MINI-TEST 2 READING fae Section Directions ‘ | This section measures your ability to understand an academic passage in English. | Most questions are worth 1 point, but the last question is worth more than 1 point. The directions for the last question indicate how many points you may receive. You will now begin the Reading section. You will read 1 passage. You will have 20 minutes to read the passage and answer the questions. Test 2: Reading 295Read the passage. 120 minutes Posagraph Birth Order 296 A considerable body of research has demonstrated a correlation between birth order and aspects such as temperament and behavior, and some psychologists believe that birth order significantly affects the development of personality. Psychologist Alfred Adler was a pioneer in the study of the relationship between birth order and personality. A key point in his research and in the hypothesis that he developed based on it was that it was not the actual numerical birth position that affected personality; instead, it was the similar responses in large numbers of families to children in specific birth order positions that had an effect. For example, first-borns, who have their parents to themselves initially and do not have to deal with siblings in the first part of their lives, tend to have their first socialization experiences with adults and therefore tend to find the process of peer socialization more difficult. In contrast, later-born children have to deal with siblings from the first moment of their lives and therefore tend to have stronger socialization skills. Numerous studies since Adier’s have been conducted on the effect of birth order and personality. These studies have tended to classify birth order types into four different categories: first-born, second-born and/or middle, last, and only child. Studies have consistently shown that first-born children tend to exhibit similar positive and negative personaly traits. First-borns have consistently been linked with academic achievement in various studies; in one study, the number of National Merit scholarship winners who are first-borns was found to be equal to the number of second- and third-borns combined. First-borns have been found to be more responsible and assertive than those born in other birth-order positions and tend to rise 10 positions of leadership more often than others; more first-borns have served in the U.S. Congress and as U.S. presidents than have those born in other birth-order positions. However, studies have shown that first-borns tend to be more subject to stress and were considered problem children more often than later-borns. ‘Second-born and/or middle children demonstrate markedly different tendencies from first-borns. They tend to feel inferior to the older child or children because it is difficult for them to comprehend that their lower level of achievement is a function of age rather than ability, and they often try to succeed in areas other than those in which their older sibling or siblings excel. They tend to be more trusting, accepting, and focused on others than the more self-centered first-borns, and they tend to have a comparatively higher level of success in team sports than do first-borns or only children, who more often excel in individual sports, ‘The last-born child is the one who tends to be the eternal baby of the family and thus often exhibits a strong sense of security. Last-borns collectively achieve the highest degree of social success and demonstrate the highest levels of self-esteem of all the birth-order positions. They often exhibit less competitiveness than older brothers and sisters and are more likely to take part in less competitive group games or in social organizations such as sororities and fraternities. Only children tend to exhibit some of the main characteristics of first-borns and some of the characteristics of last-borns. Only children tend to exhibit the strong sense of security and self-esteem exhibited by last-borns while, lke first-borns, they are more achievement oriented and more likely than middle- or last-borns to achieve academic success. However, only children tend to have the most problems establishing close relationships and exhibit a lower need for affiliation than other children. Mini-Test 2: ReadingRefer to this version of the passage to answer the questions that follow. Ce Birth Order 1 A considerable body of research has demonstrated a correlation between birth order and aspects such as temperament and behavior, and some psychologists believe that birth order significantly affects the development of personality. Psychologist Alfred Adler was a pioneer in the study of the relationship between birth order and personality. A key point in his research and in the hypothesis that he developed based on it was that it was not the actual numerical birth position that affected personality; instead, it was the similar responses in large numbers of families to children in specific birth order positions that had an effect. For example, first-borns, who have their parents to themselves initially and do not have to deal with siblings in the first part of their lives, tend to have their first socialization experiences with adults and therefore tend to find the process of peer socialization more difficult. In contrast, later-born children have to deai with siblings from the first moment of their lives and therefore tend to have stronger socialization skills. 2 Numerous studies since Adler's have been conducted on the effect of birth order and personality. These studies have tended to classify birth order types into four different categories: first-born, second-born and/or middle, last, and only child, Studies have consistently shown that first-born children tend to exhibit similar positive and negative personality traits. First-borns have consistently been linked with academic achievement in various studies; in one study, the number of National Merit scholarship winners who are first-borns was found to be equal to the number of second- and third-borns combined. First-borns have been found te be more responsible and assertive than those born in other birth-order positions and tend to rise to positions of leadership more often than others; more first-borns have served in the U.S. Congress and as U.S. presidents than have those born in other birth-order positions, However, studies have shown that first-borns tend to be more subject to stress and were considered problem children more often than later-borns. 4 BJ Second-born and/or middle children demonstrate markedly different tendencies from first-borns. EJ They tend to feel inferior to the older child or children because itis difficult tor them to comprehend that their lower level of achievement is a function of age rather than ability, and they often try to succeed in areas other than those in which their older sibling or siblings excel. EB They tend to be more trusting, accepting, and focused on others than the more self-centered first-borns, and they tend to have a comparatively higher level of success in team sports than do first-borns or only children, who more often excel in individual sports. EE] 5 The last-born child is the one who tends to be the eternal baby of the family and thus often exhibits a strong sense of security. Last-borns collectively achieve the highest degree of social success and demonstrate the highest levels of self-esteem of all the birth-order positions. They often exhibit less competitiveness than older brothers and sisters and are more likely to take part in less competitive group games or in social organizations such as sororities and fraternities. 6 Only children tend to exhibit some of the main characteristics of first-borns and some of the characteristics of last-borns. Only children tend to exhibit the strong sense of security and self-esteem exhibited by last-borns while, like first-borns, they are more achievement oriented and more likely than middle- or last-borns to achieve academic success. However, only children tend to have the most problems establishing close relationships and exhibit a lower need for affiliation than other children. Mini-Test 2: Reading 297298 Questions 4. The word body in paragraph 1 could best be replaced by @ corpse © amount © organization ©® skeleton 2. The word key in paragraph 1 could best be replaced by @ locked ® secret © studied © significant ‘The word it in paragraph 1 refers to ® personality ® component © research © hypothesis 4. What is stated in paragraph 1 about Adler? @ He was one of the first to study the - effect of birth order on personality. © He believed that it was the actual birth order that affected personality. > He had found that the responses by family members had little to do with personality. © He was the only one to study birth order. The author includes the idea that These studies have tended to classify birth order types into four different categories in paragraph 2 in order to @® announce what ideas will be presented in the following paragraphs ® show how other studies differed from Adler's © explain how Adler classified his work © describe the various ways that different studies have categorized birth order groups w 6, The word traits in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to @ stresses ® marks © characteristics © tears Mini-Test 2: Reading 7. Which of the sentences below expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in paragraph 3? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or Jeave out essential information. ® tn spite of certain characteristics that, first-borns possess, many of them become leaders. ® An interesting fact that is difficult to explain is that many first-borns have served in high government positions. © Because first-borns tend to be very assertive, they are uncomfortable serving in government positions. © Several examples support the idea that first-bors have characteristics that make them leaders. 8. The word accepting in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to © tolerant © affectionate © admissible © respectable 9, Look at the four squares [Il] that indicate where the following sentence can be added to paragraph 4. Thus, second-borns tend to be better at soccer, football, volleyball, and baseball than at tennis, diving, gymnastics, or archery. Click on @ square [Mi] to add the sentence to the passage. 10. Which of the following is NOT true, according to the passage? ® First-borns tend to do well in individual sports, © Middle children tend to have a preference for team sports. © Last-boms tend to prefer games with fierce competition, © Only children tend to prefer individual cover team sports.11. 13. The phrase more achlevernent oriented in 12. Which of the following would be most likely paragraph 6 is closest in meaning to. to have a successful career but few close @® more directly involved friendships? @® more focused on accomplishments @ Asecond-born © more skilled as leaders @® Amiddle child © more aware of surroundings © Alast-born © An only child : Two of the answer choices below are used to describe each of the birth order groups. Complete the chart by matching appropriate answer choices to the birth order groups they are used to describe. This question is worth 3 points. first-borns second-borns and w middle children 6 last-borns only children Answer Choices (choose 8 to complete the chart): (1) Tendency to fee! secure and to achieve social success (2) Tendency to concentrate on others rather than self (8) Tendency to feel secure and to do well in school (4) Tendency to do well in school and as leaders (6) Tendency to do poorly academically while excelling at individual sports (©) Tendency not to be highly competitive (7) Tendency to have problems maintaining relationships (8) Tendency to withdraw from others because of feelings of inferiority @) Tendency to feel stressed (10) Tendency to feel inferior to siblings Tum to the chart on page 544, and circle the numbers of the questions that you missed. | . Mini-Test 2: Reading 299