Streams and rivers carry soil and rocks from one location to another. But there is another way for these geological materials to move. Scientists call this process “aeolian transport.” In aeolian transport, winds move small particles of soil or rock over potentially great distances. Geologist Melisa Diaz and her team studied dust in Antarctica to find out if it was moved by aeolian transport. They discovered that the dust matched geological material in Australia. Aeolian transport had carried it from one continent to another, across thousands of miles of open ocean.

Which choice best describes the function of the underlined portion in the text as a whole?

A) It presents Melisa Diaz’s remarks about difficulties that her team encountered.

B) It introduces a scientific term that is used in the discussion that follows.

C) It emphasizes the surprising nature of the findings that are presented.

D) It explains the difference between two kinds of geological material.

San Francisco is known for the colorful murals painted on many of its buildings. The densest collection of murals is found on Balmy Alley in the Mission District neighborhood. In the 1970s, Latina artists painted vivid scenes of community life on walls along this block. As the original murals have faded, later generations of artists have painted new ones over them. As a result, Balmy Alley has become a living showcase of San Francisco’s artistic spirit, with its murals reflecting changes in the cultural life of the city.

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

A) To compare the Balmy Alley murals to other murals in San Francisco.

B) To offer an overview of the history and importance of the Balmy Alley murals.

C) To urge people to protect the murals of San Francisco from decay.

D) To describe the rise of mural painting in San Francisco beginning in the 1970s.

The following text is from Georgia Douglas Johnson’s 1922 poem “Benediction.”

Go forth, my son,
Winged by my heart’s desire!
Great reaches, yet unknown,
Await
For your possession.
I may not, if I would,
Retrace the way with you,
My pilgrimage is through,
But life is calling you!

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

A) To express hope that a child will have the same accomplishments as his parent did.

B) To suggest that raising a child involves many struggles.

C) To warn a child that he will face many challenges throughout his life.

D) To encourage a child to embrace the experiences life will offer.

In 1801, a Blackfoot chief named Ac Ko Mok Ki drew a finely detailed map of the Upper Missouri region. This work demonstrates a vast amount of topographic knowledge, as the map features specific names of mountains and rivers, as well as the first-known sketch of the drainage network of the Missouri River. The map is especially notable because Ac Ko Mok Ki also included details about the numerous tribes that lived in the area.

Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the text as a whole?

A)It emphasizes Ac Ko Mok Ki’s desire to represent other tribes on the map.

B) It explains how Ac Ko Mok Ki developed an interest in mapmaking.

C) It identifies some reasons why the map is impressive.

D) It details how the map was used for hunting and trading purposes.

The following text is adapted from Charles Chesnutt’s 1899 short story “Mars Jeems’s Nightmare.” The narrator and his wife have recently moved to the southern United States, and Julius is their carriage driver.

Julius [was] very useful when we moved to our new residence. He had a thorough knowledge of the neighborhood, was familiar with the roads and the watercourses, knew the qualities of the various soils and what they would produce, and where the best hunting and fishing were to be had. He was a marvelous hand in the management of horses and dogs.

Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?

A) To compare the narrator’s reaction to a new home with his wife’s reaction.

B) To give an example of Julius’s knowledge of soil.

C) To show that the narrator and Julius often hunt and fish together.

D) To explain different ways in which Julius was helpful.