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WorksheetsACT Prep Reading Pre-Test
Total questions: 20
Worksheet time: 18mins
How Does Brain Work?
Theories about how brain works remain a topic of debate. It is agreed, though, that the hippocampus, a part of the brain, is undeniably important for memory. When we experience something, the information is sent via our senses to the hippocampus, where it is processed. Scientists believe that brain cells called neurons first transform the sensory stimuli we experience into images in our immediate memory. Then, these images are sent to the hippocampus and stored temporarily in short-term memory. In the hippocampus, information is organized, and it is during this process that parts of the image of our experience fade away. Finally, certain information is then transferred to long-term memory in a section in the frontal lobe of the brain known as the cerebral cortex. Scientists think this process may happen while we are sleeping, but exactly how the information is transferred from one area of the brain to another is a mystery.
4. This reading is mainly concerned with__________
how to improve our memory.
why some of the information in short-term memory fades away.
illness that results in severe memory loss.
how human brain processes and stores information.
the importance of neurons in transferring sensory stimuli.
The Bermuda Triangle
The Bermuda Triangle occupies a disturbing and almost unbelievable place in the world’s catalog of unexplained mysteries. More than a hundred planes and ships have vanished in this area into the air since 1945, and more than a thousand lives have been lost, without a single body or even a piece wreckage from the vanishing planes or ships having been found. Many of the planes concerned have vanished while in normal radio contact with their base until the very moment of their disappearance, while others have radioed the most extraordinary messages, implying that they could not get their instruments to function, that their compasses were spinning, that the sky had turned yellow and hazy on a clear day, and the ocean, which was calm nearby, didn’t look right without further clarification of what was wrong.
10. One can infer from the reading that_________
the wreckages of some ships and planes have been found in the Bermuda Triangle.
the number of incidents involving lost ships is no larger than that of any other heavily traveled region of the world.
the ships. and the planes couldn’t contact their base due to the lack of equipment.
the weather in Bermuda Triangle is always stormy.
the first mention of disappearances in the area was made in 1945.
The Bermuda Triangle
The Bermuda Triangle occupies a disturbing and almost unbelievable place in the world’s catalog of unexplained mysteries. More than a hundred planes and ships have vanished in this area into the air since 1945, and more than a thousand lives have been lost, without a single body or even a piece wreckage from the vanishing planes or ships having been found. Many of the planes concerned have vanished while in normal radio contact with their base until the very moment of their disappearance, while others have radioed the most extraordinary messages, implying that they could not get their instruments to function, that their compasses were spinning, that the sky had turned yellow and hazy on a clear day, and the ocean, which was calm nearby, didn’t look right without further clarification of what was wrong.
12. The reading mainly deals with_________
why so many ships and planes disappear in the Bermuda Triangle.
the mysterious disappearances of ships and planes in the Bermuda Triangle.
the location of the Bermuda Triangle.
the frequency of the disappearances in the Bermuda Triangle.
the unpredictable weather conditions in the Bermuda Triangle.
Opera
Opera refers to a dramatic art form, originating in Europe, in which the emotional content is conveyed to the audience as much through music, both vocal and instrumental, as it is through the lyrics. By contrast, in musical theater an actor’s dramatic performance is primary, and the music plays a lesser role. The drama in opera is presented using the primary elements of theater such as scenery, costumes, and acting. However, the words of the opera, or libretto, are sung rather than spoken. The singers are accompanied by a musical ensemble ranging from a small instrumental ensemble to a full symphonic orchestra.
13. It is pointed out in the reading that opera_________
has developed under the influence of musical theater.
is a drama sung with the accompaniment of an orchestra.
is not a high-budget production.
is often performed in Europe.
is the most complex of all the performing arts.
The teacher accused me of ____ because my essay was so similar to that of another student.
procrastination
plagerism
celerity
confusion
decorum
Thankfully the disease has gone into ____ ; it may not recur for many years.
treatment
sequestration
quarantine
remission
oblivion
Genetic investigations into the origins of human life most often focus on mitochondrial DNA. As opposed to nuclear DNA, mitochondrial DNA is transmitted only from the mother. This allows for the tracing of mutations that arise independently of changes that occur because of the combining of the mother’s and father’s DNA.
As used in the passage above, “tracing” most nearly means
tracking
outlining
sketching
overlooking
I have given myself up to the luxury of an unrestricted burst of weeping. But this was a weakness I did not often indulge: my employments were too numerous, my leisure moments too precious, to admit of much time being given to fruitless lamentations.
As used in the above sentence, “admit of” most nearly means
tolerate
necessitate
forbid
want
Alternatively, the apparent distinctiveness of vampire bat social grooming might stem from purely ecological factors. Social grooming may be more obvious in vampire bats due to higher levels of ectoparasite infestation. Bat fly density has been linked to species-level grooming rates and the two vampire species that were observed ranked 5th and 6th place out of 53 neotropical bats for the average number of parasitic streblid flies per bat. A sampling bias could also over-emphasize social grooming in vampire bats, because there is much effort focused on studying vampire bat social behavior and a lack of data on social grooming in other bats.
In the context of the underlined portion of the passage, “bias” most nearly means
fairness
aversion
dislike
partiality
Sometimes, on such occasions, the thought has suddenly occurred to me—’If they could see me now!’ meaning, of course, my friends at home; and the idea of how they would pity me has made me pity myself—so greatly that I have had the utmost difficulty to restrain my tears: but I have restrained them, till my little tormentors were gone to dessert, or cleared off to bed (my only prospects of deliverance), and then, in all the bliss of solitude, I have given myself up to the luxury of an unrestricted burst of weeping. But this was a weakness I did not often indulge: my employments were too numerous, my leisure moments too precious, to admit of much time being given to fruitless lamentations.
As used in the above sentence, “deliverance” most nearly means
liberation
appearance
unhappiness
arrival
I particularly remember one wild, snowy afternoon, soon after my return in January: the children had all come up from dinner, loudly declaring that they meant ‘to be naughty;’ and they had well kept their resolution, though I had talked myself hoarse, and wearied every muscle in my throat, in the vain attempt to reason them out of it.
As used in the above sentence, “vain” most nearly means
conceited
exceptional
futile
successful
Exploit (verb)
1. make full use of and derive benefit from* 2. use a situation or person in an unfair or selfish way
begin to grow or increase rapidly; flourish
not friendly or forthcoming; cool and distant
of the highest quality or degree
Aloof (adjective)
not friendly or forthcoming; cool and distant
of the highest quality or degree
logical and consistent
concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others
Coherent (adjective)
a short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person
consternation and distress, typically that caused by something unexpected
logical and consistent
of the highest quality or degree
Anecdote (noun)
show or represent
consternation and distress, typically that caused by something unexpected
a short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person
(of something bad) happen to someone
Which is NOT one of the things you need to do while reading the passages?
Skim the passages
Underline or highlight important information
Note the main idea
Carefully and thoroughly read each passage.
Which of the following is a helpful technique for eliminating distractors on the ACT test?
Guess randomly
Spend more time on difficult questions
Choose the longest answer choice
Cross out obviously incorrect answer choices.
Tone is expressed through an author's ___________ and ___________.
words; details
images; sounds
images; feelings
ideas; emotions
Which is NOT a topic for the passage found on the reading test?
historical fiction
social science
natural science
literary narrative
How many questions are on the reading test?
20
30
40
50
