Middle Level ISEE Reading Practice Test 71

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1 Everyone has had attacks of the
2 hiccups, or hiccoughs, at one point in his or
3 her life. Few people, however, think about
4 what is happening to them and how hiccups
5 begin and end.
6 The diaphragm is a large muscle,
7 shaped like a dome, that sits at the base
8 of the chest cavity. As one breathes, the
9 diaphragm gently contracts and relaxes
10 to help the process. Occasionally, an
11 irritation near the diaphragm or a disease
12 may cause the muscle to spasm, or contract
13 suddenly. The spasm will suck air into the
14 lungs past the vocal cords. A small flap
15 called the epiglottis tops the vocal cords so
16 that food will not accidentally enter into
17 the windpipe. The sudden spasm of the
18 diaphragm causes the epiglottis to close
19 quickly. Imagine the pull of air into the
20 vocal cords from the spastic diaphragm
21 hitting the closed epiglottis. This moves
22 the vocal cords, causing the "hic" sound
23 of the hiccup. Although most people don't
24 really worry about the hiccups, attacks may
25 last for days. The exhaustion of hiccupping
26 for days on end has been fatal in certain
27 rare cases. Home remedies abound—from
28 breathing into paper bags to squeezing on
29 pressure points that supposedly relax the
30 diaphragm.

1. The primary purpose of the passage is to

  • A. describe a common occurrence
  • B. prescribe a treatment
  • C. settle a dispute
  • D. warn about a danger

2. According to the passage, one possible cause of hiccups is

  • A. a sudden rush of air
  • B. an irritant near the diaphragm
  • C. breathing in and out of a paper bag
  • D. the closing of the epiglottis

3. As used in line 24, "attacks" most closely means

  • A. advances
  • B. assaults
  • C. bouts
  • D. threats

4. The passage suggests that which of the following makes the "hic" sound of the hiccup?

  • A. The diaphragm
  • B. The lungs
  • C. The stomach
  • D. The vocal cords

5. According to the passage, the hiccups can be fatal due to

  • A. fatigue from days of hiccupping
  • B. home remedies that are toxic
  • C. the humiliation of hiccupping for days on end
  • D. the irritant to the diaphragm

6. The author mentions "hiccoughs" in line 2 in order to

  • A. correct an improper usage
  • B. define a technical term
  • C. indicate an alternate spelling
  • D. weaken a misguided argument