TOEFL Reading Practice 3

The passage supports which of the

following conclusions?

• Some species of ichthyosaurs decayed

  more rapidly than other species.

• Ichthyosaur newborns are smaller than

  other newborn marine reptiles.

• Ichthyosaurs were more advanced than

  terrestrial creatures.

• Ichthyosaurs may have gathered at

  Holzmaden to give birth.

The word "they" in line 3 refers to

• skeletons

• scavengers

• creatures

• environments

All of the following are mentioned as

factors that encourage fossilization EXCEPT

the

• speed of burial

• conditions of the water

• rate at which soft tissues decay

• cause of death of the animal

Which of the following is true of the fossil

deposits discussed in the passage?

• They include examples of newly

  discovered species

• They contain large numbers of well preserved

  specimens

• They are older than fossils found in other

  places

• They have been analyzed more carefully

  than other fossils

The word "outstanding" in line 14 is

closest in meaning to

• extensive

• surprising

• vertical

• excellent

The word "site" in line 17 is closest in meaning to

• example

• location

• development

• characteristic

Why does the author mention the

specimen preserved in the birth canal (line

19)?

• To illustrate that the embryo fossils are

  quite advanced in their development

• To explain why the fossils are well

  preserved

• To indicate how the ichthyosaurs died

• To prove that ichthyosaurs are marine

  animals

The word "they" in line 22 refers to

• pregnant females and young

• quarry operations

• the value of the fossils

• these factors

The phrase "account for" in line 25 is

closest in meaning to

• record

• describe

• equal

• explain

Which of the following best expresses the

relationship between the first and second

paragraphs?

• The first paragraph describes a place

  while the second paragraph describes a field of study.

• The first paragraph defines the terms that

  are used in the second paragraph.

• The second paragraph describes a specific

  instance of the general topic discussed in

  the first paragraph.

• The second paragraph presents

  information that contrasts with the

  information given in the first paragraph.