ToEFL Reading

The word “massive” in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to

• ancient
•  carefully planned
•  very large
• carefully protected

In paragraph 1, each of the following is mentioned as a feature of the city of Teotihuacán between A.D. 150 and 700 EXCEPT

• regularly arranged streets
• several administrative centers spread across the city
• many manufacturing workshops
• apartment complexes

The word “pinpoint” in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to

•  identify precisely
• make an argument for
• describe
• understand

The word “ingenuity” in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to

• ambition
• sincerity
• faith
• cleverness

Which of the following is NOT mentioned in paragraph 2 as a main factor in the development of Teotihuacán?

• The presence of obsidian in the Teotihuacán Valley
• The potential for extensive irrigation of Teotihuacán Valley lands
• A long period of volcanic inactivity in the Teotihuacán Valley
• Teotihuacán’s location on a natural trade route

Which of the following can be inferred from paragraphs 2 and 3 about the volcanic eruptions of the late first millennium B.C.?

• They were more frequent than historians once thought.
• They may have done more damage to Teotihuacán than to neighboring centers.
•  They may have played a major role in the rise of Teotihuacán.
•  They increased the need for extensive irrigation in the Teotihuacán Valley.

What can be inferred from paragraph 3 about Cuicuilco prior to 200 B.C.?

• It was a fairly small city until that date.
• It was located outside the Valley of Mexico.
• It emerged rapidly as an economical and political center.
• Its economy relied heavily on agriculture.

The word “predominant” in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to

• most aggressive
•  most productive
• principal 
• earliest

Which of the following allowed Teotihuacán to have
“a competitive edge over its neighbors”?

•  A well-exploited and readily available commodity
• The presence of a highly stable elite class
• Knowledge derived directly from the Olmecs about the art of toolmaking
• Scarce natural resources in nearby areas such as those located in what are now the Guatemalan and Mexican highlands

According to paragraph 4, what has recent research on obsidian tools found at Olmec sites shown?

•  Obsidian’s value was understood only when Teotihuacán became an important city.
• The residents of Teotihuacán were sophisticated toolmakers.
• The residents of Teotihuacán traded obsidian with the Olmecs as early as 400 B.C.
•  Some of the obsidian used by the Olmecs came from the area around Teotihuacán.