NBT Reading Comprehension 2

Question 1

A passage states: "Access to quality education remains uneven, concentrated in urban centres, while rural communities continue to face significant resource deficits." What is the central concern of this passage?

Accepted Answer

There is an educational inequality between urban and rural areas

Answer

The passage directly contrasts "concentrated" quality education in urban areas with "significant resource deficits" in rural communities, pointing to educational inequality as the central concern.

Question 2

What is the meaning of "resource deficits" in an educational context?

Accepted Answer

A shortage of necessary educational materials, staff, and facilities

Answer

"Resource deficits" means lacking sufficient resources — in an educational context, this includes inadequate textbooks, infrastructure, qualified teachers, and technology.

Question 3

A passage uses the phrase "despite mounting evidence." What does this signal about the author's view?

Accepted Answer

There is substantial evidence that is being ignored or resisted

Answer

"Mounting evidence" means growing, accumulating evidence. "Despite" signals that this evidence is being resisted or ignored — the author implies others are unreasonably dismissing the evidence.

Question 4

A text contains the sentence: "The report drew heavily on anecdotal accounts, which critics argued undermined its scientific credibility." Why might critics make this argument?

Accepted Answer

Anecdotes are individual stories, not representative of the broader population

Answer

Anecdotal evidence is based on individual experiences rather than systematic data collection. Critics rightly point out that such evidence may not represent broader trends, weakening scientific claims.

Question 5

Which of the following sentences contains a relative clause?

Accepted Answer

The student who studied hardest passed the exam.

Answer

A relative clause modifies a noun using a relative pronoun (who, which, that). "Who studied hardest" is a relative clause modifying "the student."

(NBT) National Benchmark Test Practice Test

(NBT) National Benchmark Test Practice Test

NBT Reading Comprehension 2