Carbon tetrachloride is a colorless and inflammable liquid that can be produced by combining
carbon disulfide and chlorine. This compound is widely used in industry today because of its
effectiveness as a solvent as well as its use in the production of propellants.
Despite its widespread use in industry, carbon tetrachloride has been banned for home use. In
the past, carbon tetrachloride was a common ingredient in cleaning compounds that were used
throughout the home, but it was found to be dangerous: when heated, it changes into a poisonous gas
that can cause severe illness and even death if it is inhaled. Because of this dangerous characteristic,
the United States revoked permission for the home use of carbon tetrachloride in 1970. The United
States has taken similar action with various other chemical compounds.
(C) although carbon tetrachloride can legally be used in industry, it is not allowed in home products
2. The word "widely" in line 2 could most easily be replaced by
3. The word "banned" in line 4 is closest in meaning to
4. According to the passage, before 1970 carbon tetrachloride was
5. It is stated in the passage that when carbon tetrachloride is heated, it becomes
6. The word "inhaled" in line 7 is closest in meaning to
(A) warmed
(B) breathed in
(C) carelessly used
(D) blown
7. The word "revoked" in line 8 could most easily be replaced by
(A) gave
(B) granted
(C) instituted
(D) took away
8. It can be inferred from the passage that one role of the U.S. government is to
(A) regulate product safety
(B) prohibit any use of carbon tetrachloride
(C) instruct industry on cleaning methodologies
(D) ban the use of any chemicals
9. The paragraph following the passage most likely discusses
(A) additional uses for carbon tetrachloride
(B) the banning of various chemical compounds by the U.S. government
(C) further dangerous effects of carbon tetrachloride
(D) the major characteristics of carbon tetrachloride
2. James Whistler
The next artist in this survey of American artists is James Whistler; he is included in this survey
of American artists because he was born in the United States, although the majority of his artwork
was completed in Europe. Whistler was born in Massachusetts in 1834, but nine years later his father
moved the family to St. Petersburg, Russia, to work on the construction of a railroad. The family
returned to the United States in 1849. Two years later Whistler entered the U.S. military academy at
West Point, but he was unable to graduate. At the age of twenty-one, Whistler went to Europe to study
art despite familial objections, and he remained in Europe until his death.
Whistler worked in various art forms, including etchings and lithographs. However, he is most
famous for his paintings, particularly Arrangement in Gray and Black No. 1: Portrait ofthe Artist's
Mother or Whistlers Mother, as it is more commonly known. This painting shows a side view of
Whistler's mother, dressed in black and posing against a gray wall. The asymmetrical nature of the
portrait, with his mother seated off-center, is highly characteristic of Whistler's work.
10. The paragraph preceding this passage most likely discusses
(A) a survey of eighteenth-century art
(B) a different American artist
(C) Whistler's other famous paintings
(D) European artists
11 . Which of the following best describes the information in the passage?
(A) Several artists are presented.
(B) One artist's life and works are described.
(C) Various paintings are contrasted.
(D) Whistler's family life is outlined.
12. Whistler is considered an American artist because
(A) he was born in America
(B) he spent most of his life in America
(C) he served in the U.S. military
(D) he created most of his famous art in America
13. The word "majority" in line 2 is closest in meaning to
(A) seniority
(B) maturity
(C) large pieces
(D) high percentage
14. It is implied in the passage that Whistler's family was
(A) unable to find any work at all in Russia
(B) highly supportive of his desire to pursue art
(C) working class
(D) military
15. The word "objections" in line 7 is closest in meaning to
(A) protests
(B) goals
(C) agreements
(D) battles
16. In line 8, the "etchings" are
(A) a type of painting
(B) the same as a lithograph
(C) an art form introduced by Whistler
(D) an art form involving engraving
17. The word "asymmetrical" in line 1 1 is closest in meaning to
(A) proportionate
(B) uneven
(C) balanced
(D) lyrical
18. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
(A) Whistler worked with a variety of art forms.
(B) Whistler's Mother is not the official name of his painting.
(C) Whistler is best known for his etchings.
(D) Whistler's Mother is painted in somber tones.
19. Where in the passage does the author mention the types of artwork that Whistler was involved in?
(A) Lines 1--3
(B) Lines 4--5
(C) Lines 6--7
(D) Lines 8--10
