ACT Practice Questions - Reading, Set 1

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ACT Practice Questions - Reading, Set 1

ILearn@Home Day 5

ACT Practice Questions - Reading, Set 1

The following passage is from "The Biggest Thing in Physics," by Gabrielle Walker (Discover Magazine, 8/13/07).

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  1. The passage states that according to the standard model, the interaction between fundamental particles and the Higgs field is what gives particles:

A. charge
B. spin
C. mass
D. velocity

  1. The main point of the introductory paragraph is that:

A. Switzerland is a nation friendly to cutting-edge physics research.
B. The Large Hadron Collector is unlikely to have practical applications.
C. Physicists are unlocking the secrets of the universe.
D. The Large Hadron Collector is a large, expensive collaborative project.

  1. As discussed in the passage, the overall purpose of the LHC is to:

I. Settle the question of the existence of the Higgs boson
II. Further test the standard model
III. Set a new standard for accelerator operations

A. I only
B. II and III
C. I and II
D. I, II and III

  1. One useful metaphor for the Higgs field, according to one British theoretician, is to compare the Higgs field to:

A. a field of snow
B. a sheet of rubber
C. an infinite smooth wall
D. a motionless film of oil

  1. The Higgs field differs from electromagnetic or gravitational fields in that the Higgs field:

A. is measurable on the macroscopic scale
B. only is observable between subatomic particles
C. has the same intensity everywhere
D. has a direct correlation to radiant energy output

  1. One of the properties of the Higgs boson is that it must be extremely heavy, more so than the heavier subatomic particles such as:

A. protons and electrons
B. neutrons and photons
C. protons and photons
D. neutrons and protons

  1. What unusual hazard is the passage's author warned of when touring the facility?

A. stray particles
B. bicycles
C. falling wrenches
D. scientists

  1. Given the LHC's intended mission and capabilities, what event could the reader infer would have the farthest reaching implications for physics as a discipline?

A. discovering the Higgs boson
B. discovering a lighter particle
C. not discovering the Higgs boson
D. not discovering a lighter particle

  1. In the extended metaphor used to describe the Higgs field, what metaphoric equivalent is used to describe the fundamental attribute that provides the quality of mass to objects?

I. snowshoes
II. skis
III. skates

A. I only
B. I and II
C. I, II and III
D. II and III

  1. In addition to the international nature of CERN, the body that runs the LHC, the multinational nature of the project is reinforced by the fact that the LHC is physically located in the countries of:

A. Switzerland and France
B. Switzerland and Italy
C. France and Italy
D. France and Germany

ACT Practice Questions - Reading, Set 2The following passage is taken from the short story "2 B R 0 2 B" by Kurt Vonnegut (originally published in Worlds of If, January 1962).

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Note:

  1. Given the tone of the conversation later in the passage, it could be reasonably inferred the tone of the first sentence is:

A. exaggerated
B. ironic
C. excited
D. humorous

  1. Considering how it is used in line 61, the closest synonym for the word "sobriquets" would likely be:

A. substitutes
B. acronyms
C. nicknames
D. competitors

  1. The title of the story, "2 B R 0 2 B," is a play on a famous line from William Shakespeare's play Hamlet. This type of reference is commonly known as:

A. allusion
B. entendre
C. quotation
D. metonym

  1. It would be reasonable to infer from the conversation in lines 45-56 that the painter has a low opinion of his commission because:

A. he feels his compensation is inadequate
B. he does not like the hospital administration
C. he feels the mural is a poor representation of life
D. he feels his work is of lesser quality than usual

  1. It can be reasonably deduced that the cure for aging has been around for at least:

A. 150 years
B. 155 years
C. 160 years
D. 165 years

  1. The passage suggests that one of the major causes of people wanting to commit suicide in the world described in the passage is:

A. overpopulation
B. diminished resources
C. boredom
D. government pressure

  1. As it is used in line 9, the word "stripling" most nearly means:

A. young person
B. expectant father
C. unremarkable
D. thin and reedy

  1. It would be reasonable to infer, based on this passage, that members of the Federal Bureau of Termination would be most commonly recognized by their:

A. formal badges
B. purple uniforms
C. informal insignia
D. green uniforms

  1. Based on the first section of the passage focusing on the expectant father, what conclusion could be reasonably inferred concerning the birth rate?

A. Unknown
B. High
C. Unchanged
D. Low

  1. According to the passage, what nations could be considered as having developed artful gardening methods?

I. Holland
II. Japan
III. United States

A. I only
B. I and II
C. II and III
D. I and III

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