Directions:(1-10) Read the passage carefully and answer the given questions.

At the beginning of the present century, it is not probable that there were 100 florists in the United States, and their combined green-house structures could not have exceeded 50,000 square feet of glass. There are now more than 10,000 florists distributed through every State and Territory in the Union and estimating 5,000 square feet of glass to each, the total area would be 50,000,000 square feet, or about 1,000 acres of green-houses. The value of the bare structures, with heating apparatus, at 60 cents per square foot would be $30,000,000, while the stock of plants grown in them would not be less than twice that sum. The present rate of growth in the business is about 25% per annum, which proves that it is keeping well abreast of our most flourishing industries.

The business, too, is conducted by a better class of men. No longer than thirty years ago it was rare to find any other than a foreigner engaged in commercial floriculture. These men had usually been private gardeners, who were mostly uneducated, and without business habits. But to-day, the men of this calling compare favorably in intelligence and business capacity with any mercantile class.

Floriculture has attained such importance that it has taken its place as a regular branch of study in some of our agricultural colleges. Of late years, too, scores of young men in all parts of the country have been apprenticing themselves to the large establishments near the cities, and already some of these have achieved a high standing; for the training so received by a lad from sixteen to twenty, better fits him for the business here than ten years of European experience, because much of what is learned there would prove worse than useless here. The English or German florist has here to contend with unfamiliar conditions of climate and a manner of doing business that is novel to him. Again he has been trained to more deliberate methods of working, and when I told the story a few years ago of a workman who had potted 10,000 cuttings in two inch pots in ten consecutive hours, it was stigmatized in nearly every horticultural magazine in Europe as a piece of American bragging. As a matter of fact this same workman two years later, potted 11,500 plants in ten hours, and since then several other workmen have potted plants at the rate of a thousand per hour all day long.

Old world conservatism is slow to adopt improvements. The practice of heating by low pressure steam will save in labor, coal and construction one-fifth of the expense by old methods, and nearly all the large green-house establishments in this country, whether private or commercial, have been for some years furnished with the best apparatus. But when visiting London, Edinburgh and Paris in 1885, I neither saw nor heard of a single case where steam had been used for green-house heating. The stress of competition here has developed enterprise, encouraged invention and driven us to rapid and prudent practice, so that while labor costs at least twice as much as it does in Europe, our prices both at wholesale and retail, are lower. And yet I am not aware that American florists complain that their profits compare unfavorably with those of their brethren over the sea.

Commercial floriculture includes two distinct branches, one for the production of flowers and the other for the production of plants. During the past twenty years the growth in the flower department of the business has outstripped the growth of the plant department. The increase in the sale of Rosebuds in winter is especially noteworthy. At the present time it is safe to say that one-third of the entire glass structures in the United States are used for this purpose; many large growers having from two to three acres in houses devoted to Roses alone, such erections costing from $50,000 to $100,000 each, according to the style in which they are built.

More cut flowers are used for decoration in the United States than in any other country, and it is probable that there are more flowers sold in New York than in London with a population four times as great. In London and Paris, however, nearly every door-yard and window of city and suburb show the householder’s love for plants, while with us, particularly in the vicinity of New York (Philadelphia and Boston are better), the use of living plants for home decoration is far less general.

There are fashions in flowers, and they continually change. Thirty years ago thousands of Camellia flowers were retailed in the holiday season for $1 each, while Rosebuds would not bring a dime. Now, many of the fancy Roses sell at $1 each, while Camellia flowers go begging at ten cents. The Chrysanthemum is now rivaling the Rose, as well it may, and no doubt every decade will see the rise and fall of some floral favorite. But beneath these flitting fancies is the substantial and unchanging love of flowers that seems to be an original instinct in man, and one that grows in strength with growing refinement. Fashion may now and again condemn one flower or another, but the fashion of neglecting flowers altogether will never prevail, and we may safely look forward in the expectation of an ever increasing interest and demand, steady improvement in methods of cultivation, and to new and attractive developments in form, color and fragrance.

1. Which of the following is true about floriculture in United States?

Ans: 3
In the beginning of the third paragraph, it is given, “Floriculture has attained such importance that it has taken its place as a regular branch of study in some of our agricultural colleges.”
From this we can understand that in the United States, floriculture is now a regular branch of study in some of the agricultural colleges.
Thus, Option C.

2. Who among the following is a better fit for the floriculture business in the USA?

Ans: 2
In the third paragraph, it is given, “Of late years, too, scores of young men in all parts of the country have been apprenticing themselves to the large establishments near the cities, and already some of these have achieved a high standing; for the training so received by a lad from sixteen to twenty, better fits him for the business here than ten years of European experience, because much of what is learned there would prove worse than useless here. The English or German florist has here to contend with unfamiliar conditions of climate and a manner of doing business that is novel to him.”
From this we can understand that an American florist is more suitable to do business in the USA because of the familiar climatic conditions and the manner of doing business in the USA.
Thus, Option B.

3. Which of the following statements is/are TRUE according to the passage?
1) Commercial floriculture encompasses only the production of flowers.
2) More cut flowers are used for decoration in the US than in any other country.
3) Humans’ love of flowers is only going to increase.

Ans: 3
In the fifth paragraph, it is given “Commercial floriculture includes two distinct branches, one for the production of flowers and the other for the production of plants.”
From this we can say that the first statement is incorrect.
In the beginning of the sixth para, it is given “More cut flowers are used for decoration in the United States than in any other country, and it is probable that there are more flowers sold in New York than in London with a population four times as great.”
Thus statement 2 is correct.
In the last paragraph of the passage the author says that the trends in floriculture may change with time but the love of flowers is only going to increase in future.
Thus statement 3 is also correct.

4. Which of the flowing is the most likely title of the passage?

Ans: 4
The passage introduces the boom of floriculture in the United States by quoting the numbers. Later the author contrasts the floriculture in the United States with that in the European countries. By this the author says that though the labor costs in the United States are high the market prices are lower due to the efficient methods being used in the United States.
Overall, we can say that the passage is about floriculture in the United States.
Thus, Option D is the most apt choice.

5. In which of the flowing places, it is more likely to notice the usage of steam in green house heating?

Ans: 2
In the fourth paragraph it is given, “The practice of heating by low pressure steam will save in labor, coal and construction one-fifth of the expense by old methods, and nearly all the large green-house establishments in this country, whether private or commercial, have been for some years furnished with the best apparatus. But when visiting London, Edinburgh and Paris in 1885, I neither saw nor heard of a single case where steam had been used for green-house heating. The stress of competition here has developed enterprise, encouraged invention and driven us to rapid and prudent practice, so that while labor costs at least twice as much as it does in Europe, our prices both at wholesale and retail, are lower.”
From this we can say that a place in USA is more likely to use steam for green house heating than places in Europe.

6. Which of the following is a synonym of the word “apprentice” as used in the passage?

Ans: 2
According to Oxford, “apprentice” means a person who is learning a trade from a skilled employee.
A “pupil”, who a person who is taught by another, is the closest is meaning to “apprentice”.

7. Which of the following is a synonym of the word “stigmatize” as used in the passage?

Ans: 4
The meaning of the word “stigmatize” as used is to describe or regard someone/something as something. The word “characterize” which means to describe the distinctive nature or features of is the closest in meaning.

8. Which of the following is a synonym of the word “prudent” as used in the passage?

Ans: 1
“Prudent” means to be wise and sensible in action or thought. The word similar in meaning is “cautious” which means to be careful to avoid potential problems or dangers according to Oxford dictionary.

9. Which of the following is an antonym of the word “flourish” as used in the passage?

Ans: 3
“Flourish” in the given context means to grow or prosper. The word opposite in meaning is “shrink” which means to decrease or lessen.

10. Which of the following is an antonym of the word “outstrip” as used in the passage?

Ans: 5
According to Oxford, “outstrip” means to move faster than and overtake. The word “exceed” is similar in meaning.
But the antonym of it is “fall behind”
Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60

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