OAR OAR Reading Comprehension: Author's Purpose and Supporting Details 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A passage states: 'Despite the rough seas, the crew executed the rescue operation flawlessly, saving all twelve survivors.' Which supporting detail would best strengthen this passage?
- A description of the specific techniques used to retrieve survivors from the water (Correct answer)
- A history of search and rescue operations in the Navy
- Information about how rough seas are measured on the Beaufort scale
- A biography of the commanding officer
Correct answer: A description of the specific techniques used to retrieve survivors from the water
Describing the specific rescue techniques directly supports the claim that the operation was executed flawlessly.
Question 2: The author of a passage writes: 'All naval officers should be required to complete at least one deployment before receiving a command position.' What is the author's purpose?
- To persuade readers to support a specific policy change (Correct answer)
- To inform readers about current Navy deployment requirements
- To compare deployment requirements across military branches
- To describe what happens during a typical deployment
Correct answer: To persuade readers to support a specific policy change
The word 'should' signals that the author is advocating for a position, making this a persuasive purpose.
Question 3: A passage reads: 'Navigation technology has advanced significantly since World War II. Modern GPS systems allow ships to pinpoint their location to within meters.' Which detail is most relevant to the passage's main idea?
- GPS accuracy represents a major technological advancement in navigation (Correct answer)
- World War II lasted from 1939 to 1945
- The Navy uses many different types of ships
- GPS was originally developed for military purposes
Correct answer: GPS accuracy represents a major technological advancement in navigation
The GPS accuracy detail directly supports the central claim about significant advances in navigation technology.
Question 4: What does it mean when an author uses the phrase 'on the other hand' in a passage?
- The author is introducing a contrasting or opposing viewpoint (Correct answer)
- The author is summarizing information already presented
- The author is providing an example of the main point
- The author is concluding the passage
Correct answer: The author is introducing a contrasting or opposing viewpoint
The transition phrase 'on the other hand' signals a shift to a contrasting perspective or opposing idea.
Question 5: A passage about naval history includes this sentence: 'The Battle of Midway in June 1942 marked a decisive turning point in the Pacific War.' Which question would most help a reader identify supporting details for this claim?
- What specific outcomes of the battle changed the course of the Pacific War? (Correct answer)
- When did World War II begin and end?
- How many sailors served in the U.S. Navy during World War II?
- What other battles took place in 1942?
Correct answer: What specific outcomes of the battle changed the course of the Pacific War?
Asking about specific outcomes that shifted the war's direction would yield details that directly support the claim about a turning point.
Question 6: A passage ends with: 'Given the evidence presented, it is clear that proper physical conditioning significantly reduces injury rates among naval personnel.' What is the function of this sentence?
- To state a conclusion drawn from the details in the passage (Correct answer)
- To introduce a new topic related to naval health
- To contradict information presented earlier in the passage
- To provide a specific statistic about injury rates
Correct answer: To state a conclusion drawn from the details in the passage
The phrase 'given the evidence presented' signals that this sentence is a concluding statement drawn from the passage's supporting details.
OAR OAR Reading Comprehension: Author's Purpose and Supporting Details 2
A passage states: 'Despite the rough seas, the crew executed the rescue operation flawlessly, saving all twelve survivors.' Which supporting detail would best strengthen this passage?