4. The word "laborious" in line 8 is closest in meaning to
(A) unfamiliar
(B) primitive
(C) skilled
(D) difficult

50 The word “others” in line 27 refers to (A) art critics (B) fellow artists (C) individual differences (D) new styles

1. The main point of the passage is that the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries were a time when (A) the European textile industry increased its demand for American export products (B) mechanization of spinning and weaving dramatically changed the textile industry (C) cotton became a profitable crop but was still time-consuming to process (D) cotton became the most important American export product

2. The word "favored" in line 2 is closest in meaning to (A) preferred (B) recommended (C) imported (D) included

3. All of the following are mentioned in the passage as reasons for the increased demand for cotton EXCEPT (A) cotton's softness (B) cotton's ease of processing (C) a shortage of flax and wool (D) the growth that occurred in the textile industry.

5. According to the passage, one advantage of sea island cotton was its (A) abundance of seeds (B) long fibers (C) long growing season (D) adaptability to different climates

6. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage about cotton production in the United States after the introduction of Whitney's cotton gin? (A) More cotton came from sea island cotton plants than before. (B) More cotton came from short-staple cotton plants than before. (C) Most cotton produced was sold domestically. (D) Most cotton produced was exported to England.

7. The word "surge" in line 18 is closest in meaning to (A) sharp increase (B) sudden stop (C) important change (D) excess amount

8. The author mentions "wheat and wheat flour" in line 22 in order to (A) show that Americans exported more agricultural products than they imported. (B) show the increase in the amount of wheat products exported. (C) demonstrate the importance of cotton among American export products. (D) demonstrate that wheat farming was becoming more profitable.

9. The word "unprecedented" in line 25 is closest in meaning to (A) slow (B) profitable (C) not seen before (D) never explained

10. According to the passage, the Mississippi River was (A) one of the boundaries of a region where new agricultural settlement took place (B) a major source of water for agricultural crops (C) the primary route by which agricultural crops were transported (D) a main source of power for most agricultural machinery