Nelson-Denny Reading Test Reading Comprehension: Recalling Factual Details 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A passage states: 'The Amazon River discharges approximately 20% of all fresh water that flows into the world's oceans.' According to this statement, what fraction of global freshwater ocean discharge does the Amazon represent?
- One-tenth
- One-fifth (Correct answer)
- One-quarter
- One-third
Correct answer: One-fifth
20% is equivalent to one-fifth of all fresh water flowing into the world's oceans.
Question 2: A passage reads: 'Penicillin was discovered by Alexander Fleming in 1928 when he noticed mold contaminating a petri dish had killed surrounding bacteria.' Where did Fleming first observe the effect of penicillin?
- In a hospital ward
- In a petri dish (Correct answer)
- In a test tube
- On a glass slide
Correct answer: In a petri dish
The passage explicitly states the contaminated petri dish was where Fleming observed the bacteria-killing effect.
Question 3: According to a passage: 'The Great Wall of China was built over many centuries, with the majority of the existing structure constructed during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644).' During which dynasty was most of the current wall built?
- Han Dynasty
- Tang Dynasty
- Ming Dynasty (Correct answer)
- Qing Dynasty
Correct answer: Ming Dynasty
The passage directly states the majority of the existing structure was constructed during the Ming Dynasty.
Question 4: A passage states: 'Photosynthesis occurs in two stages: the light-dependent reactions, which take place in the thylakoid membranes, and the Calvin cycle, which occurs in the stroma.' Where does the Calvin cycle take place?
- Thylakoid membranes
- Cell membrane
- Stroma (Correct answer)
- Nucleus
Correct answer: Stroma
The passage explicitly states the Calvin cycle occurs in the stroma.
Question 5: A passage reads: 'In 1869, John Wesley Hyatt invented celluloid, the first synthetic plastic, as a substitute for ivory in billiard balls.' What was celluloid originally intended to replace?
- Rubber
- Wood
- Glass
- Ivory (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Ivory
The passage states celluloid was created as a substitute for ivory in billiard balls.
Question 6: According to a passage: 'The Mariana Trench reaches its greatest depth at the Challenger Deep, which measures approximately 36,000 feet below sea level.' What is the name of the deepest point in the Mariana Trench?
- Hadal Deep
- Challenger Deep (Correct answer)
- Pacific Abyss
- Trench Nadir
Correct answer: Challenger Deep
The passage names the Challenger Deep as the point of greatest depth in the Mariana Trench.
Question 7: A passage states: 'Marie Curie was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903 and the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1911, making her the first person to win Nobel Prizes in two different sciences.' How many Nobel Prizes did Marie Curie win in total, according to the passage?
- One
- Two (Correct answer)
- Three
- Four
Correct answer: Two
The passage states she won the Nobel Prize in Physics (1903) and in Chemistry (1911), totaling two prizes.
Nelson-Denny Reading Test Reading Comprehension: Recalling Factual Details 2
A passage states: 'The Amazon River discharges approximately 20% of all fresh water that flows into the world's oceans.' According to this statement, what fraction of global freshwater ocean discharge does the Amazon represent?