TOEFL iBT EXAM
Referans: https://tstprep.com/opt-in-complete-toefl-practice-test-11-yt/
The Importance of Seed Plants
P1
Seed plants are the foundation of human diets across the world. Many societies eat almost
exclusively vegetarian fare and depend solely on seed plants for their nutritional needs. A few
crops (rice, wheat, and potatoes) dominate the agricultural landscape. Many crops were
developed during the agricultural revolution when human societies made the transition from
nomadic hunter-gatherers to horticulture and agriculture. Cereals, rich in carbohydrates, provide
the staple of many human diets. Beans and nuts supply proteins. Fats are derived from crushed
seeds, as is the case for peanut and rapeseed (canola) oils or fruits such as olives. Livestock, like
cows and sheep, also consume large amounts of crops.
P2
Staple crops are not the only food derived from seed plants. Fruits and vegetables provide
nutrients, vitamins, and fiber. Sugar, to sweeten dishes, is produced from the monocot sugarcane
and the eudicot sugar beet. Drinks are made from infusions of tea leaves, chamomile flowers,
crushed coffee beans, or powdered cocoa beans. Spices come from many different plant parts:
saffron and cloves are stamens and buds, black pepper and vanilla are seeds, the bark of a bush in
the Laurales family -- shrubs and plants with dark green glossy leaves -- supplies cinnamon, and
the herbs that flavor many dishes come from dried leaves and fruit, such as the red chili pepper.
Additionally, no discussion of seed plant contribution to human diet would be complete without
the mention of alcohol. Fermentation of plant-derived sugars and starches is used to produce
alcoholic beverages in all societies. In some cases, the beverages are derived from the
fermentation of sugars from fruit, as with wines and, in other cases, from the fermentation of
carbohydrates derived from seeds, as with beers.
P3
Seed plants have many other uses, including providing wood as a source of timber for
construction, fuel, and material to build furniture. Most paper is derived from the pulp of
coniferous trees. Fibers of seed plants such as cotton, flax, and hemp are woven into cloth.
Textile dyes, such as indigo, were mostly of plant origin until the advent of synthetic chemical
dyes. The medicinal properties of plants have been known to human societies since ancient
times. There are references to the use of plants’ curative properties in Egyptian, Babylonian, and
Chinese writings from 5,000 years ago.
,P4
Biodiversity ensures a resource for new food crops and medicines. Plant life balances
ecosystems, protects watersheds, mitigates erosion, moderates climate and provides shelter for
many animal species. Threats to plant diversity, however, come from many angles. The
explosion of the human population, especially in tropical countries where birth rates are
highest and economic development is in full swing, is leading to human encroachment into
forested areas. To feed the larger population, humans need to obtain arable land, so there is a
massive clearing of trees. The need for more energy to power larger cities and economic growth
therein leads to the construction of dams, the consequent flooding of ecosystems, and increased
emissions of pollutants.
P5
The number of plant species becoming extinct is increasing at an alarming rate. Because
ecosystems are in a delicate balance, and seed plants maintain close symbiotic relationships with
animals, the disappearance of a single plant can lead to the extinction of connected animal
species. A real and pressing issue is that many plant species have not yet been cataloged, and so
their place in the ecosystem is unknown. These unknown species are threatened by logging,
habitat destruction, and loss of pollinators. They may become extinct before we have the chance
to begin to understand the possible impacts from their disappearance. Efforts to preserve
biodiversity take several lines of action, from preserving heirloom seeds to barcoding species.
Heirloom seeds come from plants that were traditionally grown in human populations, as
opposed to the seeds used for large-scale agricultural production. Barcoding is a technique in
which one or more short gene sequences, taken from a well-characterized portion of the genome,
are used to identify a species through DNA analysis.
1. The word fare in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to
a. Meals
b. Accompaniments c. Fluids
d. Price
2. According to paragraph 1, which of the following is true?
1. Most societies have vegetarian diets and do not consume meat or fish
2. Humans started farming after relying on hunting and gathering
3. Nuts and beans make up an essential part of the human diet
4. Humans get protein from foods like oil and olives
3. The phrase derived from in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to
1. Given to
2. Prepared for
3. Obtained from
4. Moved from
,4. The word glossy in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to
a. Pretty b. Fragrant c. Shiny d. Matted
5. What does the author say about spices?
1. They are made by infusions of crushed beans, leaves, and flowers
2. They all come from seeds that are ground down
3. The majority are from dried leaves and fruit
4. They are sourced from a variety of parts of the plant
6. The author mentions all of the following about alcohol EXCEPT
1. Alcohol is made by the fermentation of sugars and starches from plants
2. Some alcoholic beverages are made with the sugars from fruit
3. Wines are made with fermented fruit sugars
4. Most alcohol is made by fermenting carbohydrates from seeds
7. The word advent in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to
a. Alert b. Development c. Insurgence d. Proceeding
8. According to paragraph 3, seed plants are also used for
1. Cutting trees for wood, construction, and building materials
2. Making indigo dyes for textiles
3. Developing medicine to cure rare ailments
4. Creating hemp for paper and chemical synthetic dyes
9. According to paragraph 4, how does plant life positively affect the environment?
1. Creates watersheds and controls erosion rates
2. Creates biodiversity for new food crops and medicines
3. Provides shelter for and feeds the majority of animal species
4. Stabilizes ecosystems and moderates the climate
, 10. Which of the following best expresses the essential information in the highlighted
sentence in paragraph 4? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave
out essential information.
1. Tropical countries have higher birth rates and faster economic growth
2. Birth rates are highest in developing countries when compared to other nations
3. More people move into areas that were once reserved for forests as the population
grows
4. Tropical countries specifically are taking over forest lands
11. Why does the author talk about “unknown species”?
1. To show that there are many species people do not know about
2. To emphasize that humans do not fully grasp the impact of their use of plants
3. To suggest that the planet might be more biodiverse than we know
4. To imply that we need more biologists studying plant life
12. According to paragraph 5, how do we identify and catalog organisms?
1. Through barcoding and subsequent DNA analysis
2. By preserving heirloom seeds
3. Via a process of barcoding and hi-tech photographs
4. Through advanced DNA analysis
13. Look at the four squares (A, B, C, D) that indicate where the following sentence could
be added to the passage.
Their use in medicine has only increased as the human population and subsequent demand
has grown significantly, and this is putting a strain on the environment and affecting
biodiversity.
Where would the sentence best fit?
Fibers of seed plants such as cotton, flax, and hemp are woven into cloth. A Textile dyes, such as
indigo, were mostly of plant origin until the advent of synthetic chemical dyes. B The medicinal
properties of plants have been known to human societies since ancient times. C There are
references to the use of plants’ curative properties in Egyptian, Babylonian, and Chinese writings
from 5,000 years ago. D
Referans: https://tstprep.com/opt-in-complete-toefl-practice-test-11-yt/
The Importance of Seed Plants
P1
Seed plants are the foundation of human diets across the world. Many societies eat almost
exclusively vegetarian fare and depend solely on seed plants for their nutritional needs. A few
crops (rice, wheat, and potatoes) dominate the agricultural landscape. Many crops were
developed during the agricultural revolution when human societies made the transition from
nomadic hunter-gatherers to horticulture and agriculture. Cereals, rich in carbohydrates, provide
the staple of many human diets. Beans and nuts supply proteins. Fats are derived from crushed
seeds, as is the case for peanut and rapeseed (canola) oils or fruits such as olives. Livestock, like
cows and sheep, also consume large amounts of crops.
P2
Staple crops are not the only food derived from seed plants. Fruits and vegetables provide
nutrients, vitamins, and fiber. Sugar, to sweeten dishes, is produced from the monocot sugarcane
and the eudicot sugar beet. Drinks are made from infusions of tea leaves, chamomile flowers,
crushed coffee beans, or powdered cocoa beans. Spices come from many different plant parts:
saffron and cloves are stamens and buds, black pepper and vanilla are seeds, the bark of a bush in
the Laurales family -- shrubs and plants with dark green glossy leaves -- supplies cinnamon, and
the herbs that flavor many dishes come from dried leaves and fruit, such as the red chili pepper.
Additionally, no discussion of seed plant contribution to human diet would be complete without
the mention of alcohol. Fermentation of plant-derived sugars and starches is used to produce
alcoholic beverages in all societies. In some cases, the beverages are derived from the
fermentation of sugars from fruit, as with wines and, in other cases, from the fermentation of
carbohydrates derived from seeds, as with beers.
P3
Seed plants have many other uses, including providing wood as a source of timber for
construction, fuel, and material to build furniture. Most paper is derived from the pulp of
coniferous trees. Fibers of seed plants such as cotton, flax, and hemp are woven into cloth.
Textile dyes, such as indigo, were mostly of plant origin until the advent of synthetic chemical
dyes. The medicinal properties of plants have been known to human societies since ancient
times. There are references to the use of plants’ curative properties in Egyptian, Babylonian, and
Chinese writings from 5,000 years ago.
,P4
Biodiversity ensures a resource for new food crops and medicines. Plant life balances
ecosystems, protects watersheds, mitigates erosion, moderates climate and provides shelter for
many animal species. Threats to plant diversity, however, come from many angles. The
explosion of the human population, especially in tropical countries where birth rates are
highest and economic development is in full swing, is leading to human encroachment into
forested areas. To feed the larger population, humans need to obtain arable land, so there is a
massive clearing of trees. The need for more energy to power larger cities and economic growth
therein leads to the construction of dams, the consequent flooding of ecosystems, and increased
emissions of pollutants.
P5
The number of plant species becoming extinct is increasing at an alarming rate. Because
ecosystems are in a delicate balance, and seed plants maintain close symbiotic relationships with
animals, the disappearance of a single plant can lead to the extinction of connected animal
species. A real and pressing issue is that many plant species have not yet been cataloged, and so
their place in the ecosystem is unknown. These unknown species are threatened by logging,
habitat destruction, and loss of pollinators. They may become extinct before we have the chance
to begin to understand the possible impacts from their disappearance. Efforts to preserve
biodiversity take several lines of action, from preserving heirloom seeds to barcoding species.
Heirloom seeds come from plants that were traditionally grown in human populations, as
opposed to the seeds used for large-scale agricultural production. Barcoding is a technique in
which one or more short gene sequences, taken from a well-characterized portion of the genome,
are used to identify a species through DNA analysis.
1. The word fare in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to
a. Meals
b. Accompaniments c. Fluids
d. Price
2. According to paragraph 1, which of the following is true?
1. Most societies have vegetarian diets and do not consume meat or fish
2. Humans started farming after relying on hunting and gathering
3. Nuts and beans make up an essential part of the human diet
4. Humans get protein from foods like oil and olives
3. The phrase derived from in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to
1. Given to
2. Prepared for
3. Obtained from
4. Moved from
,4. The word glossy in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to
a. Pretty b. Fragrant c. Shiny d. Matted
5. What does the author say about spices?
1. They are made by infusions of crushed beans, leaves, and flowers
2. They all come from seeds that are ground down
3. The majority are from dried leaves and fruit
4. They are sourced from a variety of parts of the plant
6. The author mentions all of the following about alcohol EXCEPT
1. Alcohol is made by the fermentation of sugars and starches from plants
2. Some alcoholic beverages are made with the sugars from fruit
3. Wines are made with fermented fruit sugars
4. Most alcohol is made by fermenting carbohydrates from seeds
7. The word advent in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to
a. Alert b. Development c. Insurgence d. Proceeding
8. According to paragraph 3, seed plants are also used for
1. Cutting trees for wood, construction, and building materials
2. Making indigo dyes for textiles
3. Developing medicine to cure rare ailments
4. Creating hemp for paper and chemical synthetic dyes
9. According to paragraph 4, how does plant life positively affect the environment?
1. Creates watersheds and controls erosion rates
2. Creates biodiversity for new food crops and medicines
3. Provides shelter for and feeds the majority of animal species
4. Stabilizes ecosystems and moderates the climate
, 10. Which of the following best expresses the essential information in the highlighted
sentence in paragraph 4? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave
out essential information.
1. Tropical countries have higher birth rates and faster economic growth
2. Birth rates are highest in developing countries when compared to other nations
3. More people move into areas that were once reserved for forests as the population
grows
4. Tropical countries specifically are taking over forest lands
11. Why does the author talk about “unknown species”?
1. To show that there are many species people do not know about
2. To emphasize that humans do not fully grasp the impact of their use of plants
3. To suggest that the planet might be more biodiverse than we know
4. To imply that we need more biologists studying plant life
12. According to paragraph 5, how do we identify and catalog organisms?
1. Through barcoding and subsequent DNA analysis
2. By preserving heirloom seeds
3. Via a process of barcoding and hi-tech photographs
4. Through advanced DNA analysis
13. Look at the four squares (A, B, C, D) that indicate where the following sentence could
be added to the passage.
Their use in medicine has only increased as the human population and subsequent demand
has grown significantly, and this is putting a strain on the environment and affecting
biodiversity.
Where would the sentence best fit?
Fibers of seed plants such as cotton, flax, and hemp are woven into cloth. A Textile dyes, such as
indigo, were mostly of plant origin until the advent of synthetic chemical dyes. B The medicinal
properties of plants have been known to human societies since ancient times. C There are
references to the use of plants’ curative properties in Egyptian, Babylonian, and Chinese writings
from 5,000 years ago. D
