The ancient Egyptians firmly believ

The ancient Egyptians firmly believed in the afterlife and spent their time on earth preparing for it. Elaborate burial rituals included preparing the burial site, providing for all of the deceased’s material needs (food, clothing, jewels, and tools of their trade), and preserving the corpse so that it would not decay. This preservation was accomplished through a process of mummification. The ancients left no written accounts as to examine mummies and establish their own theories. The embalming process might have taken up to seventy days for the pharaohs and nobility and only a few days for the poor.

The embalmers spread a variety of compounds of salt, spices, and resins in and over the corpse to preserve it. They followed this with a prescribed wrapping, a procedure in which they wound strips if fine linen around, over and under the body while placing various amulets within the wrappings to protect the deceased from harm on the long journey to the afterlife. They also painted resins over the wrapped linen. Finally, a pharaoh or noble would have been encased in wooden box before being placed in a sarcophagus.



10. How have been able to learn about the mummification process?
A. Accurate records have been handed down to us.
B. Interviews with embalmers who still use the process have revealed the secret
C. After studying mummies, scientists have developed their own theories.
D. Chemical analysis of the compounds has led us to an explanation of the method used.
11. The word “they” in line 9 refers to
A. Embalmers​​B. Spices​​C. Pharaohs​​D. The poor
12. The embalming process can best be described as
A. Lengthy and complicated
B. Short and simple
C. Strict and unfaltering
D. Wild and terrifying
13. The word “decay” in line 4 is closest in meaning to
. Die​​B. Deteriorate​​C. Embalm​​D. Rejuvenate
14. All of the following statements are true except
A. Bodies were preserved as a matter of religious belief
B. All mummification took seventy days to complete
C. Special compounds were used to embalm the bodies
D. It has been difficult to determine the process used
15. Why did ancient Egyptians mummify the deceased?
A. To preserve the body from destruction
B. To scare tomb robbers
C. To encase the body in a sarcophagus
D. To protect the body form harm on the journey to the afterlife
16. It can be inferred that the Egyptians buried food, clothing, jewels, and tools with the deceased because
A. The family did not want anyone else to share them
B. That was the wish of the deceased
C. They were afraid
D. The deceased would need them while en-route to the afterlife.
17. The word “amulets” in line 10 is closest in meaning to
A. Weapons​​B. Coins​C. Charms​​D. Curses
18. In line 4 “accomplished” is closest in meaning to
A. performed​​B. forsaken​C. reproduced​​D. dwindled
19. The distinction between mummification of bodies from different classes is explained in lines
A. 2 – 4​​B. 5 – 7​C. 8 – 11​​D. 12 – 13

Questions from 31 to 40 are based on the following passage

Sequoyah was a young Cherokee Indian, son of a white trader and an Indian squaw. At an early age, he became fascinated by "the talking leaf," an expression that he used to describe the white man's written records. Although many believed this "talking leaf" to be a gift from the Great Spirit, Sequoyah refused to accept that theory. Like other Indians of the period, he was illiterate, but his determination to remedy the situation led to the invention of a unique 86-character alphabet based on the-sound patterns that he heard.

His family and friends thought him mad, but while recuperating from a hunting accident, he diligently and independently set out to create a form of communication for his own people as
well as for other Indians. In 1821, after twelve years of work, he had successfully developed
a written language that would enable thousands of Indians to read and write.

Sequoyah's desire to preserve words and events for later generations has caused him to be remembered among the important inventors. The giant redwood trees of California, called "sequoias" in his honor, will further imprint his name in history.

31. What is the most important reason that Sequoyah will be remembered?
A. California redwoods were named in his honor.
B. He was illiterate.
C. He created a unique alphabet.
D. He recovered from his madness and helped mankind.
32. How did Sequoyah's family react to his idea of developing his own "talking leaf"?
A. They arranged for his hunting accident.
B. They thought he was crazy.
C. They decided to help him.
D. They asked him to teach them to read and write.
33. What prompted Sequoyah to develop his alphabet?
A. People were writing things about him that he couldn't read.
B. He wanted to become famous.
C. After his hunting accident, he needed something to keep him busy.
D. He wanted the history of his people preserved for future generations.
34. The word "illiterate" in line 5 means most nearly
A. Fierce​​B. Poor​C. Abandoned​​D. unable to read or write
35. How would you describe Sequoyah?
A. Determined​​B. Mad​C. Backwards​​D. Meek
36. The word “squaw” in line 1 is closest in meaning to
A. woman​​B. teacher​C. cook​​D. trader
37. In line 2, the word “fascinated” is closest in meaning to
A. absorbed​​B. exasperated​​C. confused​​D. imaginative
38. It is implied that Sequoyah called the written records “the talking leaf” because
A. they played music
B. when he observed white people reading, they seemed to understand what was written
C. he was going mad, and he thought the leaves were talking to him
D. it was the only way that the Great Spirit had of communicating with him.
39. Which of the following is not true?
A. Sequoyah developed a form of writing with the help of the Cherokee tribe.
B. Sequoyah was a very observant young man.
C. Sequoyah spent twelve years developing his alphabet.
D. Sequoyah was honored by having some trees named after him.
40. What is the best title for the passage?
​ A. Sequoyah’s determination to preserve the Cherokee language
​ B. The origin of the Cherokee language
​ C. Sequoyah’s madness leads to a new language
​ D. The origin of the “Sequoia” tree in California.
Questions from 21 to 30 are based on the following passage

In 776 B.C the first Olympic Games were held at the foot of mount Olympus to honor the Greek’s chief god Zeus. The warm climate for outdoor activities, the need for preparedness in war, and their lifestyle caused the Greek to create competitive sports. Only the elite and military could participate at first, but later the games were open to all free Greek males who had no criminal record. The Greeks emphasized physical fitness and strength in their duration of youth. Therefore, contests in running, jumping, discus and javelin throwing, boxing, and horse and chariot racing were held in individual cities, and the winners competed every four years at Mount Olympus. Winners were greatly honored by having olive wreaths placed on their heads and having poems sung about their deeds.

Originally these contests were held as games of friendship, and any wars in progress were halted to allow the game to take place. They also helped to strengthen bonds among competitors and the different cities represented.

The Greeks attached so much importance to the Games that they calculated time in four- year cycles called ‘Olympiads’ dating from 776 B.C. The contests coincided with religious festivities and constituted an all-out effort on the part of the participants to please the gods. Any who disobeyed the rules were dismissed and seriously punished. These athletes brought home, not only to themselves but also to the cities they represented.


10. Which of the following is NOT true?
A. Poems glorified the winner in song
B. The games were held in Greece every four years
C. Battle was interrupted to participate in the games
D. Winners placed olive wreaths on their own heads
22. Why were the Olympics held?
A. To stop wars ​​​C. To honor Zeus
B. To crown the best athletes ​D. To sing songs about athletes
23. Approximately how many years ago did these games originate?
A. 2,300 years ​​​C. 1,200 years
B. 800 years ​​​D. 2,800 years
24. What conclusion can we draw about the ancient Greek?
A They believe athletic events were important
B. They are pacifist’s
C. They were very simple
D. They couldn’t count, so they used ‘Olympiad’ for dates
25. What is the main ideas of this passage?
A. The Greeks had always encouraged everyone to participate in the games
B. The Greeks severely punished those who did not participate in physical fitness programs.
C.The Greeks had the games coincide with religious festivities so that they could go back to war when the games were over.
D. Physical fitness was an integral part of the lives of the ancient Greeks
26. Which of the following was ultimately required of all athletes competing in the Olympics? A. They had to be religious
B. They had to attend special training sessions
C. They had to be Greek males with no criminal record
D. They must have completed military service
27. In line 11, the word ‘halted’ means most really the same as:
A. curtailed ​​B. started ​​C. encouraged ​​D. fixed.
28. What is an ‘Olympiad’?
A. The time it took to finish the game
B. The time between games
C. The time it took to finish a war
D. The time it took the athletes to train
29. The word “elite” in line 3 is closest in meaning to
A. aristocracy​B. brave​C. intellectuals​​D. muscular
30. In line 9, the word “deeds” is closest in meaning to
A. accomplishments​​B. ancestors​​C. documents​​D. property

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from 11 to 20.

Being aware of one’s own emotions – recognizing and acknowledging feelings as they happen – is at the very heart of Emotional