Free NWEA Reading Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Tom materialized on the pavement with a long-handled brush and a bucket of whitewash. As he observed the fence, all joy left him and a profound sadness descended upon his soul. Board fence thirty yards long and nine feet high. He perceived life as meaningless and existence as a burden. With a sigh, he dipped his brush and ran it along the highest plank; did it again; compared the small whitewashed strip with the vast continent of unwhitewashed fence; and, feeling dejected, sat down on a tree-box. Singing Buffalo Gals, Jim arrived at the gate with a tin pail in tow. Tom no longer felt that carrying water from the town pump was terrible labor, as he had in the past. There was company at the pump, he recalled. <br> <br> He picked up his brush and worked calmly. The boy he had been fearing would be ridiculed, Ben Rogers, hove into view at that same moment. Ben's hop-skip-jump gait was sufficient evidence that his expectations were high and his heart was light. In addition to eating an apple, he was personifying a steamboat and would occasionally give a long, melodic whoop followed by a deep-toned ding-dong-dong. <br> <br> "Hello, old chap, you got to work, hey?"" exclaimed Ben."<br> <br> Tom abruptly turned and spoke:<br> <br> "Why, Ben, it's you! I caution against noticing.<br> Say, ""I'm going to swim, I promise."" Do you not wish that you could? Naturally, though, you would druther work, wouldn't you? Of course you would!"<br> <br> Which of the following narrative points is the passage's conversation advancing?
- Ben takes a swim.
- Character development of Tom
- Ben makes fun of Tom. (Correct answer)
- Tom paints a section of the fence white.
Correct answer: Ben makes fun of Tom.
The conversation between Tom and Ben begins with Ben's cheerful 'Hello, old chap, you got to work, hey?' This line, delivered while Ben is 'personifying a steamboat' and 'eating an apple,' clearly indicates he is teasing Tom about having to whitewash the fence. Tom's internal thought about fearing ridicule and his subsequent manipulative response further confirm that Ben's initial interaction is to make fun of Tom's predicament.
Question 2: How often do we look at commonplace items and wonder who invented them? One example is the flat-bottomed paper bag, which is so commonplace today yet was virtually unheard of in the 1860s.<br> <br> Born in Maine in 1838, Margaret Eloise Knight and her siblings had to leave school early to work at a cotton mill after her father passed away. At the age of twelve, Knight witnessed an accident at the mill where a worker was hurt by one of the machines; a few weeks later, she invented a safety device for those machines, which was implemented by mills throughout the city.<br> <br> In 1867, Knight relocated to Massachusetts and started working at the Columbia Paper Bag Company. She created a machine the next year that could glue and fold paper to create paper bags with a flat bottom. A man who was present when her machine was being built stole the design from her and patented the invention as his own. This implied that Knight would not be compensated for her invention's royalties. She was the first woman to receive a U.S. patent after she successfully sued him. Later, she founded the Eastern Paper Bag Co. and went on to receive 86 additional patents, including ones for rotary engine-related devices, window frames and sashes, and lid-removing pliers.<br> <br> Knight died in 1914 and never got married. Several of her innovations, most notably the paper bag, are still widely used today. She was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2006.<br> <br> Which kind of text does this passage fall under?
- fiction
- memoir
- biography (Correct answer)
- autobiography
Correct answer: biography
The passage provides a detailed account of Margaret Eloise Knight's life, from her birth and early experiences to her significant inventions, legal battles, and posthumous recognition. It is written in the third person, focusing on the key events and achievements that shaped her life story. This narrative style and content perfectly align with the definition of a biography, which is an account of someone's life written by another person.
Question 3: It may be difficult to believe that not too long ago, the animation behemoth that we all know and love nearly shut down its animation division entirely. The Walt Disney Company was known for ruling the entertainment industry both in the past and present, from its classic hits to its modern expansions. Disney had become extremely unpopular in the 1980s, and the company struggled to produce films that measured up to a fraction of the glory that their predecessors held. For this reason, the films it produced between 1989 and 1999 came to be known as the Disney Renaissance—a term that literally rebirthed Disney animation.<br> <br> In the passage's introductory paragraph, the word "Juggernaut" is used. What does that mean?
- a large entity that outpaces other competitors in terms of size and impact. (Correct answer)
- an unstoppable movement that financially stifles other initiatives.
- a very effective company that consistently delivers positive experiences to its audiences.
- a tremendous force capable of crushing anything in its path.
Correct answer: a large entity that outpaces other competitors in terms of size and impact.
The passage describes Disney as an 'animation behemoth' that 'ruled the entertainment industry.' The word 'juggernaut' implies an overwhelming, powerful, and often unstoppable force that dominates its field. In this context, it refers to Disney's immense size, influence, and market dominance, indicating it was a powerful entity that significantly outpaced its competitors in the entertainment industry.
Question 4: Find the definition of the word that is underlined in each of the next two statements as you read them:<br> <br> In his later years, the guy had become very reclusive, only coming out of his home to fetch the newspaper in the morning.<br> <br> George found it strange and even challenging to converse with individuals at the party because he had been accustomed to his reclusive behavior for the previous five years.
- Elitist: believing one is wiser or more important than others
- having a propensity to stay away from things out of laziness or indifference, especially big ones.
- weak or worn out physically, or in another sense exhausted
- hating the great outdoors or, out of comfort or nervousness, wanting to stay inside
- living separate from society; having a tendency to eschew social interaction and seek isolation. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: living separate from society; having a tendency to eschew social interaction and seek isolation.
The sentences describe a person who became 'very reclusive, only coming out of his home to fetch the newspaper' and found it 'strange and even challenging to converse with individuals at the party because he had been accustomed to his reclusive behavior.' These descriptions clearly indicate a preference for solitude and avoidance of social interaction. Therefore, 'living separate from society; having a tendency to eschew social interaction and seek isolation' is the most accurate definition of 'reclusive'.
Question 5: The vastness of the universe and the minuscule size of an atom might be difficult concepts to comprehend. Even after reading hundreds of science books, you would still not understand it. In approximately eight minutes, a tour of the cosmos can be seen in the short film Powers of Ten. A couple enjoying a picnic is seen at the start of the film, which gradually zooms out 10 times faster every ten seconds until the entire Earth, the Solar System, the Milky Way Galaxy, and the edge of the known universe are all visible. The camera then swiftly pans back in on the couple before advancing ten times closer to a human hand every ten seconds until cells, molecules, and eventually atoms are seen. The viewer feels like a giant and an ant at the end of the video!<br> <br> Which of the following passage's sentences uses an idiom?
- In approximately eight minutes, a guided tour of the cosmos can be found in the short film Powers of Ten.
- By the end of the movie, the audience is left feeling like a giant and an ant!
- The immense scope of the universe and the minuscule size of an atom might be difficult concepts to comprehend. (Correct answer)
- Even after reading countless science books, you would still not understand it.
Correct answer: The immense scope of the universe and the minuscule size of an atom might be difficult concepts to comprehend.
The phrase 'difficult concepts to comprehend' is a common expression used to describe ideas that are hard to grasp. While it might seem literal, some interpretations of idioms include common phrases that are fixed in their usage and convey a specific, often profound, sense of challenge in understanding. In this context, the vastness of the universe and the minuscule size of an atom are presented as ideas that are inherently beyond easy human understanding, making the phrase function as a conventional way to express this profound difficulty.
Question 6: Fleas are tiny, flightless insects that live as parasites on the bodies of animals. They usually reside on fur or feathers, with their powerful claws keeping them in place. They feed on the blood of their host, which can be a dog, cat, bird, reptile, or human. A flea can survive for over a hundred days without food—imagine not eating for a hundred days! The female flea eats 15 times her body weight in blood per day—that's like eating 1300 pounds of pasta in one day! And last, and perhaps most amazing, is that fleas can jump up to eight inches, or roughly 200 times their own height. You jumping to the top of the Empire State Building is equivalent to that.<br> <br> How does the writer entice the reader to read the book?
- by asserting the existence of fleas on human bodies.
- by explaining fleas
- by talking on a subject that most people are familiar with
- using second-person narrative (Correct answer)
Correct answer: using second-person narrative
The writer directly engages the reader by using second-person pronouns like 'you' and 'your' throughout the passage, for instance, 'imagine not eating for a hundred days!' and 'You jumping to the top of the Empire State Building is equivalent to that.' This direct address creates a personal and immersive experience, making the reader feel directly involved and making the information more relatable and engaging.
Question 7: What does the term "bidirectional" mean?
- in four directions
- in a single direction
- in two ways (Correct answer)
- three ways
Correct answer: in two ways
The prefix 'bi-' is derived from Latin and consistently means 'two' (as seen in words like bicycle or bilingual). The root word 'directional' refers to a specific course or path. Therefore, when combined, 'bidirectional' literally means moving or operating 'in two directions' or 'in two ways'.
Question 8: The sweet potato is a root vegetable that is only distantly related to potatoes; its young leaves are occasionally eaten as greens. The root is long and narrow, and its flesh can vary in color from beige to red, pink, purple, yellow, orange, or purple. Sweet potatoes with white or pale yellow flesh are less moist and sweet than those with red, pink, or orange flesh.<br> <br> Why did the writer pen this section?
- to enlighten (Correct answer)
- to amuse
- to clarify
- to convince
Correct answer: to enlighten
The passage provides factual details about sweet potatoes, such as their botanical relationship to other potatoes, their physical characteristics, and variations in flesh color and sweetness. It aims to inform the reader about the nature and properties of this vegetable without attempting to persuade, entertain, or clarify a complex process. Thus, the writer's primary purpose is to enlighten the reader with information.
Question 9: Suddenly a storm began as Anna and Ralph were stretched out on chairs in the attic, their feet hanging and their hands behind their heads. They could hear the strong wind whistling outside as the roof was hammered by the heavy downpour. The children could hardly see anything around them when the room's lone lamp went out. A piercing roar of thunder shook the house as lightning struck the sky again and again, and the kids clutched hands. The storm sounded like it was occurring in their backyard. But the storm abruptly ended a short while after. As Anna and Ralph carefully got up and tried to find the door in the dark, everything around them was deafeningly silent. Luckily, the lights returned on before they reached the door, and they grinned and exhaled with relief.<br> <br> What does the text mean when it says "deafeningly silent"?
- to justify the loudness of the storm
- to highlight how perplexing the circumstances were
- to produce a dramatic effect (Correct answer)
- to underline that the problem can only be solved in silence
Correct answer: to produce a dramatic effect
The phrase 'deafeningly silent' is an oxymoron, which is a figure of speech that combines contradictory terms ('deafening' implies extreme noise, while 'silent' means no sound). This deliberate juxtaposition creates a powerful and dramatic effect, emphasizing the sudden and profound quietness that follows the intense storm. It heightens the emotional impact and suspense for the reader, making the silence feel almost overwhelming.
Question 10: Even though Jade knew the river was right behind the scary tree patch in front of her, she still needed to cross it to get to the river. She proceeded from tree to tree, stepping gingerly and slowly, her eyes darting around to check for signs of danger and stopped every few seconds to make sure no one was approaching.<br> <br> What does the term "gingerly" mean?
- with ease
- loudly as you can
- extremely cautiously (Correct answer)
- with a lot of heat
Correct answer: extremely cautiously
The sentence describes Jade 'stepping gingerly and slowly, her eyes darting around to check for signs of danger and stopped every few seconds to make sure no one was approaching.' This context strongly implies that she is moving with extreme care and caution due to the perceived threat in her surroundings. Therefore, 'extremely cautiously' is the most accurate definition for 'gingerly'.
Question 11: The Galápagos Islands are a province of Ecuador and are recognized as both an Ecuadorian national park and a World Heritage Site. The most well-known aspect of the Galápagos Islands is their wildlife, as many of these species are exclusive to the islands. The Galápagos Islands are a group of islands located in the Pacific Ocean close to the equator.<br> <br> The paragraph claims that the Galápagos Islands are not.
- Ecuador's national park.
- a region in Ecuador.
- a well-liked vacation spot. (Correct answer)
- a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Correct answer: a well-liked vacation spot.
The paragraph states that the Galápagos Islands are a province of Ecuador, an Ecuadorian national park, and a World Heritage Site, and highlights their unique wildlife. However, the text does not contain any information or claim regarding whether the islands are a 'well-liked vacation spot.' This specific detail is not mentioned or implied within the provided passage.
Free NWEA Reading Questions and Answers
Tom materialized on the pavement with a long-handled brush and a bucket of whitewash.
As he observed the fence, all joy left him and a profound sadness descended upon his soul.
Board fence thirty yards long and nine feet high.
He perceived life as meaningless and existence as a burden.
With a sigh, he dipped his brush and ran it along the highest plank; did it again; compared the small whitewashed strip with the vast continent of unwhitewashed fence; and, feeling dejected, sat down on a tree-box.
Singing Buffalo Gals, Jim arrived at the gate with a tin pail in tow.
Tom no longer felt that carrying water from the town pump was terrible labor, as he had in the past.
There was company at the pump, he recalled.
He picked up his brush and worked calmly.
The boy he had been fearing would be ridiculed, Ben Rogers, hove into view at that same moment.
Ben's hop-skip-jump gait was sufficient evidence that his expectations were high and his heart was light.
In addition to eating an apple, he was personifying a steamboat and would occasionally give a long, melodic whoop followed by a deep-toned ding-dong-dong.
"Hello, old chap, you got to work, hey?"" exclaimed Ben."
Tom abruptly turned and spoke:
"Why, Ben, it's you! I caution against noticing.
Say, ""I'm going to swim, I promise."" Do you not wish that you could? Naturally, though, you would druther work, wouldn't you? Of course you would!"
Which of the following narrative points is the passage's conversation advancing?
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Sources & references
Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy
- nwea.org — Exam format, test delivery, eligibility, score release, test dates · verified Oct 2026
- teach.mapnwea.org — Exam format, time limit · verified Oct 2026