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.
Which point do both of the passages make?
- A. That human beings can be prey
- B. That human beings have a duty to protect large predatory animals
- C. That large predatory animals are vanishing from the planet
- D. That big cats can never be tamed
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A
Both passages emphasize the idea that human beings can be prey in the natural world, highlighting the interconnectedness of species and the potential dangers humans face from large predators. Option B is incorrect as it suggests a specific duty to protect predatory animals, which may not be a central theme in the passages. Option C, while potentially relevant, does not reflect the shared focus on human vulnerability. Option D incorrectly asserts that big cats can never be tamed, which is not a universally accepted truth and does not align with the primary message of either passage.
Both passages emphasize the idea that human beings can be prey in the natural world, highlighting the interconnectedness of species and the potential dangers humans face from large predators. Option B is incorrect as it suggests a specific duty to protect predatory animals, which may not be a central theme in the passages. Option C, while potentially relevant, does not reflect the shared focus on human vulnerability. Option D incorrectly asserts that big cats can never be tamed, which is not a universally accepted truth and does not align with the primary message of either passage.
Other Related Questions
Which sentence should be deleted to improve the unity of the second paragraph?
- A. Sentence 3
- B. Sentence 4
- C. Sentence 5
- D. Sentence 6
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C
To enhance the unity of the second paragraph, removing Sentence 5 is most effective. This sentence introduces a topic that diverges from the main focus, disrupting the flow and coherence of the paragraph. Sentence 3 supports the central idea, while Sentence 4 provides necessary context. Sentence 6 wraps up the discussion, reinforcing the paragraph's main point. By deleting Sentence 5, the paragraph remains focused, ensuring all sentences contribute directly to the central theme, thereby improving clarity and cohesion.
To enhance the unity of the second paragraph, removing Sentence 5 is most effective. This sentence introduces a topic that diverges from the main focus, disrupting the flow and coherence of the paragraph. Sentence 3 supports the central idea, while Sentence 4 provides necessary context. Sentence 6 wraps up the discussion, reinforcing the paragraph's main point. By deleting Sentence 5, the paragraph remains focused, ensuring all sentences contribute directly to the central theme, thereby improving clarity and cohesion.
In context, what does the final sentence suggest about Native American ceremonial texts?
- A. Understanding them requires a highly developed memory.
- B. Their inclusion of complicated and detailed material is traditional.
- C. They are important in the everyday lives of many Native Americans.
- D. Their use of repetition cannot be explained as an aid to memorization.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D
The final sentence suggests that repetition in Native American ceremonial texts serves a purpose beyond mere memorization, indicating a deeper significance in their cultural context. Option A is incorrect because the emphasis is not on memory development but on the intrinsic value of repetition. Option B misinterprets the role of complexity; while tradition is important, the sentence highlights repetition's unique function rather than the intricacy of content. Option C overlooks the specific focus on repetition, which is the core of the final sentence, rather than the broader context of everyday importance.
The final sentence suggests that repetition in Native American ceremonial texts serves a purpose beyond mere memorization, indicating a deeper significance in their cultural context. Option A is incorrect because the emphasis is not on memory development but on the intrinsic value of repetition. Option B misinterprets the role of complexity; while tradition is important, the sentence highlights repetition's unique function rather than the intricacy of content. Option C overlooks the specific focus on repetition, which is the core of the final sentence, rather than the broader context of everyday importance.
What is a central theme of the passage?
- A. No two people are likely to recall the same event in the same way.
- B. One person can have a profound effect on another person's life.
- C. Individuals can endure great obstacles by working together for a common purpose.
- D. The lives of most adults differ greatly from the futures they'd imagined as children.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B
Option B highlights the profound impact one person can have on another's life, which is a central theme of the passage. This theme emphasizes the interconnectedness of human experiences and relationships, illustrating how individuals can inspire or change each other. Option A, while relevant, focuses on subjective memory rather than the transformative power of relationships. Option C discusses teamwork and shared goals, which may be present but does not capture the essence of individual influence. Option D reflects on the disparity between childhood dreams and adult realities, which, although poignant, diverges from the primary theme of personal impact and connection.
Option B highlights the profound impact one person can have on another's life, which is a central theme of the passage. This theme emphasizes the interconnectedness of human experiences and relationships, illustrating how individuals can inspire or change each other. Option A, while relevant, focuses on subjective memory rather than the transformative power of relationships. Option C discusses teamwork and shared goals, which may be present but does not capture the essence of individual influence. Option D reflects on the disparity between childhood dreams and adult realities, which, although poignant, diverges from the primary theme of personal impact and connection.
Which choice best describes the passage's overall structure?
- A. It shifts from a domestic setting to an outdoor setting, then back to a domestic setting.
- B. It shifts from a lighthearted situation to a serious situation, then back to a lighthearted situation.
- C. It shifts from the characters' present to their past, then back to the characters' present.
- D. It shifts from one character's perspective to another's, then back to the first character's perspective.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C
The passage effectively transitions between the characters' present experiences and their past memories, allowing readers to understand their motivations and growth. This structure enhances character development and emotional depth. Option A is incorrect as it suggests a shift in physical settings rather than temporal ones. Option B misrepresents the tone of the passage; while there may be moments of levity, the primary focus is on the characters' reflections. Option D incorrectly emphasizes perspective shifts; the passage primarily centers on time rather than viewpoint changes. Thus, the movement between present and past is the key structural element.
The passage effectively transitions between the characters' present experiences and their past memories, allowing readers to understand their motivations and growth. This structure enhances character development and emotional depth. Option A is incorrect as it suggests a shift in physical settings rather than temporal ones. Option B misrepresents the tone of the passage; while there may be moments of levity, the primary focus is on the characters' reflections. Option D incorrectly emphasizes perspective shifts; the passage primarily centers on time rather than viewpoint changes. Thus, the movement between present and past is the key structural element.