PRAXIS Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST) II 認定 PRAXIS2 試験問題:

1. The fossil remains of the first flying vertebrates, the pterosaurs, have intrigued paleontologists for more
than two centuries. How such large creatures, which weighed in some cases as much as a piloted
hangglider and had wingspans from 8 to 12 meters, solved the problems of powered flight, and exactly
what these creatures were-reptiles or birds-are among the questions scientist have puzzled over.
Perhaps the least controversial assertion about the pterosaurs is that they were reptiles. Their skulls,
pelvises, and hind feet are reptilian. The anatomy of their wings suggests that they did not evolve into the
class of birds. In pterosaurs a greatly elongated fourth finger of each forelimb supported a wing like
membrane. The other fingers were short and reptilian, with sharp claws, in birds the second finger is the
principle strut of the wing, which consists primarily of features. If the pterosaur walked or remained
stationary, the fourth finger, and with it the wing, could only turn upward in an extended inverted V-shape
along side of the animal's body.
The pterosaurs resembled both birds and bats in their overall structure and proportions. This is not
surprising because the design of any flying vertebrate is subject to aerodynamic constraints. Both the
pterosaurs and the birds have hollow bones, a feature that represents a saving in weight. In the birds,
however, these bones are reinforced more massively by internal struts.
Although scales typically cover reptiles, the pterosaurs probably had hairy coats. T.H. Huxley reasoned
that flying vertebrates must have been warm blooded because flying implies a high internal temperature.
Huxley speculated that a coat of hair would insulate against loss of body heat and might streamline the
body to reduce drag in flight. The recent discovery of a pterosaur specimen covered in long, dense, and
relatively thick hairlike fossil material was the first clear evidenced that his reasoning was correct.
Efforts to explain how the pterosaurs became air-borne have led to suggestions that they launched
themselves by jumping from cliffs, by dropping from trees, or even by rising into light winds from the crests
of waves. Each hypothesis has its difficulties. The first wrongly assumes that the pterosaur's hind feet
resembled a bat's and could served as hooks by which the animal could bang in preparation for flight. The
second hypothesis seems unlikely because large pterosaurs could not have landed in trees without
damaging their wings. The birds call for high waves to channels updrafts. The wind that made such waves
however, might have been too strong for the pterosaurs to control their flight once airborne.
The ides attributed to T.H. Huxley in the passage suggest that he would most likely agree with which of
the following statements?

A) The pterosaurs should be classified as birds, not reptiles.
B) Animals within a given family group are unlikely to change their appearance
C) The origin of flight in vertebrates was an accidental development rather than the outcome
D) An animal's appearance dramatically over a period of time.
E) An animal's brain size has little bearing on its ability to master complex behaviors.

2. The fossil remains of the first flying vertebrates, the pterosaurs, have intrigued paleontologists for more
than two centuries. How such large creatures, which weighed in some cases as much as a piloted
hangglider and had wingspans from 8 to 12 meters, solved the problems of powered flight, and exactly
what these creatures were-reptiles or birds-are among the questions scientist have puzzled over.
Perhaps the least controversial assertion about the pterosaurs is that they were reptiles. Their skulls,
pelvises, and hind feet are reptilian. The anatomy of their wings suggests that they did not evolve into the
class of birds. In pterosaurs a greatly elongated fourth finger of each forelimb supported a wing like
membrane. The other fingers were short and reptilian, with sharp claws, in birds the second finger is the
principle strut of the wing, which consists primarily of features. If the pterosaur walked or remained
stationary, the fourth finger, and with it the wing, could only turn upward in an extended inverted V-shape
along side of the animal's body.
The pterosaurs resembled both birds and bats in their overall structure and proportions. This is not
surprising because the design of any flying vertebrate is subject to aerodynamic constraints. Both the
pterosaurs and the birds have hollow bones, a feature that represents a saving in weight. In the birds,
however, these bones are reinforced more massively by internal struts.
Although scales typically cover reptiles, the pterosaurs probably had hairy coats. T.H. Huxley reasoned
that flying vertebrates must have been warm blooded because flying implies a high internal temperature.
Huxley speculated that a coat of hair would insulate against loss of body heat and might streamline the
body to reduce drag in flight. The recent discovery of a pterosaur specimen covered in long, dense, and
relatively thick hairlike fossil material was the first clear evidenced that his reasoning was correct.
Efforts to explain how the pterosaurs became air-borne have led to suggestions that they launched
themselves by jumping from cliffs, by dropping from trees, or even by rising into light winds from the crests
of waves. Each hypothesis has its difficulties. The first wrongly assumes that the pterosaur's hind feet
resembled a bat's and could served as hooks by which the animal could bang in preparation for flight. The
second hypothesis seems unlikely because large pterosaurs could not have landed in trees without
damaging their wings. The birds call for high waves to channels updrafts. The wind that made such waves
however, might have been too strong for the pterosaurs to control their flight once airborne.
The author contrasts the 1930's with the present in order to show that

A) unemployment now has less severe effects
B) there now is a greater proportion of elderly and handicapped people among those in poverty
C) poverty has increased since the 1930's
D) more people were unemployed in the 1930's
E) social programs are more needed now

3. While the life-expectancy gap between men and women has shrunk to five years, the narrowest since
1 946, it is no secret that men still need to pay more attention to their bodies. Which of the following is the
most suitable reason for the above?

A) Men largely define themselves by their work, which adds to stress and to being disconnected from their
emotional side.
B) Mentend to drink and smoke more than women and generally tend to have less healthy lifestyles.
C) Men do not seek medical help as often as women.
D) Men tend to join in fearless, risky, dangerous behavior more often than women.
E) Men do not accept that they are sick and need help.

4. Office orders are used to pass on important information such as withdrawing rights, imposing conditions,
making postings or transfers, and sanctioning promotion or increment and so on.

A) information such as withdrawing rights, imposing conditions, and making postings or transfers,
sanctioning promotion or increment and so on
B) information such as withdrawing rights, imposing conditions, making postings or transfers, and
sanctioning promotion or increment and so on
C) information such as withdrawing rights, and imposing conditions, and making postings or transfers,
sanctioning promotion or increment and so on
D) Information such as withdrawing rights, imposing conditions, making postings or transfers, and
sanctioning promotion or increment and so on
E) information such as withdrawing rights, and imposing conditions, making postings or transfers,
sanctioning promotion or increment and so on

5. INTROSPECTIVE : SELF

A) impetuous : decisions
B) scrupulous : principles
C) pompous : thoughts
D) miserly: accomplishments
E) conceited : others

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