Nelson-Denny Reading Test Reading Comprehension: Analyzing Textual Evidence 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A passage states: 'Despite widespread criticism, the policy remained in effect for three more years, during which accident rates fell by 12%.' Which conclusion is best supported by this evidence?
- The criticism was invalid from the start
- The policy had some measurable positive outcome despite opposition (Correct answer)
- Accident rates would have fallen anyway without the policy
- The policy was eventually repealed due to its failure
Correct answer: The policy had some measurable positive outcome despite opposition
The 12% drop in accident rates during the policy's continuation is direct textual evidence of a positive measurable outcome.
Question 2: When an author uses a personal anecdote as evidence in an argument, a critical reader should recognize that this type of evidence is:
- The strongest form of textual evidence available
- Limited in scope and may not represent broader patterns (Correct answer)
- Always more reliable than statistical data
- Irrelevant to the argument being made
Correct answer: Limited in scope and may not represent broader patterns
Personal anecdotes are individual experiences that may not generalize, making them limited as evidence for broad claims.
Question 3: A paragraph ends with: 'These findings suggest a link between sleep deprivation and reduced cognitive performance.' The word 'suggest' indicates that the author is:
- Overstating the certainty of the conclusion
- Presenting a cautious, qualified interpretation of the evidence (Correct answer)
- Dismissing the findings as unreliable
- Claiming absolute proof of causation
Correct answer: Presenting a cautious, qualified interpretation of the evidence
Words like 'suggest' signal that the author is making a careful, tentative claim rather than a definitive statement.
Question 4: Two paragraphs in a passage both describe the same historical event but reach different conclusions. The best way to resolve this discrepancy is to:
- Accept whichever conclusion comes later in the passage
- Examine the specific evidence each paragraph uses to support its conclusion (Correct answer)
- Ignore one paragraph entirely
- Assume the author made an error
Correct answer: Examine the specific evidence each paragraph uses to support its conclusion
Comparing the supporting evidence in each paragraph reveals why the authors reached different conclusions and which is better supported.
Question 5: A passage claims that 'most scientists agree' on a particular point but cites no specific sources. This weakens the argument because:
- Scientists are not credible sources
- Vague references to unnamed experts cannot be verified or evaluated (Correct answer)
- The number of agreeing scientists is irrelevant
- All scientific claims require visual data
Correct answer: Vague references to unnamed experts cannot be verified or evaluated
Without identifying specific sources, the claim 'most scientists agree' is unverifiable and therefore weak as textual evidence.
Question 6: A student reads: 'The river flooded four times between 1990 and 2000, compared to once between 1980 and 1990.' Which inference is most directly supported by this evidence?
- Climate change is entirely responsible for the flooding
- Flood frequency increased in the decade from 1990 to 2000 (Correct answer)
- The river will flood more in the future
- The 1980s floods were more severe than the 1990s floods
Correct answer: Flood frequency increased in the decade from 1990 to 2000
The numerical comparison directly supports the conclusion that flooding occurred more frequently in the 1990–2000 period.
Question 7: Which of the following would serve as the strongest textual evidence that a character in a story is dishonest?
- Another character suspects the person
- The narrator describes the character as 'mysterious'
- The character's own words contradict their earlier statements in the text (Correct answer)
- The character smiles frequently
Correct answer: The character's own words contradict their earlier statements in the text
Self-contradictory statements within the text are direct, verifiable evidence of dishonesty, unlike suspicion or vague description.
Nelson-Denny Reading Test Reading Comprehension: Analyzing Textual Evidence 2
A passage states: 'Despite widespread criticism, the policy remained in effect for three more years, during which accident rates fell by 12%.' Which conclusion is best supported by this evidence?