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.

Read the passage below and then choose the best answer to each question. Answer the questions on the basis of what is stated or implied in Passage Enraged by a 1791 excise tax imposed on whiskey by the federal government, farmers in western Pennsylvania orchestrated a series of attacks on government agents. This uprising became known as the Whiskey Rebellion, In 1794, after protesters threatened the home of tax collector General John Neville, President George Washington mobilized an army of militiamen to quell the uprising. Though only about a dozen people were arrested (they were later pardoned), the Whiskey Rebellion demonstrated that the new national government had the willingness and the ability to suppress violent resistance to its laws
The passage indicates that John Neville was
  • A. the creator of the whiskey tax
  • B. working for the government
  • C. pardoned by the government
  • D. a friend of George Washington's
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B

John Neville was indeed working for the government, specifically as a tax collector during the Whiskey Rebellion, which highlights his role in enforcing federal tax laws. Option A is incorrect; he did not create the whiskey tax but was involved in its implementation. Option C is misleading, as there is no indication in the passage that he was pardoned by the government. Option D is also wrong; while Neville may have had connections, the passage does not confirm him as a friend of George Washington. Thus, his official capacity as a government worker is the most accurate representation of his role.

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

Option C, "knowledgeably," is the appropriate choice as it is an adverb that describes how the retired government official spoke, indicating that he did so with knowledge and expertise. Option A, "as knowing," is grammatically incorrect in this context; it does not fit the structure of the sentence. Option B, "in knowledge," is awkward and does not function as an adverb, failing to appropriately modify the verb "spoke." Option D, "knowledgeable," is an adjective and does not correctly modify the verb, making it unsuitable for this sentence structure.
In 1952, Dwight Eisenhower was elected President of the United States, he won 55% of the vote.
  • A. he won
  • B. he had won
  • C. with winning
  • D. winning
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D

The phrase "winning" effectively conveys the action of Eisenhower's election in a succinct manner, emphasizing the achievement without the need for auxiliary verbs. Option A, "he won," is grammatically correct but less fluid in this context. It shifts focus to a completed action rather than the ongoing significance of his victory. Option B, "he had won," uses the past perfect tense, which implies a prior context that isn’t necessary here and complicates the sentence unnecessarily. Option C, "with winning," introduces an awkward prepositional phrase that detracts from the clarity and directness of the statement.
The word "perceive" in sentence 3 of the passage most nearly means
  • A. feel
  • B. generate
  • C. predict
  • D. sense
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D

The word "perceive" in this context closely aligns with "sense," as it refers to the ability to become aware of something through one’s senses or intuition. Option A, "feel," suggests a more emotional or physical response, which does not fully capture the broader cognitive aspect of perception. Option B, "generate," implies creating something, which deviates from the idea of recognizing or understanding. Option C, "predict," relates to forecasting future events, rather than simply recognizing or interpreting current stimuli. Thus, "sense" best encapsulates the meaning of "perceive" in this instance.
During his long career, Bob Dylan has won many awards for his songwriting, performing, and recording. they include Grammy, Golden Globe, and Academy awards, and has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
  • A. recording, they include
  • B. recording, he won
  • C. recording, including
  • D. recording, and includes
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C

Option C, "recording, including," effectively connects the list of awards to the subject, Bob Dylan, without creating grammatical issues. It introduces examples of the awards he has won in a fluid manner. Option A, "recording, they include," is incorrect because "they" lacks a clear antecedent, leading to confusion about what "they" refers to. Option B, "recording, he won," disrupts the parallel structure by shifting the focus to past achievements rather than presenting them as current accolades. Option D, "recording, and includes," incorrectly combines tenses, suggesting a mix of past and present that does not fit the context.