TOEFL R-Sentence Simplification

In an effort to resolve these apparent contradictions, scientists developed a fourth hypothesis for the origin of the Moon, one that involves a giant impact early in Earth’s history. There is increasing evidence that large chunks of material—objects of essentially planetary mass—were orbiting in the inner solar system at the time that the terrestrial planets formed. The giant impact hypothesis envisions Earth being struck obliquely by an object approximately one-tenth Earth’s mass—a “bullet” about the size of Mars. This is very nearly the largest impact Earth could experience without being Shattered.

Q. Which of the following best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the paragraph? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

• a. Objects of planetary mass usually orbit the inner solar system

• b. More and more evidence exists that indicates that big objects orbited the inner solar system when the terrestrial planets were created

• c. There is more evidence to suggest that the terrestrial planets were formed in the inner solar system

• d. The terrestrial planets formed when they were orbiting the inner solar system

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The largest volcanic mountains of Mars are found in the Tharsis area, although smaller volcanoes dot much of the surface. The most dramatic volcano on Mars is Olympus Mons (Mount Olympus), with a diameter larger than 500 kilometers and a summit that towers more than 20 kilometers above the surrounding plains—three times higher than the tallest mountain on Earth. The volume of this immense volcano is nearly 100 times greater than that of Mauna Loa in Hawaii. Placed on Earth’s surface, Olympus would more than cover the entire state of Missouri.

Q. Which of the following best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in paragraph 1? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

• a. The largest volcano on Mars is Olympus Mons

• b. Mars’ biggest volcano is three times the size of Earth’s tallest mountain

• c. Mount Olympus has a diameter of over 500 kilometers and summit that is 20 kilometers above the plains around it

• d. Olympus Mons stands 20 kilometers above the surrounding plains

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Voyager 1 reached Jupiter in 1979 and used a gravity assist from that planet to take it on to Saturn in 1980. Voyager 2 arrived at Jupiter four months later, but then followed a different path to visit all the outer planets, reaching Saturn in 1981, Uranus in 1986, and Neptune in 1989. This trajectory was made possible by the approximate alignment of the four giant planets on the same side of the Sun. About once every 175 years, these planets are in such a position, and it allows a single spacecraft to visit them all by using gravity-assisted flybys to adjust course for each subsequent encounter; such a maneuver has been nicknamed a “Grand Tour” by astronomers.

Q. Which of the following best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in paragraph 3? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

• a. All spacecrafts can make a maneuver every 175 years involving gravity-assisted flybys to adjust their course

• b. The giant planets on the same side of the Sun align once every 175 years

• c. Astronomers nicknamed this maneuver the “Grand Tour”

• d. The “Grand Tour” is a maneuver that a spacecraft can make every 175 years to visit the four giants planets on the same side of the Sun

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Chemical changes and their accompanying changes in energy are important parts of our everyday world. The macronutrients in food (proteins, fats, and carbohydrates) undergo metabolic reactions that provide the energy to keep our bodies functioning. We burn a variety of fuels (gasoline, natural gas, coal) to produce energy for transportation, heating, and the generation of electricity. Industrial chemical reactions use enormous amounts of energy to produce raw materials (such as iron and aluminum). Energy is then used to manufacture those raw materials into useful products, such as cars, skyscrapers, and bridges.

Q. Which of the following best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in paragraph 1? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

• a. All energy is used for transportation, heating, and electricity

• b. We burn energy to produce a variety of fuels

• c. c. Humans burn various fuels to produce energy

• d. Heating, transportation, and the generation of electricity all require various forms of fuel

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The earth’s atmosphere exerts a pressure, as does any other gas. Although we do not normally notice atmospheric pressure, we are sensitive to pressure changes—for example, when your ears “pop” during take-off and landing while flying, or when you dive underwater. Gas pressure is caused by the force exerted by gas molecules colliding with the surfaces of objects.

• a. Humans don’t notice atmospheric pressure often

• b. Our ears usually “pop” when we dive underwater or during taking off or landing in a plane

• c. Atmospheric pressure often changes around the earth

• d. Humans are sensitive to changes in atmospheric pressure

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