accuplacer reading comprehension practice test

Commonly used by colleges and universities to place students into appropriate courses.

In many accounts of the American West, the Lewis and Clark expedition (1803–1806) mistakenly marks the beginning of recorded history, with the captains' journals constituting a baseline of information about the region. The earlier history of the West is frequently seen as an unimportant backstory. Although the Lewis and Clark expedition was a momentous event, it was only a subplot in a historical drama of time, place, and people that had been playing for thousands of years. The 'new lands' that Lewis and Clark explored were in fact very old: the explorers did not bring the West into United States history—they brought the United States into the history of the West.
In context, the metaphor in the third sentence ('it was only a subplot in a historical drama of time, place, and people that had been playing for thousands of years') chiefly serves to:
  • A. call attention to the age of the United States as a nation
  • B. question the literary value of the writings by Lewis and Clark
  • C. trivialize the accomplishments of the Lewis and Clark expedition
  • D. place the Lewis and Clark expedition into a broad context
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D

The metaphor emphasizes the Lewis and Clark expedition as part of a much larger historical narrative, illustrating its significance within the vast timeline of human events. This context helps readers understand that while the expedition was important, it is just one chapter in a much larger story. Option A incorrectly focuses solely on the age of the United States, missing the broader historical context. Option B misinterprets the metaphor by suggesting it critiques the literary value of the writings, which is not the focus. Option C wrongly implies that the metaphor diminishes the expedition's significance, whereas it actually situates it within a grander narrative.

Other Related Questions

In context, 'Telemundo' and 'Ms. magazine' serve as examples of media that:
  • A. devised similar marketing techniques
  • B. were created by the same media visionary
  • C. underwent profound changes as a result of Johnson's work
  • D. were designed to appeal to particular groups of consumers
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D

Both 'Telemundo' and 'Ms. magazine' were designed to cater to specific audiences, focusing on the needs and interests of their respective consumer groups. Telemundo targets the Hispanic community, providing culturally relevant content, while Ms. magazine addresses feminist issues and women’s rights. Option A is incorrect as there is no evidence that both utilized similar marketing techniques. Option B is misleading; they were not created by the same visionary. Option C is inaccurate; while Johnson's work influenced media, it did not specifically lead to profound changes in either outlet.
When the author writes that Chilesaurus diegosuarezi “should have been a meat-eater,” she most likely means that the species:
  • A. would have been healthier if it had eaten meat
  • B. would have grown even larger if it had eaten meat
  • C. had the head, neck, and teeth of a meat-eater
  • D. had body features similar to those of its meat-eating relative
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D

The statement implies that Chilesaurus diegosuarezi possesses physical characteristics akin to those of carnivorous dinosaurs. Option D accurately reflects this by highlighting that its body features resemble those of its meat-eating relatives, suggesting an evolutionary expectation based on morphology. Option A incorrectly assumes a health benefit from a meat-based diet, which is not the focus of the author's observation. Option B speculates on size without evidence, as diet does not directly correlate with growth potential in this context. Option C, while partially true about its head and teeth, overlooks the broader comparison to body features, making D the most comprehensive choice.
Which of the following results is LEAST compatible with the goal expressed in the third sentence of Passage 2 ('The paramount concern must be to increase crop yields in environmentally sensitive ways that protect human health and the soil and water that are agriculture’s very foundation')?
  • A. An international ban on the use of agrochemicals drives several multinational corporations out of business
  • B. A species of bird becomes extinct after forests in which these birds nested are cleared to create farmland
  • C. A rural community shows an increased rate of disease after local farmers adopt chemical-intensive techniques
  • D. Government subsidies to farmers encourage overproduction of certain crops to the detriment of others
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C

Option C is least compatible with the goal of increasing crop yields while protecting human health and the environment. An increase in disease rates due to chemical-intensive farming directly contradicts the aim of safeguarding human health. Option A, while it may harm businesses, reflects a move towards environmentally sensitive practices by banning harmful chemicals. Option B highlights the negative ecological impact of deforestation for agriculture, which undermines environmental health. Option D addresses overproduction and its ecological consequences, aligning with the need for sustainable practices. Thus, C is the option that most clearly opposes the stated goal.
Which choice best describes the overall structure of the passage?
  • A. The passage examines the effect of decreased environmental awareness on some animals' predation risk and then describes the strategies those animals use to increase their environmental awareness while sleeping.
  • B. The passage distinguishes between bihemispheric slow-wave sleep (BSWS) and unihemispheric slow-wave sleep (USWS) and then explains why USWS is less beneficial than BSWS for animals such as mallards and penguins.
  • C. The passage discusses the advantages for some animals of sleeping at the center of a group and then questions whether those advantages extend to colonial birds.
  • D. The passage provides an extended description of how mallards typically sleep and then compares sleeping behaviors in mallards to those in penguins.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C

Choice C accurately captures the passage's structure, which begins by exploring the benefits of group sleeping for certain animals and then raises a critical inquiry regarding the applicability of these benefits to colonial birds. This dual focus on advantages and questioning reflects a balanced examination of the topic. Option A misrepresents the content by suggesting a focus on predation risk and strategies for environmental awareness, which is not the main theme. Option B incorrectly centers on a comparison of sleep types, neglecting the broader discussion of group sleeping benefits. Option D inaccurately emphasizes a detailed comparison of mallards and penguins, rather than the initial exploration of group sleeping advantages.