DIRECTIONS: In the passages that follow, some words and phrases are underlined and numbered. In the answer column, you will find alternatives for the words and phrases that are underlined. Choose the alternative that you think is best, and fill in the corresponding bubble on your answer sheet. If you think that the original version is best, choose “NO CHANGE,” which will always be either answer choice A or F. You will also find questions about a particular section of the passage, or about the entire passage. These questions will be identified either by an underlined portion or by a number in a box. Look for the answer that clearly expresses the idea, is consistent with the style and tone of the passage, and makes the correct use of standard written English. Read the passage through once before answering the questions. For some questions, you should read beyond the indicated portion before you answer.
The following paragraphs may or may not be in the most logical order. You may be asked questions about the logical order of the paragraphs, as well as where to place sentences logically within any given paragraph.
The Paris Metro
[1]
If you ever travel to Europe, you will likely want to visit the monuments and museums of Paris, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. You Q1 immerse yourself in art, architecture, and the history of Western civilization. The cultural treasures of France’s capital are awe-inspiring , Q2 but the most amazing thing about visiting Paris is the ease with which you can tour the city using the extensive subway network, in which Q3 the French call the Métropolitain, or simply the Metro.
[2]
The Metro was constructed in anticipation of the 1900 World Fair. Additional tunnels were excavated over the following three decades making Q4 the Metro one of the world’s most extensive and most patronized subway systems. Second in size only to the New York City subway, the Metros Q5 stations throughout Paris.
Q6 Paris does have buses and taxis, but nothing is faster or more convenient than catching a subway train. Not just a useful resource for Parisians, the Metro is ideal for tourist travel (no matter what country you are from!) .
Q7 All major sites in the city have a nearby station, most named by Q8 the attraction they are near. For example, the Louvre-Rivoli Station drops you off next door to the famous museum, and the Pont Neuf Station is at the foot of the famous bridge across the River Seine. I love the feeling of going underground at one attraction and coming Q9 back to the surface in another famous place. The Metro is also fast, with a train arriving at the station every few minutes. Best of all, tourists can buy a day pass for unlimited Metro trips, or a single ticket if just one trip is needed. Swiping Q10 your ticket once and you may enter the network, including all transfers between lines. Q11
[3]
I would much rather use the Metro than rent a car in Paris. Beyond the stresses of city driving, and parking, and the Q12 high cost of fuel in Europe, the Metro keeps you from ever getting lost. You can wander to your heart’s content, discovering the corners of Paris tourists rarely see. Metro travel couldn’t be easier!
[4]
People are accustomed generally Q13 to making transportation arrangements ahead of time when traveling to a new place. What I admire about the Paris Metro is the incredible freedom of movement that it provides. Q14
As soon as you arrive at the airport, you can buy a pass and head underground. The monuments and museums of Paris are amazing, but I am equally impressed by how easy and cheap it is to travel between them beneath the city.