TOEFL iBT Reading Test 2 Native American Culture

​Native American Culture

Native American Culture

When Europeans first came to the New World, there were approximately 50 million Native Americans living on the North and South American continents. But of these, only about 10 million lived in North America. It is often assumed that the Native American population was reduced through constant wars with the new settlers. Although there is some truth in this, the real reason for their demise was far less dramatic but far more deadly. It was, in fact, the diseases that the Europeans brought, especially smallpox, that decimated their numbers. Although the population of Native Americans in North America has risen in the 20th Century, there are still fewer than two million people who qualify as Native Americans.

The story of the Native Americans probably began in Asia around 30,000 years ago. It appears from all evidence that at that time, roaming nomadic bands began crossing the Bering Sea ice bridge during the time of the great Ice Ages to hunt in North America. Populations slowly spread southward and eventually became isolated from Asia altogether when warming did away with all contact by land with Asia.

③ → The widespread populations of Native Americans began to develop distinct physical traits based largely on the geographic regions in which they resided. The Native Americans of the Great Plains tended to be tall and strongly built, while those of the Andes Mountains were short with broad chests, apparently having evolved to adapt to the thin air of the high mountains. In America there are nine types of environments to which the Native Americans had to adapt. The natural resources available and the challenges each region presented affected in the lifestyles and cultures that each group or tribe developed.

④ → The Southwestern United States comprised one such environment and provides a good example of how the Native American culture changed from a nomadic to a settled existence. Here, in the present states of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado as well as Northern Mexico, the earliest Native American inhabitants were hunting mammoths with spears as early as 8000 B.C. As the Ice Age ended and the mammoths disappeared, the Native American inhabitants turned to the bison (or buffalo) as the main source of food. They also began to rely more heavily on plants to supplement their diet.

⑤ → There then began a long period during which the area became progressively drier. At first, the inhabitants changed to hunting deer, small game and birds. (A) ■ They relied more and more on collecting plant food such as roots, nuts, and other seeds. (B) ■ They began grinding some of these seeds into flour, which they likely used for making bread. (C) ■ It was at this point that they became more settled in one area and less nomadic than when they were primarily hunters. At around 300 B.C. the Native American inhabitants of the area came under the influence of culture introduced by tribes from Mexico. Maize, beans and squash became part of their diet. (D) ■ To grow such crops in such dry conditions required additional care and irrigation. This settled the residents even more, and by about 700 A.D. they had developed towns sometimes built into cliffs. This is now referred to as the Anasazi culture.

Though they were a relatively advanced culture by the time the Spanish arrived in 1540, they were no match for the invaders and were finally put under their control by 1598. During a rebellion in 1680, they managed to free themselves from Spanish control but were then subjugated first by Mexico and later the United States. Throughout it all, however, the Pueblo, the descendants of the Anasazi, were able to maintain their culture. For this reason there are still twenty-two Pueblo towns in existence today.

​Questions 11 ~20

Multiple Choice

11,The word decimated in the passage is closest in meaning to

• attacked

• reduced

• influenced

• maintained

Multiple Choice

12,Based on the information in paragraph 3, which of the following best explains the variation in physical characteristics among Native Americans?
Paragraph 3 is marked with an arrow [→].

• Different cultural features produced different physical features.

• Different lifestyles called for different features.

• Different environmental factors produced different characteristics.

• Differences in physical features caused different cultures to develop

Multiple Choice

13,In paragraph 3, what can be inferred about Native American culture?
Paragraph 3 is marked with an arrow [→].

• It is a product of physical characteristics.

• It is surprisingly the same despite the region.

• It can be divided into culture from the plains and culture from the mountains.

• It varies with the region and its challenges.

Multiple Choice

14,According to information in paragraphs 4 and 5, what was most important in the development of the culture of Native Americans in one area of the Southwest?
Paragraph 4 and paragraph 5 are marked with arrows [→].

• The development of agriculture.

• Changing food supplies.

• Interaction with other tribes.

• Changing environmental factors.

Multiple Choice

15,In paragraph 5, the author implies that towns formed
Paragraph 5 is marked with an arrow [→].

• in order to better care for crops.

• in order to build irrigation systems.

• to interact more effectively with other tribes.

• because it was easier to live together in cliffs.

Multiple Choice

16,In paragraph 5, why does the author mention the climate becoming drier?
Paragraph 5 is marked with an arrow [→].

• To show how changes in climate changed the type of animal that was hunted

• To show that climate change forced them to trade with other tribes

• To show how irrigation became important

• To show the influence of climate on culture

Multiple Choice

17,According to paragraph 5, which of the following is true about the Anasazi?
Paragraph 5 is marked with an arrow [→].

• They were still generally nomadic.

• They developed the ability to bake bread.

• Their diet was influenced by tribes from Mexico.

• They were forced to live in cliffs.

Multiple Choice

18,Which of the following most accurately reflects the author’s opinion of the Anasazi culture?

• It is surprising that it formed towns so early in its history.

• It is surprising that it transformed from a hunting to an agricultural culture.

• It is remarkable that it maintained its ties with other tribes.

• It is remarkable that it could maintain itself after so many challenges.

Multiple Choice

19,Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage.

However, since these became more and more difficult to find, they had to change their diet even more.

Where would this sentence best fit?

• A

• B

• C

• D

​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.

"After their arrival in America about 30,000 years ago, Native Americans faced a variety of challenges".

Multiple Select

"After their arrival in America about 30,000 years ago, Native Americans faced a variety of challenges".

• B

• C

• D

• E

• F