Praxis I Reading Practice Test - Question List

The Coral Reefs of the Caribbean

Visualize being submerged in the most (1) absolute silence to contemplate the majestic coral reefs. In the Caribbean Sea there are more than 16 thousand square miles (26 thousand square kilometers) of reefs, also known as “tropical rainforests of the sea” because of their immense biodiversity. Their extravagant, intense colors provide the ideal ecosystem for the over four thousand species of fish and thousands of species of plants that are found there.

Our lives, too, depend on these (2) formations: the coral reefs of the Caribbean protect the coasts of Florida and the Caribbean nations from hurricanes. Their enormous structures weaken the force of the storms before they arrive to the coasts, acting as natural barriers. They also protect beaches from erosion and are a refuge for many species of (3) endangered animals.

In the far eastern periphery of Cuba, the María la Gorda reef stands out from the others. In this highly protected zone, there are more than 20 species of corals that form (4) subterranean “mountain ranges”, caves, and tunnels.

Unfortunately, the reefs in the Caribbean are in danger due to acts of destruction. Coastal construction and water pollution cause the water to cloud, which in turn takes away the light that the coral needs to survive. Other enemies to the coral are uncontrolled fishing, (5) excessive tourism, and the collecting of coral by scuba divers. Some experts say that 70% of the coral will disappear in some 40 years. If you are lucky enough to visit these coral reefs, please protect them. Their future depends on us.

The word “formations”, bolded after the (2) in the second paragraph, on the first line of the second paragraph refers to

DOMA and Its Demise

Many same-sex couples, as well their allies, celebrated when “The Defense of Marriage Act”, known as DOMA, was overturned by the Supreme Court in the summer of 2013. Homosexual couples, who were legally recognized as a (1) union in their state of residence, were finally able to enjoy the same benefits at the national level that their heterosexual counterparts have always enjoyed. Nevertheless, the United States has a long way to go before marriage equality is universal.

DOMA was a (2) federal law that was first enacted in 1996 by the Clinton Administration. It sought to block same-sex couples that were legally married (in states that recognized same-sex marriages), from receiving federal marriage benefits. Under DOMA, the government determined that the word “spouse” was to refer to a heterosexual married couple, thus effectively excluding same-sex spouses from the laws applicable to opposite-sex spouses. Therefore, heterosexual married couples were protected under federal law and homosexual married couples were left unprotected.

Countless same-sex couples felt (3) discriminated against under DOMA and believed that the law was (4) unconstitutional. The Obama Administration, years later, decided it would no longer justify DOMA in court. During the first year of Obama’s second term in office, the law was struck down, and now same-sex couples, who reside in states like Hawaii and Iowa, share the same federal benefits as opposite-sex couples. However, until all of the states in the Union make same-sex marriage legal, the US will not get first place in the (5) race toward equality for everyone.

In paragraph 2, why does the author include the information that the Clinton Administration sought to block same-sex couples from receiving federal marriage benefits?

The Electoral College of the U.S.

Did you know that the President and the Vice President aren’t elected by (1) popular vote in the U.S.? Essentially, every four years, it isn’t the American people who elect the rulers of our nation. Instead, when a registered voter casts his or her vote for President and Vice President, he or she also votes for an unknown “elector”, or voting member, who will cast a ballot in a separate election that ultimately will choose the president. Thus, by voting for a Democrat presidential candidate, for example, a voter is really voting for a member of the Electoral College who is expected--but not required--to vote along (2) party lines, too.

You might be thinking, “Then, why do we vote?” Historically, before the (3) advent of television and radio, the Electoral College was established to avoid unfairness. People who lived in bigger cities, where there tends to be a more concentrated, greater population, had more of an advantage of knowing about the candidates compared to those who lived in more rural, secluded areas.

The electors, which are chosen by popular vote, are divided up among each state and the District of Columbia. The amount of voting members in each state is equal to the number of members of Congress. In total, there are 538 electors: 435 representatives and 100 senators, plus the three (4) constituents from the District of Columbia.

In almost every state electors are selected on a "winner-take-all" basis. To be more precise, the candidate for elector that wins the most votes in a state becomes elector for that state. During an election, each elector is required to cast one vote for President and another vote for Vice President. The presidential candidate that receives the majority of electoral votes (270 out of 538) for the offices of President or Vice President is elected to that (5) office.

The word “office”, bolded after the (5) in the fourth paragraph, is closest in meaning to

The Electoral College of the U.S.

Did you know that the President and the Vice President aren’t elected by (1) popular vote in the U.S.? Essentially, every four years, it isn’t the American people who elect the rulers of our nation. Instead, when a registered voter casts his or her vote for President and Vice President, he or she also votes for an unknown “elector”, or voting member, who will cast a ballot in a separate election that ultimately will choose the president. Thus, by voting for a Democrat presidential candidate, for example, a voter is really voting for a member of the Electoral College who is expected--but not required--to vote along (2) party lines, too.

You might be thinking, “Then, why do we vote?” Historically, before the (3) advent of television and radio, the Electoral College was established to avoid unfairness. People who lived in bigger cities, where there tends to be a more concentrated, greater population, had more of an advantage of knowing about the candidates compared to those who lived in more rural, secluded areas.

The electors, which are chosen by popular vote, are divided up among each state and the District of Columbia. The amount of voting members in each state is equal to the number of members of Congress. In total, there are 538 electors: 435 representatives and 100 senators, plus the three (4) constituents from the District of Columbia.

In almost every state electors are selected on a "winner-take-all" basis. To be more precise, the candidate for elector that wins the most votes in a state becomes elector for that state. During an election, each elector is required to cast one vote for President and another vote for Vice President. The presidential candidate that receives the majority of electoral votes (270 out of 538) for the offices of President or Vice President is elected to that (5) office.

Which of the following is false according to the passage?

DOMA and Its Demise Many same-sex couples, as well their allies, celebrated when “The Defense of Marriage Act”, known as DOMA, was overturned by the Supreme Court in the summer of 2013. Homosexual couples, who were legally recognized as a (1) union in their state of residence, were finally able to enjoy the same benefits at the national level that their heterosexual counterparts have always enjoyed. Nevertheless, the United States has a long way to go before marriage equality is universal.

DOMA was a (2) federal law that was first enacted in 1996 by the Clinton Administration. It sought to block same-sex couples that were legally married (in states that recognized same-sex marriages), from receiving federal marriage benefits. Under DOMA, the government determined that the word “spouse” was to refer to a heterosexual married couple, thus effectively excluding same-sex spouses from the laws applicable to opposite-sex spouses. Therefore, heterosexual married couples were protected under federal law and homosexual married couples were left unprotected.

Countless same-sex couples felt (3) discriminated against under DOMA and believed that the law was (4) unconstitutional. The Obama Administration, years later, decided it would no longer justify DOMA in court. During the first year of Obama’s second term in office, the law was struck down, and now same-sex couples, who reside in states like Hawaii and Iowa, share the same federal benefits as opposite-sex couples. However, until all of the states in the Union make same-sex marriage legal, the US will not get first place in the (5) race toward equality for everyone.

Which of following is true according to the passage?