OAR Reading Comprehension Flashcards
7 cards from real OAR practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 OAR Reading Comprehension flashcards as text
Read: 'Sailors in the 18th century used chronometers to determine longitude at sea. Before accurate timekeeping, longitude could not be reliably calculated, and ships frequently ran aground.' What problem did chronometers solve?
Answer: Inability to reliably calculate longitude
The passage states that accurate timekeeping via chronometers enabled reliable longitude calculation, solving a deadly navigation problem.
A passage reads: 'The ensign's proposal was audacious but logistically untenable given the available resources.' The word 'untenable' most nearly means:
Answer: Unable to be carried out or defended
'Untenable' means not able to be maintained or defended; the context shows the plan cannot work with available resources.
Read: 'A carrier strike group typically includes a carrier, cruisers for air defense, destroyers for anti-submarine warfare, and submarines for stealth operations. Each component fulfills a distinct defensive role.' Which best describes the group's structure?
Answer: Specialized vessels each assigned a different defensive role
The passage describes each vessel type as fulfilling a 'distinct defensive role,' emphasizing specialization within the group.
A passage states: 'Coral reefs, though covering less than one percent of the ocean floor, support approximately 25 percent of all marine species.' What can be inferred from this?
Answer: Coral reefs are disproportionately rich in biodiversity
A tiny area supporting a quarter of all marine species demonstrates that coral reefs have disproportionately high biodiversity.
Read: 'The petty officer spoke with unimpeachable authority on the subject, having served in that capacity for over two decades.' The word 'unimpeachable' most nearly means:
Answer: Beyond reproach or challenge
'Unimpeachable' means not able to be doubted or questioned; the officer's long experience reinforces this authority.
Read: 'Search and rescue operations prioritize speed over precision in the initial phase, then shift to systematic grid searches once the general area is identified.' What changes between the two phases?
Answer: The approach shifts from rapid response to methodical searching
The passage contrasts the initial speed-focused phase with the later systematic grid-search phase, showing a shift in methodology.
A passage reads: 'The admiral's memoirs, though written decades after the war, provide an invaluable firsthand account of command decisions made under extreme pressure.' Which is a limitation of this source?
Answer: Memory may be imperfect after decades
Memoirs written long after the events occurred may suffer from imperfect or selective memory, which is a recognized limitation.