TOEFL EXERCISE 5

Study each of the passages, and choose the best answers to the questions that follow.

PASSAGE ONE (Questions 1-4)

When babies are born, they always have blue eyes. This is because the melanin, the
pigment that colors the eyes, is not on the surface of the iris. Instead, it is within the
creases of the iris. Because there is little melanin on the surface of the iris, the eyes
appear blue.
After a few months, the melanin moves to the surface of the iris. It is the amount of
melanin on the surface that determines a persons permanent eye color, so it is at this
point that a babys eyes develop the color they will have for a lifetime.

1. The word pigment in line 2 is closest in 3. The word permanent in line 6 could best
meaning to be replaced by
(A) skin (A) changeable
(B) muscle (B) lasting
(C) tissue (C) dark
(D) color (D) possible

2. The word surface in line 2 is closest in 4. The word point in line 7 could best be
meaning to replaced by which of the following?
(A) top (A) Dot
(B) inside (B) Era
(C) back (C) Time
(D) bottom (D) Place
PASSAGE TWO (Questions 5-9)
The chili pepper is native to the Americas, but nowadays it is found all over the
world. It is an extremely popular spice in many cultures and is, in fact, the worlds
second favorite spice, after salt. There are more than a hundred species of chili peppers,
some which are quite mild and others which are incredibly hot and spicy.
Today chili peppers are used to spice a variety of foods, e.g., salsa, meat and rice
dishes, and even jam and jelly. In the past, chili peppers had some other, more unusual
uses. In ancient Mexico, for example, chilies could be used to pay taxes. In addition, in
Panama, these peppers were used to protect against sharks.

5. The word favorite in line 3 is closest in 8. Jam in line 6 is probably

meaning to (A) a type of chili
(A) most popular (B) something to eat
(B) most delicious (C) something to wear
(C) best known (D) a container for chilies
(D most recognized
9. The expression protect against in line 8
6. The word species in line 3 is closest in could best be replaced by
meaning to which of the following? (A) lean against
(A) Plants (B) hunt for
(B) Uses (C) flirt with
(C) Types (D) defend against
(D) Sizes

7. The word mild in line 4 could best be

replaced by
(A) strong tasting
(B) cold
(C) delicate tasting
(D) amiable
PASSAGE THREE (Questions 10 - 15)
At the end of the Revolutionary War, America was no longer a colony; instead,
America was a new, young country that needed to set up its own government. There was
a lot of disagreement throughout the country as to the type of government that was
best. One of the major issues was whether there should be a strong federal government
with little power in the hands of the individual states or a weak central government and
powerful states.
It is interesting to note that it was many of the Revolutionary War veterans who
were in favor of a strong central government. Because of their efforts in winning the
war over the British, after the war they became a powerful political force, and as a
whole they were extremely nationalistic.
There were also financial reasons that veterans supported a strong national
government. The revolutionary congress had ended the war with a large amount of
debt, and a large portion of this debt was in back pay and pensions to soldiers. Many
soldiers believed that with a strong federal government, they had a better chance of
collecting the money owed to them.

10. A colony in line 1 is 13. In line 7, veterans refers to

(A) an independent country (A) government officials
(B) a type, of government (B) former soldiers
(C) a dependent area (C) voters
(D) a continent (D) current members of the armed Forces

11. The expression set up in line 2 could 14. The word financial in line 11 is closest
best be replaced by which of the in meaning to
following? (A) monetary
(A) Defend (B) important
(B) Organize (C) military
(C) Argue about (D) national
(D) Protect
15. The word back in line 13 could best be
12. The word federal in line 4 is closest in replaced by which of the following?
meaning to (A) Reverse
(A) state (B) Low-income
(B) weak (C) Returnable
(C) central (D) Already earned
(D) new
TOEFL REVIEW EXERCISE (Skills 1-5): Study each of the passages, and choose the best answers
to the questions that follow.

PASSAGE ONE (Questions 1-9)

Geographically, Californias diversity is breathtaking, and the states coastline From
north to south is no exception. Measuring 840 miles in length, the coast consists of the
rugged cliffs of the Coast Ranges in the north and wide sandy beaches in the south. Along
the coastline there are two major harbors, one in the north at San Francisco, the other in
the south at San Diego. Near Humboldt and Monterey are smaller natural harbors.

1. The topic of this passage is

(A) how the state of California is divided 6. It is implied in the passage that northern
into north and south California
(B) the variations in Californias coastal (A) has more beaches than southern
geography California
(C) the breathtaking beauty of California (B) has the same type of coastline as
(D) the exceptions in coastal geography southern California
(C) has fewer major harbors than southern
2. The word breathtaking in line 1 California
probably means (D) has a different coastline from
(A) breathing southern California
(B) amazing
(C) stolen 7. According to the passage, where are the
(D) usual major harbors located in California?
(A) In San Diego
3. According to the passage, what measures (B) Only in northern California
840 miles in length? (C) Near Humboldt and Monterey
(A) The California coastline (D) In the north and in the south
(B) The Coast Ranges
(C) The rugged cliffs 8. In line 5, natural harbors are
(D) The exceptional part of northern (A) not human-made
California (B) always small in size
(C) evenly shaped
4. The Coast Ranges are probably (D) constructed of natural materials
(A) flat, sandy areas on the coast of
California 9. Which of the following geographical
(B) found in southern California features is NOT mentioned in the
(C) a series of mountains passage?
(D) hundreds of miles north of the cliffs (A) Cliffs
(B) Canyons
5. Harbors in line 4 are (C) Beaches
(A) cliffs (D) Harbors
(B) ports
(C) beaches
(D) mountains
PASSAGE TWO (Questions 1018)
Among some groups of people, cats have a reputation as rather silly animals that are
always getting themselves stuck in trees. Cats have often been known to become
frightened of something, run up a tree, and then cry sadly until they are rescued.
There is, in reality, a reasonable explanation for this type of behavior, and it has to
do with the shape of the cats claws. A cats claws are hooked in a direction that makes
climbing up a tree a rather easy task. However, when it comes to climbing back down
the tree, these claws are not very helpful.

10. The main idea of the passage is that 15. According to the passage, a cat CANNOT
(A) cats really are silly animals (A) climb up a tree
(B) cats have good reason for their (B) get stuck in a tree
behavior (C) cry easily
(C) cats enjoy climbing trees (D) climb down easily
(D) cats sharp claws are unnecessary for
survival 16. The passage states that a cat gets stuck in
a tree because
11. The passage indicates that some people (A) it is crying
think that cats are silly because the cats (B) of the shape of its claws
(A) have funny-looking claws (C) it does not know how to climb
(B) frighten other cats (D) it is afraid of other cats
(C) climb trees and cannot get down
(D) are unable to rescue other cats 17. It is implied in the passage that if a cat
tries to climb down a tree, it will
12. The word rescued in line 3 is closest in (A) be able to do it easily
meaning to (B) move very quickly
(A) left (C) cry to other cats
(B) saved (D) perhaps fall
(C) scared
(D) tired 18. The word helpful in line 7 could best be
replaced by
13. The expression in reality in line 4 could (A) friendly
best be replaced by (B) useful
(A) in contrast (C) nice
(B) in fact (D) sincere
(C) in agreement
(D) in all probability

14. The word hooked in line 5 is closest in

meaning to
(A) curved
(B) straightened
(C) sharpened
(D) shortened
PASSAGE THREE (Questions 19-27)
In the 1890s, bicycles became quite popular in the United States as the new safety
bicycles replaced the older penny-farthing bicycles. On the penny-farthing bicycles, one
wheel was much larger than the other, and these bicycles were not very stable; they
were always falling over. On the new safety bicycles, both wheels were equal in size,
and they were much easier to control.
Many women also enjoyed these new safety bicycles, but they had to take
measures to deal with their clothing while riding the bicycle The fashion at the time
was for long, full skirts that did not go well with bicycles. Some women put lead
weights in their skirts to keep their skirts from blowing up. Other women changed from
long skirts to bloomers, which were long, full, wide pants, but some people felt that
bloomers were inappropriate for women to wear; in fact, some newspapers and
magazines of the day criticized the new bicycle fashion as a danger to ladies morals.

19. The passage is mainly about 23. The word measures in line 7 could best
(A) the popularity of safety bicycles, even be replaced by
among women (A) counts
(B) the differences between safety and (B) numbers
penny-farthing bicycles (C) steps
(C) womens fashions in the nineteenth (D) problems
century 24. The passage indicates that it was
(D) the lack of stability of the penny- fashionable in the 1890s for women to
farthing bicycles wear
(A) long skirts
20. According to the passage, the penny- (B) short pants
farthing bicycle had (C) small hats
(A) two small wheels (D) mens clothing
(B) two large wheels 25. It is implied in the passage that lead is
(C) two equal wheels (A) heavy
(D) two unequal wheels (B) soft
(C) delicate
21. The word stable in line 3 is closest in (D) light
meaning to
(A) dangerous 26. In line 10, bloomers are
(B) expensive (A) shirts
(C) big (B) skirts
(D) steady (C) hats
(D) pants
22. Which of the following is NOT true about
the safety bicycle? 27. It is implied in the passage that
(A) It had equal wheels. newspapers expressed the opinion that
(B) It was fairly simple to control. women
(C) It preceded the penny-farthing (A) should wear bloomers
bicycle. (B) should not ride bicycles
(D) It became popular in the 1890s. (C) should not wear long, full skirts
(D) should always follow the fashion