Rise Placement Test Reading Comprehension 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A passage describes a character who 'gripped the letter with trembling hands and read each line twice.' What can the reader most reasonably infer about the character?
- The character is angry at the letter's sender
- The character is nervous or emotionally affected by the letter (Correct answer)
- The character has poor eyesight
- The character plans to throw the letter away
Correct answer: The character is nervous or emotionally affected by the letter
Trembling hands and re-reading suggest strong emotion such as anxiety or anticipation, inferred from the character's actions.
Question 2: An author includes the following in an article about exercise: 'Dr. Patel, a cardiologist at Johns Hopkins, notes that 30 minutes of daily walking reduces heart disease risk by 35%.' Why does the author include this detail?
- To entertain the reader with a personal story
- To add credibility by citing an expert and specific data (Correct answer)
- To contradict the article's main claim
- To explain how hospitals are funded
Correct answer: To add credibility by citing an expert and specific data
Citing a credentialed expert and a specific statistic strengthens the article's argument with authoritative evidence.
Question 3: What does it mean to 'summarize' a passage?
- Quote the most interesting sentences word for word
- Restate the passage's main ideas briefly in your own words (Correct answer)
- List every detail the author mentioned
- Analyze the author's bias and tone
Correct answer: Restate the passage's main ideas briefly in your own words
A summary captures the core meaning of a text concisely and in the reader's own words, leaving out minor details.
Question 4: Read this sentence: 'The legislation, though well-intentioned, may have unintended consequences for small businesses.' The author's attitude toward the legislation is best described as:
- Completely supportive
- Completely opposed
- Balanced — acknowledging good intent while raising concern (Correct answer)
- Indifferent
Correct answer: Balanced — acknowledging good intent while raising concern
The phrase 'well-intentioned' grants the law credit while 'may have unintended consequences' introduces a cautionary note, showing a nuanced view.
Question 5: A passage uses the word 'pivotal' in this sentence: 'The discovery of penicillin was a pivotal moment in medical history.' Based on context, 'pivotal' most likely means:
- Controversial and disputed
- Extremely important and decisive (Correct answer)
- Unexpected and accidental
- Long overdue
Correct answer: Extremely important and decisive
'Pivotal' describes something that acts as a turning point or critical factor, here indicating penicillin's transformative medical impact.
Question 6: Two paragraphs present opposing views on school uniforms. What is the primary purpose of this text structure?
- To entertain students with a debate story
- To show both sides of a controversial issue (Correct answer)
- To prove that uniforms are necessary
- To describe the history of school dress codes
Correct answer: To show both sides of a controversial issue
Presenting opposing viewpoints is a compare-and-contrast or pro/con structure meant to give the reader a balanced view of a debated topic.
Question 7: A paragraph ends with: 'These findings suggest that sleep deprivation has a measurable effect on academic performance.' This sentence most likely serves as:
- A transition into a new topic
- A conclusion that ties together the paragraph's evidence (Correct answer)
- An introduction of a new argument
- A counterargument to the main point
Correct answer: A conclusion that ties together the paragraph's evidence
A closing sentence that refers back to the paragraph's findings is a concluding statement that synthesizes the evidence presented.
Rise Placement Test Reading Comprehension 3
A passage describes a character who 'gripped the letter with trembling hands and read each line twice.' What can the reader most reasonably infer about the character?