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Practice passage (inference)

About the twenty-fifth of April the Hummingbird usually


arrives in Pennsylvania; and about the tenth of May The hummingbird is extremely fond of tubular
begins to build its nest. This is generally fixed on 45 flowers, and I have often stop, with pleasure, to observe
the upper side of a horizontal branch, not among the his maneuvers (movement) among the blossoms (flower)
5 twigs (branch), but on the body of the branch itself. Yet I have of the trumpet flower. When arrived before a thicket of
known instances where it was attached by the side to these that are full
an old moss-grown trunk; and others where it was fastened on a blown, he poises, or suspends himself on wing, for the
strong rank stalk, or weed, in the garden; but these cases are space of two or three seconds, so steadily, that his wings
rare. In the woods it very often chooses 50 become invisible, or only like a mist (sis/hurrii); and you
10 a white oak sapling (plant) to build on; and in the orchard, or can plainly distinguish the pupil of his eye looking round
garden, selects a pear tree for that purpose. The branch is seldom with great quickness and circumspection; the
more than ten feet from the ground. The nest is about an inch in glossy(bright) golden green of his back, and the fire of his
diameter, and as much in depth. A very complete one is now lying throat, dazzling (blind temporarly) in the sun, form
before me, and the materials altogether a most interesting appearance. The

15 of which it is composed are as follows: —The outward coat is


55 position into which his body is usually thrown while in
formed of small pieces of bluish (blue) grey lichen (plant) that the act of thrusting his slender/thin/ tubular tongue
into the
vegetates on old trees and fences, thickly glued (fasten/join) on
flower, to extract its sweets, is exhibited in the figure
with the saliva of the bird, giving firmness and consistency to the
on the plate. When he alights/lands, which is
whole, as well as keeping out moisture. Within
frequently, he always prefers the small dead twigs of
20 this are thick matted layers of the fine wings of certain flying
a tree, or bush,
seeds, closely laid together; and lastly, the downy substance from
60 where he dresses and arranges his plumage
the great mullein (plant name), and from the stalks of the common
(feather/hair) with great dexterity/skill. His only note is a
fern, lines the whole. The base of the nest
single chirp/sound of bird, not louder than that of a small
is continued round the stem of the branch, to which it cricket or grasshopper, generally uttered while passing
25 closely adheres; and, when viewed from below, appears a mere
from flower to flower, or when engaged in fight with his
mossy knot or accidental protuberance/outgrowth/. The eggs are
fellows; for when two males meet at
two, pure white, and of equal thickness at both ends. . . . On a
65 the same bush, or flower, a battle instantly takes place;
person’s approaching their nest, the little
and the combatants ascend in the air, chirping, darting
proprietors dart (move rapidly)around with a humming sound, and circling around each other, till the eye is no longer
passing
able to follow them. The conqueror, however, generally
30 frequently within a few inches of one’s head; and should the
returns to the place, to reap/earn the fruits of his victory. I
young be newly hatched (emerge from egg), the female will
70 have seen him attack, and for a few moments
resume her
tease/irritate the King-bird; and have also seen him, in his
place on the nest even while you stand within a yard or turn, assaulted/attack/ by a humble-bee, which he soon
two of the spot. The precise period of incubation I am put to flight. He is one of those few birds that are
unable to give; but the young are in the habit, a short universally beloved; and amidst the sweet dewy/wet/
35 time before they leave the nest, of thrusting/pushing their
serenity/calmness of a summer’s morning,
bills into the mouths of their parents, and sucking what
they have brought them. I never could perceive that they 75 his appearance among the arbours/place in forest/ of

carried them any animal food; tho, from circumstances honeysuckles, and beds of flowers, is truly interesting.
that will presently be mentioned, I think it highly
40 probable they do. As I have found their nest with
eggs so late as the twelfth of July, I do not doubt
but that they frequently, and perhaps usually,
raise two broods (young) in the same season.
1. The author is mostly concerned with 6. Which choice provides the best evidence for the
answer to the previous question?
A. describing the characteristics of the
hummingbird. A. Lines 28–33 (“On a person’s . . . the spot.”)
B. explaining how hummingbirds build their B. Lines 33–37 (“The precise . . . brought
nests. them.”)
C. convincing the reader that C. Lines 37–40 (“I never . . . they do.”)
hummingbirds are interesting.
D. Lines 61–64 (“His only . . . with his fellows;”)
D. interpreting the meaning of certain
hummingbird behaviors.
7. As it is used in line 60, “dresses” most nearly
means
2. Based on lines 1–3 (“About the twenty-fifth of
April . . . to build its nest.”), it can generally be A. oils.
assumed that humming-birds
B. dons/lecturer

A. take two weeks to build their nests. C. shuffles/mixed

B. migrate elsewhere for the winter. D. neatens/put in order

C. cannot be found in places farther north.


8. In lines 49–50, the author notes that the
D. are mostly solitary animals.
hummingbird’s “wings become invisible, or only like
a mist” to
3. As used in line 3, “fixed” most nearly means
A. show how transparent the wings are.
A. adjusted.
B. emphasize how fast the wings are moving.
B. intended.
C. point out that the sun reflects off the wings.
C. aligned.
D. reiterate that the hummingbird is beautiful.
D. secured.

9. In lines 68–69 (“The conqueror . . . fruits of his


4. In lines 13–26 (“A very complete one . . . victory.”), “fruits of his victory” refers to
accidental protuberance.”), the author is mainly
concerned with how the hummingbird A. the dead twigs of a tree.

B. Lines 58–61 (“When he alights, . . . dexterity.”)


A. uses nearby plants in the nest.
C. Lines 63–65 (“passing from . . . or flower”)
B. builds compact, complicated nests.
D. the other combatant.
C. builds the nest over a period of time.

D. constructs a nest that is waterproof.


10. Which choice provides the best evidence for the
answer to the previous question?
5. It can be inferred from the passage that
hummingbirds
A. Lines 1–3 (“About the twenty-fifth . . . its nest.”)

A. stay in the nest for years at a time. B. Lines 58–61 (“When he alights, . . . dexterity.”)

B. builds compact, complicated nests. C. Lines 63–65 (“passing from, . . . or flower.”)

C. builds the nest over a period of time. D. Lines 66–68 (“and the combatants . . . follow them.”)

D. feed only on the sweet nectar of flowers.


11. The author most likely references the kingbird in
lines 69–71 (“I have seen . . . King-bird.”) to

A. highlight the many dangers that


confront hummingbirds.

B. describe how the hummingbird stays close to


its nest.

C. emphasize that the hummingbird is an


aggressive bird.

D. introduce the idea that the hummingbird does


not only fight for self-defense.

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