TEAS Reading Practice Test #1 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the difference between a "fact" and an "opinion" in a text?
- A fact is always positive; an opinion is always negative.
- A fact can be verified as true or false; an opinion expresses a personal view. (Correct answer)
- A fact is found in fiction; an opinion is found in nonfiction.
- A fact uses emotional language; an opinion uses neutral language.
Correct answer: A fact can be verified as true or false; an opinion expresses a personal view.
Facts are objective statements that can be confirmed or refuted with evidence. Opinions are subjective statements that reflect personal beliefs or feelings and cannot be proven true or false.
Question 2: An author writing a persuasive article about the importance of hand hygiene in hospitals would most likely use which type of appeal?
- Ethos only — citing their own credentials
- Pathos only — using emotional stories of patients
- Logos only — presenting statistics and research
- A combination of ethos, logos, and pathos (Correct answer)
Correct answer: A combination of ethos, logos, and pathos
Effective persuasive writing typically uses all three rhetorical appeals: ethos (credibility), logos (logic and evidence), and pathos (emotional connection). Relying on only one type weakens the argument.
Question 3: What is the "main idea" of a passage?
- The first sentence of the passage
- The most interesting detail in the passage
- The central point the author wants to convey about the topic (Correct answer)
- The topic of the passage itself
Correct answer: The central point the author wants to convey about the topic
The main idea is the central message or argument the author is making — not just the topic (what the passage is about) but what the author is saying about that topic.
Question 4: In a patient education pamphlet about diabetes, which type of organizational structure would be most effective for explaining how blood sugar rises after eating?
- Cause and effect (Correct answer)
- Compare and contrast
- Problem and solution
- Chronological order
Correct answer: Cause and effect
Cause and effect is the most appropriate structure because the relationship between eating (cause) and blood sugar rising (effect) is what the author wants to explain. This structure helps readers understand why events happen.
Question 5: What does it mean when an author uses "figurative language"?
- The author uses statistics to support claims
- The author writes in a language other than English
- The author uses expressions not meant literally to create effect (Correct answer)
- The author describes only fictional events
Correct answer: The author uses expressions not meant literally to create effect
Figurative language uses words or expressions with a meaning different from the literal interpretation to create vivid imagery, emphasize points, or create emotional impact. Examples include metaphors, similes, and personification.
Question 6: A passage describes a hospital policy change. The author uses phrases like "unfortunately" and "this misguided decision." What does this suggest?
- The author is writing a neutral informational report
- The author has a negative bias against the policy (Correct answer)
- The author supports the policy change
- The author is quoting another person's opinion
Correct answer: The author has a negative bias against the policy
Words like "unfortunately" and "misguided" are emotionally charged and reveal a negative attitude. Recognizing an author's bias requires noticing loaded language that reveals subjective feelings rather than neutral reporting.
TEAS Reading Practice Test #1 3
What is the difference between a "fact" and an "opinion" in a text?