PSAT Questions + Answers Part 9
Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2022 10:58 am
QUESTION 135
Richard III was without any doubt whatsoever the most evil man to have worn the crown of England. Attached to his name are so many crimes, and crimes so heinous and unnatural, that it is scarcely credible that such a monster could exist. He not only committed murder on a number of occasions, but many of those he murdered he had either sworn to protect or should have been expected to defend with his last ounce of strength if he had anything approaching human feelings.
First on the list of crimes was the death of his sovereign, Henry VI. Granted that Henry had been deposed by Richard's brother, and hence could not easily claim Richard's loyalty The word heinous in line 4 means
A. awful
B. secretive C. bloody
D. deceitful E. dishonest
Correct Answer: A
Section: Reading Comprehension Questions Explanation
Explanation/Reference:
Explanation:
Richard is heinous (evil), shown by the synonyms "evil" and "unnatural."
QUESTION 136
Richard III was without any doubt whatsoever the most evil man to have worn the crown of England. Attached to his name are so many crimes, and crimes so heinous and unnatural, that it is scarcely credible that such a monster could exist. He not only committed murder on a number of occasions, but many of those he murdered he had either sworn to protect or should have been expected to defend with his last ounce of strength if he had anything approaching human feelings. First on the list of crimes was the death of his sovereign, Henry VI. Granted that Henry had been deposed by Richard's brother, and hence could not easily claim Richard's loyalty
The author calls Richard a "monster" because
A. Richardmurderedpeople
B. Richarddidnotallowhonororfamilyfeelingtoholdhimback C. Richard was overly ambitious
D. all early English kings were ruthless
E. RichardsupportedHenryVIagainsthisownbrother
Correct Answer: B
Section: Reading Comprehension Questions Explanation
Explanation/Reference:
Explanation:
You can infer this answer because Richard murdered many people, even those he should have protected --such as king Henry VI.
QUESTION 137
For the last hour I have been watching President Lincoln and General McClellan as they sat together in earnest conversation on the deck of a steamer closer to us. I am thankful, I am happy, that the President has come--has sprung across the dreadful intervening Washington, and come to see and hear and judge for his own wise and noble self. While we were at dinner someone said, "Why, there's the President!" and he proved to be just arriving on the Ariel, at the end of the wharf. I stationed myself at once to watch for the coming of McClellan. The President stood
on deck with a glass, with which, after a time, he inspected our boat, waving his handkerchief to us. My eyes and soul were in the direction of the general headquarters, over which the great balloon was slowly descending.
What does the author mean by "the dreadful intervening Washington"?
A. Politicsarealwaysinterferingwiththewar.
B. Lincoln'sofficestandsinthewayofhisleadership.
C. Lincoln has crossed Washington to come to the narrator's home. D. The fame of the previous president keeps Lincoln in the shadows. E. WashingtonismediatingbetweentheNorthandSouth.
Correct Answer: C
Section: Reading Comprehension Questions Explanation
Explanation/Reference:
Explanation:
This is a literal question: "That dreadful intervening Washington" is the city itself.
QUESTION 138
For the last hour I have been watching President Lincoln and General McClellan as they sat together in earnest conversation on the deck of a steamer closer to us. I am thankful, I am happy, that the President has come--has sprung across the dreadful intervening Washington, and come to see and hear and judge for his own wise and noble self. While we were at dinner someone said, "Why, there's the President!" and he proved to be just arriving on the Ariel, at the end of the wharf. I stationed myself at once to watch for the coming of McClellan. The President stood
on deck with a glass, with which, after a time, he inspected our boat, waving his handkerchief to us. My eyes and soul were in the direction of the general headquarters, over which the great balloon was slowly descending.
How does the author feel toward Lincoln?
A. Sheadmireshimandtrustshisjudgment. B. Shedislikeshimandsuspectshismotives.
C. She regrets his arrival.
D. She finds him undistinguished in person. E. Shehasnoopinion.
Correct Answer: A
Section: Reading Comprehension Questions Explanation
Explanation/Reference:
Explanation:
The author admires and trusts Lincoln, which you can infer from the description "his own wise and noble self."
QUESTION 139
For the last hour I have been watching President Lincoln and General McClellan as they sat together in earnest conversation on the deck of a steamer closer to us. I am thankful, I am happy, that the President has come--has sprung across the dreadful intervening Washington, and come to see and hear and judge for his own wise and noble self. While we were at dinner someone said, "Why, there's the President!" and he proved to be just arriving on the Ariel, at the end of the wharf. I stationed myself at once to watch for the coming of McClellan. The President stood
on deck with a glass, with which, after a time, he inspected our boat, waving his handkerchief to us. My eyes and soul were in the direction of the general headquarters, over which the great balloon was slowly descending.
As used in the passage, the word glass means
A. agoblet
B. amirror
C. a window D. a telescope E. bifocals
Correct Answer: D
Section: Reading Comprehension Questions Explanation
Explanation/Reference:
Explanation:
In the above passage, the word glass means a telescope, as evident from context.
QUESTION 140
For the last hour I have been watching President Lincoln and General McClellan as they sat together in earnest conversation on the deck of a steamer closer to us.
I am thankful, I am happy, that the President has come--has sprung across the dreadful intervening Washington, and come to see and hear and judge for his own wise and noble self. While we were at dinner someone said, "Why, there's the President!" and he proved to be just arriving on the Ariel, at the end of the wharf. I stationed myself at once to watch for the coming of McClellan. The President stood on deck with a glass, with which, after a time, he inspected our boat, waving his handkerchief to us. My eyes and soul were in the direction of the general headquarters, over which the great balloon was slowly descending.
The "great balloon slowly descending" is apparently
A. thesunsetting
B. remnantsofafirestormofthePotomac C. the moon over the river
D. a mirage
E. McClellan'stransportarriving
Correct Answer: E
Section: Reading Comprehension Questions Explanation
Explanation/Reference:
Explanation:
This is a literal question: McClellan is arriving via hot air balloon.
QUESTION 141
Big earthquakes are naturally occurring events well outside the powers of humans to create or stop. An earthquake is caused by a sudden slip on a fault. Stresses in the earth's outer layer push the side of the fault together. The friction across the surface of the fault holds the rocks together so they do not slip immediately when pushed sideways. Eventually enough stress builds up and the rocks slip suddenly, releasing energy in waves that travel through the rock to cause the shaking that we feel during an earthquake. Earthquakes typically originate several tens of miles below the surface of the earth. It takes many years-- decades to centuries--to build up enough
stress to make a large earthquake, and the fault may be tens to hundreds of miles long. The scale and force necessary to produce earthquakes are well beyond our daily lives. Likewise, people cannot prevent earthquakes from happening or stop them once they've started--giant nuclear explosions at shallow depths, like those in some movies, won't actually stop an earthquake.
The two most important variables affecting earthquake damage are the intensity of ground shaking cased by the quake and the quality of the engineering of structures in the region. The level of shaking, in turn, is controlled by the proximity of the earthquake source to the affected region and the types of rocks that seismic waves pass through en route (particularly those at or near the ground surface). Generally, the bigger and closer the earthquake, the stronger the shaking. But there have been large earthquakes with very little damage either because they caused little shaking or because the buildings were built to withstand that shaking. In other cases, moderate earthquakes have caused significant damage either because the shaking was locally amplified or more likely because the structures were poorly engineered.
The word fault means?
A. error
B. theplacewheretworockplatescometogether C. criticize
D. responsibility
E. volcanicactivity
Correct Answer: B
Section: Reading Comprehension Questions Explanation
Explanation/Reference:
Explanation:
Infer the answer from the context clues "the earth's outer layer push the side of the fault together" and "friction across the surface of the fault holds the rocks together."
QUESTION 142
Big earthquakes are naturally occurring events well outside the powers of humans to create or stop. An earthquake is caused by a sudden slip on a fault. Stresses in the earth's outer layer push the side of the fault together. The friction across the surface of the fault holds the rocks together so they do not slip immediately when pushed sideways. Eventually enough stress builds up and the rocks slip suddenly, releasing energy in waves that travel through the rock to cause the shaking that we feel during an earthquake. Earthquakes typically originate several tens of miles below the surface of the earth. It takes many years-- decades to centuries--to build up enough
stress to make a large earthquake, and the fault may be tens to hundreds of miles long. The scale and force necessary to produce earthquakes are well beyond our daily lives. Likewise, people cannot prevent earthquakes from happening or stop them once they've started--giant nuclear explosions at shallow depths, like those in some movies, won't actually stop an earthquake.
The two most important variables affecting earthquake damage are the intensity of ground shaking cased by the quake and the quality of the engineering of structures in the region. The level of shaking, in turn, is controlled by the proximity of the earthquake source to the affected region and the types of rocks that seismic waves pass through en route (particularly those at or near the ground surface). Generally, the bigger and closer the earthquake, the stronger the shaking. But there have been large earthquakes with very little damage either because they caused little shaking or because the buildings were built to withstand that shaking. In other cases, moderate earthquakes have caused significant damage either because the shaking was locally amplified or more likely because the structures were poorly engineered.
The amount of shaking during an earthquake is determined by
A. theamountofdamage
B. howsoonpeopletakeactiontostoptheearthquake
C. how close the epicenter of the earthquake is to the area
D. how well the offices and homes have been built in the region E. thedurationofthequake
Correct Answer: C
Section: Reading Comprehension Questions Explanation
Explanation/Reference:
Explanation:
The answer is directly stated: "The level of shaking, in turn, is controlled by the proximity of the earthquake source to the affected region and the types of rocks that seismic waves pass through en route (particularly those at or near the ground surface).
QUESTION 143
Big earthquakes are naturally occurring events well outside the powers of humans to create or stop. An earthquake is caused by a sudden slip on a fault. Stresses in the earth's outer layer push the side of the fault together. The friction across the surface of the fault holds the rocks together so they do not slip immediately when pushed sideways. Eventually enough stress builds up and the rocks slip suddenly, releasing energy in waves that travel through the rock to cause the shaking that we feel during an earthquake. Earthquakes typically originate several tens of miles below the surface of the earth. It takes many years-- decades to centuries--to build up enough
stress to make a large earthquake, and the fault may be tens to hundreds of miles long. The scale and force necessary to produce earthquakes are well beyond our daily lives. Likewise, people cannot prevent earthquakes from happening or stop them once they've started--giant nuclear explosions at shallow depths, like those in some movies, won't actually stop an earthquake.
The two most important variables affecting earthquake damage are the intensity of ground shaking cased by the quake and the quality of the engineering of structures in the region. The level of shaking, in turn, is controlled by the proximity of the earthquake source to the affected region and the types of rocks that seismic waves pass through en route (particularly those at or near the ground surface). Generally, the bigger and closer the earthquake, the stronger the shaking. But there have been large earthquakes with very little damage either because they caused little shaking or because the buildings were built to withstand that shaking. In other cases, moderate earthquakes have caused significant damage either because the shaking was locally amplified or more likely because the structures were poorly engineered.
This passage was most likely written to
A. explainsomebasicfactsaboutthecausesandeffectsofearthquakes
B. reassurepeoplewhoareconsideringmovingintoregionspronetoearthquakesthattheywillbesafefromharm C. teach people the methods they need to alleviate earthquake damage
D. persuade people to allocate more funding to earthquake research
E. describethedamagethatearthquakescancauseandthereasonforvaryingdegreesofdamage
Correct Answer: A
Section: Reading Comprehension Questions Explanation
Explanation/Reference:
Explanation:
Using process of elimination, choices B and C are directly contradicted by information in the text. Choice D is never mentioned. The second half of choice E is correct, but not the first half. Thus, the only possible correct response is choice A.
QUESTION 144
Big earthquakes are naturally occurring events well outside the powers of humans to create or stop. An earthquake is caused by a sudden slip on a fault. Stresses in the earth's outer layer push the side of the fault together. The friction across the surface of the fault holds the rocks together so they do not slip immediately when pushed sideways. Eventually enough stress builds up and the rocks slip suddenly, releasing energy in waves that travel through the rock to cause the shaking that we feel during an earthquake. Earthquakes typically originate several tens of miles below the surface of the earth. It takes many years-- decades to centuries--to build up enough
stress to make a large earthquake, and the fault may be tens to hundreds of miles long. The scale and force necessary to produce earthquakes are well beyond our daily lives. Likewise, people cannot prevent earthquakes from happening or stop them once they've started--giant nuclear explosions at shallow depths, like those in some movies, won't actually stop an earthquake.
The two most important variables affecting earthquake damage are the intensity of ground shaking cased by the quake and the quality of the engineering of structures in the region. The level of shaking, in turn, is controlled by the proximity of the earthquake source to the affected region and the types of rocks that seismic waves pass through en route (particularly those at or near the ground surface). Generally, the bigger and closer the earthquake, the stronger the shaking. But there have been large earthquakes with very little damage either because they caused little shaking or because the buildings were built to withstand that shaking. In other cases, moderate earthquakes have caused significant damage either because the shaking was locally amplified or more likely because the structures were poorly engineered.
You can conclude from this passage that
A. allearthquakesareequallydangerous
B. therearestepsthatpeoplecantaketopreventoratleastmitigateearthquakes
C. earthquakes occur all over the world
D. very little is known about earthquakes
E. scientistsunderstandagreatdealabouttheoriginsofearthquakesbutarepowerlesstostopthem
Correct Answer: E
Section: Reading Comprehension Questions Explanation
Explanation/Reference:
Explanation:
Choices A, B, and D cannot be correct. Choice D is contradicted by information in the passage. Thus, the only possible correct response is choice E.
QUESTION 145
Oliver Goldsmith (17301774) wrote criticism, plays, novels, biographies, travelogues, and nearly every other conceivable kind of composition. This good-humored
essay is from a series published in the Public Ledger and then in book form as The Citizen of the World (1762).
Were we to estimate the learning of the English by the number of books that are every day published among them, perhaps no country, not even China itself, could equal them in this particular. I have reckoned not less than twenty-three new books published in one day, which, upon computation, makes eight thousand three hundred and ninety-five in one year. Most of these are not confined to one single science, but embrace the whole circle. History, politics, poetry, mathematics, metaphysics, and the philosophy of nature, are all comprised in a manual no larger than that in which our children are taught the letters. If then, we suppose the learned of England to read but an eighth part of the works which daily come from the press and surely non can pretend to learning upon less easy terms), at this rate every scholar will read a thousand books in one year. From such a calculation, you may conjecture what an amazing fund of literature a man must be possessed of, who thus reads three new books every day, not one of which but contains all the good things that ever were said or written.
And yet I know not how it happens, but the English are not, in reality so learned as would seem from this calculation. We meet but few who know all arts and sciences to perfection; whether it is that the generality are incapable of such extensive knowledge, or that the authors of those books are not adequate instructors. In China, the Emperor himself takes cognizance of all the doctors in the kingdom who profess authorship. In England, every man may be an author, that can write; for they have by law a liberty, not only of saying what they please, but of being also as dull as they please.
Yesterday, as I testified to my surprise, to the man in black, where writers could be found in sufficient number to throw off the books I saw daily crowding from the press. I at first imagined that their learned seminaries might take this method of instructing the world. But, to obviate this objection, my companion assured me that the doctors of colleges never wrote, and that some of them had actually forgot their reading. "But if you desire," continued he, "to see a collection of authors, I fancy I can introduce you to a club, which assembles every Saturday at seven . . . ." I accepted his invitation; we walked together, and entered the house some time before the usual hour for the company assembling. My friend took this opportunity of letting me into the characters of the principal members of the club . .
.
"The first person," said he, "of our society is Doctor Nonentity, a metaphysician. Most people think him a profound scholar, but, as he seldom speaks, I cannot be positive in that particular; he generally spreads himself before the fire, sucks his pipe, talks little, drinks much, and is reckoned very good company. I'm told he writes indexes to perfection: he makes essays on the origin of evil, philosophical inquiries upon any subject, and draws up an answer to any book upon 24 hours' warning . . . ."
Goldsmith believes that
A. wecantellhowknowledgeableEnglishauthorsarebycountingthenumberofbookstheypublish B. thenumberofbookspublishedinEnglandisnotuptostandardssetinChina
C. the number of books published in England says nothing about English scholarship
D. most English writers are bettereducated than their Chinese counterparts
E. everyscholarreadsathousandbooksayear
Correct Answer: C
Section: Reading Comprehension Questions Explanation
Explanation/Reference:
Explanation:
Goldsmith begins by saying "Were we to estimate the learning of the English by the number of books that are published ..." but goes on to conclude that "... the English are not, in reality so learned as would seem from this calculation."
QUESTION 146
Oliver Goldsmith (17301774) wrote criticism, plays, novels, biographies, travelogues, and nearly every other conceivable kind of composition. This good-humored essay is from a series published in the Public Ledger and then in book form as The Citizen of the World (1762).
Were we to estimate the learning of the English by the number of books that are every day published among them, perhaps no country, not even China itself, could equal them in this particular. I have reckoned not less than twenty-three new books published in one day, which, upon computation, makes eight thousand three hundred and ninety-five in one year. Most of these are not confined to one single science, but embrace the whole circle. History, politics, poetry, mathematics, metaphysics, and the philosophy of nature, are all comprised in a manual no larger than that in which our children are taught the letters. If then, we suppose the learned of England to read but an eighth part of the works which daily come from the press and surely non can pretend to learning upon less easy terms), at this rate every scholar will read a thousand books in one year. From such a calculation, you may conjecture what an amazing fund of literature a man must be possessed of, who thus reads three new books every day, not one of which but contains all the good things that ever were said or written.
And yet I know not how it happens, but the English are not, in reality so learned as would seem from this calculation. We meet but few who know all arts and sciences to perfection; whether it is that the generality are incapable of such extensive knowledge, or that the authors of those books are not adequate instructors. In China, the Emperor himself takes cognizance of all the doctors in the kingdom who profess authorship. In England, every man may be an author, that can write; for they have by law a liberty, not only of saying what they please, but of being also as dull as they please.
Yesterday, as I testified to my surprise, to the man in black, where writers could be found in sufficient number to throw off the books I saw daily crowding from the press. I at first imagined that their learned seminaries might take this method of instructing the world. But, to obviate this objection, my companion assured me that the doctors of colleges never wrote, and that some of them had actually forgot their reading. "But if you desire," continued he, "to see a collection of authors, I fancy I can introduce you to a club, which assembles every Saturday at seven . . . ." I accepted his invitation; we walked together, and entered the house some time before the usual hour for the company assembling. My friend took this opportunity of letting me into the characters of the principal members of the club . .
.
"The first person," said he, "of our society is Doctor Nonentity, a metaphysician. Most people think him a profound scholar, but, as he seldom speaks, I cannot be positive in that particular; he generally spreads himself before the fire, sucks his pipe, talks little, drinks much, and is reckoned very good company. I'm told he writes indexes to perfection: he makes essays on the origin of evil, philosophical inquiries upon any subject, and draws up an answer to any book upon 24 hours' warning . . . ."
Why does Goldsmith calculate the number of books published in England?
A. ToimpresshisreaderswithEnglisherudition
B. Tomakethepointthatanyonecanbeanauthor
C. As defense for his argument that England is better than China D. To show that most English publications are foreign
E. Asacomparisonwithpublicationquotasinotherlands
Correct Answer: B
Section: Reading Comprehension Questions Explanation
Explanation/Reference:
Explanation:
Goldsmith's point is that England publishes an astonishing number of books, but the number has little to do with the quality.
QUESTION 147
Oliver Goldsmith (17301774) wrote criticism, plays, novels, biographies, travelogues, and nearly every other conceivable kind of composition. This good-humored essay is from a series published in the Public Ledger and then in book form as The Citizen of the World (1762).
Were we to estimate the learning of the English by the number of books that are every day published among them, perhaps no country, not even China itself, could equal them in this particular. I have reckoned not less than twenty-three new books published in one day, which, upon computation, makes eight thousand three hundred and ninety-five in one year. Most of these are not confined to one single science, but embrace the whole circle. History, politics, poetry, mathematics, metaphysics, and the philosophy of nature, are all comprised in a manual no larger than that in which our children are taught the letters. If then, we suppose the learned of England to read but an eighth part of the works which daily come from the press and surely non can pretend to learning upon less easy terms), at this rate every scholar will read a thousand books in one year. From such a calculation, you may conjecture what an amazing fund of literature a man must be possessed of, who thus reads three new books every day, not one of which but contains all the good things that ever were said or written.
And yet I know not how it happens, but the English are not, in reality so learned as would seem from this calculation. We meet but few who know all arts and sciences to perfection; whether it is that the generality are incapable of such extensive knowledge, or that the authors of those books are not adequate instructors. In China, the Emperor himself takes cognizance of all the doctors in the kingdom who profess authorship. In England, every man may be an author, that can write; for they have by law a liberty, not only of saying what they please, but of being also as dull as they please.
Yesterday, as I testified to my surprise, to the man in black, where writers could be found in sufficient number to throw off the books I saw daily crowding from the press. I at first imagined that their learned seminaries might take this method of instructing the world. But, to obviate this objection, my companion assured me that the doctors of colleges never wrote, and that some of them had actually forgot their reading. "But if you desire," continued he, "to see a collection of authors, I fancy I can introduce you to a club, which assembles every Saturday at seven . . . ." I accepted his invitation; we walked together, and entered the house some time before the usual hour for the company assembling. My friend took this opportunity of letting me into the characters of the principal members of the club . .
.
"The first person," said he, "of our society is Doctor Nonentity, a metaphysician. Most people think him a profound scholar, but, as he seldom speaks, I cannot be positive in that particular; he generally spreads himself before the fire, sucks his pipe, talks little, drinks much, and is reckoned very good company. I'm told he writes indexes to perfection: he makes essays on the origin of evil, philosophical inquiries upon any subject, and draws up an answer to any book upon 24 hours' warning . . . ."
The tone of paragraph 2 may best be described as
A. self-satisfied B. awestruck C. affectionate
D. sardonic E. solemn
Correct Answer: D
Section: Reading Comprehension Questions Explanation
Explanation/Reference:
Explanation:
The whole tone of the piece is ironic; Goldsmith is making his point through dry, sardonic wit.
QUESTION 148
Oliver Goldsmith (17301774) wrote criticism, plays, novels, biographies, travelogues, and nearly every other conceivable kind of composition. This good-humored essay is from a series published in the Public Ledger and then in book form as The Citizen of the World (1762).
Were we to estimate the learning of the English by the number of books that are every day published among them, perhaps no country, not even China itself, could equal them in this particular. I have reckoned not less than twenty-three new books published in one day, which, upon computation, makes eight thousand three hundred and ninety-five in one year. Most of these are not confined to one single science, but embrace the whole circle. History, politics, poetry, mathematics, metaphysics, and the philosophy of nature, are all comprised in a manual no larger than that in which our children are taught the letters. If then, we suppose the learned of England to read but an eighth part of the works which daily come from the press and surely non can pretend to learning upon less easy terms), at this rate every scholar will read a thousand books in one year. From such a calculation, you may conjecture what an amazing fund of literature a man must be possessed of, who thus reads three new books every day, not one of which but contains all the good things that ever were said or written.
And yet I know not how it happens, but the English are not, in reality so learned as would seem from this calculation. We meet but few who know all arts and sciences to perfection; whether it is that the generality are incapable of such extensive knowledge, or that the authors of those books are not adequate instructors. In China, the Emperor himself takes cognizance of all the doctors in the kingdom who profess authorship. In England, every man may be an author, that can write; for they have by law a liberty, not only of saying what they please, but of being also as dull as they please.
Yesterday, as I testified to my surprise, to the man in black, where writers could be found in sufficient number to throw off the books I saw daily crowding from the press. I at first imagined that their learned seminaries might take this method of instructing the world. But, to obviate this objection, my companion assured me that the doctors of colleges never wrote, and that some of them had actually forgot their reading. "But if you desire," continued he, "to see a collection of authors, I fancy I can introduce you to a club, which assembles every Saturday at seven . . . ." I accepted his invitation; we walked together, and entered the house some time before the usual hour for the company assembling. My friend took this opportunity of letting me into the characters of the principal members of the club . .
.
"The first person," said he, "of our society is Doctor Nonentity, a metaphysician. Most people think him a profound scholar, but, as he seldom speaks, I cannot be positive in that particular; he generally spreads himself before the fire, sucks his pipe, talks little, drinks much, and is reckoned very good company. I'm told he writes indexes to perfection: he makes essays on the origin of evil, philosophical inquiries upon any subject, and draws up an answer to any book upon 24 hours' warning . . . ."
Goldsmith first assumes that English writers come from
A. foreignlands B. seminaries C. China
D. clubs
E. thepress
Correct Answer: B
Section: Reading Comprehension Questions Explanation
Explanation/Reference:
Explanation:
He states this in line 48, but quickly dispels the notion when his companion assures him that "doctors of colleges never wrote."
QUESTION 149
Oliver Goldsmith (17301774) wrote criticism, plays, novels, biographies, travelogues, and nearly every other conceivable kind of composition. This good-humored essay is from a series published in the Public Ledger and then in book form as The Citizen of the World (1762).
Were we to estimate the learning of the English by the number of books that are every day published among them, perhaps no country, not even China itself, could equal them in this particular. I have reckoned not less than twenty-three new books published in one day, which, upon computation, makes eight thousand three hundred and ninety-five in one year. Most of these are not confined to one single science, but embrace the whole circle. History, politics, poetry, mathematics, metaphysics, and the philosophy of nature, are all comprised in a manual no larger than that in which our children are taught the letters. If then, we suppose the learned of England to read but an eighth part of the works which daily come from the press and surely non can pretend to learning upon less easy terms), at this rate every scholar will read a thousand books in one year. From such a calculation, you may conjecture what an amazing fund of literature a man must be possessed of, who thus reads three new books every day, not one of which but contains all the good things that ever were said or written.
And yet I know not how it happens, but the English are not, in reality so learned as would seem from this calculation. We meet but few who know all arts and sciences to perfection; whether it is that the generality are incapable of such extensive knowledge, or that the authors of those books are not adequate instructors. In China, the Emperor himself takes cognizance of all the doctors in the kingdom who profess authorship. In England, every man may be an author, that can write; for they have by law a liberty, not only of saying what they please, but of being also as dull as they please.
Yesterday, as I testified to my surprise, to the man in black, where writers could be found in sufficient number to throw off the books I saw daily crowding from the press. I at first imagined that their learned seminaries might take this method of instructing the world. But, to obviate this objection, my companion assured me that the doctors of colleges never wrote, and that some of them had actually forgot their reading. "But if you desire," continued he, "to see a collection of authors, I fancy I can introduce you to a club, which assembles every Saturday at seven . . . ." I accepted his invitation; we walked together, and entered the house some time before the usual hour for the company assembling. My friend took this opportunity of letting me into the characters of the principal members of the club . .
.
"The first person," said he, "of our society is Doctor Nonentity, a metaphysician. Most people think him a profound scholar, but, as he seldom speaks, I cannot be
positive in that particular; he generally spreads himself before the fire, sucks his pipe, talks little, drinks much, and is reckoned very good company. I'm told he writes indexes to perfection: he makes essays on the origin of evil, philosophical inquiries upon any subject, and draws up an answer to any book upon 24 hours' warning . . . ."
The word obviate (paragraph 4) means
A. clarify B. obscure C. turn
D. negate E. facilitate
Correct Answer: D
Section: Reading Comprehension Questions Explanation
Explanation/Reference:
Explanation:
Goldsmith suggests that seminaries might be publishing this glut of books to educate the world, but his friend voids that argument in the next sentence.
Richard III was without any doubt whatsoever the most evil man to have worn the crown of England. Attached to his name are so many crimes, and crimes so heinous and unnatural, that it is scarcely credible that such a monster could exist. He not only committed murder on a number of occasions, but many of those he murdered he had either sworn to protect or should have been expected to defend with his last ounce of strength if he had anything approaching human feelings.
First on the list of crimes was the death of his sovereign, Henry VI. Granted that Henry had been deposed by Richard's brother, and hence could not easily claim Richard's loyalty The word heinous in line 4 means
A. awful
B. secretive C. bloody
D. deceitful E. dishonest
Correct Answer: A
Section: Reading Comprehension Questions Explanation
Explanation/Reference:
Explanation:
Richard is heinous (evil), shown by the synonyms "evil" and "unnatural."
QUESTION 136
Richard III was without any doubt whatsoever the most evil man to have worn the crown of England. Attached to his name are so many crimes, and crimes so heinous and unnatural, that it is scarcely credible that such a monster could exist. He not only committed murder on a number of occasions, but many of those he murdered he had either sworn to protect or should have been expected to defend with his last ounce of strength if he had anything approaching human feelings. First on the list of crimes was the death of his sovereign, Henry VI. Granted that Henry had been deposed by Richard's brother, and hence could not easily claim Richard's loyalty
The author calls Richard a "monster" because
A. Richardmurderedpeople
B. Richarddidnotallowhonororfamilyfeelingtoholdhimback C. Richard was overly ambitious
D. all early English kings were ruthless
E. RichardsupportedHenryVIagainsthisownbrother
Correct Answer: B
Section: Reading Comprehension Questions Explanation
Explanation/Reference:
Explanation:
You can infer this answer because Richard murdered many people, even those he should have protected --such as king Henry VI.
QUESTION 137
For the last hour I have been watching President Lincoln and General McClellan as they sat together in earnest conversation on the deck of a steamer closer to us. I am thankful, I am happy, that the President has come--has sprung across the dreadful intervening Washington, and come to see and hear and judge for his own wise and noble self. While we were at dinner someone said, "Why, there's the President!" and he proved to be just arriving on the Ariel, at the end of the wharf. I stationed myself at once to watch for the coming of McClellan. The President stood
on deck with a glass, with which, after a time, he inspected our boat, waving his handkerchief to us. My eyes and soul were in the direction of the general headquarters, over which the great balloon was slowly descending.
What does the author mean by "the dreadful intervening Washington"?
A. Politicsarealwaysinterferingwiththewar.
B. Lincoln'sofficestandsinthewayofhisleadership.
C. Lincoln has crossed Washington to come to the narrator's home. D. The fame of the previous president keeps Lincoln in the shadows. E. WashingtonismediatingbetweentheNorthandSouth.
Correct Answer: C
Section: Reading Comprehension Questions Explanation
Explanation/Reference:
Explanation:
This is a literal question: "That dreadful intervening Washington" is the city itself.
QUESTION 138
For the last hour I have been watching President Lincoln and General McClellan as they sat together in earnest conversation on the deck of a steamer closer to us. I am thankful, I am happy, that the President has come--has sprung across the dreadful intervening Washington, and come to see and hear and judge for his own wise and noble self. While we were at dinner someone said, "Why, there's the President!" and he proved to be just arriving on the Ariel, at the end of the wharf. I stationed myself at once to watch for the coming of McClellan. The President stood
on deck with a glass, with which, after a time, he inspected our boat, waving his handkerchief to us. My eyes and soul were in the direction of the general headquarters, over which the great balloon was slowly descending.
How does the author feel toward Lincoln?
A. Sheadmireshimandtrustshisjudgment. B. Shedislikeshimandsuspectshismotives.
C. She regrets his arrival.
D. She finds him undistinguished in person. E. Shehasnoopinion.
Correct Answer: A
Section: Reading Comprehension Questions Explanation
Explanation/Reference:
Explanation:
The author admires and trusts Lincoln, which you can infer from the description "his own wise and noble self."
QUESTION 139
For the last hour I have been watching President Lincoln and General McClellan as they sat together in earnest conversation on the deck of a steamer closer to us. I am thankful, I am happy, that the President has come--has sprung across the dreadful intervening Washington, and come to see and hear and judge for his own wise and noble self. While we were at dinner someone said, "Why, there's the President!" and he proved to be just arriving on the Ariel, at the end of the wharf. I stationed myself at once to watch for the coming of McClellan. The President stood
on deck with a glass, with which, after a time, he inspected our boat, waving his handkerchief to us. My eyes and soul were in the direction of the general headquarters, over which the great balloon was slowly descending.
As used in the passage, the word glass means
A. agoblet
B. amirror
C. a window D. a telescope E. bifocals
Correct Answer: D
Section: Reading Comprehension Questions Explanation
Explanation/Reference:
Explanation:
In the above passage, the word glass means a telescope, as evident from context.
QUESTION 140
For the last hour I have been watching President Lincoln and General McClellan as they sat together in earnest conversation on the deck of a steamer closer to us.
I am thankful, I am happy, that the President has come--has sprung across the dreadful intervening Washington, and come to see and hear and judge for his own wise and noble self. While we were at dinner someone said, "Why, there's the President!" and he proved to be just arriving on the Ariel, at the end of the wharf. I stationed myself at once to watch for the coming of McClellan. The President stood on deck with a glass, with which, after a time, he inspected our boat, waving his handkerchief to us. My eyes and soul were in the direction of the general headquarters, over which the great balloon was slowly descending.
The "great balloon slowly descending" is apparently
A. thesunsetting
B. remnantsofafirestormofthePotomac C. the moon over the river
D. a mirage
E. McClellan'stransportarriving
Correct Answer: E
Section: Reading Comprehension Questions Explanation
Explanation/Reference:
Explanation:
This is a literal question: McClellan is arriving via hot air balloon.
QUESTION 141
Big earthquakes are naturally occurring events well outside the powers of humans to create or stop. An earthquake is caused by a sudden slip on a fault. Stresses in the earth's outer layer push the side of the fault together. The friction across the surface of the fault holds the rocks together so they do not slip immediately when pushed sideways. Eventually enough stress builds up and the rocks slip suddenly, releasing energy in waves that travel through the rock to cause the shaking that we feel during an earthquake. Earthquakes typically originate several tens of miles below the surface of the earth. It takes many years-- decades to centuries--to build up enough
stress to make a large earthquake, and the fault may be tens to hundreds of miles long. The scale and force necessary to produce earthquakes are well beyond our daily lives. Likewise, people cannot prevent earthquakes from happening or stop them once they've started--giant nuclear explosions at shallow depths, like those in some movies, won't actually stop an earthquake.
The two most important variables affecting earthquake damage are the intensity of ground shaking cased by the quake and the quality of the engineering of structures in the region. The level of shaking, in turn, is controlled by the proximity of the earthquake source to the affected region and the types of rocks that seismic waves pass through en route (particularly those at or near the ground surface). Generally, the bigger and closer the earthquake, the stronger the shaking. But there have been large earthquakes with very little damage either because they caused little shaking or because the buildings were built to withstand that shaking. In other cases, moderate earthquakes have caused significant damage either because the shaking was locally amplified or more likely because the structures were poorly engineered.
The word fault means?
A. error
B. theplacewheretworockplatescometogether C. criticize
D. responsibility
E. volcanicactivity
Correct Answer: B
Section: Reading Comprehension Questions Explanation
Explanation/Reference:
Explanation:
Infer the answer from the context clues "the earth's outer layer push the side of the fault together" and "friction across the surface of the fault holds the rocks together."
QUESTION 142
Big earthquakes are naturally occurring events well outside the powers of humans to create or stop. An earthquake is caused by a sudden slip on a fault. Stresses in the earth's outer layer push the side of the fault together. The friction across the surface of the fault holds the rocks together so they do not slip immediately when pushed sideways. Eventually enough stress builds up and the rocks slip suddenly, releasing energy in waves that travel through the rock to cause the shaking that we feel during an earthquake. Earthquakes typically originate several tens of miles below the surface of the earth. It takes many years-- decades to centuries--to build up enough
stress to make a large earthquake, and the fault may be tens to hundreds of miles long. The scale and force necessary to produce earthquakes are well beyond our daily lives. Likewise, people cannot prevent earthquakes from happening or stop them once they've started--giant nuclear explosions at shallow depths, like those in some movies, won't actually stop an earthquake.
The two most important variables affecting earthquake damage are the intensity of ground shaking cased by the quake and the quality of the engineering of structures in the region. The level of shaking, in turn, is controlled by the proximity of the earthquake source to the affected region and the types of rocks that seismic waves pass through en route (particularly those at or near the ground surface). Generally, the bigger and closer the earthquake, the stronger the shaking. But there have been large earthquakes with very little damage either because they caused little shaking or because the buildings were built to withstand that shaking. In other cases, moderate earthquakes have caused significant damage either because the shaking was locally amplified or more likely because the structures were poorly engineered.
The amount of shaking during an earthquake is determined by
A. theamountofdamage
B. howsoonpeopletakeactiontostoptheearthquake
C. how close the epicenter of the earthquake is to the area
D. how well the offices and homes have been built in the region E. thedurationofthequake
Correct Answer: C
Section: Reading Comprehension Questions Explanation
Explanation/Reference:
Explanation:
The answer is directly stated: "The level of shaking, in turn, is controlled by the proximity of the earthquake source to the affected region and the types of rocks that seismic waves pass through en route (particularly those at or near the ground surface).
QUESTION 143
Big earthquakes are naturally occurring events well outside the powers of humans to create or stop. An earthquake is caused by a sudden slip on a fault. Stresses in the earth's outer layer push the side of the fault together. The friction across the surface of the fault holds the rocks together so they do not slip immediately when pushed sideways. Eventually enough stress builds up and the rocks slip suddenly, releasing energy in waves that travel through the rock to cause the shaking that we feel during an earthquake. Earthquakes typically originate several tens of miles below the surface of the earth. It takes many years-- decades to centuries--to build up enough
stress to make a large earthquake, and the fault may be tens to hundreds of miles long. The scale and force necessary to produce earthquakes are well beyond our daily lives. Likewise, people cannot prevent earthquakes from happening or stop them once they've started--giant nuclear explosions at shallow depths, like those in some movies, won't actually stop an earthquake.
The two most important variables affecting earthquake damage are the intensity of ground shaking cased by the quake and the quality of the engineering of structures in the region. The level of shaking, in turn, is controlled by the proximity of the earthquake source to the affected region and the types of rocks that seismic waves pass through en route (particularly those at or near the ground surface). Generally, the bigger and closer the earthquake, the stronger the shaking. But there have been large earthquakes with very little damage either because they caused little shaking or because the buildings were built to withstand that shaking. In other cases, moderate earthquakes have caused significant damage either because the shaking was locally amplified or more likely because the structures were poorly engineered.
This passage was most likely written to
A. explainsomebasicfactsaboutthecausesandeffectsofearthquakes
B. reassurepeoplewhoareconsideringmovingintoregionspronetoearthquakesthattheywillbesafefromharm C. teach people the methods they need to alleviate earthquake damage
D. persuade people to allocate more funding to earthquake research
E. describethedamagethatearthquakescancauseandthereasonforvaryingdegreesofdamage
Correct Answer: A
Section: Reading Comprehension Questions Explanation
Explanation/Reference:
Explanation:
Using process of elimination, choices B and C are directly contradicted by information in the text. Choice D is never mentioned. The second half of choice E is correct, but not the first half. Thus, the only possible correct response is choice A.
QUESTION 144
Big earthquakes are naturally occurring events well outside the powers of humans to create or stop. An earthquake is caused by a sudden slip on a fault. Stresses in the earth's outer layer push the side of the fault together. The friction across the surface of the fault holds the rocks together so they do not slip immediately when pushed sideways. Eventually enough stress builds up and the rocks slip suddenly, releasing energy in waves that travel through the rock to cause the shaking that we feel during an earthquake. Earthquakes typically originate several tens of miles below the surface of the earth. It takes many years-- decades to centuries--to build up enough
stress to make a large earthquake, and the fault may be tens to hundreds of miles long. The scale and force necessary to produce earthquakes are well beyond our daily lives. Likewise, people cannot prevent earthquakes from happening or stop them once they've started--giant nuclear explosions at shallow depths, like those in some movies, won't actually stop an earthquake.
The two most important variables affecting earthquake damage are the intensity of ground shaking cased by the quake and the quality of the engineering of structures in the region. The level of shaking, in turn, is controlled by the proximity of the earthquake source to the affected region and the types of rocks that seismic waves pass through en route (particularly those at or near the ground surface). Generally, the bigger and closer the earthquake, the stronger the shaking. But there have been large earthquakes with very little damage either because they caused little shaking or because the buildings were built to withstand that shaking. In other cases, moderate earthquakes have caused significant damage either because the shaking was locally amplified or more likely because the structures were poorly engineered.
You can conclude from this passage that
A. allearthquakesareequallydangerous
B. therearestepsthatpeoplecantaketopreventoratleastmitigateearthquakes
C. earthquakes occur all over the world
D. very little is known about earthquakes
E. scientistsunderstandagreatdealabouttheoriginsofearthquakesbutarepowerlesstostopthem
Correct Answer: E
Section: Reading Comprehension Questions Explanation
Explanation/Reference:
Explanation:
Choices A, B, and D cannot be correct. Choice D is contradicted by information in the passage. Thus, the only possible correct response is choice E.
QUESTION 145
Oliver Goldsmith (17301774) wrote criticism, plays, novels, biographies, travelogues, and nearly every other conceivable kind of composition. This good-humored
essay is from a series published in the Public Ledger and then in book form as The Citizen of the World (1762).
Were we to estimate the learning of the English by the number of books that are every day published among them, perhaps no country, not even China itself, could equal them in this particular. I have reckoned not less than twenty-three new books published in one day, which, upon computation, makes eight thousand three hundred and ninety-five in one year. Most of these are not confined to one single science, but embrace the whole circle. History, politics, poetry, mathematics, metaphysics, and the philosophy of nature, are all comprised in a manual no larger than that in which our children are taught the letters. If then, we suppose the learned of England to read but an eighth part of the works which daily come from the press and surely non can pretend to learning upon less easy terms), at this rate every scholar will read a thousand books in one year. From such a calculation, you may conjecture what an amazing fund of literature a man must be possessed of, who thus reads three new books every day, not one of which but contains all the good things that ever were said or written.
And yet I know not how it happens, but the English are not, in reality so learned as would seem from this calculation. We meet but few who know all arts and sciences to perfection; whether it is that the generality are incapable of such extensive knowledge, or that the authors of those books are not adequate instructors. In China, the Emperor himself takes cognizance of all the doctors in the kingdom who profess authorship. In England, every man may be an author, that can write; for they have by law a liberty, not only of saying what they please, but of being also as dull as they please.
Yesterday, as I testified to my surprise, to the man in black, where writers could be found in sufficient number to throw off the books I saw daily crowding from the press. I at first imagined that their learned seminaries might take this method of instructing the world. But, to obviate this objection, my companion assured me that the doctors of colleges never wrote, and that some of them had actually forgot their reading. "But if you desire," continued he, "to see a collection of authors, I fancy I can introduce you to a club, which assembles every Saturday at seven . . . ." I accepted his invitation; we walked together, and entered the house some time before the usual hour for the company assembling. My friend took this opportunity of letting me into the characters of the principal members of the club . .
.
"The first person," said he, "of our society is Doctor Nonentity, a metaphysician. Most people think him a profound scholar, but, as he seldom speaks, I cannot be positive in that particular; he generally spreads himself before the fire, sucks his pipe, talks little, drinks much, and is reckoned very good company. I'm told he writes indexes to perfection: he makes essays on the origin of evil, philosophical inquiries upon any subject, and draws up an answer to any book upon 24 hours' warning . . . ."
Goldsmith believes that
A. wecantellhowknowledgeableEnglishauthorsarebycountingthenumberofbookstheypublish B. thenumberofbookspublishedinEnglandisnotuptostandardssetinChina
C. the number of books published in England says nothing about English scholarship
D. most English writers are bettereducated than their Chinese counterparts
E. everyscholarreadsathousandbooksayear
Correct Answer: C
Section: Reading Comprehension Questions Explanation
Explanation/Reference:
Explanation:
Goldsmith begins by saying "Were we to estimate the learning of the English by the number of books that are published ..." but goes on to conclude that "... the English are not, in reality so learned as would seem from this calculation."
QUESTION 146
Oliver Goldsmith (17301774) wrote criticism, plays, novels, biographies, travelogues, and nearly every other conceivable kind of composition. This good-humored essay is from a series published in the Public Ledger and then in book form as The Citizen of the World (1762).
Were we to estimate the learning of the English by the number of books that are every day published among them, perhaps no country, not even China itself, could equal them in this particular. I have reckoned not less than twenty-three new books published in one day, which, upon computation, makes eight thousand three hundred and ninety-five in one year. Most of these are not confined to one single science, but embrace the whole circle. History, politics, poetry, mathematics, metaphysics, and the philosophy of nature, are all comprised in a manual no larger than that in which our children are taught the letters. If then, we suppose the learned of England to read but an eighth part of the works which daily come from the press and surely non can pretend to learning upon less easy terms), at this rate every scholar will read a thousand books in one year. From such a calculation, you may conjecture what an amazing fund of literature a man must be possessed of, who thus reads three new books every day, not one of which but contains all the good things that ever were said or written.
And yet I know not how it happens, but the English are not, in reality so learned as would seem from this calculation. We meet but few who know all arts and sciences to perfection; whether it is that the generality are incapable of such extensive knowledge, or that the authors of those books are not adequate instructors. In China, the Emperor himself takes cognizance of all the doctors in the kingdom who profess authorship. In England, every man may be an author, that can write; for they have by law a liberty, not only of saying what they please, but of being also as dull as they please.
Yesterday, as I testified to my surprise, to the man in black, where writers could be found in sufficient number to throw off the books I saw daily crowding from the press. I at first imagined that their learned seminaries might take this method of instructing the world. But, to obviate this objection, my companion assured me that the doctors of colleges never wrote, and that some of them had actually forgot their reading. "But if you desire," continued he, "to see a collection of authors, I fancy I can introduce you to a club, which assembles every Saturday at seven . . . ." I accepted his invitation; we walked together, and entered the house some time before the usual hour for the company assembling. My friend took this opportunity of letting me into the characters of the principal members of the club . .
.
"The first person," said he, "of our society is Doctor Nonentity, a metaphysician. Most people think him a profound scholar, but, as he seldom speaks, I cannot be positive in that particular; he generally spreads himself before the fire, sucks his pipe, talks little, drinks much, and is reckoned very good company. I'm told he writes indexes to perfection: he makes essays on the origin of evil, philosophical inquiries upon any subject, and draws up an answer to any book upon 24 hours' warning . . . ."
Why does Goldsmith calculate the number of books published in England?
A. ToimpresshisreaderswithEnglisherudition
B. Tomakethepointthatanyonecanbeanauthor
C. As defense for his argument that England is better than China D. To show that most English publications are foreign
E. Asacomparisonwithpublicationquotasinotherlands
Correct Answer: B
Section: Reading Comprehension Questions Explanation
Explanation/Reference:
Explanation:
Goldsmith's point is that England publishes an astonishing number of books, but the number has little to do with the quality.
QUESTION 147
Oliver Goldsmith (17301774) wrote criticism, plays, novels, biographies, travelogues, and nearly every other conceivable kind of composition. This good-humored essay is from a series published in the Public Ledger and then in book form as The Citizen of the World (1762).
Were we to estimate the learning of the English by the number of books that are every day published among them, perhaps no country, not even China itself, could equal them in this particular. I have reckoned not less than twenty-three new books published in one day, which, upon computation, makes eight thousand three hundred and ninety-five in one year. Most of these are not confined to one single science, but embrace the whole circle. History, politics, poetry, mathematics, metaphysics, and the philosophy of nature, are all comprised in a manual no larger than that in which our children are taught the letters. If then, we suppose the learned of England to read but an eighth part of the works which daily come from the press and surely non can pretend to learning upon less easy terms), at this rate every scholar will read a thousand books in one year. From such a calculation, you may conjecture what an amazing fund of literature a man must be possessed of, who thus reads three new books every day, not one of which but contains all the good things that ever were said or written.
And yet I know not how it happens, but the English are not, in reality so learned as would seem from this calculation. We meet but few who know all arts and sciences to perfection; whether it is that the generality are incapable of such extensive knowledge, or that the authors of those books are not adequate instructors. In China, the Emperor himself takes cognizance of all the doctors in the kingdom who profess authorship. In England, every man may be an author, that can write; for they have by law a liberty, not only of saying what they please, but of being also as dull as they please.
Yesterday, as I testified to my surprise, to the man in black, where writers could be found in sufficient number to throw off the books I saw daily crowding from the press. I at first imagined that their learned seminaries might take this method of instructing the world. But, to obviate this objection, my companion assured me that the doctors of colleges never wrote, and that some of them had actually forgot their reading. "But if you desire," continued he, "to see a collection of authors, I fancy I can introduce you to a club, which assembles every Saturday at seven . . . ." I accepted his invitation; we walked together, and entered the house some time before the usual hour for the company assembling. My friend took this opportunity of letting me into the characters of the principal members of the club . .
.
"The first person," said he, "of our society is Doctor Nonentity, a metaphysician. Most people think him a profound scholar, but, as he seldom speaks, I cannot be positive in that particular; he generally spreads himself before the fire, sucks his pipe, talks little, drinks much, and is reckoned very good company. I'm told he writes indexes to perfection: he makes essays on the origin of evil, philosophical inquiries upon any subject, and draws up an answer to any book upon 24 hours' warning . . . ."
The tone of paragraph 2 may best be described as
A. self-satisfied B. awestruck C. affectionate
D. sardonic E. solemn
Correct Answer: D
Section: Reading Comprehension Questions Explanation
Explanation/Reference:
Explanation:
The whole tone of the piece is ironic; Goldsmith is making his point through dry, sardonic wit.
QUESTION 148
Oliver Goldsmith (17301774) wrote criticism, plays, novels, biographies, travelogues, and nearly every other conceivable kind of composition. This good-humored essay is from a series published in the Public Ledger and then in book form as The Citizen of the World (1762).
Were we to estimate the learning of the English by the number of books that are every day published among them, perhaps no country, not even China itself, could equal them in this particular. I have reckoned not less than twenty-three new books published in one day, which, upon computation, makes eight thousand three hundred and ninety-five in one year. Most of these are not confined to one single science, but embrace the whole circle. History, politics, poetry, mathematics, metaphysics, and the philosophy of nature, are all comprised in a manual no larger than that in which our children are taught the letters. If then, we suppose the learned of England to read but an eighth part of the works which daily come from the press and surely non can pretend to learning upon less easy terms), at this rate every scholar will read a thousand books in one year. From such a calculation, you may conjecture what an amazing fund of literature a man must be possessed of, who thus reads three new books every day, not one of which but contains all the good things that ever were said or written.
And yet I know not how it happens, but the English are not, in reality so learned as would seem from this calculation. We meet but few who know all arts and sciences to perfection; whether it is that the generality are incapable of such extensive knowledge, or that the authors of those books are not adequate instructors. In China, the Emperor himself takes cognizance of all the doctors in the kingdom who profess authorship. In England, every man may be an author, that can write; for they have by law a liberty, not only of saying what they please, but of being also as dull as they please.
Yesterday, as I testified to my surprise, to the man in black, where writers could be found in sufficient number to throw off the books I saw daily crowding from the press. I at first imagined that their learned seminaries might take this method of instructing the world. But, to obviate this objection, my companion assured me that the doctors of colleges never wrote, and that some of them had actually forgot their reading. "But if you desire," continued he, "to see a collection of authors, I fancy I can introduce you to a club, which assembles every Saturday at seven . . . ." I accepted his invitation; we walked together, and entered the house some time before the usual hour for the company assembling. My friend took this opportunity of letting me into the characters of the principal members of the club . .
.
"The first person," said he, "of our society is Doctor Nonentity, a metaphysician. Most people think him a profound scholar, but, as he seldom speaks, I cannot be positive in that particular; he generally spreads himself before the fire, sucks his pipe, talks little, drinks much, and is reckoned very good company. I'm told he writes indexes to perfection: he makes essays on the origin of evil, philosophical inquiries upon any subject, and draws up an answer to any book upon 24 hours' warning . . . ."
Goldsmith first assumes that English writers come from
A. foreignlands B. seminaries C. China
D. clubs
E. thepress
Correct Answer: B
Section: Reading Comprehension Questions Explanation
Explanation/Reference:
Explanation:
He states this in line 48, but quickly dispels the notion when his companion assures him that "doctors of colleges never wrote."
QUESTION 149
Oliver Goldsmith (17301774) wrote criticism, plays, novels, biographies, travelogues, and nearly every other conceivable kind of composition. This good-humored essay is from a series published in the Public Ledger and then in book form as The Citizen of the World (1762).
Were we to estimate the learning of the English by the number of books that are every day published among them, perhaps no country, not even China itself, could equal them in this particular. I have reckoned not less than twenty-three new books published in one day, which, upon computation, makes eight thousand three hundred and ninety-five in one year. Most of these are not confined to one single science, but embrace the whole circle. History, politics, poetry, mathematics, metaphysics, and the philosophy of nature, are all comprised in a manual no larger than that in which our children are taught the letters. If then, we suppose the learned of England to read but an eighth part of the works which daily come from the press and surely non can pretend to learning upon less easy terms), at this rate every scholar will read a thousand books in one year. From such a calculation, you may conjecture what an amazing fund of literature a man must be possessed of, who thus reads three new books every day, not one of which but contains all the good things that ever were said or written.
And yet I know not how it happens, but the English are not, in reality so learned as would seem from this calculation. We meet but few who know all arts and sciences to perfection; whether it is that the generality are incapable of such extensive knowledge, or that the authors of those books are not adequate instructors. In China, the Emperor himself takes cognizance of all the doctors in the kingdom who profess authorship. In England, every man may be an author, that can write; for they have by law a liberty, not only of saying what they please, but of being also as dull as they please.
Yesterday, as I testified to my surprise, to the man in black, where writers could be found in sufficient number to throw off the books I saw daily crowding from the press. I at first imagined that their learned seminaries might take this method of instructing the world. But, to obviate this objection, my companion assured me that the doctors of colleges never wrote, and that some of them had actually forgot their reading. "But if you desire," continued he, "to see a collection of authors, I fancy I can introduce you to a club, which assembles every Saturday at seven . . . ." I accepted his invitation; we walked together, and entered the house some time before the usual hour for the company assembling. My friend took this opportunity of letting me into the characters of the principal members of the club . .
.
"The first person," said he, "of our society is Doctor Nonentity, a metaphysician. Most people think him a profound scholar, but, as he seldom speaks, I cannot be
positive in that particular; he generally spreads himself before the fire, sucks his pipe, talks little, drinks much, and is reckoned very good company. I'm told he writes indexes to perfection: he makes essays on the origin of evil, philosophical inquiries upon any subject, and draws up an answer to any book upon 24 hours' warning . . . ."
The word obviate (paragraph 4) means
A. clarify B. obscure C. turn
D. negate E. facilitate
Correct Answer: D
Section: Reading Comprehension Questions Explanation
Explanation/Reference:
Explanation:
Goldsmith suggests that seminaries might be publishing this glut of books to educate the world, but his friend voids that argument in the next sentence.