NFST Reading Comprehension Skills 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A passage reads: 'The company's profits have increased exponentially over the past decade.' What does 'exponentially' suggest about the growth?
- Growth was slow and steady
- Growth was rapid and accelerating (Correct answer)
- Growth was unpredictable
- Growth was modest
Correct answer: Growth was rapid and accelerating
'Exponentially' means at a rate that increases rapidly and dramatically, much faster than a steady or linear rate.
Question 2: You read a memo: 'Effective immediately, all expense reports must be submitted within 72 hours of travel completion.' When must a report be submitted if travel ended on Monday at noon?
- By Wednesday at noon
- By Thursday at noon (Correct answer)
- By Tuesday at noon
- By the end of the month
Correct answer: By Thursday at noon
72 hours after Monday noon is Thursday noon, so the deadline is Thursday at 12:00 p.m.
Question 3: A passage says: 'The diplomat's remarks were deliberately ambiguous, leaving both sides room to interpret them favorably.' What does 'ambiguous' mean?
- Clear and direct
- Open to more than one interpretation (Correct answer)
- Dishonest and misleading
- Formal and technical
Correct answer: Open to more than one interpretation
'Ambiguous' means having more than one possible meaning, making it unclear which interpretation is correct.
Question 4: A warning label reads: 'Flammable — Keep Away from Heat, Sparks, and Open Flames.' A candle is burning nearby. Is this a concern?
- No, only electric sparks are dangerous
- Yes, an open flame is listed as a hazard (Correct answer)
- Only if the product is already open
- No, candles are low-temperature flames
Correct answer: Yes, an open flame is listed as a hazard
The label specifically lists 'open flames' as a hazard, and a candle is an open flame.
Question 5: A passage reads: 'The study's results were inconclusive, suggesting further research is needed.' What can you infer about the study?
- It proved the hypothesis correct
- It disproved the hypothesis entirely
- It did not produce a definitive answer (Correct answer)
- It was not conducted properly
Correct answer: It did not produce a definitive answer
'Inconclusive' means the results did not clearly confirm or deny the hypothesis, so no firm conclusion was reached.
Question 6: You read: 'The policy applies to all employees, regardless of seniority.' Who does the policy cover?
- Only new employees
- Only senior employees
- Every employee at every level (Correct answer)
- Employees hired after a specific date
Correct answer: Every employee at every level
'Regardless of seniority' means the policy makes no exceptions based on how long someone has worked there — it covers everyone.
Question 7: A sentence reads: 'The historian's account was lauded for its objectivity.' What does 'lauded' mean?
- Criticized harshly
- Praised highly (Correct answer)
- Revised extensively
- Published widely
Correct answer: Praised highly
'Lauded' means highly praised or commended, indicating the account received positive recognition.
NFST Reading Comprehension Skills 5
A passage reads: 'The company's profits have increased exponentially over the past decade.' What does 'exponentially' suggest about the growth?