FEAST Verbal Reasoning and Reading Comprehension 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence uses the word 'vector' correctly in an ATC context?
- The pilot failed his vector aptitude examination.
- Vector is the emergency squawk code used by all aircraft.
- The aircraft's vector was measured in pounds of thrust.
- The controller vectored the aircraft away from the developing storm. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The controller vectored the aircraft away from the developing storm.
In ATC, 'vector' means to assign a specific heading to guide an aircraft, so 'vectored the aircraft' is the correct usage.
Question 2: Read the following: 'Minimum safe altitude ensures aircraft maintain vertical clearance from terrain and obstacles.' The phrase 'vertical clearance' most likely means:
- The altitude difference between an aircraft and the terrain below it (Correct answer)
- The horizontal distance between two aircraft at the same altitude
- The rate at which an aircraft climbs after departure
- The approved distance between one airport and another
Correct answer: The altitude difference between an aircraft and the terrain below it
Vertical clearance refers to the buffer of altitude that separates an aircraft from terrain or obstacles directly below it.
Question 3: A briefing states: 'Not all radar returns indicate aircraft; some may be caused by weather or ground clutter.' Which inference is best supported?
- Modern radar systems are too unreliable to use in busy airspace
- Weather phenomena can never appear on an ATC radar scope
- Controllers must carefully analyze returns to correctly identify real aircraft (Correct answer)
- Ground clutter always appears only at the outermost edge of the radar display
Correct answer: Controllers must carefully analyze returns to correctly identify real aircraft
Since not all returns represent aircraft, controllers must use judgment and analysis to distinguish real targets from false ones.
Question 4: PILOT is to AIRCRAFT as CAPTAIN is to:
- Crew members
- Ship (Correct answer)
- Harbor
- Navigation chart
Correct answer: Ship
A pilot operates an aircraft and a captain commands a ship, making this a parallel analogy of operator to their vehicle.
Question 5: The aviation term 'en route' most nearly means:
- Preparing for pushback from the gate
- On final approach to land at a destination
- Holding in a published traffic pattern
- Traveling between the departure point and the destination (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Traveling between the departure point and the destination
'En route' describes the phase of flight when an aircraft is traveling from its origin toward its destination, between departure and arrival.
Question 6: A passage states: 'Effective communication is critical in ATC. Miscommunications have been identified as contributing factors in numerous aviation accidents.' What does this passage most strongly suggest?
- Communication errors can contribute directly to aviation accidents (Correct answer)
- Every aviation accident is caused by a communication error alone
- Good communication is only required during declared emergencies
- Communication errors occur only when non-English speakers are involved
Correct answer: Communication errors can contribute directly to aviation accidents
The passage explicitly identifies miscommunication as a contributing factor in accidents, supporting the conclusion that communication errors can lead to accidents.
Question 7: Which word is most similar in meaning to 'sequencing' as it is used in air traffic control operations?
- Randomizing the flow of arriving aircraft
- Delaying aircraft until a slot opens
- Ordering aircraft into a logical and efficient flow (Correct answer)
- Accelerating aircraft to reduce spacing
Correct answer: Ordering aircraft into a logical and efficient flow
Sequencing in ATC means arranging aircraft in a deliberate, logical order to manage arrival and departure flows efficiently.
FEAST Verbal Reasoning and Reading Comprehension 2
Which sentence uses the word 'vector' correctly in an ATC context?