TOPIC SENTENCE
111. The term spices is a pleasant one, whether it connotes fine 
French cuisine or a down-home, cinnamon-flavored apple pie. 
____________. In the past, individuals traveled the world seeking 
exotic spices for profit and, in searching, have changed the course 
of history. Indeed, to gain control of lands harboring new spices, 
nations have actually gone to war.
a. The taste and aroma of spices are the main elements that make 
food such a source of fascination and pleasure.
b. The term might equally bring to mind Indian curry made thou�sands of miles away and those delicious, barbecued ribs sold on 
the corner.
c. It is exciting to find a good cookbook and experiment with 
spices from other lands—indeed, it is one way to travel around 
the globe!
d. The history of spices, however, is another matter altogether, 
and at times, it can be filled with danger and intrigue.

112. It weighs less than three pounds and is hardly more interesting to look 
at than an overly ripe cauliflower. ___________________________. It 
has created poetry and music, planned and executed horrific wars, 
and devised intricate scientific theories. It thinks and dreams, plots 
and schemes, and easily holds more information than all the libraries 
on Earth.
a. The human brain is made of gelatinous matter and contains no 
nerve endings.
b. The science of neurology has found a way to map the most 
important areas of the human brain.
c. Nevertheless, the human brain is the most mysterious and com�plex object on Earth.
d. However, scientists say that each person uses only 10% of his or 
her brain over the course of a lifetime!

113. ___________________. It rained in April; it rained in May. It 
rained in the mornings; it rained in the afternoons. It poured, it 
drizzled, it showered, it misted—but always it rained. But the good 
news is we won’t have a drought this summer.
a. The rain makes me gloomy.
b. This spring was the rainiest on record.
c. Rain is nice, but I prefer sunshine.
d. Scientists know very little about the global climate.
For the following questions, a topic sentence is given. Try choosing the 
sentence that best develops or supports it.

114. A fireplace should be lined with special fire bricks to prevent heat 
transfer.
a. Normal bricks are not dense enough to withstand excessive 
heat.
b. Fire codes also require a smoke alarm in every room.
c. Good up-drafts can make a pleasant fire, however.
d. Modern houses don’t use as much lumber as older homes did.

115. Cosmetic plastic surgery is one of the fastest-growing segments of 
U.S. medicine. 
a. Cosmetic plastic surgery can have dangerous side effects, some 
of which can be fatal.
b. Americans are eager to make their bodies as perfect as possible 
and to minimize the visible signs of aging.
c. The price of cosmetic plastic surgery is also on the rise.
d. This increase in cosmetic plastic surgery says something quite 
disturbing about our culture.

SHORT PASSAGES
In cities throughout the country, there is a new direction in local 
campaign coverage. Frequently in local elections, journalists are not 
giving voters enough information to understand the issues and evalu�ate the candidates. The local news media devotes too much time to 
scandal and not enough time to policy.

131. This paragraph best supports the statement that the local news 
media
a. is not doing an adequate job when it comes to covering local 
campaigns.
b. does not understand either campaign issues or politics.
c. should learn how to cover politics by watching the national 
news media.
d. has no interest in covering stories about local political events.
The use of desktop computer equipment and software to create high�quality documents such as newsletters, business cards, letterhead, 
and brochures is called Desktop Publishing, or DTP. The most 
important part of any DTP project is planning. Before you begin, 
you should know your intended audience, the message you want to 
communicate, and what form your message will take.

132. The paragraph best supports the statement that
a. Desktop Publishing is one way to become acquainted with a 
new business audience.
b. computer software is continually being refined to produce high�quality printing.
c. the first stage of any proposed DTP project should be organiza�tion and design.
d. the planning stage of any DTP project should include talking 
with the intended audience.

The entire low-carbohydrate versus low-fat diet argument is so 
prevalent that one would think that these are the only two options 
available for losing weight and staying healthy. Some experts even 
feel that the low-carb/low-fat debate distracts us from an even more 
important issue—our culture’s reliance on processed and manufac�tured foods. 
133. The paragraph best supports the statement that
a. experts state that not all fats are equal, so we need not reduce 
our intake of all fats; just those that contain partially hydroge�nated oils.
b. important health concerns get overlooked when we focus 
exclusively on the low-fat versus low-carb question.
c. low-carbohydrate diets lead to significant and sustained 
weight loss.
d. processed foods can lead to many adverse health problems 
including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and obesity.


Every year, Americans use over one billion sharp objects to admin�ister healthcare in their homes. These sharp objects include lancets, 
needles, and syringes. If not disposed of in puncture-resistant con�tainers, they can injure sanitation workers. Sharp objects should be 
disposed of in hard plastic or metal containers with secure lids. The 
containers should be clearly marked and be puncture resistant.
134. The paragraph best supports the idea that sanitation workers can 
be injured if they
a. do not place sharp objects in puncture-resistant containers.
b. come in contact with sharp objects that have not been placed in 
secure containers.
c. are careless with sharp objects such as lancets, needles, and 
syringes in their homes.
d. do not mark the containers they pick up with a warning that 
those containers contain sharp objects.

Litigation is not always the only or best way to resolve conflicts. 
Mediation offers an alternative approach and it is one that can be 
quite efficient and successful. Mediation can be faster, less expensive, 
and can lead to creative solutions not always possible in a court of 
law. Additionally, mediation focuses on mutually acceptable solu�tions, rather than on winning or losing.
135. This paragraph best supports the idea that
a. there is too much reliance on litigation in our society.
b. litigation is expensive, slow, and limited by its reliance on fol�lowing the letter of the law.
c. mediation is the best way to resolve a crisis.
d. mediation can be an effective way to resolve conflicts.

NONFICTION AND INFORMATION PASSAGES 
The coconut is an unusual food for many reasons. It is technically 
a seed, produced by the coconut palm tree, and as such is one of 
the largest edible seeds produced by any plant. Its unusual contents 
also make it unique in the seed world—the interior consists of both 
“meat” and “water.” The meat is the white pith with which we are all 
familiar, as it is used extensively for cooking and flavorings; the coco�nut water is a white liquid that is very sweet and thirst-quenching.
Portuguese explorers gave the nut its name in the 15th century, 
referring to it as coco, meaning “ghost” in their language. The three 
dimples and the hairy texture reminded them of a ghost’s face, and 
the tree has retained that name ever since. 
The coconut has many varied uses. It is used to make marga�rine, as well as various cooking oils, and these cooking oils are used 
by fast-food restaurants around the world to make such diet staples
as French fries. The coconut fluid is a favorite drink in hot climates, 
providing a cool and refreshing beverage right off the tree. This 
water is also used by manufacturers of various sports drinks because 
of its isotonic electrolyte properties. Even the shell itself has many 
uses, including cattle food and fertilizer.
Yet the coconut is also useful in many ways that have nothing 
to do with food. Coconut oil is used for cosmetics, medicines, and 
can even be used in place of diesel fuel. Dried coconut shells are used 
in many countries as a tool, such as a buffer for shining wood floors. 
The shells are also used for shirt buttons, and are commonly found 
on Hawaiian clothing. They are even used for musical instruments 
and bird houses!
And all these are only some of the uses found for the coconut 
fruit. The coconut palm tree, which produces the nut, also produces 
countless useful items. It’s no wonder that the coconut palm has been 
called “the tree of life.”

210. The underlined word pith, as used in the passage, most nearly 
means
a. helmet.
b. hairy material.
c. black.
d. meaty substance.
211. The coconut earned the nick name “ghost” because 
a. of its pale color.
b. it resembles a face. 
c. it is round.
d. of its smell.


212. What is the main focus of this passage?
a. the history of coconuts
b. coconut trees have many uses
c. how cooking oil is made
d. Portuguese discoveries


213. The passage implies that
a. coconut palms are a valuable plant.
b. coconut oil is the best way to cook.
c. Portuguese explorers loved coconuts.
d. coconut palms are good shade trees.


214. Which of the following is NOT a use for the coconut palm?
a. margarine
b. buttons
c. helium balloons
d. diesel fuel


215. The underlined word staples, as used in the passage, most nearly 
means
a. fasteners.
b. plans.
c. paperwork.
d. foods.