EST M3 Practice May 2026

Passage 1

Early accounts of mapmaking often portray it as a neutral exercise in measurement, governed solely by mathematics and observation. Yet surviving maps from different periods reveal notable inconsistencies, not merely in scale or accuracy but in what they choose to emphasize or omit. Coastlines might be rendered with meticulous care, while inland regions dissolve into vague ornamentation or conjecture. Such patterns suggest that maps were shaped as much by the priorities of their patrons—merchants, monarchs, or military authorities—as by the technical limits of the cartographer. By highlighting trade routes, fortified cities, or imperial boundaries, mapmakers subtly guided viewers toward particular interpretations of space, implying that maps functioned not only as navigational tools but also as instruments that framed political and economic realities.

Passage 2

Scientific diagrams are often assumed to simplify complex ideas, yet they can also introduce misunderstanding. By compressing processes that unfold over long periods into a single image, diagrams risk implying immediacy where none exists. Students may therefore grasp the overall structure of a concept while misinterpreting its sequence or scale. This tension suggests that visual clarity does not always guarantee conceptual accuracy.

Passage 3

The origin of human language remains one of the most debated questions in the study of early societies. While some scholars argue that language emerged gradually from simple vocal signals used for coordination, others suggest that it developed rapidly once humans acquired the cognitive capacity for symbolic thought. What complicates the issue further is the absence of direct evidence: spoken language leaves no physical trace, forcing researchers to rely on indirect clues such as tool use, social organization, and anatomical changes. As a result, theories about linguistic origins often reflect broader assumptions about human cognition rather than definitive historical proof.

Passage 4

The study of early human communication relies heavily on indirect evidence, since spoken language itself leaves no permanent record. Archaeologists therefore examine tools, burial practices, and settlement patterns, all of which can suggest levels of social complexity. Linguists, working from a different angle, compare modern [6]languages to reconstruct possible ancestral forms, a method that, while systematic, remains inherently speculative. Together, these approaches illustrate how conclusions about linguistic origins[7] have been shaped primarily through careful interpretation of incomplete material evidence.

Passage 5

The Leaning Tower of Pisa began construction in 1173 as the freestanding bell tower of Pisa’s cathedral complex. Almost from its earliest stages, the structure started to tilt because its shallow foundations rested on soft, unstable soil. Construction proceeded in long interruptions over nearly two centuries, and later builders attempted to compensate for the lean by making the upper levels slightly asymmetrical. Although once considered a serious structural flaw, the tower’s inclination ultimately became its defining feature, transforming an engineering problem into one of the world’s most recognizable architectural landmarks.

Passage 5

The Leaning Tower of Pisa began construction in 1173 as the freestanding bell tower of Pisa’s cathedral complex. Almost from its earliest stages, the structure started to tilt because its shallow foundations rested on soft, unstable soil. Construction proceeded in long interruptions over nearly two centuries, and later builders attempted to compensate for the lean by making the upper levels slightly asymmetrical. Although once considered a serious structural flaw, the tower’s inclination ultimately became its defining feature, transforming an engineering problem into one of the world’s most recognizable architectural landmarks.

Passage 6

It should not pass unnoticed that bees are repeatedly drawn to flowers displaying vivid coloration and strong contrast against their surroundings. Some researchers have proposed that such visual features evolved primarily to attract pollinators, thereby increasing the likelihood of successful reproduction. However, the passage from attraction to evolutionary advantage is not entirely straightforward. Bees respond not only to color but also to patterns, ultraviolet markings, and prior foraging experience, suggesting that floral coloration functions within a broader system of sensory cues rather than as an isolated signal.

Passage 7

To simplify the preparation of oxygen, thin copper bottles should be avoided in favor of stronger wrought-iron or steel retorts, which are more durable and easier to handle. These retorts, typically shaped as closed tubes with screw couplings, are safer and more practical when properly sealed with fireclay and sized to fit standard laboratory equipment. Attention to such details—such as secure joints, appropriate tube diameters, and cleaning new bottles before use—is essential, as apparatus design often overlooks practical convenience unless the experimenter carefully considers it in advance. 

Passage 7

To simplify the preparation of oxygen, thin copper bottles should be avoided in favor of stronger wrought-iron or steel retorts, which are more durable and easier to handle. These retorts, typically shaped as closed tubes with screw couplings, are safer and more practical when properly sealed with fireclay and sized to fit standard laboratory equipment. Attention to such details—such as secure joints, appropriate tube diameters, and cleaning new bottles before use—is essential, as apparatus design often overlooks practical convenience unless the experimenter carefully considers it in advance. 

Passage 8

Early scholars studying the origin of writing systems attempted to classify symbols by comparing their shapes, analyzing their usage, [16]  and to determine their cultural significance. When these symbols were recorded in later manuscripts, they often appeared altered, which led historians to question[17] whether they reflected the original system or the interpretation of later scribes. As research continued, scholars realized that changes in writing practices[18] occurred gradually, shaped by social needs rather than sudden innovation.

Passage 8

Early scholars studying the origin of writing systems attempted to classify symbols by comparing their shapes, analyzing their usage, [16]  and to determine their cultural significance. When these symbols were recorded in later manuscripts, they often appeared altered, which led historians to question[17] whether they reflected the original system or the interpretation of later scribes. As research continued, scholars realized that changes in writing practices[18] occurred gradually, shaped by social needs rather than sudden innovation.

Passage 9

[19]Running quickly through the laboratory, the oxygen apparatus was knocked over by the careless assistant.

Passage 10

1. Cheese has been produced for thousands of years, long before written records clearly documented its origins.
2. Ancient herders likely discovered cheese accidentally while transporting milk in containers made from animal stomachs.
3. The enzymes present in these containers caused the milk to curdle and separate into solid and liquid forms.
4. Over time, communities refined this chance discovery into deliberate methods of preservation and flavor development.

Passage 11

An educational journal once praised a progressive academy for training students to analyze texts independently rather than memorize interpretations. The school’s report proudly claimed that graduates could question arguments, evaluate evidence, and revise their opinions accordingly. In response, a skeptical administrator wrote to the headmaster, remarking, “That is admirable. We would consider it a success if our students could simply follow an argument from beginning to end.”

Passage 12

It should not pass unnoticed that whales produce a wide range of complex sounds, including clicks, whistles, and long patterned songs. It has often been suggested that some of these sounds owe their existence to their usefulness in long-distance communication, allowing whales to maintain contact across vast ocean spaces. These vocalizations, traveling efficiently through water, may enable individuals to locate one another, coordinate movement, or signal reproductive readiness. Yet the precise function of many whale sounds remains uncertain, inviting careful examination of how acoustic behavior supports survival in marine environments.