PERT

Read the passage below and answer the question. "The Florida Everglades, often called the 'River of Grass,' is a vast subtropical wilderness covering about 1.5 million acres. Unlike a traditional river with distinct banks, it is actually a slow-moving sheet of water flowing southward from Lake Okeechobee to Florida Bay. This unique ecosystem supports more than 350 species of birds, 300 species of fish, and numerous endangered species including the Florida panther and the American crocodile." What is the main idea of this passage?

• AThe Everglades is home to many endangered species.
• BThe Florida Everglades is a unique, expansive ecosystem distinct from a typical river.
• CLake Okeechobee feeds water into Florida Bay.
• DThe Everglades covers exactly 1.5 million acres of land.

Read the passage below and answer the question. "Community gardens have flourished in urban neighborhoods across the United States over the past two decades. Residents who once viewed vacant lots as eyesores now tend rows of vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Advocates argue that these gardens reduce food insecurity, foster social bonds among neighbors, and improve mental health. Critics, however, caution that gardens occupy land that could be used for affordable housing — a pressing need in many cities." Which statement best describes the author's purpose in including the critics' viewpoint?

• ATo argue that community gardens should be replaced by housing developments.
• BTo present a balanced perspective by acknowledging a counterargument.
• CTo prove that critics are wrong about the value of community gardens.
• DTo explain why community gardens have declined in recent years.

Read the sentence below and answer the question. "Although she had studied the manual carefully, the technician was unable to diagnose the machine's intermittent fault." The word 'intermittent' most nearly means:

• AConstant and predictable
• BOccurring at irregular intervals
• CExtremely severe
• DEasily identified

Read the passage below and answer the question. "The playwright Arthur Miller wrote Death of a Salesman in 1949, a time when postwar America was intoxicated by consumer culture and the promise of prosperity. The play's protagonist, Willy Loman, embodies the American Dream — and its catastrophic failure. Miller uses Willy's unraveling as an indictment of a society that measures human worth by material success." Based on the passage, what can the reader infer about Miller's attitude toward the American Dream?

• AHe celebrated it as an achievable ideal for all Americans.
• BHe was indifferent to the concept and explored it purely for dramatic effect.
• CHe was critical of the American Dream as a destructive social myth.
• DHe believed it was attainable only through hard work and perseverance.

Read the passage below and answer the question. "Historians have long debated whether the fall of Rome resulted primarily from military pressure by Germanic tribes or from internal decay — economic strain, political instability, and a declining civic culture. Most modern scholars favor a synthesis: the empire was weakened by internal problems that made it unable to resist external pressures. The two causes reinforced each other over centuries." Which conclusion does the passage most strongly support?

• AGermanic military pressure alone caused Rome to fall.
• BInternal decay alone caused Rome to fall.
• CThe fall of Rome had a single, clearly identifiable cause.
• DRome fell due to a combination of internal weakness and external military pressure.

Read the passage below and answer the question. "Migratory birds navigate using a combination of the sun's position, star patterns, Earth's magnetic field, and familiar landmarks. Young birds often fly with experienced adults on their first migration, learning the route. Researchers have found that some species can sense the magnetic field through specialized cells containing magnetite in their beaks." What is the most logical conclusion a reader can draw about bird navigation?

• ABirds navigate entirely by instinct and do not learn from adults.
• BThe sun's position is the only reliable navigation tool for birds.
• CBird navigation involves multiple senses and both innate and learned components.
• DOnly adult birds can successfully complete a migration.

Read the passage below and answer the question. "Despite the popularity of social media, many sociologists warn that online interaction cannot fully substitute for face-to-face communication. Non-verbal cues — gestures, facial expressions, tone of voice — account for a significant portion of human communication. Digital communication strips away most of these signals, potentially increasing misunderstandings and feelings of isolation." How does the author develop the argument in this passage?

• ABy presenting statistics that prove social media causes depression.
• BBy stating a popular trend, then providing a reason to question it.
• CBy comparing two social media platforms to determine which is healthier.
• DBy sharing a personal anecdote about the dangers of digital communication.

Read the passage below and answer the question. "Renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power have grown dramatically in installed capacity over the past decade. Proponents argue they are essential to reducing carbon emissions. However, critics point out that wind and solar are intermittent — they produce energy only when wind blows or the sun shines — making reliable grid management challenging without adequate energy storage solutions." What is the central tension described in the passage?

• AThe rivalry between wind energy and solar energy companies.
• BThe high cost of renewable energy compared to fossil fuels.
• CThe environmental benefits of renewables versus the reliability challenges they present.
• DThe disagreement between engineers and politicians about energy policy.

Read the passage below and answer the question. "In 1962, Rachel Carson published Silent Spring, documenting how the widespread use of the pesticide DDT was decimating bird populations by thinning eggshells and preventing reproduction. The book sparked a national debate and is widely credited with launching the modern environmental movement. DDT was eventually banned in the United States in 1972." According to the passage, what was the direct environmental consequence of DDT use described by Carson?

• ADDT caused cancer in humans who consumed contaminated fish.
• BDDT thinned bird eggshells, reducing successful reproduction.
• CDDT polluted groundwater supplies in rural farming communities.
• DDDT killed insects essential to crop pollination.

Read the passage below and answer the question. "The rise of streaming services has fundamentally altered how consumers engage with entertainment. Instead of waiting for scheduled broadcasts, viewers can access vast libraries of content at any time. While studios celebrate increased revenues from subscription models, independent filmmakers struggle to have their work discovered amid the flood of content that major platforms produce." Which of the following best describes the tone of this passage?

• AExclusively enthusiastic about the benefits of streaming.
• BHarshly critical of streaming services and their business practices.
• CBalanced, acknowledging both benefits and drawbacks of streaming.
• DPrimarily concerned with the technical aspects of streaming technology.

Read the passage below and answer the question. "Coral reefs cover less than 1% of the ocean floor, yet they support approximately 25% of all marine species. Often called the 'rainforests of the sea,' coral reefs provide food and shelter for fish, protect coastlines from storm surge, and support tourism economies worth billions of dollars. Rising ocean temperatures, ocean acidification, and pollution threaten these ecosystems at an alarming rate." Which organizational pattern is used in this passage?

• AChronological order — events are arranged by when they occurred.
• BCompare and contrast — two subjects are systematically compared.
• CCause and effect — a phenomenon is described, then its causes are identified.
• DProblem and solution — a challenge is presented along with remedies.

Read the passage below and answer the question. "My grandmother believed that a kitchen was the heart of a home. Every morning she rose before dawn to knead bread by hand, and the smell of warm loaves filled the house long before the rest of us stirred. She never measured anything — not flour, not salt, not the time spent hovering over the stove. Yet her food was perfect every time." What can be inferred about the grandmother from this passage?

• AShe learned to cook from a professional culinary school.
• BShe cooked by feel and experience rather than by precise measurement.
• CShe disliked cooking and performed it only out of obligation.
• DShe was careless and often produced inconsistent results.

Read the passage below and answer the question. "Access to clean drinking water remains one of the most pressing global challenges. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 2 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water services. Contaminated water contributes to diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and dysentery, killing hundreds of thousands of people annually." Which statement is a FACT as presented in this passage, rather than an opinion?

• AClean water is the most important resource in the world.
• BApproximately 2 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water.
• CGovernments should make clean water their top budgetary priority.
• DCholera is worse than typhoid as a waterborne disease.

Read the two passages below and answer the question. Passage 1: "School uniforms reduce distractions, minimize visible socioeconomic differences among students, and help create a focused learning environment. Many schools that adopt uniform policies report improved discipline and student attendance." Passage 2: "Requiring students to wear uniforms suppresses individual expression and does not address the root causes of disciplinary problems. Studies on the academic benefits of uniform policies show mixed results at best." How do the two passages primarily differ?

• APassage 1 discusses public schools while Passage 2 discusses private schools.
• BPassage 1 supports uniform policies based on reported benefits; Passage 2 challenges them…
• CPassage 1 focuses on elementary students while Passage 2 addresses college students.
• DPassage 1 uses statistics while Passage 2 uses personal anecdotes.

Read the passage below and answer the question. "The bald eagle was removed from the Endangered Species List in 2007, a conservation success story. Once threatened by habitat loss and the widespread use of DDT — which caused severe eggshell thinning — the species recovered after DDT was banned in 1972 and protective legislation was enacted. Today, bald eagle populations number in the hundreds of thousands." Which sequence correctly reflects the order of events as presented in the passage?

• ADDT banned → populations declined → eagle removed from list.
• BEagle listed as endangered → DDT used widely → eagle populations recovered.
• CDDT used widely → eggshell thinning → DDT banned → populations recovered → eagle removed…
• DProtective legislation enacted → DDT introduced → eagle populations declined.

Read the passage below and answer the question. "Unlike traditional classrooms, online learning environments allow students to progress at their own pace, revisiting difficult material as many times as needed. This flexibility can be especially valuable for working adults who must balance education with professional and family responsibilities. However, research consistently shows that students in online courses have significantly higher withdrawal rates than those in face-to-face courses." Which statement is best supported by the passage?

• AOnline learning is superior to traditional classroom instruction in every measurable way.
• BOnline learning offers flexibility but is also associated with higher dropout rates.
• CWorking adults are more likely to complete online courses than face-to-face courses.
• DResearch has proven that face-to-face instruction produces better academic outcomes.

Read the passage below and answer the question. "When Galileo turned his telescope toward Jupiter in 1610, he discovered four large moons orbiting the planet — now known as the Galilean moons. This observation was revolutionary because it proved that not all celestial bodies orbited Earth, directly challenging the geocentric model of the universe that had dominated Western thought for centuries." The word 'geocentric' as used in the passage most likely means:

• ACentered on the Sun
• BCentered on the Earth
• CRelating to geological study
• DBased on observations through a telescope

Read the passage below and answer the question. "Forests cover approximately 31% of Earth's land area and are sometimes called the 'lungs of the planet' because they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. However, deforestation — driven by agriculture, logging, and urban expansion — is destroying forests at a rate of roughly 10 million hectares per year. If current trends continue, the consequences for global climate stability could be catastrophic." What does the phrase 'lungs of the planet' suggest about forests?

• AForests are fragile and easily damaged, like human lungs.
• BForests perform a gas-exchange function critical to Earth's atmosphere.
• CForests are found primarily in tropical regions near the equator.
• DForests produce oxygen only in the presence of direct sunlight.

Read the passage below and answer the question. "Despite working twelve-hour shifts, Maria found time each evening to read to her children. She chose books carefully — stories with heroes who looked like them, who spoke like them, who came from neighborhoods like theirs. She believed that seeing yourself in a story was the first step toward believing you belonged in the larger world." Which word best describes the author's portrayal of Maria?

• AReckless
• BDevoted
• CIndifferent
• DBoastful

Read the passage below and answer the question. "In the early 20th century, tuberculosis (TB) was the leading cause of death in the United States. Sanatoriums — residential treatment facilities often located in mountainous areas with clean air — proliferated across the country. Patients rested, ate nutritious food, and breathed fresh air. The discovery of antibiotics in the mid-20th century largely rendered sanatoriums obsolete." What can be inferred about why sanatoriums were built in mountainous areas?

• AMountains had the most advanced medical facilities available at the time.
• BFresh, clean air in the mountains was believed to aid TB recovery.
• CTB patients needed low-oxygen environments to slow their breathing.
• DWealthy patients preferred mountain resorts for social reasons.

Read the passage below and answer the question. "The Great Wall of China was not built all at once — it was constructed over many centuries by successive dynasties. The earliest sections date to the 7th century BCE, though most of the wall visible today was built during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644). Its primary purpose was military defense, but it also served as a transportation corridor and a means of controlling trade along the Silk Road." Which sentence from the passage contains an opinion rather than a fact?

• AThe earliest sections date to the 7th century BCE.
• BThe Great Wall of China was not built all at once.
• CThe Great Wall is the most impressive engineering feat in human history.
• DIts primary purpose was military defense.

Read the passage below and answer the question. "The city council voted last Tuesday to approve a new public transit expansion that will add fifteen miles of light-rail lines and twelve additional bus routes to the metropolitan network. Mayor Caldwell praised the decision, saying it would 'reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality for all residents.' Critics, including several business owners, worry the construction phase will disrupt commerce in affected districts for up to three years." According to the passage, which group expressed concern about the transit expansion?

• AThe mayor's office
• BThe city council
• CBusiness owners in affected districts
• DThe state transportation department