READING DIAGNOSTIC PRE-TEST

| 30 minutes |

TOEFL 1ST* TEST

PAUSE SECTION
TEST EXIT

Reading

Section Directions

This section measures your ability to understand academic passages in English.

Most questions are worth one point each. Some questions are worth more than
one point. The directions for these questions will state how many points each is
worth.

You will now start the Reading Diagnostic Pre-Test. There is one passage and
twenty questions in the diagnostic pre-test. You will have 30 minutes to read the
passage and answer the questions.

2 READING
 Read the passage and answer the questions that follow.

Paragraph Aggression
1> Aggressive behavior is any behavior that is intended to cause injury, pain, suffering,
damage, or destruction. While aggressive behavior is often thought of as purely physical,
verbal attacks such as screaming and shouting or belittling and humiliating comments
aimed at causing harm and suffering can also be a type of aggression. What is key to the
definition of aggression is that whenever physical or verbal harm is inflicted, it is intentional.
2> Aggression was likely an early survival mechanism for humans, much in the same
way it was for animals. Despite this, it is generally thought that aggressive behavior was
not named as such before the seventeenth century, when the term was used to refer to
an unprovoked physical attack. The term expanded beyond the description of purely
physical aggression to include a psychological dimension in the early twentieth century, as
psychiatrists put more emphasis on aggressive behavior and its potential motives.
3> Questions about the causes of aggression have long been of concern to both

READING
social and biological scientists. Theories about the causes of aggression cover a broad
spectrum, ranging from those with biological or instinctive emphases to those that portray
aggression as a learned behavior.
4> Numerous theories are based on the idea that aggression is an inherent and
natural human instinct. EH Aggression has been explained as an instinct that is directed
externally toward others in a process called displacement, and it has been noted that
aggressive impulses that are not channeled toward a specific person or group may be
expressed indirectly through socially acceptable activities such as sports and competition
in a process called catharsis. ES Biological, or instinctive, theories of aggression have
also been put forth by ethologists, who study the behavior of animals in their natural
environments. £3 A number of ethologists have, based upon their observations of animals,
supported the view that aggression is an innate instinct common to humans. S3
5> Two different schools of thought exist among those who view aggression as instinct.
One group holds the view that aggression can build up spontaneously, with or without
outside provocation, and violent behavior will thus result, perhaps as a result of little or no
provocation. Another suggests that aggression is indeed an instinctive response but that,
rather than occurring spontaneously and without provocation, it is a direct response to
provocation from an outside source.
6> In contrast to instinct theories, social learning theories view aggression as a learned
behavior. This approach focuses on the effect that role models and reinforcement of
behavior have on the acquisition of aggressive behavior. Research has shown that
aggressive behavior can be learned through a combination of modeling and positive
reinforcement of the aggressive behavior and that children are influenced by the combined
forces of observing aggressive behavior in parents, peers, or fictional role models and of
noting either positive reinforcement for the aggressive behavior or, minimally, a lack of
negative reinforcement for the behavior. While research has provided evidence that the
behavior of a live model is more influential than that of a fictional model, fictional models
such as those seen in movies and on television, do still have an impact on behavior, tEH
On-screen deaths or acts of violent behavior in certain television programs or movies can
be counted in the tens, or hundreds, or even thousands; while some have argued that
this sort of fictional violence does not in and of itself cause violence and may even have a
beneficial cathartic1 effect, studies have shown correlations between viewing of violence
and incidences of aggressive behavior in both childhood and adolescence, IA/y Studies
have also shown that it is not just the modeling of aggressive behavior in either its real-life
or fictional form that correlates with increased acts of violence in youths; a critical factor in
increasing aggressive behaviors is the reinforcement of the behavior. tEH If the aggressive
role model is rewarded rather than punished for violent behavior, that behavior is more
likely to be seen as positive and is thus more likely to be imitated. I J

GLOSSARY
1. cathartic—providing emotional release; therapeutic

READING DIAGNOSTIC PRE-TEST 3

 1. Which of the following is NOT defined as aggressive 7. It can be inferred from paragraph 4 that “catharsis”
behavior? © is a positive process
® inflicting pain accidentally © involves channeling aggression internally
® making insulting remarks © is studied by ethologists
© destroying property © should be negatively reinforced
© trying unsuccessfully to injure someone
8. An ethologist would be most likely to study
2. The author mentions “belittling and humiliating © learned catharsis in a certain species of monkey
comments” in paragraph 1 in order to © the evolution of a certain type of fish
© demonstrate how serious the problem of © the bone structure of a certain type of dinosaur
aggression is © how a certain male lion fights other male lions
© clarify the difference between intentional and
unintentional aggression 9. Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the
© provide examples of verbal aggression following sentence could be added to paragraph 4.
© illustrate the nature of physical aggression
One may, for example, release aggression by
joining a football team or a debate team or even
3. The word “intentional” in paragraph 1 is closest in a cooking competition.
meaning to
Where would the sentence best fit? Click on a
© deliberate
square [■] to add the sentence to the passage.
® estimated
© forbidden
10. The phrase “schools of thought” in paragraph 5 is
© intermittent
closest in meaning to

4. According to paragraph 2, which of the following is © institutions of higher learning

true about aggression? © lessons to improve behavior
© methods of instruction
© Aggression was not a typical behavior for
humans before the seventeenth century. © sets of shared beliefs
© There was probably no specific term to describe
aggressive behavior until the seventeenth 11. It is NOT mentioned in paragraph 5 that some
century. believe that instinctive aggression may occur
© Animals were much more likely to display © without being provoked
aggressive behavior than humans, at least © in order to cause provocation
until recently. © in response to minor provocation
© The psychological definition of aggression has © in response to clear provocation
been around as long as the physical one has.
12. The word “it” in paragraph 5 refers to
5. Which of the sentences below best expresses the © aggression
essential information in the highlighted sentence in © an instinctive response
paragraph 3? Incorrect choices change the meaning
© provocation
in important ways or leave out essential information.
© a direct response
© Biological theories of aggression emphasize its
instinctive nature. 13. The author begins paragraph 6 with the expression
© Theories that consider aggression biological are “In contrast to instinct theories” in order to
more accepted than those that consider it
© introduce the instinct theories that will be
learned.
presented in paragraph 6
© Various theories about aggression attribute it to
© indicate that paragraph 6 will present two
either natural or learned causes.
contrasting theories
© Various theories try to compare the idea that
© contrast instinctive theories of aggression with
aggression is biological with the idea that it is
biological theories of aggression
learned.
© provide a transition to the idea that will be
presented in paragraph 6
6. According to paragraph 4, “displacement” is
© internally directed aggression 14. It is NOT mentioned in paragraph 6 that aggression
© a modeled type of aggression can be learned by observing
© aggression that is unintentional
© others of the same age
© aggression that is directed outward
© violent programs on TV
© one’s mother or father
© professional football games

4 READING
15. The word “that” in paragraph 6 refers to 19. Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the
® research following sentence could be added to paragraph 6.
© evidence Thus, it is more common for a youth to imitate
© the behavior aggressors who have been rewarded than those
© a live model who have been punished.
Where would the sentence best fit? Click on a
16. What is stated in paragraph 6 about the modeling of square [■] to add the sentence to the passage.
aggressive behavior?
® Fictional models are as likely to cause 20. The word “imitated” in paragraph 6 is closest in
aggressive behavior as are live models. meaning to
© Little correlation has been found between © repeated
viewing of aggressive behavior on television © copied
and acting aggressively. © exhibited
© Aggression in works of fiction may cause
© initiated
aggressive behavior.
© Aggression in society has an effect on the type 21. Which situation would most likely result in increased
of violence in movies and on television. aggressive behavior in children?
© witnessing TV shows in which the aggressor
17. The phrase “in and of itself” in paragraph 6 is
gets away without being punished
closest in meaning to
© watching two friends compete in a wrestling
© internally match
© single-handedly © viewing a verbal argument between parents
© genuinely © viewing TV shows in which the hero defeats the
© semi-privately agressor

18. The word “critical” in paragraph 6 could best be

replaced by
® negative
© considerate
© crucial
© studied

22. Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete
the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important
ideas in the passage. Some sentences do not belong in the summary because they
express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage.
This question is worth 2 points (2 points for 3 correct answers, 1 point for 2 correct
answers, and 0 points for 1 or 0 correct answers).

Aggression, which causes harm to those affected by it, has been accounted for by numerous
theories.

Answer Choices (choose 3 to complete the chart):

(1) Various theories indicate that learned aggression occurs as a result of observation of this type of behavior and
reward for it.
(2) Various theories indicate aggression is neither instinctive nor learned.
(3) Various theories indicate that instinctively caused aggression is always cathartic.
(4) Various theories indicate that instinctively caused aggression may occur with or without provocation.
(5) Various theories indicate that aggression may be instinctive or learned.
(6) Various theories indicate that learned aggression results from displacement of anger.

Turn to pages 591-595 to diagnose your errors and record your results.

READING DIAGNOSTIC PRE-TEST 5