FREE OAR Reading Comprehension Question and Answers Flashcards

A passage states: 'The development of radar technology during World War II had far-reaching consequences beyond military applications. Post-war adaptations of radar led to advances in weather forecasting, air traffic control, and even microwave cooking.' Based on this passage, what is the author's primary purpose?

Answer: To illustrate how military technology can have unexpected civilian applications

The passage focuses on how radar, originally a military technology, was adapted for several civilian uses after the war.

Read the following: 'Unlike alligators, which prefer slow-moving freshwater environments, crocodiles can tolerate saltwater and are often found in coastal habitats. This physiological difference is due to specialized salt-excreting glands present in crocodiles but absent in alligators.' What can be inferred from this passage?

Answer: Alligators lack the biological mechanism to efficiently process saltwater

The passage states crocodiles have salt-excreting glands that alligators lack, implying alligators cannot efficiently handle saltwater.

A passage reads: 'The mayor announced a new initiative to plant 10,000 trees across the city over the next five years. Critics argue the plan is insufficient given the city's rapid deforestation rate of 3,000 trees per year.' Based on the information provided, what conclusion is best supported?

Answer: The initiative will result in a net loss of trees over the five-year period

Planting 10,000 trees over five years while losing 3,000 per year means a net loss of 5,000 trees over that period.

Consider this excerpt: 'Dr. Elaine Foster's research challenged the prevailing theory that memory consolidation occurs exclusively during REM sleep. Her studies demonstrated significant memory processing during non-REM deep sleep stages as well.' The word 'prevailing' most nearly means:

Answer: Widely accepted

'Prevailing' means currently dominant or widely accepted, which fits the context of a commonly held scientific theory being challenged.

Read the passage: 'The Dust Bowl of the 1930s was not solely caused by drought. Decades of aggressive farming practices had stripped the Great Plains of native grasses that anchored the topsoil. When drought conditions arrived, there was nothing to prevent massive soil erosion.' According to the passage, what was the fundamental cause of the Dust Bowl?

Answer: A combination of poor farming practices and natural drought

The passage identifies both aggressive farming that removed protective grasses and the subsequent drought as combined causes of the Dust Bowl.

A passage states: 'While the term "smartphone" suggests a device primarily used for phone calls, recent surveys indicate that calling ranks fifth among the most common smartphone activities, behind texting, internet browsing, social media use, and email.' What rhetorical strategy does the author employ?

Answer: Irony by contrasting the device's name with its actual usage patterns

The author highlights the irony that a device called a 'phone' is used least for actual phone calls compared to other activities.