Basic Training - Reading - 4 - PreTest

When a young woman graduates from college and starts looking for a job, she is likely to have a frustrating and even demeaning experience ahead of her. If she walks into an office for an interview, the first question she will be asked is, “Do you type?”

There is a calculated system of prejudice that lies unspoken behind that question. Why is it acceptable for women to be secretaries, librarians, and teachers, but totally unacceptable for them to be managers, administrators, doctors, lawyers, and Members of Congress.
The unspoken assumption is that women are different. They do not have executive ability orderly minds, stability, leadership skills, and they are too emotional.

It has been observed before, that society for a long time, discriminated against another minority, the blacks, on the same basis – that they were different and inferior. The happy little homemaker and the contented “old darkey” on the plantation were both produced by prejudice.

As a black person, I am no stranger to race prejudice. But the truth is that in the political world I have been far oftener discriminated against because I am a woman than because I am black.

Prejudice against blacks is becoming unacceptable although it will take years to eliminate it. But it is doomed because, slowly, white America is beginning to admit that it exists. Prejudice against women is still acceptable. There is very little understanding yet of the immorality involved in double pay scales and the classification of most of the better jobs as “for men only.”

Which word best describes the main idea of the passage?

When a young woman graduates from college and starts looking for a job, she is likely to have a frustrating and even demeaning experience ahead of her. If she walks into an office for an interview, the first question she will be asked is, “Do you type?”

There is a calculated system of prejudice that lies unspoken behind that question. Why is it acceptable for women to be secretaries, librarians, and teachers, but totally unacceptable for them to be managers, administrators, doctors, lawyers, and Members of Congress.
The unspoken assumption is that women are different. They do not have executive ability orderly minds, stability, leadership skills, and they are too emotional.

It has been observed before, that society for a long time, discriminated against another minority, the blacks, on the same basis – that they were different and inferior. The happy little homemaker and the contented “old darkey” on the plantation were both produced by prejudice.

As a black person, I am no stranger to race prejudice. But the truth is that in the political world I have been far oftener discriminated against because I am a woman than because I am black.

Prejudice against blacks is becoming unacceptable although it will take years to eliminate it. But it is doomed because, slowly, white America is beginning to admit that it exists. Prejudice against women is still acceptable. There is very little understanding yet of the immorality involved in double pay scales and the classification of most of the better jobs as “for men only.”

The intention for writing this passage might be described as ________________.

When a young woman graduates from college and starts looking for a job, she is likely to have a frustrating and even demeaning experience ahead of her. If she walks into an office for an interview, the first question she will be asked is, “Do you type?”

There is a calculated system of prejudice that lies unspoken behind that question. Why is it acceptable for women to be secretaries, librarians, and teachers, but totally unacceptable for them to be managers, administrators, doctors, lawyers, and Members of Congress. The unspoken assumption is that women are different. They do not have executive ability orderly minds, stability, leadership skills, and they are too emotional.

It has been observed before, that society for a long time, discriminated against another minority, the blacks, on the same basis – that they were different and inferior. The happy little homemaker and the contented “old darkey” on the plantation were both produced by prejudice.

As a black person, I am no stranger to race prejudice. But the truth is that in the political world I have been far oftener discriminated against because I am a woman than because I am black.

(1) Prejudice against blacks is becoming unacceptable although it will take years to eliminate it. (2) But it is doomed because, slowly, white America is beginning to admit that it exists. Prejudice against women is still acceptable. There is very little understanding yet of the immorality involved in double pay scales and the classification of most of the better jobs as “for men only.”

What is the relationship between highlighted sentences?

When a young woman graduates from college and starts looking for a job, she is likely to have a frustrating and even demeaning experience ahead of her. If she walks into an office for an interview, the first question she will be asked is, “Do you type?”

There is a calculated system of prejudice that lies unspoken behind that question. Why is it acceptable for women to be secretaries, librarians, and teachers, but totally unacceptable for them to be managers, administrators, doctors, lawyers, and Members of Congress. The unspoken assumption is that women are different. They do not have executive ability, orderly minds, stability, leadership skills, and they are too emotional.

It has been observed before, that society for a long time, discriminated against another minority, the blacks, on the same basis – that they were different and inferior. The happy little homemaker and the contented “old darkey” on the plantation were both produced by prejudice.

As a black person, I am no stranger to race prejudice. But the truth is that in the political world I have been far oftener discriminated against because I am a woman than because I am black.

Prejudice against blacks is becoming unacceptable although it will take years to eliminate it. But it is doomed because, slowly, white America is beginning to admit that it exists. Prejudice against women is still acceptable. There is very little understanding yet of the immorality involved in double pay scales and the classification of most of the better jobs as “for men only.”

The phrase executive ability is meant by the author to mean the ability to ________________.

You think because he doesn’t love you that you are worthless. You think that because he doesn’t want you anymore that he is right — that his judgement and opinion of you are correct. If he throws you out, then you are garbage. You think he belongs to you because you want to belong to him. Don’t.

It’s a bad word, ‘belong.’ Especially when you put it with somebody you love. Love shouldn’t be like that. Did you ever see the way the clouds love a mountain? They circle all around it; sometimes you can’t even see the mountain for the clouds. But you know what? You go up top and what do you see? His head. The clouds never cover the head. His head pokes through, because the clouds let him; they don’t wrap him up. They let him keep his head up high, free, with nothing to hide him or bind him.

You can’t own a human being. You can’t lose what you don’t own. Suppose you did own him. Could you really love somebody who was absolutely nobody without you? You really want somebody like that? Somebody who falls apart when you walk out the door? You don’t, do you? And neither does he.

You’re turning over your whole life to him. Your whole life, girl. And if it means so little to you that you can just give it away, hand it to him, then why should it mean any more to him? He can’t value you more than you value yourself.

What is the main idea of the third paragraph?

You think because he doesn’t love you that you are worthless. You think that because he doesn’t want you anymore that he is right — that his judgement and opinion of you are correct. If he throws you out, then you are garbage. You think he belongs to you because you want to belong to him. Don’t.

It’s a bad word, ‘belong.’ Especially when you put it with somebody you love. Love shouldn’t be like that. Did you ever see the way the clouds love a mountain? They circle all around it; sometimes you can’t even see the mountain for the clouds. But you know what? You go up top and what do you see? His head. The clouds never cover the head. His head pokes through, because the clouds let him; they don’t wrap him up. They let him keep his head up high, free, with nothing to hide him or bind him.

You can’t own a human being. You can’t lose what you don’t own. Suppose you did own him. Could you really love somebody who was absolutely nobody without you? You really want somebody like that? Somebody who falls apart when you walk out the door? You don’t, do you? And neither does he.

You’re turning over your whole life to him. Your whole life, girl. And if it means so little to you that you can just give it away, hand it to him, then why should it mean any more to him? He can’t value you more than you value yourself.

The intention for writing this passage might be described as ________________.

You think because he doesn’t love you that you are worthless. You think that because he doesn’t want you anymore that he is right — that his judgement and opinion of you are correct. If he throws you out, then you are garbage. You think he belongs to you because you want to belong to him. Don’t.

It’s a bad word, ‘belong.’ Especially when you put it with somebody you love. Love shouldn’t be like that. Did you ever see the way the clouds love a mountain? They circle all around it; sometimes you can’t even see the mountain for the clouds. But you know what? You go up top and what do you see? His head. The clouds never cover the head. His head pokes through, because the clouds let him; they don’t wrap him up. They let him keep his head up high, free, with nothing to hide him or bind him.

You can’t own a human being. You can’t lose what you don’t own. Suppose you did own him. Could you really love somebody who was absolutely nobody without you? You really want somebody like that? Somebody who falls apart when you walk out the door? You don’t, do you? And neither does he.

(1) You’re turning over your whole life to him. (2) Your whole life, girl. And if it means so little to you that you can just give it away, hand it to him, then why should it mean any more to him? He can’t value you more than you value yourself.

What is the relationship between highlighted sentences?

You think because he doesn’t love you that you are worthless. You think that because he doesn’t want you anymore that he is right — that his judgement and opinion of you are correct. If he throws you out, then you are garbage. You think he belongs to you because you want to belong to him. Don’t.

It’s a bad word, ‘belong.’ Especially when you put it with somebody you love. Love shouldn’t be like that. Did you ever see the way the clouds love a mountain? They circle all around it; sometimes you can’t even see the mountain for the clouds. But you know what? You go up top and what do you see? His head. The clouds never cover the head. His head pokes through, because the clouds let him; they don’t wrap him up. They let him keep his head up high, free, with nothing to hide him or bind him.

You can’t own a human being. You can’t lose what you don’t own. Suppose you did own him. Could you really love somebody who was absolutely nobody without you? You really want somebody like that? Somebody who falls apart when you walk out the door? You don’t, do you? And neither does he.

You’re turning over your whole life to him. Your whole life, girl. And if it means so little to you that you can just give it away, hand it to him, then why should it mean any more to him? He can’t value you more than you value yourself.

In the second section, the word belong means ________________.

Dillard University in New Orleans is one of the smallest historically black colleges (HBCUs) in the U.S. The college is proud of a huge accomplishment: pound for pound, it graduates more physics majors — and, notably, more female physics majors — than far bigger schools with more resources. With an enrollment of 1,200, Dillard ranks second in the country in black physics undergrads.

The point was highlighted at Dillard’s recent graduation ceremony featuring a keynote address from actress and singer Janelle Monae, who was one of the stars of “Hidden Figures.” The award-winning film tells the story of the black women scientists who worked at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in 1961. These women fought racist Jim Crow laws, while doing essential mathematical calculations for America’s space program. “To see that we have this significant number of women representing (science and math) in the way that they are is a blessing to America and our future,” Monae told The Associated Press in an interview before the graduation ceremony.

Out of the top 10 physics departments in the country, the nine which produce the most African-American undergraduates in physics are at HBCUs, according to the American Institute of Physics. This figure takes into account both predominantly black and predominantly white schools. The top producing school is Morehouse College, an all-male HBCU that has nearly twice as many students as Dillard.

“They’re taking a chance on these young women,” Gasman said. She is director of the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Minority-Serving Institutions and author of a forthcoming book on HBCUs and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. She says Dillard doesn’t just admit people who they believe are perfect, but people who have potential. She says “they work with them to discover this talent.”

What single word best describes the main idea of the passage?

Dillard University in New Orleans is one of the smallest historically black colleges (HBCUs) in the U.S. The college is proud of a huge accomplishment: pound for pound, it graduates more physics majors — and, notably, more female physics majors — than far bigger schools with more resources. With an enrollment of 1,200, Dillard ranks second in the country in black physics undergrads.

The point was highlighted at Dillard’s recent graduation ceremony featuring a keynote address from actress and singer Janelle Monae, who was one of the stars of “Hidden Figures.” The award-winning film tells the story of the black women scientists who worked at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in 1961. These women fought racist Jim Crow laws, while doing essential mathematical calculations for America’s space program. “To see that we have this significant number of women representing (science and math) in the way that they are is a blessing to America and our future,” Monae told The Associated Press in an interview before the graduation ceremony.

Out of the top 10 physics departments in the country, the nine which produce the most African-American undergraduates in physics are at HBCUs, according to the American Institute of Physics. This figure takes into account both predominantly black and predominantly white schools. The top producing school is Morehouse College, an all-male HBCU that has nearly twice as many students as Dillard.

“They’re taking a chance on these young women,” Gasman said. She is director of the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Minority-Serving Institutions and author of a forthcoming book on HBCUs and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. She says Dillard doesn’t just admit people who they believe are perfect, but people who have potential. She says “they work with them to discover this talent.”

The intention for writing this passage might be described as ________________.

Dillard University in New Orleans is one of the smallest historically black colleges (HBCUs) in the U.S. The college is proud of a huge accomplishment: pound for pound, it graduates more physics majors — and, notably, more female physics majors — than far bigger schools with more resources. With an enrollment of 1,200, Dillard ranks second in the country in black physics undergrads.

The point was highlighted at Dillard’s recent graduation ceremony featuring a keynote address from actress and singer Janelle Monae, who was one of the stars of “Hidden Figures.” The award-winning film tells the story of the black women scientists who worked at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in 1961. These women fought racist Jim Crow laws, while doing essential mathematical calculations for America’s space program. “To see that we have this significant number of women representing (science and math) in the way that they are is a blessing to America and our future,” Monae told The Associated Press in an interview before the graduation ceremony.

(1) Out of the top 10 physics departments in the country, the nine which produce the most African-American undergraduates in physics are at HBCUs, according to the American Institute of Physics. (2) This figure takes into account both predominantly black and predominantly white schools. The top producing school is Morehouse College, an all-male HBCU that has nearly twice as many students as Dillard.

“They’re taking a chance on these young women,” Gasman said. She is director of the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Minority-Serving Institutions and author of a forthcoming book on HBCUs and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. She says Dillard doesn’t just admit people who they believe are perfect, but people who have potential. She says “they work with them to discover this talent.”

What is the relationship between highlighted sentences?

Dillard University in New Orleans is one of the smallest historically black colleges (HBCUs) in the U.S. The college is proud of a huge accomplishment: pound for pound, it graduates more physics majors — and, notably, more female physics majors — than far bigger schools with more resources. With an enrollment of 1,200, Dillard ranks second in the country in black physics undergrads.

The point was highlighted at Dillard’s recent graduation ceremony featuring a keynote address from actress and singer Janelle Monae, who was one of the stars of “Hidden Figures.” The award-winning film tells the story of the black women scientists who worked at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in 1961. These women fought racist Jim Crow laws, while doing essential mathematical calculations for America’s space program. “To see that we have this significant number of women representing (science and math) in the way that they are is a blessing to America and our future,” Monae told The Associated Press in an interview before the graduation ceremony.

Out of the top 10 physics departments in the country, the nine which produce the most African-American undergraduates in physics are at HBCUs, according to the American Institute of Physics. This figure takes into account both predominantly black and predominantly white schools. The top producing school is Morehouse College, an all-male HBCU that has nearly twice as many students as Dillard.

“They’re taking a chance on these young women,” Gasman said. She is director of the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Minority-Serving Institutions and author of a forthcoming book on HBCUs and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. She says Dillard doesn’t just admit people who they believe are perfect, but people who have potential. She says “they work with them to discover this talent.”

In the _____ sentence, the phrase _________ means ________________.

There’s a golden rule when it comes to pairing greens with a dressing: Match the weight of your dressing to the sturdiness of your greens. Muscular kale and romaine can support a thick Caesar dressing, but soft mesclun leaves will wilt under the pressure. A light vinaigrette sets off Bibb lettuce, but it won’t have much impact on a salad of beet greens.

But rules on flavors are less hard and fast. In choosing a dressing for a side salad, you might play off the regional flavors of the main course. If pasta or pizza is the entrée, you might add a little dried oregano and fresh garlic to a basic vinaigrette, or mustard and shallots, if your salad is paired with French flavors. But, with smoky grilled or barbecued food, a buttermilk dressing tastes just right. Peppery greens bring their own bitterness to the bowl, so a dressing for them should be low in acid and relatively rich.

The classic profile of a salad dressing combines tangy, rich, salty, and sometimes sweet. As a rule, a “vinaigrette” is based on an acid (like vinegar or citrus) and an oil. How much of each, though, is a matter of taste. Some people like their vinaigrettes to be half oil, half vinegar, while others go all the way up to one part vinegar to six or seven parts oil.

Finally, for the fastest dressing, there’s no need to mix. Once the salad is in the serving bowl, sprinkle it very lightly with lemon juice or vinegar. Toss, preferably with your fingers, until leaves are evenly coated. Repeat with oil, then with salt and pepper. Taste and adjust the seasonings, then enjoy!

What single word best describes the main idea of the passage?

There’s a golden rule when it comes to pairing greens with a dressing: Match the weight of your dressing to the sturdiness of your greens. Muscular kale and romaine can support a thick Caesar dressing, but soft mesclun leaves will wilt under the pressure. A light vinaigrette sets off Bibb lettuce, but it won’t have much impact on a salad of beet greens.

But rules on flavors are less hard and fast. In choosing a dressing for a side salad, you might play off the regional flavors of the main course. If pasta or pizza is the entrée, you might add a little dried oregano and fresh garlic to a basic vinaigrette, or mustard and shallots, if your salad is paired with French flavors. But, with smoky grilled or barbecued food, a buttermilk dressing tastes just right. Peppery greens bring their own bitterness to the bowl, so a dressing for them should be low in acid and relatively rich.

The classic profile of a salad dressing combines tangy, rich, salty, and sometimes sweet. As a rule, a “vinaigrette” is based on an acid (like vinegar or citrus) and an oil. How much of each, though, is a matter of taste. Some people like their vinaigrettes to be half oil, half vinegar, while others go all the way up to one part vinegar to six or seven parts oil.

Finally, for the fastest dressing, there’s no need to mix. Once the salad is in the serving bowl, sprinkle it very lightly with lemon juice or vinegar. Toss, preferably with your fingers, until leaves are evenly coated. Repeat with oil, then with salt and pepper. Taste and adjust the seasonings, then enjoy!

The intention for writing this passage might be described as ________________.

There’s a golden rule when it comes to pairing greens with a dressing. Match the weight of your dressing to the sturdiness of your greens. Muscular kale and romaine can support a thick Caesar dressing, but soft mesclun leaves will wilt under the pressure. A light vinaigrette sets off Bibb lettuce, but it won’t have much impact on a salad of beet greens.

But rules on flavors are less hard and fast. In choosing a dressing for a side salad, you might play off the regional flavors of the main course. If pasta or pizza is the entrée, you might add a little dried oregano and fresh garlic to a basic vinaigrette, or mustard and shallots, if your salad is paired with French flavors. But, with smoky grilled or barbecued food, a buttermilk dressing tastes just right. Peppery greens bring their own bitterness to the bowl, so a dressing for them should be low in acid and relatively rich.

The classic profile of a salad dressing combines tangy, rich, salty, and sometimes sweet. (1) As a rule, a “vinaigrette” is based on an acid (like vinegar or citrus) and an oil. (2) How much of each, though, is a matter of taste. Some people like their vinaigrettes to be half oil, half vinegar, while others go all the way up to one part vinegar to six or seven parts oil.

Finally, for the fastest dressing, there’s no need to mix. Once the salad is in the serving bowl, sprinkle it very lightly with lemon juice or vinegar. Toss, preferably with your fingers, until leaves are evenly coated. Repeat with oil, then with salt and pepper. Taste and adjust the seasonings, then enjoy!

What is the relationship between highlighted sentences?

There’s a golden rule when it comes to pairing greens with a dressing: match the weight of your dressing to the sturdiness of your greens. Muscular kale and romaine can support a thick Caesar dressing, but soft mesclun leaves will wilt under the pressure. A light vinaigrette sets off Bibb lettuce, but it won’t have much impact on a salad of beet greens.

But rules on flavors are less hard and fast. In choosing a dressing for a side salad, you might play off the regional flavors of the main course. If pasta or pizza is the entrée, you might add a little dried oregano and fresh garlic to a basic vinaigrette, or mustard and shallots, if your salad is paired with French flavors. But, with smoky grilled or barbecued food, a buttermilk dressing tastes just right. Peppery greens bring their own bitterness to the bowl, so a dressing for them should be low in acid and relatively rich.

The classic profile of a salad dressing combines tangy, rich, salty, and sometimes sweet. As a rule, a “vinaigrette” is based on an acid (like vinegar or citrus) and an oil. How much of each, though, is a matter of taste. Some people like their vinaigrettes to be half oil, half vinegar, while others go all the way up to one part vinegar to six or seven parts oil.

Finally, for the fastest dressing, there’s no need to mix. Once the salad is in the serving bowl, sprinkle it very lightly with lemon juice or vinegar. Toss, preferably with your fingers, until leaves are evenly coated. Repeat with oil, then with salt and pepper. Taste and adjust the seasonings, then enjoy!

In the third paragraph, the word classic means ________________.