OAT Reading Comprehension 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When a passage uses the phrase 'despite evidence to the contrary,' what rhetorical function does it most likely serve?
- To concede an opposing viewpoint before reaffirming the author's thesis (Correct answer)
- To introduce new empirical data that supports the main argument
- To summarize findings from a related field of study
- To transition from a general claim to a specific example
Correct answer: To concede an opposing viewpoint before reaffirming the author's thesis
The phrase signals a concession that acknowledges counterevidence while reinforcing the author's central position.
Question 2: A passage states: 'The retinal ganglion cells transmit signals that ultimately reach the visual cortex.' Which part of this sentence is the SUBJECT?
- signals
- retinal ganglion cells (Correct answer)
- visual cortex
- transmit
Correct answer: retinal ganglion cells
The subject is 'retinal ganglion cells,' the noun phrase performing the action of transmitting.
Question 3: Which reading strategy is MOST effective when a passage contains unfamiliar scientific terminology?
- Skip the unfamiliar terms and focus only on familiar words
- Use context clues from surrounding sentences to infer meaning (Correct answer)
- Re-read the entire passage from the beginning each time a term appears
- Assume all unfamiliar terms are irrelevant to the passage's main idea
Correct answer: Use context clues from surrounding sentences to infer meaning
Context clues in surrounding sentences and paragraph structure typically reveal the meaning of specialized terms.
Question 4: An OAT reading passage compares two studies on intraocular pressure. The first study concludes pressure increases with age; the second finds no such correlation. What is the BEST characterization of the passage's purpose?
- To prove that intraocular pressure does not change with age
- To present conflicting evidence and highlight an unresolved scientific question (Correct answer)
- To argue that the first study is superior in methodology
- To discourage further research into intraocular pressure
Correct answer: To present conflicting evidence and highlight an unresolved scientific question
Presenting two contradictory studies signals that the passage aims to illustrate ongoing scientific debate rather than establish a definitive conclusion.
Question 5: In a dense scientific passage, the BEST approach to identifying the main idea is to:
- Read only the first and last sentence of each paragraph
- Identify the thesis statement, usually in the introduction, and track how each paragraph supports it (Correct answer)
- Memorize all data and statistics presented in the passage
- Focus exclusively on the conclusion paragraph
Correct answer: Identify the thesis statement, usually in the introduction, and track how each paragraph supports it
Scientific passages typically introduce the central claim early, and each paragraph advances or supports that claim.
Question 6: A passage's author describes a procedure using passive voice throughout (e.g., 'The samples were collected…'). What effect does this likely produce?
- It emphasizes the identity of the researchers performing the actions
- It creates an objective, impersonal tone consistent with scientific reporting (Correct answer)
- It suggests that the procedures were performed incorrectly
- It implies that the author was not present during the study
Correct answer: It creates an objective, impersonal tone consistent with scientific reporting
Passive voice in scientific writing de-emphasizes individual actors to produce an objective, methodology-focused tone.
Question 7: Which of the following BEST describes an inference as opposed to an explicit statement in a passage?
- An inference is directly stated by the author in the text
- An inference is a logical conclusion drawn from information implied but not directly stated (Correct answer)
- An inference is always found in the passage's concluding paragraph
- An inference requires outside knowledge not present in the passage
Correct answer: An inference is a logical conclusion drawn from information implied but not directly stated
An inference is derived from implied information within the text, whereas an explicit statement is directly written by the author.
OAT Reading Comprehension 2
When a passage uses the phrase 'despite evidence to the contrary,' what rhetorical function does it most likely serve?