This passage is from a 2019 novel. The narrator is reflecting on a time when she was about ten years old. A ham (amateur) radio is a device for exchanging messages and requires a license to operate. (1) One day, my father brought home a pile of the parts needed to build a ham radio and asked if I wanted to help him put it together. (2) It took us a week, and we built it at our kitchen table, which meant that for that week we ate dinner on our laps in our living room. (3) After dinner, my father went straight to the kitchen table where he'd left a mess of wire and cables and vacuum tubes, and got to work. (4) I started by helping my mother clean up, but then I went over to him, leaning over the part of the radio he was working on to study the diagrams and assembly instructions. (5) Once the receiver was built, we took it into the garage and built a simple transmitter. (6) Then we studied for the radio license, quizzing each other on Morse code and electrical principles and radio wave characteristics every night. (7) My father already knew all of it from the war. (8) He'd been a radio operator as a soldier, and he told me how radio waves could go far, far out into space and how a few years ago two radio operators from opposite sides of the world had sent messages to each other by bouncing them off the moon. (9) After we received our radio licenses, we spent many nights sitting side by side in the garage, picking up radio stations and messages from other amateur radio operators. (10) There were so many messages floating around, waiting to be picked up: Are you lonely? (11) How are you? (12) What's the weather like there? (13) There were reports of shipwrecks, and messages from as far away as Canada, and we decoded each message as it arrived. (14) Nowadays, when communication is so instantaneous, I cannot help remembering with nostalgia how my father and I turned the knobs to the contraption we had built as the messages came in through our complicated machine of vacuum tubing and plumbing wire. (15) We recorded the taps as they came in—and I marveled that each tap traveled only a little bit slower than the speed of light. (16) Tap tap tap came the pulses of radio waves into our earphones, and I transcribed the taps as fast as I could into letters, watching them gather into words and then sentences. (17) It was the closest thing to performing magic that I could imagine: manipulating the radio waves that were all around us to talk to someone across the world.
The third paragraph (sentences 5–8) indicates that in the past, the narrator's father had
- A. survived a shipwreck
- B. served as a soldier
- C. failed to become a professional radio operator
- D. learned Morse code from his own father
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B
The third paragraph reveals that the narrator's father had military experience, indicating he served as a soldier. This aligns with option B. Option A, "survived a shipwreck," is incorrect as the text does not mention any maritime incidents. Option C, "failed to become a professional radio operator," is not supported by the text, which does not discuss any failures related to this profession. Option D, "learned Morse code from his own father," is also inaccurate since the paragraph does not reference any familial teaching of Morse code. Each incorrect option fails to connect with the details provided in the paragraph.
The third paragraph reveals that the narrator's father had military experience, indicating he served as a soldier. This aligns with option B. Option A, "survived a shipwreck," is incorrect as the text does not mention any maritime incidents. Option C, "failed to become a professional radio operator," is not supported by the text, which does not discuss any failures related to this profession. Option D, "learned Morse code from his own father," is also inaccurate since the paragraph does not reference any familial teaching of Morse code. Each incorrect option fails to connect with the details provided in the paragraph.
Other Related Questions
In context, the last sentence of Passage 2 is best understood to:
- A. argue in favor of a restrained response
- B. make light of a difficult situation
- C. challenge an established belief
- D. emphasize the severity of a transgression
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D
The last sentence of Passage 2 emphasizes the seriousness of the transgression, highlighting its impact and consequences. This aligns with option D, as it conveys a strong sense of urgency and gravity regarding the situation. Option A misinterprets the tone, as a restrained response would downplay the issue rather than underscore its severity. Option B suggests a light-hearted approach, which contradicts the serious nature of the transgression discussed. Lastly, option C implies a challenge to beliefs, but the sentence focuses more on the severity of actions rather than questioning established norms.
The last sentence of Passage 2 emphasizes the seriousness of the transgression, highlighting its impact and consequences. This aligns with option D, as it conveys a strong sense of urgency and gravity regarding the situation. Option A misinterprets the tone, as a restrained response would downplay the issue rather than underscore its severity. Option B suggests a light-hearted approach, which contradicts the serious nature of the transgression discussed. Lastly, option C implies a challenge to beliefs, but the sentence focuses more on the severity of actions rather than questioning established norms.
In the first two sentences ('During'… 'alley'), scientists are presented as all of the following EXCEPT:
- A. predisposed
- B. determined
- C. inherently logical
- D. overly zealous
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C
The portrayal of scientists in the first two sentences emphasizes their predisposition (A) and determination (B) in their pursuits, highlighting their commitment to discovery. Additionally, the term "overly zealous" (D) suggests an intense passion, which can also be a characteristic of scientists. However, the phrase "inherently logical" (C) is not supported in the text, as it does not imply that scientists are always guided by logic alone; emotions and biases can also influence their work. Thus, option C stands apart from the others.
The portrayal of scientists in the first two sentences emphasizes their predisposition (A) and determination (B) in their pursuits, highlighting their commitment to discovery. Additionally, the term "overly zealous" (D) suggests an intense passion, which can also be a characteristic of scientists. However, the phrase "inherently logical" (C) is not supported in the text, as it does not imply that scientists are always guided by logic alone; emotions and biases can also influence their work. Thus, option C stands apart from the others.
The author mentions the best-seller lists and the Book-of-the-Month Club primarily to emphasize Raintree County's:
- A. limited readership
- B. enduring appeal
- C. commercial success
- D. artistic aspirations
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C
The mention of best-seller lists and the Book-of-the-Month Club highlights Raintree County's commercial success, showcasing its popularity and significant sales in the literary market. Option A, "limited readership," is incorrect, as the references suggest a wide audience rather than a restricted one. Option B, "enduring appeal," while relevant, does not directly address the immediate financial success indicated by best-seller rankings. Option D, "artistic aspirations," is also off-target, as the focus is more on market performance than on artistic merit. Thus, the emphasis lies squarely on the book's commercial achievements.
The mention of best-seller lists and the Book-of-the-Month Club highlights Raintree County's commercial success, showcasing its popularity and significant sales in the literary market. Option A, "limited readership," is incorrect, as the references suggest a wide audience rather than a restricted one. Option B, "enduring appeal," while relevant, does not directly address the immediate financial success indicated by best-seller rankings. Option D, "artistic aspirations," is also off-target, as the focus is more on market performance than on artistic merit. Thus, the emphasis lies squarely on the book's commercial achievements.
Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?
- A. American football has not changed much since the first intercollegiate football game was played.
- B. Most early football players did not know how to throw a football properly.
- C. Rutgers' current football team is better than Princeton's.
- D. The name Scarlet Knights most likely refers to clothing worn by Rutgers players in the 1869 game.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D
The inference about the name Scarlet Knights likely relates to clothing worn by Rutgers players in the 1869 game, as historical context suggests team names often reflect uniforms or school colors. Option A is incorrect; while some aspects of American football have evolved, the statement oversimplifies the sport's development over time. Option B lacks support from the passage, as it does not provide evidence regarding the skills of early players. Option C is subjective and cannot be inferred without specific performance data comparing the two teams.
The inference about the name Scarlet Knights likely relates to clothing worn by Rutgers players in the 1869 game, as historical context suggests team names often reflect uniforms or school colors. Option A is incorrect; while some aspects of American football have evolved, the statement oversimplifies the sport's development over time. Option B lacks support from the passage, as it does not provide evidence regarding the skills of early players. Option C is subjective and cannot be inferred without specific performance data comparing the two teams.