ITBS Reading Comprehension 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A passage reads: 'The drought had turned the once-green fields into cracked brown earth. Farmers watched the sky anxiously, hoping for rain that never came.' The MOOD of this passage is BEST described as:
- Joyful and celebratory
- Tense and hopeless (Correct answer)
- Mysterious and suspenseful
- Calm and peaceful
Correct answer: Tense and hopeless
Words like 'cracked,' 'anxiously,' and 'never came' create a mood of tension and despair.
Question 2: A student encounters the word 'benevolent' in a story about a kind queen who built hospitals for the poor. The BEST definition based on context is:
- Cruel and selfish
- Well-meaning and generous (Correct answer)
- Powerful and feared
- Wealthy and arrogant
Correct answer: Well-meaning and generous
The queen's actions — building hospitals for the poor — demonstrate kindness and generosity, which 'benevolent' means.
Question 3: An article about exercise includes this paragraph: 'Exercise strengthens the heart muscle. It also improves mental health by releasing endorphins. Additionally, regular activity helps maintain a healthy weight.' What is the MAIN IDEA of this paragraph?
- Endorphins are chemicals produced in the brain
- Exercise provides multiple health benefits (Correct answer)
- Maintaining a healthy weight requires counting calories
- The heart is the most important organ in the body
Correct answer: Exercise provides multiple health benefits
All three sentences describe different health benefits of exercise, making 'multiple health benefits' the paragraph's main idea.
Question 4: Read: 'Some people claim homework improves grades. However, studies show that excessive homework can cause stress and reduce family time.' The word 'however' signals:
- Agreement with the previous idea
- A contrast or opposing viewpoint (Correct answer)
- A cause-and-effect relationship
- A definition of the previous term
Correct answer: A contrast or opposing viewpoint
'However' is a transition word that signals a contrasting idea is about to be introduced.
Question 5: A biography paragraph reads: 'Marie Curie won two Nobel Prizes — one in Physics and one in Chemistry — becoming the first person to win the award in two different sciences.' What type of text is this MOST likely from?
- A fairy tale
- A fictional adventure novel
- An informational biography (Correct answer)
- A persuasive editorial
Correct answer: An informational biography
The passage presents verifiable historical facts about a real person's achievements, which is characteristic of a nonfiction biography.
Question 6: In an ITBS reading passage, a student is asked to identify which detail BEST supports the main idea. The main idea is: 'Wolves play a vital role in their ecosystems.' Which detail BEST supports this?
- Wolves have thick fur to survive cold winters.
- When wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone, deer populations became balanced and rivers recovered. (Correct answer)
- Wolves can run up to 35 miles per hour.
- Wolves typically live in packs of 5 to 10 members.
Correct answer: When wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone, deer populations became balanced and rivers recovered.
Only the Yellowstone example directly shows wolves affecting the broader ecosystem, which supports the main idea about their vital role.
Question 7: A passage ends with: 'Without immediate action, coral reefs may disappear within our lifetime.' This sentence is MOST likely intended to:
- Entertain readers with a surprising fact
- Persuade readers that action is urgently needed (Correct answer)
- Define what coral reefs are
- Compare coral reefs to other marine habitats
Correct answer: Persuade readers that action is urgently needed
The warning about reefs disappearing 'within our lifetime' is a call to action designed to persuade readers of the urgency of protecting reefs.
ITBS Reading Comprehension 4
A passage reads: 'The drought had turned the once-green fields into cracked brown earth.
Farmers watched the sky anxiously, hoping for rain that never came.' The MOOD of this passage is BEST described as: