Passage 1: I have always been wary of cats, and now, walking alongside a 500-pound African black-maned lion, I know why. They remind me there is something higher than I am on the food chain. Josef, the lion beside me, is trained—'the best lion in the business,' his owner says, beaming. Josef has starred in movies and posed for film animators. Josef is a big-time Hollywood cat. But Josef is not tame. No big cat ever is—a difficult fact to ignore as we climb the hills near the ranch Josef calls home. He strides with the fluidity of unfurling silk, deliberately—not an ounce of tentativeness in each footfall. 'Cats don't rent; they own,' it is said. Lions own everything in sight. Passage 2: From Cathy Newman, 'Nature's Masterwork: CATS.' ©1997 by National Geographic Society. While packs of cave bears and saber-toothed tigers may once have terrorized early humanity, most regions of our planet have since been stripped of their descendants. And due to a variety of factors, many other 'man-eating' species now face the possibility of extinction. Their disappearance from Earth is a sobering prospect, not least because of the role they play in keeping us humble. The possibility of being prey, rather than agents of planetary dominion, keeps us acutely aware of our membership within the natural world. The emotions inspired by such possibilities remind us that the world is a dangerous, yet beautiful, place.
According to the author of Passage 2, fierce animal species inspire what feeling in humans?
- A. Humor
- B. Humility
- C. Bravery
- D. Arrogance
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B
Fierce animal species evoke a sense of humility in humans, as they remind us of our place in the natural world and the power of these creatures. This recognition fosters respect for their strength and survival instincts. Option A, humor, does not align with the serious nature of the relationship between humans and fierce animals. Option C, bravery, may seem plausible, but the author emphasizes a reflective, rather than combative, response to these animals. Option D, arrogance, contradicts the intended message, as fierce animals inspire admiration and respect, not a sense of superiority.
Fierce animal species evoke a sense of humility in humans, as they remind us of our place in the natural world and the power of these creatures. This recognition fosters respect for their strength and survival instincts. Option A, humor, does not align with the serious nature of the relationship between humans and fierce animals. Option C, bravery, may seem plausible, but the author emphasizes a reflective, rather than combative, response to these animals. Option D, arrogance, contradicts the intended message, as fierce animals inspire admiration and respect, not a sense of superiority.
Other Related Questions
What change needs to be made to sentence 11 (reproduced below) to make the sentence grammatically correct? Most New Yorkers have gotten used to the idea: a recent poll of New York City residents show that two-thirds of them support the bike lanes.
- A. Change 'gotten' to 'got'
- B. Change 'show' to 'shows'
- C. Change 'support' to 'supported'
- D. Change 'lanes' to 'lane'
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B
In the sentence, the subject "a recent poll" is singular, so the verb must also be singular to ensure subject-verb agreement. Changing "show" to "shows" corrects this error. Option A incorrectly suggests changing "gotten" to "got," which does not address the grammatical issue present in the sentence. Option C’s suggestion to change "support" to "supported" alters the meaning of the sentence unnecessarily, shifting it from current support to past support. Option D's change from "lanes" to "lane" is irrelevant, as the plural form is appropriate given the context of multiple bike lanes in the city.
In the sentence, the subject "a recent poll" is singular, so the verb must also be singular to ensure subject-verb agreement. Changing "show" to "shows" corrects this error. Option A incorrectly suggests changing "gotten" to "got," which does not address the grammatical issue present in the sentence. Option C’s suggestion to change "support" to "supported" alters the meaning of the sentence unnecessarily, shifting it from current support to past support. Option D's change from "lanes" to "lane" is irrelevant, as the plural form is appropriate given the context of multiple bike lanes in the city.
Which is the best version of the underlined portion of sentence 2 (reproduced below)? Its first bike lane — and the country's first, was built in 1894, along Brooklyn's Ocean Parkway.
- A. (as it is now)
- B. first
- C. first:
- D. first—
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D
Option D is the best choice as it correctly uses an em dash to emphasize the phrase "the country's first," creating a strong pause that enhances clarity. Option A, "as it is now," is irrelevant and does not fit the context of the sentence. Option B, "first," lacks punctuation, which disrupts the flow and clarity of the sentence. Option C, "first:," incorrectly employs a colon, which is inappropriate here since the phrase following it is not a complete explanation or list. Thus, D effectively conveys the intended meaning while maintaining grammatical accuracy.
Option D is the best choice as it correctly uses an em dash to emphasize the phrase "the country's first," creating a strong pause that enhances clarity. Option A, "as it is now," is irrelevant and does not fit the context of the sentence. Option B, "first," lacks punctuation, which disrupts the flow and clarity of the sentence. Option C, "first:," incorrectly employs a colon, which is inappropriate here since the phrase following it is not a complete explanation or list. Thus, D effectively conveys the intended meaning while maintaining grammatical accuracy.
Which of the following statements does the passage most directly counter?
- A. Having a non-arts job stifles and detracts from an artist's creative work.
- B. For people working in non-arts professions, art is more than just an entertaining distraction.
- C. The poetry of William Carlos Williams exemplifies autobiographical poetry.
- D. The public's interest in the arts has declined over the last century.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A
Option A is countered by the passage, as it argues that non-arts jobs can actually enhance an artist’s creativity rather than stifle it. This directly challenges the notion that such employment detracts from artistic work. Option B reinforces the idea that art holds significant value for those in non-arts professions, aligning with the passage's themes rather than contradicting them. Option C discusses William Carlos Williams' work, which is not addressed in the passage, making it irrelevant to the main argument. Option D suggests a decline in public interest, which is not a focus of the passage, further distancing it from the central argument presented.
Option A is countered by the passage, as it argues that non-arts jobs can actually enhance an artist’s creativity rather than stifle it. This directly challenges the notion that such employment detracts from artistic work. Option B reinforces the idea that art holds significant value for those in non-arts professions, aligning with the passage's themes rather than contradicting them. Option C discusses William Carlos Williams' work, which is not addressed in the passage, making it irrelevant to the main argument. Option D suggests a decline in public interest, which is not a focus of the passage, further distancing it from the central argument presented.
In context, the second quotation in Passage 1 ('Cats... own') serves to:
- A. Present an alternative view of a troubling situation
- B. Reinforce an observation by using a metaphor
- C. Warn the reader of an existing danger
- D. Cite an authority to support a point
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B
The second quotation in Passage 1 uses a metaphor to illustrate the unique and independent nature of cats, effectively reinforcing the observation that they possess a distinct personality. This figurative language emphasizes the author's point, making it more relatable and engaging. Option A is incorrect as the quotation does not present an alternative view; it rather supports the existing perspective on cats. Option C misinterprets the intent, as there is no warning about danger in the quotation. Option D is also inaccurate, as the quotation does not reference an authority but instead relies on metaphorical language to convey its message.
The second quotation in Passage 1 uses a metaphor to illustrate the unique and independent nature of cats, effectively reinforcing the observation that they possess a distinct personality. This figurative language emphasizes the author's point, making it more relatable and engaging. Option A is incorrect as the quotation does not present an alternative view; it rather supports the existing perspective on cats. Option C misinterprets the intent, as there is no warning about danger in the quotation. Option D is also inaccurate, as the quotation does not reference an authority but instead relies on metaphorical language to convey its message.