IDAT Reading Comprehension Skills 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A passage contains two paragraphs: the first describes the benefits of remote work, and the second describes its drawbacks. What organizational structure is the author using?
- Chronological order
- Cause and effect
- Compare and contrast (Correct answer)
- Problem and solution
Correct answer: Compare and contrast
Presenting benefits in one paragraph and drawbacks in another is a classic compare-and-contrast structure highlighting two sides of a topic.
Question 2: The phrase 'the bill passed by a razor-thin margin' most likely means:
- The bill was rejected after a long debate
- The bill passed with an extremely small difference in votes (Correct answer)
- The bill was approved unanimously
- The bill required a second vote to pass
Correct answer: The bill passed with an extremely small difference in votes
'Razor-thin margin' is an idiom meaning a very narrow or barely sufficient difference, commonly used to describe close votes.
Question 3: An author writes: 'Some critics argue that social media harms teenagers. However, research on the topic remains inconclusive.' What is the author's attitude toward the critics' claim?
- Strongly in agreement with the critics
- Dismissive, suggesting the critics are wrong
- Cautious, acknowledging the claim but noting limited evidence (Correct answer)
- Indifferent, with no interest in the debate
Correct answer: Cautious, acknowledging the claim but noting limited evidence
The word 'However' signals a qualification, and 'inconclusive research' shows the author is cautious rather than fully endorsing the critics.
Question 4: Which reading strategy is most effective for identifying the tone of a passage?
- Skimming for headings and subheadings only
- Noting the connotations of word choices and the author's attitude throughout (Correct answer)
- Counting the number of sentences per paragraph
- Focusing only on the first and last sentences of each paragraph
Correct answer: Noting the connotations of word choices and the author's attitude throughout
Tone is conveyed through word choice and connotation; analyzing how the author's language feels (positive, negative, neutral) reveals tone.
Question 5: A passage concludes: 'Until governments, corporations, and individuals act together, climate change will remain an unsolved crisis.' The primary purpose of this conclusion is to:
- Summarize statistics about carbon emissions presented earlier
- Issue a call to action emphasizing collective responsibility (Correct answer)
- Introduce new evidence not discussed in the body of the passage
- Contradict the passage's earlier optimistic tone
Correct answer: Issue a call to action emphasizing collective responsibility
The conclusion calls for joint action from multiple groups, functioning as a call to action that reinforces the passage's central argument.
Question 6: When a passage uses the phrase 'on the other hand,' the reader should expect:
- A restatement of the previous point in different words
- A contrasting or alternative perspective to what was just presented (Correct answer)
- A list of supporting evidence for the prior claim
- A definition of a term introduced in the previous sentence
Correct answer: A contrasting or alternative perspective to what was just presented
'On the other hand' is a transitional phrase signaling contrast, alerting readers that a different or opposing viewpoint follows.
Question 7: A reader encounters an unfamiliar word in a passage about medicine: 'The drug proved efficacious in reducing inflammation.' Based on context, 'efficacious' most likely means:
- Dangerous or harmful
- Effective in producing the desired result (Correct answer)
- Experimental and untested
- Affordable and widely available
Correct answer: Effective in producing the desired result
Since the drug 'proved' something positive in reducing inflammation, 'efficacious' must mean effective or successful.
IDAT Reading Comprehension Skills 3
A passage contains two paragraphs: the first describes the benefits of remote work, and the second describes its drawbacks.
What organizational structure is the author using?