Rise Placement Test Reading Comprehension 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A persuasive essay argues that public libraries should receive more government funding. Which type of evidence would MOST strengthen this argument?
- A personal story about enjoying library books as a child
- Statistics showing that communities with well-funded libraries have higher literacy rates (Correct answer)
- A description of a beautiful library building
- A quote from a famous novelist who loves reading
Correct answer: Statistics showing that communities with well-funded libraries have higher literacy rates
Quantitative data directly linking library funding to literacy outcomes provides objective, measurable support for the funding argument.
Question 2: Read this passage excerpt: 'The administration insisted the policy was working. Unemployment figures, however, told a different story.' What technique is the author using?
- Comparing two historical events
- Contrasting an official claim with contradicting data (Correct answer)
- Explaining the causes of unemployment
- Providing a solution to an economic problem
Correct answer: Contrasting an official claim with contradicting data
The author sets up a contrast between what officials claimed and what data showed, a technique used to challenge or complicate a stated position.
Question 3: Which of the following best describes the purpose of a topic sentence in a paragraph?
- To provide a specific example supporting a detail
- To state the main idea that the rest of the paragraph will develop (Correct answer)
- To conclude and summarize the passage's overall argument
- To introduce a counterargument from another source
Correct answer: To state the main idea that the rest of the paragraph will develop
A topic sentence introduces the central idea of its paragraph, which all other sentences in that paragraph should support or explain.
Question 4: A student reads a passage and is asked to make an inference. Which of the following describes an inference?
- Copying a sentence directly from the passage
- Combining information from the text with prior knowledge to reach a logical conclusion (Correct answer)
- Looking up the author's biography online
- Identifying the longest paragraph in the passage
Correct answer: Combining information from the text with prior knowledge to reach a logical conclusion
Inference requires the reader to use textual evidence plus background knowledge to draw a conclusion not explicitly stated.
Question 5: In a passage, a sentence reads: 'The drought decimated the harvest.' Based on context, what does 'decimated' most likely mean?
- Slightly reduced
- Greatly destroyed or severely damaged (Correct answer)
- Slowly improved
- Completely ignored
Correct answer: Greatly destroyed or severely damaged
In modern usage, 'decimated' means to cause severe damage or destruction; a drought devastating a harvest fits this meaning.
Question 6: An author writes an article arguing that electric vehicles are the future of transportation, then ends with: 'Of course, challenges remain.' What is the effect of this closing acknowledgment?
- It completely undermines the author's argument
- It makes the author seem more credible by showing awareness of counterpoints (Correct answer)
- It introduces a new topic unrelated to electric vehicles
- It signals that the author has changed their position
Correct answer: It makes the author seem more credible by showing awareness of counterpoints
Acknowledging limitations or challenges while maintaining a position demonstrates intellectual honesty, which enhances the author's credibility.
Question 7: A passage contains this sentence: 'Despite widespread skepticism, the experiment yielded remarkable results.' What does the word 'despite' indicate?
- The results confirmed the skepticism
- The skepticism prevented the experiment
- The results occurred even though there was skepticism (Correct answer)
- The skepticism came after the results
Correct answer: The results occurred even though there was skepticism
'Despite' signals a contrast — something happened even though a condition that might have prevented it existed.
Rise Placement Test Reading Comprehension 5
A persuasive essay argues that public libraries should receive more government funding.
Which type of evidence would MOST strengthen this argument?