Let's do the real TOEFL reading questions(100-34)

[An Min]

(-_-)/ Too many names and technical terms in the following passage may be confusing. (-_-)/


The Prairie School was a brief association and interaction among a small group of architects who practiced in the Chicago area during the period, roughly, between 1900 and 1925. Frank Lloyd Wright and the inspirational Louis Sullivan, are the best known, and Wright was its principal philosopher and practitioner, but the group also included William Purcell, George Elmslie, George Maher, Dwight Perkins, Walter Burley Griffin, Marion Mahony, Barry Byrne, and others. Their purpose was to develop an American architecture especially suited to the Midwest, and they created the Prairie Style. Although it was mostly residential, they adapted it to banks, churches, schools, offices, libraries, and commercial buildings.

They evolved the elements of the Prairie Style in reaction to the “tall” and “tight” Victorian houses found huddled about on Chicago’s flatlands-all “overdressed” and fancy-bracketed. They yearned for simplicity. Wright had an idea that the horizontal planes in buildings, those planes parallel to earth, identify themselves with the ground --- make the building belong to the ground. The horizontal line became the most basic element of Prairie School design. He got rid of the attic and the basement, replaced the many chimneys with one or two kept low-down, and gave a broad protecting roof-shelter to the whole building.

The Prairie School indirectly influenced the design of house that were built in between 1900 and 1930, principally because of the popularity of their American Four-square, sometimes called the Prairie Box. It was, essentially, a two-story square or rectangle with a low-pitched hip roof and a symmetrical façade. Most have a one-story porch across the entire front. They were generally built with constancy by local contractors all over the country and were also available from the ready-cut catalogues of Sears Roebuck, Montgomery Ward, and others. Contrary to Wright’s Prairie-house principles, they have attics, usually with dormers, and they also have basements. Some of these Four-Squares, however, display exterior decoration in the Prairie Style, while others exhibit architectural ornamentation in the Classical, Colonial, and Tudor styles.

31. The Prairie School was a group of architects whose designs were mainly for
(a) commercial building
(b) banks, churches, schools, offices
(c) houses
(d) industry

32. Two word “interaction” in line 1 is closest in meaning to
(a) communication
(b) interchanging
(c) productive
(d) location

33. Why was the prairie style created?
(a) because that was what people wanted
(b) to develop a style suited to the area
(c) to define the group of architects from other groups
(d) because of the influence of Louis Sullivan

34. The word “evolved” in line 9 is closest in meaning to
(a) changed
(b) emphasized
(c) constructed
(d) developed

35. It can be inferred that the majority of houses on Chicago’s flatlands were
(a) overcrowded with people
(b) for the wealthy
(c) not suited to the location
(d) very British

36. It can be inferred that the typical Prairie Style of house looked MOST like which of the following?
(a) [|)]The choice, a figure, cannot be available
(b) [|)]The choice, a figure, cannot be available
(c) [|)]The choice, a figure, cannot be available
(d) [|)]The choice, a figure, cannot be available

37. It can be inferred that a Prairie Style house had all of the following characteristics EXCEPT
(a) one main roof
(b) lower to the ground
(c) not many chimneys
(d) not usually more than on two levels

38. The word “constancy” in line 20 is closest in meaning to
(a) speed
(b) faithfulness
(c) eagerness
(d) timber

39. In which of the following ways did the Four-Square houses differ from the principles of the Prairie Style, according to the passage?
(a) they had more chimneys
(b) they could usually house more than one family
(c) they could be built more easily
(d) they had basements

40. The author mentions which style of decoration that was sometimes common to the outside of both the Prairies Style and the Prairie Box houses?
(a) Colonial
(b) Prairie
(c) Tudor
(d) classical

[hsengoren]

My answers:
31.C 32.A 33.B
34.D 35.D 36.No answer
37.D 38.B 39.D
40.B (I'm not sure about this)

[An Min]

Hello, hsengoren.
Thank you for your answer.

I am waiting for Hoppi's answers or post the correct answers after one day.

With best regards.

[hsengoren]

C'mon Hippo!

[An Min]

I regret that here aren't Hippo's answers. Anyway, I post the correct answers for you and hsengoren.
With best regards.

31. The Prairie School was a group of architects whose designs were mainly for
<font color="brown">(c)</font id="brown"> houses

32. Two word �ginteraction�h in line 1 is closest in meaning to
<font color="brown">(a)</font id="brown"> communication

33. Why was the prairie style created?
<font color="brown">(b)</font id="brown"> to develop a style suited to the area

34. The word �gevolved�h in line 9 is closest in meaning to
<font color="brown">(d)</font id="brown"> developed

35. It can be inferred that the majority of houses on Chicago�fs flatlands were
<font color="brown">(c)</font id="brown"> not suited to the location

36. It can be inferred that the typical Prairie Style of house looked MOST like which of the following?
() The choice, a figure, cannot be available

37. It can be inferred that a Prairie Style house had all of the following characteristics EXCEPT
<font color="brown">(d)</font id="brown"> not usually more than on two levels

38. The word �gconstancy�h in line 20 is closest in meaning to
<font color="brown">(b)</font id="brown"> faithfulness

39. In which of the following ways did the Four-Square houses differ from the principles of the Prairie Style, according to the passage?
<font color="brown">(d)</font id="brown"> they had basements

40. The author mentions which style of decoration that was sometimes common to the outside of both the Prairies Style and the Prairie Box houses?
<font color="brown">(b)</font id="brown"> Prairie

[Hippo]

Hi guys,

I was quite busy these too days, I just have no time to answer the questions.

In general I agree with the An Min's strategy to post answers after the all people trys but not later than 1 day. If someone is late, like me now, he is able to post his comments of the correct answers.

Ok, now I go on farther to the comments:

I have doubts about the 35th because of the following sentence in the text:

"They evolved the elements of the Prairie Style in reaction to the “tall” and “tight” Victorian houses found huddled about on Chicago’s flatlands-all “overdressed” and fancy-bracketed. They yearned for simplicity. "

Houses were overdressed, but it isn't stated in the text that they were not suitable for the location. And "Victorian style" as far as I understand is english one; thus I think the right answer for the 35th question should be D.


P.S. I'm going to have my exam on Thursday. I'm leaving for Moscow tomorrow in the morning; thus I'll read your comments on Saturday or on Sunday only. Nevertheless I will be glad to hear them.

P.P.S. Cross your fingers for me ;-).

[An Min]

P.S. I'm going to have my exam on Thursday. I'm leaving for Moscow tomorrow in the morning; thus I'll read your comments on Saturday or on Sunday only. Nevertheless I will be glad to hear them.

P.P.S. Cross your fingers for me ;-).

Year, hippo, try your best in the test!!
No doubt you will succeed.

Originally posted by Hippo

I have doubts about the 35th because of the following sentence in the text:

"They evolved the elements of the Prairie Style in reaction to the “tall�Eand “tight�EVictorian houses found huddled about on Chicago’s flatlands-all “overdressed�Eand fancy-bracketed. They yearned for simplicity. "

Houses were overdressed, but it isn't stated in the text that they were not suitable for the location. And "Victorian style" as far as I understand is english one; thus I think the right answer for the 35th question should be D.

My book really says the correct answer about Q35 is C.

[hsengoren]

Good luck Hippo...