TSI - Texas Success Initiative Reading and Textual Analysis Questions and Answers 2

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?

Accepted Answer

The Arctic ice cap is shrinking at a significant and consistent rate

Answer

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."

Accepted Answer

Open to more than one interpretation

Answer

"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?

Accepted Answer

Does the author cite reliable sources and provide verifiable evidence?

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

Acknowledging a counterargument before presenting an opposing viewpoint

Answer

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"?

Accepted Answer

Negative — implying dishonesty or unreliability

Answer

"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.

TSI Practice Test

TSI Practice Test

TSI - Texas Success Initiative Reading and Textual Analysis Questions and Answers 2