DIRECTIONS: The following passage contains certain words and phrases that are underlined
and numbered. In the questions that accompany it, you will find replacements for each
underlined part. The number of each question refers to the number below each underlined part
of the passage.
For each question, choose the best replacement. In most instances, you will select the option
that expresses the idea most clearly, revises the statement to be appropriate for standard
English, or uses wording consistent with the tone and style of the whole passage. If you think
the best version is the original wording, choose "NO CHANGE."
In some cases, you will encounter a question about the underlined part. Choose the best
answer to the question. You will also encounter questions about a certain section or the whole
passage. These questions do not refer to an underlined part, but rather they are identified by a
number in a box.
Read the passage through once before you begin answering the questions. You may have to
read several sentences beyond the numbered part to determine the answer. Make sure you
have read enough of the passage each time you choose a replacement.
The Components of Soil
[I]
Soil is a mixture between organic and inorganic materials. Organic materials are made from
matter that is alive [31], and inorganic materials are made from non-living matter, such as rocks
and minerals. We will first discuss the organic parts of soil.
[2]
The remains of dead plants animals fungi or any other living organism are just part of the soils
33
32
organic components. Other organic components in soil includes microbes, which are small
34
microscopic organisms—such as bacteria—which work to break down dead matter and leave
behind valuable nutrients. Earthworms are another important organic element in soil.
Earthworms work to recycle plant matter and deposit their castings, which hold valuable
35
nutrients for future plant growth. Earthworms also work to loosen, mix, and aerate the soil.
36
These organic components in the soil give rise to humus, which is dark and rich in nutrients, has
a high water-holding capacity, and important in agricultural soils for growing crops.
37
Inorganic Parts of Soil
[3]
We call the rock and mineral particles in the soil the inorganic components. These particles are
made from rocks that have been broke down into smaller and smaller pieces over time by the
38
weathering process. The original rock that a soil comes from is called the parent material. [39]
This parent material over time is broken down by nature in one of three ways: mechanical,
40
chemical, or biological weathering.
[4]
[41] Mechanical weathering is the process in which rocks and minerals split and break apart into
fine sediments. Those can occur by a rapid change in temperature or extreme cold or warm
42
conditions. Mechanical weathering can also take place when water freezes and then thaws in
rocks. This causes stress in the rocks and totally messes with them.
43
[5]
Chemical weathering is the breaking apart of inorganic material. Water is the primary chemical
responsible for chemical weathering. Water is able to dissolve rock and minerals over time.
Rainwater is also naturally acidic and brings about the breaking down inorganic materials.
44
Chemical weathering works together with mechanical weathering in most situations. [45]
Biological weathering is a special case of weathering when living things break apart rocks and
minerals. Most cases of biological weathering occur because of roots of trees and plants that
move into cracks of the rocks, splitting them apart and dissolving the minerals as they grow.
Use “Passage IV” to answer questions 30-45.
30. For the sake of the logic and coherence of the essay, Paragraph 2 should be placed
_____.
A. where is it now
B. at the beginning of the essay
C. after Paragraph 3
D. at the end of the essay
31. The writer is considering adding the following phrase after the word alive: "or was
once alive." Should the writer add the phrase?
A. Yes, it is needed to explain what a living thing is.
B. Yes, it is needed to describe all things that are organic.
C. No, the writer has already said that organic matter is living matter.
D. No, the phrase adds no important new information.
32. A.
B.
C.
D.
NO CHANGE
dead, plants, animals, fungi, or
dead plants, animals, fungi or
dead plants, animals, fungi, or
33. A.
B.
C.
D.
NO CHANGE
soil's
soilses
soils'
34. A.
B.
C.
D.
NO CHANGE
will include
include
might include
35. The writer is considering replacing the underlined word with the following true
phrase: "waste, known as casting." Should the writer do this?
A. No, because the added material is unnecessary.
B. No, because the added material adds no new information.
C. Yes, because the added material clarifies the meaning.
D. Yes, because the added material adds interesting details.
36. Consider the following alternative to the underlined phrase: "loosen and mix." Which
sentence best describes this alternative?
A. It provides less information than the current phrase does.
B. It provides the same information that the current phrase does.
C. It corrects a redundancy because aerate is already suggested by mix.
D. It corrects a redundancy because aerate is already suggested by loosen.
37. A.
B.
C.
D.
NO CHANGE
it is important in agricultural soils for growing crops.
therefore important in agricultural soils for growing crops.
is important in agricultural soils for growing crops.
38. A.
B.
C.
D.
NO CHANGE
have been breaking down
have been breaked down
have been broken down
39. How would deleting the sentence that begins with the words This parent material
affect the essay as a whole?
A. It removes an important transition to the topics discussed in the rest of the essay.
B. It removes a detail added by the writer to provide interest and variety to the essay.
C. It leaves an essential piece of information unclear—what the parent material for soil is.
D. It improves the essay by removing material that is covered elsewhere in greater depth.
40. Where should the underlined phrase appear in the sentence?
A. In its current position
B. At the beginning of the sentence
C. After the word ways
D. At the end of the sentence
41. The writer wishes to add the following sentence to Paragraph 4: "Rocks and minerals
can also be mechanically weathered when they tumble around in river and creek
bottoms." At which place in the paragraph should the sentence be added?
A. At the beginning
B. After Sentence 1
C. After Sentence 3
D. At the end
42. A.
B.
C.
D.
NO CHANGE
Which
This
Them things
43. A.
B.
C.
D.
NO CHANGE
causes them to break apart.
totally annihilates them.
brings them to grief.
44. A.
B.
C.
D.
NO CHANGE
breaks down
precipitates the substantive decomposition of
fosters the breaking down of
45. Which of the following should the writer do during revision of Paragraph 5?
A. Leave all the material in the paragraph where it is now.
B. Insert a paragraph break after Sentence 5, thus creating a new paragraph, Paragraph 6.
C. Make the material after Sentence 5 into a new paragraph and place that paragraph after
Paragraph 4.
D. Make the material after Sentence 5 into a new paragraph and place that paragraph after
Paragraph 2.