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By far the most important United States export product in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries was cotton,
favored by the European textile industry over flax or wool because it was easy to process and soft to the touch.
Rechanication of spinning and weaving allowed significant centralization and expansion in the textile industry during
this period, and at the same time the demand for cotton increased dramatically. American producers were able to
meet this demand largely because of the invention of the cotton gin by Ell Whitney in 1793. Cotton could be grown
throughout the South, but separating the fiber-or lint-from the seed was a laborious process. Sea island cotton was
relatively easy to process by hand, because its fibers were long and seeds were concentrated at the base of the
flower, but it demanded a long growing season, available only along the nation's eastern seacoast. Short-staple
cotton required a much shorter growing season, but the shortness of the fibers and their mixture with seeds meant
that a worker could hand-process only about one pound per day. Whitney's gin was a hand powered machine with
revolving drums and metal teeth to pull cotton fibers away from seeds. Using the gin, a worker could produce up to
50 pounds of lint a day. The later development of larger gins, powered by horses, water or steam multiplied
productivity further.

The interaction of improved processing and high demand led to the rapid spread of the cultivation of cotton and
to a surge in production. It became the main American export, dwarfing all others. In 1802, cotton composed 14
percent of total American exports by value. Cotton had a 36 percent share by 1810 and over a 50 percent share in
1830. In 1860, 61 percent of the value of American exports was represented by cotton. In contrast, wheat and
wheat flour composed only 6 percent of the value of American exports in that year. Clearly, cotton was king in the
trade of the young republic. The growing market for cotton and other American agricultural products led to an
unprecedented expansion of agricultural settlement, mostly in the eastern half of the United States-west of the
Appalachian Mountains and east of the Mississippi River.

1. The main point of the passage is that the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries were time when

A. the European textile industry increased its demand for American export products
B. machinery of spinning and weaving dramatically changed the textile industry
C. cotton became a profitable export but was so time-consuming to process
D. cotton became the most important American export product

2. The word "favored" is closest in meaning to

A. preferred
B. recommended
C. imported
D. included

3. All of the following are mentioned in the passage as reasons for the Increased demand for cotton EXCEPT

A. cotton's softness
B. cotton's ease of processing
C. a shortage of flax and wool
D. the growth that occurred in the textile industry

4. The word 'laborious' is closest in meaning to

A. Unfamiliar
B. Primitive
C. Skilled
 D. Difficult

5. According to the passage, one advantage of sea island cotton was its

A. abundance of seeds
B. long fibers
C. long growing season
D. adaptability to different climates

6. The word 'surge' is closest in meaning to

A. sharp increase
B. sudden stop
C. important change
D. excess amount

7. The author mentions wheat and wheat flour in order to

A. show that Americans exported more agricultural products than they imported
B. show the increase in the amount of wheat products exported
C. demonstrate the importance of cotton among American export products
D. demonstrate that wheat farming was becoming more profitable

8. The word “unprecedented” is closest in meaning to

A. slow
B. profitable
C. not seen before
D. never explained

9. According to the passage, the Mississippi River was

A. one of the boundaries of a region where new agricultural settlement took place
B. a major source of water for agricultural crops
C. the primary route by which agricultural crops were transported
D. a main source of power for most agricultural machinery
 Underwater archaeology involves the investigation of submerged archaeological sites. It has become possible
only since the 1940s, as a result of the development of lightweight scuba gear that gives divers the maneuverability
and independence needed to survey and excavate (dig up) underwater sites. Among these, shipwrecks are especially
valuable because, like a photographer's "snapshot," they provide a vivid picture of earlier times at a single moment.
Despite the bad reputation that treasure hunters have given to recovery activities at archaeological sites,
underwater archaeology is conducted by conscientious and trained professionals.

As with land-based archaeology, underwater sites must first be located using historical documents or local
informers. Remote-sensing devices, such as a proton magnetometer or an underwater camera, can then zero in on
the site itself. Excavation requires as much care in recording and removal as it does in traditional field archaeology,
with the fact that everything takes place underwater adding to the hazards and slowness of the operation. Finally,
recovered artifacts must be treated to slow down or stop the deterioration that begins when they are exposed to
the air.

The earliest breakthroughs in underwater archaeology were made in the Mediterranean, where the potential of
the technique was shown by scientific excavation of a number of ancient ships. It is now practiced all over the world
and in all climates, including the frigid waters of Labrador and Lake Superior in Canada. The rise in sports diving over
recent years has meant that more archaeological sites have been recognized and reported. One drawback of this
activity, however, is that the unauthorized excavation of shipwrecks has resulted in the loss and damage of their
contents. Investigating shipwrecks has led to the modification of theories about trade routes in the ancient world.
Certainly, this is the case with a late fifth-century BCE shipwreck discovered in the Mediterranean. Its amphorae
(two-handled containers used for wine) came from various cities in the Mediterranean-from as far east as the
Bosporus and as far west as western Sicily. Ships and cargoes like this have provided new evidence about the
geographic range of the ancient world's economy.

1. According to the first paragraph, what made underwater archaeology possible?

A. New maps that document underwater terrain

B. Insights from trained professionals
C. The activities of treasure hunters
D. Advances in underwater equipment

2. According to the first paragraph, why do archaeologists investigate the remains of ships that have sunk?

A. Archaeologists want to claim valuable treasure before it is taken by treasure hunters.

B. The sites of shipwrecks are better preserved than other archaeological sites.
C. Ship remains provide useful information about the past.
D. Ship remains help professionals understand the causes of shipwrecks.

3. The word "conducted" is closest in meaning to

A. performed
B. restricted
C. supported
D. criticized

4. The word "hazards" is closest in meaning to

A. limitations
B. needs
C. failures
 D. dangers

5. According to the third paragraph, why were early archaeological excavations of shipwrecks in the
Mediterranean important?

A. They showed that there were more ancient shipwrecks than previously thought.
B. They encouraged some sports divers to become underwater archaeologists.
C. They demonstrated that underwater archaeology could be successful.
D. They resulted in the discovery of the oldest ships known in the world.

6. The word "frigid" is closest in meaning to

A. vast
B. dangerous
C. distant
D. cold

7. What can be inferred from the third paragraph about the removal of materials from shipwrecks?

A. Sports divers are usually allowed to keep the materials that they find in shipwrecks.
B. Materials from shipwrecks can be lawfully removed by anyone.
C. Removal of materials from some shipwrecks requires authorization.
D. Materials are now more likely to be removed from ships in Lake Superior than in the Mediterranean.

8. The word "its" refers to

A. the ancient world

B. the case
C. a late fifth-century B.C.E shipwreck
D. the Mediterranean

9. What can be inferred from the fourth paragraph about the views of historians before the development of
underwater archaeology?

A. They were unaware of the extent of trade between Mediterranean cities in the ancient world
B. They believed that the first large vessels sailed only after the fifth century B.C.E.
C. They thought shipwrecks could not be helpful for understanding the economy of the ancient world.
D. They did not know amphorae were made in certain Mediterranean cities.

10. The organization of the fourth paragraph can best be described as a

A. description of the history and principles of a new theory

B. claim followed by an example that supports that claim
C. presentation of two conflicting views on a topic
D. summary of the arguments for and against a hypothesis
 The honeybee has long been of economic importance, and for many thousands of years, beekeeping has
been an established occupation. Until about 200 years ago honey was the only significant source of sugar.
Mead, which is produced from fermenting honey, was a very popular beverage in northern Europe long before
the inhabitants learned of wine. Beeswax, a substance secreted by the bees themselves, and propolis, the
resinous sap gathered from trees, were also items of importance. Bees use propolis to fill any gaps or cracks in
the hive. Early people obtained this useful substance as a by-product of honey gathering, using it as an adhesive
for the attachment of handles to tools. Both wax and propolis became important ingredients of many
medicines. However, the most important technological use of beeswax in ancient times was for writing tablets.

"The bees" requirements for a hive have always been shelter from the elements and an entrance small
enough to be defended. Any cavity fulfilling these conditions, such as a hollow tree or a rock crevice, normally
provides both darkness, a prerequisite for the building of honeycombs, and an upper surface from which the
honeycombs can be hung. The first beekeepers, therefore, collected hollow branches containing honeycombs
and kept them in a protected place.

The first horizontal, tubular hive that early beekeepers used was derived from the hollow branch. This could
be opened at the back in order to blow in smoke, driving the bees out through the entrance hole, thus the
honey could be taken without difficulty. In ancient Egypt, where wood was scarce, the same principle was used
with clay cylinders, and this practice, with the cylinders piled up to form large walls, continues in parts of the
world.

The beehive was thus not a unique invention but an adaptation of some other hollow container. Cork or bark
cylinders were variants of the long hive, and other hives were simply baskets of woven wicker or coiled straw
originally devised for general agricultural purposes.

1. What does the first paragraph mainly discuss?

A. Beekeeping in Northern Europe

B. The use of honey as a food
C. The practical uses of the products of beekeeping
D. The role of beeswax in the development of writing tablets

2. The word "inhabitants" is closest in meaning to

A. residents
B. merchants
C. insects
D. inventors

3. What do “beeswax” and “propolis” have in common?

A. Both were used in making tool handles.

B. Both were important in the writing of tablets.
C. Both have been used in the preparation of medicines.
D. Both are secreted by honeybees.

4. What does the author mean by stating that propolis was obtained as a by-product of honey gathering?

A. Propolis was a necessary ingredient to honey

B. Honeybees use propolis to attach their hives to trees.
C. Propolis is used to separate the honey from the hive.
 D. Propolis was taken from hives at the same time that honey was taken.

5. The word "it" in the first paragraph refers to

A. beeswax
B. propolis
C. hive
D. honey gathering

6. The passage mentions all of the following as requirements of a beehive, EXCEPT

A. protection from the elements

B. darkness
C. an upper surface
D. an appropriate size

7. The word "derived" is closest in meaning to

A. originated
B. broken
C. chosen
D. lowered

8. The passage supports which of the following statements about the construction of tubular hives?

A. They were always made of wood.

B. Clay was a superior substance to wood for a beehive.
C. Tubular hives had an entrance hole and could be opened from the back.
D. Tubular hives were designed to prevent smoke from entering the hives.

9. The word "scarce" is closest in meaning to

A. soft
B. damp
C. rare
D. damaged

10. Which of the following statements best describes the development of different types of beehives by
beekeepers?

A. Beekeepers in different places used similar materials.

B. Beekeepers modified objects that originally had other uses.
C. Beekeepers found that wooden beehives were not very useful.
D. Modern beekeepers use smaller hives, which are easier to maintain.
 Before Gutenberg created his method of printing from movable type in the fifteenth century, artists survived
through subsidies from the wealthy classes. Novelists, poets, and painters would dedicate their work and sometimes
also deliver it to those who could afford to patronize or support them. This is how the term "patron of the arts" was
derived. With the rise of mass literacy, when many people were able to read and write, came a new kind of patron
and a change in the relationship between patron and artist. Artists were at the beck and call of not one patron but
thousands. The newly literate consumer had tastes that were perceptibly different from those of the wealthy elite. If
the artist were to profit these tastes had to be satisfied-hence the arrival of the "commercial or popular artist and
the popular arts.

Print was the first medium available to the commercial artist; eventually film radio, and television followed.
These newer mass media have been almost exclusively given over to the popular arts. Electronic media are in the
business of attracting an audience, and this means catering to public tastes. The popular artist, now as always,
calculates the wants and needs of the audience, creates a work in response to those needs, and then delivers it to
millions of patrons through mass media channels. What is more, this is done very quickly. The fifteenth-century
writer may have taken years to complete a book. The modern mystery novelist may take only a few weeks. Some
television scripts are written in even less time.

Researchers have long debated whether the mass media create popular culture or simply act as a mirror
reflecting popular tastes and values. Actually, television and all mass media probably refract reality. The mediated
reality is seen in many commercial television programs produced in the United States is similar to real life, yet
distorted. It is the United States of America filtered through the eyes and minds of producers, directors, and
scriptwriters. It imitates life while creating a separate reality for the mass audience. Critics of popular culture believe
this distortion may be harmful.

1. What is the passage mainly about?

A. the similarities and differences among the arts

B. the causes and effects of changing audiences for art
C. the ways in which television has changed the art
D. the harmful effects popular culture has on the art

2. According to the first paragraph artists made a living in all of the following ways before the fifteenth
century EXCEPT by

A. being funded by wealthy members of society

B. dedicating a particular work of art to a patron
C. delivering art that appealed to the taste of the wealthy
D. attracting broad-based support from fellow novelists, poets and painters

3. According to the first paragraph, which of the following was the main cause of the new relationship
between patron and artist?

A. The choice by artists to popular works

B. The expansion of the wealthy class of patrons
C. The appearance of consumers who also produced art
D. The growth of mass literacy

4. The word "perceptibly" is closest in meaning to

A. barely
B. completely
 C. noticeably
D. increasingly

5. According to the second paragraph, popular art first appeared in which of the following?

A. Books
B. Movies
C. Paintings
D. Television

6. The phrase "given over to" is closest in meaning to

A. supported by
B. B. used for
C. C. attracted by
D. D. free for

7. The word "calculates" is closest in meaning to

A. influences
B. expresses
C. responds to
D. determines

8. Why does the author mention "the modern mystery novelist"?

A. to illustrate how quickly modern art is created

B. to compare the speed of writing a book with that of a script
C. to indicate how quickly the tastes of the public can change
D. to show that works can be delivered rapidly electronically

9. What will the author probably discuss next?

A. The power of producers, directors, and scriptwriters to improve society

B. Negative ways that mass media can influence the values and tastes of society
C. Filtering of programs so that they contain appropriate content for young audiences
D. How people are persuaded to buy unnecessary things through television commercials
 Although freshwater freezes at 0°C, typical seawater resists freezing until it is cooled to -1.9°C. As
sea ice forms, it rejects almost all the salt in the seawater. Because sea ice is less dense than seawater, it
floats on top of the salty ocean.

When sea ice forms, it seals off the underlying ocean from interaction with the atmosphere. This
change is vital to regional climates. Without an ice cover, oceans at high latitudes transfer large amounts
of heat to the atmosphere, especially in winter, when air temperatures are low. This heat transfer keeps
temperatures in the lower atmosphere close to those of the ocean surface. But if an ice cover is present,
this heat release stops, and the reflective ice surface absorbs little incoming solar radiation. Because of
these changes, winter air temperatures can cool by 30°C or more in regions that develop a sea-ice cover.
In effect, an ice-covered ocean behaves like a snow-covered continent.

Many ocean surfaces in the colder latitudes are only partially ice-covered. Gaps produced in the ice
by changing winds allow some heat exchange with the atmosphere and moderate the climatic effects of
a full sea-ice cover. Also, in summer, meltwater pools may form on the ice surface, and this water, along
with a gradual darkening of the melting ice, may absorb more solar radiation.

The formation and melting of sea ice are driven mainly by seasonal changes in solar heating. In the
Southern Ocean, most of the sea ice melts and forms again every year, over an area comparable in size
to the entire Antarctic continent it surrounds. This annual ice cover averages one meter in thickness,
except where strong winds cause the ice to buckle and pile up in ridges. In contrast, the landmasses
surrounding the Arctic Ocean at the North Pole constrain the movement of sea ice and allow it to persist
for four or five years. Older sea ice in the center of the Arctic may reach four meters in thickness, while
annually formed ice around the margins is about one meter thick.

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