Reading | Practice Test B

    (1)     In addition to their military role, the forts of the nineteenth century provided numerous other benefits for the American West. The establishment of these posts opened new roads and provided for the protection of daring adventurers and expeditions as well as established settlers. Forts also served as bases where enterprising entrepreneurs could bring commerce to the West, providing supplies and refreshments to soldiers as well as to pioneers. Posts like Fort Laramie provided supplies for wagon trains traveling the natural highways toward new frontiers. Some posts became stations for the pony express; still others, such as Fort Davis, were stagecoach stops for weary travelers. All of these functions, of course, suggest that the contributions of the forts to the civilization and development of the West extended beyond patrol duty. 

    (9)    Through the establishment of military posts, yet other contributions were made to the development of western culture. Many posts maintained libraries or reading rooms, and some – for example, Fort Davis  had schools. Post chapels provided a setting for religious services and weddings. Throughout the wilderness, post bands provided entertainment and boosted morale. During the last part of the nineteenth century, to reduce expenses, gardening was encouraged at the forts, thus making experimental agriculture another activity of the military. The military stationed at the various forts also played a role in civilian life by assisting in maintaining order, and civilian officials often called on the army for protection. 

  (16)     Certainly, among other significant contributions the army made to the improvement of the conditions of life was the investigation of the relationships among health, climate, and architecture. From the earliest colonial times throughout the nineteenth century, disease ranked as the foremost problem in defense. It slowed construction of  forts and inhibited their military functions. Official documents from many regions contained innumerable reports of sickness that virtually incapacitated entire garrisons. In response to the problems, detailed observations of architecture and climate and their relationships to the frequency of the occurrence of various diseases were recorded at various posts across the nation by military surgeons.

11. Which of the following statements best expresses the main idea of the passage?
(A) By the nineteenth century, forts were no longer used by the military.
(B) Surgeons at forts could not prevent outbreaks of disease.
(C) Forts were important to the development of the American West
(D) Life in nineteenth-century forts was very rough.

12. The word “daring” in line 3 is closest in meaning to
(A) lost
(B) bold
(C) lively
(D) foolish

13. Which of the following would a traveler be likely be LEAST likely to obtain at Fort Laramie?
(A) Fresh water
(B) Food
(C) Formal clothing
(D) Lodging


14. The word “others” in line 6 refers to
(A) posts
(B) wagon trains
(C) frontiers
(D) highways

15. The word “boosted” in line 12 is closest in meaning to
(A) influenced
(B) established
(C) raised
(D) maintained

16. Which of the following is the most likely inference about the decision to promote gardening at forts?
(A) It was expensive to import produce from far away.
(B) Food brought in from outside was often spoiled
(C) Gardening was a way to occupy otherwise idle soldiers.
(D) The soil near the forts was very fertile.

17. According to the passage, which of the following posed the biggest obstacle to the development of military forts?
(A) Insufficient shelter
(B) Shortage of materials
(C) Attacks by wild animals
(D) Illness

18. The word “inhibited” in line 19 is closest in meaning to
(A) involved
(B) exploited
(C) united
(D) hindered

19. How did the military assists in the investigation of health problems?
(A) By registering annual birth and death rates
(B) By experiments with different building materials
(C) By maintaining records of diseases and potential causes
(D) By monitoring the soldiers’ diets

20. The author organizes the discussion of forts by
(A) describing their locations
(B) comparing their sizes
(C) explaining their damage to the environment
(D) listing their contributions to western life