iABLE Institute

READING SECTION

Directions

Please read the following passage and then answer the questions that follow.

Paragraph One

The development of the modern presidency in the United States began with Andrew Jackson who swept into power in 1829 at the head of the Democratic Party and served until 1837. During his administration he immeasurably enlarged the power of the presidency. “The President is the direct representative of the American people,” he lectured the Senate when it opposed him. “He was elected by the people, and is responsible to them.” With this declaration, Jackson redefined the character of the presidential office and its relationship to the people.

Paragraph Two

During Jackson’s second term, his opponents had gradually come together to from the Whig partly. Whigs and Democrats held different attitudes toward the changes brought about by the market, banks, and commerce. The Democrats tended to view society as a continuing conflict between “the people”—farmers, planters, and workers—and a set of greedy aristocrats. The “paper money aristocracy” of bankers and investors manipulated the banking system for their own profit, Democrats claimed, and sapped the nation’s virtue by encouraging speculation and the desire for sudden, unearned wealth. The Democrats wanted the rewards of the market without sacrificing the features of a simple agrarian republic. They wanted the wealth that the market offered without the competitive, changing society; the complex dealing; the dominance of the urban centers; and the loss of independence that came with it.

Paragraph Three

Whigs, on the other hand, were more comfortable with the market. For them, commerce and economic development were agents of civilization. Nor did the Whigs envision any conflict in society between farmers and workers on the one hand and businesspeople and bankers on the other. Economic growth would benefit everyone by raising national income and expanding opportunity. The government’s responsibility was to provide a well-regulated economy that guaranteed opportunity for citizens of ability.

In answering the questions below, you may turn back to the reading passage at any time.

Directions: The answers to questions 1 and 2 are found in paragraph 1 of the passage. Mark your answers by filling the oval next to your choice.

1. The word immeasurably in the passage is closest to meaning to:

	frequently
	greatly
	rapidly
	reportedly

2. According to paragraph 1, the presidency of Andrew Jackson was especially significant for which of the following reasons?

	The President granted a portion of this power to the Senate.
	The President began to address the Senate on a regular basis.
	It was the beginning of the modern presidency in the United States.
	It was the first time that the Senate had been known to oppose the President.

Directions: The answer to question 3 can be found in paragraph 2 of the passage. Mark your answer by filling the oval next to your choice.

3. The author mentions bankers and investors in the passage as an example of which of the following?

	The Democratic Party’s main source of support
	The people that Democrats claimed were unfairly becoming rich
	The people most interested in a return to a simple agrarian republic
	One of the groups in favor of Andrew Jackson’s presidency

Directions:The answers to questions 4 and 5 can be found in paragraph 3 of the passage. Mark your answers by filling the oval next to your choice.

4. According to paragraph 3, Whigs believed that commerce and economic development would have which of the following effects on society?

	They would promote the advancement of society as a whole.
	They would cause disagreements between Whigs and Democrats.
	They would supply new positions for Whig party members.
	They would prevent conflict between farmers and workers.

5. According to paragraph 3, which of the following describes the Whig Party’s view of the role of government?

	To regulate the continuing conflict between farmers and businesspeople
	To restrict the changes brought about by the market
	To maintain an economy that allowed all capable citizens to benefit
	To reduce the emphasis on economic development

WRITING SECTION

The following is a list of 3 writing topics. Select ONE of these and write a response of two or three paragraphs. These topics are very similar to those on the TOEFL iBT. Please select a topic, give your opinion, and support your opinion with specific reasons and examples.

In your writing response, what matters is your ability to use specific writing skills:
(1) your ability to respond directly to the question; (2) to take a clear position; (3) and to write an essay characterized by good organization, proper use of supporting examples, sentence variety, and correct sentence structures.

Topic 1: How do movies or television influence people’s behavior? Use reasons and specific examples to support your answer.
Topic 2: It is better for children to grow up in the countryside than in a big city. Do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to develop your essay.
Topic 3: In some countries, teenagers have jobs while they are still students. Do you think that this is a good idea? Support your opinion by using specific reasons and details.

Again, select ONE topic only.

I have selected the following topic. (Please circle the topic you have selected)

	Topic 1
	Topic 2
	Topic 3

Please use the text box below for your writing.

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First Name		Last Name

Email

When you have completed and checked your work, press the submit button to submit your assessment.

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