Free Core Academic Skills (Reading) Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following actions does the author do in the highlighted text (lines 15–17)? <br> PASSAGE 1 <br> In the last decade, many people in the marketing-research and advertising industries have underlined the importance of emotion andLine its role in advertising. Robert Heath has(5) asserted, "We always form an attitude about a decision through emotion and subconscious rational processing before we start to consciously and actively think about it." Heath has proposed that television advertising is not goal driven but(10) stimulus driven and that our feelings that inform sub- and semi-conscious thinking when we watch television ads covertly influence attitudinal change to the brand and, ultimately, a purchase decision. <br> PASSAGE 2 <br> (15) Emotion in advertising is important to shaping perception; however, emotion should not be pursued at the expense of all else. One of marketers' key objectives is to shape brand representations—that is, to ensure that positive(20) associations come to mind—and so marketers bias consumers' judgments toward their brands. Neuroscientists have found that information about objects is stored in three main networks: knowledge (concrete information associated with(25) an object), experience (actions associated with the object), and emotions (the value of the object along multiple dimensions). The brain needs input from all three to form a representation of an object or concept.
- Makes a concession (Correct answer)
- Influence
- Attitude
- Role of emotion in advertising
Correct answer: Makes a concession
In lines 15-17, Passage 2 states, 'Emotion in advertising is important to shaping perception; however, emotion should not be pursued at the expense of all else.' The word 'however' signals a concession, acknowledging the importance of emotion (as discussed in Passage 1) but then immediately introducing a counterpoint or limitation to that idea. This structure indicates the author is making a concession before presenting their own nuanced perspective.
Question 2: In the paragraph, which of the following effects of heating clay is NOT mentioned? <br> Clay was the first substance that humanstotally transformed by heating. Soft, doughy clayis remarkable because in a hot kiln or oven, itLinechanges color and becomes a hard,(5)heat-resistant ceramic material that can holdliquids. Along with the discovery that grains couldbe cultivated, the advent of ceramics led to whatsome scientists have called the Neolithic (NewStone Age) Revolution, laying the agricultural(10)basis for the first cities of the ancient world. <br> A method for creating ceramics was firstdiscovered roughly 26,000 years ago, whenartisans at a site in what is now theCzech Republic mixed clay with loess, rich soil(15)left behind by retreating glaciers, and then fired itin ovens. The discovery of how to produce a ceramic by firing clay was a milestone in humanity's quest to utilize nature. Up to that time, craftspeople had(20)transformed stone, bone, and wood into tools and weapons by altering their shape, not their intrinsic properties. With ceramics produced from clay, humans learned that the physical properties of materials could be dramatically improved. In(25)prehistoric times, as is frequently the case today, most advances involving materials were based on this simple concept.
- The clothing needs of sailors and miners advanced the ready-made clothing industry.
- were more mobile in their living arrangements
- What is the origin of the word "slop shop"?
- When fired, clay's weight decreases. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: When fired, clay's weight decreases.
The passage describes several effects of heating clay, such as changing color, becoming hard, heat-resistant, and able to hold liquids, and improving its physical properties. However, there is no mention or implication anywhere in the text that firing clay causes its weight to decrease. Therefore, this effect is not mentioned.
Question 3: Which of the following is the topic of the passage? <br> Clay was the first substance that humanstotally transformed by heating. Soft, doughy clayis remarkable because in a hot kiln or oven, itLinechanges color and becomes a hard,(5)heat-resistant ceramic material that can holdliquids. Along with the discovery that grains couldbe cultivated, the advent of ceramics led to whatsome scientists have called the Neolithic (NewStone Age) Revolution, laying the agricultural(10)basis for the first cities of the ancient world. <br> A method for creating ceramics was firstdiscovered roughly 26,000 years ago, whenartisans at a site in what is now theCzech Republic mixed clay with loess, rich soil(15)left behind by retreating glaciers, and then fired itin ovens. The discovery of how to produce a ceramic by firing clay was a milestone in humanity's quest to utilize nature. Up to that time, craftspeople had(20)transformed stone, bone, and wood into tools and weapons by altering their shape, not their intrinsic properties. With ceramics produced from clay, humans learned that the physical properties of materials could be dramatically improved. In(25)prehistoric times, as is frequently the case today, most advances involving materials were based on this simple concept.
- What is the origin of the word "slop shop"?
- Its orbit is situated amid small solar system bodies.
- The discovery of how to transform clay into ceramics (Correct answer)
- The status of women in medieval Europe
Correct answer: The discovery of how to transform clay into ceramics
The entire passage centers around the transformation of clay by heating it to create ceramics. It discusses how this discovery was made, its historical significance (the Neolithic Revolution), and how it allowed humans to improve the physical properties of materials. All paragraphs contribute to this central theme, making it the passage's main topic.
Question 4: Which of the following statements about the passage is most accurate? <br> The links between genes, living habits, and health are of increasing interest to researchers, and this association appears to be especially Line complex in the way people gain weight. Experts(5)believe that perhaps 30 or 40 genes can increase the tendency to obesity. But these genes operate in concert with each other as well as with people's dietary habits. Doctors may someday routinely look for genes that increase(10)the risk of obesity, and drugs may be developed to target specific genetic profiles. Still, people's eating and exercise habits are probably much more important than their genes in determining whether they are obese.
- When fired, clay's weight decreases.
- anticipating an argument against drugs intended to alter obesity-related genes
- When one is driving in a barren area on an empty highway that has very few billboards
- Genetic solutions to obesity, while promising, will most likely not solve weight problems on their own. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Genetic solutions to obesity, while promising, will most likely not solve weight problems on their own.
The passage acknowledges the role of genes in obesity and the potential for future genetic solutions, stating 'doctors may someday routinely look for genes... and drugs may be developed.' However, it concludes by emphasizing, 'Still, people's eating and exercise habits are probably much more important than their genes in determining whether they are obese.' This clearly indicates that while genetics are a factor, lifestyle choices remain paramount, suggesting genetic solutions alone won't be a complete fix.
Question 5: With its Roman nose, gray-tinted coat, and lethal jaws, the Florida panther was once a figure of mythological power that roamed throughout the southeastern United States. But in the twentieth century, hunting and development isolated the panthers in the vast undeveloped swamps and forests of south Florida, and by 1967 there were barely 30 of them left. <br> Which of the following inferences about the Florida panther can be made based on the passage?
- When one is driving in a barren area on an empty highway that has very few billboards
- A metaphor is used in an explanation, and then an example is provided
- They often tried to create devices that sewed in the manner of a human being
- It used to inhabit land that is now largely inhabited by humans (Correct answer)
Correct answer: It used to inhabit land that is now largely inhabited by humans
The passage states that the Florida panther 'roamed throughout the southeastern United States' and was later 'isolated the panthers in the vast undeveloped swamps and forests of south Florida.' This implies that the broader southeastern US, where they once roamed, is now largely developed and inhabited by humans, leading to their isolation in remaining wild areas.
Question 6: The author talks about children as imitators of Seuss in order to <br> By harnessing the artistic sophistication offirst-rate picture books to the pedagogicimperatives of the early grades, children's authorLineDr. Seuss (1904-1991) changed the culture of(5)classroom literacy forever. The idea, which nowseems obvious, was that children would bestlearn to read using absorbing, entertaining bookscomposed of simple, limited vocabulary. Some ofSeuss's most ebullient wordplay—his purest(10)nonsense—can be found in Beginner Books likeGreen Eggs and Ham and the deliciously simpleHop on Pop. <br> While Seuss's first Beginner Books introduce very young children to reading by using a(15)controlled vocabulary, his longer full-size books like If I Ran the Circus and Dr. Seuss's SleepBook initiated kids to the pleasures of a language with a profusion of made-up words. The Seussian lexicon, with its "Collapsible Frinks"(20)and "Zizzer-Zoof seeds," is frequently and unsuccessfully copied by ambitious children's book authors. But Seuss's best imitators are children themselves, who learn to master phonetic patterns of their native tongue by(25)babbling forth streams of plausible but nonexistent words. Seuss's verses lodge in his readers' heads and, like all great poetry, enlarge their sense of what language—their language—can do.
- believes that emotions are essential to advertising
- underscore the medical community's imperfect grasp of a complex relationship
- reinforce the notion that Seuss's works have a powerful influence on children (Correct answer)
- is a trans-Neptunian object despite occasionally coming closer to the Sun than Neptune does
Correct answer: reinforce the notion that Seuss's works have a powerful influence on children
The author mentions that 'Seuss's best imitators are children themselves, who learn to master phonetic patterns of their native tongue by babbling forth streams of plausible but nonexistent words.' This highlights how children internalize and creatively engage with Seuss's unique language, demonstrating the profound and lasting impact his works have on their linguistic development and imagination.
Question 7: The passage claims that the Anasazi communities in Chaco Canyon used their surplus production to <br> According to some scholars, humansocioeconomic strategies can be divided into"efficient" systems, with little to no growth inLinepopulation and production, and "power" systems,(5)marked by population expansion, highproduction, and surpluses. In the AmericanSouthwest, the earlier Anasazi, a group ofancestral Pueblo Native Americans, formed"efficient," small-scale agrarian communities with(10)relatively small population growth and low energyproduction and consumption. They built smalldomestic structures, farmed lightly on thelandscape, and moved hearth and family whenthe need arose. <br> (15) In contrast, the later Anasazi communities ofChaco Canyon farmed more intensively andproduced surplus foods. This surplus supportedthe construction of "great houses," multistorystructures exalting a flourishing class of leaders.(20)This emergent class of social elite was able tomanipulate the economic surplus and labors ofits agrarian cohorts, who lived in small, humblehomesteads scattered around each "greathouse." (25) Most archaeologists believe that favorable weather conditions during the ninth century fostered this shift in Anasazi society from one of efficiency to one of power. Over the next two centuries, surplus corn and free trade fueled an(30)economic expansion that came crashing down with a series of serious droughts. Chaco Canyon can be described as an experiment in power politics and overheated economic growth, ananomalous blip in the otherwise efficient and(35)environmentally conservative Anasazi habitation of the Southwest.
- fund the building of "great houses" for the elite (Correct answer)
- attitude
- How to change the physical composition of material
- relationship to Earth
Correct answer: fund the building of "great houses" for the elite
The passage explicitly states in lines 17-19 that the 'surplus foods supported the construction of 'great houses,' multistory structures exalting a flourishing class of leaders.' This directly links the surplus production of the later Anasazi communities in Chaco Canyon to the funding and building of these structures for their elite class.
Question 8: Lines 7-8 of the text refer to "patterns of work" to highlight one instance where <br> During the Middle Ages, the flexibility of aEuropean civilization not yet fully formed was evident in the place it accorded women; for Lineal though they nowhere approached equality with(5)men, medieval women were far more visible, vocal, and powerful than their sisters in antiquity.This was particularly true regarding patterns of work. A less rigid gender division of labor probably allowed an emerging Europe to tap the(10)energy and skill of its women more fully than other established civilizations of the time.
- reinforce the notion that Seuss's works have a powerful influence on children
- medieval women had more power than women in antiquity (Correct answer)
- believe that emotions are essential to advertising
- anticipated an argument against drugs intended to alter obesity-related genes
Correct answer: medieval women had more power than women in antiquity
Lines 5-8 state that 'medieval women were far more visible, vocal, and powerful than their sisters in antiquity. This was particularly true regarding patterns of work.' The phrase 'patterns of work' is used as a specific example to illustrate and support the broader claim that medieval women held more power and visibility compared to women in ancient times.
Question 9: Which of the following questions can be best fully answered using the information in the passage? <br> A ready-made clothing industry did not begin to develop until the early decades of the nineteenth century. At first only the cheapest Line grades of clothes could be bought in stores.(5)Shops in New Bedford, Massachusetts, for example, supplied sailors with the clothing they needed quickly when they had just returned from a long voyage or when they were hastily preparing to sail again. Sailors put these(10)store‑bought clothes in their sea chests, generally known as "slop chests" (after the OldNorse word for the loose smock or the baggy breeches of the kind sailors wore). The clothes they bought were therefore called "sailor slops,"(15)and the places where these were sold were called "slop shops." "Slop clothes" or "slops" became a synonym for ready‑made clothes. Cheap ready-made clothing was also in demand in upstart Western towns for newly arrived(20)miners who had no household to make clothes for them.
- The status of women in medieval Europe
- What is the origin of the word "slop shop"? (Correct answer)
- Its orbit is situated amid small solar system bodies
- were more mobile in their living arangements
Correct answer: What is the origin of the word "slop shop"?
The passage provides a detailed explanation of the origin of 'slop shop,' tracing it back to 'slop chests' (sailors' sea chests) and the Old Norse word for loose clothing. It explains how 'sailor slops' became synonymous with ready-made clothes and thus the shops selling them became 'slop shops.' This information directly answers the question about the word's origin.
Question 10: Stone, bone, and wood are mentioned by the author as examples of materials in line 20. <br> Clay was the first substance that humanstotally transformed by heating. Soft, doughy clayis remarkable because in a hot kiln or oven, itLinechanges color and becomes a hard,(5)heat-resistant ceramic material that can holdliquids. Along with the discovery that grains couldbe cultivated, the advent of ceramics led to whatsome scientists have called the Neolithic (NewStone Age) Revolution, laying the agricultural(10)basis for the first cities of the ancient world. <br> A method for creating ceramics was firstdiscovered roughly 26,000 years ago, whenartisans at a site in what is now theCzech Republic mixed clay with loess, rich soil(15)left behind by retreating glaciers, and then fired itin ovens. The discovery of how to produce a ceramic by firing clay was a milestone in humanity's quest to utilize nature. Up to that time, craftspeople had(20)transformed stone, bone, and wood into tools and weapons by altering their shape, not their intrinsic properties. With ceramics produced from clay, humans learned that the physical properties of materials could be dramatically improved. In(25)prehistoric times, as is frequently the case today, most advances involving materials were based on this simple concept.
- believes that emotions are essential to advertising
- medieval women had more power than women in antiquity
- are not filled with invented words
- that became tools by having only their shapes changed (Correct answer)
Correct answer: that became tools by having only their shapes changed
The passage states in lines 19-22 that 'Up to that time, craftspeople had transformed stone, bone, and wood into tools and weapons by altering their shape, not their intrinsic properties.' This clearly indicates that these materials were used for tools after only their physical form was changed, unlike clay which was transformed chemically by heating.
Question 11: Which of the following was the Neolithic Revolution's foundation, according to the passage? <br> Clay was the first substance that humanstotally transformed by heating. Soft, doughy clayis remarkable because in a hot kiln or oven, itLinechanges color and becomes a hard,(5)heat-resistant ceramic material that can holdliquids. Along with the discovery that grains couldbe cultivated, the advent of ceramics led to whatsome scientists have called the Neolithic (NewStone Age) Revolution, laying the agricultural(10)basis for the first cities of the ancient world. <br> A method for creating ceramics was firstdiscovered roughly 26,000 years ago, whenartisans at a site in what is now theCzech Republic mixed clay with loess, rich soil(15)left behind by retreating glaciers, and then fired itin ovens. The discovery of how to produce a ceramic by firing clay was a milestone in humanity's quest to utilize nature. Up to that time, craftspeople had(20)transformed stone, bone, and wood into tools and weapons by altering their shape, not their intrinsic properties. With ceramics produced from clay, humans learned that the physical properties of materials could be dramatically improved. In(25)prehistoric times, as is frequently the case today, most advances involving materials were based on this simple concept.
- Role of emotion in advertising
- Good climatic conditions
- The cultivation of grains (Correct answer)
- The cultivation of grains
Correct answer: The cultivation of grains
The passage states in lines 6-10, 'Along with the discovery that grains could be cultivated, the advent of ceramics led to what some scientists have called the Neolithic (New Stone Age) Revolution, laying the agricultural basis for the first cities of the ancient world.' This explicitly identifies the cultivation of grains as the agricultural basis, or foundation, for this revolution.
Question 12: The primary focus of both passages is the <br> Passage 1 <br> In the last decade, many people in the marketing-research and advertising industries have underlined the importance of emotion andLine its role in advertising. Robert Heath has(5) asserted, "We always form an attitude about a decision through emotion and subconscious rational processing before we start to consciously and actively think about it." Heath has proposed that television advertising is not goal driven but(10) stimulus driven and that our feelings that inform sub- and semi-conscious thinking when we watch television ads covertly influence attitudinal change to the brand and, ultimately, a purchase decision. <br> Passage 2 <br> (15) Emotion in advertising is important to shaping perception; however, emotion should not be pursued at the expense of all else. One of marketers' key objectives is to shape brand representations—that is, to ensure that positive(20) associations come to mind—and so marketers bias consumers' judgments toward their brands. Neuroscientists have found that information about objects is stored in three main networks: knowledge (concrete information associated with(25) an object), experience (actions associated with the object), and emotions (the value of the object along multiple dimensions). The brain needs input from all three to form a representation of an object or concept.
- makes a concession
- influence
- role of emotion in advertising (Correct answer)
- What is the origin of the word "slop shop"?
Correct answer: role of emotion in advertising
Both Passage 1 and Passage 2 extensively discuss the importance and function of emotion within the context of advertising. Passage 1 focuses on how emotion influences attitudes and purchase decisions, while Passage 2 acknowledges its importance but also discusses its integration with other factors like knowledge and experience in shaping brand perception. Thus, the primary focus is the role of emotion in advertising.
Question 13: Which of the following, if accurate, would most undermine the third paragraph's author's claims? <br> Clay was the first substance that humanstotally transformed by heating. Soft, doughy clayis remarkable because in a hot kiln or oven, itLinechanges color and becomes a hard,(5)heat-resistant ceramic material that can holdliquids. Along with the discovery that grains couldbe cultivated, the advent of ceramics led to whatsome scientists have called the Neolithic (NewStone Age) Revolution, laying the agricultural(10)basis for the first cities of the ancient world. <br> A method for creating ceramics was firstdiscovered roughly 26,000 years ago, whenartisans at a site in what is now theCzech Republic mixed clay with loess, rich soil(15)left behind by retreating glaciers, and then fired itin ovens. The discovery of how to produce a ceramic by firing clay was a milestone in humanity's quest to utilize nature. Up to that time, craftspeople had(20)transformed stone, bone, and wood into tools and weapons by altering their shape, not their intrinsic properties. With ceramics produced from clay, humans learned that the physical properties of materials could be dramatically improved. In(25)prehistoric times, as is frequently the case today, most advances involving materials were based on this simple concept.
- that became tools by having only their shapes changed
- Early humans had already discovered that heating flint and chert allowed those materials to be modified. (Correct answer)
- Iroquois women participated directly in choosing and deposing sachems
- are not filled with invented words
Correct answer: Early humans had already discovered that heating flint and chert allowed those materials to be modified.
The third paragraph claims that firing clay was a 'milestone' because, 'Up to that time, craftspeople had transformed stone, bone, and wood... by altering their shape, not their intrinsic properties.' If early humans had already discovered that heating flint and chert allowed those materials to be modified intrinsically, it would undermine the claim that firing clay was the first instance of dramatically improving material properties through heating.
Question 14: DNA, the double-helix molecule found in each life-form, is packed with millions of pieces of genetic information and can be thought of as a very long, very detailed sentence that exactly describes all of the life-form's characteristics. Not only can scientists now identify the individual "word" in a DNA "sentence," but they can also write new stories. For example, a gene from a cold-water fish can be spliced into a vegetable to increase the vegetable's cold-weather hardiness. <br> Which of the following best describes the way in which the information in the passage is conveyed?
- They cannot currently be replaced with more youthful tissue.
- A metaphor is used in an explanation, and then an example is provided. (Correct answer)
- emphasize that the application of the term "barbarian" was fluid
- Identifying precise changes in the brain that result from physical experiences
Correct answer: A metaphor is used in an explanation, and then an example is provided.
The passage first uses the metaphor of DNA as a 'very long, very detailed sentence' with 'individual 'word'' and 'new stories' to explain its complexity and manipulability. It then provides a concrete example: 'For example, a gene from a cold-water fish can be spliced into a vegetable to increase the vegetable's cold-weather hardiness.' This clearly illustrates the metaphorical explanation with a practical application.
Question 15: When the target ad is the sole stimulus that participants are exposed to, there is strong evidence that the number of exposures to an advertising message affects how compelling it is. When the target ad is presented in a congested setting that also contains other advertising and program material, the repetition effect is far less effective. <br> Which of the following situations, given the facts in the passage, will an increase in one's exposure to an advertisement most reliably affect its capacity to persuade?
- connections between mind and body that are increasingly recognized as valid
- anticipating an argument against drugs intended to alter obesity-related genes
- They often tried to create devices that sewed in the manner of a human being
- When one is driving in a barren area on an empty highway that has very few billboards (Correct answer)
Correct answer: When one is driving in a barren area on an empty highway that has very few billboards
The passage states that 'When the target ad is the sole stimulus that participants are exposed to, there is strong evidence that the number of exposures to an advertising message affects how compelling it is.' It also notes that the effect is 'far less effective' in a 'congested setting.' Driving in a barren area with few billboards represents a situation where a target ad would likely be the sole or primary stimulus, maximizing the impact of increased exposure.
Question 16: For centuries in England, coin production was considered an act of sovereignty and therefore a prerogative of the king. Counterfeiting was an act of treason. Despite this long-standing precedent, the majority of the British colonies in North America—in true revolutionary style—produced coins in direct violation of this rule. The Massachusetts Bay Colony was the first of the settlements to defy this edict when in 1652 the colony authorized the production of its own silver coins. <br> In the third sentence of the passage, "direct" most nearly means
- attitude
- intensive farming
- clear (Correct answer)
- influence
Correct answer: clear
In the context of 'produced coins in direct violation of this rule,' 'direct' means without any intermediary, ambiguity, or deviation. It implies a clear, unmistakable, and immediate contravention of the rule. 'Clear' best captures this sense of unambiguous and straightforward defiance, indicating an open challenge to the king's prerogative.
Free Core Academic Skills (Reading) Questions and Answers
Which of the following actions does the author do in the highlighted text (lines 15–17)?
PASSAGE 1
In the last decade, many people in the marketing-research and advertising industries have underlined the importance of emotion andLine its role in advertising.
Robert Heath has(5) asserted, "We always form an attitude about a decision through emotion and subconscious rational processing before we start to consciously and actively think about it." Heath has proposed that television advertising is not goal driven but(10) stimulus driven and that our feelings that inform sub- and semi-conscious thinking when we watch television ads covertly influence attitudinal change to the brand and, ultimately, a purchase decision.
PASSAGE 2
(15) Emotion in advertising is important to shaping perception; however, emotion should not be pursued at the expense of all else.
One of marketers' key objectives is to shape brand representations—that is, to ensure that positive(20) associations come to mind—and so marketers bias consumers' judgments toward their brands.
Neuroscientists have found that information about objects is stored in three main networks: knowledge (concrete information associated with(25) an object), experience (actions associated with the object), and emotions (the value of the object along multiple dimensions).
The brain needs input from all three to form a representation of an object or concept.