Question 7 - Upper Level: Reading Comprehension Practice Test for the ISEE

\[\begin{array}{} {1} &\;\; \text{Most adult women living in the modern western world will} \\ {2} & \;\;\text{proudly don a ring on their left hand upon becoming engaged} \\ {3} & \;\;\text{to be married. While a diamond stone on a gold band seems} \\ {4} & \;\;\text{to be the most popular choice, many women are starting to} \\ {5} &\;\; \text{branch out and select more unique designs for their} \\ {6} & \;\;\text{engagement rings. Colorful gems, such as rubies and} \\ {7} & \;\;\text{sapphires, are especially growing in popularity. Still other} \\ {8} & \;\;\text{women choose no gemstone at all, preferring the ease and} \\ {9} & \;\;\text{simplicity of a band.} \\ \end{array}\] \[\begin{array}{} {10} &\;\; \text{Regardless of the design choice, wearing an engagement} \\ {11} & \;\;\text{ring of some kind is a time-honored tradition that most} \\ {12} & \;\;\text{people accept without further thought. But from where does} \\ {13} & \;\;\text{this tradition stem? Why is it the norm to wear a ring after} \\ {14} & \;\;\text{getting engaged?} \\ \end{array}\] \[\begin{array}{} {15} &\;\; \text{The history of the engagement ring goes back farther than} \\ {16} & \;\;\text{most people would guess. While the modern engagement} \\ {17} & \;\;\text{ring is a relatively new tradition, using rings to represent} \\ {18} & \;\;\text{matrimony or partnership can be traced all the way back to} \\ {19} & \;\;\text{the Egyptians in 2800 B.C. Since then, wedding and} \\ {20} &\;\; \text{engagement rings have cropped up in many societies all} \\ {21} & \;\;\text{over the world, including Asia and Europe. Archduke} \\ {22} & \;\;\text{Maximilian of Austria is said to have been the first to propose} \\ {23} & \;\;\text{with a diamond ring in 1477, but it would be a long time yet} \\ {24} & \;\;\text{before diamond rings were the norm. Early societies used all} \\ {25} &\;\; \text{types of materials to create rings, including thread, wood,} \\ {26} & \;\;\text{iron, and even hair. Puritans in the eighteenth century wore} \\ {27} & \;\;\text{thimbles to represent matrimony, eventually cutting the tops} \\ {28} & \;\;\text{off of them to create rings.} \\ \end{array}\] \[\begin{array}{} {29} &\;\; \text{Based on the history of the engagement ring, it seems that} \\ {30} & \;\;\text{wearing a ring as a symbolic representation of love or} \\ {31} & \;\;\text{attachment is by no means a new idea. The western} \\ {32} & \;\;\text{standard of diamonds and other expensive gems are simply} \\ {33} & \;\;\text{the most modern trend in the engagement ring practice.} \\ \end{array}\]