DLPT Reading Comprehension: Articles 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A news article states: 'The government announced sweeping reforms to the tax code, which critics argue disproportionately benefit wealthy citizens.' What is the primary purpose of including the critics' view?
- To prove the reforms are unfair
- To present a contrasting perspective on the reforms (Correct answer)
- To show the government made a mistake
- To explain the details of the tax code
Correct answer: To present a contrasting perspective on the reforms
Citing critics provides balance by presenting an opposing viewpoint to the government's official position.
Question 2: An article opens: 'Despite record rainfall last spring, farmers in the region report their worst harvest in decades.' What does 'despite' signal about the relationship between rainfall and harvest?
- Rainfall caused the poor harvest
- The two facts are unrelated
- The outcome is unexpected given the rainfall (Correct answer)
- Rainfall was insufficient for crops
Correct answer: The outcome is unexpected given the rainfall
'Despite' introduces a concession, indicating that the poor harvest is surprising given the expectation that high rainfall would help crops.
Question 3: A military briefing document reads: 'Forces will advance only after the secondary objective has been secured.' Which action must occur first?
- The advance
- Securing the secondary objective (Correct answer)
- Securing the primary objective
- Both actions simultaneously
Correct answer: Securing the secondary objective
'Only after' establishes a clear prerequisite: the secondary objective must be secured before the advance begins.
Question 4: An editorial claims: 'It is undeniable that air quality in the city has improved.' The word 'undeniable' suggests the author views this claim as:
- Open to debate
- An established fact beyond dispute (Correct answer)
- Based on personal opinion
- Supported by limited evidence
Correct answer: An established fact beyond dispute
'Undeniable' is a strong absolute modifier indicating the author presents the claim as incontrovertible fact.
Question 5: A report states: 'The agency allocated funds to three programs: infrastructure, education, and healthcare, with the largest share going to infrastructure.' If total funds are $90 million, what can be inferred about the infrastructure allocation?
- Exactly $30 million
- More than $30 million (Correct answer)
- Less than $30 million
- Exactly $45 million
Correct answer: More than $30 million
If funds are split among three programs and infrastructure receives the largest share, it must exceed the equal-split amount of $30 million.
Question 6: A foreign-language article excerpt (translated) describes a political leader as 'pragmatic.' In context, this most likely means the leader:
- Follows strict ideological principles
- Focuses on practical solutions over ideology (Correct answer)
- Avoids making decisions
- Prioritizes public opinion polls
Correct answer: Focuses on practical solutions over ideology
'Pragmatic' describes a practical, results-oriented approach rather than adherence to a fixed ideology.
Question 7: An article concludes: 'While the policy has shown early promise, long-term outcomes remain to be seen.' What is the overall tone of this conclusion?
- Strongly optimistic
- Cautiously optimistic (Correct answer)
- Strongly pessimistic
- Completely neutral with no opinion
Correct answer: Cautiously optimistic
'Early promise' is positive, but 'remain to be seen' introduces uncertainty, making the tone cautiously optimistic.
DLPT Reading Comprehension: Articles 2
A news article states: 'The government announced sweeping reforms to the tax code, which critics argue disproportionately benefit wealthy citizens.' What is the primary purpose of including the critics' view?