CBEST Reading 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Read the following passage and answer the question: 'The city council voted unanimously to ban single-use plastics from all municipal facilities. Supporters argued the move would reduce landfill waste and protect local waterways. Critics contended that biodegradable alternatives are more expensive and would strain departmental budgets.' What is the main conflict described in this passage?
- Environmental groups disagreeing with scientists
- Environmental benefits versus financial costs (Correct answer)
- The council disagreeing about which plastics to ban
- State law conflicting with local ordinance
Correct answer: Environmental benefits versus financial costs
The passage contrasts the environmental benefits (reduced waste, protected waterways) with the financial drawback (higher cost of alternatives).
Question 2: Which of the following best defines the word 'contended' as used in the sentence: 'Critics contended that biodegradable alternatives are more expensive'?
- Agreed reluctantly
- Argued or maintained (Correct answer)
- Discovered through research
- Proposed as a solution
Correct answer: Argued or maintained
'Contended' means argued or asserted a position, especially in debate.
Question 3: A student reads a graph showing that reading scores in a school district rose 12% over three years after a new literacy program was introduced. What is the most logical conclusion the student can draw?
- The literacy program is definitely the sole cause of the improvement
- Reading scores may have improved partly due to the literacy program (Correct answer)
- Reading scores will continue rising indefinitely
- Other districts do not need literacy programs
Correct answer: Reading scores may have improved partly due to the literacy program
Correlation shown in a graph suggests a possible relationship but does not prove sole causation.
Question 4: In the sentence 'The author's tone in the editorial was sardonic,' what does 'sardonic' mean?
- Enthusiastic and optimistic
- Dryly mocking or cynical (Correct answer)
- Confused and uncertain
- Formal and academic
Correct answer: Dryly mocking or cynical
Sardonic means grimly mocking or cynical, often with a bitter edge.
Question 5: A text states: 'Researchers found that students who ate breakfast performed better on morning exams than those who skipped breakfast.' Which of the following is an inference supported by this information?
- Skipping breakfast permanently damages memory
- Eating breakfast may have a positive effect on exam performance (Correct answer)
- All students who eat breakfast earn top grades
- Morning exams are unfair to students who skip breakfast
Correct answer: Eating breakfast may have a positive effect on exam performance
The research supports the inference that breakfast may help exam performance, without claiming certainty or universality.
Question 6: Which organizational pattern is used in a passage that first describes a rise in childhood obesity rates and then discusses poor school nutrition policies as the reason?
- Chronological order
- Compare and contrast
- Cause and effect (Correct answer)
- Problem and solution
Correct answer: Cause and effect
The passage presents the effect (obesity rise) and its cause (poor nutrition policies), which is cause-and-effect structure.
Question 7: Read this sentence: 'Although the report was lengthy, its conclusions were surprisingly terse.' What does 'terse' mean?
- Confusing and vague
- Brief and to the point (Correct answer)
- Highly technical
- Repeatedly stated
Correct answer: Brief and to the point
'Terse' means using very few words; brief and concise.
CBEST Reading 2
Read the following passage and answer the question:
'The city council voted unanimously to ban single-use plastics from all municipal facilities.
Supporters argued the move would reduce landfill waste and protect local waterways.
Critics contended that biodegradable alternatives are more expensive and would strain departmental budgets.'
What is the main conflict described in this passage?