TSI Reading Test #2 2

Question 1

Passage: "The Dust Bowl of the 1930s was not simply a natural disaster; it was the result of poor farming practices that left topsoil vulnerable to wind erosion." What argument does the author make?

Accepted Answer

Human farming decisions contributed significantly to the Dust Bowl

Answer

The author uses "not simply" and "it was the result of" to argue that human actions — not just natural forces — caused the Dust Bowl, placing responsibility on farming practices.

Question 2

What does "vulnerable" most nearly mean in: "practices that left topsoil vulnerable to wind erosion"?

Accepted Answer

Exposed and susceptible to damage

Answer

"Vulnerable" means open to harm or attack. Topsoil left "vulnerable" to erosion was exposed and unprotected, making it susceptible to being blown away.

Question 3

A reader draws this conclusion from a passage: "Since the article mentions coffee has antioxidants, coffee must cure all diseases." Is this a valid inference?

Accepted Answer

No — it overgeneralizes far beyond what the text states

Answer

Valid inferences stay close to the evidence. "Cures all diseases" is an extreme overgeneralization; the text only mentions antioxidants, not cures.

Question 4

An author writes a passage about the benefits of exercise and only cites studies that show positive outcomes. What is this an example of?

Accepted Answer

Confirmation bias — presenting only evidence that supports one view

Answer

Selecting only supporting evidence while ignoring contradictory research is confirmation bias. It distorts the reader's understanding of the full picture.

Question 5

Which sentence most effectively uses context clues to reveal the meaning of "benevolent"?

Accepted Answer

"The benevolent donor gave millions to build free clinics for low-income families."

Answer

The first sentence provides rich context — donating millions to build free clinics — that clearly signals "benevolent" means generous and kind toward others.

TSI Practice Test

TSI Practice Test

TSI Reading Test #2 2