Page 129 - GMAT 2017b_Neatb

Passage Completion Test

PASSAGE COMPLETION TEST

100 QUESTIONS
60 MINUTES

In the following passages, there are blanks, each of which has been
numbered. These numbers have been printed below each passage and
against each, three or four words are suggested, one of which fits the blank
appropriately. Find the appropriate word.

Passage 1 9. (A) head (B) heart ( C) tail

Some scholars were exploring the forests of Middle 10. (A) and (B) yet ( C) but
America. They discovered, during their exploration, some
buildings which were in ruins. These buildings were 11. (A) years (B) centuries ( C) decades
(1)_____ ruined by the encroaching forest. It was also clear 12. (A) civilisation (B) enemies ( C) forests
that these buildings were no ordinary structures. They were
remnants of a (2) _____ civilisation. The scholars got 13. (A) fertile (B) good ( C) properly
interested. They excavated more and discovered, (3) _____ 14. (A) fighting (B) struggling ( C) doing
their utmost surprise, the remains of a flourishing
15. (A) that (B) which ( C) it
civilisation - the Maya’s, (4) _____ they named it. Thus, it
was as late as in (5) _____ 19th century that the secrets of a Passage 2
new civilisation were (6) _____ For some time the scholars
believed that the Mayans must have (7) _____ the The facts are startling. It (16) _____ one 15-20 years old tree
descendants of ancient Egyptians or one of the lost tribes of to provide enough (17) _____ for only 700 plastic bags. The
Israel or perhaps a branch of South Asia’s immigrants. waste that each plastic bag creates can (18) _____
However, they could not come to a unanimous decision. environmental havoc (19) _____ though rare connections
Nonetheless, the fact remains that even today, the Mayan are made between everyday plastic products packing and the
culture is one of (8) _____ most fascinating ancient (20) _____ problem of toxic pollution, (21) _____ of the
civilisations. This civilisation was situated in the (9) _____ chemicals used in the process are highly toxic. A recent
of Middle America. It covered an area equivalent to France survey conducted by “Save A Tree” reveals that out of the 20
(10) _____ was spread across Guatemala, Belize and some chemicals (22) _____ production generates the (23) _____
parts fo Mexico and Honduras. It started in 2500 B.C. and amount (24) _____ total hazardous wastes, five of the (25)
continued its progress till 34 (11) _____ later. Throughout _____ six are used by the plastic industry.
its period of progress, the people struggled against the
invading (12) _____ for cultivation. Their staple food was 16. (A) gives (B) joins ( C) begins (D) takes
maize. But even while (14) _____ for existence, they found 17. (A) food (B) supply ( C) addition (D) material
time to build remarkable buildings for (15) _____ they used
mortar, sandstone and volcanic rock. The buildings do tell us 18. (A) wreak (B) bless ( C) save (D) counter
about the technological advances they had made.
19. (A) since (B) even ( C) so (D) as
1. (A) reasonably (B) surely ( C) apparently
20. (A) growing (B) lowering ( C) encouraging
2. (A) ordinary (B) new ( C) great (D) interesting
3. (A) to (B) at ( C) for 21. (A) none (B) but ( C) many (D) instead
4. (A) when (B) as ( C) while 22. (A) which (B) where ( C) whose (D) when
5. (A) at (B) then ( C) the 23. (A) wonderful (B) maximum ( C) less
(D) insignificant
6. (A) unparalleled(B) unearthed ( C) unmatched
7. (A) been (B) become ( C) being 24. (A) to (B) from ( C) about (D) of
8. (A) an (B) a ( C) the 25. (A) current (B) minimum ( C) least (D) top

119