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- Section 1: Listening Comprehension: Tests the ability to comprehend spoken English through brief conversations and questions.
- Section 2: Structure and Written Expression: Examines grammar usage suitable for written English with sentence completion tasks.
- Section 3: Reading Comprehension: Measures ability to understand materials, with multiple passages and questions.
Practice Test 2
Bai thuc hanh 2
Peterson's TOEFL Practice - 7172 - Peterson's TOEFL PracticeSection 1
NGHE
LISTENING COMPREHENSION
HIEU
This section tests your ability to com-
prehend spoken English. It is divided
into three parts, each with its own di-
rections. During actual exams, you are
not permitted to turn the page during
the reading of the directions or to take
notes at any time.
Section nay kiém tra kha nang hiéu van
néi tiéng Anh cia ban. No duge chia thinh
ba phan, méi phiin cé hudng din riéng.
Trong bai thi that, khi huéng din dang
dude doc trén bang, ban khéng duge phép
lat trang hofc ghi chu vao bat cif Itic nao.
PART A
be written out,
that you have selected
Here is an example
You will hear:
| You will read:
(A) Open the window.
(8) Move the chair
| (C) Leave the room
(D) Take a seat
Directions: Each item in this part consists of a brief conversation involving
two speakers. Following each conversation, a third voice will ask a question.
You will hear the conversations and questions only once, and they will not
When you have heard each conversation and question, read the four answer
| choices and select the one - (A), (B), (C), or (D) - that best answers the
question based on what is directly stated or on what can be inferred. Then
| fill in the space on your answer sheet that matches the letter of the answer
Peterson's TOEFL Practice - 73From the conversation, you find out that the woman thinks the man
should put the chair over by the window. The best answer to the question
‘What does the woman think the man should do?" is (B), "Move the chair’
You should fill in (B) on your answer sheet.
1. (A) He closed the suitcase.
(8) He just left on a trip.
(C) He put the suitcase away.
(D) He packed his clothes.
2. (A) He came too late to have lunch.
(B) He is going to eat dinner early.
(C) He’s not very hungry.
(D) He’s not going to eat anything.
3. {A) She adjusted to college life eas-
ily.
(B) It was hard for her to get into
college.
{C) She no longer attends college.
(D) It doesn’t take her long to get
to campus.
4. (A) Encouraged.
(B) Indifferent.
{C) Insulted.
(D) Responsible
5. (A) Her mistakes weren't serious.
(B) She made mistakes because she
rushed
(C) She must hurry to the laboratory.
(D) Her work in the laboratory isn’t
finished.
74 - Peterson's TOEFL Practice
Sample Answer
®@eOoO
6. (A) The post office.
(8) Monroe Street,
(C) The courthouse.
(D) Fourth Avenue.
(A) He knew Lynn was majoring in
economics.
(8) He doesn’t think they have any- ~
thing in common.
(C) He knows Mitch better than he
knows Lynn.
™
(D) He’s planning to study econom-
ics himself.
8. (A) How he's going to contact Tony.
(8) Why he needs to speak to Tony.
(C) Where he will meet Tony.
(0) When he’s going to call Tony.
(A) Prepared a meal.
(B) Went to a wedding.
(C) Shopped for groceries.
(0) Worked in a garden.
10. (A) He’s expecting guests.
(B) He can give the introduction.
(C) He’s very well known.
(D) He'll be the main speaker.
28
13.
(A) Tea, not coffee.
(8) Either milk or sugar in her coffee.
(C) Nothing to drink right now.
(D) Black coffee without sugar.
(A) It was indeed exciting.
(B) It was too frightening.
(C) It was mildly interesting.
(D) It was extremely long.
(A) He doesn’t mind moving.
(8) He won't move for two weeks.
(C) He'd rather not be moving.
(D) He’s decided not to move.
(A) She may telephone Arthur.
(8) Perhaps rehearsal should be
canceled.
(C) She can’t practice any other eve-
ning.
(D) Rehearsal has already been
postponed.
(A) Drink some more lemonade.
(B) Put on his glasses.
(C) Make a glass of lemonade.
(D) Buy some more fruit.
. (A) It’s near the entrance.
(8) He doesn’t know where it is.
{C) It’s not in this building.
(D) The directory doesn't list it.
(A) They’re always expensive.
(8) They haven't been cleaned.
(C) They’re inexpensive now.
(0) There aren't any available.
(A) Have lunch with the man.
(8) Join a club.
(C) Skip the meeting.
(D) Walk with the man.
19. (A) It may take more than half an
hour.
The stadium is the best place
to go now.
The stadium will probably be
only half full,
It’s nota good idea to hurry right
now.
Joan is really an easygoing per-
son.
(B) No one believes Joan.
(C) He’s more easygoing than Joan.
(D) No one knows Joan as well as
he does.
Its lyrics are hard to understand.
It needs a stronger melody.
It has become very popular.
Its melody is hard to forget.
She has a stamp exactly like his.
She knows a lot about stamps.
She thinks the stamp is worth-
less.
(8)
(9)
(0)
20. (A)
21. (A)
(8)
()
(0)
22. (A)
(8)
(9
{D) She’s never seen this type of
stamp.
‘They must go to an orientation
session.
They are not new students.
‘They won't be allowed to reg-
ister.
They were given the wrong
schedule.
He lives a long way from a good
library.
Up to now, he hasn't had any
problems.
He’s not happy with the quality
of the research.
When he’s finished the project,
he'll be happy.
23. (A)
(8)
(¢)
(0)
24. (A)
(8)
(C)
0)
Peterson's TOEFL Practice - 7525. (A) They’re both working on a ship.
(B) They're taking summer vaca-
tions together.
{C) They own the same type of boat.
(0) They both have summer jobs.
(A) She thinks Professor Fuller's
class is boring.
(B) She doesn’t know Professor
Fuller.
(C) She agrees with the man’s re-
mark.
(D) She doesn’t understand the
man’s comment.
27. (A) She doesn’t want to be photo-
graphed
(B) The man can have the picture
she took.
(C) Not all the pictures are good.
(D) The man may take her photo-
graph
2
o
28. (A) She loves all kinds of books.
(B) She doesn’t read poetry any-
more.
{C) She doesn’t like all poetry.
(D) She writes many types of po-
ems.
29. (A) In a few days.
(B) Before they eat.
(C) During lunch.
(D) When lunch is over.
30. (A) That the man had not bought
the motorcycle.
(8) That the weather wouldn't be
good today.
(C) That the man would ride to work
today.
(D) That the man did not have to
work today.
PART B
the questions are not written out.
select the one -
| selected
1s not permitted.
Directions: This part of the test consists of extended conversations between
two speakers. After each of these conversations there are a number of
questions. You will hear each conversation and question only once, and
When, you have heard the questions, read the four answer choices and
(A), (B), (C}, or (D) - that best answers the question based
on what is directly stated or on what can be inferred. Then fill in the space
‘on your answer sheet that matches the letter of the answer that you have
Don't forget: During actual exams, taking notes or writing in your test book
76 - Peterson's TOEFL Practice31. (A) He'd lost his driver's license.
(8) His identification wasn’t accept-
able.
(C) He didn’t have his checkbook
(D) The ticket office was closed.
(A) On campus.
(8) In the Midvale Shopping Mall.
(C) On Southland Parkway.
(D) Downtown.
33. (A) A passport.
(B) A check.
{C) A driver's license.
(D) A ticket.
(A) Drive him to the concert.
(8) Cash his check.
(C) Sell him her tickets.
(D) Lend him some money.
3
8
3.
=
35. (A) Doctor and nurse.
(8) Librarian and library patron.
(C) Forest ranger and hiker.
(D) Nurse and patient.
36. (A) Saturday.
(8) Sunday.
(C) Monday.
{D) Tuesday.
37. (A) An allergy to animals.
(8) A reaction to toxic chemicals.
(C) An allergy to food.
(D) Contact with a noxious plant.
38. (A) Look at photographs in the li-
brary.
(8) Take a drug that prevents rashes.
(C) Avoid certain foods.
(D) Stay out of the woods.
PART C
written out.
selected
Here is an example
You will hear:
Now here is a sample question.
You will hear
Directions: This part of the test consists of several talks, each given by a
single speaker. After each of these talks there are a number of questions.
You will hear each talk and question only once, and the questions are not
When you have heard each question, read the four answer choices and
select the one - (A), (B), (C), or (D) - that best answers the question based
on what is directly stated or on what can be inferred. Then fill in the space
on your answer sheet that matches the letter of the answer that you have
Peterson's TOEFL Practice - 77You will read:
(A) Philosophy.
(B) Meteorology.
(C) Astronomy.
(D) Photography.
The lecture concerns a lunar eclipse, a topic that would typically be
discussed in an astronomy class. The choice that best answers the question
“In what course is this lecture probably being given?" is (C), "Astronomy."
You should fill in (C) on your answer sheet.
Sample Answer
®®eo
Here is another sample question
You will hear:
You will read:
(A) The Earth’s shadow moves across the Moon.
(8) Clouds block the view of the Moon.
(C) The Moon moves between the Earth and the Sun.
{D) The Sun can be observed without special equipment.
From the lecture, you learn that a lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth
moves between the Sun and the Moon and the shadow of the Earth passes
across the Moon. The choice that best answers the question "According to
the speaker, which of the following occurs during a lunar eclipse?" is (A),
"The Earth's shadow moves across the Moon."
Don’t forget : During actual exams, taking notes or writing in your test
book is not permitted.
Sample Answer
@®OoO
WAIT
78 - Peterson's TOEFL Practice39. (A) On a bus.
(B) At Crater Lake National Park.
(C) Ina hotel.
(D) In Portland, Oregon.
40. (A) Its mineral content.
(B) The reflection of blue sky in the
water.
(©) The depth and clarity of the lake.
(D) Its low temperature.
(A) It rises rapidly when the snow
melts.
(B) It stays more or less the same
all year.
(C) Itvaries greatly from year to year.
(OD) It drops quickly because of
evaporation and seepage.
42. (A) Communications
(8) Mining
(C) Transportation = —
(D) Journalism
43. (A) Nebraska
(8) California
(C) Utah
(D) Missouri
44. (A)5
(8) 10
(C) 50
(D) 200
4
45. (A) Useless
(8) Dangerous
(C) Boring
(D) High-paying
46. (A) The invention of the telephone.
(B) The beginning of the Civil War.
(C) The expansion of the railroad
system.
(D) The completion of the transcon-
tinental. telegraph.
47. (A) To urge the audience to attend
a play.
(8) To introduce a speaker.
(C) To welcome some new mem-
bers to a club.
{D) To describe opportunities in act-
ing.
48. (A) Ata meeting.
(8) During a drama class.
(C) At a rehearsal.
(0) During auditions for a play.
49. (A) Performing in a television series.
(B) Directing a television commer-
cial
(C) Acting in a New York play.
(D) Appearing in a movie.
50. (A) Became president of the Drama
Club.
(B) Studied in the Drama Depart-
ment
(C) Acted in campus plays
(D) Directed a number of perform-
ances.
THIS IS THE END OF SECTION 1, LISTENING COMPREHENSION.
STOP WORK ON SECTION 1.
Fo
STO!
P
Peterson's TOEFL Practice - 79Section 2
STRUCTURE AND WRITTEN EXPRES-
SION TIME - 25 MINUTES
CAU TRUC VA VAN VIET
THOI GIAN - 25 PHUT
This section tests your ability to recog- Section nay kiém tra kha nang ctia ban vé
nize grammar and usage suitable for _ vige nhan biét ngit phap va cach ding thich
standard written English. It is divided — hgp déi véi van viét tiéng Anh chudn. No
into two parts, each with its own direc- duge chia thanh hai phin, méi phin cé
tions. hudéng dan
STRUCTURE
Directions: Items in this part are incomplete sentences. Following each of
these sentences, there are four words or phrases. You should select the
one word or phrase - (A), (B), (C), or (D) - that best completes the sentence.
Then fill in the space on your answer sheet that matches the letter of the
answer that you have selected
Example |
Pepsin
(A) that
(B) is
(C) of
(D) being
an enzyme used in digestion.
This sentence should properly read "Pepsin is an enzyme used in digestions
You should fill in (B) on your answer sheet,
Sample Answer
®eoo
80 - Peterson's TOEFL PracticeExample Il
(A) There are no
(8) Not the
(©) His not
(0) No
This sentence should properly read "No large natural lakes are found
in the state of South Carolina." You should fill in (D) on your answer sheet
As soon as you understand the directions, begin work on this part.
___ large natural lakes are found in the state of South Carolina
Sample Answer
S®GoOe
o
In 1793, Charles Newbold designed
a cast iron plow that
than the wooden plows then in use.
(A) was more efficient
(8) was of more efficiency
(C) had more efficiency
(0) it was more efficient
think of metallurgy as
a modern field of science, but it is
actually one of the oldest.
(A) Although many people
(8) Many people
(C) Many people who
(0) In spite of many people
Part of Jane Colden’s work involved
collecting plant specimens, catalog-
ing plants, and with
other botanists.
(A) exchanging correspondence
(8) her exchange
dence
of correspon-
(C) correspondence exchanging
(D) correspondence was
exchanged
4. The walls of arteries
into three layers.
(A) they divide
(8) dividing
(C) to be divided
{D) are divided
The art of storytelling is
manity
(A) as old
(B) old as
(C) as old as
(D) old
A cloud is a dense mass of
water vapor or ice particles.
(A) or
(8) whether
(C) both
(D) either
a
hu-
o
Peterson's TOEFL Practice - 817. Centuries of erosion have exposed
rock surfaces in the
Painted Desert of northem Arizona.
(A) rainbow-colored
(8) colored like a rainbow
(C) in colors of the rainbow
(D) a rainbow’s coloring
o
Nellie Ross of Wyoming was the
first woman. governor
in the United States.
{A) who elected
(8) to be elected
(C) was elected
(D) her election as
Dry farming is a type of agriculture
used in areas
than 20 inches of rainfall.
(A) there are
(8) in which is
(C) where there is
(D) which has
10. Once known as the "Golden State"
because of its gold mines,
(A) North Carolina today mines few
metallic minerals
°
less
(8) few metallic minerals are mined
in North Carolina today
(C) there are few metallic minerals
mined in North Carolina today
(0) today in North Carolina few me-
tallic minerals are mined
82 - Peterson's TOEFL Practice
11. Indoor heating systems have made
for people to live and
work comfortably in temperate cli-
mates.
(A) possible that
(8) it possible
(C) possible
(D) it is possible
12. of liquids through
pipes.
(A) The flow controlled by valves
(8) For valves to control the flow
{C) Valves control the flow
(0) Controlled by valves, the flow
13. Honey is the only form of naturally
occurring sugar that
to be refined before it can be eaten.
(A) has not
(8) does not have
(C) not having
(D) does not
14,_____species of wild goats,
only one, the Rocky Mountain goal,
is native to North America.
(A) The ten
(8) Ten of the
(C) Of the ten
{D) There are ten
15. Snare drums produce a sharp, rat-
tling sound
(A) as striking
(8) when are struck
(C) struck
(D) when struckWRITTEN EXPRESSION
Directions: The items in this part have four underlined words or phrases.
You must identify the one underlined expression - (A), (B), (C), or (D) - that
must be changed for the sentence to be correct. Then fill in the space on
your answer sheet that matches the letter of the answer that you have
selected
Example |
Lenses may !0 have either concave or convex shapes
A B c Do
This sentence should read “Lenses may have either concave or convex
shapes." You should therefore select answer (A).
Sample Answer
@®BOoOoO
Example II
| When painting a fresco, an artist ‘5 opplied paint sicecty to the damp
| plaster of a wall
D
This sentence should read "When painting a fresco, an artist applies paint
| directly to the wet plaster of a wall." You should therefore select answer (8). |
As soon as you understand the directions, begin work on this part.
Sample Answer
®eOO®
16. Much Superstitions and symbols 17. Luray Cavems in northern Virginia
A A
ate connected With Halloween. contain acres of colorful rock for-
c D Crs
mations illumination by electric
D
lights.
Peterson's TOEFL Practice - 8320.
21
22
23.
24
25.
84
Furniture
makers use glue
to hold. joints together and
A B
sometimes to reinforce it,
Cc D
Anthracite contains a _ higher
B
percent of carbon than bitumi-
c D
nous coal.
Sheep have been domesticated
A
B
for Over 5,000 years ago,
c Oo
The hard, Out surface of
A B
the tooth is called enamel.
c D
Aneroid barometers a smaller
A
than mercury barometers and are
B
more easy to carry,
c D
Liquids take the shape of any con-
rN
tainer Which in they are placed.
B c D
The earliest form of artificial
A
lighting was fire, which also pro-
B c
vided Warm and protection.
D
Publishers of modem
encyclopedias employ hundreds
A B
of specialists and large editorials
¢ D
staffs.
- Peterson's TOEFL Practice
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
Automobiles begun to be
A
equipped with built-in radios
B
around 1930
D
The thread used in knitting
A
may be woolen yarn, cotton, OF
B c
synthetic fabric» threads
such rayon.
D
All mammals have hair, but_not
A B x
always evident.
D
Asparagus grows Well in soil
A
that js too much salty for Most
B i D
crops to grow.
A professor of economic and his-
A B
tory at Atlanta University, W. E. B.
Du Bois promoted full racial
¢
equality,
D
Bubbles Of air in ice cream
A
make it soft and
B
enough smooth to ct
However type of raw M ater are
ised in making paper, ike proc-
ess is essentially the same,
D33,
34.
35.
36.
Ducks are less susceptible '© in-
A B
fection than another types of
c
poultry
D
Lake Tahoe's great deep of 1,600
‘A
feet prevents t from freezing in
the winter.
By 1675, Boston was the
A
home port for almost 750 ships,
B
fanging in size between 30 to 250
Cc
tons.
The Silk thread that spiders spin
A
is Much finer than the silk that
B c
it_ comes from silkworms.
D
37,
38.
39.
40.
Needles are simple looking tools,
A
but they are very relatively qiffi-
B c
cult to_ make,
D
Winslow Homer, who had no
formally training in art, became
famous for his paintings of the
c D
sea and seacoast.
The reflection of sunshines off
a B
snow can be $0 intense that
Cc
it_causes a condition known as
D
“snow blindness."
The first rugs were made
A
by the hand, and the
B
finest
nes are still handmade.
c D
THIS IS THE END OF SECTION 2.
IF YOU FINISH BEFORE THE TIME LIMIT, CHECK YOUR WORK
ON SECTION 2 ONLY.
‘po NOT READ OR WORK ON ANY OTHER SECTION OF THE TEST.
Peterson's TOEFL Practice - 85Section 3
READING COMPREHENSION
TIME - 55 MINUTES
DOC HIEU
THOI GIAN - 55 PHUT
This section of the test measures your — Section nay ctia bai thi kiém tra ban vé
ability to comprehend written materials. kha ning hiéu cac doan van.
Directions: This section contains several passages, each followed by a
number of questions. Read the passages and, for each question, choose
the one best answer - (A), (B), (C), or (D),- based on what is stated in the
passage or on what can be inferred. Then fill in the space on your answer
sheet that matches the letter of the answer that you have selected.
Read the Following Passage:
Like mammals, birds claim their own territories. A bird’s territory may
be small or large. Some birds claim only their nest and the area right
around it, while others claim far larger territories that include their
feeding areas. Gulls, penguins, and other. waterfowl nest in huge colo-
5 nies, but even in the biggest colonies, each male and his mate have
small territories of their own immediately around their nests.
Male birds defend their territory chiefly against other males of the
same species. In some cases, a warning call or threatening pose may
be all the defense needed, but in other cases, intruders may refuse to
10 leave peacefully
Example |
What is the main topic of this passage?
(A) Birds that live in colonies
(8) Birds’ mating habits
(C) The behavior of birds
(D) Territoriality in birds
86 - Peterson’s TOEFL PracticeThe passage mainly concerns the territories of birds. You should fill in
(D) on your answer sheet.
Sample Answer
®POoOe
Example I
According to the passage, male birds defend their territory primarily against
(A) Female birds
(B) Birds of other species
(C) Males of their own species
(0) Mammals
The passage states that "Male birds defend their territory chiefly against
other males of the same species." You should fill in (C) on your answer
sheet. As soon as you understand the directions, begin work on this section.
Sample Answer
®®Oeo
QUESTIONS 1-12
Clipper ships were the swiftest sailing ships that were ever put to sea and
the most beautiful. These ships had their days of glory in the 1840s and
1850s. The first were built in Baltimore, but most were constructed in the
shipyards of New England. It was Chinese tea that brought them into ex-
istence. Tea loses its flavor quickly when stored in the hold of a vessel, and
merchants were willing to pay top prices for fast delivery. American ship-
huilders designed clippers to fill this need. Then came the California Gold
Rush of 1849, when clippers took gold seekers from the East Coast to the
West by way of Cape Hom.
a
é
Clippers were built for speed, and considerations of large carrying capacity
and economical operation were sacrificed for this purpose. They had long,
slender hulls with sharp bows. Their three slanted masts carried a huge cloud
of canvas sail, including topgallants and royal sails, and sometimes skysails
Peterson's TOEFL Practice - 87and moonrakers, to capture the power of the winds. They required a hard-
15 driving captain and a large, experienced crew,
Many records were set by clippers. Sovereign of the Seas made it from San
Francisco to New York in eighty-two days. Flying Cloud did 374 miles in
one day. Lighning traveled from New York to Liverpool in thirteen days,
and Ino made it from New York to Singapore in eighty-six days.
20 Some 500 clippers were built in American shipyards. British yards turned
Out some twenty-seven tea clippers, as the British ships were called. Unlike
the wooden American ships, British clippers were "composites" with iron
frames and wooden planking. The most famous tea clipper was the Cutty
Sark.
25 By 1860, the age of the clippers was fading. Gold diggings in California
were nearly exhausted. American investors found railroad building more
profitable than clippers. Most importantly, there was a technological inno-
vation that doomed the clipper, and in fact, the entire age of sail: the
development of the steamship.
1. What is the author's main purpose 3. According to ,the passage, where
in writing? were the majority: of clipper ships
(A) To describe the tea trade in the built?
1840s (A) California
(8) To contrast clipper ships and (8) Baltimore
steamships (C) New England
(C) To discuss nineteenth-century (D) Great Britain
shipbuilding techniques 4. In line 5, the word vessel could best
(D) To provide a brief history of clip- be replaced by which of the follow-
per ships ing?
2. Which of the following is closest in (A) Container
meaning to the word swiftest in line (B) Ship
» {C) Cargo
(A) Fastest (D) Merchant
(8) Best armed
(C) Largest
(D) Most expensive
88 - Peterson's TOEFL Practice5. According to the passage, how did
the California Gold Rush affect clip-
per ships?
(A) Itencouraged the development
of railroads, which competed di-
rectly with clipper ships.
(8) The newly discovered gold was
used to finance the construction
of new ships.
(C) Itstimulated the demand for tea
on the West Coast.
(0) People who wanted to partici-
pate in the Gold Rush became
passengers on clipper ships.
6. According to the passage, which of
the following considerations was of
the most importance to the owners
of clipper ships?
(A) Maximum speed
(8) Reduced operating costs
(C) Increased cargo capacity
(D) Small crews
7. Which of the following is closest in
meaning to the word slanted in
line 12?
(A) Tilted
(8) Slerider
(C) Strengthened
(0) Towering
8. What can be inferred from the pas-
sage about skysails and moonrakers?
(A) Skysails were the highest sails
on the mast, and moonrakers
were the lowest.
(8) They were not always used on
clipper ships.
{C) They were much larger than
royal sails and topgallants.
(D) They were never used on clip-
per ships.
9. According to the passage, the re-
cord for the fastest trip between
New York and Liverpool was set by
(A) Sovereign of the Sea
(8) Flying Cloud
(C) Lightning
(D) Ino
10. It can be inferred from the passage
that the tea clipper Cutty Sark
(A) was faster than most American
clippers
(8) had more than three masts
(C) could be powered by steam as
well as by sails
(0) had a metal frame and wooden
planking
All of the following are given in the
passage as reasons for the decline
of clipper ships EXCEPT
(A) the end of the California Gold
Rush
(8) competition with British tea clip-
pers
(C) the development of steamships
(D) investment in railroads
12. In the next paragraph, the author
will most likely discuss
(A) the beginnings of the age of
steam
(B) railroad travel in the United
States
{C) further developments in sailing
ships
{D) the relationship between speed
and ship design
Peterson's TOEFL Practice - 89Ralph Earl was born into a Connecticut farm family in 1751. He chose early
to become a painter and looked for what training was available in his home
state and in Boston, Earl was one of the first American artists to paint
landscapes. Among his first paintings were scenes from the Revolutionary
5 War battles of Lexington and Concord. In 1778 Earl went to London to
study with Benjamin West for four years.
When Earl returned to the United States, he was jailed for fourteen
months for outstanding debts. While still a prisoner, he painted portraits of
some of New York City’s most elegant society women and their husbands.
10 After his release, he took up the trade of itinerant portrait painter, working
his way through southern New England and New York. Earl didn’t flatter
his subjects, but his portraits show a deep understanding of them, perhaps
because he had sprung from the same roots. .
Among Earl’s most famous paintings is his portrait of Justice Oliver
15 Ellsworth and his wife, Abigail. To provide counterpoint to the severity of
the couple, he accurately details the relative luxury of the Ellsworth’s interior
furnishings. The view through the window behind them shows sunlit fields,
well-kept fences, and a bend of the Connecticut River. One of Earl’s paintings
is something of an anomaly. Reclining Hunter, which:tor many years was
20 attributed to Thomas Gainsborough, shows a well-dressed gentleman resting
beneath a tree. In the foreground, he displays a pile of birds, the result of
a day's hunt. The viewer can also see a farmer's donkey lying in the back-
ground, another of the hunter's victims. This outrageously funny portrait
couldn't have been commissioned - no one would have wanted to be portrayed
25 in such an absurd way. However, this painting uncharacteristically shows
Earl's wit as well as his uncommon technical skills.
13. What is the author’s main purpose? 14, Which of the following is NOT given
(A) To discuss the life and work of in the passage as a subject of one
an American painter of Earl’s paintings?
(8) To compare the art of Ralph Ear! (A) People
and Thomas Gainsborough (8) Landscapes
(C) To trace Ralph Ear’s artistic in- (C) Battle scenes
fluences (D) Fruit and flowers
(D) To describe the art scene in New
York in the late eighteenth cen-
tury
90 - Peterson's TOEFL Practice