Accuplacer College Placement ESL Reading Skills 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Read: 'Despite the heavy rain, the players continued the match.' What does the passage imply about the players?
- They stopped because of the rain
- They were determined to keep playing (Correct answer)
- They never started the match
- They disliked the sport
Correct answer: They were determined to keep playing
The word 'despite' signals they kept playing in spite of the rain, showing determination.
Question 2: In the sentence 'The ancient manuscript was fragile and crumbled at the slightest touch,' what does 'fragile' most nearly mean?
- Heavy
- Easily broken (Correct answer)
- Colorful
- Valuable
Correct answer: Easily broken
'Fragile' means delicate and easily broken, supported by 'crumbled at the slightest touch.'
Question 3: What is the main purpose of a topic sentence in a paragraph?
- To conclude the paragraph
- To state the main idea (Correct answer)
- To give an example
- To ask a question
Correct answer: To state the main idea
A topic sentence introduces and states the main idea of a paragraph.
Question 4: Read: 'Maria studied all night, so she felt confident during the exam.' What is the relationship between the two parts?
- Contrast
- Cause and effect (Correct answer)
- Comparison
- Sequence only
Correct answer: Cause and effect
'So' signals that studying caused her to feel confident, a cause-and-effect relationship.
Question 5: Which word is a synonym for 'rapid'?
- Slow
- Quick (Correct answer)
- Quiet
- Steady
Correct answer: Quick
'Rapid' means fast, so 'quick' is its synonym.
Question 6: Read: 'The novel received glowing reviews from critics worldwide.' What does 'glowing' mean here?
- Shining with light
- Very positive (Correct answer)
- Confusing
- Negative
Correct answer: Very positive
In this context 'glowing' means highly favorable or very positive.
Question 7: What does the prefix 'un-' usually mean in words like 'unhappy' and 'unfair'?
- Again
- Not (Correct answer)
- Before
- Too much
Correct answer: Not
The prefix 'un-' means 'not,' reversing the meaning of the root word.
Accuplacer College Placement ESL Reading Skills 2
Read: 'Despite the heavy rain, the players continued the match.' What does the passage imply about the players?