tsia2 reading and writing practice test 1

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

Such problems are expensive for a government to solve, and often a 'solution' that helps one group hurts another.
In context, which of the following would best be inserted after sentence 6 (reproduced below) as an appropriate example? Such problems are expensive for a government to solve, and often a 'solution' that helps one group hurts another.
  • A. The creation of new watering holes for elephants provides temporary jobs for local residents.
  • B. Declaring certain areas off limits to agricultural development can dangerously limit people's food supply.
  • C. Wild animals that prey on domestic livestock are active mostly at night.
  • D. Legislation attempting to transfer responsibility for wildlife to a country's citizens has failed in other parts of Africa.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B

Option B effectively illustrates how a government solution, such as restricting agricultural development, can inadvertently harm local communities by jeopardizing their food supply. This aligns with the notion that a solution benefiting one group can negatively impact another. Option A, while relevant, focuses on temporary job creation without addressing the broader implications of resource allocation. Option C provides factual information about wildlife behavior but lacks a direct connection to the theme of conflicting interests among groups. Option D discusses legislative failures but does not exemplify the immediate consequences of a specific government action, missing the focus on direct harm to a group.

Other Related Questions

The retired government official spoke _______ about foreign policy and international trade
  • A. as knowing
  • B. in knowledge
  • C. knowledgeably
  • D. knowledgeable
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C

The sentence requires an adverb to describe how the retired government official spoke. Option C, "knowledgeably," correctly functions as an adverb, indicating that the official spoke with knowledge about foreign policy and international trade. Option A, "as knowing," is grammatically incorrect and does not convey the intended meaning. Option B, "in knowledge," is awkward and does not fit the context of how someone speaks. Option D, "knowledgeable," is an adjective and would not appropriately modify the verb "spoke." Thus, C is the only option that fits both grammatically and contextually.
Which is the best version of the underlined portion of sentence 4 (reproduced below)? He knew that he was the first poet to participate in these prestigious ceremonies; therefore, he contemplated which poem would be appropriate for the occasion.
  • A. (as it is now)
  • B. ceremonies, therefore,
  • C. ceremonies, therefore;
  • D. ceremonies, therefore
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A

Option A maintains the original structure, effectively connecting the two independent clauses with a semicolon. This punctuation is appropriate as it separates related but distinct ideas: the poet's recognition and his subsequent contemplation. Option B incorrectly uses a comma before "therefore," which fails to properly separate the clauses and creates a comma splice. Option C introduces an unnecessary semicolon before "therefore," which disrupts the flow and is grammatically incorrect since "therefore" is not an independent clause. Option D lacks punctuation after "ceremonies," making it a run-on sentence and confusing the relationship between the ideas.
In context, where would the following sentence best be placed? Banana consumption surpassed that of apples only 20 years after they were first introduced to Americans.
  • A. After sentence 3
  • B. After sentence 4
  • C. After sentence 6
  • D. After sentence 7
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B

Placing the sentence after sentence 4 provides a logical flow, as it builds on the preceding discussion about the introduction of bananas to Americans and their rising popularity. This context allows readers to understand the significance of the banana's consumption surpassing apples. Option A is too early, as it lacks the necessary context about the introduction of bananas. Option C comes too late, as it may disrupt the narrative flow established earlier. Option D is also inappropriate, as it would place the information after a conclusion, making it feel disconnected from the main discussion.
According to scientists, the seven separate continents of the world in the far distant past, one vast land mass
  • A. the world, in the far distant past
  • B. the world, being in the far distant past
  • C. the world were, in the far distant past
  • D. the world was, in the far distant past
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D

In this sentence, clarity and grammatical accuracy are essential. Option D accurately uses "was" to indicate that the continents once existed as a single land mass in the past, aligning with standard subject-verb agreement. Option A is incomplete, lacking a verb that connects the subject to the predicate. Option B incorrectly uses "being," which does not convey the past tense needed for this context. Option C uses "were," which is incorrect as it implies a plural subject, while "the world" is singular. Thus, D is the only option that correctly reflects the historical context and grammatical structure.