TSIA2 – CRC Exam #3

#1. The decline of coral reefs has accelerated dramatically in recent decades. Rising ocean temperatures cause coral bleaching, a process in which corals expel the symbiotic algae that provide them with nutrients and color. Without these algae, corals turn white and become vulnerable to disease. While some reefs have shown resilience, recovering after mild bleaching events, scientists warn that repeated exposure to elevated temperatures can permanently damage reef ecosystems. Conservation efforts now focus on identifying heat-resistant coral strains that might be cultivated and transplanted to degraded areas. What is the primary purpose of this passage?

1) To argue that coral reefs are beyond saving

2) To explain a threat to coral reefs and describe conservation responses

3) To compare different species of coral found in tropical oceans

4) To criticize governments for failing to address climate change

#2. In 1848, the Seneca Falls Convention marked a turning point in the American women’s suffrage movement. Organized by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott, the convention produced the Declaration of Sentiments, which deliberately echoed the language of the Declaration of Independence to assert that ‘all men and women are created equal.’ Although the resolution calling for women’s voting rights passed by only a narrow margin, it planted the seed for a movement that would persist for over seventy years before achieving its goal with the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920. The author’s mention that the Declaration of Sentiments ‘deliberately echoed’ the Declaration of Independence most likely serves to —

1) show that the suffragists lacked original ideas

2) emphasize the founders’ support for women’s rights

3) highlight the strategic use of familiar national ideals to legitimize the cause

4) prove that the Constitution already guaranteed women’s suffrage

#3. Urban foraging — the practice of gathering wild edible plants in city environments — has gained popularity among food enthusiasts and sustainability advocates. Proponents argue that foraging reconnects people with their food sources and reduces reliance on industrial agriculture. Critics, however, raise concerns about contamination from urban pollutants such as heavy metals in soil near roadways. Additionally, over-harvesting in public parks can deplete plant populations that support urban wildlife. Balancing these competing interests requires clear municipal guidelines and public education about safe, sustainable practices. Which statement best captures the author’s perspective on urban foraging?

1) It is an irresponsible trend that should be banned in all cities

2) It offers benefits but requires regulation to address legitimate risks

3) It is the most effective solution to food insecurity in urban areas

4) It has no meaningful impact on either sustainability or public health

#4. The mimicry strategies of the zone-tailed hawk illustrate a remarkable evolutionary adaptation. This raptor closely resembles the turkey vulture in both plumage and flight pattern, soaring with its wings held in a similar dihedral position. Because turkey vultures feed exclusively on carrion and pose no threat to live prey, small animals largely ignore them. The zone-tailed hawk exploits this complacency, blending into groups of vultures before suddenly diving to capture unsuspecting rodents and lizards. Researchers consider this one of the most sophisticated examples of aggressive mimicry among birds. Based on the passage, small animals ignore turkey vultures because —

1) turkey vultures are too large to be considered predators

2) turkey vultures only eat dead animals and are not a danger to live prey

3) small animals cannot distinguish between different bird species

4) turkey vultures and zone-tailed hawks share the same habitat

#5. Philosopher Martha Nussbaum has argued that the humanities play an essential role in democratic education. In her view, literature and philosophy cultivate empathy by encouraging students to imagine lives different from their own. She contrasts this with a purely technical education focused on economic productivity, warning that neglecting the humanities produces citizens who can generate wealth but lack the critical thinking and moral imagination necessary for self-governance. Nussbaum’s framework has influenced education policy debates in several countries, though critics argue she overstates the civic impact of studying literature. Which of the following best describes the organizational structure of this passage?

1) A chronological account of Nussbaum’s career achievements

2) A presentation of a philosopher’s argument followed by its influence and a counterpoint

3) A comparison of two competing educational philosophies with no stated preference

4) A persuasive essay urging readers to study the humanities

#6. Recent studies on sleep deprivation reveal that even moderate sleep loss — defined as sleeping fewer than seven hours per night — significantly impairs cognitive function. Researchers at a major university tracked 200 participants over four weeks, finding that those who averaged six hours of sleep performed 23% worse on memory tests and showed measurably slower reaction times compared to those sleeping eight hours. Crucially, the sleep-deprived participants consistently underestimated their own impairment, rating their alertness as normal even when objective measures showed decline. The finding that sleep-deprived participants ‘underestimated their own impairment’ is significant because it suggests that —

1) sleep deprivation only affects physical rather than mental performance

2) people who sleep less may not realize their abilities are diminished

3) six hours of sleep is sufficient for most cognitive tasks

4) the study’s measurement methods were unreliable

#7. The Japanese art of kintsugi involves repairing broken pottery with lacquer mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum. Rather than disguising the damage, kintsugi highlights the cracks, transforming them into luminous veins that become part of the object’s history. The philosophy underlying kintsugi is rooted in wabi-sabi, the acceptance of imperfection and transience. Practitioners view each repair as adding value rather than diminishing it, treating breakage not as something to hide but as a chapter in the object’s ongoing story. The word ‘luminous’ as used in this passage most nearly means —

1) fragile and delicate

2) historically significant

3) brightly glowing or radiant

4) carefully concealed

#8. Economists have long debated the relationship between minimum wage increases and employment levels. Classical economic theory predicts that raising the minimum wage above the market equilibrium will reduce employment, as businesses cut positions to offset higher labor costs. However, empirical studies have produced mixed results. A landmark 1994 study by Card and Krueger found no significant employment losses after New Jersey raised its minimum wage, challenging the theoretical prediction. Subsequent research has continued to yield conflicting findings, suggesting that the employment effects depend heavily on local economic conditions, industry composition, and the magnitude of the increase. The author’s treatment of the minimum wage debate can best be described as —

1) strongly advocating for minimum wage increases based on the Card and Krueger study

2) dismissing classical economic theory as fundamentally flawed

3) presenting the issue as unresolved, with evidence supporting multiple perspectives

4) arguing that empirical research is less reliable than theoretical models

#9. Passage 1: Community gardens strengthen neighborhoods by providing shared green spaces where residents collaborate, grow fresh produce, and build social connections. Studies show that areas with community gardens experience lower crime rates and higher property values. Passage 2: While community gardens offer recreational benefits, their impact on food security is often overstated. The amount of produce generated by a typical community garden is negligible compared to the caloric needs of surrounding residents, and maintaining these spaces requires consistent volunteer labor that many communities struggle to sustain. On which point would the authors of both passages most likely agree?

1) Community gardens are the most effective tool for reducing urban crime

2) Community gardens require no significant ongoing effort to maintain

3) The food production of community gardens fully addresses local hunger

4) Community gardens provide some positive value to neighborhoods

#10. The discovery of high-temperature superconductors in 1986 by Bednorz and Müller revolutionized materials science. Unlike conventional superconductors, which require cooling to near absolute zero, these ceramic compounds exhibited zero electrical resistance at temperatures achievable with liquid nitrogen — a far more economical coolant. The breakthrough sparked a global research frenzy, though practical applications have proven slower to develop than initially hoped. Current uses include MRI machines, particle accelerators, and experimental maglev trains, but widespread adoption in power grids remains limited by manufacturing challenges and material brittleness. According to the passage, why was the discovery of high-temperature superconductors considered revolutionary?

1) They eliminated the need for any cooling systems

2) They were the first materials ever to exhibit zero electrical resistance

3) They immediately replaced all conventional superconductors in existing technology

4) They could function at temperatures reachable with a cheaper, more accessible coolant

#11. Dr. Elena Marchetti surveyed 500 bilingual adults to examine how language switching affects emotional expression. Participants reported that they experienced emotions differently depending on which language they used: 72% said they felt more emotionally restrained when speaking their second language, while 65% reported feeling more authentic when expressing feelings in their first language. Marchetti hypothesizes that emotional vocabulary acquired in childhood carries deeper psychological associations, making first-language expression feel more genuine. However, she notes that 18% of participants actually preferred expressing difficult emotions in their second language, finding the emotional distance it provided to be therapeutic. The 18% of participants who preferred expressing difficult emotions in their second language most likely valued —

1) the larger vocabulary available in their second language

2) the psychological distance that made difficult topics easier to discuss

3) the social prestige associated with speaking a second language

4) the grammatical precision of their second language

#12. The concept of ‘food miles’ — the distance food travels from farm to consumer — became a popular metric for evaluating the environmental impact of food choices. Advocates encouraged consumers to buy locally produced food to reduce transportation-related carbon emissions. However, subsequent lifecycle analyses revealed that transportation typically accounts for only 4-11% of a food product’s total carbon footprint. Production methods — including fertilizer use, irrigation, and livestock management — contribute far more to greenhouse gas emissions. A 2008 study found that switching from red meat to vegetables for one day per week would reduce emissions more than buying entirely local food for an entire year. The 2008 study mentioned in the passage serves primarily to —

1) prove that local food is nutritionally inferior to imported alternatives

2) illustrate that production choices can outweigh transportation in environmental impact

3) argue that consumers should stop buying local food entirely

4) demonstrate that vegetarian diets are the only sustainable option

#13. Architectural historian Sarah Chen argues that brutalist buildings — massive concrete structures popular from the 1950s to 1970s — deserve preservation despite their polarizing aesthetics. ‘These structures represent a bold social vision,’ Chen writes. ‘Many were built as public housing, libraries, and civic centers, designed to democratize access to monumental architecture.’ Critics counter that brutalist buildings are oppressive and unwelcoming, their raw concrete facades showing severe weathering. Chen acknowledges the maintenance challenges but insists that demolishing these structures erases an important chapter of architectural and social history. Chen’s argument for preserving brutalist buildings rests primarily on their —

1) superior construction materials compared to modern buildings

2) aesthetic beauty and visual appeal to most observers

3) historical significance as expressions of democratic social ideals

4) low maintenance costs relative to other architectural styles

#14. The octopus possesses one of the most unusual nervous systems in the animal kingdom. Two-thirds of its neurons reside not in its brain but in its eight arms, each of which can taste, touch, and make independent decisions. Researchers have observed severed octopus arms continuing to respond to stimuli, grasping objects and even attempting to bring food toward where the mouth would be. This distributed intelligence allows the octopus to process information locally, reducing the cognitive load on its central brain and enabling remarkably complex behaviors such as opening jars, navigating mazes, and using tools. The detail about severed arms continuing to respond to stimuli is included to —

1) argue that octopuses do not truly need their central brain

2) explain why octopuses are able to regenerate lost limbs

3) suggest that octopus arms are more intelligent than the brain

4) demonstrate the degree to which the arms operate autonomously

#15. In her 1962 book Silent Spring, Rachel Carson documented the devastating effects of synthetic pesticides, particularly DDT, on wildlife and ecosystems. Carson argued that the chemical industry prioritized profits over environmental safety and accused government agencies of uncritically accepting industry claims. The book provoked fierce backlash from chemical manufacturers, who questioned Carson’s credentials and accused her of emotional bias. Despite this opposition, Silent Spring catalyzed the modern environmental movement, leading directly to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency in 1970 and the eventual ban on DDT in the United States. The passage implies that the chemical industry’s response to Silent Spring was —

1) an acknowledgment that Carson’s research was accurate

2) a productive collaboration to develop safer pesticides

3) an attempt to discredit the messenger rather than address her evidence

4) an indication that DDT posed no actual environmental threat

#16. The placebo effect — in which patients improve after receiving an inert treatment they believe to be real medicine — has traditionally been viewed as a nuisance variable in clinical trials, something to be controlled for rather than studied. Recently, however, neuroscientists have begun investigating the placebo effect as a legitimate physiological phenomenon. Brain imaging studies show that placebos can trigger the release of endorphins and dopamine, producing measurable changes in neural activity. Some researchers now advocate for harnessing the placebo effect in clinical settings, arguing that the patient’s belief in a treatment can be a powerful therapeutic tool when combined with evidence-based medicine. Which of the following conclusions is best supported by the passage?

1) Placebos are equally effective as all forms of evidence-based medicine

2) Brain imaging technology is unreliable for studying psychological phenomena

3) Clinical trials should eliminate the use of placebo control groups

4) The placebo effect involves real neurological changes, not merely subjective reports

#17. Sociologist Ray Oldenburg coined the term ‘third places’ to describe informal public gathering spaces — cafés, barbershops, bookstores — that are neither home (first place) nor work (second place). Oldenburg argued that third places serve as anchors of community life, facilitating casual social interaction across class and demographic boundaries. As remote work has expanded, some researchers suggest that the traditional third place is evolving: coworking spaces, online forums, and even multiplayer video games may now fulfill similar social functions, though critics question whether virtual spaces can replicate the spontaneous, face-to-face encounters that Oldenburg considered essential. Based on the passage, which scenario best exemplifies a traditional ‘third place’ as Oldenburg defined it?

1) A private office where employees hold scheduled meetings

2) An online video game where players complete cooperative missions

3) A family living room where relatives gather for holiday dinners

4) A neighborhood café where diverse regulars chat informally over coffee

#18. The city council voted to approve the new transit plan, which [BLANK] reduce commute times by an estimated 15 percent.

1) is expected to

2) are expected to

3) expecting to

4) having expected to

#19. Sentence 1: The museum’s new exhibit features artifacts from ancient Mesopotamia. Sentence 2: Visitors can view cuneiform tablets, cylinder seals, and pottery dating back over 4,000 years. Sentence 3: The exhibit were curated by Dr. Amara Osei, a leading scholar in Near Eastern archaeology. Sentence 4: Interactive displays allow guests to learn about the daily lives of Sumerian citizens. Which sentence contains a grammatical error?

1) Sentence 1

2) Sentence 2

3) Sentence 3

4) Sentence 4

#20. The research team published their findings in a prestigious journal; [BLANK], the results attracted widespread media attention.

1) on the other hand

2) consequently

3) nevertheless

4) in contrast

#21. Draft paragraph: (1) Volunteering at the local animal shelter taught me responsibility and compassion. (2) I learned to care for animals with various medical needs. (3) My favorite subject in school is chemistry. (4) The experience solidified my decision to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. Which sentence should be removed to improve the paragraph’s coherence?

1) Sentence 1

2) Sentence 2

3) Sentence 3

4) Sentence 4

#22. The athlete trained rigorously for months, and her dedication paid off [BLANK] she won the national championship in her division.

1) off, when

2) off: when

3) off; when

4) off when

#23. Neither the principal nor the teachers [BLANK] aware of the schedule change before the announcement.

1) was

2) has been

3) is

4) were

#24. Original: The company’s profits declined sharply. The new CEO implemented cost-cutting measures. Employee morale also suffered. Layoffs were announced in three departments. Which revision best combines these sentences to improve flow and coherence?

1) The company’s profits declined sharply, the new CEO implemented cost-cutting measures, employee morale also suffered, layoffs were announced in three departments.

2) Layoffs were announced because profits declined and also morale suffered with cost-cutting.

3) The company’s profits declined sharply and the new CEO implemented cost-cutting measures and employee morale also suffered and layoffs were announced.

4) After the company’s profits declined sharply, the new CEO implemented cost-cutting measures, including layoffs in three departments, which further damaged employee morale.

#25. The documentary explores how social media algorithms [BLANK] users’ political beliefs by limiting exposure to opposing viewpoints.

1) reinforces

2) reinforcing

3) reinforce

4) has reinforced

#26. Paragraph: The Great Barrier Reef supports thousands of marine species. __________ Tourism generates billions of dollars annually for the Australian economy. Conservation groups have called for stricter protections against agricultural runoff and shipping traffic. Which sentence best fills the blank to improve the paragraph’s coherence?

1) Australia is the world’s sixth-largest country by land area.

2) Beyond its ecological importance, the reef also serves as a major economic resource.

3) The reef was first mapped by Captain James Cook in 1770.

4) Many tourists prefer to visit the reef during the winter months.

#27. The professor asked the students to submit [BLANK] research proposals by Friday.

1) their

2) there

3) they’re

4) its

#28. Traveling through the mountain pass at dawn, [BLANK].

1) the sunrise was breathtaking to the hikers

2) a breathtaking sunrise appeared before them

3) the hikers were awed by the breathtaking sunrise

4) it was a breathtaking sunrise that the hikers saw

#29. The report concluded that renewable energy sources, [BLANK] solar and wind power, have become increasingly cost-competitive with fossil fuels over the past decade.

1) such as

2) for instance:

3) like;

4) example,

#30. Essay excerpt: Many students struggle with time management during their first year of college. [A] Without effective planning, assignments pile up quickly. [B] Furthermore, the freedom of college life means fewer external reminders about upcoming deadlines. [C] Students should also eat a balanced diet and exercise regularly. [D] Developing a consistent scheduling routine early in the semester can prevent these problems from escalating. Which sentence disrupts the paragraph’s focus and should be removed?

1) Sentence A

2) Sentence B

3) Sentence C

4) Sentence D

#31. A store marks up the wholesale price of a jacket by 60% to set the retail price. During a sale, the store offers a 25% discount off the retail price. If the wholesale price is $80, what is the sale price?

1) $92.00

2) $88.00

3) $100.00

4) $96.00

#32. A recipe calls for 2¾ cups of flour to make 18 cookies. How many cups of flour are needed to make 48 cookies?

1) 7⅓ cups

2) 6½ cups

3) 8¼ cups

4) 7 cups

#33. Marcus earns $18.50 per hour for the first 40 hours per week and 1.5 times his regular rate for overtime. If he worked 47 hours last week, what were his total gross earnings?

1) $934.25

2) $869.50

3) $935.75

4) $934.75

#34. A printer can print 38 pages per minute. How many complete minutes will it take to print a 500-page document?

1) 13 minutes

2) 14 minutes

3) 12 minutes

4) 15 minutes

#35. The ratio of red marbles to blue marbles in a bag is 5:3. If there are 120 marbles in total and all marbles are either red or blue, how many blue marbles are in the bag?

1) 75

2) 50

3) 45

4) 48

#36. Solve for x: 3(2x – 5) + 4 = 7x – 8

1) x = -3

2) x = 3

3) x = -1

4) x = 1

#37. A taxi charges a flat fee of $3.50 plus $2.25 per mile. If a passenger has exactly $25 to spend, what is the maximum number of complete miles the passenger can travel?

1) 10 miles

2) 11 miles

3) 8 miles

4) 9 miles

#38. Which equation represents a line perpendicular to y = (2/3)x + 5 and passing through the point (4, -1)?

1) y = (-3/2)x + 5

2) y = (2/3)x – 1

3) y = (-3/2)x – 1

4) y = (3/2)x + 5

#39. Factor completely: 2x² + 7x – 15

1) (2x – 3)(x + 5)

2) (2x + 5)(x – 3)

3) (2x + 3)(x – 5)

4) (2x – 5)(x + 3)

#40. If f(x) = 3x² – 2x + 1, what is f(-2)?

1) 9

2) 17

3) 13

4) 21

#41. A cylindrical water tank has a radius of 5 feet and a height of 12 feet. What is the volume of the tank in cubic feet? (Use π ≈ 3.14)

1) 942 cubic feet

2) 376.8 cubic feet

3) 188.4 cubic feet

4) 1,884 cubic feet

#42. In triangle ABC, angle A measures 52° and angle B measures 73°. What is the measure of angle C?

1) 65°

2) 55°

3) 45°

4) 35°

#43. A ladder 20 feet long leans against a wall, with its base 12 feet from the wall. How high up the wall does the ladder reach?

1) 8 feet

2) 14 feet

3) 16 feet

4) 18 feet

#44. A rectangular garden measures 24 feet by 18 feet. A walkway 3 feet wide is built around the entire outside of the garden. What is the area of the walkway alone?

1) 270 sq ft

2) 252 sq ft

3) 306 sq ft

4) 288 sq ft

#45. Two similar triangles have a scale factor of 3:5. If the area of the smaller triangle is 36 square centimeters, what is the area of the larger triangle?

1) 100 sq cm

2) 60 sq cm

3) 90 sq cm

4) 80 sq cm

#46. A dataset contains the following values: 12, 15, 18, 18, 20, 22, 25, 28, 30. What is the interquartile range (IQR)?

1) 10

2) 12

3) 13

4) 11

#47. A bag contains 6 red balls, 4 green balls, and 5 yellow balls. If two balls are drawn without replacement, what is the probability that both are green?

1) 2/35

2) 4/75

3) 6/105

4) 8/225

#48. The mean score on an exam is 74 with a standard deviation of 8. Using the empirical rule (68-95-99.7), approximately what percentage of students scored between 58 and 90?

1) 68%

2) 95%

3) 99.7%

4) 84%

#49. A survey of 200 college students found that 120 prefer coffee, 60 prefer tea, and 20 prefer neither. How many students prefer both coffee and tea?

1) 0

2) 10

3) 20

4) 30

#50. A scatter plot of study hours versus exam scores shows a correlation coefficient of r = 0.87. Which statement best interprets this value?

1) Studying more hours causes higher exam scores

2) Exam scores increase by 0.87 points for each additional hour of study

3) 87% of students who study more earn higher scores

4) There is a strong positive linear association between study hours and exam scores

#51. Essay Assignment

Prompt: Some educators argue that high schools should replace traditional letter grades (A, B, C, D, F) with a competency-based assessment system in which students advance only after demonstrating mastery of specific skills. Supporters claim this approach reduces grade inflation and ensures genuine learning, while opponents worry it could increase pressure on students and create logistical challenges for colleges evaluating applicants. Write a persuasive essay in which you take a clear position on whether high schools should adopt competency-based assessment in place of traditional letter grades. Support your argument with specific reasons and examples.

Suggested thesis: Competency-based assessment better prepares students for real-world demands by prioritizing skill mastery over arbitrary grade benchmarks.

Rubric focus areas: Clear thesis and persuasive stance; logical organization with coherent transitions; specific examples and evidence supporting claims; effective acknowledgment and rebuttal of counterarguments; command of grammar, syntax, and academic tone.

CRC Exam #3

Results