Reading comprehension -TOEFL- Lesson 17
Alzheimer`s disease impairs a person`s ability to recall memories, both distant and as recent as a few hours before. Although there is not yet a cure for the illness, there may be hope for a cure with a protein called nerve growth factor. The protein is produced by nerve cells in the same region of the brain where Alzheimer`s occurs. Based on this relationship, scientists from the University of Lund in Sweden and the University of California at San Diego designed an experiment to test whether doses of nerve growth factor could reverse the effects of memory loss caused by Alzheimer`s. Using a group of rats with impaired memory, the scientists gave half of the rats doses of nerve growth factor while giving the other half a blood protein as a placebo, thus creating a control group. At the end of the four-week test, the rats given the nerve growth factor performed equally to rats with normal memory abilities. While the experiments do not show that nerve growth factor can stop the general process of deterioration caused by Alzheimer`s, they do show potential as a means to slowing the process significantly.

1. With what topic is this passage mainly concerned ?
(A) impaired memory of patients
(B) cures for Alzheimer`s disease
(C) the use of rats as experimental subjects
(D) nerve growth factor as a cure for Alzheimer`s
2. The word "impairs" in line 1 is most similar to which of the following?
(A) affects
(B) destroys
(C) enhances
(D) diminishes
3. According to the passage, where is nerve growth factor produced in the body?
(A) in nerve cells in the spinal column
(B) in red blood cells in the circulatory system
(C) in nerve cells in the brain
(D) in the pituitary gland
4. Which of the following is closest in meaning to the word "region" as used in line 4?
(A) vicinity
(B) plain
(C) expanse
(D) orbit
5. Which of the following is closest in meaning to the word "doses" in line 6?
(A) measures
(B) pieces
(C) injections
(D) stipends
6. Which of the following could best replace the word "reverse" as used in line 7?
(A) foster
(B) prompt
(C) override
(D) match
7. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?
(A) Alzheimer`s disease is deadly.
(B) Though unsuccessful, the experiments did show some benefits derived from nerve growth factor.
(C) The experiments did not show any significant benefits from nerve growth factor.
(D) More work needs to be done to understand the effects of nerve growth factor.
8. The passage most closely resembles which of the following patterns of organization?
(A) chronological order
(B) statement and illustration
(C) causeeffect
(D) alphabetical order
9. Which of the following is closest in meaning to the word "deterioration" in line 12?
(A) depression
(B) deduction
(C) decline
(D) disconnection
10. Which of the following could best replace the word "potential" in line 13?
(A) possibility
(B) capability
(C) dependability
(D) creativity11. Which of the following could best replace the word "significantly" in line 13?
(A) considerably
(B) knowingly
(C) suggestively
(D) tirelessly
12. The relationship between nerve growth factor and a protein is similar to the relationship between Alzheimer`s and
(A) forgetfulness
(B) a disease
(C) a cure
(D) a cancer