Mixed Deck — All Nelson-Denny Reading Test Topics Flashcards

Which of the following is the best antonym for 'benevolent'?

Answer: Malevolent

'Benevolent' means well-meaning and kindly. 'Malevolent' is its direct opposite, meaning having or showing a wish to do evil to others.

Margaret believed she was ______ to the common cold following her influenza vaccination.

Answer: Immune

To be 'immune' means to be resistant to a particular infection or toxin due to the presence of specific antibodies or sensitized white blood cells. While an influenza vaccination targets the flu, the statement implies Margaret believed she had gained protection against the common cold. Therefore, 'immune' best describes her perceived state of protection.

Babe Didrikson Zaharias was a talented athlete who competed from 1914 to 1956. She outperformed every other athlete, male or female, in terms of medal wins and records set over a 23-year span. She won awards in basketball, track and field, lifesaving, and figure skating as a youngster. She won three gold medals at the 1932 Olympics, breaking world records in the javelin throw, the 80-meter hurdles, and the high jump. She won every golf championship offered during the 1940s, including the World Open and the National Open. Babe was one of only eight male golfers who could drive the ball farther. She was capable of launching a baseball more than 300 feet. Even more, Ms. Zaharias was a skilled diver and lacrosse player. Babe held the record in _________ for 23 years.

Answer: medals won

The passage states, 'She outperformed every other athlete, male or female, in terms of medal wins and records set over a 23-year span.' This indicates that her exceptional performance in accumulating medals and setting records spanned this duration. Therefore, 'medals won' accurately reflects the continuous achievement she maintained for 23 years.

After reading that 'the library's budget was cut by 40%, operating hours were reduced, and several community programs were eliminated,' what conclusion is most supported?

Answer: Library services will be significantly diminished for patrons

Budget cuts, reduced hours, and eliminated programs all indicate a significant reduction in the library's ability to serve its community.

Which best describes the difference between drawing a conclusion and identifying a stated fact in a passage?

Answer: A conclusion is derived by reasoning from evidence; a fact is explicitly provided

A conclusion is reached through logical reasoning from textual evidence, while a fact is information the author directly provides.

A passage describes a scientist who 'spent decades conducting experiments, published over 100 papers, and trained hundreds of graduate students.' What conclusion is most reasonable?

Answer: The scientist had a highly productive and influential career

Decades of experiments, 100+ publications, and extensive mentorship together point to a highly productive and influential career.

The ships created a blockade close to the Mississippi River's mouth. Blockade entails:

Answer: prevent passage

A 'blockade' is an act or means of sealing off a place, typically by military force, to prevent goods or people from entering or leaving. Its primary purpose is to obstruct movement and cut off access to an area. Therefore, 'prevent passage' perfectly describes the core function and objective of a blockade.

A manager is drafting a report on employee productivity. The report includes the following statements: 'Our team's average response time to customer inquiries decreased by 15% in the last quarter. Additionally, data from our internal software shows that project completion rates have increased from 78% to 85% since implementing the new workflow. One team member, Sarah, mentioned that she 'feels much more efficient now.' We believe these positive trends are a direct result of the new workflow.' Which piece of evidence presented is anecdotal?

Answer: Sarah's comment about feeling more efficient.

Anecdotal evidence is based on personal accounts or stories rather than data or statistics. Sarah's subjective feeling, presented as a quote, is an anecdote. The other options are statistical data points.

A reader finds two passages about the same medical treatment. Passage A calls it 'highly effective' citing one small study; Passage B calls it 'inconclusive' citing ten large studies. Which passage has stronger textual evidence?

Answer: Passage B, because it draws on a larger and broader body of research

Larger, multiple studies provide a stronger evidence base than a single small study, making Passage B's claim better supported despite its more cautious language.

On the Nelson-Denny Reading Rate subtest, what is the student instructed to do at the one-minute mark?

Answer: Place a mark next to the line currently being read

At the examiner's signal after one minute, students draw a line or bracket next to the line they are reading to mark their stopping point.

Before reading Nelson-Denny comprehension passages, an effective strategy is to:

Answer: Preview the questions to know what information to look for

Previewing the questions first allows you to read actively and locate relevant information more efficiently within the passage.

In the context of the Nelson-Denny, what does the term 'reading rate' specifically measure?

Answer: The number of words a student processes silently in one minute

Reading rate on the Nelson-Denny is defined as the number of words covered silently in the one-minute timed window, expressed as WPM.

A passage notes that 'the ancient city's infrastructure included aqueducts, paved roads, and a complex sewage system.' What conclusion can be drawn about this civilization?

Answer: The civilization possessed advanced engineering capabilities

Aqueducts, paved roads, and sewage systems all require sophisticated engineering knowledge, supporting a conclusion of advanced engineering capabilities.

The last time the crops failed, the whole country went through months of _____.

Answer: Famine

A 'famine' is an extreme scarcity of food, often caused by crop failures, leading to widespread starvation and hardship in a region or country. If crops failed, the most severe and direct consequence for an entire country would be a prolonged period of famine. Plenitude means abundance, which is the opposite.

Which of the following written works is MOST likely to have been created with the primary purpose of entertainment?

Answer: A satirical novel that mocks modern politics.

A satirical novel is a form of fiction designed to amuse and engage the reader's imagination and emotions, even while making a critical point. Its primary goal is entertainment. The other options are designed to inform (financial report, encyclopedia entry) or persuade (political speech).

In a Nelson-Denny passage, you read: 'The forest had been silent for years—no birds, no insects.' This detail most directly supports which inference?

Answer: The ecosystem had experienced a significant disruption affecting wildlife

The absence of birds and insects, typically abundant in healthy forests, is textual evidence of an ecological disruption.

Which accommodation is most commonly granted to students with documented reading disabilities on the Nelson-Denny?

Answer: Extended time on the Vocabulary and Comprehension subtests

Extended time is the most frequently granted accommodation for test-takers with documented learning disabilities, though it modifies the Reading Rate score's interpretation.

If a student runs out of time on the Nelson-Denny Comprehension subtest, the best final-minute strategy is to:

Answer: Quickly mark an answer for every remaining blank to avoid leaving items unanswered

Since there is no penalty for wrong answers, filling in every blank with a best guess before time expires maximizes the number of potentially correct responses.

When a Nelson-Denny question asks for the 'tone' of a passage, what is it asking you to identify?

Answer: The author's attitude or emotional stance toward the subject

Tone refers to the author's attitude or feeling toward the subject, conveyed through word choice and style.

Which statement accurately describes the relationship between the Nelson-Denny Reading Rate subtest and the Vocabulary subtest?

Answer: They are independent subtests measuring different skills; scores are reported separately

The Vocabulary and Reading Rate subtests assess distinct skills and are scored independently, with results reported as separate scores in the profile.