SHSAT SHSAT Reading Comprehension 3

Question 1

A passage states: 'Unlike her cautious brother, Maya leaped at every opportunity.' What does this sentence establish?

Accepted Answer

Maya is more risk-taking than her brother

Answer

Maya and her brother have the same personality

Answer

Maya's brother is more successful

Answer

Maya dislikes her brother

Question 2

The word 'deteriorate' most nearly means:

Accepted Answer

To get worse over time

Answer

To improve steadily

Answer

To remain unchanged

Answer

To increase in value

Question 3

If a passage's conclusion contradicts its introduction, the passage likely has a problem with:

Accepted Answer

Organization and coherence

Answer

Vocabulary

Answer

Sentence length

Answer

Dialogue

Question 4

An author who uses the word 'unfortunately' is most likely expressing:

Accepted Answer

A sense of regret or disappointment

Answer

A neutral observation

Answer

Excitement about an outcome

Answer

A factual statistic

Question 5

Which sentence uses context clues to help define 'arid'?

Accepted Answer

In the arid, bone-dry region, no rain had fallen in years.

Answer

The arid desert was vast.

Answer

She crossed the arid land quickly.

Answer

The arid zone was studied.

Question 6

A passage about Thomas Edison says he 'failed 1,000 times before succeeding.' The author most likely included this to:

Accepted Answer

Illustrate that persistence leads to success

Answer

Show Edison was incompetent

Answer

Prove that failure is permanent

Answer

Explain how lightbulbs work