accuplacer reading comprehension practice test

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

During the Second World War, when the Wrigley Company discovered that it did not have the resources to produce enough chewing gum for both civilians at home and soldiers abroad—soldiers who relied on gum to avoid having dry mouths on the battlefield—the company immediately donated all of its gum to the war effort. After the war, Wrigley’s gum sales grew stronger than ever, as Americans clamored for the company’s “patriotic” chewing gum.
Why does the author place quotation marks around the word 'patriotic' (sentence 2)?
  • A. To attribute to postwar Americans the perception of Wrigley’s gum as patriotic
  • B. To praise the patriotism the Wrigley Company demonstrated during wartime
  • C. To show that American soldiers used the word 'patriotic' to describe Wrigley’s gum
  • D. To reveal that the Wrigley Company changed the name of its gum to include the word 'patriotic'
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A

The use of quotation marks around 'patriotic' indicates that the term reflects the perception held by postwar Americans rather than the author's own endorsement. This suggests a distance from the term, highlighting it as a viewpoint rather than an absolute truth. Option B misinterprets the author's intent; the quotation marks do not imply praise for the Wrigley Company's actions. Option C inaccurately suggests that soldiers specifically coined the term in reference to the gum, which is not supported by the context. Option D incorrectly assumes that the company changed the product name, which is not indicated in the text.

Other Related Questions

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.
The author of Passage 1 uses the phrase 'That's right' in order to:
  • A. acknowledge that a claim may be surprising
  • B. confirm that a prediction was accurate
  • C. concede that a criticism has merit
  • D. emphasize that a debate has been settled
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A

The phrase "That's right" is used to acknowledge a statement or claim, often indicating that it may be unexpected or surprising to the audience. This aligns with option A, as it highlights an awareness of the potential shock value of the claim. Option B is incorrect because confirming a prediction implies certainty and agreement with a prior statement, which is not the intent of the phrase. Option C misinterprets the phrase's meaning; conceding a criticism suggests acceptance of fault, which does not fit the context. Option D also misses the mark, as emphasizing a settled debate would imply finality, whereas "That's right" suggests an ongoing dialogue rather than closure.
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.
It can most reasonably be inferred from the passage that the music products industry would have a higher share of the e-commerce market if:
  • A. entry-level school music instruments were sold to schools' music directors rather than directly to students
  • B. the consumer market were to place less value on convenience and variety and more on competitive pricing
  • C. a few types of music products sold predominantly in brick-and-mortar stores were excluded from the calculation
  • D. brick-and-mortar store managers improved customer service and provided better training for their installation experts
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C

The inference about the music products industry’s higher e-commerce market share hinges on the exclusion of certain products sold mainly in physical stores. If these items are not considered, the e-commerce segment could appear more dominant. Option A suggests a shift in sales strategy, but it doesn’t directly impact the overall market share dynamics. Option B misplaces the focus on consumer preferences, which does not inherently increase e-commerce share. Option D addresses customer service improvements in physical stores, which would not enhance online sales. Thus, excluding certain products from the calculation is the most logical inference for a higher e-commerce share.