Reading Practice Test 2 - My Career Tools

Each question has a few answer choices. Choose the best answer for each question. At the end of the quiz, you will see your results.

1. It is true that the powers of Europe may carry on maritime wars with the Union, but there is always greater facility and less danger in supporting a maritime than a continental war. Maritime warfare only requires one species of effort. A commercial people who consent to furnish its government with the necessary funds are sure to possess a fleet. And it is far easier to induce a nation to part with its money, almost unconsciously, than to reconcile it to sacrifices of men and personal efforts. Moreover, defeat by sea rarely compromises the existence or independence of the people which endures it. As for continental wars, it is evident that the nations of Europe cannot be formidable in this way to the American Union. It would be very difficult to transport and maintain in America more than 25,000 soldiers; an army which may be considered to represent a nation of about 2,000,000 men. The most populous nation of Europe contending in this way against the Union is in the position of a nation of 2,000,000 of inhabitants at war with one of 12,000,000. Add to this, that America has all its resources within reach, whilst the European is at 4,000 miles distance from his; and that the immensity of the American continent would of itself present an insurmountable obstacle to its conquest.

What evidence in the text supports your answer in question 1?

A.Maritime wars are cheaper; people are more likely to part with money than with human lives; being defeated in a maritime war doesn’t compromise the independence of the losing side; the nations of Europe are smaller and have far fewer people than America, making a land war impractical.

B.It is easier for a European country to conduct a maritime war with the U.S. than a land war.

Question 1 of 10

2. Technology-based products top the list of most-wanted items on teens' wish lists this year. , the latest model smartphone was at the head of the list. It was followed by music players, laptop computers, tablets, and devices designed to be used with those products. What teens don't want? Clothes.

Which transition best connects the evidence to the claim it supports?

A.Naturally

B.As a result

C.Nevertheless

D.By the same token

Question 2 of 10

3. Which word/phrase in the sentence below is redundant and can be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence?Historically, in the past, politicians often inserted their religious beliefs into their positions.

A.in the past

B.often

C.religious

D.their

Question 3 of 10

4. DIRECTIONS: Identify the structure of each passage. Penguins often catch fish that are caught underneath the ice. They swim under the ice, catching the fish with their beaks and swallowing them whole. Though penguins don’t have teeth, they have stiff spines on their tongue that point backward, down towards the throat, so that when they are swallowing their prey, it can’t wriggle back out of their mouths.

A.Compare and Contrast

B.Spatial/Descriptive

C.Cause & Effect

D.Chronological

Question 4 of 10

5. Choose the main idea sentence in the paragraph below.Have you ever wondered about the bread on your sandwich? Chances are, it might be either whole wheat or white bread. But there are many different kinds of bread that are made throughout the world. One type of bread that you probably have never made a sandwich with is called Naan, a flatbread that is baked on the side of an oven. Another type you probably have not used for a sandwich is called Matza, which is more like a cracker than fluffy bread.

A.Another type you probably have not used for a sandwich is called Matza, which is more like a cracker than fluffy bread.

B.But there are many different kinds of bread that are made throughout the world.

C.Have you ever wondered about the bread on your sandwich?

D.Chances are, it might be either whole wheat or white bread.

Question 5 of 10

6. Read the following short biography below and identify the main idea.Even though George Washington Carver is very well known for the agricultural work that he did with the peanut plant, he also did a lot of work with research and education about other types of crops. In his adult life, George Washington Carver did research into soybean and sweet potato plants, and taught many farming families proper nutrition so that they could feed themselves well and live a healthy lifestyle. He also created around 100 products that could be made directly from peanuts, such as various types of makeup, gasoline, and plastics.

What is the main idea of this biography?

A.George Washington Carver contributed many ideas and research to agriculture.

B.Peanuts can be used to make makeup and plastics.

C.George Washington Carver educated farming families on healthy eating habits.

D.George Washington Carver invented peanut butter.

Question 6 of 10

7. 2

The albatross is a big bird that spends most of its time flying over oceans. It is about three feet tall when it is standing, and its wingspan can get up to eight feet, which is quite a bit longer than an average‐sized man.
The albatross returns to land to breed and mates for life. The female lays only one egg, and both parents care for the baby. Most albatrosses live for around 30 years, but they can live to
be as old as 70! Albatrosses eat crabs, fish, squid, and sometimes dead penguins. They either snatch food from the water’s surface or dive for it. They have to be careful of tiger sharks, who will make a meal out of an albatross if they can catch one. The albatross is an endangered species. They often die when diving into the ocean for food because they get tangled in fishing lines and drown. Being followed by an albatross while at sea is supposed to be good luck.

How big is an albatross?

A.It is about three feet tall when it is standing, and its wingspan can get up to eight feet.

B.It is about eight feet tall when it is standing, and its wingspan can get up to four feet.

Question 7 of 10

8. Choose the main idea sentence in the paragraph below.Last summer, I went to Disney World with my family. I was so excited to meet all of the characters that I purchased an autograph book, and when the day was over, I had around 50 signatures! But then a terrible thing happened - I lost the book. My parents told me to be calm, that someone probably found it and brought it to the lost and found. My mom called and told the lost and found office my name. Turns out, they had the book! I almost had a horrible vacation, but thanks to the lost and found office, I did not.

A.I almost had a horrible vacation, but thanks to the lost and found office, I did not.

B.Last summer, I went to Disney World with my family.

C.But then a terrible thing happened - I lost the book.

D.My parents told me to be calm, that someone probably found it and brought it to the lost and found.

Question 8 of 10

9. 6

The albatross is a big bird that spends most of its time flying over oceans. It is about three feet tall when it is standing, and its wingspan can get up to eight feet, which is quite a bit longer than an average‐sized man.
The albatross returns to land to breed and mates for life. The female lays only one egg, and both parents care for the baby. Most albatrosses live for around 30 years, but they can live to
be as old as 70! Albatrosses eat crabs, fish, squid, and sometimes dead penguins. They either snatch food from the water’s surface or dive for it. They have to be careful of tiger sharks, who will make a meal out of an albatross if they can catch one. The albatross is an endangered species. They often die when diving into the ocean for food because they get tangled in fishing lines and drown. Being followed by an albatross while at sea is supposed to be good luck.

What does it mean if an albatross follows you?

A.Being followed by an albatross while at sea is supposed to be good luck.

B.Being followed by an albatross while at sea is supposed to be badluck.

Question 9 of 10

10. Civil disobedience is the refusal to obey certain laws or to pay taxes and fines and is a peaceful form of political protest. Just because something is the law doesn’t mean it is right. For example, segregation used to be legal in this country, and it was only changed by many years of dedicated civil disobedience by people who wanted to do what was right, not just what was legal. Civil disobedience makes the government more accountable and is sometimes the only way that laws that are deeply rooted in damaging customs (like segregation) can be changed. Some Americans that are famous for their civil disobedience are Rosa Parks, who refused to give her bus seat to a white passenger in Montgomery Alabama, and Martin Luther King Jr. who advocated peaceful civil disobedience as a way to advance the rights of black Americans. Our country is what it is today largely thanks to acts of civil disobedience by brave and thoughtful Americans.

Rosa Parks is famous for:

A.Riding a bus intended for whites only

B.Taking a bus seat from a white person

C.Refusing to give up her bus seat to a white person

Question 10 of 10

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This quick quiz gives you practice in identifying correct and incorrect usage of standard English grammar and reading comprehension. You can identify your weaknesses and strong points. Clear explanations of each correct answer are also provided at the end of the quiz.

This practice test also helps you with improving your reading strategies. As students progress through school, they are asked to read increasingly complex informational and graphical texts in their courses.

The ability to understand and use the information in these texts is key to a student’s success in learning.

Reading is a thinking process. Effective readers know that when they read, what they read is supposed to make sense.

Reading is a process of finding meaning in a text. Writers use many ways to convey the meaning of words and concepts. Some are overt and some are subtle. These clues include definitions, examples, descriptions, illustrations, clarification, parenthetical notes, comparison, and elaboration.