Short Passage Flashcards
6 cards from real Reading Comprehension practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Short Passage flashcards as text
Read the passage: 'The hummingbird's wings beat up to 80 times per second, allowing it to hover in place and even fly backward — feats no other bird can accomplish.' What is the main idea?
Answer: The hummingbird's extraordinary wing speed enables unique flying abilities that set it apart from other birds
The passage connects the cause (80 beats per second) to the effects (hovering, backward flight) and notes these are unique abilities, making the main idea about the wing speed enabling exceptional flight capabilities.
Read the passage: 'In 1928, Alexander Fleming noticed that a mold called Penicillium had killed bacteria in one of his petri dishes. This accidental discovery led to the development of penicillin, the first antibiotic, which has since saved millions of lives.' What is the author's primary purpose?
Answer: To explain how an accidental observation led to one of medicine's most important discoveries
The passage traces a specific accident to a world-changing outcome, with the purpose of explaining how serendipity led to the discovery of antibiotics.
Read the passage: 'Despite being called the Red Planet, Mars actually appears more of a butterscotch or tawny orange color due to iron oxide dust on its surface.' What can you infer from this passage?
Answer: Common nicknames for celestial bodies can be somewhat inaccurate or oversimplified
The contrast between the nickname ('Red Planet') and the actual color (butterscotch/tawny orange) demonstrates that popular names can oversimplify or inaccurately represent reality.
Read the passage: 'Studies show that children who are read to regularly from birth develop stronger vocabulary skills, better listening comprehension, and a lifelong love of reading.' Based on this passage, what conclusion is best supported?
Answer: Regular reading aloud to children from an early age provides multiple developmental benefits
The passage lists three benefits of being read to (vocabulary, comprehension, love of reading), supporting the conclusion that early read-aloud experiences provide multiple developmental advantages.
Read the passage: 'Octopuses have three hearts, blue blood, and the ability to change both their color and texture in milliseconds.' What is the organizational pattern of this passage?
Answer: Listing or enumeration of facts
The passage presents a series of remarkable facts about octopuses (three hearts, blue blood, color/texture changing) in a list format without establishing causal, chronological, or problem-solution relationships.
Read the passage: 'The library's oldest book, a hand-copied Bible from 1453, sits behind temperature-controlled glass. Visitors often spend several minutes simply staring at its pages, marveling at the precision of the handwritten text.' What does the visitors' reaction suggest?
Answer: The book's age and craftsmanship inspire awe and respect in viewers
Spending several minutes staring and 'marveling at the precision' indicates that visitors are deeply impressed by both the book's age (1453) and the quality of the handwriting.