FREE Reading Comprehension Short Passage Question and Answers

Question 1

In cities throughout the country, there is a new direction in local campaign coverage. Frequently in local elections, journalists are not giving voters enough information to understand the issues and evaluate the candidates. The local news media devotes too much time to scandal and not enough time to policy.

The statement that ""local news media"" is the strongest is supported by this paragraph.

Accepted Answer

is not doing an adequate job when it comes to covering local campaigns.

Answer

should learn how to cover politics by watching the national news media.

Answer

has no interest in covering stories about local political events.

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does not understand either campaign issues or politics.

Question 2

The use of desktop computer equipment and software to create highquality documents such as newsletters, business cards, letterhead, and brochures is called Desktop Publishing, or DTP. The most important part of any DTP project is planning. Before you begin, you should know your intended audience, the message you want to communicate, and what form your message will take.

The statement that is supported by this paragraph is the best one.

Accepted Answer

the first stage of any proposed DTP project should be organization and design.

Answer

Desktop Publishing is one way to become acquainted with a new business audience.

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the planning stage of any DTP project should include talking with the intended audience.

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computer software is continually being refined to produce highquality printing.

Question 3

The entire low-carbohydrate versus low-fat diet argument is so prevalent that one would think that these are the only two options available for losing weight and staying healthy. Some experts even feel that the low-carb/low-fat debate distracts us from an even more important issue—our culture’s reliance on processed and manufactured foods.

The statement that is supported by this paragraph is the best one.

Accepted Answer

important health concerns get overlooked when we focus exclusively on the low-fat versus low-carb question.

Answer

low-carbohydrate diets lead to significant and sustained weight loss.

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experts state that not all fats are equal, so we need not reduce our intake of all fats; just those that contain partially hydrogenated oils.

Answer

processed foods can lead to many adverse health problems including heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and obesity.

Question 4

Every year, Americans use over one billion sharp objects to administer healthcare in their homes. These sharp objects include lancets, needles, and syringes. If not disposed of in puncture-resistant containers, they can injure sanitation workers. Sharp objects should be disposed of in hard plastic or metal containers with secure lids. The containers should be clearly marked and be puncture resistant.

The passage best demonstrates the possibility of harm to sanitation personnel.

Accepted Answer

come in contact with sharp objects that have not been placed in secure containers.

Answer

do not place sharp objects in puncture-resistant containers.

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do not mark the containers they pick up with a warning that those containers contain sharp objects.

Answer

are careless with sharp objects such as lancets, needles, and syringes in their homes.

Question 5

Litigation is not always the only or best way to resolve conflicts. Mediation offers an alternative approach and it is one that can be quite efficient and successful. Mediation can be faster, less expensive, and can lead to creative solutions not always possible in a court of law. Additionally, mediation focuses on mutually acceptable solutions, rather than on winning or losing.

This passage demonstrates this claim the strongest.

Accepted Answer

mediation can be an effective way to resolve conflicts.

Answer

there is too much reliance on litigation in our society.

Answer

litigation is expensive, slow, and limited by its reliance on following the letter of the law.

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mediation is the best way to resolve a crisis.

Question 6

One of the missions of the Peace Corps is to help the people of interested countries meet their need for trained men and women. People who work for the Peace Corps do so because they want to, but to keep the agency dynamic with fresh ideas, no staff member can work for the agency for more than five years.

The passage most convincingly demonstrates that Peace Corps employees

Accepted Answer

are hired for a limited term of employment.

Answer

are highly intelligent people.

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have both academic and work experience.

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must train for about five years.

Question 7

More and more office workers telecommute from offices in their own homes. The upside of telecommuting is both greater productivity and greater flexibility. Telecommuters produce, on average, 20% more than if they were to work in an office, and their flexible schedule allows them to balance both their family and work responsibilities.

The sentence that says ""telecommuters"" is better supported by the paragraph.

Accepted Answer

get more work done in a given time period than workers who travel to the office.

Answer

produce a better quality work product than workers who travel to the office.

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would do 20% more work if they were to work in an office.

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are more flexible in their ideas than workers who travel to the office.

Question 8

Sushi, the thousand-year-old Japanese delicacy, started small in the United States, in a handful of restaurants in big cities. Today, sushi consumption in America is 50% greater than it was ten years ago and not just in restaurants. Sushi is also sold at concession stands in sports stadiums, university dining halls, and in supermarkets throughout the country.

The thesis of this sentence is best supported by this paragraph.

Accepted Answer

sushi wasn’t always widely available in the United States.

Answer

sushi is now a fast food as popular as hot dogs, burgers, and fries.

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Americans are more adventurous eaters than they were in the past.

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more sushi is sold in restaurants than in supermarkets.

Question 9

Today’s shopping mall has as its antecedents historical marketplaces, such as Greek agoras, European piazzas, and Asian bazaars. The purpose of these sites, as with the shopping mall, is both economic and social. People not only go to buy and sell wares, but also to be seen, catch up on news, and be part of the human drama.

The statement that is supported by this paragraph is the best one.

Accepted Answer

shopping malls have a social as well as commercial function.

Answer

shopping malls serve an important purpose in our culture.

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there are historical antecedents for almost everything in contemporary society.

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modern Americans spend an average of 15 hours a month in shopping malls.

Question 10

Many animals hibernate during parts of the year, entering a state that is similar to a very deep sleep. But hibernation is more than simply a deep sleep. The animal’s body temperature drops well below its normal range, the animal does not wake up for a long period of time, and its metabolism slows to the point that the animal does not need to eat or relieve itself during that period. In order to prepare for hibernation, the animal must build up its body weight and increase its body fat. This is important, since the animal will be living off its own body fat during the months of hibernation. Of course, once the period of hibernation is over, the animal “wakes up” to find itself slim and trim once again!

How does a creature get ready to hibernate?

Accepted Answer

It eats more food than usual.

Answer

It gradually increases its sleeping habits.

Answer

It exercises for two months.

Answer

It grows extra fur.