Reading Practice Test 1

1. 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?

2. 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?

3. Which word/phrase in the sentence below is redundant and can be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence?As you prepare the newspaper, please ensure that the captions are aligned in a straight line underneath each photo.

4. Which word/phrase in the sentence below is redundant and can be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence?After receiving two different results, the students decided to repeat the experiment again to hopefully find some consistency among them.

5. 1

Read the following short biography below and identify the main idea.The 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln was not born into a rich family. As a child, he lived in a one-room log cabin in Kentucky with his parents. When he was still a young boy, his father lost a lot of money, which created some financial troubles with his family. Consequently, the Lincolns had to move to Perry County, Indiana. They did not have an easy time due to their problems with money, but they survived. Abraham Lincoln's mother sadly passed away when he was only nine, and his father eventually remarried. Although young Abraham did not attend school for many years, he was able to educate himself by reading many books. Before becoming President, he worked a few different jobs, such as shopkeeper and head of the post office.

What is the main idea of this biography?

6. Which word/phrase in the sentence below is redundant and can be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence?In 2014. researchers discovered and uncovered one of the biggest dinosaurs of all time, a new species of titanosaur, one of the largest species of dinosaurs to ever have walked on Earth.

7. Read about the artist. Then answer the question below.

Vincent Van Gogh was born in 1853. He is a very famous artist now. But during his lifetime, hardly anyone knew about him or his work. Today his paintings are among the most expensive artworks in the world. But Vincent only sold one painting while he was alive. Vincent was born in Holland, where the weather is usually dark and rainy. When he grew up, he moved to the south of France, where the sun shines more brightly and the colors are more vivid. Vincent loved bright colors, and he used them boldly in all of his paintings. He used a lot of paint and applied it in very thick strokes so that his paintings actually have texture. Vincent painted a lot of pictures of flowers in vases, and a lot of landscapes. He also painted still lifes, buildings, and people. Two of his most famous paintings are called Starry Night, and Sunflowers. Most artists sign their names on their paintings when they have finished it. But in 1888, Vincent painted four pictures of sunflowers. He only signed two of the paintings. Art experts believe that this is because he wasn’t happy with the other two. Today you can see his paintings in museums all around the world.

Why do art experts think Vincent didn’t sign some of his paintings?

8. Read the text and answer the question.In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than in mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course. Since this country was founded, each generation of Americans has been summoned to give testimony to its national loyalty. The graves of young Americans who answered the call to service surround the globe.
Now the trumpet summons us again - not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need; not as a call to battle, though embattled we are - but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in and year out, "rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation" - a struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself.
Can we forge against these enemies a grand and global alliance, North and South, East and West, that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind? Will you join in that historic effort?
In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shank from this responsibility - I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it -- and the glow from that fire can truly light the world.
And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you -- ask what you can do for your country.
My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.
Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own.

How does JFK use pathos in his speech?

9. DIRECTIONS: Read each passage and identify how the information is being organized.There are two kinds of metamorphosis: complete and incomplete. Animals that undergo complete metamorphoses, like frogs and butterflies, begin life in one form, and then at a stage in their lives, they change into a completely different form. In contrast, animals that undergo incomplete metamorphosis have no pupa stage in their life cycle.

10. Teen pregnancy prevention programs have had a positive impact on teen pregnancy rates across the United States.                   that in 1990, one in every 100 teenage females experienced a teenage pregnancy. Since the increase of teen pregnancy prevention programs in the late 1990s, that number has dropped to one in every 300 teenage females.

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