Core Academic Skills Assessment Reading 4

Question 1

A passage argues that standardized testing improves educational outcomes and cites only studies funded by testing companies. What weakness does this argument have?

Accepted Answer

The sources may be biased due to a financial conflict of interest

Answer

Studies funded by companies with a financial stake in the outcome may be biased, weakening the argument's credibility.

Question 2

Which sentence uses the word 'affect' correctly?

Accepted Answer

The storm will affect flight schedules.

Answer

'Affect' is typically used as a verb meaning to influence; 'effect' is typically the noun.

Question 3

An article states: 'Studies suggest that reading fiction may improve empathy.' The word 'may' indicates that the claim is:

Accepted Answer

A tentative or uncertain finding

Answer

The modal verb 'may' signals possibility and uncertainty rather than certainty.

Question 4

Read this passage: 'After decades of decline, the wolf population rebounded following reintroduction efforts. Elk herds, previously overgrazing meadows, began to migrate more. Vegetation recovered, stabilizing riverbanks.' What organizational pattern does this passage use?

Accepted Answer

Cause and effect

Answer

Each sentence describes an effect triggered by the previous cause, forming a cause-and-effect chain.

Question 5

An author writes a restaurant review and says: 'The pasta was so salty it could preserve a mummy.' This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Hyperbole

Answer

Exaggerating the saltiness to an extreme degree for effect is hyperbole.

Core Academic Skills Assessment Practice Test

Core Academic Skills Assessment Practice Test

Core Academic Skills Assessment Reading 4