Core Academic Skills Assessment Reading: Key Ideas and Details 5

Question 1

Read: 'The term 'gaslighting' originated from the 1944 film Gaslight, in which a husband manipulates his wife into doubting her own perception of reality. Today, the term is widely used in psychology to describe a form of emotional abuse where one person causes another to question their own memory and sanity.' What is the main purpose of the first sentence?

Accepted Answer

To give the historical origin that explains where the modern term comes from

Answer

The first sentence traces the term to its film origin, providing historical context for how the modern psychological term developed.

Question 2

Passage: 'Coral reefs cover less than 1% of the ocean floor but support approximately 25% of all marine species. Rising ocean temperatures cause coral bleaching, a stress response that can lead to coral death if prolonged. Scientists estimate that half of the world's coral reefs have been lost since the 1950s.' What is the significance of the statistic about reef coverage versus species supported?

Accepted Answer

It establishes how disproportionately vital coral reefs are to ocean biodiversity.

Answer

The contrast between 1% coverage and 25% of species shows that coral reefs support marine biodiversity far beyond what their size would suggest.

Question 3

A passage reads: 'Although the results were promising, the study had significant limitations. The sample size was only 40 participants. All participants were college students, limiting generalizability. Furthermore, the study lasted only two weeks.' What is the overall function of this paragraph?

Accepted Answer

To identify the weaknesses of the study's design and scope

Answer

Each sentence identifies a design flaw — small sample, limited population, short duration — making the paragraph's function to describe the study's limitations.

Question 4

Read: 'In 1854, Dr. John Snow mapped cholera deaths in London and traced them to a contaminated water pump. Though germ theory had not yet been established, his geographic analysis provided strong evidence that cholera spread through water, not air.' What can be inferred about Snow's method?

Accepted Answer

Snow used spatial data to identify a disease source without needing a biological explanation.

Answer

The passage shows Snow used mapping (spatial/geographic data) to identify the water pump as the source, doing so without germ theory — demonstrating evidence-based inference.

Question 5

Passage: 'The author uses vivid sensory details throughout the first chapter: the metallic smell of rain, the hiss of tires on wet asphalt, and the cold blue light of streetlamps. These details establish the setting before any character is introduced.' What is the primary role of sensory details in this passage?

Accepted Answer

To create the atmosphere and establish the physical setting of the story

Answer

The passage explicitly states that the sensory details establish the setting before characters appear, confirming their role in creating atmosphere and place.

Core Academic Skills Assessment Practice Test

Core Academic Skills Assessment Practice Test

Core Academic Skills Assessment Reading: Key Ideas and Details 5