Agriculture and Religion

1. Which of the sentences below best expresses the Paragraph 1

essential information in the highlighted sentence in
the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning For hundreds of thousands of years, humans
in important ways or leave out essential managed to survive by moving seasonally from
information. place to place gathering edible plants and hunting,
A. For hundreds of thousands of years, humans until about 10,000 years ago when, probably as a
managed to survive gathering edible plants and result of a fortuitous accident of dropping seeds on
hunting. fertile ground, the rudiments of agriculture were
B. The rudiments of agriculture were discovered discovered. The stages of the transition from
about 10,000 years ago following hundreds of hunting and gathering to an agrarian economy and
thousands of years during which humans survived society can be reconstructed from the
by moving seasonally to hunt and find edible plants. archaeological record. The record indicates that
C. A fortuitous accident of dropping seeds on fertile after the introduction of agriculture in the Near East,
ground about 10,000 years ago led to the discovery irrigation was developed as a means to ensure
of the rudiments of agriculture. higher crop yields. A limited number of crops
D. Humans continued to survive by gathering (various grains) and animals (mainly sheep and
edible plants and hunting for tens of thousands of goats) were domesticated. Certain nomadic or
years after the accidental discovery of the rudiments semi-nomadic groups then became sedentary,
of agriculture. settling more or less permanently in villages, which
were often surrounded by earthen or stone walls.
2. The word “ensure” in the passage is closest in Sometimes, these villages were quite large. For
meaning to example, the ruins of Catalhöyük in Anatolia, built
A. collect around 7000 B.C. by a group of Neolithic cattle
B. maintain breeders, give evidence of what can almost be
C. produce termed a town. The settlement was inhabited for
D. guarantee two thousand years before being deserted for
unknown reasons, but during the period of its
3. According to paragraph 1, which of the following occupation 10,000 people at a time lived there.
is a correct ordering of stages in the transition from Sculpture and gaily colored frescoes (paintings
hunting and gathering to an agrarian economy? done on plaster walls or ceilings) indicate that the
A. Building of walled villages, domestication of residents of Catalhöyük had thoughts that went
cattle, irrigation for higher yields beyond everyday concerns for physical survival.
B. First growing of crops, irrigation for higher
yields, permanent settlement
C. Discovery of agriculture, permanent settlements,
irrigation for higher yields
D. Founding of Catalhöyük, domestication of grains
and sheep, domestication of cattle
4. Why does the author discuss “Egypt” and Paragraph 2
“Mesopotamia” in the passage?
A. To support the claim that complex societies Where conditions for agriculture were particularly
developed where river valleys made conditions for favorable, complex societies and specialized forms
agriculture favorable of organization developed. River valleys led the
B. To identify two river valleys where frequent way in this development: In Egypt, the Nile River
flooding initially prevented the societies founded flooded annually, leaving a narrow strip of fertile
there from flourishing mud in the desert that supported a rich harvest and a
C. Priests maintained their status as administrators vibrant civilization. In Mesopotamia (modern Iraq),
of the religion by virtue of heredity the land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers
D. To contrast the different irrigation methods of was another center in which important civilizations
two major civilizations arose. The Tigris and the Euphrates river system not
only provided plenty of water for irrigation, but it
also allowed for transport between the two
emerging food-producing areas of the Near
East-northern Syria and the southern region of
Mesopotamia.

Paragraph 3

5. Paragraph 3 supports which of the following Soon communities sprang up that based their
claims about economic development in societies prosperity both on agriculture and on the
that adopted agriculture? manufacture of products necessary for survival such
A. Manufacturing quickly became economically as tools and weapons made of stone and, later, of
more important than farming. bronze, and pottery for cooking and storage of grain.
B. A middle class emerged that had sufficient These communities also made luxury items, such as
wealth to buy luxury goods. costly textiles, artful metalwork, and jewelry set
C. There was a diversification and specialization of with precious stones. Trade networks developed to
non-agricultural crafts. distribute these various kinds of goods. Rivers
D. Economic development depended on the played a significant role in the trade routes, but
domestication of camels and donkeys there were also overland routes on which camels
and donkeys were used.

Paragraph 4

6. Paragraph 4 provides the answer to which of the These agricultural civilizations were extremely
following questions? dependent on water and other natural resources, and
A. Why were the movements of the heavenly this dependence led to an interest in the heavenly
bodies important to ancient agricultural bodies that were systematically associated with the
civilizations? agricultural cycle of the year. The relationship
B. What actions did people take in response to the between agriculturally important variables and the
observed movements of the heavenly bodies? regular movements of the Sun, Moon, stars, and
C. How were the movements of the heavenly bodies planets could not as yet be analyzed scientifically,
explained? but in the minds of the ancient farmers, the
D. Which heavenly bodies did ancient farmers heavenly bodies were important forces.
consider the most influential?
7. The word “incomprehensible” in the passage is Paragraph 5
closest in meaning to
A. disturbing In this situation religions came into existence which
B. overly complex worshipped the forces of nature and the heavenly
C. impossible to understand bodies as gods. It was not long before those who
D. uncontrollable purported to have knowledge of these gods’
activities and the power to influence them were
8. According to paragraph 5, how did farmers especially honored. These priests served as
attempt to earn divine help with their harvests? intermediaries between the divine and the human
A. By studying the heavenly bodies worlds. Thus, in the hope that they would gain the
B. By becoming intermediaries to the divine world gods’ favor, farmers gave the priests some of their
C. By giving part of their harvests to the priests surplus production. Frequently, a well-defined caste
D. By helping the priests build elaborate temples of priests developed with hereditary claims to
power. In these early religions, people expressed
their relationship to the unknown and
incomprehensible features of their existence by
creating gods. At first the gods were imagined as
animals, reflecting the worldview of a
pastoralist-nomadic society. Later, images of
gods with human forms were made in the
developing urban agricultural communities. Deities
were worshipped in ever more elaborately built cult
sites, often centered around mountain-like
structures reaching up to the heavens, where these
gods supposedly lived. The faithful went to the
temples with their gifts of grain or cattle, and from
the temples the priests exercised a growing power
over society.
9. Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where Paragraph 5
the following sentence could be added to the
passage. In this situation religions came into existence which
worshipped the forces of nature and the heavenly
In practice this meant that to influence the gods, bodies as gods. ■ It was not long before those who
one first had to influence the priests. purported to have knowledge of these gods'
activities and the power to influence them were
Where would the sentence best fit? Click on a especially honored. ■ These priests served as
square [■] to add the sentence to the passage. intermediaries between the divine and the human
worlds. ■ Thus, in the hope that they would gain the
gods favor, farmers gave the priests some of their
surplus production ■ Frequently. a well-defined
caste of priests developed with hereditary claims to
power. In these early religions, people expressed
their relationship to the unknown and
incomprehensible features of their existence by
creating gods. At first the gods were imagined as
animals, reflecting the worldview of a
pastoralist-nomadic society. Later, images of gods
with human forms were made in the developing
urban agricultural communities. Deities were
worshipped in ever more elaborately built cult sites,
often centered around mountain-like structures
reaching up to the heavens, where these gods
supposedly lived. The faithful went to the temples
with their gifts of grain or cattle, and from the
temples the priests exercised a growing power over
society.
10. Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below.
Complete the summary by selecting the THREE 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

The adoption of agriculture provided the economic foundation for the development of complex
societies in the ancient Near East.
Answer Choices

A. Catalhöyük in Anatolia was a Neolithic town with a population of 10,000 whose inhabitants, as shown by
the town’s ruins, had interests beyond the means of their subsistence.

B. Gradually, trade routes along rivers using boats and barges began to replace overland routes using camels
and donkeys.

C. The priests who served as intermediaries between the divine and human worlds gradually lost power
when the images of gods were given human forms.

D. The Nile River in Egypt and the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in Mesopotamia supported prosperous
agricultural societies by providing fertile soil, irrigation, and transportation.

E. As agriculture produced surpluses, societies began to invest in the production of non-agricultural goods,
including luxury items, which were traded throughout the Near East.

F. In ancient agricultural societies heavily dependent on nature heavenly bodies came to be regarded as gods
who could be influenced through religious rituals.
 Temperate Plant Phenology

1. According to paragraph 1, which of the following Paragraph 1

is true about the phenology of temperate forests?
A. Growth and reproduction of forest-floor plants Phenology is the timing of growth and reproductive
are limited more by cool temperatures than by the activity within a year, and it can vary greatly
availability of light. among plant species, populations, and even
B. Canopy trees grow and reproduce in individuals. In temperate forests (characterized by
temperatures far colder than those in which moderate temperatures), many forest-floor plants
forest-floor plants do at the same stages expand their leaves and flower before the trees that
C. Leaf expansion takes place in canopy trees later form the forest’s upper layer (the canopy) begin
than in forest-floor plants. leaf expansion. The consequence is that these plants
D. The timing of growth and reproductive activity do most of their growing and reproducing in
is more advantageous to canopy trees than it is to temperatures that are far colder than those
forest-floor plants. experienced by the canopy trees during the same
life stages. Many studies have shown that this
timing is actually advantageous to the forest-floor
plants. Once the leaves of the trees fill in the open
spaces, very little sunlight—sometimes as little as 1
percent—gets through to the forest floor. Thus, the
forest-floor plants’ growth and reproduction would
be even more limited by light availability than they
are by cool temperatures.
2. The word “cautiously” in the passage is closest in Paragraph 2
meaning to
A. carefully In most temperate species, it appears that
B. appropriately temperature and photoperiod (day length) are the
C. partially main factors determining plant phenologies. It is
D. effectively important to realize that temperature plays its role
in a particular way. It is generally the sum of
3. According to paragraph 2, which of the following temperatures experienced over some period of time
aspects of temperature has the greatest influence on and not the temperatures on a particular day that
the timing of leaf expansion? determines the timing of leaf expansion. In cold
A. The sum of temperatures over a certain number years, then, leaf expansion is delayed. Plants, like
of days other organisms, often use photoperiod as a reliable
B. The coldest temperature reached during winter predictor of the average temperature. If they relied
C. The difference between the high and low exclusively on temperature, a warm spell in
temperatures on a particular day midwinter would typically cause many plants to
D. The amount of temperature fluctuation in a given expand their leaves. By using temperature as a cue,
period plants can respond to an early spring by expanding
their leaves early, but because they also use
photoperiod as a cue, this response is limited. These
plants, in other words, respond to environmental
fluctuations, but they do so cautiously.

Paragraph 3

4. Which of the sentences below best expresses the As the example of temperate forest-floor plants
essential information in the highlighted sentence in suggests, there are at least two main types of factors
the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning that act on plant phenologies: non-biological factors
in important ways or leave out essential limiting growth—such as the timing of killing frosts
information. (frosts cold enough to kill plants) or seasonal
A. Plant phenologies are affected both by droughts—often determine the beginning or end of
non-biological factors, which often determine the growth episodes (or both), but biological
beginning or end of growth episodes, and by factors—in particular, competition for light or
biological factors such as competition for light or water—are also quite important for many species.
water.
B. The example of temperate forest-floor plants
suggests that killing frosts or seasonal droughts, as
well as competition for light or water, can
determine the beginning or end of growth episodes.
C. The example of temperate forest-floor plants
suggests that there are at least two main types of
factors that act on plant phenologies as well as
many other less important factors.
D. The relatively greater importance for many plant
phenologies of non-biological factors as compared
with biological factors is indicated by the example
of temperate forest-floor plants.
5. The word “peak” in the passage is closest in Paragraph 4
meaning to
A. precise This observation raises an interesting question: why
B. normal do the canopy trees in temperate forests wait so
C. optimum long before expanding their leaves? Why don’t they
D. successful use the early spring to add to their growth, as the
forest-floor plants do? There are a number of
6. According to paragraph 4, why does the common selective forces affecting the timing of leaf
occurrence of late frosts affect the timing of leaf expansion. First, the canopy is elevated.
expansion in canopy trees but not in forest-floor Temperatures in the treetops can be considerably
plants? colder than those at ground level. Thus, leaf
A. Because the leaves of forest-floor plants respond expansion for trees occurs later on the calendar, but
better to cold temperatures than the leaves of it may not really be much later in terms of average
canopy trees do. temperature. Second, late frosts are a common
B. Because the enzymes of forest-floor plants are occurrence. Leaves on trees are much more
not as efficient at warm temperatures as the vulnerable to frost damage than are those on
enzymes of canopy trees are. forest-floor plants, because the latter are partly
C. Because the leaves of forest-floor plants are far sheltered by the trees and because the ground-level
more protected from direct exposure to late frosts temperatures are higher. Third, all enzymes
than the leaves of canopy trees are. (substances that facilitate chemical reactions) used
D. Because the leaves of forest-floor plants recover for plants metabolism have different defined
more easily from damage done by late frosts than temperature ranges over which they can operate,
do the leaves of canopy trees. and they are most efficient at particular
temperatures. Enzymes adapted for peak
7. Paragraph 4 suggests that early leaf expansion functioning at warm temperatures are unlikely to be
could reduce the yearly growth of trees in temperate efficient in the early spring; it is possible that earlier
forests by leaf expansion might reduce the total year’s growth
A. decreasing the effectiveness of wind pollination of the trees, not increase it. Finally, many
B. negatively affecting the metabolisms of these temperate-zone trees are wind-pollinated, and
trees pollination in most of these species occurs while the
C. forcing these trees to expend more energy on trees are leafless. The presence of leaves earlier in
leaf production the season would be likely to limit pollen transfer.
D. narrowing the range of temperatures over which
these trees' enzymes operate
8. Why does the author mention that “Some species Paragraph 5
can use light flecks on the forest floor to grow
during the summer months”? The phenologies of temperate forest-floor plants are
A. To make the point that phenologies of temperate actually more complex than we have implied so
forest plants differ significantly from phenologies far. Most of the plants in northeastern North
of plants in other settings. America have phenologies like those described here,
B. To explain why growth and reproduction of but there are others that are able to capture and use
forest-floor plants occur during different seasons. light at other times. Some species can use light
C. To support the idea that most plants in flecks on the forest floor to grow during the
northeastern North America have phenologies like summer months. Still others use the additional light
those already described. available in autumn, when some canopy species
D. To give an example of a northeastern North have begun shedding their leaves.
American phenology that is less common than the
ones previously described.

Paragraph 2

9. Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where In most temperate species, it appears that
the following sentence could be added to the temperature and photoperiod (day length) are the
passage. main factors determining plant phenologies. ■ It is
important to realize that temperature plays its role
Moisture, which is significant in a tropical in a particular way. ■ It is generally the sum of
habitat, is not as significant for temperate temperatures experienced over some period of time
species. and not the temperatures on a particular day that
determines the timing of leaf expansion. In cold
Where would the sentence best fit? Click on a years, then, leaf expansion is delayed. ■ Plants, like
square [■] to add the sentence to the passage. other organisms, often use photoperiod as a reliable
predictor of the average temperature. ■ If they
relied exclusively on temperature, a warm spell in
midwinter would typically cause many plants to
expand their leaves. By using temperature as a cue,
plants can respond to an early spring by expanding
their leaves early, but because they also use
photoperiod as a cue, this response is limited. These
plants, in other words, respond to environmental
fluctuations, but they do so cautiously
10. Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below.
Complete the summary by selecting the THREE 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.

Among temperate forest plant species, phenology—the timing of growth and reproductive
activity—can vary greatly.

Answer Choices

A. Most forest-floor plants expand their leaves and flower before canopy trees begin leaf expansion, because
sunlight becomes largely unavailable to them after the trees are covered with leaves.

B. Factors such as seasonal droughts and the arrival of killing frosts largely determine growth periods for
certain plant species; for others, only factors such as competition for water are of real importance.

C. Canopy trees, unlike forest-floor plants, depend on enzymes in the chemical reactions associated with
reproduction and leaf expansion but at some temperatures these enzymes reduce growth.

D. In most temperate plant species, phenology is determined mainly by temperature combined with day
length, which allows adjustment in response to early or late springs.

E. Canopy trees wait to begin leaf expansion, since treetops are colder than forest floors and more exposed
to frost; trees’ metabolisms need warmth to function well, and early leafing can limit pollination.

F. Because many forest-floor plants flower in summer rather than in spring, and some begin leaf
expansion in autumn, phenologies of forest-floor plants must be more complex than those of canopy trees.
 The River Nile in Ancient Egypt

1. The word “minute” in the passage is closest in Paragraph 1

meaning to
A. tiny The special character of the Nile, which made it
B. ancient central to ancient Egyptian culture, was its annual
C. distinct inundation (flooding). During June the river began
D. simple to rise, and a quantity of green water appeared. The
color is said to have resulted from the brief period
2. It can be inferred from paragraph 1 that the Nile of reproduction of myriad minute organisms.
reached its highest level in During August the Nile rose rapidly and assumed a
A. May muddy red color created by the rich red earth
B. June brought into its waters by its tributaries. The Nile
C. October continued to rise until mid-September, then
D. September remained at that level for two or three weeks. In
October it rose again slightly, then began to fall
3. According to paragraph 1, what was the reason gradually until May, when it reached its lowest
for the change in the color of the Nile River level.
that occurred in August?
A. The rapid rise of the waters of the Nile
B. The presence of organisms in the Nile Paragraph 2
C. The transporting of earth by tributaries of the
Nile The Nile has created a convex floodplain. In convex
D. The seasonal warming of the waters of the Nile floodplains, sediments (clays and silts) are
deposited by flood waters, making the land nearest
the river have the highest elevation. The convex
floodplain is marked by natural levees 冲击堤 that
form elevated barriers immediately adjacent to the
river. These levees rise a few meters above the
seasonally inundated lowlands. When the Nile
floods, the water covers most of the low-lying land
up to the edge of the desert. When the floods
subside, the waters are trapped behind the levees
and prevented from returning to the river. The
benefit of such topography is obvious: the water can
be used where it stands or can be channeled to other
4. The word “consequent” in the passage is closest areas as dictated by agricultural needs.
in meaning to
A. expected
B. immediate
C. periodic
D. resulting
5. Paragraph 3 implies which of the following about Paragraph 3
the Nile’s floods in ancient Egypt?
A. Egyptians managed to protect their crops and Ancient records, those preserved both in texts and
villages from floods of nine meters or higher by in the visible evidence on ancient devices for
creating dikes that served as water barriers measuring water levels called nilometers, indicate
B. Floods of six meters and floods reaching nine that a flood of six meters was perilously low and
meters occurred almost as often as those of seven to that one of nine meters was high enough to cause
eight meters. damage to crops and villages. A flood of seven to
C. Floods of nine meters could cover the dikes used eight meters was ideal in that low-lying areas and
as paths and water barriers basins throughout the whole valley would be
D. Even floods of seven to eight meters may have flooded up to the edge of the rising ground of the
caused significant damage to the towns closest to desert, but towns, villages, and dikes that served as
the river basins paths and water barriers remained above the water
level.
6. Which of the sentences below best expresses the
essential information in the highlighted Paragraph 4
sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change
the meaning in important ways or leave out The ancient Egyptians fully understood the extent
essential information. to which their lives and prosperity depended on the
A. The ancient Egyptians had enough rich silt and unfailing regularity of the inundation. The
water for agriculture because they were never occasional low flood and consequent shortage of
overly confident. food were enough to cause much anxiety among
B. Since annual flooding provided sufficient silt and the populace at the beginning of each flood season.
water for agriculture, the ancient Egyptians never Ancient Egyptians, therefore, never became
worried about the river and its gifts. completely confident about the annual inundation
C. Although the inundations usually made and its gifts, even though it usually brought a layer
agriculture in the Nile Valley comparatively easy, of fresh, rich silt and waters for irrigation that made
the Egyptians never took for granted the rich silt agriculture in the Nile Valley relatively easy. The
and irrigation the floods provided. generally predictable crops and resulting surplus
D. Although the gifts of the Nile did not make freed a significant segment of the population from
agriculture easy, the Egyptians worried the floods agricultural labor, allowing for the development of
might not come. non-farming occupations, such as full-time
craftspeople, bureaucrats. and priests.
7. The author mentions “full-time craftspeople,
bureaucrats, and priests” in the passage in order to
A. compare how segments of the Egyptian
population contributed to the development of an
extremely successful society.
B. specify some of the non-farming occupations
that developed in Egyptian society because of
agricultural surpluses.
C. demonstrate why the Egyptians reached a higher
level of prosperity than other societies with
similarly regular river floods.
D. help explain why only a small segment of the
Egyptian population pursued occupations other than
farming.
8. According to paragraph 5, views have changed Paragraph 5
on which of the following aspects of the Famine
Stela? The importance of the Nile to Egyptian civilization
A. When the text was written is reflected in the role that it played in religion and
B. Whether the text is authentic the myths that revolved around the river. The Nile
C. Why the text was written was known in antiquity by the Egyptian name Iteru,
D. Whether the text was composed by Egyptians meaning “great river.” The personification of the
inundation was a god named Hapy, who was
associated with fertility and regeneration. The
ancient Egyptians had various conceptions of the
origin of the inundation. Some texts relate that it
began in a cavern at Philae, while others credit the
site Gebel Silsila (about 100 kilometers to the north)
as the source. It was believed that veneration of the
gods associated with these sites in the Aswan area
could ensure a sufficient inundation. The Famine
Stela, a text carved on rocks at Sehel near Philae,
records a famine that was averted by donations of
land and goods to the Temple of Khnum at Aswan.
This text was formerly thought to date from the
reign of Djoser (2687-2667 B.C.), but in reality it
dates to the Ptolemaic period some 2,500 years
later.
9. Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where Paragraph 2
the following sentence could be added to the
passage. The Nile has created a convex floodplain. In convex
floodplains, sediments (clays and silts) are
Nile floods, however, could be a mixed blessing. deposited by flood waters, making the land nearest
the river have the highest elevation. The convex
Where would the sentence best fit? Click on a floodplain is marked by natural levees that form
square [■] to add the sentence to the passage. elevated barriers immediately adjacent to the river.
These levees rise a few meters above the seasonally
inundated lowlands. When the Nile floods, the
water covers most of the low-lying land up to the
edge of the desert. ■ When the floods subside, the
waters are trapped behind the levees and prevented
from returning to the river. ■ The benefit of such
topography is obvious: the water can be used where
it stands or can be channeled to other areas as
dictated by agricultural needs.

Paragraph 3

■ Ancient records, those preserved both in texts and

in the visible evidence on ancient devices for
measuring water levels called nilometers, indicate
that a flood of six meters was perilously low and
that one of nine meters was high enough to cause
damage to crops and villages. ■ A flood of seven to
eight meters was ideal in that low-lying areas and
basins throughout the whole valley would be
flooded up to the edge of the rising ground of the
desert, but towns, villages, and dikes that served as
paths and water barriers remained above the water
level.
10. Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below.
Complete the summary by selecting the THREE 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.

The Nile was central to the life of ancient Egyptians.

Answer Choices

A. Agriculture was successful in the Nile Valley because of the seasonal patterns of flooding and the
geographical features of the floodplain.

B. Nilometers and ancient records indicate that water levels reached by the annual inundation were very
predictable, usually varying by less than a meter from year to year.

C. The annual inundation was so important to Egyptian life that the location of temples was selected based
on myths about where the flood originated.

D. Natural levees protected crops from floods by preventing floodwaters from reaching the lowlands.

E. The Nile floods usually resulted in agricultural surpluses, but very low or high floods could cause food
shortages or damage to villages.

F. Practices of honoring gods associated with flood sites and of making offerings to ensure adequate
flooding demonstrate the great importance of the Nile to Egyptians.