ISEE Upper Level Reading Comprehension Practice Test 24

1. The primary purpose of the passage is to

• A. show how heroic Edison's actions were.
• B. describe a turning point in Edison's life.
• C. explain why Edison was so deeply in debt.
• D. chastise managers who can't repair their own equipment.

2. The tone of the second paragraph can best be described as

• A. friendly optimism.
• B. solitary trepidation.
• C. lonely anticipation.
• D. peaceful nostalgia.

3. It can be inferred that Edison's patents

• A. were one-of-a-kind.
• B. were popular on the open market.
• C. paid for his steamer ticket.
• D. were insufficiently profitable.

4. The phrase "commercially oriented" (line 7) refers to Edison's belief that in New York City, he could

• A. get out of debt.
• B. sell real estate.
• C. live in a basement apartment.
• D. get a job repairing equipment.

5. The phrase "boggled my mind" is included in order to

• A. show Edison's shock at being able to fix the machine.
• B. show Edison's surprise that he was in the right place at the right time.
• C. show the others' disbelief at Edison's ability to fix the machine.
• D. show Edison's amazement at the job offer that resulted from fixing the machine.

6. In line 39, "delivered" most nearly means

• A. saved.
• B. carried.
• C. produced.
• D. detached.

7. Which best expresses the main idea of the passage?

• A. The popularity of Matryoshka dolls is declining.
• B. Matryoshka dolls are no longer artistically significant.
• C. Each Matryoshka doll set is unique.
• D. Matryoshka dolls are classic forms of Russian art.

8. The author suggests that Matryoshka dolls were

• A. used as inspiration for other art forms.
• B. traditionally designed to represent Russian leaders.
• C. intended to be used for clothing designs.
• D. designed to portray unhappy Russian people.

9. Which best describes the organization of lines 18-24?

• A. A procedure is described sequentially.
• B. A claim is made and examples supporting that claim are presented.
• C. The inspiration for an art form and its effects are given.
• D. The future of an art form is discussed.

10. According to the passage, which is true of Matryoshka dolls?

• A. They are no longer popular outside of Russia.
• B. They are a style of art unique to Russia.
• C. They have several dolls in a single set.
• D. They represent one gender in each set.

11. The author of the passage appears to care most deeply about the fact that

• A. Matryoshka dolls are trademarks of Russian art.
• B. the innermost doll represents a baby.
• C. Matryoshka dolls are artistically valuable because of the way they are painted.
• D. some Matryoshka dolls take months to make.

12. According to the passage, the Matryoshka dolls were originally inspired by

• A. Russia leaders.
• B. Japanese dolls.
• C. traditional fairy tale characters.
• D. the desire to create a uniquely Russian art form.