EA Reading Comprehension

Question 1

Passage: 'Despite the prevalence of digital communication, face-to-face interaction remains essential in professional settings. Research consistently demonstrates that in-person meetings facilitate trust-building, creative collaboration, and nuanced communication that virtual platforms struggle to replicate. However, organizations must balance these benefits against the time and cost constraints of travel.' What is the primary purpose of this passage?

Accepted Answer

To acknowledge the value of in-person interaction while recognizing its practical limitations

Answer

The passage acknowledges benefits of face-to-face meetings but notes organizations 'must balance' these against constraints, presenting both sides rather than a one-sided argument.

Question 2

Passage: 'The ancient city of Carthage, once Rome's most formidable rival, was completely destroyed in 146 BCE. Contemporary historians describe the Romans as salting the earth to prevent regrowth, though modern scholars debate whether this occurred. What is certain is that Carthage was systematically dismantled, with survivors enslaved or dispersed.' What can be inferred about the relationship between Rome and Carthage?

Accepted Answer

The rivalry was significant enough that Rome sought to permanently eliminate Carthage

Answer

The systematic and complete destruction — with survivors enslaved or dispersed — implies Rome intended permanent elimination, reflecting an intense and serious rivalry.

Question 3

Passage: 'The proliferation of subscription-based business models has fundamentally altered consumer relationships with products and services. Rather than discrete purchases, consumers now engage in ongoing contractual arrangements. This paradigm shift creates predictable revenue streams for companies while simultaneously locking consumers into recurring obligations.' The word 'paradigm' as used in the passage most nearly means:

Accepted Answer

A fundamental model or pattern that defines how something works

Answer

The passage describes a fundamental change in how consumer-product relationships work, and 'paradigm' refers to the underlying model or framework that defines that relationship.

Question 4

Passage: 'Behavioral economists have documented a phenomenon called loss aversion, in which people feel the pain of losing something approximately twice as strongly as they feel the pleasure of gaining an equivalent amount. This asymmetry influences decision-making in contexts ranging from financial investments to everyday choices about risk.' According to the passage, loss aversion specifically refers to:

Accepted Answer

The asymmetry between how strongly people experience losses versus equivalent gains

Answer

The passage explicitly defines loss aversion as feeling losses approximately twice as strongly as equivalent gains, which is a direct asymmetry in emotional response.

Question 5

Passage: 'The development of antibiotics in the twentieth century dramatically reduced mortality from bacterial infections. However, the overuse and misuse of these medications has accelerated the evolution of antibiotic-resistant strains. Medical authorities now emphasize antibiotic stewardship — careful management of when and how antibiotics are prescribed — as critical to preserving their effectiveness.' The passage suggests that antibiotic stewardship is necessary because:

Accepted Answer

Overuse of antibiotics threatens their long-term effectiveness by driving resistance

Answer

The passage directly links overuse and misuse to resistance evolution, establishing that stewardship is needed to prevent this from making antibiotics ineffective.

EA - Executive Assesment Practice Test

EA - Executive Assesment Practice Test

EA Reading Comprehension