TSI - Texas Success Initiative Reading and Textual Analysis Questions and Answers 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A passage states: "The Arctic ice cap has decreased by 13% per decade since 1979." What inference can be made from this data?
- The Arctic ice cap is shrinking at a significant and consistent rate (Correct answer)
- The Arctic ice will completely disappear by next year
- The data shows temperatures were always warm in the Arctic
- The ice cap was only measured once in 1979
Correct answer: The Arctic ice cap is shrinking at a significant and consistent rate
The statistic shows a recurring, measurable decline across multiple decades, supporting the inference of a significant and consistent shrinking trend — without overstating the data.
Question 2: What does the word "ambiguous" most likely mean in this context: "The contract's wording was ambiguous, leading to disputes among the partners."
- Open to more than one interpretation (Correct answer)
- Extremely clear and precise
- Written in a foreign language
- Signed by all parties
Correct answer: Open to more than one interpretation
"Ambiguous" means unclear or capable of being understood in more than one way, which explains why it led to disputes — each party interpreted it differently.
Question 3: Which question best evaluates an author's credibility in an informational text?
- Does the author cite reliable sources and provide verifiable evidence? (Correct answer)
- Does the author use exciting vocabulary throughout the text?
- Is the text published in a book rather than online?
- Does the author write from a first-person perspective?
Correct answer: Does the author cite reliable sources and provide verifiable evidence?
Credibility is established by the quality and reliability of evidence and sources. Vocabulary style, publication format, or point of view alone do not determine credibility.
Question 4: An author writes: "While many believe social media harms teenagers, research suggests it can also strengthen social connections." What is the author doing?
- Acknowledging a counterargument before presenting an opposing viewpoint (Correct answer)
- Stating a thesis with no supporting evidence
- Defining a key term for readers
- Summarizing the conclusion of the text
Correct answer: Acknowledging a counterargument before presenting an opposing viewpoint
The author first presents the common belief (counterargument) and then introduces a contrasting finding, a technique used to add nuance and credibility to an argument.
Question 5: Read the sentence: "The politician's speech, filled with vague promises, convinced few voters." What is the connotation of "vague promises"?
- Negative — implying dishonesty or unreliability (Correct answer)
- Positive — implying the politician is open-minded
- Neutral — simply describing the content of the speech
- Formal — indicating a legal type of promise
Correct answer: Negative — implying dishonesty or unreliability
"Vague promises" carries a negative connotation, suggesting the politician's words are untrustworthy or meaningless, which is reinforced by the fact that few voters were convinced.
Question 6: A passage gives two sides of the debate over school uniforms. Which text structure does this represent?
- Compare-and-contrast (Correct answer)
- Problem-solution
- Descriptive
- Sequential/chronological
Correct answer: Compare-and-contrast
Presenting two sides of an issue side by side is the compare-and-contrast structure, highlighting similarities and differences between opposing viewpoints.
TSI - Texas Success Initiative Reading and Textual Analysis Questions and Answers 2
A passage states: "The Arctic ice cap has decreased by 13% per decade since 1979." What inference can be made from this data?