SOLUTION & EXPLANATION FOR TOEFL IBT READING PRACTICE TEST 03 ( FROM TOEFL IBT IVY’S READING 15 ACTUAL TESTS)
KEY
26. Rhetorical Purpose | (C)
Q. Why does the author mention Hawaii in paragraph 1?
Why? – See Clue 26(C)[lines 9^11]
27. Reference I (B)
Q. The word they in the passage refers to
Why? … there were hundreds of Kress stores situated in cities in twenty-eight states, including Hawaii.
In addition to providing quality items at low prices, they also possessed truly unique and appealing designs **See Clue 27<B)[lines 9-13]
28. Vocabulary I (B)
Q. The word meticulously in the passage is closest in meaning to »
Why? carefully can replace meticulously in this context. See Clue 28(B)[lines 20-24]
• meticulously adv. in a meticulous manner
* meticulous adj. very careful about small details, and constantly ensuring that everything is done correctly
• carefully adv. in a cautious manner
29. Inference I (B)
Q. From paragraph 2, it can be inferred that most owners of discount stores around 1900
Why? (B) can be inferred from the information in lines 18-22. ~-See Clue 29(B)
Why Not? (A), (C), (D) Not supported
30. Vocabulary I (A)
Q. The word linger in the passage is closest in meaning to
Why? remain can replace linger in this context. ~See Clue 30(A)[lines 23-24]
• linger v. to continue to exist
• remain v. to continue to be in a constant state
31. Factual Information I (D)
Q. In paragraph 3, what does the author state about the locations of Kress five-and-dimes? .
Why? ~See Clue 31(D)[lines 52-53]
► Frequently erected along cities’ primary downtown thoroughfares,…
Why Not? (A)-(C) Not mentioned
32. Vocabulary I (C)
Q. The word optimum in the passage is closest in meaning to
Why? best can replace optimum in this context. See Clue 32(C)[lines 57-61]
• optimum adj. most desirable or favorable;
• best adj. most suitable, useful, or satisfactory
33. Inference I (C)
Q. From the information in paragraph 2 and paragraph 4, what can be inferred about Kress stores in the 1930s?
Why? (C) can be inferred from the information in lines 61-65. —See 33(C)
Why Not? (A), (B) Not supported / (D) Incorrect “-See lines 20-22
34. Vocabulary I (D)
Q. The word hailed in the passage is closest in meaning to
Why? praised can replace hailed’m this context. —See Clue 34(D)[lines 79-81]
• hail v. to describe with emphasis someone or something as being excellent 9
praise v. to declare that you admire and approve of someone or something
35. Factual Information I (A)
Q. According to paragraph 5, Edward Sibbert was
Why? -See Clue 35<A)[lines 75-76]
Why Not? (BHD) Not mentioned
36. Rhetorical Purpose I (D)
Q. The author discusses Genesco Inc. in paragraph 6 to
Why? Genesco Inc. is discussed as the company that acquired Kress & Co. and finally dissolved it. —See Clue 36(D)[lines 87-91]
37. Sentence Simplification I (B)
Q. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.
Why? Though the old five-and-dimes are now filled with different businesses. // as mementos from a time when a city’s Main Street was the center of its community and culture, // they are valuable resources for municipalities currently seeking to revitalize their downtown districts.
Why Not? (A) Information about the historical value of old five-and-dimes and their functions today is left out
(C) Not mentioned
(D) Information about the historical value of old five-and-dimes and their current uses is left out.
38. Insert Text | (C)
Q. Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage.
Why? [B]… the remarkable thing about Kress architecture was that each store was fashioned specifically to complement the structures that surrounded it as well as the culture of the area. [C] A broad range of styles was utilized, among them Italian Renaissance, Mayan Revival, and Art Deco. Frequently erected along cities’ primary downtown thoroughfares, Kress five-and-dimes both blended with and helped define the Main Streets of twentieth century America. [D]
39. Prose Summary
Q. Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. Some sentences do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage. This question is worth 2 points.
Why? Around the turn of the twentieth century, Samuel Henry Kress founded what turned out to be one of the most pervasive chains of five-and-dime discount stores.
| Correct Answer Choices | Clues in the passage |
| (A) In addition to their large selections of low-priced goods, Kress stores attracted customers with their extravagant interior and exterior designs. | Clue 39(A)[lines 11-13] In addition to providing
quality items at low prices, they also possessed truly unique and appealing designs [lines 38-41] the store interiors were not the only attraction of the Kress chain, for each location’s facade also represented a stunning architectural achievement |
| (D) By utilizing low-cost materials and labor during the Great Depression, Kress was able to greatly expand his business, eventually maintaining hundreds of stores nationwide. | Clue 39(D)[lines 61-65] Taking advantage of the cheap labor and materials that resulted from the economic downturn, Kress was able to construct many more stores than would have been possible otherwise.
[lines 69-70] By 1944, there were more than 200 Kress five-and-dimes operating throughout the U.S. |
| (F) The Kress five-and-dimes finally shut down in 1980, but the impressive architecture of their buildings has endured and is still an important feature of many American cities. | Clue 39(F)[lines 90-94] in 1980, it decided to dissolve the company altogether. Kress’s legacy, however, has survived, as Main Streets in cities all over America still contain their monumental Kress buildings. |
► The whole passage focuses on the reasons why Kress & Co. was successful and its historical value. And it follows that ((A) The key factors to the success of Kress & Co. — (D) Expansion of Kress & Co. — (F) Disappearance of Kress & Co.