Reading Comprehension

In which direction does Xylem transport nutrients to plants?

Directions: Read the given passage and answer the following question.

Xylem and Phloem. The Xylem is responsible for transporting water and certain nutrients from the root to the rest of the plant. The Phloem carries soluble organic material, i.e. food for the plant, which is produced in the leaves by photosynthesis to the other parts of the plant. The Xylem and phloem are the two types of vascular tissues that are present in plants. They are responsible for transporting water, minerals, food and other organic materials between the roots, stems and leaves of the plant. The Xylem and phloem form vascular bundles with each other, which means that together they are responsible for the efficient transportation of food, nutrients, minerals, and water in the plant, and hence the survival of the plant. Xylem is a type of transport tissue in vascular plants that is responsible for transporting water and certain nutrients from the root to the rest of the plant. Thus, it essentially flows in one direction, that is, from the bottom up to the sky towards the top of the plant. Its main function is to effectively transport water and nutrients from the soil to the various parts of the plant. The word ‘xylem’ is derived from the Greek word ‘xylon’, meaning wood. This is because wood is the best-known xylem tissue which is found throughout the tree. Xylem is a mixture of dead and living tissues, which are non-living at the time of maturity. It is made up of tracheids, vessels, xylem parenchyma, xylem fibres and ray parenchyma. Xylem cells are hard walled cells, which are stacked on top of each other and are mainly found in the center of the stem. Hence, xylem has another function, which is to provide mechanical support to the plant. The Xylem is surrounded by the phloem. The Phloem is the other type of transport tissue in vascular plants. Its main function is to carry soluble organic material, i.e. food for the plant, which is produced in the leaves by photosynthesis to the other parts of the plant. This process is called translocation. To do this effectively it flows both up and down the stem, unlike the xylem, which only flows up. The word ‘phloem’ is derived from the Greek word ‘phloos’, which means bark, as the phloem is the innermost layer of the bark in most trees. The Phloem is made up of sieve cells, sieve tube elements, phloem parenchyma, phloem fibres, and phloem ray cells. It consists of both living and dead soft-walled cells, where the outer phloem is made up of dead cells and the inner phloem is made of living cells.

Which of the following helps in moving molecules fast?

Directions: Read the given passage and answer the following question.

Active and passive transport: While active transport requires energy and work, passive transport does not. There are several different types of this easy movement of molecules. It could be as simple as molecules moving freely such as osmosis or diffusion. There may also be proteins in the cell membrane that act as channels to help the movement along. And of course there is an in-between transport process where very small molecules are able to cross a semi-permeable membrane. Sometimes, proteins are used to help move molecules more quickly. It is a process called facilitated diffusion. It could be as simple as bringing in a glucose molecule. Since the cell membrane will not allow glucose to cross by diffusion, helpers are needed. The cell might notice outside fluids rushing by with free glucose molecules. The membrane proteins then grab one molecule and shift their position to bring the molecule into the cell. That's an easy situation of passive transport because the glucose is moving from higher to lower concentration. It's moving down a concentration gradient. If you needed to remove glucose, the cell would require energy. Sometimes cells are in an area where there is a large concentration difference. For example, oxygen molecule concentrations could be very high outside of the cell and very low inside. Those oxygen molecules are so small that they are able to cross the lipid bilayer and enter the cell. There is no energy needed for this process. In this case, it's good for the cell because cells need oxygen to survive. It can also happen with other molecules that can kill a cell. Another big example of passive transport is osmosis. This is a water specific process. Usually, cells are in an environment where there is one concentration of ions outside and one inside. Because concentrations like to be the same, the cell can pump ions in an out to stay alive. Osmosis is the movement of water across the membrane. For a cell to survive, ion concentrations need to be the same on both sides of the cell membrane. If the cell does not pump out all of its extra ions to even out the concentrations, the water is going to move in. This can be very bad. The cell can swell up and explode. The classic example of this type of swelling happens when red blood cells are placed in water. The water rushes in to the cells, they expand and eventually rupture.

Which is an important condition for a cell to be alive?

Directions: Read the given passage and answer the following question.

Active and passive transport: While active transport requires energy and work, passive transport does not. There are several different types of this easy movement of molecules. It could be as simple as molecules moving freely such as osmosis or diffusion. There may also be proteins in the cell membrane that act as channels to help the movement along. And of course there is an in-between transport process where very small molecules are able to cross a semi-permeable membrane. Sometimes, proteins are used to help move molecules more quickly. It is a process called facilitated diffusion. It could be as simple as bringing in a glucose molecule. Since the cell membrane will not allow glucose to cross by diffusion, helpers are needed. The cell might notice outside fluids rushing by with free glucose molecules. The membrane proteins then grab one molecule and shift their position to bring the molecule into the cell. That's an easy situation of passive transport because the glucose is moving from higher to lower concentration. It's moving down a concentration gradient. If you needed to remove glucose, the cell would require energy. Sometimes cells are in an area where there is a large concentration difference. For example, oxygen molecule concentrations could be very high outside of the cell and very low inside. Those oxygen molecules are so small that they are able to cross the lipid bilayer and enter the cell. There is no energy needed for this process. In this case, it's good for the cell because cells need oxygen to survive. It can also happen with other molecules that can kill a cell. Another big example of passive transport is osmosis. This is a water specific process. Usually, cells are in an environment where there is one concentration of ions outside and one inside. Because concentrations like to be the same, the cell can pump ions in an out to stay alive. Osmosis is the movement of water across the membrane. For a cell to survive, ion concentrations need to be the same on both sides of the cell membrane. If the cell does not pump out all of its extra ions to even out the concentrations, the water is going to move in. This can be very bad. The cell can swell up and explode. The classic example of this type of swelling happens when red blood cells are placed in water. The water rushes in to the cells, they expand and eventually rupture.

Which of the following is an easy way of passive transport?

Directions: Read the given passage and answer the following question.

Active and passive transport: While active transport requires energy and work, passive transport does not. There are several different types of this easy movement of molecules. It could be as simple as molecules moving freely such as osmosis or diffusion. There may also be proteins in the cell membrane that act as channels to help the movement along. And of course there is an in-between transport process where very small molecules are able to cross a semi-permeable membrane. Sometimes, proteins are used to help move molecules more quickly. It is a process called facilitated diffusion. It could be as simple as bringing in a glucose molecule. Since the cell membrane will not allow glucose to cross by diffusion, helpers are needed. The cell might notice outside fluids rushing by with free glucose molecules. The membrane proteins then grab one molecule and shift their position to bring the molecule into the cell. That's an easy situation of passive transport because the glucose is moving from higher to lower concentration. It's moving down a concentration gradient. If you needed to remove glucose, the cell would require energy. Sometimes cells are in an area where there is a large concentration difference. For example, oxygen molecule concentrations could be very high outside of the cell and very low inside. Those oxygen molecules are so small that they are able to cross the lipid bilayer and enter the cell. There is no energy needed for this process. In this case, it's good for the cell because cells need oxygen to survive. It can also happen with other molecules that can kill a cell. Another big example of passive transport is osmosis. This is a water specific process. Usually, cells are in an environment where there is one concentration of ions outside and one inside. Because concentrations like to be the same, the cell can pump ions in an out to stay alive. Osmosis is the movement of water across the membrane. For a cell to survive, ion concentrations need to be the same on both sides of the cell membrane. If the cell does not pump out all of its extra ions to even out the concentrations, the water is going to move in. This can be very bad. The cell can swell up and explode. The classic example of this type of swelling happens when red blood cells are placed in water. The water rushes in to the cells, they expand and eventually rupture.

What happens to red blood cells when they are placed in water?

Directions: Read the given passage and answer the following question.

Active and passive transport: While active transport requires energy and work, passive transport does not. There are several different types of this easy movement of molecules. It could be as simple as molecules moving freely such as osmosis or diffusion. There may also be proteins in the cell membrane that act as channels to help the movement along. And of course there is an in-between transport process where very small molecules are able to cross a semi-permeable membrane. Sometimes, proteins are used to help move molecules more quickly. It is a process called facilitated diffusion. It could be as simple as bringing in a glucose molecule. Since the cell membrane will not allow glucose to cross by diffusion, helpers are needed. The cell might notice outside fluids rushing by with free glucose molecules. The membrane proteins then grab one molecule and shift their position to bring the molecule into the cell. That's an easy situation of passive transport because the glucose is moving from higher to lower concentration. It's moving down a concentration gradient. If you needed to remove glucose, the cell would require energy. Sometimes cells are in an area where there is a large concentration difference. For example, oxygen molecule concentrations could be very high outside of the cell and very low inside. Those oxygen molecules are so small that they are able to cross the lipid bilayer and enter the cell. There is no energy needed for this process. In this case, it's good for the cell because cells need oxygen to survive. It can also happen with other molecules that can kill a cell. Another big example of passive transport is osmosis. This is a water specific process. Usually, cells are in an environment where there is one concentration of ions outside and one inside. Because concentrations like to be the same, the cell can pump ions in an out to stay alive. Osmosis is the movement of water across the membrane. For a cell to survive, ion concentrations need to be the same on both sides of the cell membrane. If the cell does not pump out all of its extra ions to even out the concentrations, the water is going to move in. This can be very bad. The cell can swell up and explode. The classic example of this type of swelling happens when red blood cells are placed in water. The water rushes in to the cells, they expand and eventually rupture.

Which of the following most nearly means “Diffusion”?

Directions: Read the given passage and answer the following question.

Active and passive transport: While active transport requires energy and work, passive transport does not. There are several different types of this easy movement of molecules. It could be as simple as molecules moving freely such as osmosis or diffusion. There may also be proteins in the cell membrane that act as channels to help the movement along. And of course there is an in-between transport process where very small molecules are able to cross a semi-permeable membrane. Sometimes, proteins are used to help move molecules more quickly. It is a process called facilitated diffusion. It could be as simple as bringing in a glucose molecule. Since the cell membrane will not allow glucose to cross by diffusion, helpers are needed. The cell might notice outside fluids rushing by with free glucose molecules. The membrane proteins then grab one molecule and shift their position to bring the molecule into the cell. That's an easy situation of passive transport because the glucose is moving from higher to lower concentration. It's moving down a concentration gradient. If you needed to remove glucose, the cell would require energy. Sometimes cells are in an area where there is a large concentration difference. For example, oxygen molecule concentrations could be very high outside of the cell and very low inside. Those oxygen molecules are so small that they are able to cross the lipid bilayer and enter the cell. There is no energy needed for this process. In this case, it's good for the cell because cells need oxygen to survive. It can also happen with other molecules that can kill a cell. Another big example of passive transport is osmosis. This is a water specific process. Usually, cells are in an environment where there is one concentration of ions outside and one inside. Because concentrations like to be the same, the cell can pump ions in an out to stay alive. Osmosis is the movement of water across the membrane. For a cell to survive, ion concentrations need to be the same on both sides of the cell membrane. If the cell does not pump out all of its extra ions to even out the concentrations, the water is going to move in. This can be very bad. The cell can swell up and explode. The classic example of this type of swelling happens when red blood cells are placed in water. The water rushes in to the cells, they expand and eventually rupture.

What do we call the process of transportation of water and nutrients in plants?

Directions: Read the given passage and answer the following question.

Xylem and Phloem. The Xylem is responsible for transporting water and certain nutrients from the root to the rest of the plant. The Phloem carries soluble organic material, i.e. food for the plant, which is produced in the leaves by photosynthesis to the other parts of the plant. The Xylem and phloem are the two types of vascular tissues that are present in plants. They are responsible for transporting water, minerals, food and other organic materials between the roots, stems and leaves of the plant. The Xylem and phloem form vascular bundles with each other, which means that together they are responsible for the efficient transportation of food, nutrients, minerals, and water in the plant, and hence the survival of the plant. Xylem is a type of transport tissue in vascular plants that is responsible for transporting water and certain nutrients from the root to the rest of the plant. Thus, it essentially flows in one direction, that is, from the bottom up to the sky towards the top of the plant. Its main function is to effectively transport water and nutrients from the soil to the various parts of the plant. The word ‘xylem’ is derived from the Greek word ‘xylon’, meaning wood. This is because wood is the best-known xylem tissue which is found throughout the tree. Xylem is a mixture of dead and living tissues, which are non-living at the time of maturity. It is made up of tracheids, vessels, xylem parenchyma, xylem fibres and ray parenchyma. Xylem cells are hard walled cells, which are stacked on top of each other and are mainly found in the center of the stem. Hence, xylem has another function, which is to provide mechanical support to the plant. The Xylem is surrounded by the phloem. The Phloem is the other type of transport tissue in vascular plants. Its main function is to carry soluble organic material, i.e. food for the plant, which is produced in the leaves by photosynthesis to the other parts of the plant. This process is called translocation. To do this effectively it flows both up and down the stem, unlike the xylem, which only flows up. The word ‘phloem’ is derived from the Greek word ‘phloos’, which means bark, as the phloem is the innermost layer of the bark in most trees. The Phloem is made up of sieve cells, sieve tube elements, phloem parenchyma, phloem fibres, and phloem ray cells. It consists of both living and dead soft-walled cells, where the outer phloem is made up of dead cells and the inner phloem is made of living cells.

Choose the word most similar in meaning to the word 'mortified', as used in the passage.

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and select the most suitable answer according to the underlined word per corresponding number in the passage.

When you tell those of a malicious turn, any circumstance that has happened to another, though they perfectly know of whom you are speaking, they often affect to be at a loss, to forget his name, or to misapprehend you in some respect or other; and this merely to have an opportunity of slyly gratifying their malice by mentioning some unhappy defect or personal infirmity he labours under; and not contented "to tack his every error to his name," they will, by way of farther explanation, have recourse to the faults of his father, or the misfortunes of his family; and this with all the seeming simplicity and candour in the world, merely for the sake of preventing mistakes, and to clear up every doubt of his identity.
To hint at a fault, does more mischief than speaking out; for whatever is left for the imagination to finish, will not fail to be overdone: every hiatus will be more than filled up, and every pause more than supplied. There is less malice and less mischief too, in telling a man's name than the initials of it; as a worthier person may be involved in the most disgraceful suspicions by such a dangerous ambiguity.
More reputations are thus hinted away by false friends, than are openly destroyed by public enemies. And if, or a but, or a mortified look, or a languid defence, or an ambiguous shake of the head, or a hasty word affectedly recalled, will demolish a character more effectually, than the whole artillery of malice when openly levelled against it.
It is not that envy never praises - No that would be making a public profession of itself, and advertising its own malignity; whereas the greatest success of its efforts depends on the concealment of their end.
When envy intends to strike a stroke of Machiavellian policy, it sometimes affects the language of the most exaggerated applause; though it generally takes care, that the subject of its panegyric shall be a very indifferent and common character, so that it is well aware none of its praises will stick.
It is the unhappy nature of envy not to be contented with positive misery, but to be continually aggravating its own torments, by comparing them with the felicities of others. Perhaps envy, like lying and ingratitude, is practiced with more frequency, because it is practiced with impunity; but there being no human laws against these crimes, is so far from an inducement to commit them, that this very consideration would be sufficient to deter the wise and good, if all others were ineffectual; for of how heinous a nature must those sins be, which are judged above the reach of human punishment, and are reserved for the final justice of God!

Choose the word most similar in meaning to the word 'languid', as used in the passage.

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and select the most suitable answer according to the underlined word per corresponding number in the passage.

When you tell those of a malicious turn, any circumstance that has happened to another, though they perfectly know of whom you are speaking, they often affect to be at a loss, to forget his name, or to misapprehend you in some respect or other; and this merely to have an opportunity of slyly gratifying their malice by mentioning some unhappy defect or personal infirmity he labours under; and not contented "to tack his every error to his name," they will, by way of farther explanation, have recourse to the faults of his father, or the misfortunes of his family; and this with all the seeming simplicity and candour in the world, merely for the sake of preventing mistakes, and to clear up every doubt of his identity.
To hint at a fault, does more mischief than speaking out; for whatever is left for the imagination to finish, will not fail to be overdone: every hiatus will be more than filled up, and every pause more than supplied. There is less malice and less mischief too, in telling a man's name than the initials of it; as a worthier person may be involved in the most disgraceful suspicions by such a dangerous ambiguity.
More reputations are thus hinted away by false friends, than are openly destroyed by public enemies. And if, or a but, or a mortified look, or a languid defence, or an ambiguous shake of the head, or a hasty word affectedly recalled, will demolish a character more effectually, than the whole artillery of malice when openly levelled against it.
It is not that envy never praises - No that would be making a public profession of itself, and advertising its own malignity; whereas the greatest success of its efforts depends on the concealment of their end.
When envy intends to strike a stroke of Machiavellian policy, it sometimes affects the language of the most exaggerated applause; though it generally takes care, that the subject of its panegyric shall be a very indifferent and common character, so that it is well aware none of its praises will stick.
It is the unhappy nature of envy not to be contented with positive misery, but to be continually aggravating its own torments, by comparing them with the felicities of others. Perhaps envy, like lying and ingratitude, is practiced with more frequency, because it is practiced with impunity; but there being no human laws against these crimes, is so far from an inducement to commit them, that this very consideration would be sufficient to deter the wise and good, if all others were ineffectual; for of how heinous a nature must those sins be, which are judged above the reach of human punishment, and are reserved for the final justice of God!

Choose the word most similar in meaning to the word 'misapprehend', as used in the passage.

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and select the most suitable answer according to the underlined word per corresponding number in the passage.

When you tell those of a malicious turn, any circumstance that has happened to another, though they perfectly know of whom you are speaking, they often affect to be at a loss, to forget his name, or to misapprehend you in some respect or other; and this merely to have an opportunity of slyly gratifying their malice by mentioning some unhappy defect or personal infirmity he labours under; and not contented "to tack his every error to his name," they will, by way of farther explanation, have recourse to the faults of his father, or the misfortunes of his family; and this with all the seeming simplicity and candour in the world, merely for the sake of preventing mistakes, and to clear up every doubt of his identity.
To hint at a fault, does more mischief than speaking out; for whatever is left for the imagination to finish, will not fail to be overdone: every hiatus will be more than filled up, and every pause more than supplied. There is less malice and less mischief too, in telling a man's name than the initials of it; as a worthier person may be involved in the most disgraceful suspicions by such a dangerous ambiguity.
More reputations are thus hinted away by false friends, than are openly destroyed by public enemies. And if, or a but, or a mortified look, or a languid defence, or an ambiguous shake of the head, or a hasty word affectedly recalled, will demolish a character more effectually, than the whole artillery of malice when openly levelled against it.
It is not that envy never praises - No that would be making a public profession of itself, and advertising its own malignity; whereas the greatest success of its efforts depends on the concealment of their end.
When envy intends to strike a stroke of Machiavellian policy, it sometimes affects the language of the most exaggerated applause; though it generally takes care, that the subject of its panegyric shall be a very indifferent and common character, so that it is well aware none of its praises will stick.
It is the unhappy nature of envy not to be contented with positive misery, but to be continually aggravating its own torments, by comparing them with the felicities of others. Perhaps envy, like lying and ingratitude, is practiced with more frequency, because it is practiced with impunity; but there being no human laws against these crimes, is so far from an inducement to commit them, that this very consideration would be sufficient to deter the wise and good, if all others were ineffectual; for of how heinous a nature must those sins be, which are judged above the reach of human punishment, and are reserved for the final justice of God!

Choose the word most similar in meaning to the word 'Machiavellian', as used in the passage.

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and select the most suitable answer according to the underlined word per corresponding number in the passage.

When you tell those of a malicious turn, any circumstance that has happened to another, though they perfectly know of whom you are speaking, they often affect to be at a loss, to forget his name, or to misapprehend you in some respect or other; and this merely to have an opportunity of slyly gratifying their malice by mentioning some unhappy defect or personal infirmity he labours under; and not contented "to tack his every error to his name," they will, by way of farther explanation, have recourse to the faults of his father, or the misfortunes of his family; and this with all the seeming simplicity and candour in the world, merely for the sake of preventing mistakes, and to clear up every doubt of his identity.
To hint at a fault, does more mischief than speaking out; for whatever is left for the imagination to finish, will not fail to be overdone: every hiatus will be more than filled up, and every pause more than supplied. There is less malice and less mischief too, in telling a man's name than the initials of it; as a worthier person may be involved in the most disgraceful suspicions by such a dangerous ambiguity.
More reputations are thus hinted away by false friends, than are openly destroyed by public enemies. And if, or a but, or a mortified look, or a languid defence, or an ambiguous shake of the head, or a hasty word affectedly recalled, will demolish a character more effectually, than the whole artillery of malice when openly levelled against it.
It is not that envy never praises - No that would be making a public profession of itself, and advertising its own malignity; whereas the greatest success of its efforts depends on the concealment of their end.
When envy intends to strike a stroke of Machiavellian policy, it sometimes affects the language of the most exaggerated applause; though it generally takes care, that the subject of its panegyric shall be a very indifferent and common character, so that it is well aware none of its praises will stick.
It is the unhappy nature of envy not to be contented with positive misery, but to be continually aggravating its own torments, by comparing them with the felicities of others. Perhaps envy, like lying and ingratitude, is practiced with more frequency, because it is practiced with impunity; but there being no human laws against these crimes, is so far from an inducement to commit them, that this very consideration would be sufficient to deter the wise and good, if all others were ineffectual; for of how heinous a nature must those sins be, which are judged above the reach of human punishment, and are reserved for the final justice of God!

Choose the word most similar in meaning to the word 'infirmity', as used in the passage.

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and select the most suitable answer according to the underlined word per corresponding number in the passage.

When you tell those of a malicious turn, any circumstance that has happened to another, though they perfectly know of whom you are speaking, they often affect to be at a loss, to forget his name, or to misapprehend you in some respect or other; and this merely to have an opportunity of slyly gratifying their malice by mentioning some unhappy defect or personal infirmity he labours under; and not contented "to tack his every error to his name," they will, by way of farther explanation, have recourse to the faults of his father, or the misfortunes of his family; and this with all the seeming simplicity and candour in the world, merely for the sake of preventing mistakes, and to clear up every doubt of his identity.
To hint at a fault, does more mischief than speaking out; for whatever is left for the imagination to finish, will not fail to be overdone: every hiatus will be more than filled up, and every pause more than supplied. There is less malice and less mischief too, in telling a man's name than the initials of it; as a worthier person may be involved in the most disgraceful suspicions by such a dangerous ambiguity.
More reputations are thus hinted away by false friends, than are openly destroyed by public enemies. And if, or a but, or a mortified look, or a languid defence, or an ambiguous shake of the head, or a hasty word affectedly recalled, will demolish a character more effectually, than the whole artillery of malice when openly levelled against it.
It is not that envy never praises - No that would be making a public profession of itself, and advertising its own malignity; whereas the greatest success of its efforts depends on the concealment of their end.
When envy intends to strike a stroke of Machiavellian policy, it sometimes affects the language of the most exaggerated applause; though it generally takes care, that the subject of its panegyric shall be a very indifferent and common character, so that it is well aware none of its praises will stick.
It is the unhappy nature of envy not to be contented with positive misery, but to be continually aggravating its own torments, by comparing them with the felicities of others. Perhaps envy, like lying and ingratitude, is practiced with more frequency, because it is practiced with impunity; but there being no human laws against these crimes, is so far from an inducement to commit them, that this very consideration would be sufficient to deter the wise and good, if all others were ineffectual; for of how heinous a nature must those sins be, which are judged above the reach of human punishment, and are reserved for the final justice of God!

Choose the word most similar in meaning to the word 'candour', as used in the passage.

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and select the most suitable answer according to the underlined word per corresponding number in the passage.

When you tell those of a malicious turn, any circumstance that has happened to another, though they perfectly know of whom you are speaking, they often affect to be at a loss, to forget his name, or to misapprehend you in some respect or other; and this merely to have an opportunity of slyly gratifying their malice by mentioning some unhappy defect or personal infirmity he labours under; and not contented "to tack his every error to his name," they will, by way of farther explanation, have recourse to the faults of his father, or the misfortunes of his family; and this with all the seeming simplicity and candour in the world, merely for the sake of preventing mistakes, and to clear up every doubt of his identity.
To hint at a fault, does more mischief than speaking out; for whatever is left for the imagination to finish, will not fail to be overdone: every hiatus will be more than filled up, and every pause more than supplied. There is less malice and less mischief too, in telling a man's name than the initials of it; as a worthier person may be involved in the most disgraceful suspicions by such a dangerous ambiguity.
More reputations are thus hinted away by false friends, than are openly destroyed by public enemies. And if, or a but, or a mortified look, or a languid defence, or an ambiguous shake of the head, or a hasty word affectedly recalled, will demolish a character more effectually, than the whole artillery of malice when openly levelled against it.
It is not that envy never praises - No that would be making a public profession of itself, and advertising its own malignity; whereas the greatest success of its efforts depends on the concealment of their end.
When envy intends to strike a stroke of Machiavellian policy, it sometimes affects the language of the most exaggerated applause; though it generally takes care, that the subject of its panegyric shall be a very indifferent and common character, so that it is well aware none of its praises will stick.
It is the unhappy nature of envy not to be contented with positive misery, but to be continually aggravating its own torments, by comparing them with the felicities of others. Perhaps envy, like lying and ingratitude, is practiced with more frequency, because it is practiced with impunity; but there being no human laws against these crimes, is so far from an inducement to commit them, that this very consideration would be sufficient to deter the wise and good, if all others were ineffectual; for of how heinous a nature must those sins be, which are judged above the reach of human punishment, and are reserved for the final justice of God!

Choose the word most similar in meaning to the word 'malicious', as used in the passage.

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and select the most suitable answer according to the underlined word per corresponding number in the passage.

When you tell those of a malicious turn, any circumstance that has happened to another, though they perfectly know of whom you are speaking, they often affect to be at a loss, to forget his name, or to misapprehend you in some respect or other; and this merely to have an opportunity of slyly gratifying their malice by mentioning some unhappy defect or personal infirmity he labours under; and not contented "to tack his every error to his name," they will, by way of farther explanation, have recourse to the faults of his father, or the misfortunes of his family; and this with all the seeming simplicity and candour in the world, merely for the sake of preventing mistakes, and to clear up every doubt of his identity.
To hint at a fault, does more mischief than speaking out; for whatever is left for the imagination to finish, will not fail to be overdone: every hiatus will be more than filled up, and every pause more than supplied. There is less malice and less mischief too, in telling a man's name than the initials of it; as a worthier person may be involved in the most disgraceful suspicions by such a dangerous ambiguity.
More reputations are thus hinted away by false friends, than are openly destroyed by public enemies. And if, or a but, or a mortified look, or a languid defence, or an ambiguous shake of the head, or a hasty word affectedly recalled, will demolish a character more effectually, than the whole artillery of malice when openly levelled against it.
It is not that envy never praises - No that would be making a public profession of itself, and advertising its own malignity; whereas the greatest success of its efforts depends on the concealment of their end.
When envy intends to strike a stroke of Machiavellian policy, it sometimes affects the language of the most exaggerated applause; though it generally takes care, that the subject of its panegyric shall be a very indifferent and common character, so that it is well aware none of its praises will stick.
It is the unhappy nature of envy not to be contented with positive misery, but to be continually aggravating its own torments, by comparing them with the felicities of others. Perhaps envy, like lying and ingratitude, is practiced with more frequency, because it is practiced with impunity; but there being no human laws against these crimes, is so far from an inducement to commit them, that this very consideration would be sufficient to deter the wise and good, if all others were ineffectual; for of how heinous a nature must those sins be, which are judged above the reach of human punishment, and are reserved for the final justice of God!

Choose the word most similar in meaning to the word 'ambiguity', as used in the passage.

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and select the most suitable answer according to the underlined word per corresponding number in the passage.

When you tell those of a malicious turn, any circumstance that has happened to another, though they perfectly know of whom you are speaking, they often affect to be at a loss, to forget his name, or to misapprehend you in some respect or other; and this merely to have an opportunity of slyly gratifying their malice by mentioning some unhappy defect or personal infirmity he labours under; and not contented "to tack his every error to his name," they will, by way of farther explanation, have recourse to the faults of his father, or the misfortunes of his family; and this with all the seeming simplicity and candour in the world, merely for the sake of preventing mistakes, and to clear up every doubt of his identity.
To hint at a fault, does more mischief than speaking out; for whatever is left for the imagination to finish, will not fail to be overdone: every hiatus will be more than filled up, and every pause more than supplied. There is less malice and less mischief too, in telling a man's name than the initials of it; as a worthier person may be involved in the most disgraceful suspicions by such a dangerous ambiguity.
More reputations are thus hinted away by false friends, than are openly destroyed by public enemies. And if, or a but, or a mortified look, or a languid defence, or an ambiguous shake of the head, or a hasty word affectedly recalled, will demolish a character more effectually, than the whole artillery of malice when openly levelled against it.
It is not that envy never praises - No that would be making a public profession of itself, and advertising its own malignity; whereas the greatest success of its efforts depends on the concealment of their end.
When envy intends to strike a stroke of Machiavellian policy, it sometimes affects the language of the most exaggerated applause; though it generally takes care, that the subject of its panegyric shall be a very indifferent and common character, so that it is well aware none of its praises will stick.
It is the unhappy nature of envy not to be contented with positive misery, but to be continually aggravating its own torments, by comparing them with the felicities of others. Perhaps envy, like lying and ingratitude, is practiced with more frequency, because it is practiced with impunity; but there being no human laws against these crimes, is so far from an inducement to commit them, that this very consideration would be sufficient to deter the wise and good, if all others were ineffectual; for of how heinous a nature must those sins be, which are judged above the reach of human punishment, and are reserved for the final justice of God!