
A) Sentence 3
This sentence describes the struggle many people face with sleep, which is relevant to the overall theme of the passage that discusses sleep patterns and challenges. It sets the stage for the argument regarding the adequacy of the traditional advice about sleep.
B) Sentence 6
This sentence presents the results of a study that supports the main argument of the passage—that human sleep may naturally occur in two phases. It is directly relevant to the discussion on sleep and enhances the understanding of the research presented.
C) Sentence 7
This sentence refers to historical data that supports the idea of segmented sleep, contributing to the passage's argument. It provides context that validates the claim about the natural state of human sleep, making it relevant to the reader.
D) Sentence 12
This sentence mentions that most people have adapted to consolidated sleep, a point that is not central to the argument being made about the natural two-sleep pattern. It introduces a tangent that detracts from the focus on historical and scientific perspectives on sleep.
Conclusion
The passage primarily argues that humans may naturally experience sleep in two segments rather than in one continuous block. Deleting Sentence 12 refines the focus on the historical and scientific evidence supporting this idea, ensuring that the reader remains engaged with the core argument without deviation. By removing unrelated information, the passage becomes clearer and more compelling in its discussion of sleep patterns.
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Question 2
People have long been told by health experts that they should get eight hours of unbroken sleep each night. Nevertheless, many struggle on a nightly basis to fall asleep and stay asleep. Some scientists have begun to reconsider this issue and have concluded that the health experts have not been giving very good advice. In a study conducted in 2015, subjects were kept in darkness for 14 hours each night, this being an attempt to create conditions similar to natural wintertime conditions. Deprived of artificial light, most subjects' nightly sleep time eventually expanded and divided into two roughly equal shifts with 1 to 3 hours of wakefulness between. The results of this study suggest that human sleep is not naturally concentrated in one block. In fact, having two 'sleeps' a night may be the natural human condition. Historical data also support these findings. Historians have uncovered documents dating back to ancient times that refer to a 'first sleep' and 'second sleep.' Rather than view waking in the middle of the night as a nuisance, people appear to have welcomed it as natural, useful, and even enjoyable. By the end of the 1700s, street lighting in cities became more common, people stayed up later, and writers mentioning first and second sleep less and less. Most people seem to have adapted to consolidated sleep, even if they do not get a full eight hours each night. However, researchers argue that some modern sleep disorders such as insomnia may be the result of enforcing an unnatural sleep rhythm. In other words, waking in the middle of the night may not indicate an inability to sleep, but rather an attempt by the brain to sleep 'naturally.'
Which of the following is the best version of the underlined portion of sentence 4: 'In a study conducted in 2015, subjects were kept in darkness for 14 hours each night, this being an attempt to create conditions similar to natural wintertime conditions'?
Your Answer: Option(s)
Correct Answer: Option(s) D
Rationale
In a study conducted in 2015, subjects were kept in darkness for 14 hours each night to mimic natural wintertime conditions.
This version concisely conveys the purpose of the study while maintaining clarity and grammatical correctness. "Mimic" is a straightforward verb that effectively communicates the intent to replicate natural conditions without unnecessary complexity.
A) (as it is now)
The original phrasing is overly complex and awkward, using "this being an attempt" which detracts from the flow of the sentence. It introduces unnecessary wordiness that could confuse readers, making it less effective for clear communication.
B) night to make an effort to approximate
This choice includes the phrase "make an effort to approximate," which is verbose and less direct. It complicates the sentence unnecessarily, detracting from the intended meaning and smoothness of the text.
C) night, taking a shot at imitating
Using "taking a shot at imitating" introduces a colloquial tone that is inappropriate for a formal context such as this. The phrase lacks precision and professionalism, which weakens the scholarly nature of the writing.
D) night to mimic
This option is the most effective because it eliminates unnecessary words while clearly stating the purpose of the darkness. "Mimic" is clear and succinct, enhancing the overall readability of the sentence.
Conclusion
Choosing the best version of the sentence significantly impacts its clarity and professionalism. Option D stands out as the most effective revision, providing a straightforward and precise expression of the study's intent. In contrast, the other options either complicate the message or introduce informal language, making them less suitable for the context. Clear communication is essential in conveying scientific findings, and concise language enhances reader understanding.
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Question 3
People have long been told by health experts that they should get eight hours of unbroken sleep each night. Nevertheless, many struggle on a nightly basis to fall asleep and stay asleep. Some scientists have begun to reconsider this issue and have concluded that the health experts have not been giving very good advice. In a study conducted in 2015, subjects were kept in darkness for 14 hours each night, this being an attempt to create conditions similar to natural wintertime conditions. Deprived of artificial light, most subjects' nightly sleep time eventually expanded and divided into two roughly equal shifts with 1 to 3 hours of wakefulness between. The results of this study suggest that human sleep is not naturally concentrated in one block. In fact, having two 'sleeps' a night may be the natural human condition. Historical data also support these findings. Historians have uncovered documents dating back to ancient times that refer to a 'first sleep' and 'second sleep.' Rather than view waking in the middle of the night as a nuisance, people appear to have welcomed it as natural, useful, and even enjoyable. By the end of the 1700s, street lighting in cities became more common, people stayed up later, and writers mentioning first and second sleep less and less. Most people seem to have adapted to consolidated sleep, even if they do not get a full eight hours each night. However, researchers argue that some modern sleep disorders such as insomnia may be the result of enforcing an unnatural sleep rhythm. In other words, waking in the middle of the night may not indicate an inability to sleep, but rather an attempt by the brain to sleep 'naturally.'
Which of the following is the best version of the underlined portion of sentence 11: 'By the end of the 1700s, street lighting in cities became more common, people stayed up later, and writers mentioning first and second sleep less and less'?
Your Answer: Option(s)
Correct Answer: Option(s) D
Rationale
became more common, people stayed up later, and writers mentioned
This version maintains the correct grammatical structure and parallelism necessary for clarity and coherence in the sentence. Each clause flows logically, allowing the reader to understand the progression of changes in society during that period.
A) (as it is now)
This option does not provide a revised version of the sentence, which is what the question requires. It fails to address the need for grammatical improvements or adjustments, making it an inappropriate choice.
B) became more common, people staying up later, and writers mentioned
While this option begins well, it introduces a grammatical inconsistency with "people staying" which shifts from the past tense used in the other clauses. This lack of parallel structure disrupts the flow of the sentence, making it less effective.
C) becoming more common, people staying up later, and writers mentioned
This choice begins with a gerund form "becoming," which alters the tense and structure of the sentence. The shift from past tense to gerund disrupts the parallelism with the other clauses, making the sentence less coherent.
D) became more common, people stayed up later, and writers mentioned
This option maintains consistent past tense throughout the sentence, ensuring that all clauses align grammatically. It effectively communicates the historical changes without introducing any inconsistencies.
Conclusion
The correct choice, "became more common, people stayed up later, and writers mentioned," preserves the necessary grammatical structure while providing a clear, coherent progression of ideas. Maintaining parallelism and consistent tense is crucial for effective communication, especially when summarizing historical developments. Other options introduce inconsistencies that detract from the overall clarity of the sentence.
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Question 4
According to urban legend, the potato chip was accidentally invented in 1853 by an irritated chef. He was George Crum, the son of an African-American father and Native-American mother, who was working as a chef one summer in Saratoga Springs, New York. A customer in the restaurant where Crum worked complained that his French-fried potatoes were too thick and soft and sent them back to the kitchen. To teach the customer a lesson, Crum allegedly sliced a new batch of potatoes as thinly as he possibly could, fried the slices until they were hard and crunchy, and then doused them with salt. But far from being angry, the customer ended up loving the new dish, and thus the potato chip was born! Saratoga Springs was famous at the time for its natural hot springs, some of which are still in operation today. Soon the potato chips, originally known as 'Saratoga chips' or 'potato crunches,' became very popular. With the profits he'd made, Crum opened his own restaurant, where every table had its own basket of chips. The chips remained a local delicacy until the Prohibition era. This is when an entrepreneur named Herman Lay popularized the product throughout the Southeastern United States. However, not everyone believes that George Crum was the inventor of the potato chip. These skeptics say that certain cookbooks from the early 1800s, such as William Kitchiner's The Cook's Oracle and N.K.M. Lee's The Cook's Own Book, described recipes for very similar potato dishes-the only difference is that they weren't called 'potato chips.'
Which of the following is the best version of the underlined portion of sentence 10: 'Rather than view waking in the middle of the night as a nuisance, people appear to have welcomed it as natural, useful, and even enjoyable'?
Your Answer: Option(s)
Correct Answer: Option(s) A
Rationale
(as it is now)
The original phrasing is clear and effectively conveys that people perceive waking in the middle of the night as a natural and even enjoyable experience, making it the best choice.
B) waking, in the middle of the night, as a nuisance;
The addition of commas unnecessarily interrupts the flow of the sentence and creates confusion. The phrase "in the middle of the night" is a non-essential clause that does not require separation, making this option less effective.
C) waking in the middle of the night as a nuisance:
Using a colon here implies that what follows will elaborate on the nuisance, but the sentence does not provide additional information afterward. This misuse of punctuation disrupts the intended meaning and coherence of the sentence.
D) waking in the middle of the night as a nuisance-
The dash at the end of this option suggests an incomplete thought, leading the reader to expect further information that is not provided. This makes the sentence feel disjointed and unclear.
Conclusion
The original phrasing accurately encapsulates the idea that waking in the middle of the night is not viewed negatively, which aligns with the intended meaning of the sentence. The other options either introduce unnecessary punctuation or disrupt the clarity, making them less suitable for conveying the intended message effectively.
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Question 5
According to urban legend, the potato chip was accidentally invented in 1853 by an irritated chef. He was George Crum, the son of an African-American father and Native-American mother, who was working as a chef one summer in Saratoga Springs, New York. A customer in the restaurant where Crum worked complained that his French-fried potatoes were too thick and soft and sent them back to the kitchen. To teach the customer a lesson, Crum allegedly sliced a new batch of potatoes as thinly as he possibly could, fried the slices until they were hard and crunchy, and then doused them with salt. But far from being angry, the customer ended up loving the new dish, and thus the potato chip was born! Saratoga Springs was famous at the time for its natural hot springs, some of which are still in operation today. Soon the potato chips, originally known as 'Saratoga chips' or 'potato crunches,' became very popular. With the profits he'd made, Crum opened his own restaurant, where every table had its own basket of chips. The chips remained a local delicacy until the Prohibition era. This is when an entrepreneur named Herman Lay popularized the product throughout the Southeastern United States. However, not everyone believes that George Crum was the inventor of the potato chip. These skeptics say that certain cookbooks from the early 1800s, such as William Kitchiner's The Cook's Oracle and N.K.M. Lee's The Cook's Own Book, described recipes for very similar potato dishes-the only difference is that they weren't called 'potato chips.'
Which is the best version of the underlined portion of sentence 11: 'However, not everyone believes that George Crum was the inventor of the potato chip'?
Your Answer: Option(s)
Correct Answer: Option(s) A
Rationale
However, not everyone believes that George Crum was the inventor of the potato chip.
This version maintains proper punctuation and clarity, effectively conveying a contrast to the preceding statement. The comma following "However" is essential for correctly punctuating the introductory phrase and ensuring the reader understands the shift in focus.
A) (As it is now)
This option is the best choice because it correctly uses "However," followed by a comma, which is the standard punctuation for introductory transitional phrases. It clearly sets up the contrast that follows, maintaining the flow of the narrative effectively.
B) However
This choice lacks the necessary punctuation that should follow the transitional word. Without a comma, the sentence feels incomplete and disrupts the flow, making it less effective in conveying the contrast intended.
C) However-
Using a hyphen after "However" is incorrect in this context, as it does not follow standard punctuation rules. A hyphen does not serve as a proper pause and would confuse readers instead of guiding them through the transition.
D) However:
The use of a colon here is inappropriate because colons are used to introduce lists or explanations, rather than to set up a contrast. This choice alters the intended meaning and diminishes the clarity of the sentence.
Conclusion
The phrase "However, not everyone believes that George Crum was the inventor of the potato chip" is best as it is, ensuring clarity and proper punctuation. The other options either lack essential punctuation or misuse punctuation marks, leading to confusion. This highlights the importance of accurate punctuation in effective communication.
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