Released KSA Items
Read the sentence from paragraph 1. Dogs are like ice cream flavors: There’s one to satisfy nearly every taste.
How does this simile impact the meaning of paragraph 1 in the passage?
A It suggests that dogs are pleasant pets.
B It suggests that many dogs behave similarly.
C It suggests that there are many kinds of dogs.
D It suggests that dogs act differently from other animals.
C It suggests that there are many kinds of dogs.
Which of the following best represents a main idea that should be included in a summary?
A. Scientists can study DNA with just a saliva sample.
B. Dog breeds can appear so different that they look like separate species.
C. Some dogs were first tamed in Russia.
D. A greyhound’s DNA might be scanned soon.
B. Dog breeds can appear so different that they look like separate species.
What does the word "species" most likely mean as used in the sentence: "Two dogs can look and act so differently that you might think that they belong to separate species"?
A. Groups of animals that eat the same food
B. Groups of animals that look alike
C. Groups of animals that are similar
D. Groups of animals that live in the same area
C. Groups of animals that are similar
What is the main purpose of the first paragraph ("Dogs are like ice cream flavors...")?
A. To give background information about wolves
B. To introduce the idea that dogs are all the same
C. To show how dogs vary in appearance and behavior
D. To explain how dog DNA is collected
C. To show how dogs vary in appearance and behavior
According to the passage, why are dogs compared to ice cream flavors?
A. Because they are fun to eat
B. Because all dogs like ice cream
C. Because there are many types of dogs to choose from
D. Because dogs are cold and sweet
C. Because there are many types of dogs to choose from
How does paragraph 6 best fit into the overall structure of the text?
A It compares and contrasts different breeds of dogs.
B It describes the physical appearance of a variety of dogs.
C It explains some of the challenges in scanning dog DNA.
D It introduces research intended to understand dog DNA.
D It introduces research intended to understand dog DNA.
What is a central idea that belongs in an objective summary of the passage?
A. Dog DNA can help scientists study both dog and human diseases.
B. The mastiff is one of the dogs being studied for DNA research.
C. Wolves followed humans because they were hungry.
D. Dogs sometimes act like kangaroos or rats.
A. Dog DNA can help scientists study both dog and human diseases.
What does the author mean when comparing DNA to an “instruction manual for life”?
A. DNA is a book that tells people how to raise animals
B. DNA contains coded directions that control how living things grow and behave
C. DNA must be followed exactly or animals will look strange
D. DNA includes pictures of what dogs will look like when they’re grown
B. DNA contains coded directions that control how living things grow and behave
Why does the author include the section titled “Instruction manual”?
A. To describe what kinds of dogs scientists like best
B. To explain how DNA affects the traits of living things
C. To convince readers to study biology
D. To tell a story about a dog named Tasha
B. To explain how DNA affects the traits of living things
What do scientists hope to learn by comparing the DNA of different dog breeds?
A. How dogs can learn tricks
B. Why dogs bark at night
C. What genes control dogs' looks and behaviors
D. Which dogs are the fastest runners
C. What genes control dogs' looks and behaviors
What does the author’s use of the word “speculate” in paragraph 14 suggest about the researchers?
A They are curious about the survival skills of wolves.
B They have thoughts about wolves’ body chemistry.
C They are curious about the food supply of wolves.
D They have ideas about how wolves became tame.
D They have ideas about how wolves became tame.
Which detail would be LEAST important in an objective summary of the passage?
A. Dogs come in many shapes, sizes, and coat types.
B. Scientists are using DNA to learn how dogs became domesticated.
C. Wolves may have tamed themselves by staying near human garbage dumps.
D. A poodle's DNA was studied last fall by a different group of scientists.
D. A poodle's DNA was studied last fall by a different group of scientists.
What is the connotative meaning of the phrase “dogs are like ice cream flavors”?
A. Dogs are sweet and cold
B. There are many kinds of dogs, each with its own appeal
C. Dogs are only liked by certain people
D. Dogs melt people’s hearts
B. There are many kinds of dogs, each with its own appeal
How does the paragraph about scientists scanning dog DNA contribute to the text?
A. It adds a fun story about dog owners
B. It introduces a problem with owning certain dog breeds
C. It supports the main idea that DNA explains dog differences
D. It describes how all dogs behave the same way
C. It supports the main idea that DNA explains dog differences
What is one reason dogs might help scientists understand human diseases?
A. Dogs and people often share meals
B. Dogs live longer than people
C. Dogs and humans share many of the same diseases
D. Dogs are easier to study than people
C. Dogs and humans share many of the same diseases
Which of the following is a claim from the passage that is presented with little or no direct evidence?
A. “Dog DNA is like an instruction manual for life.”
B. “Scientists can use saliva samples to extract dog DNA.”
C. “The modern dog was born after wolves started living with humans.”
D. “Scientists from Cambridge are scanning the DNA of a boxer named Tasha.”
C. “The modern dog was born after wolves started living with humans.”
Which sentence below includes a key idea that should be in an objective summary?
A. The boxer named Tasha had her DNA scanned first.
B. Scientists expect dog DNA research to improve dog health and behavior.
C. The article included a funny story about ancient wolves.
D. DNA was extracted from saliva samples at a university lab.
B. Scientists expect dog DNA research to improve dog health and behavior.
What does the phrase “wolves may have tamed themselves” suggest about the domestication process?
A. Humans taught wolves to behave through training
B. Wolves willingly changed their behavior over time without being forced
C. Wolves were adopted by ancient humans and trained quickly
D. Domestication happened because of scientific experiments
B. Wolves willingly changed their behavior over time without being forced
Why does the author include the story about wolves approaching ancient humans around a campfire?
A. To argue that wolves were always friendly to humans
B. To provide a possible explanation for the beginning of dog domestication
C. To prove that dogs were first pets in Russia
D. To entertain readers with a fictional tale
B. To provide a possible explanation for the beginning of dog domestication
What can the reader infer about wolves that stayed near humans long ago?
A. They were the most dangerous wolves
B. They had a better chance of surviving and passing on tame traits
C. They only lived in cold climates
D. They were already trained to obey commands
B. They had a better chance of surviving and passing on tame traits
Which of the following claims made in the passage is supported by evidence, and how is that support provided?
A. "Dogs are more intelligent than wolves" — supported by ancient stories of domestication.
B. "Dog DNA may help people understand human diseases" — supported by shared diseases and expert statements.
C. "All dogs come from the same part of Asia" — supported by recent lab tests on greyhounds.
D. "Poodles are more popular than boxers" — supported by DNA scans and coat types.
B. "Dog DNA may help people understand human diseases" — supported by shared diseases and expert statements.
Which of the following would be MOST important to include in an objective summary of the passage?
A. A St. Bernard can weigh 100 times more than a Chihuahua.
B. Scientists are studying dog DNA to understand differences in appearance and behavior.
C. Some people think wolves are better pets than dogs.
D. Poodles have curly hair and pugs have smooth coats.
B. Scientists are studying dog DNA to understand differences in appearance and behavior.
What is the figurative meaning of the sentence: “DNA is like an instruction manual for life,” and how does it shape the reader’s understanding of scientific research in the passage?
A. It shows that DNA can be printed and handed out like a textbook
B. It explains that life is difficult and needs a manual to be understood
C. It helps readers understand that DNA provides complex but organized guidance for how organisms grow and behave
D. It implies that DNA is written in English like most manuals
C. It helps readers understand that DNA provides complex but organized guidance for how organisms grow and behave
How does the structure of the passage as a whole help build the author’s explanation of how dogs became so different from each other?
A. It uses a series of interviews with pet owners
B. It begins with observable differences, then introduces scientific research and historical theories to explain those differences
C. It lists breeds alphabetically and provides training tips
D. It starts with dog training methods and ends with adoption advice
B. It begins with observable differences, then introduces scientific research and historical theories to explain those differences
Which best describes how the author builds the explanation of dog domestication throughout the passage?
A. By using a fictional story followed by facts and research
B. By comparing dogs to wolves in every paragraph
C. By explaining how dogs are trained today
D. By giving definitions of DNA at the end of the text
A. By using a fictional story followed by facts and research