MODEL TEST .nlEADING SECTION 33 1 PART III Rud/., 4 u TIUI DI ,1ta1 DlrI,." The Challenge of Technology and Equi ty In fo rm a tion t echno l og y is influenci ng the way many 01 us live and work today. We use the Inlernet to look and apply lor jobs, shop, conduct research, make airline reservations, and explore areas 01 Interest. We use e-mail and the I ntemelto communicate instantaneously with friends and business associates around the world. Computers are commonplace in homes and the workplace. -+ _"'-11\0 ffiliiiI;J/"OI l n__._JO __ _ ~ -=-~'. !O IlrittmItJ Only 6 percent of the population in developing countries are con- nected to telephones. Although more than 94 percent of U.S. households have a telephone, only 42 percent have personal computers at home and 26 percenl have Inlemet access. The lack of what most of us would consider a basic com- munications necessity-the telephone-does not occur Just In developing nallons. On some Native American reservations only 60 percent of the JiiINlIi have a telephone. The move to wireless coonections may j!!iii!iiItI the need for telephone lines> 001 if does nol remove lhe barrier to equ ipmenl costs. ~ Who has Internet access? Fifty percent of the children in urban households with an income over $75 ,000 have Internet access, compared with 2 percent of lhe children In low-income, rural households. Nearly half of college-educaled people have Intemel access, compared 10 6 percenl of those with only some high school educalion. Forty percent of households with two parents have access; 15 percent of lema Ie, single-parent households do. Thirty percent of while households, 11 percent of black households, and 13 percent of Hispanic households have access. Teens and children are the two fastest-growing seg- ments of Intemet users. The digital divide between the populallons who have access to the In ternet and Information technology tools Is based on income, race, education, household type, and geographic location. Only 16 percent of t he rural poor, rural and central city minoriti es , young householders, and single- parent lemale hOuseholds are connected. ~ Another problem that exacerbates these disparities is that African-Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans hold few of the jobs in in/ormation technology. Women hold about 20 percent 01 these jobs and are receiving fewer than 30 percent of the computer science degrees. The result is that women and mem- bers 01 the most oppressed ethnic groups are nol eligible lor the Jobs with the highest salaries at graduation. Baccalaureate candidates with degrees in com- puter science were offered the highest salaries 0/ all new college graduates In 1998 at S44,949. M Ichr, :1y klfr prtN"v 332 MORE MODEL TESTS Do similar disparities exist in schools? Ilil More than 90 percent of all schools In the country are wired with at least one Internet connectioo. [Ell The number of classrooms with Internet connections diffe rs by the income level of students. Using the percentage of students who are eligible for free lunches at a school to determine income level, we see that nearty twice as many of the schools with lTIOfe affluent students have wired classrooms as 1M with high of low-Income students, ICl -+ Access to computers and the Internet will be Important In reducing dispari. ties belWeen groups, [DI lt will require greater equality across diverse groups whose members develop knowledge and skills In computer and Information technologies. If computers and the internet are to be used to promote equality, they will have to become accessible to populations thai cannol currently afford the equipment which needs to be updated every three years or so. However, access alone is nol enough. Students will have to be interacting with the tech- nology in authentic settings. As technology becomes a tool for learning in almost all courses taken by students, It will be seen as a means to an end rather than an end In Itsell. If it Is used In culturally relevant ways, all studoots can benefilfrom its power. 40. Why does the author mention the telephone In paragraph 2? <D To demonstrate that even technology like the telephone Is not available to all <D To argue that basic telephone service Is a first step to using the tntemet <D To contrast the absence of telephone usage with that of Internet usage <D> To describe the development of communications from telephone to Internet Paragraph 21s marked with an arrow 1 -+1 . 41 . Which of the sentences below besl expresses the In formation In the highlighted statement in the passage? The other choices change the meaning or leave out important information. <D Most of the people in the world use the Internet now because the number 01 comput· ers has been increasing every year. <D The number of people who u se co mpute rs and the Internet Is Increasing every year, but most people in the world still do not have connections. <D The number of computers that can make the Internet available to most of the people in the wofld is not increasing fa st enough. <D> The Internet Is available to most oflhe people In the world, even though they don't have their own computer terminals. 42. The word residents in the passage is closest In meaning to <D homes <D towns <D people <D> locations Malc'ltll chrancnv a' ~rTl prav~ MODEL TEST 4IREADING SEC TION 333 43 . The word eliminate in the passage is closest in mean i ng to CD accept (J) dispute <P define <1> remove 44 . Based on in formati on in paragraph 3, which of the following best explains the term "digital divide?" <D The number of Internet users in developing nations (J) The disparity In the opportunity to use the Internet <P Differences in socioeconomic levels among Internet users (JtI Seg ments oltha population with Internel access Paragraph 3 is mar1<ed with an arrow [ -+ ). 45. Why does the author give deta i ls about the percentages of tnternet users in paragraph 3? <D To prove that there are differences in opportunities among social groups CD To argue lor more Internet connections at all levels 01 society <P To suggeslthatlmprovements in Internet access are beginn ing 10 take place <1> To expla in why many people have Internet connections now Paragraph 3 is mar1<ed with an arrow [ +]. 46 . According to paragraph 3, wh i ch of the following households would be least likely to have access to th e Internet? CD A household with one parent CD A black household CD A H is panic househOld <1> A household with both parents Para graph 31 s mar1<ed with an a rrow [ + ]. 47 . The word 1bWi§ In the passage rele rs to <D cl assrooms CD students CD schools <1> concent rat ions Mille 1<11 chr ~y ''Sky prfr.tv 334 MORE t.400EL TE STS 48 . According to paragraph 4, why are fewer women and minorities employed In the field of computer technology? o® They are not admitted to the degree programs. CD They do not possess the educational qualifications. CD They do not have an interest in technology. a> They prefer training for jobs with higher salaries. Paragraph 4 is marked with an arrow [ ]. 49 . The word cooceOlratjoos in the passage is closest in meaning to o® protections CD numbers <l:) conlldence a> suppan so . What can be inferred from paragraph 6 aboot Internet access? o® Betler computers need to be designed. CD Schools should provide newer computers fOf students. <l:) The cost of replacing equipment is a problem. a> Technology will be more helprul in three years. Paragraph 6 is marked with an arrow [ 1. 51. Look at the f our squares (- I that show where the following sentence co uld be Inserted In the passage. Thu. , the .tudent. who are mo. t unlikely to have accn . at home al . o do not have aceesa In their school. , Inerea.lng the divide between group. even further. Where could the sentence best be added? Cilek on a square (_ jto insert the sentence in the passage. M 1 flal chranCllY a' sk~ml pravv MODEL TEST 41l'1EADING SECTION 335 52. Directions: An introduction fo r a short summary of the passage appears below. Complete the summ ary by selecting the THA EE answer choices th at mention the most important points In the passage. Some sentences do not belong In the summary because Ihey express ideas that are not included in the passage 01" are minor points from the passage. This qUB8t1on Is worth 2 po ints. The availability of technology is unequal throughout the world. • • • Answer Choices tal Currently, only about 10 percent of al l the schools in the United States are n ot wired fOl" Inlemet access. IDl Internet access is limited by education, income, geographic location, race, and the age and marital status 01 the head 01 household. (B] Less aHluent schools have fewer Internet connections, and minorities as well as women hold lewer computer science degrees. ICl Children and teenagers are the two fastest growing segments 01 the popula- tion gaining access to the Internet. Rudlllg 5 " Thfl Ero/utl""Il' BlnII" Birds Began as Feathered Aaptllas lEI Comput er science graduates can earn almost $50,000. !EI Access to the Internet is one way to encourage equality among diverse groups Birds evolved during the great reptilian radlallon of the Mesozo ic era. Amni- otic eggs and scales on the legs are just two of the reptili an featu res we see in birds. But modem birds look quite different from modem reptiles because 01 their leathers and other distinctive fl ight equipment. Characteristics 01 Birds -+ Almost every part 01 a typical bird 's anatomy Is iDiiIfIiiIln some way Ih at enhances lIight. The bones have an Internal structure that is honeycombed. making them strong but light. Th e skeleton of a frigate bird, lor instance, has a wingspan of more than 2 meters but weighs only about 113 grams. Another adaptation reducing the weight of birds is the absence of some organs. Females, fo r Instance, have only one ovary. Also, modern bi rds are toothte ss, an adaptation that trims the weight of the head. Food is not chewed in the mouth but ground in the gizzard, a digestive organ near the stomach. (Croco- dlles also have giuards, as did some dinosaurs.) The bird's beak, made of ker- M ", "",,, 336 MORE MODEL TESTS alin, has proven 10 be very adaplable during avian evolulJon, laking on a great variety 01 shapes suitable lor different diets. Flying requires a great expenditure 01 energy from an active metabolism. Birds are endothermic; they use their own metabolic heat to maintain a warm, constant body temperature. Feathers and, in some species, layers of fal pi'll'" vide insulatiOn that enables birds to retein W metabolically generated heat. An efficient respiratory system and a circulatory system with a lour-chambered heart keep tissues well supplied with oxygen and nutrients, supporting a high rate of metabolism. Tha lungs have tiny tubes leading to and from elastic air sacs that help dissipate heat and reduce the density 01 the body. For safe fl ighl, senses, especially vision, must be acute. Birds have e)(ool- lenl eyes, perhaps the best of all the vertebrates. The visual areas of the brains are well developed, as are the motor areas; Itlght also requires e)(cellent coor - dination. With brains proportionately larger than lhose of reptiles and amphibians, birds generally display very comple)( behavior. Avian behavior Is partlC\Jlarly intricate during breeding season, when birds engage in lIilXliili riluals 01 courtship. Because eggs ate shelled when laid, fertilization must be internal. Copulation Involves contact between the males' vents, the openings to their cloacas. Alter eggs are laid, Ihe avian embryo must be kept warm through brooding by the mother, falher, or both, depending on the species. -+ A bird's most obvious adaplation lor flight Is its wings. Bird wings are airfoils thai illustrate Ihe same principles of aerodynamics as the wings of an airplane. Providing power for flight. birds flap their wings by contractions of large pectoral (breast) muscles anchored to a keel on the sternum (breastbone). Some birds, such as eagles and hawks, have wings adapted for soaring on air currents and flap their wings only occasionally; other birds, Including hummingbirds, must ffap conlinuously 10 stay aloft. In either case, Il ls the shape and arrangement 01 tho loathors thol form Iho wings in to nn airfoil. Tho Inslost birds oro Iho nppro- priately named swilts, which can fly 170 kmlhr . In being both e)(tremely light and strong, fealhers are among Ihe mOst remarkable 01 vertebrate adaptations. Feathers are made 01 keratin, the same protein that forms our hair and fingernailS and the scales of reptiles. Feathers may have functioned first as insulalion during the avolutiOn of endothermy, only later being co-opted as flighl equipment. The evoluti on of flight requ i red~ alteration in body lorm, but flight pro- vides many benelits. !AI It enhances hunting and scavenging: many birds e)(ploit flying insects, an abundant, highly nutritious food resouroo. 1m Flight also provides ready escape from earthbound predators and enables so me M 1 rial chranCllY a' sk~ml pravv MODEL TEST 4IREA01NG SECTION 337 birds to migrate great distances to utilize different food resources and seasonal breeding areas. ICJ The bird that travels farthest in its annual migration is the arctic tem, which flies round-trip between the North Pole and South Pole each year. !OJ -+ Analyses of fossilized skeletons support the hypothesis that the closest reptilian relatives of birds were the theropods , a group 01 relatively small, I carnivorous dinosaurs. Most researchers that the ancestor ;;,;;~,;;;;;,. , .;;;; . ;; birds undoubtedly bring us closer to understanding how these masters 01 the sky evolved from nonflying reptiles. Glossary brooding: to hatch eggs by sitting on the nest cloacas: the opening to the reproductive and intestinaltracl 53. According to paragraph 2, how did bir ds adapllO achieve efficient flight? <D They developed a skeleton with lewer bones. eD Their organs became smaJleroverlime. <D Most 01 their weight was distributed in their heads. (l) Teeth were replaced by a beak made 01 keratin. Paragraph 21s marked with an arrow [-+). 54 . The word modWed in the passage is closest In meaning to <D made different eD made better <D made smaller CD> made modem 55 The w()(d 1ba.it.ln the passage refers 10 (D feathers CD species <D layers CD> birds 56. The w()(d elaborate in the passage is opposite in meaning to <D simple (I) quiet '" "" "" ""'" Mil' rial chr n~ iI '"Sky pravv . use e-mail and the I ntemelto communicate instantaneously with friends and business associates around the world. Computers are commonplace in homes and the workplace. -+ _"&apos ;-1 1. _"&apos ;-1 1 ffiliiiI;J/"OI l n__._JO __ _ ~ -= -~ '. !O IlrittmItJ Only 6 percent of the population in developing countries are con- nected to telephones. Although more than 94 percent. have Inlemet access. The lack of what most of us would consider a basic com- munications necessity-the telephone-does not occur Just In developing nallons. On some Native American reservations