OAR OAR Reading Comprehension 3

Question 1

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?

Accepted Answer

Inability to reliably calculate longitude

Answer

Inability to measure latitude

Answer

Lack of star charts for navigation

Answer

Poor communication between vessels

Question 2

A passage reads: 'The ensign's proposal was audacious but logistically untenable given the available resources.' The word 'untenable' most nearly means:

Accepted Answer

Unable to be carried out or defended

Answer

Innovative and creative

Answer

Politically sensitive

Answer

Widely supported by leadership

Question 3

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?

Accepted Answer

Specialized vessels each assigned a different defensive role

Answer

Multiple ships with identical functions for redundancy

Answer

A single flagship supported by supply ships

Answer

Destroyers leading with carriers in reserve

Question 4

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?

Accepted Answer

Coral reefs are disproportionately rich in biodiversity

Answer

Most marine species live in open water

Answer

Ocean floors are mostly uninhabited

Answer

Marine species avoid deep water

Question 5

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:

Accepted Answer

Beyond reproach or challenge

Answer

Questionable and disputed

Answer

Informal and casual

Answer

Derived from textbooks

Question 6

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?

Accepted Answer

The approach shifts from rapid response to methodical searching

Answer

The number of rescue personnel deployed

Answer

Helicopters replace ships in the second phase

Answer

Communication protocols become less formal

Question 7

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?

Accepted Answer

Memory may be imperfect after decades

Answer

The author lacked direct involvement in the events

Answer

The account covers too short a period

Answer

Naval history is an unreliable field