Level Test

A customs union is an organization of autonomous countries that agree that international trade between member states is free of restrictions. They place a tariff or other restrictions on products entering the customs union from nonmember states. One of the best-known customs unions is the European Union (EU). 1.) The word autonomous in the passage is closest in meaning to:

Humans have long enjoyed passerines for their songs and their almost infinite variety of colors, patterns, and behavioral traits. Many passerines are considered to be quite agile. Among the most energetic of them is the swallow, whose small body is designed for effortless maneuvering. 2.) The word agile in the passage is closest in meaning to:

3.) A cure for ALS _______ until more funds are allocated to basic research.

4.) In general, by the fifth year of production, the price of a new piece of technology _________ significantly.

5.) In the fall, most trees lose _______, which have, by then, turned from green to gold and orange.

6.) ___________ designs on a wall, also known as graffiti, has become associated with gang activity in many neighborhoods throughout the country.

7.) Harry Potter is a character ______ J.K. Rowling created for Harry Potter book series.

8.) Lions, which are known to travel in groups or prides, both provide for and defend ________ through group cooperation.

9.) ___________ like Burger King and Subway have used franchising to extend their international sales.

10.) _______ 250,000 species of fossils have been discovered in both organized, scientific searches and by sheer accident.

11.) Tuition at an American University runs ___________ forty thousand dollars a semester.

12.) All of the senses ______ smell must pass through intermediate gateways to be processed before they are registered to the brain.

13.) More murders are reported _____ December in the U.S.A. than during any other month.

14.) The archaic seal script was often retained for formal titles. It was also adapted to the small seals that have been used as signatures from the Han period to the present. The word archaic in the passage is closest in meaning to:

15.) Choose the correct synonym for capriciously

16.) Choose the correct synonym for renown:

Native American art often incorporates a language of abstract visual symbols. The artist gives a poetic message to the viewer, communicating the beauty of an idea, either by using religious symbols or a design from nature such as rain on leaves or sunshine on water. The idea communicated may even be purely whimsical, in which case the artist might start out with symbols developed from a bird's tracks or a child's toy. 17.) The main idea of the passage is that Native American art:

Ratatouille is a dish that has grown in popularity over the last few years. It features eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes, peppers, and garlic chopped, mixed, sautéed, and finally, cooked slowly over low heat. As the vegetables cook slowly, they make their own broth, which may be extended with a little tomato paste. The name ratatouille comes from the French word touiller, meaning to stir or mix together. 18.) Ratatouille can best be described as a:

Sushi, the thousand-year-old Japanese delicacy, started small in the United States, in a handful of restaurants in big cities. Today, sushi consumption in America is 50% greater than it was ten years ago and not just in restaurants. Sushi is also sold at concession stands in sports stadiums, university dining halls, and in supermarkets throughout the country. 19.) This paragraph best supports the statement that

Cora made one last futile effort to convince her husband and left the house. 20.) The word futile is closest in meaning to: