Free CBEST Section 2: Reading Exam Braindumps (page: 12)

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The Sami are an indigenous people living in the northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russias Kola peninsula. Originally, the Sami religion was animistic; that is, for them, nature and natural objects had a conscious life, a spirit. One was expected to move quietly in the wilderness and avoid making a disturbance out of courtesy to these spirits. Ghengis Khan is said to have declared that the Sami were one people he would never try to fight again. Since the Sami were not warriors and did not believe in war, they simply disappeared in times of conflict. They were known as "peaceful retreaters."
On the basis of above passage please answer the following question
Based on the tone of the passage, which of the following words best describes the authors attitude toward the Sami people?

  1. admiring
  2. pitying
  3. contemptuous
  4. patronizing
  5. perplexed

Answer(s): A

Explanation:

To depict the Sami, the author uses words that point to their gentleness, which is an admirable quality: They move quietly, display courtesy to the spirits of the wilderness, and were known as peaceful retreaters. There is nothing pitying, contemptuous, or patronizing in the language, and nothing in the passage indicates that the author is perplexedthe description of the Sami is clear and to the point.



Electronic mail (e-mail) has been in widespread use for more than a decade. E-mail simplifies the flow of ideas, connects people from distant offices, eliminates the need for meetings, and often boosts productivity. But e-mail should be carefully managed to avoid unclear and inappropriate communication. E-mail messages should be concise and limited to one topic.
When complex issues need to be addressed, phone calls are still best.
On the basis of above passage please answer the following question
The paragraph best supports the statement that e-mail

  1. is not always the easiest way to connect people from distant offices.
  2. has changed considerably since it first began a decade ago.
  3. causes people to be unproductive when it is used incorrectly.
  4. is most effective when it is wisely managed.
  5. should be used mainly for unimportant messages.

Answer(s): D

Explanation:

The correct answer is implied by the statement in the third sentence that carefully managed email results in effective communication. Choice a is wrong because the opposite is true. Choice b is wrong because even though e-mail is more widespread, it has not necessarily changed considerably. Choices c and e are not indicated in the paragraph.



More and more office workers telecommute from offices in their own homes. The upside of telecommuting is both greater productivity and greater flexibility.
Telecommuters produce, on average, 20% more than if they were to work in an office, and their flexible schedule allows them to balance both their family and work responsibilities.
On the basis of above passage please answer the following question
The paragraph best supports the statement that telecommuters

  1. have more family responsibilities than workers who travel to the office.
  2. get more work done in a given time period than workers who travel to the office.
  3. produce a better quality work product than workers who travel to the office.
  4. are more flexible in their personal lives than workers who travel to the office.
  5. would do 20% more work if they were to work in an office.

Answer(s): B

Explanation:

This choice is correct because the third sentence states that telecommuters produce 20% more than their on-location counterparts. Choice a is not mentioned in the paragraph. Choice c is wrong because more productivity does not necessarily mean better quality. Choices d is not mentioned, and choice e is refuted in the final sentence.



Fax machines have made it possible for information to be transmitted to distant locations within minutes, but what about confidential information? Are faxes always secure? To avoid having faxes misdirected, arrange for authorized persons to receive and transmit confidential messages. Always phone the recipient about an incoming confidential fax, and make contact a second time to make sure the fax was received.
On the basis of above passage please answer the following question
The paragraph best supports the statement that

  1. the majority of faxes contain confidential information.
  2. faxes should not be sent if the information is confidential.
  3. fax machines should be locked up in secure offices.
  4. precautions should be taken before a confidential fax message is sent.
  5. a fax is more timely than other office transmission systems.

Answer(s): D

Explanation:

The last two sentences point to the need for precautions when sending a fax. There is no indication in the paragraph that choice a is true. Choice b is incorrect because the paragraph indicates that, with caution, confidential faxes can be sent. Choice c is not mentioned. Choice d is vague because it does not define timely; at any rate, a phone call will arrive more quickly than a fax.






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