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TOEFL - Reading Comprehension - Test 45
In this section you will find a number of tests based on the fifth part of the Test Of English for International Communication.
For each question you will see an incomplete sentence. Four words or phrases, marked A-D are given beneath each sentence. You are to choose the one word or phrase that best completes the sentence.
Click on the 'View Answers' tab to see the correct answers.
Read the passage and choose the option that best answer each question.
No modern nation has ever constructed a foreign policy that was acceptable to its intellectuals. True, at moments of national peril or national exaltation, intellectuals will feel the same patriotic emotions as everyone else, and will subscribe as enthusiastically to the common 5 cause. But these moments pass, the process of disengagement begins, and it usually does not take long before it develops into alienation. Public opinion polls generally reveal that the overwhelming majority of ordinary citizens, at any particular time, will approve of their government's foreign policy; among intellectuals, this majority tends 10 to be skimpy at best, and will frequently not exist at all. It is reasonable to suppose that there is an instinctive bias at work here favorable to government among the common people, unfavorable among the intellectuals.
15 The bias of the common man is easy to understand: he is never much interested in foreign affairs; feelings incline him to favor his own government against the governments of foreigners; and in cases of international conflict, he is ready to sacrifice his self-interest for what the government assures him to be the common good. The persistent 20 bias of intellectuals, on the other hand requires some explaining.
15 The bias of the common man is easy to understand: he is never much interested in foreign affairs; feelings incline him to favor his own government against the governments of foreigners; and in cases of international conflict, he is ready to sacrifice his self-interest for what the government assures him to be the common good. The persistent 20 bias of intellectuals, on the other hand requires some explaining.
Questions
1. What is the main idea of the passage?
A. That a country's foreign policy does not include the ideas of its intellectuals. 
B. That intellectuals are biased.
C. That intellectuals do not easily accept their country's foreign policy.
D. That intellectuals follow the same line as other people regarding foreign policy.

B. That intellectuals are biased.

C. That intellectuals do not easily accept their country's foreign policy.

D. That intellectuals follow the same line as other people regarding foreign policy.

2. According to the passage when might intellectuals feel love for their country?
A. When their country is being criticized. 
B. When they become enthusiastic about the common people.
C. When they become emotional.
D. When their country is in danger.

B. When they become enthusiastic about the common people.

C. When they become emotional.

D. When their country is in danger.

3. According to the opinion polls mentioned in the passage which of the following in not true?
A. A vast majority of normal people approve of their country's foreign policy. 
B. At times most citizens think their country's foreign policy is acceptable.
C. A very small majority of intellectuals might approve of their country's foreign policy.
D. Quite often a majority of intellectuals did not approve of their country's foreign policy.

B. At times most citizens think their country's foreign policy is acceptable.

C. A very small majority of intellectuals might approve of their country's foreign policy.

D. Quite often a majority of intellectuals did not approve of their country's foreign policy.

4. Which of the following reasons is not given for why the common man nearly always accepts the foreign policy of his country?
A. He is not very interested in foreign affairs. 
B. He is prepared to fight to defend his government in times of conflict.
C. He usually supports his own government against other governments.
D. He accepts the need to make sacrifices in times of war.

B. He is prepared to fight to defend his government in times of conflict.

C. He usually supports his own government against other governments.

D. He accepts the need to make sacrifices in times of war.

5. What might the topic of the next paragraph be?
A. An explanation of why intellectuals are biased. 
B. The biases of intellectuals.
C. A comparison of the biases of the common man and the intellectual.
D. How the common man might sacrifice his self-interest.

B. The biases of intellectuals.

C. A comparison of the biases of the common man and the intellectual.

D. How the common man might sacrifice his self-interest.