TABE Reading and Math TestBank
Questions 1 through 7 refer to the following passage:
In the 16th century, an age of great marine and terrestrial exploration,
Ferdinand Magellan led the first expedition to sail around the world. As a
young Portuguese noble, he served the king of Portugal, but he became
involved in the quagmire of political intrigue at court and lost the king's
favor. After he was dismissed from service by the king of Portugal, he
offered to serve the future Emperor Charles V of Spain.
A papal decree of 1493 had assigned all land in the New World west of 50
degrees W longitude to Spain and all the land east of that line to Portugal.
Magellan offered to prove that the East Indies fell under Spanish authority.
On September 20, 1519, Magellan set sail from Spain with five ships. More
than a year later, one of these ships was exploring the topography of South
America in search of a water route across the continent. This ship sank, but
the remaining four ships searched along the southern peninsula of South
America. Finally they found the passage they sought near 50 degrees S
latitude. Magellan named this passage the Strait of All Saints, but today it is
known as the Strait of Magellan.
One ship deserted while in this passage and returned to Spain, so fewer
sailors were privileged to gaze at that first panorama of the Pacific Ocean.
Those who remained crossed the meridian now known as the International
Date Line in the early spring of 1521 after 98 days on the Pacific Ocean.
During those long days at sea, many of Magellan's men died of starvation
and disease.
Later, Magellan became involved in an insular conflict in the Philippines and
was killed in a tribal battle. Only one ship and 17 sailors under the command
of the Basque navigator Elcano survived to complete the westward journey
to Spain and thus prove once and for all that the world is round, with no
precipice at the edge.
1. The 16th century was an age of great exploration.
A. cosmic
B. land
,C. mental
,D. common man
E. None of the above
2. Magellan lost the favor of the king of Portugal when he became involved in a
political .
A. entanglement
B. discussion
C. negotiation
D. problem
E. None of the above
3. The Pope divided New World lands between Spain and Portugal according to
their location on one side or the other of an imaginary geographical line 50
degrees west of Greenwich that extends in a direction.
A. north and south
B. crosswise
C. easterly
D. south east
E. north and west
4. One of Magellan's ships explored the of South America for a
passage across the continent.
A. coastline
B. mountain range
C. physical features
D. islands
E. None of the above
5. Four of the ships sought a passage along a southern .
A. coast
B. inland
, C. body of land with water on three sides
D. border
E. Answer not available
6. The passage was found near 50 degrees S of .
A. Greenwich
B. The equator
C. Spain
D. Portugal
E. Madrid
7. In the spring of 1521, the ships crossed the now called the
International Date Line.
A. imaginary circle passing through the poles
B. imaginary line parallel to the equator
C. area
D. land mass
E. Answer not available
The following passage refers to questions 8 through 14.
Marie Curie was one of the most accomplished scientists in history. Together
with her husband, Pierre, she discovered radium, an element widely used for
treating cancer, and studied uranium and other radioactive substances.
Pierre and Marie's amicable collaboration later helped to unlock the secrets
of the atom.
Marie was born in 1867 in Warsaw, Poland, where her father was a professor
of physics. At an early age, she displayed a brilliant mind and a blithe
personality. Her great exuberance for learning prompted her to continue
with her studies after high school. She became disgruntled, however, when
she learned that the university in Warsaw was closed to women. Determined
to receive a higher education, she defiantly left Poland and in 1891 entered
the Sorbonne, a French university, where she earned her master's degree
and doctorate in physics.
Questions 1 through 7 refer to the following passage:
In the 16th century, an age of great marine and terrestrial exploration,
Ferdinand Magellan led the first expedition to sail around the world. As a
young Portuguese noble, he served the king of Portugal, but he became
involved in the quagmire of political intrigue at court and lost the king's
favor. After he was dismissed from service by the king of Portugal, he
offered to serve the future Emperor Charles V of Spain.
A papal decree of 1493 had assigned all land in the New World west of 50
degrees W longitude to Spain and all the land east of that line to Portugal.
Magellan offered to prove that the East Indies fell under Spanish authority.
On September 20, 1519, Magellan set sail from Spain with five ships. More
than a year later, one of these ships was exploring the topography of South
America in search of a water route across the continent. This ship sank, but
the remaining four ships searched along the southern peninsula of South
America. Finally they found the passage they sought near 50 degrees S
latitude. Magellan named this passage the Strait of All Saints, but today it is
known as the Strait of Magellan.
One ship deserted while in this passage and returned to Spain, so fewer
sailors were privileged to gaze at that first panorama of the Pacific Ocean.
Those who remained crossed the meridian now known as the International
Date Line in the early spring of 1521 after 98 days on the Pacific Ocean.
During those long days at sea, many of Magellan's men died of starvation
and disease.
Later, Magellan became involved in an insular conflict in the Philippines and
was killed in a tribal battle. Only one ship and 17 sailors under the command
of the Basque navigator Elcano survived to complete the westward journey
to Spain and thus prove once and for all that the world is round, with no
precipice at the edge.
1. The 16th century was an age of great exploration.
A. cosmic
B. land
,C. mental
,D. common man
E. None of the above
2. Magellan lost the favor of the king of Portugal when he became involved in a
political .
A. entanglement
B. discussion
C. negotiation
D. problem
E. None of the above
3. The Pope divided New World lands between Spain and Portugal according to
their location on one side or the other of an imaginary geographical line 50
degrees west of Greenwich that extends in a direction.
A. north and south
B. crosswise
C. easterly
D. south east
E. north and west
4. One of Magellan's ships explored the of South America for a
passage across the continent.
A. coastline
B. mountain range
C. physical features
D. islands
E. None of the above
5. Four of the ships sought a passage along a southern .
A. coast
B. inland
, C. body of land with water on three sides
D. border
E. Answer not available
6. The passage was found near 50 degrees S of .
A. Greenwich
B. The equator
C. Spain
D. Portugal
E. Madrid
7. In the spring of 1521, the ships crossed the now called the
International Date Line.
A. imaginary circle passing through the poles
B. imaginary line parallel to the equator
C. area
D. land mass
E. Answer not available
The following passage refers to questions 8 through 14.
Marie Curie was one of the most accomplished scientists in history. Together
with her husband, Pierre, she discovered radium, an element widely used for
treating cancer, and studied uranium and other radioactive substances.
Pierre and Marie's amicable collaboration later helped to unlock the secrets
of the atom.
Marie was born in 1867 in Warsaw, Poland, where her father was a professor
of physics. At an early age, she displayed a brilliant mind and a blithe
personality. Her great exuberance for learning prompted her to continue
with her studies after high school. She became disgruntled, however, when
she learned that the university in Warsaw was closed to women. Determined
to receive a higher education, she defiantly left Poland and in 1891 entered
the Sorbonne, a French university, where she earned her master's degree
and doctorate in physics.
