The central idea of the passage is that

it is hard to form a realistic sense of the vastness of time

According to lines 48-53, one difficulty in using a linear representation of time is that

scale with space for human exp. makes a map too long to copy

The author discusses several kinds of time scales primarily to demonstrate the

immensity of time since life on Earth began

The author uses the analogy of the blind man in lines 31-33 to primarily show that

long periods of time can be understood only indirectly

The passage most strongly suggests that which of the following is true of humans

human life is extremely short compared to Earths beginning

The purpose of the references to the Big Bang and the Cambrian period in lines 39-43 is to

depicts the Earth's age is known by using a weeks time scale

Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?

Lines 30-31 ("One can only ... description")

Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?

lines 70-72 ("On this scale... a comma")

The author's stance can best be described as that of

expert presenting an abstract idea in an accessible manner

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11 termsStudBud Administration

A reading quiz to assess students preparedness for the SAT

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Questions 11

Answers

1
As used in line 29, "ready" most nearly means
willing
immediate
prepared
set
2
The central idea of the passage is that
scientists have difficulty figuring out when life began
life on the Earth started an extremely long time ago
human life is short in comparison to the age of the Earth
it is hard to form a realistic sense of the vastness of time
3
According to lines 48-53, one difficulty in using a linear representation of time is that
info on pre-Cambrian time isn't enough to make a linear map
scale with space for human exp. makes a map too long to copy
It does not meet accepted scientific standards of accuracy
prehistoric eras overlap each other, making thing deceptive
4
The author discusses several kinds of time scales primarily to demonstrate the
choices scientist have when investigating the origin of life
difficulty of assigning precise dates to past events.
immensity of time since life on Earth began
evolution of efforts to comprehend the passage of history
5
The author uses the analogy of the blind man in lines 31-33 to primarily show that
humans refuse to learn from lessons of the past
long periods of time can be understood only indirectly
human history is a fraction of the time since life begins
humans are unable to comprehend long periods of time
6
The passage most strongly suggests that which of the following is true of humans
photography has helped humans understand the passage of time
human life is extremely short compared to Earths beginning
human development can be traced through writings and art
humans understand the Earth's age when its compared to a day
7
As used in line 11, "embodied" most nearly means
symbolized
personified
exemplified
embraced
8
The purpose of the references to the Big Bang and the Cambrian period in lines 39-43 is to
depicts the Earth's age is known by using a weeks time scale
suggest that agriculture was a relatively late development
argue, there are no fossils that predate the Cambrian period
indicate that the Cambrian period lasted 600 million years
9
Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?
Lines 63-65 ("Almost the whole ...book")
Lines 30-31 ("One can only ... description")
Lines 24-27 ("Yet ... an eyelid")
Lines 5-7 ("The shortness... recollection")
10
Which choice provides the best evidence for the answer to the previous question?
lines 34-37 ("The customary...Earthly day")
lines 70-72 ("On this scale... a comma")
lines 9-12 ("before writing...verbally")
lines 14-17 ("Writing has made immediate past")
11
The author's stance can best be described as that of
expert presenting an abstract idea in an accessible manner
a journalist trying to improve the understanding of history
humorist trying to make a scientific topic entertaining
scholar providing evidence to support a newly devised theory

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