{"id":12164,"date":"2022-12-01T10:10:03","date_gmt":"2022-12-01T10:10:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/blog\/prep\/?p=12164"},"modified":"2022-12-05T19:21:53","modified_gmt":"2022-12-05T19:21:53","slug":"quiz-difficult-passages-and-vocab-in-context","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/psat\/quiz-difficult-passages-and-vocab-in-context\/","title":{"rendered":"PSAT Reading Quiz: Difficult Passages and Vocab-in-Context"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a title=\"PSAT Free Practice Quizzes\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/blog\/prep\/psat\/psat-free-practice-quizzes\/\"><strong>&nbsp;&lt;<\/strong> Back to all quizzes<\/a><\/p>\n<p><b>[&nbsp; MORE Free PSAT Reading Quizzes:&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/study\/psat\/psat-reading-quiz-detail-questions\/\">Detail Questions Quiz<\/a>&nbsp; \u2022&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kaptest.com\/study\/psat\/psat-reading-quiz\/\">Main PSAT Reading Quiz<\/a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<strong>]<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><div  class='avia-builder-widget-area clearfix  avia-builder-el-0  el_before_av_promobox  avia-builder-el-first '><div id=\"custom_html-26\" class=\"widget_text widget clearfix widget_custom_html\"><div class=\"textwidget custom-html-widget\"><div><div class='op-interactive' id='63595ce9d65f8a31f77bebe1' data-title='PSAT Reading Quiz: Advanced Practice and Vocab-in-Context' data-url='https:\/\/kaplannorthamerica.outgrow.us\/63595ce9d65f8a31f77bebe1?vHeight=1' data-width='100%'><\/div><script src='\/\/dyv6f9ner1ir9.cloudfront.net\/assets\/js\/nloader.js'><\/script><script>initIframe('63595ce9d65f8a31f77bebe1');<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\nReference the following passage for the practice questions below:<\/p>\n<p><em>Although the brain comprises only 2 percent of&nbsp;the human body\u2019s average weight, the billions of&nbsp;neurons and trillions of synaptic connections that&nbsp;are the human brain constitute a truly impressive&nbsp;organ. In terms of what it can do, the human brain&nbsp;is in some ways unable to match the brain functioning&nbsp;of \u201clower\u201d animals; in other ways, its capabilities&nbsp;are quite unrivaled. Salmon, caribou, and migrating&nbsp;birds, for example, have navigational abilities&nbsp;unparalleled in our own species, and even dogs and&nbsp;cats have senses of hearing and smell known only,&nbsp;in human form, to comic book superheroes. Yet,&nbsp;no other animal on the planet can communicate,&nbsp;solve problems, or think abstractly about itself and&nbsp;the future as we do. While these relative strengths&nbsp;and weaknesses can be attributed to the unique and&nbsp;sophisticated structure of the human brain, neuroscientists&nbsp;also have traced these characteristics to&nbsp;the human brain\u2019s remarkable flexibility, or what&nbsp;researchers call plasticity.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Encased in a hard, protective skull that by the&nbsp;age of two is already 80 percent of its eventual adult&nbsp;size, the human brain has little room for size expansion&nbsp;even while the rest of the body, especially during&nbsp;adolescence, is experiencing significant changes&nbsp;in physical appearance. Th e first few years of a&nbsp;child\u2019s life are a time of rapid brain growth. At birth,&nbsp;each neuron in the cerebral cortex has an estimated&nbsp;2,500 synapses; by age three, this number blossoms&nbsp;to 15,000 synapses per neuron. Th e average adult,&nbsp;however, has about half that number of synapses.&nbsp;Nevertheless, the human brain\u2019s plasticity allows for&nbsp;marked capacity changes because of usage, practice,&nbsp;and experience throughout one\u2019s life. This idea that&nbsp;the human brain continues to develop and, some&nbsp;might say, improve over the course of one\u2019s life&nbsp;is a relatively new concept. Neuroscientists, even&nbsp;after brain size was no longer considered a direct&nbsp;determiner of brain capacity, once believed that the&nbsp;basic structure and abilities of the adult brain are&nbsp;developed early in life and not subject to change.&nbsp;Although psychologist William James suggested&nbsp;as early as 1890 that \u201corganic matter, especially&nbsp;nervous tissue, seems endowed with a very extraordinary&nbsp;degree of plasticity,\u201d this idea went largely&nbsp;ignored for many years. Then, several provocative&nbsp;experiments dramatically complicated conventional&nbsp;thinking about the human brain.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>In the 1920s, researcher Karl Lashley provided&nbsp;evidence of changes in the neural pathways of&nbsp;rhesus monkeys. By the 1960s, researchers began&nbsp;to explore cases in which older adults who had&nbsp;suffered massive strokes were able to regain&nbsp;functioning, demonstrating that the brain was&nbsp;much more malleable than previously believed.&nbsp;Modern researchers have also found evidence that&nbsp;the brain is able to rewire itself following damage.&nbsp;One of these experiments, for example, examined&nbsp;the various effects an enriched environment, in this&nbsp;case an \u201camusement park\u201d for rats, could have on&nbsp;brain development. Researchers kept one group&nbsp;of rats in an empty cage, devoid of any stimulus,&nbsp;while another group lived in a cage filled with&nbsp;ladders, platforms, boxes, and other toys. Over&nbsp;the course of the experiment, researchers used&nbsp;magnetic resonance imaging technology to observe&nbsp;the brain development of the two groups. Those&nbsp;rats that lived in the enriched environment full of&nbsp;stimuli developed heavier, thicker brains with more&nbsp;neurons and synaptic connections\u2014the cellular&nbsp;activity by which the brain functions\u2014than those&nbsp;that were deprived. Such results were then found&nbsp;to be even more noticeable in humans. Whereas&nbsp;it was once believed that the brain\u2019s physical&nbsp;structure was permanent, this experiment and&nbsp;other contemporary findings show that the brain&nbsp;continues to create new neural pathways and alter&nbsp;existing ones in order to adapt to new experiences,&nbsp;learn new information, and create new memories.&nbsp;As we gain new experiences, some connections&nbsp;are strengthened while others are eliminated in a&nbsp;process called \u201csynaptic pruning.\u201d Frequently used&nbsp;neurons develop stronger connections; those rarely&nbsp;(or never) used eventually die. By developing new&nbsp;connections and pruning away weak ones, the brain&nbsp;is able to adapt to the changing environment, thus&nbsp;confirming an essential point: one\u2019s life experiences&nbsp;and environment not only mold the brain\u2019s&nbsp;particular architecture but can also continue tp&nbsp;expand its capacity to function.<\/em><br \/>\n\t<div   class='av_promobox  avia-button-no   avia-builder-el-1  el_after_av_sidebar  el_before_av_toggle_container '>\t\t<div class='avia-promocontent'><p>\n<strong>Question 1<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>What is the author\u2019s central idea in this passage?<\/p>\n<p>A.&nbsp;The brain\u2019s capability to grow and develop is greatly limited after childhood.<br \/>\nB.&nbsp;The science of studying the brain has come a long way in the past century.<br \/>\nC.&nbsp;The human brain is remarkably flexible and is able to develop new synapses and pathways well into adulthood.<br \/>\nD.&nbsp;Despite many decades of studying brain development and dynamics, scientists are no closer to unlocking the brain\u2019s secrets than they were a hundred years ago.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<div  class=\"togglecontainer   toggle_close_all  avia-builder-el-2  el_after_av_promobox  el_before_av_promobox \" >\n<section class=\"av_toggle_section\"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\"  >    <div role=\"tablist\" class=\"single_toggle\" data-tags=\"{All} \"  >        <p data-fake-id=\"#toggle-id-1\" class=\"toggler \"  itemprop=\"headline\"    role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"toggle-id-1\">Answer 1<span class=\"toggle_icon\" >        <span class=\"vert_icon\"><\/span><span class=\"hor_icon\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>        <div id=\"toggle-id-1\" class=\"toggle_wrap \"  >            <div class=\"toggle_content invers-color \"  itemprop=\"text\"   ><p><strong>C:&nbsp;<\/strong>You must have a firm grasp of&nbsp;the overall passage to understand the author\u2019s central&nbsp;idea. If you\u2019re uncertain, look at the&nbsp;first and last paragraphs. Predict that the author&nbsp;is emphasizing the brain\u2019s plasticity, or flexibility. Choice&nbsp;(C) is correct.<\/p>\n            <\/div>        <\/div>    <\/div><\/section>\n<\/div><br \/>\n\t<div   class='av_promobox  avia-button-no   avia-builder-el-3  el_after_av_toggle_container  el_before_av_toggle_container '>\t\t<div class='avia-promocontent'><p>\n<strong>Question 2<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>According to the passage, which choice best describes the number of synapses per neuron of a three-year-old compared to that of an&nbsp;average adult?<\/p>\n<p>A.&nbsp;Three-year-olds have twice as many synapses per neuron as the average adult.<br \/>\nB.&nbsp;Three-year-olds have half as many synapses per neuron as the average adult.<br \/>\nC.&nbsp;Three-year-olds and adults tend to have about the same number of synapses per neuron.<br \/>\nD.&nbsp;Scientists are unable to tell how many synapses per neuron people have.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<div  class=\"togglecontainer   toggle_close_all  avia-builder-el-4  el_after_av_promobox  el_before_av_promobox \" >\n<section class=\"av_toggle_section\"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\"  >    <div role=\"tablist\" class=\"single_toggle\" data-tags=\"{All} \"  >        <p data-fake-id=\"#toggle-id-2\" class=\"toggler \"  itemprop=\"headline\"    role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"toggle-id-2\">Answer 2<span class=\"toggle_icon\" >        <span class=\"vert_icon\"><\/span><span class=\"hor_icon\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>        <div id=\"toggle-id-2\" class=\"toggle_wrap \"  >            <div class=\"toggle_content invers-color \"  itemprop=\"text\"   ><p><strong>A:&nbsp;<\/strong>When presented with a Detail&nbsp;question, use your Passage Map to locate the section that&nbsp;describes the issue raised by the question stem. Paragraph&nbsp;2 discusses the brain&#8217;s growth and development.&nbsp;(\u201cThe first few . . . synapses\u201c), the author&nbsp;states that three-year-olds have \u201c15,000 synapses per&nbsp;neuron\u201d and that adults have about half of that number.&nbsp;Use this prediction to determine that choice (A) is correct.<\/p>\n            <\/div>        <\/div>    <\/div><\/section>\n<\/div><br \/>\n\t<div   class='av_promobox  avia-button-no   avia-builder-el-5  el_after_av_toggle_container  el_before_av_toggle_container '>\t\t<div class='avia-promocontent'><p>\n<strong>Question 3<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As used in the first paragraph, \u201csophisticated\u201d most nearly means<\/p>\n<p>A.&nbsp;messy<br \/>\nB.&nbsp;intricate<br \/>\nC.&nbsp;unknowable<br \/>\nD.&nbsp;challenging<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<div  class=\"togglecontainer   toggle_close_all  avia-builder-el-6  el_after_av_promobox  el_before_av_promobox \" >\n<section class=\"av_toggle_section\"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\"  >    <div role=\"tablist\" class=\"single_toggle\" data-tags=\"{All} \"  >        <p data-fake-id=\"#toggle-id-3\" class=\"toggler \"  itemprop=\"headline\"    role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"toggle-id-3\">Answer 3<span class=\"toggle_icon\" >        <span class=\"vert_icon\"><\/span><span class=\"hor_icon\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>        <div id=\"toggle-id-3\" class=\"toggle_wrap \"  >            <div class=\"toggle_content invers-color \"  itemprop=\"text\"   ><p><strong>B:&nbsp;<\/strong>The author is describing the&nbsp;brain as \u201cunrivaled\u201d and \u201cunique\u201d in the first paragraph. Predict&nbsp;that \u201csophisticated\u201d most nearly means complicated or&nbsp;elaborate. Choice (B) is correct.<\/p>\n            <\/div>        <\/div>    <\/div><\/section>\n<\/div><br \/>\n\t<div   class='av_promobox  avia-button-no   avia-builder-el-7  el_after_av_toggle_container  el_before_av_toggle_container '>\t\t<div class='avia-promocontent'><p>\n<strong>Question 4<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As used in the second paragraph, \u201cmarked\u201d most nearly means<\/p>\n<p>A.&nbsp;pronounced.<br \/>\nB.&nbsp;modest.<br \/>\nC.&nbsp;infinitesimal.<br \/>\nD.&nbsp;eye-catching.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<div  class=\"togglecontainer   toggle_close_all  avia-builder-el-8  el_after_av_promobox  el_before_av_promobox \" >\n<section class=\"av_toggle_section\"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\"  >    <div role=\"tablist\" class=\"single_toggle\" data-tags=\"{All} \"  >        <p data-fake-id=\"#toggle-id-4\" class=\"toggler \"  itemprop=\"headline\"    role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"toggle-id-4\">Answer 4<span class=\"toggle_icon\" >        <span class=\"vert_icon\"><\/span><span class=\"hor_icon\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>        <div id=\"toggle-id-4\" class=\"toggle_wrap \"  >            <div class=\"toggle_content invers-color \"  itemprop=\"text\"   ><p><strong>A:&nbsp;<\/strong>In this section&nbsp;of the passage, the author explains the significant capacity&nbsp;changes that the human brain can experience, even&nbsp;well into adulthood. Predict that \u201cmarked\u201d most nearly&nbsp;means significant or extraordinary. Choice (A) is correct.<\/p>\n            <\/div>        <\/div>    <\/div><\/section>\n<\/div><br \/>\n\t<div   class='av_promobox  avia-button-no   avia-builder-el-9  el_after_av_toggle_container  el_before_av_toggle_container '>\t\t<div class='avia-promocontent'><p>\n<strong>Question 5<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As used in the third paragraph, \u201cenriched\u201d most nearly means<\/p>\n<p>A.&nbsp;wealthy.<br \/>\nB.&nbsp;enhanced.<br \/>\nC.&nbsp;streamlined.<br \/>\nD.&nbsp;clean.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<div  class=\"togglecontainer   toggle_close_all  avia-builder-el-10  el_after_av_promobox  avia-builder-el-last \" >\n<section class=\"av_toggle_section\"  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BlogPosting\" itemprop=\"blogPost\"  >    <div role=\"tablist\" class=\"single_toggle\" data-tags=\"{All} \"  >        <p data-fake-id=\"#toggle-id-5\" class=\"toggler \"  itemprop=\"headline\"    role=\"tab\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"toggle-id-5\">Answer 5<span class=\"toggle_icon\" >        <span class=\"vert_icon\"><\/span><span class=\"hor_icon\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>        <div id=\"toggle-id-5\" class=\"toggle_wrap \"  >            <div class=\"toggle_content invers-color \"  itemprop=\"text\"   ><p><strong>B:<\/strong>&nbsp;Read around the cited line&nbsp;and word for context to determine the correct answer.&nbsp;The author describes the rats\u2019 environment as being&nbsp;\u201cenriched,\u201d or enhanced, by more stimuli than the environment&nbsp;of the control group. Predict that \u201cenriched\u201d&nbsp;most nearly means enhanced. Choice (B) is correct.<\/p>\n            <\/div>        <\/div>    <\/div><\/section>\n<\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;&lt; Back to all quizzes [&nbsp; MORE Free PSAT Reading Quizzes:&nbsp;&nbsp;Detail Questions Quiz&nbsp; \u2022&nbsp;&nbsp;Main PSAT Reading Quiz&nbsp;&nbsp;] Reference the following passage for the practice questions below: Although the brain comprises only 2 percent of&nbsp;the human body\u2019s average weight, the billions of&nbsp;neurons and trillions of synaptic connections that&nbsp;are the human brain constitute a truly impressive&nbsp;organ. In [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":42003,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[240],"tags":[195,321,322],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12164"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12164"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12164\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":42005,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12164\/revisions\/42005"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42003"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12164"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12164"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpapp.kaptest.com\/study\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12164"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}