1 1

Questions 1-11 are based on the following passage. Passage 2

Passage 1 is adapted from "Ancient DNA Tells Story of Giant Eagle The mysterious spotted green pigeon (Caloenas maculata)
Evolution," © 2005 by Public Library of Science. Passage 2 is adapted was a relative of the dodo, according to scientists who have
from Tim Heupink, et al. "Dodos and Spotted Green Pigeons are examined its genetic make-up. The authors say their results,
Descendants of an Island Hopping Bird," © 2014 by Tim Heupink, et al. published in the open access journal BMC Evolutionary
40 Biology, support a theory that both birds are descended from
Passage 1 “island hopping” ancestors.
The scientists took DNA from two feathers of the spotted
For reasons that are not entirely clear, when animals make green pigeon. Because of its age, the DNA was highly
their way to isolated islands, they tend to evolve relatively fragmented, so they focused in on three DNA “mini
quickly toward an outsized or pint-sized version of their 45 barcodes” – small sections of DNA which are unique for
Line mainland counterpart. most bird species. They looked at these sections of the
5 Perhaps the most famous example of an island giant—and, pigeon's DNA, and compared it to other species.
sadly, of species extinction—is the dodo, once found on the This showed that the spotted green pigeon is indeed a
Indian Ocean island of Mauritius. When the dodo's ancestor separate species, showing a unique DNA barcode compared
(thought to be a migratory pigeon) settled on this island with 50 to other pigeons. The pigeon is genetically most closely
abundant food, no competition from terrestrial mammals, and related to the Nicobar pigeon and the dodo and Rodrigues
10 no predators, it could survive without flying, and thus was solitaire, both extinct birds from islands near Madagascar.
freed from the energetic and size constraints of flight. New The spotted green pigeon shows signs of a semi-terrestrial
Zealand also had avian giants, now extinct, including the island lifestyle and the ability to fly. The closely related
flightless moa, an ostrich-like bird, and Haast's eagle 55 Nicobar pigeon shows similar habits and has a preference for
(Harpagornis moored), which had a wingspan up to 3 travelling between small islands.
15 meters. Though Haast's eagle could fly—and presumably The scientists say this lifestyle, together with the
used its wings to launch brutal attacks on the hapless moa— relationship of both pigeons to the dodo and Rodrigues
its body mass (10–14 kilograms) pushed the limits for self- solitaire, supports an evolutionary theory that the ancestors of
propelled flight. 60 these birds were “island hoppers,” moving between islands
As extreme evolutionary examples, these island birds can around India and Southeast Asia. The birds that settled on
20 offer insights into the forces and events shaping evolutionary particular islands then evolved into the individual species.
change. In a new study, Michael Bunce et al. compared The dodo's ancestor managed to hop as far as the island of
ancient mitochondrial DNA extracted from Haast's eagle Mauritius near Madagascar where it then lost the ability to
bones with DNA sequences of 16 living eagle species to 65 fly.
better characterize the evolutionary history of the extinct Dr. Tim Heupink, Griffith University Australia says: “This
25 giant raptor. Their results suggest the extinct raptor study improves our ability to identify novel species from
underwent a rapid evolutionary transformation that belies its historic remains, and also those that are not novel after all.
kinship to some of the world's smallest eagle species. Ultimately this will help us to measure and understand the
The authors characterized the rates of sequence evolution extinction of local populations and entire species.”
within mitochondrial DNA to establish the evolutionary
30 relationships between the different eagle species. Their
analysis places Haast's eagle in the same evolutionary lineage
as a group of small eagle species in the genus Hieraaetus.
Surprisingly, the genetic distance separating the giant eagle
and its more diminutive Hieraaetus cousins from their last
35 common ancestor is relatively small.

80
 1 1
1 4
According to the author of Passage 1, one of the It can reasonably be inferred from Passage 1 that, for
reasons why dodo birds were so large is that they most bird species, there is a certain size at which they
A) competed with larger birds, such as the Haast’s A) are unable to fly.
eagle.
B) require less energy when flying.
B) had food sources that included large, terrestrial
C) are more likely to attack other animals.
animals.
D) do not have to compete with other birds for food.
C) interbred with the larger, flightless moa.
D) had no natural predators on the island of
Mauritius. 5
Which choice provides the best evidence for the
answer to the previous question?
2
A) lines 1-4 (“For ... counterpart.”)
Which choice provides the best evidence for the
answer to the previous question? B) lines 15-18 (“Though ... flight.”)
A) lines 5-7 (“Perhaps ... Mauritius.”) C) lines 19-21 (“As ... change.”)
B) lines 7-11 (“When ... flight.”) D) lines 25-27 (“Their ... species.”)
C) lines 11-15 (“New Zealand ... meters.”)
D) lines 15-18 (“Though ... flight.”) 6
As used in lines 35, “common” most nearly means
3 A) familiar.
As used in line 16, “launch” most nearly means B) frequent.
A) eject. C) shared.
B) throw. D) general.
C) catapult.
D) initiate.

Science Level 4 Passage 1 81

 1 1
7 10
In Passage 2, the image of a barcode mainly serves to Which of the following is a main idea in Passage 1 but
NOT in Passage 2?
A) trivialize the complexity of a particular research
practice. A) The dodo originated from “isIand hoppers” that
lived on islands in Southeast Asia.
B) use a familiar concept to communicate an idea.
B) The dodo and the Haast’s eagle both originated
C) question the novelty of a scientific phenomenon.
from a common ancestor that lived in New
D) inject a note of levity into an otherwise serious Zealand.
argument.
C) The geographic isolation of a species can
significantly affect the average size of that species
overtime.
8
D) Bones and other types of connective tissue are
The author of Passage 2 includes a quote from Dr. excellent sources of DNA for genetic testing.
Tim Heupink (lines 66-70) most likely to
A) establish Dr. Heupink as the worldwide expert
on the evolutionary history of the spotted green
11
pigeon.
In explaining the evolutionary lineage of extinct birds,
B) suggest that the spotted green pigeon study
both authors make extensive use of which type of
has broader implications within the field of
evidence?
evolutionary biology.
A) Historical accounts
C) provide additional evidence supporting the
evolutionary linkage between the dodo and the B) DNA analysis
spotted green pigeon.
C) Local folklore
D) introduce a counterargument that calls into
D) Quotes from scientific experts
question the results of the spotted green pigeon
study.

9
The authors of both passages would likely agree that,
in the field of evolutionary biology, genetic testing is
A) a helpful tool when trying to decipher the
evolutionary history of a species.
B) only possible if the DNA sample originated in a
ceII’s mitochondria.
C) useful when analyzing the evolutionary history of
birds, but not other animals.
D) an imperfect practice that should only be used as
a last resort when analyzing a species’ evolution.

82
 1 1
Questions 1-11 are based on the following passage. 45 says lead author Hristo Bojinov, a Stanford University Ph.D.
computer science candidate. Such coercion could take the form
This passage is excerpted from Larry Greenemeir, “Forget Passwords,” of physical or verbal threats demanding your password or other
©2012 by Scientific American. security credentials, or it could be a seemingly legitimate
phone call or e-mail designed to coax out this information.
It seems like something out of a Robert Ludlum spy novel. 50 The researchers say they have tested their approach on 370
Someone tries to coerce you into revealing your computer players so far and continue to add new participants to their
security passwords. You might be tempted to give in, but it is study. The test currently requires at least 30 minutes of training
Line impossible for you to reveal your authentication credentials. to get reliable results. "It is unlikely that training time can be
5 You do not actually know them because they are safely buried shrunk much because this type of brain memory takes time to
deep within your subconscious. 55 get trained," Bojinov says. "It may be possible to reduce the
Sounds a bit extreme just to make sure no one can log on to authentication time [that follows training], but it is yet to be
your laptop or smartphone, but a team of researchers from seen how much." . . .
Stanford and Northwestern universities as well as SRI Whether this approach is practical depends upon the system
10 International is nonetheless experimenting at the computer-, being defended. It is unlikely, for example, that Yahoo or
cognitive- and neuroscience intersection to combat identity 60 Google would implement this approach to security for their
theft and shore up cyber security—by taking advantage of the free e-mail services. Would someone want to play a game for
human brain’s innate abilities to learn and recognize patterns. several minutes every time they want to log onto their e-mail?
The researchers are studying ways to covertly create and A government facility housing nuclear weapons, however,
15 store secret data within the brain's corticostriatal memory could better justify the time commitment required to log in
system, which is responsible for reminding us how to do 65 using the sequence learning method, particularly if users log in
things. When a person needs to access a computer, network or once each day and such an approach promises to improve
some other secure system, they would use special security, says Nicolas Christin, associate director of Carnegie
authentication software designed to tease out that secret data. Mellon University's Information Networking Institute.
20 To test this concept, the researchers devised a computer
game requiring players to tap buttons on a keyboard as large The average training sequence advantage gained by participants
black dots descending down their screen cross a horizontal line over the period of seven training blocks.
—very similar in concept to the video game Guitar Hero.
During an initial training session lasting from 30 minutes to an
25 hour, the dots fall at different speeds and in various locations,
forming patterns that repeat until participants become adept at
hitting the appropriate buttons at the right time. In effect, users'
corticostriatal memory becomes adept at repeating a particular
pattern over time, such as dialing a phone number or typing a
30 word on a keyboard without looking at one's fingers.
The researchers refer to this as "serial interception sequence
learning" training, during which a person unwittingly learns a
specific sequence of keystrokes that can later be used to
confirm that person's identity. To log on to, for example, a Web
35 site, the user would play the game the same each time that
pattern of dots appears, proving his identity and allowing him
access.
"While the planted secret can be used for authentication, the
participant cannot be coerced into revealing it since he or she
40 has no conscious knowledge of it," according to the researchers
in a study they presented August 8 at the USENIX Security
Symposium in Bellevue, Wash. As currently conceived, the Hristo Bojinov, et al, "Neuroscience Meets Cryptography: Designing
implicit learning approach being studied might protect against Crypto Primitives Secure Against Rubber Hose Attacks." © 2012 by
someone either forcing or tricking you to reveal a password, Hristo Bojinov, et al.

Science Level 4 Passage 2 83

 1 1
1 4
Over the course of the passage, the main focus shifts As used in line 31, “serial” most nearly means
from
A) parallel.
A) a rejection of hypothetical scenarios to the
B) successive.
dismissal of these scenarios.
C) continual
B) a description of a research study to a discussion
of the study’s possible applications. D) harmonic.
C) an explanation of scientific work to an argument
about the ethics of using this work in different
5
ways.
The authors imply that subjects who used the
D) the application of one scientific study to a
sequence learning method could not be forced or
consideration of that study’s results for an entire
tricked into revealing their passwords because the
scientific field.
subjects
A) will soon forget their passwords.
2
B) will not be able to keep up with the changing
The main purpose of paragraph one is to passwords.
A) show that science and literature have more in C) don’t know what the passwords are.
common than most people realize.
D) do not have access to certain sites’ password
B) explain a seemingly new technology by showing games.
that it has actually been in use for years.
C) demonstrate that the technologies discussed in
the article are too complex for most readers to 6
understand. Which choice provides the best evidence for the
D) introduce the subject with a compelling answer to the previous question?
hypothetical scenario. A) lines 38-40 (“While ... it”)
B) lines 42-44 (“As ... password”)
3 C) lines 46-49 (“Such ... information”)
The words “covertly” and “secret,” lines 14-15, D) lines 50-52 (“The researchers ... study”)
primarily serve to
A) highlight the participant’s lack of conscious
knowledge of their “password.”
B) demonstrate that not even the researchers know
how the experiment works.
C) argue that the experiment, as described, is
unethical.
D) inject a colorful characterization of the research
into a straightforward text.

84
 1 1
7 10
The authors imply that the sequence learning method According to the passage, one explanation for the rise
would be most useful for sites that in final advantage as shown by the graph is that
A) run risks high enough to make the time A) users worked to memorize different patterns over
investment worthwhile. a period of time.
B) provide access to the general public on a daily B) researchers programmed various patterns into the
basis. minds of the subjects.
C) serve the government by housing nuclear C) only a select group of people are good at
materials. remembering patterns.
D) target researchers with an academic perspective. D) subjects’ corticostriatal memories began to store
and repeat patterns.

8
11
Which choice provides the best evidence for the
answer to the previous question? The average final advantage for participants in the
A) lines 55-57 (“It may ... much”) study, as shown by the graph, is closest to

B) lines 58-61 (“Whether ... services”) A) 0.02

C) lines 61-62 (“Would ... email”) B) 0.04

D) lines 63-65 (“A government ... method”) C) 0.08

D) 0.14

9
According to the graph, the greatest gain in advantage
came between training blocks
A) 1 and 2.
B) 3 and 4.
C) 5 and 6.
D) 6 and 7.

Science Level 4 Passage 2 85

 1 1
Questions 1-11 are based on the following passage. An MR examination is thus made up of a series of pulse
40 sequences. Different tissues (such as fat and water) have
Adapted from Abi Berger, "Magnetic Resonance Imaging," ©2002 by different relaxation times and can be identified separately. By
Abi Berger. using a “fat suppression” pulse sequence, for example, the
signal from fat will be removed, leaving only the signal from
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses the body's natural any abnormalities lying within it.
magnetic properties to produce detailed images from any part 45 Most diseases manifest themselves by an increase in water
of the body. For imaging purposes the hydrogen nucleus (a content, so MRI is a sensitive test for the detection of disease.
Line single proton) is used because of its abundance in water and The exact nature of the pathology can be more difficult to
5 fat. ascertain: for example, infection and tumour can in some cases
The hydrogen proton can be likened to the planet earth, look similar. A careful analysis of the images by a radiologist
spinning on its axis, with a north-south pole. In this respect it 50 will often yield the correct answer.
behaves like a small bar magnet. Under normal circumstances, There are no known biological hazards of MRI because,
these hydrogen proton “bar magnets” spin in the body with unlike x ray and computed tomography, MRI uses radiation in
10 their axes randomly aligned. When the body is placed in a the radiofrequency range which is found all around us and does
strong magnetic field, such as an MRI scanner, the protons' not damage tissue as it passes through.
axes all line up. This uniform alignment creates a magnetic
vector oriented along the axis of the MRI scanner. MRI Magnetic Vector (T1) and Axial Spin (T2) Relaxation Times for
scanners come in different field strengths, usually between 0.5 Different Molecules/Tissues, in Milliseconds
15 and 1.5 tesla.
The strength of the magnetic field can be altered Tissue T1(msec) T2(msec)
electronically from head to toe using a series of gradient Water 4,000 2,000
electric coils, and, by altering the local magnetic field by these Gray Matter 900 90
small increments, different slices of the body will resonate as Muscle 900 50
20 different frequencies are applied. Liver 500 40
When the radiofrequency source is switched off the Fat 250 70
magnetic vector returns to its resting state, and this causes a Tendon 400 5
signal (also a radio wave) to be emitted. It is this signal which
is used to create the MR images. Receiver coils are used
25 around the body part in question to act as aerials to improve the Source: Data from Bottomley PA, et al. “A Review of Normal Tissue Hydrogen
detection of the emitted signal. The intensity of the received NMR Relaxation Times and Relaxation Mechanisms from 1-100 MHz:
Dependence on Tissue Type, NMR Frequency, Temperature, Species, Exision,
signal is then plotted on a grey scale and cross sectional images and age.” Med Phys 1984; 11: 425-448
are built up.
Multiple transmitted radiofrequency pulses can be used in
30 sequence to emphasise particular tissues or abnormalities. A
different emphasis occurs because different tissues relax at
different rates when the transmitted radiofrequency pulse is
switched off. The time taken for the protons to fully relax is
measured in two ways. The first is the time taken for the
35 magnetic vector to return to its resting state and the second is
the time needed for the axial spin to return to its resting state.
The first is called T1 relaxation, the second is called T2
relaxation.

86
 1 1
1 4
Which choice best reflects the author’s point of view Over the course of the passage, the main focus shifts
regarding magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)? from
A) It is the most important tool used by scientists to A) an explanation of how magnetic resonance
aid in the diagnosis of particular diseases. imaging (MRI) works to a discussion of MRI’s
practical advantages.
B) It is a valuable and effective technique but should
be used sparingly in order to prevent possible B) a story about the origin of magnetic resonance
damage to the body. imaging (MRI) to a discussion of alternative
imaging methods used by scientists.
C) It is a breakthrough technology that will
revolutionize the treatment of particular ailments. C) an explanation of tissue relaxation rates to a
summary of the magnetic properties of hydrogen
D) It is a useful tool in disease diagnosis, although
protons.
specialized training is required to accurately
interpret MRI images. D) an introduction about the properties of
radiofrequency waves to a criticism of the health
risks of x-ray devices.
2
Which choice provides the best evidence for the
answer to the previous question?
5

A) lines 16-20 (“The strength ... applied”) The “planet earth” image in line 6 mainly serves to

B) lines 29-33 (“Multiple ... off ”) A) highlight an unlikely parallel between the fields of
biology and astronomy.
C) lines 40-44 (“Different ... it”)
B) inject a note of humor into an otherwise serious
D) lines 45-50 (“Most ... answer”) explanation of magnetic resonance imaging.
C) create a pun centered on the idea that hydrogen is
necessary for life on this planet.
3
D) communicate a complex scientific idea using a
It can reasonably be inferred from the passage that, more familiar concept.
like a bar magnet, the nucleus of a hydrogen atom
A) spins in a counter-clockwise direction.
6
B) is responsive to external magnetism.
It can be reasonably inferred from the passage that
C) attracts metallic substances.
electromagnetic waves in the radiofrequency range
D) is surrounded by electrons.
A) do not create long-lasting effects on the human
body.
B) only create magnetic fields in tissues with high
water content.
C) are stronger than waves in the x-ray range.
D) always travel in the same direction.

Science Level 4 Passage 3 87

 1 1
7 10
Which choice provides the best evidence for the According to the table, which tissue is the first to
answer to the previous question? return to its original magnetic vector resting state?
A) lines 21-23 (“When ... emitted”) A) Water/CSF
B) lines 26-28 (“The ... up”) B) Liver
C) lines 33-36 (“The time ... state”) C) Fat
D) lines 51-54 (“There ... through”) D) Tendon

8 11
As used in line 46, “sensitive” most nearly means It can reasonably be inferred from the table that
A) appreciative A) some tissues display axial spin relaxation times
that are much longer than their magnetic vector
B) unstable
relaxation times.
C) discerning
B) it generally takes longer for the magnetic vector to
D) observant return to its resting state than the axial spin.
C) it often takes twice as long for the axial spin to
return to its resting state than the magnetic vector.
9
D) it always takes at least three times as long for the
The data in the table support the author’s point that magnetic vector to return to its resting state than
A) pulse relaxation times can be used to identify the axial spin.
different tissues in the body.
B) magnetic resonance imaging is safer than other
imaging techniques.
C) infections and tumors look similar using magnetic
resonance imaging.
D) hydrogen protons behave like a small bar magnet.

88
 1 1
Questions 1-11 are based on the following passage. Lightning may also indirectly transform atmospheric
nitrogen into nitrates, which rain onto soil.
This passage is excerpted from the Ecological Society of America, 40 Quantifying the rate of natural nitrogen fixation prior to
“Human Alteration of the Global Nitrogen Cycle: Causes and human alterations of the cycle is difficult but necessary for
Consequences,” ©1997 by the Ecological Society of America. evaluating the impacts of human-driven changes to the global
cycling of nitrogen. The standard unit of measurement for
Nitrogen is an essential component of proteins, genetic analyzing the global nitrogen cycle is the teragram (abbreviated
material, chlorophyll, and other key organic molecules. All 45 Tg), which is equal to a million metric tons of nitrogen.
organisms require nitrogen in order to live. It ranks behind Worldwide, lighting, for instance, fixes less than 10 Tg of
Line oxygen, carbon, and hydrogen as the most common chemical nitrogen per year—maybe even less than 5 Tg. Microbes are
5 element in living tissues. Until human activities began to alter the major natural suppliers of new biologically available
the natural cycle, however, nitrogen was only scantily available nitrogen. Before the widespread planting of legume crops,
to much of the biological world. As a result, nitrogen served as 50 terrestrial organisms probably fixed between 90 and 140 Tg of
one of the major limiting factors that controlled the dynamics, nitrogen per year. A reasonable upper bound for the rate of
biodiversity, and functioning of many ecosystems. natural nitrogen fixation on land is thus about 140 Tg of
10 The Earth’s atmosphere is 78% nitrogen gas, but most plants nitrogen per year.
and animals cannot use nitrogen gas directly from the air as During the past century, human activities clearly have
they do carbon dioxide and oxygen. Instead, plants—and all 55 accelerated the rate of nitrogen fixation on land, effectively
organisms from the grazing animals to the predators to the doubling the annual transfer of nitrogen from the vast but
decomposers that ultimately secure their nourishment from the unavailable atmospheric pool to the biologically available
15 organic materials synthesized by plants—must wait for nitrogen forms. The major sources of this enhanced supply include
to be “fixed,” that is, pulled from the air and bonded to industrial processes that produce nitrogen fertilizers, the
hydrogen or oxygen to form inorganic compounds, mainly 60 combustion of fossil fuels, and the cultivation of soybeans,
ammonium and nitrate, that they can use. peas, and other crops that host symbiotic nitrogen-fixing
The amount of gaseous nitrogen being fixed at any given bacteria. Furthermore, human activity is also speeding up the
20 time by natural processes represents only a small addition to release of nitrogen from long-term storage in soils and organic
the pool of previously fixed nitrogen that cycles among the matter.
living and nonliving components of the Earth’s ecosystems. 65 Industrial fixation of nitrogen for use as fertilizer currently
Most of that nitrogen, too, is unavailable, locked up in soil totals approximately 80 Tg per year and represents by far the
organic matter—partially rotted plant and animal remains—that largest human contribution of new nitrogen to the global cycle.
25 must be decomposed by soil microbes. These microbes release That figure does not include manures and other organic
nitrogen as ammonium or nitrate, allowing it to be recycled nitrogen fertilizers, which represent a transfer of already-fixed
through the food web. The two major natural sources of new 70 nitrogen from one place to another rather than new fixation.
nitrogen entering this cycle are nitrogen-fixing organisms and ...
lightning. Until the late 1970s, most industrially produced fertilizer
30 Nitrogen-fixing organisms include a relatively small number was applied in developed countries. Use in these regions has
of algae and bacteria. Many of them live free in the soil, but the now stabilized while fertilizer applications in developing
most important ones are bacteria that form close symbiotic 75 countries have risen more dramatically. The momentum of
relationships with higher plants. Symbiotic nitrogen-fixing human population growth and increasing urbanization ensures
bacteria such as the Rhizobia, for instance, live and work in that industrial fertilizer production will continue at high and
35 nodules on the roots of peas, beans, alfalfa, and other legumes. likely accelerating rates for decades in order to meet the
These bacteria manufacture an enzyme that enables them to escalating demand for food.
convert gaseous nitrogen directly into plant usable forms.

Science Level 4 Passage 4 89

 1 1
Nitrogen fertilizer use (estimated) 3
in the United States 1964-2010
In line 14, “secure” most nearly mea ns
A) protect.
B) defend.
C) acquire.
D) shelter.

4
According to paragraph 6, the main purpose of
quantifying natural nitrogen fixation is to
A) support claims about the consequence of human
enterprise on nitrogen fixation rates.

Tom Philpott, "A Brief History of Our Deadly Addtiction to Nitrogen B) establish a unit of measurement to provide a
Fertilizer." ©2013 by Mother Jones Magazine. baseline for fixed rates of nitrogen.
C) provide examples of the impacts on nitrogen
1
release from lightning and microbes.
The author’s central claim in the passage is that
D) caution readers about the environmental effects of
A) human activities are hastening the rate at which nitrogen release on the ecosystem.
nitrogen is fixed into biologically useful forms.
B) nitrogen is a necessary symbiotic component
to sustain life on earth and keep ecosystems in 5
balance. Which choice provides the best evidence for the
C) industrial use of fertilizer has contributed to the answer to the previous question?
rise of fixed nitrogen, outpacing the output of A) lines 40-43 (“Quantifying ... nitrogen”)
organic nitrogen.
B) lines 43-45 (“The ... nitrogen”)
D) developing countries need to continue their use
of fertilizer in order to meet rising agricultural C) lines 46-49 (“Worldwide ... nitrogen”)
demands. D) lines 49-51 (“Before ... year”)

2 6
In the passage, the author indicates that nitrogen In line 61, “symbiotic” most nearly means
A) is derived primarily from lightning and industrial A) harmonious.
fertilizer.
B) interdependent.
B) is more essential than oxygen, carbon, and
hydrogen. C) concerted.
C) is mostly a minor factor in regulating ecosystems. D) collegial.
D) is necessary to sustain biological life and
ecosystems.

90
 1 1
7 10
The author implies that humans are altering the The main purpose of the information in the graph is
natural cycle of nitrogen by to
A) stabilizing the food web chain of events. A) show the relationship over time between overall
fertilizer use in the United States and the amount
B) using industrial fertilizer and fossil fuels.
used to grow corn.
C) expanding biodiversity and agriculture.
B) illustrate the effect of overall nitrogen fertilizer
D) decreasing the release of fixed elements. use on the environment in the United States.
C) forecast the production of nitrogen fertilizer use
in the United States over the coming century.
8
D) indicate the inherent risk in increasing production
Which choice provides the best evidence for the of nitrogen fertilizer use and its impact on the
answer to the previous question? corn industry.
A) lines 54-58 (“During ... forms”)
B) lines 58-62 (“The ...bacteria”)
11
C) lines 62-64 (“Furthermore ... matter”)
The graph indicates that, between 1960 and 2010, the
D) lines 65-67 (“Industrial ... cycle”) United States’ nitrogen fertilizer use has
A) remained stable.
9 B) fallen off, then increased again.
How does the data in the graph support the author’s C) tripled in volume.
point in the last paragraph?
D) decreased significantly.
A) The graph indicates that the use of fertilizer on
corn in developed countries is rising faster than
the overall use of fertilizer.
B) The graph strengthens the argument that fertilizer
production must be halted in order to reduce
nitrogen rates.
C) The graph suggests that urbanization will lead
to a rapid acceleration of nitrogen fertilizer
production in the United States.
D) The graph supports the claim that fertilizer
production in developed countries has largely
stabilized.

Science Level 4 Passage 4 91

 1 1
Questions 1-11 are based on the following passage. Passage 2

Passage 1 is adapted from Eugene C. Robertson, “The Interior of the The vast majority of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions
Earth.” © 2011 by U.S. Geological Survey. Passage 2 is adapted from occur near plate boundaries, but there are some exceptions. For
USGS, “Hotspots: Mantle Thermal Plumes.” © 1999 by U.S. Geological example, the Hawaiian Islands, which are entirely of volcanic
Survey. origin, have formed in the middle of the Pacific Ocean more
35 than 3,200 km from the nearest plate boundary. How do the
Passage 1 Hawaiian Islands and other volcanoes that form in the interior
of plates fit into the plate-tectonics picture?
The planet Earth is made up of three main shells: the very In 1963, J. Tuzo Wilson, the Canadian geophysicist who
thin, brittle crust, the mantle, and the core; the mantle and core discovered transform faults, came up with an ingenious idea
are each divided into two parts. Although the core and mantle 40 that became known as the "hotspot" theory. Wilson noted that
Line are about equal in thickness, the core actually forms only 15 in certain locations around the world, such as Hawaii,
5 percent of the Earth's volume, whereas the mantle occupies 84 volcanism has been active for very long periods of time. This
percent. The crust makes up the remaining 1 percent. Our could only happen, he reasoned, if relatively small, long-
knowledge of the layering and chemical composition of the lasting, and exceptionally hot regions—called hotspots—
Earth is steadily being improved by earth scientists doing 45 existed below the plates that would provide localized sources
laboratory experiments on rocks at high pressure and analyzing of high heat energy (thermal plumes) to sustain volcanism.
10 earthquake records on computers. Specifically, Wilson hypothesized that the distinctive linear
Because the crust is accessible to us, its geology has been shape of the Hawaiian Island-Emperor Seamounts chain
extensively studied, and therefore much more information is resulted from the Pacific Plate moving over a deep, stationary
known about its structure and composition than about the 50 hotspot in the mantle, located beneath the present-day position
structure and composition of the mantle and core. Within the of the Island of Hawaii. Heat from this hotspot produced a
15 crust, intricate patterns are created when rocks are redistributed persistent source of magma by partly melting the overriding
and deposited in layers through the geologic processes of Pacific Plate. The magma, which is lighter than the surrounding
eruption and intrusion of lava, erosion, and consolidation of solid rock, then rises through the mantle and crust to erupt onto
rock particles, and solidification and recrystallization of porous 55 the seafloor, forming an active seamount.
rock. According to Wilson's hotspot theory, the volcanoes of the
20 By the large-scale process of plate tectonics, about twelve Hawaiian chain should get progressively older and become
plates, which contain combinations of continents and ocean more eroded the farther they travel beyond the hotspot. The
basins, have moved around on the Earth's surface through oldest volcanic rocks on Kauai, the northwestern most inhabited
much of geologic time. The edges of the plates are marked by 60 Hawaiian island, are about 5.5 million years old and are deeply
concentrations of earthquakes and volcanoes. Collisions of eroded. By comparison, on the "Big Island" of Hawaii—
25 plates can produce mountains like the Himalayas, the tallest southeastern most in the chain and presumably still positioned
range in the world. The plates include the crust and part of the over the hotspot—the oldest exposed rocks are less than 0.7
upper mantle, and they move over a hot, yielding upper mantle million years old and new volcanic rock is continually being
zone at very slow rates of a few centimeters per year, slower 65 formed.
than the rate at which fingernails grow. The crust is much
30 thinner under the oceans than under continents.

92
 1 1
1 4
The main purpose of Passage 1 is to In explaining plate tectonics, both passages make use
of which kind of evidence?
A) highlight the research being done on the Earth’s
geological variations. A) Geological records
B) introduce new findings regarding the effect of B) Expert testimony
plate collisions in different locations.
C) Long-running experiments
C) discuss the impact of earthquakes and volcanoes
D) Hypothetical scenarios
on the Earth’s geological structure.
D) provide basic information about the Earth’s layers
and the process of plate tectonics. 5
Both passages make the point that plate boundaries
2 A) move at a rapid pace due to frequent collisions.
Which statement about the Earth’s crust accurately B) are the location of many global “hotspots."
reflects the point of view of the author of Passage 1?
C) are the site of most earthquakes and volcanoes.
A) It is too intricate and complicated in its geological
D) explain how Hawaii has so many volcanoes.
makeup to be studied in-depth.
B) It is the best-understood layer of the Earth’s shell,
despite making up a small portion of it. 6
C) It is easily reachable, easy to study, and makes up In line 8, “steadily” most nearly means
the most stable part of the Earth’s shell.
A) consistently.
D) It is brittle, complex, and equal in thickness to the
Earth’s layers of mantle and core. B) evenly.
C) calmly.
D) faithfully.
3
Which idea is presented in Passage1 but NOT in
Passage 2? 7
A) Our knowledge of the Earth’s crust is increasing, By referring to Wilson's idea as "ingenious" (line 39),
thanks to the ongoing work of scientists. the author of Passage 2 signifies that the idea was
B) The Earth’s plates have shifted a great deal over A) creative and well-researched.
millions of years.
B) inventive and compelling.
C) Some earthquakes and volcanoes happen in the
C) imaginative but impractical.
interiors of plates.
D) shrewd but misleading.
D) Some of the Earth’s most prominent geological
features result from plates colliding.

Science Level 4 Passage 5 93

 1 1
8 10
It can reasonably be inferred from Passage 2 that the How would the author of Passage 1 most likely
hotspot theory respond to the hotspot theory in Passage 2?
A) can be supported by comparing the volcanic rocks A) With approval, because it helps refine scientists’
of two different islands. knowledge of the composition of the Earth.
B) has yet to be proved due in part to a lack of B) With disapproval, because it contradicts the idea
evidence from multiple locations. that volcanoes generally occur at plate edges.
C) has been recently altered after a thorough study of C) With caution, because the plates move so slowly
Hawaiian volcano sites. that there is not yet evidence to support it.
D) won’t be able to be confirmed with certainty until D) With support, because it may help explain the
volcanoes get older and erode. formation of the Himalayas.

9 11
Which choice provides the best evidence for the Which choice provides the best evidence for the
answer to the previous question? answer to the previous question?
A) lines 40-42 (“Wilson ... time”) A) lines 6-10 (“Our ...computers")
B) lines 42-46 (“This ... volcanism") B) lines 11-14 (“Because ... core”)
C) lines 56-58 (“According ... hotspot”) C) lines 20-24 (“By ... volcanoes”)
D) lines 61-65 (“By ... formed”) D) lines 24-29 (“Collisions ... grow”)

94
 1 1
Questions 1-11are based on the following passage. (RCTs) indicates that Tai Chi, Qi Gong, meditation, and Yoga,
45 both short- and long-term, appear to reduce markers of
Adapted from Nani Morgan, Michael R. Irwin, Mei Chung, and inflammation and influence virus-specific immune responses to
Chenchen Wang, "The Effects of Mind-Body Therapies on the vaccinations. Our findings are supported by existing literature
Immune System." ©2014 by Nani Morgan et al. evaluating the immunomodulatory effects of other types of
behavioral interventions including exercise, stress reduction,
Over the last two decades, mind-body therapies (MBTs), 50 and mood modifying approaches. For example, exercise, one of
including Tai Chi, Qi Gong, meditation, and Yoga have the most widely-studied behavioral interventions, has been
received increasing awareness and attention from the scientific shown to reduce chronic inflammation, enhance immunological
Line community seeking to understand the safety and efficacy of memory in the context of vaccination, and even reduce sick
5 these widely used practices. According to the 2007 National days associated with the common cold and other upper
Health Interview Survey, 19% of American adults have used at 55 respiratory tract infections.
least one mind-body therapy in the past 12 months. Currently, Apparently, powerful links exist between the brain and the
the National Center for Complementary and Alternative immune system, and psychosocial factors can directly influence
Medicine designates MBTs as a top research priority. health through behavior. MBTs may buffer these immune
10 Previous work has shown that MBTs offer many alterations through relaxation, stress reduction, improved
psychological and health functioning benefits including 60 mood, and moderate physical activity. Behavioral responses
reductions in disease symptoms, improvements in coping, are therefore the key to activating neuroendocrine and
behavior regulation, quality of life, and well-being. In light of autonomic pathways, which in turn modulate the immune
these benefits, recent investigations have sought to better system and have implications for susceptibility to a variety of
15 understand the role of MBTs on physiological pathways such diseases. Thus, behavioral interventions that alter immune
as the immune system. It has been well-established that 65 responses provide potent evidence for psychological influences
psychological stress and depression impair anti-viral immune on immune function.
responses and activate innate immunity or markers of
inflammation via effector pathways, such as the sympathetic
20 nervous system and the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)
axis. In fact, behavioral interventions targeted at alleviating Changes in Plasma Levels of Cortisol (a Stress Hormone)
stress, promoting heightened states of relaxation, and and Free Fatty Acids (FFA) During Prolonged Exercise
encouraging moderate physical activity, have been shown to
bolster anti-viral immune responses and decrease markers of
25 inflammation, particularly among older adults or adults
experiencing high levels of psychological stress.
The efficacy of such behavioral interventions in modulating
the immune system suggests that MBTs may also confer
immunomodulatory benefits. Tai Chi, Qi Gong, and Yoga are
30 multi-dimensional behavioral therapies that integrate moderate
physical activity, deep breathing, and meditation to promote
stress reduction and relaxation, which could potentially
influence the immune system. Meditation, including more
integrative, mindfulness-based stress-reduction programs, has
35 also been shown to regulate emotional and affective responses
to stress, and therefore may influence the immune system even
in the absence of physical activity.
To our knowledge, this study is the first comprehensive Adapted from Physiology of Sport and Exercise, 4th Edition, ©2008 by
Jack H. Wilmore, David L. Costill, and W. Larry Kenney.
review of the best available evidence, summarizing the effects
40 of MBTs on the immune system while focusing on two aspects
of immunity that are regulated by stress response mechanisms,
namely inflammation and anti-viral related immune responses
…Indeed, evidence accrued from 34 randomly controlled trials

Science Level 4 Passage 6 95

 1 1
1 4
The main purpose of the passage is to The discussion of “multi-dimensional behavioral
therapies” in paragraph 3 (lines 27-37) primarily
A) counter the claim that mind-body therapies have
serves to
no effect on the immune system.
A) introduce the claim that integrating mental and
B) inform readers that mind-body therapies can
physical exercise can have a strong impact on
influence immune responses in the body.
health.
C) advance the argument that mind-body therapies
B) provide a specific example of how these kinds of
have become an increasingly popular alternative.
therapy can influence a person’s overall health
D) uphold the findings of a previous study about the better than any others.
effect of mind-body therapies on behavior.
C) inform readers about the different kinds of
therapies they can use to supplement their
physical activity.
2
D) defend the study’s findings regarding the efficacy
Based on the passage, behaviors can influence physical of mind- body therapies on bolstering the
health by immune system.
A) impacting the body’s immune response.
B) reinforcing the body’s reactions to physical stress.
5
C) changing the body’s recovery time during illness.
In line 28, “confer” most nearly means
D) increasing the body’s reception to inflammation.
A) bestow.
B) negotiate.
3 C) admit.
Which choice provides the best evidence for the D) allocate.
answer to the previous question?
A) lines 1-5 (“Over ... practices”)
6
B) lines 5-7 (“According ... months”)
The author implies that the study of mind-body
C) lines 7-9 (“Currently ... priority”)
therapies is especially important because
D) lines 13-16 (“In ... system”)
A) there has not previously been a comprehensive
study on the connection between MBTs and the
immune system.
B) MBTs are a new and unexplored way of helping to
regulate moods, behavior, and immune responses.
C) MBTs are becoming an increasingly effective
method when combined with regular overall
exercise.
D) new findings show that MBTs have a greater
impact on overall health and can replace physical
exercise.

96
 1 1
7 10
Which choice provides the best evidence for the According to the graph, the largest decrease in cortisol
answer to the previous question? occurs between
A) lines 38-42 (“To ... responses”) A) 15-30 minutes of exercise.
B) lines 43-47 (“Indeed ... vaccinations") B) 45-60 minutes of exercise.
C) lines 47-50 (“Our ... approaches") C) 60-90 minutes of exercise.
D) lines 50-55 (“For ... infections") D) 90-120 minutes of exercise.

8 11
In line 65, “potent” most nearly means It can reasonably be inferred from the graph that
A) influential. A) while stress hormones rise sharply at the
beginning of exercise, they drop below the initial
B) vigorous.
value after 120 minutes.
C) useful.
B) the benefits of prolonged exercise are minimal
D) stiff. at best unless one exercises for longer than 180
minutes.
C) both cortisol and free fatty acid levels largely
9
remain the same if exercising for a duration
How does the graph relate to the passage? shorter than 60 minutes.
A) It indicates that stress hormones are only loosely D) a sustained drop in cortisol is beneficial only
linked with physical exercise. when combined with a large increase in free fatty
acid levels.
B) It highlights findings that exercise has an impact
on lowering stress in the body.
C) It supports the claim that cortisol is closely linked
in the body with free fatty acids.
D) It emphasizes the disparity between pure physical
exercise and mind-body therapies.

Science Level 4 Passage 6 97

 1 1
Questions 1-11 are based on the following passage. 45 (which undergo massive proliferation) and quiescent adult
mouse HSCs (which hardly divide at all) to find genes
Adapted from “A Molecular Model of Blood Cell Renewal.” ©2004 by associated with the two different states.
the Public Library of Science. Genes were grouped into proliferating or quiescent groups
based on when they were expressed after 5FU treatment, and
A developing organism captured on time-lapse video is a 50 these groupings were refined based on comparisons to
wonder to behold. If you're watching a chick embryo, by day 3, previously published HSC gene expression data. Functional
you'll see millions of cells engaged in a frenzy of activity, as analysis of these genes found a bias toward genes involved in
Line rapidly dividing cells migrate to new positions, acquire the cell division processes in the proliferation stage and toward cell
5 characteristics of specialized cells, and craft well-defined division inhibitors in the quiescent stage, supporting the logic
tissues, organs, and limbs in just under two weeks. In addition 55 of the groupings.
to the cells destined for specialization is another important With these results, Goodell and colleagues constructed a
group, stem cells, whose progeny have two very different fates. model of the HSC self renewal cycle: quiescent HSCs maintain
They can either “self renew”—that is, make identical copies of a “state of readiness,” molecularly speaking, that allows a
10 themselves—or generate intermediate progenitor cells that give quick response to environmental triggers. A stressor (like the
rise to mature, differentiated cells. 60 chemotherapy mentioned above) triggers a “prepare to
Both differentiation and self renewal are guided by an proliferate” state—a kind of pregnant pause—and then the
elaborately regulated genetic program, which transforms proliferation machinery kicks in, going through an early and
embryonic stem cells into the many different cell types that late phase before quiescence returns. By shedding light on the
15 make up the body. Adult stem cells share the hallmark trait of molecular mechanisms of stem cell renewal, this study will aid
self renewal, but are relatively rare: in bone marrow, the source 65 efforts to develop stem-cell-based clinical therapies, which
of hematopoiesis, or blood [formation], only an estimated one depend on replicating the HSC self renewal cycle to replenish
in 10,000–15,000 cells is an adult hematopoietic stem cell diseased or damaged tissue, and will ultimately guide efforts to
(HSC). grow stem cell colonies outside the body, a long-standing goal
20 Studies that have compared the gene expression profiles of that would have many clinical applications.
different types of stem cells to identify genetic signatures of
“stemness” have found only a limited number of signature
genes. And the molecular mechanisms that regulate this so-
called potency and the self renewal process have remained
Phases of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Development in Mouse
25 obscure. Now, focusing on HSCs, Margaret Goodell and and Human Embryos, in Days
colleagues have undertaken a systematic evaluation of HSC
renewal. The study identifies molecular signatures associated
with discrete stages of the HSC self renewal cycle and
proposes a molecular model of the process.
30 HSC renewal passes through three stages: quiescence,
activation and proliferation, and a return to the dormant state.
HSCs give rise to both red blood cells, which carry oxygen and
carbon dioxide, and white blood cells, which fight infection.
Once activated by a trigger, dormant HSCs engage a regulatory
35 program that rapidly churns out billions of cells, then puts the
brakes on cell division, prompting the return to a nondividing,
quiescent state.
To understand the genetic programs underlying this process,
Goodell and colleagues induced proliferation in HSCs (with the
40 chemotherapeutic drug, 5-fluorouracil, or 5FU), then allowed
the cells to return to quiescence, so they could characterize the
changes in gene expression that occurred during each stage.
Adapted from Hanna Mikkola and Stuart Orkin, “The Journey of Developing
They compared these time-specific patterns to the gene Hematopoietic Stem Cells.” ©2006 by The Company of Biologists Limited
expression profiles of naturally proliferating fetal mouse HSCs

98
 1 1
1 4
The main purpose of the passage is to As used in line 11, “mature” most nearly means
A) contradict a widely held belief about A) developed.
hematopoietic stem cells.
B) mellow.
B) discuss the social implications of human stem cell
C) thorough.
research.
D) experienced.
C) describe the results of a study concerning
hematopoietic stem cells.
D) explain the process by which human stem cells 5
differentiate into specific tissues.
Which choice best summarizes the results of Goodell’s
study concerning hematopoietic stem cell renewal?
2 A) Hematopoietic stem cells can differentiate into
either red blood cells or white blood cells.
It can reasonably be inferred from the passage that,
prior to Goodell’s study, research concerning stem B) The process of stem cell renewal can be
cells had subdivided into the stages of quiescence,
activation, and proliferation.
A) resulted in a comprehensive list of those genes
involved in stem cell renewal and differentiation. C) Hematopoietic stem cells differentiate in a fashion
similar to fetal mouse stem cells.
B) failed to identify any genes that were expressed
exclusively in stem cells. D) Different sets of genes are expressed in
hematopoietic stem cells based on the stage of
C) elucidated a number of regulatory mechanisms
stem cell renewal.
underlying gene expression in stem cells.
D) isolated a few genes that were expressed
exclusively in stem cells but had not identified 6
how they worked.
Which choice provides the best evidence for the
answer to the previous question?
3 A) lines 15-16 (“Adult ... rare”)
Which choice provides the best evidence for the B) lines 32-33 (“HSCs ... infection”)
answer to the previous question? C) lines 43-47 (“They ... states”)
A) lines 6-8 (“In addition ... fates”) D) lines 51-55 (“Functional ... groupings”)
B) lines 9-11 (“They ... cells”)
C) lines 12-15 (“Both ... body”)
D) lines 20-25 (“Studies ... obscure")

Science Level 4 Passage 7 99

 1 1
7 10
As used in line 25, “obscure” most nearly means How does the figure support the author’s description
of the stem cell renewal process in the final paragraph
A) unclear:
of the passage?
B) complicated.
A) It establishes that stem cells go through a short
C) ambiguous. period of quiescence before returning to a
prolonged state of proliferation.
D) secluded.
B) It indicates that the stem cell renewal process
occurs rapidly before birth but then slows down
8 considerably after birth.
Which choice best represents the author’s perspective C) It shows how stem cells go through a phase of
on stem cell research? rapid proliferation before returning to a state of
quiescence.
A) Stem cell research has the potential to
substantially improve scientists’ ability to repair D) It clarifies how stem cells could be used to
damaged tissues in the body. help repair damaged tissues in various clinical
situations.
B) While stem cell research can improve our
understanding of human development, it requires
advanced training and education.
11
C) It is worthwhile to pursue stem cell research using
fetal mouse stem cells but not human stem cells. According to the figure, at 15.5 days of embryonic
development a mouse's hematopoietic stem cells are in
D) Stem cell research has the potential to the
substantially improve doctors’ ability to diagnose
and treat diseases. A) specification phase.
B) emergence phase.
C) maturation phase.
9
D) expansion phase.
The main purpose of the figure is to
A) suggest that both human and mouse embryonic
stem cells spend most of their time in the
quiescent phase of stem cell renewal.
B) show that the timelines of stem cell renewal in
human and mouse embryonic stem cells are
identical.
C) illustrate the different timelines by which human
and mouse embryonic stem cells renew and
differentiate.
D) highlight how mouse stem cells differentiate into
various tissues of the body.

100
 1 1
Questions 1-11 are based on the following passages. The researchers were surprised to find that most mutations
45 didn’t need a long chain of antibiotics to revert to TEM-1.
This passage is adapted from Sarah Lewin, “New Mathematics They also found they could revert most mutations with a 60
Could Neutralize Pathogens that Resist Antibiotics.” ©2015 Scientific percent probability, which is more efficient than current
American. antibiotic cycling schemes. And they found that they could
reach a high level of reliability with just a few antibiotics in the
Bacteria that make us sick are bad enough, but many of 50 cycle.
them also continually evolve in ways that help them develop Direct network modeling like this is becoming more
resistance to common antibiotic drugs, making our medications common in biology as researchers learn how to distill problems
Line less effective. Doctors try to reduce the evolution by cycling into the correct mathematical formats. But mathematicians are
5 through various drugs over time, hoping that as resistance still learning the best ways to optimize networks of connections
develops to one, the increased use of a new drug will catch 55 that can grow in complexity. Researchers still need to pinpoint
some of the bugs off guard. how long the cycles should last and the necessary dosages as
The plans for cycling drugs don’t always work efficiently, well as looking into how the system adapts to more complex
allowing bacteria to continue to develop resistance. Now a new mutations.
10 algorithm that deciphers how bacteria genes create resistance in Robert Beardmore, a mathematical bioscientist, describes
the first place could greatly improve such a plan. The “time 60 this work as trying to find the signal in the noise of bacterial
machine” software, developed by biologists and resistance development. Future lab work will reveal whether
mathematicians, could help reverse resistant mutations and the interactions the team found are strong enough to define
render the bacteria vulnerable to drugs again. what happens in more complex scenarios. “At the heart of what
15 Miriam Barlow, a biologist, first hit on the idea while trying everybody wants to know is how predictable is evolution—and
to predict how antibiotic resistance would evolve several years 65 if it’s predictable, can we reverse it?” he says.
ago. But she lacked the mathematics to quantify it. “We were
pushing evolution forward, trying to predict how antibiotic
resistance would evolve, and we saw a lot of trade-offs,”
20 Barlow says. Introducing an antibiotic might lead to bacteria
developing resistance but it might also lead to them losing
resistance to some other medication. So Barlow partnered with
mathematicians and tried to figure out a series of steps to make
those losses of resistance as likely as possible.
25 The researchers took as a starting point TEM-1, a protein
stemming from a common gene that confers resistance to
penicillin. They considered four possible independent
mutations that can occur in the gene, all of which confer
resistance to new antibiotics, and they selected a range of 15
30 commonly used antibiotics. They then measured the growth
rates of Escherichia coli bacteria, as each mutation was
exposed to each of the antibiotics, which let them work out the
probability that the overall population of E. coli would gain or
lose a mutation to adapt. In this way the researchers could
35 directly model possible changes to drug-resistant genes.
The researchers were able to sketch a network of different
mutation combinations and figure out the probabilities of
Adapted from Theresa Mendoza, “What I Did Not Know about
moving from one to the other, given certain antibiotics. They
Antibiotic Resistance.” © 2016 by DFWHC Foundation.
called the software for finding the path back to TEM-1 the
40 “Time Machine.” Although in the real world a bacterium
would not revert to its prior genetic form once it had evolved,
this mathematical goal revealed the best genetic targets for
slowing resistance.

Science Level 4 Passage 8 101

 1 1
1 4
Early in the passage, the main focus shifts from a The main purpose of the third paragraph (lines 15-
discussion of a 24) is to
A) promising line of research into antibiotic drugs A) highlight Miriam Barlow’s past contributions to
to a discussion of the failure of that research to the study of bacterial resistance.
yield meaningful results.
B) describe the challenges of recording evolutionary
B) method of modeling resistance to antibiotic patterns in the biological sciences.
drugs to a discussion of a controversy
C) present information that explains a need
surrounding that method.
for collaboration between biologists and
C) problem involving antibiotic drugs to a mathematicians.
discussion of research being done to aid in
D) summarize data that had led researchers to
reducing that problem.
question the underlying mechanisms of bacterial
D) finding about antibiotic drugs that baffled resistance.
scientists to a discussion of a subsequent
finding that helped to clarify the scientists’
understanding. 5
As used in line 20, “introducing” most nearly means

2 A) welcoming.

The phrases “bad enough” and “the bugs” help B) acquainting.

to create a tone in the first paragraph that is best C) premiering.
described as
D) adding.
A) mildly sympathetic.
B) somewhat informal.
6
C) considerably sarcastic.
The author most directly suggests that the kind of
D) subtly dismissive. modeling discussed in the passage is
A) suitable for simulating changes to some drug-
3 resistant genes but not to others.

Which choice best supports the idea that it has B) highly regarded by researchers in the field of
been difficult to maintain/sustain the maximum biology but not by those in other fields.
effectiveness of antibiotics? C) currently limited by researchers’ inability to
A) lines 8-9 (“The ... resistance.”) exploit its full potential.

B) lines 17-20 (“We ... says.”) D) inherently flawed because it cannot reflect
bacteria’s real- world behavior.
C) lines 36-38 (“The ... antibiotics.”)
D) lines 48-50 (“And ... cycle.”)

102
 1 1
7 10
Which choice provides the best support for the The graph indicates that in 2005, the percentage of
answer to the previous question? Enterococci isolates resistant to vancomycin was
A) lines 30-35 (“They ... genes.”) A) approximately double that of Staphylococcus
aureus isolates resistant to methicillin.
B) lines 40-43 (“Although ... resistance.”)
B) nearly equal to the percentages of Pseudomonas
C) lines 51-53 (“Direct ... formats.”)
aeruginosa and Acinetobacter species isolates
D) lines 53-55 (“But ... complexity.”) resistant to imipenem.
C) less than half that of Candida species isolates
resistant to fluconazole.
8
D) lower than the percentage of resistant isolates of
How does the last paragraph primarily contribute to
any of the other represented pathogens.
the passage as a whole?
A) It provides context for understanding an
ongoing effort involving the research discussed
in the passage.
B) It casts doubt on the usefulness of the research 11
discussed in the passage by presenting the view How does the data in the graph most directly relate
of an expert who is critical of the study. to the passage?
C) It introduces an outside perspective on the A) It supports a point made in lines 1-3 (“many of
research discussed in the passage and indicates them ... drugs”).
how the perspective conflicts with that of the
researchers. B) It reflects the success of the practice described in
lines 4-5 (“Doctors ... time”).
D) It reflects on specific future applications of the
research discussed in the passage. C) It illustrates the relationship presented in lines
20-22 (“Introducing ... medication”).
D) It represents the findings summarized in lines
9 44-45 (“most mutations ... TEM-1”).
According to the graph, the percentage of
Staphylococcus aureus isolates resistant to methicillin
in 1990 was nearest to
A) 5
B) 35
C) 55
D) 65

Science Level 4 Passage 8 103