Nelson-Denny Reading Test Reading Comprehension 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A passage written in 1920 warns that 'the automobile will destroy the moral fabric of American society.' A modern reader should recognize this as:
- An accurate prediction that came true
- A historically contextualized opinion that reflects the fears of its era (Correct answer)
- A scientific hypothesis later proven by research
- An example of effective persuasion that still applies today
Correct answer: A historically contextualized opinion that reflects the fears of its era
Recognizing this as a period-specific fear rather than a verified fact requires placing the text in its historical context.
Question 2: Which question type on the Nelson-Denny Reading Comprehension section requires the reader to go BEYOND the text to draw a conclusion the author implies but does not state?
- Literal recall questions
- Vocabulary-in-context questions
- Inferential questions (Correct answer)
- Main idea identification questions
Correct answer: Inferential questions
Inferential questions require readers to deduce information that is implied rather than explicitly stated in the passage.
Question 3: A passage describes a river ecosystem, then compares it to a 'complex web where removing one thread unravels the whole.' What is the function of this comparison?
- To entertain readers with a creative image
- To illustrate the ecosystem's interdependence through a concrete analogy (Correct answer)
- To define what a river ecosystem is
- To argue that ecosystems should be left completely alone
Correct answer: To illustrate the ecosystem's interdependence through a concrete analogy
The web analogy makes the abstract concept of ecosystem interdependence more concrete and understandable for the reader.
Question 4: A passage uses these transition phrases: 'first,' 'in addition,' 'furthermore,' and 'finally.' What does this signal about the passage's organization?
- The passage uses a cause-and-effect structure
- The passage compares two opposing viewpoints
- The passage lists and accumulates supporting points in sequence (Correct answer)
- The passage begins with a problem and ends with a solution
Correct answer: The passage lists and accumulates supporting points in sequence
These additive and sequential transitions indicate the author is building a case by listing multiple supporting points one after another.
Question 5: A reader identifies the following sentence as the main idea of a passage: 'Urban green spaces improve both mental health and community cohesion.' Where would this sentence most likely appear in a well-organized passage?
- In the middle of a supporting paragraph
- As a footnote
- In the introduction or as a topic sentence (Correct answer)
- Only in the bibliography
Correct answer: In the introduction or as a topic sentence
Main idea statements typically appear in introductory paragraphs or as topic sentences that the rest of the passage then supports.
Question 6: A passage's author uses words such as 'alarmingly,' 'crisis,' and 'urgent threat' throughout. These word choices most reveal the author's:
- Objective, neutral tone
- Uncertain and tentative tone
- Alarmed and urgent tone (Correct answer)
- Humorous and sarcastic tone
Correct answer: Alarmed and urgent tone
Emotionally charged words like 'alarmingly' and 'crisis' consistently signal an alarmed, urgent tone from the author.
Question 7: On the Nelson-Denny, you are reading a passage about economics and encounter this sentence: 'The elasticity of demand for luxury goods renders them particularly sensitive to income fluctuations.' The best reading strategy is to:
- Skip the sentence because it uses technical vocabulary
- Use context clues and the surrounding passage to approximate the meaning of unfamiliar terms (Correct answer)
- Stop reading and look up all unfamiliar words in a dictionary
- Assume the sentence is unimportant because it is complex
Correct answer: Use context clues and the surrounding passage to approximate the meaning of unfamiliar terms
Using context clues within the passage to infer the meaning of technical terms is the most effective strategy on a timed test.
Nelson-Denny Reading Test Reading Comprehension 5
A passage written in 1920 warns that 'the automobile will destroy the moral fabric of American society.' A modern reader should recognize this as: