Passage as a Whole
Many students believe that successful people simply have natural talent. However, researchers have found that practice, persistence, and learning from mistakes also play important roles in achievement.
Question:
What is the central idea of the passage?
A. Successful people never make mistakes.
B. Natural talent is the only factor in success.
C. Success can depend on effort and persistence as well as talent.
D. Researchers disagree about what makes people successful.
C. Success can depend on effort and persistence as well as talent.
The first successful powered airplane flight took place in 1903. The Wright brothers conducted the flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
Question:
Where did the Wright brothers conduct their successful flight?
A. Ohio
B. Florida
C. North Carolina
D. Virginia
C. North Carolina
Paragraph 1:
Early computers were extremely large and expensive.
Paragraph 2:
Advances in technology eventually allowed computers to become smaller and less expensive.
Question:
What is the relationship between the two paragraphs?
A. Problem and solution
B. Claim and counterclaim
C. Past condition and subsequent change
D. Question and answer
C. Past condition and subsequent change
Question:
"The city streets were silent, except for the occasional whisper of wind moving through the empty buildings."
Why does the author most likely use the word "whisper"?
A. To show that the wind is dangerous
B. To create a quiet, eerie atmosphere
C. To explain how wind is produced
D. To make the passage humorous
B. To create a quiet, eerie atmosphere
Passage:
Marcus checked the weather forecast before leaving home. He grabbed an umbrella and put on a raincoat.
Question:
What can the reader reasonably infer?
A. Marcus dislikes rain.
B. Marcus expects that it may rain.
C. Marcus is going to the beach.
D. Marcus forgot his backpack.
B. Marcus expects that it may rain.
Public libraries have changed significantly over the past century. Once primarily places for borrowing books, many libraries now provide internet access, technology classes, community programs, and research assistance.
Question:
What is the primary purpose of the passage?
A. To argue that libraries should stop lending books
B. To explain how the role of libraries has expanded
C. To criticize modern libraries
D. To explain why people prefer the internet
B. To explain how the role of libraries has expanded
Because honeybees communicate the location of food through movement, other bees can learn where to find flowers containing nectar.
Question:
According to the passage, why do honeybees use movement?
A. To protect their hive
B. To communicate the location of food
C. To attract predators
D. To find shelter
B. To communicate the location of food
Passage:
Some people believe homework reinforces learning. Others argue that excessive homework creates unnecessary stress.
Question:
What relationship does the author establish?
A. Cause and effect
B. Compare and contrast
C. Chronological order
D. Problem and solution
B. Compare and contrast
Question:
An author begins a passage with a surprising statistic.
Why might the author use this strategy?
A. To confuse the reader
B. To immediately capture the reader's attention
C. To provide a conclusion
D. To introduce an unrelated topic
B. To immediately capture the reader's attention
Passage:
The restaurant was completely empty when we arrived. Twenty minutes later, every table was occupied, and customers were waiting outside.
Question:
What can the reader infer?
A. The restaurant became popular during the evening.
B. The restaurant closed early.
C. The food was unavailable.
D. Customers were asked to leave.
A. The restaurant became popular during the evening.
Which statement would be the best summary of a passage that describes the invention of the submarine, improvements in its design, and its use in modern military operations?
A. Submarines are dangerous machines.
B. The military uses submarines.
C. Submarines have developed from early experimental vessels into sophisticated machines with many capabilities.
D. The first submarines were difficult to operate.
C. Submarines have developed from early experimental vessels into sophisticated machines with many capabilities.
Which detail from the passage best supports the claim that exercise can improve concentration?
A. Exercise can be performed outdoors.
B. Many people exercise in the morning.
C. Researchers found that students performed better on attention tasks after physical activity.
D. Running is one type of exercise.
C. Researchers found that students performed better on attention tasks after physical activity.
Passage:
Scientists first observed a decline in the bee population. As a result, researchers began investigating possible causes.
Question:
How does the second sentence relate to the first?
A. It provides an example.
B. It describes a consequence.
C. It introduces an opposing argument.
D. It repeats the same information.
B. It describes a consequence
Passage:
Many people assume that failure represents the end of a goal. History, however, provides countless examples of individuals who used failure as information that helped them eventually succeed.
Question:
Why does the author mention historical examples?
A. To prove that history is important
B. To provide evidence supporting the author's argument
C. To entertain the reader
D. To explain why historical events occurred
B. To provide evidence supporting the author's argument
Passage:
After the school introduced recycling bins, the amount of trash produced each week decreased by 25%.
Question:
Which conclusion is best supported by the evidence?
A. Recycling may have contributed to reducing the amount of trash.
B. Students stopped producing trash completely.
C. Recycling is the only way to reduce waste.
D. The school eliminated all waste.
A. Recycling may have contributed to reducing the amount of trash
Question:
A passage begins by describing a problem with food waste, gives statistics about how much food is discarded, and ends by describing ways individuals can reduce waste.
What is the passage's overall organizational structure?
A. Cause and effect
B. Problem and solution
C. Compare and contrast
D. Chronological order
B. Problem and solution
A passage states that a particular invention was initially expensive but became affordable after manufacturers developed more efficient production methods.
What caused the invention to become more affordable?
A. Increased advertising
B. More efficient production
C. Consumer demand
D. Government funding
B. More efficient production
Question:
A passage first explains why a particular technology was developed. The following paragraphs describe how the technology changed over several decades.
Why does the author organize the passage this way?
A. To compare two unrelated technologies
B. To show the technology's development over time
C. To argue against using the technology
D. To provide a definition
B. To show the technology's development over time
Question:
An author presents a common belief at the beginning of a passage and then provides evidence that challenges that belief.
What is the author's primary purpose for using this structure?
A. To demonstrate that the common belief may be incomplete or incorrect
B. To repeat the same argument
C. To avoid presenting evidence
D. To summarize the passage
A. To demonstrate that the common belief may be incomplete or incorrect
The author describes several communities that planted trees along busy streets. In each community, residents later reported cooler sidewalks and more comfortable outdoor spaces.
Question:
What conclusion is best supported by the evidence?
A. Trees can make outdoor urban areas more comfortable.
B. All cities should remove sidewalks.
C. Residents prefer living in rural areas.
D. Trees completely eliminate heat.
A. Trees can make outdoor urban areas more comfortable.
The author discusses three different examples throughout a passage. Although the examples involve different situations, they all demonstrate the same idea.
What should a reader use to determine the passage's central idea?
A. The most interesting example
B. The first sentence only
C. The idea supported by the passage as a whole
D. The longest paragraph
C. The idea supported by the passage as a whole
A question asks:
"According to the passage, which of the following occurred immediately before the discovery?"
What is the best strategy?
A. Choose the answer that sounds most logical.
B. Read the entire passage again slowly.
C. Locate the discovery in the passage and look immediately before it.
D. Choose the most detailed answer.
C. Locate the discovery in the passage and look immediately before it.
Question:
Paragraph 3 presents evidence supporting the author's claim. Paragraph 4 introduces evidence that appears to challenge that claim, but the author then explains why the original claim remains valid.
What is the relationship between paragraphs 3 and 4?
A. Definition and example
B. Claim and repetition
C. Evidence and counterargument
D. Cause and effect
C. Evidence and counterargument
Question:
An author uses a series of short sentences during a description of an emergency.
What effect does this sentence structure most likely create?
A. A relaxed and peaceful tone
B. A sense of urgency and tension
C. A humorous tone
D. A detailed historical explanation
B. A sense of urgency and tension
Passage:
At first, Elena avoided speaking during class discussions. After receiving positive feedback from her teacher and classmates, she began volunteering answers and eventually led a group presentation.
Question:
Which conclusion is best supported by the passage?
A. Elena was naturally the best speaker in her class.
B. Positive feedback may have increased Elena's confidence.
C. Elena disliked working with classmates.
D. Teachers should require every student to lead presentations.
B. Positive feedback may have increased Elena's confidence.