Passage 1

Anyone can understand the confusion ancient traders experienced trying to market their goods
without a common standard of measurement. Imagine trying to sell grain in Egypt by the basket
without having any comparison to make as to the basket's weight or volume. Such were the problems in
early times when weight had to be guessed or measured against a standard of the weight of stones,
seashells, seeds, or grain.

Problems also existed in terms of measurement of lengths. One of the earliest linear measurements
was the foot which first took its standard from the length of a human foot and later used the length of a
king's foot as the standard. Archaeologists have traced people's attempts to grapple with standard units
of measurement from the ancient Egyptians' attempts to reset precise property lines after flooding of
the Nile River to biblical times when a cubit was the standard unit of length. The cubit took its standard
from the distance between the end of the elbow to the end of the middle finger -- usually about 18
inches. The Romans defined the inch as the width of the thumb, and the mile as 311,000 paces. The
problems involved in using such measurements are obvious. Imagine trying to set new, more accurate
standards among people who hung on tenaciously to existing standards.

When the Romans conquered ancient Britain, they brought their standards of measurement along
and imposed them on the people. Consequently, some of these standards have survived to the 20th
century. The British Imperial System of weights and measures evolved from many sources and became
fairly well standardized by the 19th century. The standard yard and pound were kept in the Houses of
Parliament. However, when the Parliament building burned in 1834, the standards were
destroyed. British scientists then began to press for a more uniform standard for the gallon, the pound,
and the yard which could be used in the entire British Empire. This made trading, buying, and selling
much more uniform.

1. The first sentence in paragraph 1 indicates that the author's purpose is --

A) to analyze the problems of weights and measures.

B) to explain the growth of standards of measurements.
C) to describe the problems associated with lack of standards in weights and measurements.
D) to classify standards of weights and measurements.
E) to persuade readers to adopt a new set of weights and measurements.

2. The tone of this passage can be described as --

A) angry.
B) confused.
C) formal.
D) informative.
E) ironic.
Passage 2

One of the industrial giants who changed American society was Henry Ford. Born on a farm in
Michigan in 1863, he grew up to bring forth some of the most revolutionary improvements in
automotive technology in the early 20th century. His outstanding mechanical ability led him to become
interested in the new automobiles in the early 1900s. Though he did not invent the automobile, he
improved upon everyone else's designs.
He was a person who believed in inexpensive, efficient production, so he established standards for his
plant and workers. He also standardized and produced many new auto parts for his Ford Motor
Company cars. Then he studied the workers' problems and built an assembly line -- the first of its kind in
America. This ingenious improvement led to mass production of thousands of automobiles per year. In
fact, his plants had produced 15 million Model Ts by 1927.
Ford's personality was not all thrift, efficiency, and ingenuity, however. He was a man who was cold
and who could not keep pace with the competition due to his own rigidity. His company suffered
because of his desire to maintain the status quo instead of meeting and beating the competition by
changing his product. Finally, he saw that he must change or lose out; therefore, he introduced the
eight-cylinder engine and once again took over the automobile market. Ford left a legacy of millions of
dollars, millions of jobs for American workers, and millions of satisfied customers.

1. In developing the passage, the organizational pattern used by the author could be described as --

A) simple listing
B) time order
C) example
D) cause and effect
E) compare and contrast

2. The tone of this passage can be described as --

A) optimistic
B) formal
C) serious
D) critical
E) sympathetic
Recognize the author’s tone to help you identify the reason why they are writing.

The moment the words were out of my mouth, I wished I could take them back. I didn't mean to hurt
Keith's feelings. He is such a nice person, and he certainly doesn't deserve to be treated so poorly. I
guess the stress from my job has been more than I can handle. Instead of taking my problems out on
him, I need to deal directly with the people who create the stress. If only I didn't care so much what
people thought of me at work, then this would not have happened. The tone of the passage can be
described as

a. funny b. regretful c. admiring

Alonzo winked at his mother's shocked gaze and with a smile he said, "sausage and pepperoni pizza for
breakfast makes perfect sense. Allow me to demonstrate. You have your tomato. Tomato is technically a
fruit. You have your cheese. Cheese is a dairy product. You have your crust… necessary carbs for quick
energy in the morning. And don't forget the sausage and the pepperoni… my protein. If you think about
it, it is just like bacon and eggs, toast, and orange juice." Still smiling, he added, "really, it is… well,
almost." "Why are you looking at me that way?" The tone of this passage is

a. Funny/humorous b. Sad c. Insulting

Whether you are starting or continuing on the academic road to success, there are a series of markers
that will help keep you on the path. First, you must believe. Believe in yourself, believe in others, and
believe in the process of life. You are here for a purpose. Second, keep an open mind. Be aware of things
that are working and things that are not. Be willing to make changes. Third, know when you need help
and be willing to ask for it. There are many people who can assist you; be specific when you ask for help.
Fourth, use your resources: people, books, nature, experiences, events, travel-that which is seen and
that which is unseen. Fifth, remember who you are and why you are here. Remind yourself what it is
that you want to accomplish. Sixth, balance your life. There is a weariness that occurs when life's
energies are out of harmony. Body, mind, and spirit need nurturing on a daily basis. Lastly, remember
that storms never last. Which word best describes the author's attitude towards continuing on the
"academic road to success"?

a. optimistic b. neutral c. pessimistic d. doubting

The presentation was about to begin. The audience anxiously waited in their metal chairs and talked to
one another about what they were going to learn. The presenter walked to the front of the room,
introduced herself. The audience clapped for the presenter. The presenter repeated what the audience
already knew, that a passing quiz score on the information would be required by the end of the day for
continued employment in the company. The audience immediately took out note pads and pens,
tablets, and recorders. The presenter, then, pointed to the screen at the front of the room and pushed a
button on her laptop. Suddenly, the screen went blank. The audience members shifted uncomfortably in
their seats as the presenter worked to solve the problem. Some members of the audience tried to help.
Phone calls were made by the presenter as the audience waited while looking nervously at their
watches.The overall feeling of the paragraph can be described as

a. remorseful. b. apprehensive c. mocking d. vindictive