i-Ready Diagnostic Test Diagnostic Reading Comprehension: Informational Text 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A student reads: 'Unlike solar panels, wind turbines generate electricity only when wind is blowing.' What text structure does this sentence reflect?
- Sequence
- Compare and contrast (Correct answer)
- Problem and solution
- Description
Correct answer: Compare and contrast
The word 'unlike' signals a comparison between two different energy sources.
Question 2: In an informational article, a heading reads 'Effects of Deforestation on Wildlife.' What information would a reader MOST LIKELY find under this heading?
- A history of logging companies in the 1800s
- How cutting down forests harms animals and their habitats (Correct answer)
- Tips for planting trees in your backyard
- A list of endangered plant species around the world
Correct answer: How cutting down forests harms animals and their habitats
The heading directly states the topic is how deforestation affects wildlife.
Question 3: Which of the following is the BEST definition of an 'inference' when reading informational text?
- A direct quote from the author
- A conclusion drawn from clues in the text plus prior knowledge (Correct answer)
- A summary of the entire article
- A fact stated explicitly in the text
Correct answer: A conclusion drawn from clues in the text plus prior knowledge
An inference combines text clues with background knowledge to reach a conclusion not directly stated.
Question 4: A text says: 'NASA launched six crewed missions to the Moon between 1969 and 1972. All six missions successfully landed astronauts on the lunar surface.' What can the reader INFER?
- No spacecraft has ever traveled past the Moon.
- Space travel is impossible without modern technology.
- NASA had a reliable system for lunar landings during that period. (Correct answer)
- Astronauts found no interesting features on the Moon.
Correct answer: NASA had a reliable system for lunar landings during that period.
Six consecutive successful landings suggests NASA's lunar program was dependable and well-executed.
Question 5: An author writes: 'Experts agree that regular exercise improves mental health.' Which word signals that this is a statement of FACT rather than opinion?
- Agree (Correct answer)
- Regular
- Improves
- Mental
Correct answer: Agree
'Experts agree' suggests evidence-based consensus, framing the statement as a supported fact rather than one person's view.
Question 6: A reader encounters the word 'arid' in a passage about desert ecosystems. The sentence reads: 'Desert plants have adapted to survive in arid conditions with very little rainfall.' What does 'arid' most likely mean?
- Extremely cold and icy
- Very dry with little moisture (Correct answer)
- Dense and heavily forested
- Warm and tropical
Correct answer: Very dry with little moisture
The context clue 'very little rainfall' directly supports the meaning of 'arid' as extremely dry.
Question 7: Which strategy helps a reader BEST monitor their comprehension while reading a long informational article?
- Reading as fast as possible to finish quickly
- Pausing at the end of each section to summarize key points (Correct answer)
- Skipping sections with unfamiliar words
- Only reading the first and last paragraphs
Correct answer: Pausing at the end of each section to summarize key points
Pausing to summarize checks understanding and reinforces the most important information from each section.
A student reads: 'Unlike solar panels, wind turbines generate electricity only when wind is blowing.' What text structure does this sentence reflect?