NFST Reading Comprehension Skills 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A passage reads: 'The report was succinct yet thorough.' Which pair of words best describes the report?
- Long and detailed
- Brief and complete (Correct answer)
- Vague and short
- Lengthy and repetitive
Correct answer: Brief and complete
'Succinct' means brief, and 'thorough' means complete, so the report was both short and comprehensive.
Question 2: A form instructs: 'List all prior addresses for the past five years, beginning with your most recent.' How should you order the addresses?
- Oldest address first
- Most recent address first (Correct answer)
- Alphabetically by city
- In any order you prefer
Correct answer: Most recent address first
The instruction explicitly says 'beginning with your most recent,' so the latest address goes first.
Question 3: You read: 'Despite numerous setbacks, the construction team finished the bridge ahead of schedule.' What is the main idea?
- The project faced no significant problems
- The team succeeded even though they faced obstacles (Correct answer)
- The bridge was completed late due to setbacks
- Setbacks are common in construction
Correct answer: The team succeeded even though they faced obstacles
'Despite' introduces obstacles, but the main point is that the team finished early anyway, showing success over adversity.
Question 4: A label states: 'Keep refrigerated. Best if used by date on package. Do not use if seal is broken.' Under which condition should the product NOT be used?
- If stored at room temperature for an hour
- If the packaging seal is broken (Correct answer)
- If it is past the best-by date
- Both B and C
Correct answer: If the packaging seal is broken
The label explicitly says 'Do not use if seal is broken,' making a broken seal a clear disqualifying condition.
Question 5: A passage states: 'The law was enacted to protect consumers from predatory lending practices.' What is the purpose of the law?
- To help lenders recover unpaid loans
- To shield borrowers from abusive lending (Correct answer)
- To regulate bank interest rates nationally
- To encourage more lending to consumers
Correct answer: To shield borrowers from abusive lending
'Protect consumers from predatory lending' means the law shields borrowers from lenders who exploit them.
Question 6: You read: 'The author implies that urban sprawl contributes to environmental degradation.' What is an implication?
- A direct statement of fact
- A suggestion not explicitly stated (Correct answer)
- A proven scientific conclusion
- A personal anecdote
Correct answer: A suggestion not explicitly stated
An implication is an idea suggested by the text but not directly stated — the reader must infer it.
Question 7: A sentence reads: 'The council members were unanimous in their decision.' How many members agreed?
- More than half
- Exactly half
- All of them (Correct answer)
- None of them
Correct answer: All of them
'Unanimous' means every single member agreed with no dissenting votes.
NFST Reading Comprehension Skills 3
A passage reads: 'The report was succinct yet thorough.' Which pair of words best describes the report?