Mid-Term Test of Advanced English 2018

TOEFL iBT® Test Questions

Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking Sections

Directions: The Reading section measures your ability to understand

academic passages written in English. You will read one passage and
answer questions about it. In the actual TOEFL iBT® test, you would have
20 minutes to read the passage and answer the questions. Test takers with
disabilities can request a time extension.

Meteorite Impact and Dinosaur Extinction

There is increasing evidence that the impacts of meteorites have had important effects
on Earth, particularly in the field of biological evolution. Such impacts continue to pose a
natural hazard to life on Earth. Twice in the twentieth century, large meteorite objects are
known to have collided with Earth.
If an impact is large enough, it can disturb the environment of the entire Earth and
cause an ecological catastrophe. The best-documented such impact took place 65 million
years ago at the end of the Cretaceous period of geological history. This break in Earth’s
history is marked by a mass extinction, when as many as half the species on the planet
became extinct. While there are a dozen or more mass extinctions in the geological record,
the Cretaceous mass extinction has always intrigued paleontologists because it marks the
end of the age of the dinosaurs. For tens of millions of years, those great creatures had
flourished. Then, suddenly, they disappeared.
The body that impacted Earth at the end of the Cretaceous period was a meteorite
with a mass of more than a trillion tons and a diameter of at least 10 kilometers. Scientists
first identified this impact in 1980 from the worldwide layer of sediment deposited from
the dust cloud that enveloped the planet after the impact. This sediment layer is enriched in
the rare metal iridium and other elements that are relatively abundant in a meteorite but
very rare in the crust of Earth. Even diluted by the terrestrial material excavated from the
crater, this component of meteorites is easily identified. By 1990 geologists had located the
impact site itself in the Yucatán region of Mexico. The crater, now deeply buried in
sediment, was originally about 200 kilometers in diameter.
This impact released an enormous amount of energy, excavating a crater about twice
as large as the lunar crater Tycho. The explosion lifted about 100 trillion tons of dust into
the atmosphere, as can be determined by measuring the thickness of the sediment layer
formed when this dust settled to the surface. Such a quantity of material would have
 Mid-Term Test of Advanced English 2018

blocked the sunlight completely from reaching the surface, plunging Earth into a period of
cold and darkness that lasted at least several months. The explosion is also calculated to
have produced vast quantities of nitric acid and melted rock that sprayed out over much of
Earth, starting widespread fires that must have consumed most terrestrial forests and
grassland. Presumably, those environmental disasters could have been responsible for the
mass extinction, including the death of the dinosaurs.
Several other mass extinctions in the geological record have been tentatively
identified with large impacts, but none is so dramatic as the Cretaceous event. But even
without such specific documentation, it is clear that impacts of this size do occur and that
their results can be catastrophic. What is a catastrophe for one group of living things,
however, may create opportunities for another group. Following each mass extinction,
there is a sudden evolutionary burst as new species develop to fill the ecological niches
opened by the event.
Impacts by meteorites represent one mechanism that could cause global catastrophes
and seriously influence the evolution of life all over the planet. According to some
estimates, the majority of all extinctions of species may be due to such impacts. Such a
perspective fundamentally changes our view of biological evolution. The standard criterion
for the survival of a species is its success in competing with other species and adapting to
slowly changing environments. Yet an equally important criterion is the ability of a species
to survive random global ecological catastrophes due to impacts.
Earth is a target in a cosmic shooting gallery, subject to random violent events that
were unsuspected a few decades ago. In 1991 the United States Congress asked NASA to
investigate the hazard posed today by large impacts on Earth. The group conducting the
study concluded from a detailed analysis that impacts from meteorites can indeed be
hazardous. Although there is always some risk that a large impact could occur, careful
study shows that this risk is quite small.

1. The word “pose” on line 2 is closest in meaning to

a. claim
b. model
c. assume
d. present

2. In paragraph 2, why does the author include the information that dinosaurs had flourished
for tens of millions of years and then suddenly disappeared?
a. To support the claim that the mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous is the best-
documented of the dozen or so mass extinctions in the geological record.
b. To explain why as many as half of the species on Earth at the time are believed to have
become extinct at the end of the Cretaceous.
c. To explain why paleontologists have always been intrigued by the mass extinction at
the end of the Cretaceous.
d. To provide evidence that an impact can be large enough to disturb the environment of
the entire planet and cause an ecological disaster.
 Mid-Term Test of Advanced English 2018

3. Which of the following can be inferred from paragraph 3 about the location of the
meteorite impact in Mexico?
a. The location of the impact site in Mexico was kept secret by geologists from 1980 to
1990.
b. It was a well-known fact that the impact had occurred in the Yucatán region.
c. Geologists knew that there had been an impact before they knew where it had occurred.
d. The Yucatán region was chosen by geologists as the most probable impact site because
of its climate.

4. According to paragraph 3, how did scientists determine that a large meteorite had impacted
Earth?
a. They discovered a large crater in the Yucatán region of Mexico.
b. They found a unique layer of sediment worldwide.
c. They were alerted by archaeologists who had been excavating in the Yucatán region.
d. They located a meteorite with a mass of over a trillion tons.

5. The word “excavating” on line 25 is closest in meaning to

a. digging out
b. extending
c. destroying
d. covering up

6. The word “consumed” on line 32 is closest in meaning to

a. changed
b. exposed
c. destroyed
d. covered

7. According to paragraph 4, all of the following statements are true of the impact at the end
of the Cretaceous period EXCEPT:
a. A large amount of dust blocked sunlight from Earth.
b. Earth became cold and dark for several months.
c. New elements were formed in Earth’s crust.
d. Large quantities of nitric acid were produced.

8. The phrase “tentatively identified” on line 36 is closest in meaning to

a. identified after careful study
b. identified without certainty
c. occasionally identified
d. easily identified
 Mid-Term Test of Advanced English 2018

9. The word “perspective” on line 46 is closest in meaning to

a. sense of values
b. point of view
c. calculation
d. complication

10. Paragraph 6 supports which of the following statements about the factors that are essential
for the survival of a species?
a. The most important factor for the survival of a species is its ability to compete and
adapt to gradual changes in its environment.
b. The ability of a species to compete and adapt to a gradually changing environment is
not the only ability that is essential for survival.
c. Since most extinctions of species are due to major meteorite impacts, the ability to
survive such impacts is the most important factor for the survival of a species.
d. The factors that are most important for the survival of a species vary significantly from
one species to another.

11. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the following
sentence?
Earth is a target in a cosmic shooting gallery, subject to random violent events that
were unsuspected a few decades ago.
Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.
a. Until recently, nobody realized that Earth is exposed to unpredictable violent impacts
from space.
b. In the last few decades, the risk of a random violent impact from space has increased.
c. Since most violent events on Earth occur randomly, nobody can predict when or where
they will happen.
d. A few decades ago, Earth became the target of random violent events originating in
outer space.

12. According to the passage, who conducted investigations about the current dangers posed by
large meteorite impacts on Earth?
a. Paleontologists
b. Geologists
c. The United States Congress
d. NASA

13. Look at the four letters (A, B, C, and D) that indicate where the following sentence could
be added to the passage in paragraph 6.
This is the criterion emphasized by Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection.
Where would the sentence best fit?
Impacts by meteorites represent one mechanism that could cause global catastrophes and
seriously influence the evolution of life all over the planet. (A) According to some
estimates, the majority of all extinctions of species may be due to such impacts. (B) Such a
 Mid-Term Test of Advanced English 2018

perspective fundamentally changes our view of biological evolution. (C) The standard
criterion for the survival of a species is its success in competing with other species and
adapting to slowly changing environments. (D) Yet an equally important criterion is the
ability of a species to survive random global ecological catastrophes due to impacts.
Choose the place where the sentence fits best.
a. Option A
b. Option B
c. Option C
d. Option D

14. An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete
the summary by selecting the THREE (3) answer choices that express the most important
ideas in the passage. Some sentences do not belong in the summary because they express
ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage. This question
is worth 2 points.
Write your answer choices in the spaces where they belong. You can write in the number of
the answer choice or the whole sentence.

Scientists have linked the mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous with
a meteorite impact on Earth.

Answer choices
(1) Scientists had believed for centuries that meteorite activity influenced evolution on
Earth.
(2) The site of the large meteorite impact at the end of the Cretaceous period was identified
in 1990.
(3) There have also been large meteorite impacts on the surface of the Moon, leaving
craters like Tycho.
(4) An iridium-enriched sediment layer and a large impact crater in the Yucatán provide
evidence that a large meteorite struck Earth about 65 million years ago.
(5) Large meteorite impacts, such as one at the end of the Cretaceous period, can seriously
affect climate, ecological niches, plants, and animals.
 Mid-Term Test of Advanced English 2018

(6) Meteorite impacts can be advantageous for some species, which thrive, and disastrous
for other species, which become extinct.

15. For this number, you have these two following texts: Reading Passage and Lecturing
Transcript.

READING PASSAGE

Critics say that current voting systems used in the United States are inefficient
and often lead to the inaccurate counting of votes. Miscounts can be especially
damaging if an election is closely contested. Those critics would like the traditional
systems to be replaced with far more efficient and trustworthy computerized voting
systems.
In traditional voting, one major source of inaccuracy is that people accidentally
vote for the wrong candidate. Voters usually have to find the name of their candidate on
a large sheet of paper containing many names—the ballot—and make a small mark next
to that name. People with poor eyesight can easily mark the wrong name. The
computerized voting machines have an easy-to-use touch-screen technology: to cast a
vote, a voter needs only to touch the candidate’s name on the screen to record a vote for
that candidate; voters can even have the computer magnify the name for easier viewing.
Another major problem with old voting systems is that they rely heavily on
people to count the votes. Officials must often count up the votes one by one, going
through every ballot and recording the vote. Since they have to deal with thousands of
ballots, it is almost inevitable that they will make mistakes. If an error is detected, a
long and expensive recount has to take place. In contrast, computerized systems remove
the possibility of human error, since all the vote counting is done quickly and
automatically by the computers.
Finally some people say it is too risky to implement complicated voting
technology nationwide. But without giving it a thought, governments and individuals
alike trust other complex computer technology every day to be perfectly accurate in
banking transactions as well as in the communication of highly sensitive information.

LECTURE TRANSCRIPT

(Narrator) : Now listen to part of a lecture on the topic you just read about.

(Female Professor): While traditional voting systems have some problems, it’s
doubtful that computerized voting will make the situation any
better. Computerized voting may seem easy for people who are
used to computers. But what about people who aren’t? People
who can’t afford computers, people who don’t use them on a
regular basis—these people will have trouble using computerized
 Mid-Term Test of Advanced English 2018

voting machines. These voters can easily cast the wrong vote or
be discouraged from voting altogether because of fear of
technology. Furthermore, it’s true that humans make mistakes
when they count up ballots by hand. But are we sure that
computers will do a better job? After all, computers are
programmed by humans, so “human error” can show up in
mistakes in their programs. And the errors caused by these
defective programs may be far more serious. The worst a human
official can do is miss a few ballots. But an error in a computer
program can result in thousands of votes being miscounted or
even permanently removed from the record. And in many voting
systems, there is no physical record of the votes, so a computer
recount in the case of a suspected error is impossible! As for our
trust of computer technology for banking and communications,
remember one thing: these systems are used daily and they are
used heavily. They didn’t work flawlessly when they were first
introduced. They had to be improved on and improved on until
they got as reliable as they are today. But voting happens only
once every two years nationally in the United States and not much
more than twice a year in many local areas. This is hardly
sufficient for us to develop confidence that computerized voting
can be fully trusted.

Question: Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they
oppose specific points made in the reading passage.

16. Question: Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?

“A teacher’s ability to relate well with students is more important than excellent
knowledge of the subject being taught.”

Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

17. Talk about a pleasant and memorable event that happened while you were in school.
Explain why this event brings back fond memories.

18. Some people think it is more fun to spend time with friends in restaurants or cafés. Others
think it is more fun to spend time with friends at home. Which do you think is better?
Explain why.
 Mid-Term Test of Advanced English 2018

19. Read the following text and the conversation that follows it. Then, answer the question.

The Northfield College Student Association recently decided to make a new purchase.

Good News for Movie Fans

The Student Association has just purchased a new sound system for the Old Lincoln Hall
auditorium, the place where movies on campus are currently shown. By installing the new
sound system, the Student Association hopes to attract more students to the movies and
increase ticket sales. Before making the purchase of the new equipment, the Student
Association conducted a survey on campus to see what kind of entertainment students liked
best. Going to the movies ranked number one. “Students at Northfield College love going
to the movies” said the president of the Student Association, “so we decided to make what
they already love even better. We’re confident that the investment into the sound system
wiil translate into increased ticket sales.”

(Male Student) I really think the Student Association made a bad decision.
(Female Student) Really? Why? Don’t you like going to the movies?
(Male Student) Sure I do. But this new purchase is just a waste of money.
(Female Student) What do you mean? It’s supposed to sound really good.
(Male Student) Yeah, well, I’m sure it does, but, in Old Lincoln Hall? I mean that
building must be 200 years old! It used to be the college gym! The
acoustics are terrible.
(Female Student) So you’re saying there’ll be no improvement?
(Male Student) That’s right. And also, I seriously doubt that going to the movies is
the number one social activity for most students.
(Female Student) Yeah, but that’s what students said.
(Male Student) Well, of course that’s what they said. What else is there to do on
campus?
(Female Student) What do you mean?
(Male student) I mean, there isn’t much to do on campus besides go to the movies.
If there were other forms of, uh recreation, or other social
activities, you know, I don’t think most students would have said
that going to the movies was their first choice.

Question: The man expresses his opinion of the Student Association’s recent purchase.
 Mid-Term Test of Advanced English 2018

20. Read the following conversation between two students and then answer the question.

(Female Student) How’s the calculus class going? You’re doing better?

(Male Student) Not really. I just can’t get the hang of it. There’re so many
functions and formulas to memorize, you know? And the final . . .
It’s only a few weeks away. I’m really worried about doing well.

(Female Student) Oh . . . You know, you should go to the tutoring program and ask
for help.

(Male Student) You mean, in the Mathematics building?

(Female Student) Ya. Get a tutor there. Most tutors are doctoral students in the math
program. They know what they’re talking about, and for the final
test, you know, they’d tell you what to study, how to prepare, all of
that.

(Male Student) I know about that program . . . but doesn’t it cost money?

(Female Student) Of course. You have to register and pay by the hour . . . But
they’ve got all the answers.

(Male Student) Hmm . . .

(Female Student) Another option, I guess, is to form a study group with other
students. That won’t cost you any money.

(Male Student) That’s a thought . . . although once I was in a study group, and it
was a big waste of time. We usually ended up talking about other
stuff like what we did over the weekend.

(Female Student) But that was for a different class, right? I’ve actually had some
pretty good experiences with study groups. Usually students in the
same class have different strengths and weaknesses with the
material . . . if they’re serious about studying, they can really help
each other out. Think about it.

Question: Briefly summarize the problem the speakers are discussing. Then state which
solution you would recommend. Explain the reasons for your recommendation.
 Mid-Term Test of Advanced English 2018

Copyright © 2015 by Educational Testing Service. All rights reserved. ETS, the ETS logo and TOEFL IBT are registered trademarks of Educational Testing
Service (ETS). 31569