Verbal Reasoning: Reading Comprehension Flashcards
7 cards from real NTS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Verbal Reasoning: Reading Comprehension flashcards as text
A passage reads: 'The city council's decision to demolish the historic theater is nothing short of a disgrace. Future generations will never forgive this shortsighted act of cultural destruction.' The author's tone is BEST described as:
Answer: outraged and strongly critical
Words like 'disgrace,' 'never forgive,' and 'cultural destruction' reveal strong negative emotion, indicating an outraged and critical tone.
Which of the following is a FACT rather than an opinion?
Answer: The Earth completes one orbit around the Sun every 365.25 days
The Earth's orbital period is a measurable, verifiable scientific fact, while the other options express judgments or values that people can disagree on.
When a passage states 'Despite receiving little formal education, she became one of the most renowned scientists of her time,' it IMPLIES that:
Answer: She achieved remarkable success despite having limited educational opportunities
The word 'despite' implies that her limited formal education was an obstacle she overcame, suggesting her success was remarkable under those circumstances.
The word 'corroborate' in the sentence 'The new experimental findings corroborate the earlier research conducted in 2020' most nearly means:
Answer: confirm and provide additional support for
Corroborate means to confirm or support a statement or theory with additional evidence, making 'confirm and provide additional support for' the correct meaning.
A passage first identifies a major social problem, then presents three possible solutions, and finally recommends the best solution with supporting reasons. This type of organizational structure is called:
Answer: Problem-solution structure
When a passage presents a problem and then discusses solutions or recommendations, it uses the problem-solution organizational structure.
A company's annual report states: 'Our profits increased by 15% this year.' To evaluate this claim CRITICALLY, a reader should ask:
Answer: Compared to which base year, and how does this compare to industry averages?
A percentage increase is only meaningful when you know the starting point and can compare it to relevant benchmarks like industry averages.
Passage: 'Water scarcity affects over 2 billion people worldwide. Causes include rapid population growth, climate change, and industrial pollution. Solutions range from water conservation campaigns to advanced desalination technology.' The BEST summary of this passage is:
Answer: Water scarcity is a widespread global problem with multiple causes and potential solutions
A summary must capture all key elements — the scope (2 billion people), the multiple causes, and the range of solutions — without overfocusing on any one detail.