Meaning of Unknown Words

Among the things that the Internet has changed is the newspaper. Fifteen years ago, traditional newspapers could be found on most people's desks. Who knew that the popularity of broadsheets like the New York Times was about to flatline? Fifteen years ago, those broadsheets did not have to compete with countless free Internet news sources. Even if there were such sources, readers probably wouldn't have used them. They had grown used to getting information from their daily newspapers. The same cannot be said for those who've entered the workforce in the last fifteen years. They have grown used to getting information from the Internet. Those who do read newspapers rarely read the broadsheets that their parents favor. They are more likely to pick up a free alternative newspaper in a coffee shop than pay for a daily newspaper. A daily newspaper seems practically prehistoric. However, alternative newspapers have gained and lost popularity for as long as there have been newspapers. Some newspaper publishers see the current popularity of nontraditional news sources as part of the same trend. Others see the popularity of nontraditional news sources as the end of broadsheets. Both sides will discuss their ideas this week in Chicago. There, they will convene at a meeting for newspaper publishers. Read the following sentence from the passage. Who knew that the popularity of broadsheets like the New York Times was about to flatline? What does the word broadsheets mean?

• advertisements

• newspapers

• pamphlets

• classifieds

Among the things that the Internet has changed is the newspaper. Fifteen years ago, traditional newspapers could be found on most people's desks. Who knew that the popularity of broadsheets like the New York Times was about to flatline? Fifteen years ago, those broadsheets did not have to compete with countless free Internet news sources. Even if there were such sources, readers probably wouldn't have used them. They had grown used to getting information from their daily newspapers. The same cannot be said for those who've entered the workforce in the last fifteen years. They have grown used to getting information from the Internet. Those who do read newspapers rarely read the broadsheets that their parents favor. They are more likely to pick up a free alternative newspaper in a coffee shop than pay for a daily newspaper. A daily newspaper seems practically prehistoric. However, alternative newspapers have gained and lost popularity for as long as there have been newspapers. Some newspaper publishers see the current popularity of nontraditional news sources as part of the same trend. Others see the popularity of nontraditional news sources as the end of broadsheets. Both sides will discuss their ideas this week in Chicago. There, they will convene at a meeting for newspaper publishers. Read the following sentence from the passage. Who knew that the popularity of broadsheets like the New York Times was about to flatline?

• to grow

• to move forward

• to start over

• to end

Imagine a place where it rains every day. Tall trees loom above you. Branches form a green ceiling high in the sky. Plants, vines, and brightly colored flowers fill every inch of space. You are in a Costa Rican tropical rain forest. Rain forests fringe the low lying areas of the Caribbean and Pacific coasts. Costa Rica lies close to the equator, which means that temperatures stay warm—around 80 degrees—all year.
Using context clues in the passage, what is the meaning of loom?

• to appear large and overwhelming

• a group of branches and vines

• to be green and brown

• to form a protective barrier

Built toward the end of the sixteenth century, Globe was the most popular theater of the time. William Shakespeare's association with the Globe Theater added to its popularity. It was just as well that this huge theater could accommodate the multitudes because the use of special effects attracted many curious people, both young and old.

What is the meaning of the word multitudes in the passage?

• large number of things

• limited number of things

• limited number of people

• large number of people

Rainbows are conspicuous because of their brilliant colors, which are clearly visible in the direction opposite the sun. Have you ever wondered why colorful rainbows appear in the sky? Rainbows are formed when sunlight shines on droplets of rain, and the droplets reflect the light. The angle at which the sunlight passes through a droplet determines the color it reflects. Since each droplet reflects only one color, many droplets are needed to form a rainbow.

Using its context, select the best definition of conspicuous.

• easily noticeable

• extremely small

• dreary

• uneven

No matter where you go, the Internet is following you.

Almost every portable device is made with an Internet connection.

Most new TVs and many other appliances come with Internet connections as well.

The Internet is truly ubiquitous.

"Ubiquitous" means:

• It is fuzzy and will bite you.

• It is everywhere.

• It costs too much money.

• It causes rashes.

The impudent boy was assigned a detention for his inappropriate behavior that occurred during the guest speaker's presentation.

• silly

• young

• rude

• unhappy

Most roads were dirt paths that had been used mainly for horse-drawn carriages. In remote areas where roads did not exist at all, Jackson drove through muddy cow pastures and even over mountains.
What does the word remote mean?

• Lacking tourist attractions

• Far from populated areas

• Difficult to see from a distance

• Familiar to a particular group of people

What does the word 'obscure' mean in the context of a difficult text?

• A) Clear

• B) Hidden

• C) Simple

• D) Bright

In the sentence 'The author's use of the word 'ephemeral' suggests that the happiness was ____.', what does 'ephemeral' mean?

• A) Permanent

• B) Fleeting

• C) Intense

• D) Unimportant