PASSAGE 1: Read this passage to answer questions 2-6. Sacred Summits [A] Volcanoes are creators and destroyers. They can shape lands and cultures, but can also cause great destruction and loss of life. Two of the best-known examples are found at opposite ends of the world, on the Pacific Ring of Fire. Symbol of Japan [B] It’s almost sunrise near the summit of Japan’s Mount Fuji. Exhausted climbers, many of whom have hiked the 3,776 meters through the night to reach this point, stop to watch as the sun begins spreading its golden rays across the mountain. For the climbers, this is an important moment. They have witnessed the dawn on Mount Fuji – the highest point in Japan. [C] Mount Fuji is a sacred site. Japan’s native religion, Shintoism, considers Fuji a holy place. Other people believe the mountain and its waters have the power to make a sick person well. For many, climbing Fuji is also a rite of passage. Some do it as part of a religious journey; for others, it is a test of strength. Whatever their reason, reaching the top in order to stand on Fuji’s summit at sunrise is a must for many Japanese. Every July and August, hundreds of thousands attempt to do so. [D] Fuji is more than a sacred site and tourist destination, however. It is also an active volcano around which four million people have settled, and it sits just 112 kilometers from the crowded streets of Tokyo. The last time Fuji erupted, in 1707, it sent out a cloud of ash that covered the capital city and darkened the skies for weeks. [E] Today, new information has some volcanologists concerned that Fuji may soon erupt again. According to Motoo Ukawa and his associates at the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention, there has been an increase in activity under Fuji recently. This activity may be caused by low-frequency earthquakes. Understanding what causes these quakes may help scientists predict when Fuji will come back to life. In the meantime, locals living near Fuji hold special festivals each year to offer gifts to the goddess of the volcano – as they have for generations – so that she will not erupt and destroy the land and its people below. Mexico’s Threatening Mountain [F] Halfway across the globe from Fuji, Popocatepetl – one of the world’s tallest and most dangerous active volcanoes – stands just 70 kilometers southeast of Mexico City. Although the volcano (whose name means “smoking mountain”) has erupted many times over the centuries, scientists believe its last great eruption occurred around AD 820. In recent years, Popocatepetl is once again threatening the lives of the people near the mountain; in December 2000, almost 26,000 people were evacuated when El Popo – as Mexicans call the mountain – started to send out ash and smoke. As with all active volcanoes, the question is not if it will erupt again (an eruption is inevitable); the question is when it will happen. [G] “Every volcano works in a different way,” explains Carlos Valdes Gonzalez, a scientist who monitors El Popo. “What we’re trying to learn here are the symptoms signaling that El Popo will erupt.” These include earthquakes, or any sign that the mountain’s surface is changing or expanding. The hope is that scientists will be able to warn people in the surrounding areas so they have enough time to evacuate. A powerful eruption could displace over 20 million people – people whose lives can be saved if the warning is delivered early enough. [H] For many people living near El Popo – especially farmers – abandoning their land is unthinkable. As anyone who farms near a volcano knows, the world’s richest soils are volcanic. They produce bananas and coffee in Central America, fine wines in California, and enormous amounts of rice in Indonesia. [I] Today, many people continue to see El Popo as their ancestors did. According to ancient beliefs, a volcano can be a god, a mountain, and a human all at the same time. To appease El Popo and to ensure rain and a good harvest, locals begin a cycle of ceremonies that starts in March and ends in August. Carrying food and gifts for the volcano, they hike up the mountain. Near the summit, they present their offerings, asking the volcano to protect and provide for one more season. QUESTION:  What is the author’s main purpose in writing this piece?

Giddy-up, cowboys and girls! In the Southwest during early half of the 1800s, cows were only worth 2 or 3 dollars a piece. They roamed wild, grazed off of the open range, and were abundant. Midway through the century though, railroads were built and the nation was connected. People in the Southwest could suddenly ship cows in freight trains to the Northeast. The Yankees there had a growing taste for beef and were willing to pay for it. Out of the blue, the same cows that were once worth a couple of bucks were now worth between twenty and forty dollars each. The only problem was that they had to get these cows to the train station. A new profession emerged from this. It became pretty lucrative to wrangle up a drove of cattle and herd them to the nearest train town. Of course it was dangerous too. Cowboys were threatened at every turn. They faced cattle rustlers, stampedes and extreme weather. But they kept pushing those steers to the train station. By the turn of the century, barbed wire killed the open range. Some may say the cowboy, too, was killed by barbed wire. Maybe, but it was the train that birthed them. QUESTION: Which belongs in a summary of the text? The Yankees lived in the Northeast, far from the Southwest. Trains allowed cowboys to ship cattle across the country. Cowboys fought with cattle rustlers to protect their herds. Cows used to graze on the open range. Which DOES NOT BELONG in a summary of the text? Trains brought cows to the East. Easterners paid high prices for beef. Cowboys brought cows to train stations. Facing extreme weather was one of the greatest risks of being a cowboy. Which best describes that MAIN IDEA of the text? Cowboys robbed trains and stole easy money from passengers. Cowboys lived a very dangerous life but made a lot of money. Barbed wire ended the open range and the cowboy lifestyle. Trains helped to grow the beef market and create cowboys.

PASSAGE 2: Read this passage to answer questions 12-22. Sunscreen [A] From broad-brimmed hats to UV-blocking sunglasses, people are always looking for ways to protect themselves from too much sun. A little bit of sun exposure is necessary for our health, but too much can lead to deadly cancer. So how much is too much? A new product on the market, L’Oreal’s UV Sense, has been designed to help answer this question. [B] L’Oreal’s UV Sense is a skin sensor that detects UV rays. It is considered preventative “skintech” – a device worn on the skin to help prevent health risks, such as skin cancer. It does not block the sun physically, like sunscreen does, but it helps its wearer know how much UV light he or she is exposed to. [C] The sensor is housed in a small sticker that can fit on a person’s thumbnail. Style-conscious wearers can choose from over 50 sticker designs. They place the sticker on a pair of favorite sunglasses, a watch, or anywhere else that will receive direct sunlight. As the wearer walks to the mail box, lies out on the beach, or sits in rush-hour traffic, the device collects data on how much sun the wearer is being exposed to. The device delivers this data to the wearer’s smartphone, and alerts him or her when the level of UV rays is dangerously high. This information prompts the wearer to seek shade or apply more sunscreen. [D] This product differs from other wearable devices in that it is meant to be used for a short period of time until wearers learn which situations cause them to get the most UV rays. Wearers use the sticker for about two weeks and then disposes of it. The expectation is that wearers will become more aware of their sun exposure and change their habits or lifestyle accordingly. This means consumers can benefit from an inexpensive product, since longer-lasting ones cost hundreds to thousands of dollars. [E] So why would a cosmetic company like L’Oreal invest in technology that consumers will only use once or twice? The cosmetic giant understands that wearable devices are the latest trend on the market. They also understand how concerned consumers are about the rise of skin cancer. In response to their market research, L’Oreal wants to take the lead before other skincare companies develop similar products. The quest for developing preventative skintech has just begun and will most likely never end. QUESTION:   What does UV Sense communicate to its wearers?

UNFAMILIAR VOCABULARY Sunscreen [A] From broad-brimmed hats to UV-blocking sunglasses, people are always looking for ways to protect themselves from too much sun. A little bit of sun exposure is necessary for our health, but too much can lead to deadly cancer. So how much is too much? A new product on the market, L’Oreal’s UV Sense, has been designed to help answer this question. [B] L’Oreal’s UV Sense is a skin sensor that detects UV rays. It is considered preventative “skintech” – a device worn on the skin to help prevent health risks, such as skin cancer. It does not block the sun physically, like sunscreen does, but it helps its wearer know how much UV light he or she is exposed to. [C] The sensor is housed in a small sticker that can fit on a person’s thumbnail. Style-conscious wearers can choose from over 50 sticker designs. They place the sticker on a pair of favorite sunglasses, a watch, or anywhere else that will receive direct sunlight. As the wearer walks to the mail box, lies out on the beach, or sits in rush-hour traffic, the device collects data on how much sun the wearer is being exposed to. The device delivers this data to the wearer’s smartphone, and alerts him or her when the level of UV rays is dangerously high. This information prompts the wearer to seek shade or apply more sunscreen. [D] This product differs from other wearable devices in that it is meant to be used for a short period of time until wearers learn which situations cause them to get the most UV rays. Wearers use the sticker for about two weeks and then disposes of it. The expectation is that wearers will become more aware of their sun exposure and change their habits or lifestyle accordingly. This means consumers can benefit from an inexpensive product, since longer-lasting ones cost hundreds to thousands of dollars. [E] So why would a cosmetic company like L’Oreal invest in technology that consumers will only use once or twice? The cosmetic giant understands that wearable devices are the latest trend on the market. They also understand how concerned consumers are about the rise of skin cancer. In response to their market research, L’Oreal wants to take the lead before other skincare companies develop similar products. The quest for developing preventative skintech has just begun and will most likely never end DIRECTIONS: Match each word with its definition. You can use the passage as reference.

PASSAGE 2: Read this passage to answer questions 7-12. DIRECTIONS: Read the passage. Choose the best summary for each paragraph. Magic Mountain (A) It is fair to say that mountains have always played a special role in many societies. Before the discovery of antibiotics,1 Europeans used to seek the mountain air as a remedy for tuberculosis – a deadly lung disease. Furthermore, before the age of airplanes and space flight, the summits of the world’s great mountains were the highest places that humans could physically reach. High above the world of humans, the peaks of mountains were considered by many people to be the gateway between heaven and earth. In many places, the belief that mountains are sacred places fit for the gods still holds true. (B) One such place is Mount Kinabalu, located in the Malaysian state of Sabah on the island of Borneo. For locals and visitors alike, Mount Kinabalu is an impressive natural wonder, standing at 4,095 meters. This makes it the tallest mountain on Borneo as well as one of the tallest in the Southeast Asian region. (C) Estimated to be 15 million years old, the mountain plays a massive role in the daily lives of Sabah’s indigenous2 groups. This is especially true for one local tribe, the Kadazan-Dusun. The people of this tribe have lived and farmed at the base of the great mountain for several centuries. Due to the plentiful natural resources in the surrounding areas, Mount Kinabalu has been considered a provider, whose gifts have served as the foundation for the locals’ livelihoods. (D) Beyond these practical reasons, the mountain is also deeply respected for the fact that it is central to the religious beliefs of the Kadazan-Dusun. For locals, Mount Kinabalu stands as a monument created by two gods, Kinohiringan and Umusumundu, who erected the mountain once the job of creating the world was complete. Because Mount Kinabalu represents a connection between the sacred and human worlds, members of the Kadazan-Dusun community have traditionally been buried at the foot of the mountain after their death. According to local belief, after dying, the souls of the dead will engage in a long journey to the top of the mountain. This is aided by the funeral rituals performed by living relatives and friends. Upon reaching the peak, they will wait for the gods to make their decision about entrance into libabou – the Kadazan-Dusun equivalent of heaven. (E) Since the mountain is understood as part of the journey from human existence to the afterlife, appreciation for the mountain is directly connected to appreciation for the gods. For locals, any disrespect shown to the mountain could lead to trouble for members of the community. Indeed, after an earthquake violently shook the mountain and its surrounding areas, many locals blamed the natural disaster on a group of foreign tourists who had taken off their clothes on the top of the mountain. As a result of such deeply held beliefs, travel agencies and tour guides provide foreign mountain climbers with not only safety information, but also instructions on proper etiquette. Smoking, littering, shouting, and cursing3 are all prohibited on the mountain. When combined with the traditional practices of the locals, such care ensures that Mount Kinabalu remains one of the world’s most special mountains. 1 Antibiotics are medicines that fight bacterial infections. 2 Indigenous refers to people or things that are originally in a particular place. 3 Cursing means using bad language. Choose the best summary for each paragraph: Paragraph A  [A] Paragraph B [B] Paragraph C [C] Paragraph D [D] Paragraph E [E]

Context Clues: Use the context to help you determine the meaning of the italicized word. Although I was unable to understand all of the details of the presentation, I did get the gist of it. In this sentence, gist means [1].

For the compound, [Ir(en)2(NO2)2]Br, identify the number of ions per formula unit based on conductance studies in aqueous solution

What function must have a negative value for a spontaneous reaction?

For the complex [Ir(en)2(NO2)2]Br identify the correct complex name.

What is the thermodynamic quantity that describes the change in randomness of a chemical reaction?