tsia2 reading and writing practice test 2

A placement test used in Texas to assess a student's readiness for college-level coursework in math, reading, and writing.

Elvis Presley, the legendary singer and musician, starred in several movies that being poorly received by critics but very popular with his fans.
  • A. being
  • B. were
  • C. has been
  • D. have been
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B

The option "were" accurately reflects the past tense, indicating that the movies were poorly received at a specific time, aligning with the historical context of Elvis Presley's film career. Option A, "being," is grammatically incorrect in this context as it does not convey a completed action. Option C, "has been," suggests an ongoing state, which is inappropriate since the movies were released in the past and are no longer being reviewed. Option D, "have been," implies a continuous relevance to the present, which does not fit the historical assessment of the films. Thus, "were" is the most suitable choice.

Other Related Questions

The author of Passage 1 would probably say that the claims in the last sentence of Passage 2 ("Someday notice") are
  • A. disappointing and inaccurate
  • B. stimulating and insightful
  • C. optimistic but vague
  • D. alarming but truthful
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A

Passage 1 likely emphasizes a critical perspective on claims that lack substantiation, making option A—disappointing and inaccurate—the most fitting choice. This aligns with a viewpoint that values factual accuracy and clarity. Option B, stimulating and insightful, misrepresents the author's likely skepticism towards unsupported claims. C, optimistic but vague, suggests a positive outlook that contrasts with the author's critical stance. D, alarming but truthful, implies an acceptance of the claims' validity, which contradicts the author's probable disapproval of inaccuracies. Thus, A best captures the author's likely viewpoint.
The historic town library is just passed the intersection of Main Street and the more residential Frederick Street.
  • A. passed
  • B. pass
  • C. past
  • D. passing
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C

In this context, "past" is the appropriate choice as it refers to a location beyond a point—in this case, the intersection. - **A: passed** is the past tense of "pass," which does not fit the sentence's need for a preposition indicating location. - **B: pass** is the base form of the verb and does not convey the intended meaning of being beyond the intersection. - **D: passing** suggests an ongoing action, which is not suitable here as the sentence describes a static location relative to the intersection. Thus, "past" effectively communicates that the library is located beyond the intersection.
Our math teacher claimed that calculus, despite its complexities, were as easy as any other subject.
  • A. were as
  • B. was as
  • C. is to be
  • D. to be
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B

In this context, the subject "calculus" is singular, so it requires a singular verb form. "Was as" correctly matches the singular subject, indicating that calculus is being compared to other subjects in the past. Option A, "were as," incorrectly uses the plural verb "were," which does not agree with the singular noun "calculus." Option C, "is to be," implies a future action or state, which does not fit the intended meaning of comparing past experiences. Option D, "to be," lacks a verb and does not form a complete thought, making it grammatically incorrect.
The passage implies that the true cause of the bridge collapse was
  • A. low-quality materials
  • B. short-sighted design
  • C. substandard craftsmanship
  • D. unexpectedly high winds
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B

The passage suggests that the bridge collapse stemmed from a fundamental flaw in its design, indicating that the planning and engineering did not adequately account for structural integrity. Option A, low-quality materials, implies that the materials used were inferior, but the passage does not emphasize material quality as the primary issue. Option C, substandard craftsmanship, points to poor construction practices, yet the focus of the passage leans more toward design deficiencies rather than execution. Option D, unexpectedly high winds, suggests an external factor causing the collapse, but the passage attributes the failure to inherent design shortcomings rather than environmental conditions.