Praxis Core Reading (5713) PT #2

Skin coloration and markings have an important role to play in the world of snakes. Those intricate diamonds, stripes, and swirls help the animals hide from predators, but perhaps most importantly (for us humans, anyway), the markings can also indicate whether the snake is venomous. While it might seem counterintuitive for a venomous snake to stand out in bright red or blue, that fancy costume tells any nearby predator that approaching him would be a bad idea.
If you see a flashy-looking snake in the woods, though, those markings don’t necessarily mean it’s venomous: some snakes have found a way to ward off predators without the actual venom. The scarlet kingsnake, for example, has very similar markings to the venomous coral snake with whom it frequently shares a habitat. However, the kingsnake is actually nonvenomous; it’s merely pretending to be dangerous to eat. A predatory hawk or eagle, usually hunting from high in the sky, can’t tell the difference between the two species, and so the kingsnake gets passed over and lives another day.

The primary purpose of the passage is to

The passage supports which of the following claims about kingsnakes?

Which of the following is the best summary of this passage?

Which statement is NOT a fact from the passage?

As used in the passage, “intricate” most nearly means

According to the passage, what is the difference between kingsnakes and coral snakes?

We’ve been told for years that the recipe for weight loss is fewer calories in than calories out. In other words, eat less and exercise more, and your body will take care of the rest. As many of those who’ve tried to diet can attest, this edict doesn’t always produce results. If you’re one of those folks, you might have felt that you just weren’t doing it right—that the failure was all your fault.
However, several new studies released this year have suggested that it might not be your fault at all. For example, a study of people who’d lost a high percentage of their body weight (>17 percent) in a short period of time found that they could not physically maintain their new weight. Scientists measured their resting metabolic rate and found that they’d need to consume only a few hundred calories a day to meet their metabolic needs. Basically, their bodies were in starvation mode and seemed to desperately hang on to each and every calorie. Eating even a single healthy, well-balanced meal a day would cause these subjects to start packing back on the pounds.
Other studies have shown that factors like intestinal bacteria, distribution of body fat, and hormone levels can affect the manner in which our bodies process calories. There’s also the fact that it’s actually quite difficult to measure the number of calories consumed during a particular meal and the number used while exercising.

Which of the following would provide the best conclusion to the passage?

Which of the following type of argument is used in the passage?

Which of the following, if true, would weaken the argument in the passage about weight loss?

In an effort to increase women’s presence in government, several countries in Latin America, including Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico, have implemented legislated candidate quotas. These quotas require that at least 30 percent of a party’s candidate list in any election cycle consists of women who have a legitimate chance at election. As a result, Latin America has the greatest number of female heads of government in the world, and the second highest percentage of female members of parliament after Nordic Europe. However, these trends do not carry over outside of politics. While 25 percent of legislators in Latin America are now women, less than 2 percent of CEOs in the region are female.

What is the main idea of the passage?

Alexander Hamilton and James Madison called for the Constitutional Convention to write a constitution as the foundation of a stronger federal government. Madison and other Federalists like John Adams believed in separation of powers, republicanism, and a strong federal government. Despite the separation of powers that would be provided for in the US Constitution, anti-Federalists like Thomas Jefferson called for even more limitations on the power of the federal government.

According to the passage, which of the following would most likely NOT support a strong federal government?

Alfie closed his eyes and took several deep breaths. He was trying to ignore the sounds of the crowd, but even he had to admit that it was hard not to notice the tension in the stadium. He could feel 50,000 sets of eyes burning through his skin—this crowd expected perfection from him. He took another breath and opened his eyes, setting his sights on the soccer ball resting peacefully in the grass. One shot, just one last shot, between his team and the championship. He didn’t look up at the goalie, who was jumping nervously on the goal line just a few yards away. Afterward, Alfie would swear he didn’t remember anything between the referee’s whistle and the thunderous roar of the crowd.

Which of the following best describes the purpose of the passage?

Which of the following conclusions is best supported by the passage?

In a remote nature preserve in northeastern Siberia, scientists are attempting to re-create the subarctic steppe grassland ecosystem that flourished there during the last Ice Age. The area today is dominated by forests, but the lead scientists of the project believe the forested terrain was neither a natural development nor environmentally advantageous. They believe that if they can restore the grassland, they will be able to slow climate change by slowing the thawing of the permafrost that lies beneath the tundra. Key to this undertaking is restoring the wildlife to the region, including wild horses, musk oxen, bison, and yak. Most ambitiously, the scientists hope to revive the wooly mammoth species, which was key in trampling the ground and knocking down the trees, helping to keep the land free for grasses to grow.

In the fourth sentence, the word “advantageous” most nearly means

East River High School has released its graduation summary for the class of 2016. Out of a total of 558 senior students, 525 (94 percent) successfully completed their degree program and graduated. Of these, 402 (representing 72 percent of the total class) went on to attend to a two- or four-year college or university. The distribution of students among the four main types of colleges and universities—small or large private and small or large public—is shown in the figure below. As the data shows, the majority of East River High School’s college-attending graduates chose a large, public institution.

According to the figure, how many students from East River High School will attend a small, public college or university?

Which of the following best describes the tone of the passage?

Influenza (also called the flu) has historically been one of the most common, and deadliest, human infections. While many people who contract the virus will recover, many others will not. Over the past 150 years, tens of millions of people have died from the flu, and millions more have been left with lingering complications such as secondary infections.
Although it’s a common disease, the flu is not actually highly infectious, meaning it’s relatively difficult to contract. The flu can only be transmitted when individuals come into direct contact with bodily fluids of people infected with the flu or when they are exposed to expelled aerosol particles (which result from coughing and sneezing). Because the viruses can only travel short distances as aerosol particles and will die within a few hours on hard surfaces, the virus can be contained with fairly simple health measures like hand washing and face masks.
However, the spread of the flu can only be contained when people are aware such measures need to be taken. One of the reasons the flu has historically been so deadly is the amount of time between when people become infectious and when they develop symptoms. Viral shedding—the process by which the body releases viruses that have been successfully reproducing during the infection—takes place two days after infection, while symptoms do not usually develop until the third day of infection. Thus, infected individuals have at least twenty-four hours in which they may unknowingly infect others.

What is the main idea of the passage?

According to the passage, which of the following correctly describes the flu?

According to the passage, why is the flu not considered highly infectious?

As used in the passage, “measures” most nearly means

Which statement is NOT a fact from the passage?

Which conclusion about the flu is supported by the passage?

Mr. Tim Morgan—
This letter is to inform Mr. Morgan that his application for the position of Lead Technician has been received by our Human Resources team. We have been pleased to receive a higher-than-expected number of applications for this position, and we are glad that Mr. Morgan is among the many who find our company an attractive place to build a career. Due to the influx of applications, our Human Resources team will be taking longer than previously stated to review candidates and schedule interviews. Please look for further communication from our Human Resources team in the next two to three weeks.
Regards,
Allison Wakefield
Head of Human Resources

The primary purpose of the passage is to

Which of the following conclusions is supported by the passage?

Hand washing is one of our simplest and most powerful weapons against infection. The idea behind hand washing is deceptively simple. Many illnesses are spread when people touch infected surfaces, such as door handles or other people’s hands, and then touch their own eyes, mouths, or noses. So, if pathogens can be removed from the hands before they spread, infections can be prevented. When done correctly, hand washing can prevent the spread of many dangerous bacteria and viruses, including those that cause the flu, the common cold, diarrhea, and many acute respiratory illnesses.
The most basic method of hand washing involves only soap and water. Just twenty seconds of scrubbing with soap and a complete rinsing with water is enough to kill and/or wash away many pathogens. The process doesn’t even require warm water—studies have shown that cold water is just as effective at reducing the number of microbes on the hands. Antibacterial soaps are also available, although several studies have shown that simple soap and cold water is just as effective.
In recent years, hand sanitizers have become popular as an alternative to hand washing. These gels, liquids, and foams contain a high concentration of alcohol (usually at least 60 percent) that kills most bacteria and fungi; they can also be effective against some, but not all, viruses. There is a downside to hand sanitizer, however. Because the sanitizer isn’t rinsed from hands, it only kills pathogens and does nothing to remove organic matter. So, hands “cleaned” with hand sanitizer may still harbor pathogens. Thus, while hand sanitizer can be helpful in situations where soap and clean water aren’t available, a simple hand washing is still the best option.

As used in the passage, “harbor” most nearly means

Which of the following is NOT a fact stated in the passage?

What is the best summary of this passage?

Knowing that the temperature of the water does not affect the efficacy of hand washing, it can be concluded that water plays an important role in hand washing because it

The primary purpose of the passage is to

The passage supports which of the following claims about hand washing?

The odds of success for any new restaurant are slim. Competition in the city is fierce, and the low margin of return means that aspiring restaurateurs must be exact and ruthless with their budget and pricing. The fact that the Kilkenny Diner has lasted as long as it has is a testament to its owners’ skills.

Which of the following conclusions is supported by the passage?

Which of the following words, if substituted for the word “testament,” would introduce the LEAST change in the meaning of the sentence?

Providing adequate nutrition is one of the most important responsibilities of acute and long‐term care facilities. Patients enter these facilities with a wide range of health issues from fractures and infections to dementia or cancer. Because the needs of every patient will be different, it’s the task of every health care facility to ensure that patients receive the proper nutrition.
Patients, like all people, have two basic nutritional needs: they require macronutrients—the carbohydrates, fats, and proteins that provide energy—and micronutrients, which are the vitamins and elements the body needs to function properly. A good diet will provide the appropriate amount of macronutrients, or calories, to keep the patients energized and satiated without leading to weight gain, while also providing necessary amounts of micronutrients. Such a diet will help patients remain comfortable and heal properly. A poor diet, on the other hand, can make recovery significantly more difficult.
The energy needs of patients can vary widely. Generally, energy needs are directly related to a person’s weight and inversely related to age; it’s also generally true that men require more calories than women. Thus, a thirty‐five‐year-old woman who weighs 135 pounds will require around 1,800 calories a day, while an older woman would require fewer, and a heavier woman would require more. A man of the same age and weight would require 2,000 calories a day.
Activity level also has a significant impact on a patient’s energy needs. A bedridden patient will obviously expend fewer calories and thus will need to eat fewer. An elderly, bedridden woman can need as little as 8.5 calories per pound of body weight: if such a patient weighed 135 pounds, she would need only 1,150 calories a day. However, many patients, bedridden or otherwise, have hidden energy needs. The process of healing can be extremely energy intensive—even an immobile patient can use up vast reserves of calories as her body fights infection, knits a fracture, or heals bed sores. Patients on a low‐energy diet may also develop deficiencies in micronutrients if the quality of their meals is not monitored closely.

What is the main idea of the passage?

Which of the following is NOT a fact stated in the passage?

According to the passage, which of the patients described below would likely need to consume the most calories per day?

Which of the following is NOT a fact stated in the passage?

As used in the passage, “hidden” most nearly means

The most important part of brewing coffee is getting the right water. Choose a water that you think has a nice, neutral flavor. Anything with too many minerals or contaminants will change the flavor of the coffee, and water with too few minerals won’t do a good job of extracting the flavor from the coffee beans. Water should be heated to between 195 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit. Boiling water (212 degrees Fahrenheit) will burn the beans and give your coffee a scorched flavor.
While the water is heating, grind your beans. Remember, the fresher the grind, the fresher the flavor of the coffee. The number of beans is entirely dependent on your personal taste. Obviously, more beans will result in a more robust flavor, while fewer beans will give your coffee a more subtle taste. The texture of the grind should be not too fine (which can lead to bitter coffee) or too large (which can lead to weak coffee).
Once the beans are ground and the water has reached the perfect temperature, you’re ready to brew. A French press (which we recommend), allows you to control brewing time and provide a thorough brew. Pour the grounds into the press, then pour the hot water over the grounds and let it steep. The brew shouldn’t require more than five minutes, although those of you who like your coffee a bit harsher can leave it longer. Finally, use the plunger to remove the grounds and pour.

According to the passage, which of the following lists the steps for brewing coffee in the correct sequence?

Which of the following best describes the structure of the text?

Which of the following conclusions is best supported by the passage?

Which of the following would be an appropriate title for this passage?

Archaeologists have discovered the oldest known specimens of bedbugs in a cave in Oregon where humans once lived. The three different species date back to between 5,000 and 11,000 years ago. The finding gives scientists a clue as to how bedbugs became human parasites. These bedbugs, like those that plague humans today, originated as bat parasites. Scientists hypothesize that it was the cohabitation of humans and bats in the caves that encouraged the bugs to begin feeding on the humans. The three species found in the Oregon caves are actually still around today, although they continue to prefer bats. Humans only lived seasonally in the Oregon cave system, however, which might explain why these insects did not fully transfer to human hosts like bedbugs elsewhere did.

With which of the following claims about bedbugs would the author most likely agree?

Tourists flock to Yellowstone National Park each year to view the geysers that bubble and erupt throughout it. What most of these tourists do not know is that these geysers are formed by a caldera, a hot crater in the earth’s crust, that was created by a series of three eruptions of an ancient supervolcano. These eruptions, which began 2.1 million years ago, spewed between 1,000 and 2,450 cubic kilometers of volcanic matter at such a rate that the volcano’s magma chamber collapsed, creating the craters.

The main idea of the passage is that

At first glance, the landscape of the northern end of the Rift Valley appears to be a stretch of barren land. Paleoanthropologists, however, have discovered an abundance of fossils just beneath the dusty surface. They believe this area once contained open grasslands near lakes and rivers, populated with grazing animals. Forty miles from this spot, in 1974, scientists uncovered a 3.2 million-year-old non-human hominid they nicknamed “Lucy.” And, in 2013, researchers found the oldest fossil in the human ancestral line. Before this, the oldest fossil from the genus Homo—of which Homo sapiens are the only remaining species—dated only back to 2.3 million years ago, leaving a 700,000-year gap between Lucy’s species and the advent of humans. The new fossil dated back to 2.75 and 2.8 million years ago, pushing the appearance of humans back 400,000 years.

According to the passage, the discovery of Lucy

It had been a long morning for Julia. She’d been woken up early by the sound of lawn mowers outside her window, and despite her best efforts, had been unable to get back to sleep. So, she’d reluctantly got out of bed, showered, and prepared her morning cup of coffee. At least, she tried to anyway. In the kitchen she’d discovered she was out of regular coffee and had to settle for a decaffeinated cup instead.
Once on the road, her caffeine-free mug of coffee didn’t help make traffic less annoying. In fact, it seemed to Julia like the other drivers were sluggish and surly as well—it took her an extra fifteen minutes to get to work. And when she arrived, all the parking spots were full.
By the time she’d finally found a spot in the overflow lot, she was thirty minutes late for work. She’d hoped her boss would be too busy to notice, but he’d already put a pile of paperwork on her desk with a note that simply said “Rewrite.” She wondered if she should point out to her boss that she hadn’t been the one to write the reports in the first place, but decided against it.
When the fire alarm went off an hour later, Julia decided she’d had enough. She grabbed her purse and headed outside with her coworkers. While everyone else stood around waiting for the alarm to quiet, Julia determinedly walked to her car, fired up the engine, and set a course for home.

Which of the following is the most likely reason Julia did not return to work after the alarm?

Which of the following statements based on the passage should be considered an opinion?

The passage states that Julia set a course for home. Which of the following is the most accurate interpretation of this sentence?

Which of the following conclusions is best supported by the passage?

Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, decided to tackle an age-old problem: why shoelaces come untied. They recorded the shoelaces of a volunteer walking on a treadmill by attaching devices to record the acceleration, or g-force, experienced by the knot. The results were surprising. A shoelace knot experiences more g-force from a person walking than any rollercoaster can generate. However, if the person simply stomped or swung their feet—the two movements that make up a walker’s stride—the g-force was not enough to undo the knots. Researchers also found that while the knot loosened slowly at first, once it reached a certain laxness, it simply fell apart.

The author includes a comparison to rollercoasters in order to

It’s that time again—the annual Friendswood Village Summer Fair is here! Last year we had a record number of visitors, and we’re expecting an even bigger turnout this year. The fair will be bringing back all our traditional food and games, including the famous raffle. This year, we’ll have a carousel, petting zoo, and climbing wall (for teenagers and adults only, please). We’re also excited to welcome Petey’s BBQ and Happy Tummy’s Frozen Treats, who are both new to the fair this year. Tickets are available online and at local retailers.

Which of the following will NOT be a new presence at the fair this year?

Based on the context, which of the following is the meaning of the word “record” in the passage?

Which of the following best describes the mode of the passage?

Passage 1
Panda bears live in China’s bamboo forests. They eat bamboo and are excellent tree climbers. New roads and railroads break the flow of the forest, isolating panda populations. This decreases the amount of food pandas can access during the year.

Passage 2
Polar bears live in the Arctic and are the largest land carnivores in the world. They eat seals and walruses. As the sea gets larger from melting ice, polar bears have to travel longer distances for food. Their thick white fur provides warmth and traction for their feet on the ice. They are good swimmers.

The authors of Passage 1 and Passage 2 would both agree with which of the following statements?

Because the sun’s UV rays can be dangerous for children, finding the right sunscreen is important for parents. A high SPF (sun protection factor) is an important part of defending a child’s skin; however, many sunscreens contain chemicals parents would rather not use. Fortunately, a group of researchers has set out to make the process of buying sunscreen for children much easier for consumer parents. After conducting a yearlong study on the best low-chemical sunscreen for children, researchers are proposing a solution: a classification system that not only states the product’s SPF, but also rates toxicity and child-friendliness. The new system, the researchers propose, would give parents the tool they need for making an otherwise tough decision.

Which of the following concisely summarizes the passage?

Which of the following best describes the organization of the passage?

The passage supports which of the following claims about sunscreen?