Let�fs do the real TOEFL reading questions(100-2)

[An Min]

Chapter 2
In each British North American colony, the first printing office was established by the Governor and legislative apparatus. Its chief purpose was to publish materials supporting the government's official public communications arena. Aside from these specialized ventures, most subsequent print centers commenced printing and publishing with a weekly newspaper. This had become a regular practice by the mid-1760s, earlier in colonies with the longest tradition of printing.

America's first continuously-published newspaper, the Boston News-Letter published its first issue on April 24, 1704. John Campbell, a bookseller and postmaster of Boston, was its first editor, printing the newspaper on what was then referred to as a half-sheet. It originally appeared on a single page, printed on both sides and issued weekly. In the early years of its publication the News-Letter was filled mostly with news from London journals detailing the intrigues of English politics, and a variety of events concerning the European wars. The rest of the newspaper was filled with items listing ship arrivals, deaths, sermons, political appointments, fires, accidents and the like.

One of the most sensational stories published when the News-Letter was the only newspaper in the colonies was the account of how Blackbeard the pirate was killed in hand-to-hand combat on the deck of a sloop that had engaged his ship in battle. Campbell relinquished his stewardship of the paper in 1722 to Bartholomew Green, its printer. As editor, Green devoted less space to overseas events and more to domestic news.

When Green died after a decade as its editor, the News-Letter was inherited by his son John Draper, also a printer. Draper proved to be a better editor and publisher than his predecessors. He enlarged the paper to four good-sized pages, filling it with news from Boston, other towns throughout the colonies and from abroad.

8. What is the main subject of the passage?
(a) the early history of newspapers in America
(b) the Boston News-Letter
(c) contents of the Boston News-Letter
(d) editors of the Boston News-Letter

9. The word �gventures�h in line 3 is closest in meaning to
(a) announcement
(b) habit
(c) speculation
(d) occupation

10. The word �g subsequent�h in line 4 is closest in meaning to
(a) later
(b) efficient
(c) official
(d) adventurous

11. All of the following are given as occupations of John Campbell EXCEPT
(a) printer
(b) editor
(c) bookseller
(d) postmaster

12. According to the passage, all of the following are characteristics of the early years of the Boston News-Letter EXCEPT
(a) most news items were about English politics and European wars
(b) it was printed weekly
(c) items included sensational stories
(d) items included births, deaths, and marriages

13. The word �gintrigues�h in line 11 is closest in meaning to
(a) scandals
(b) plots
(c) workings
(d) outcomes

14. The word �gvariety�h in line 12 is closest in meaning to
(a) explanation
(b) account
(c) selection
(d) detail

15. One of the most exciting stories publishing by the News-Letter was
(a) later found not to be true
(b) about a war
(c) concerning English politics
(d) when the News-Letter had no competitor

16. Which of the following is true about editors after Campbell?
(a) John Draper was the son of Bartholomew Green
(b) Green was editor for 20 years
(c) Both Green and Draper were booksellers
(d) Green was considered a better editor than Draper

17. Where in the passage does the author first discuss a major change to the amount of overseas news included in the News-Letter?
(a) lines 8-10
(b) lines 11-14
(c) lines 18-19
(d) lines 21-23

[hsengoren]

My attempts:
8.A 9. A 10.A 11.A 12. D 13. B 14. C 15. B 16. A 17. D

[An Min]

The correct answers are as follows.
<font color="brown">8.B 9.C 10.A 11.A 12. D 13. B 14. C 15. D 16. A 17. C</font id="brown">

[An Min]

Originally posted by hsengoren

My attempts:
15. B

For Q15
"One of the most sensational stories published when the News-Letter was the only newspaper in the colonies."

From the above sentence, we can consider that the News-Letter had no competitor that period. Therefore, the correct answer is D.

[hsengoren]

Originally posted by An Min
For Q15
"One of the most sensational stories published when the News-Letter was the only newspaper in the colonies."

From the above sentence, we can consider that the News-Letter had no competitor that period. Therefore, the correct answer is D.

Q15 seems controversial.
One of the most sensational stories published when the News-Letter was the only newspaper in the colonies was the account of how Blackbeard the pirate was killed in hand-to-hand combat on the deck of a sloop that had engaged his ship in battle.

In the 3rd paragraph, yes, it says that the News-Letter had no competitor. But it also says that one of the most sensational stories published was the account of how a pirate was killed in a battle.

[An Min]

Q15 seems controversial.
One of the most sensational stories published when the News-Letter was the only newspaper in the colonies was the account of how Blackbeard the pirate was killed in hand-to-hand combat on the deck of a sloop that had engaged his ship in battle.

In the 3rd paragraph, yes, it says that the News-Letter had no competitor. But it also says that one of the most sensational stories published was the account of how a pirate was killed in a battle.

<font color="brown">
Hi, hsengoren. Thank you for your reply.
I abbreviate the above sentence as follow.
"One of the most sensational stories was the account of how the pirate was killed in a battle."
In my view, the new is meanly about the death of a pirate, but not a battle. Besides,here, the "battle" indicates a quarrel rather than a war.
</font id="brown">

[hsengoren]

Originally posted by An Min
"One of the most sensational stories was the account of how the pirate was killed in a battle."
In my view, the new is meanly about the death of a pirate, but not a battle. Besides,here, the "battle" indicates a quarrel rather than a war.

Yeah, you may be right. The death of the pirate is only an incident in a battle. The sensational story is about that incident but not about a war. Thanks.

[Zareen]

my answer is 8b 9a 10a 11a 12d 13b 14c 15d 16a 17b

but my is 17c?

17. Where in the passage does the author first discuss a major change to the amount of overseas news included in the News-Letter?
(b) lines 11-14 " I thought this para explain it clearly : As editor, Green devoted less space to overseas events and more to domestic news."

(c) lines 18-19 "He enlarged the paper to four good-sized pages, filling it with news from Boston, other towns throughout the colonies and from abroad."

[doua hariri]

i guess the correct answers are :
8-a
9-a
10-c
11-d
12-c
13-c
14-c
15-a
16-d
17-c

[mbm09]

Hello An Min,
That is a good threat, indeed.
Do you have more reading tests?
Thanks.