College Readiness Reading Flashcards
7 cards from real TSIA2 practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 College Readiness Reading flashcards as text
A student reads a passage about urban sprawl that states: 'Cities expanding outward consume farmland, increase commute times, and strain municipal budgets.' What is the author's primary claim?
Answer: Urban sprawl creates multiple interconnected problems for communities
The author lists three distinct negative effects, showing sprawl creates multiple interconnected problems rather than singling out one issue.
Which sentence best uses context clues to define the word 'reticent' in the phrase: 'Unlike her outspoken colleagues, Maria remained reticent, rarely voicing her opinions during meetings'?
Answer: Reticent means unwilling to speak or express oneself
The contrast with 'outspoken' and the description of 'rarely voicing opinions' signals reticent means unwilling to speak.
A passage presents two experts debating renewable energy. Expert A cites economic savings; Expert B cites infrastructure costs. What reading strategy helps you evaluate both arguments?
Answer: Identify the evidence each expert uses to support their claims
Evaluating the evidence each expert provides allows a reader to assess the strength of competing arguments objectively.
Read this passage excerpt: 'The wolf population decline reshaped the entire ecosystem. Without predators, deer overpopulated, overgrazing vegetation and destabilizing riverbanks.' The word 'destabilizing' most likely means:
Answer: Making riverbanks less secure and more prone to erosion
The prefix 'de-' signals reversal, and context links overgrazing to damage, making 'making less secure' the logical meaning.
An author writes: 'While critics argue the policy failed, unemployment data from three independent agencies shows a 12% drop in two years.' What is the author doing?
Answer: Using quantitative evidence to counter an opposing view
The author acknowledges the opposing view and then uses specific data from multiple sources to refute it.
Which of the following is an example of an inference rather than a directly stated fact?
Answer: The declining response rate suggests participants lost interest
An inference draws a conclusion not explicitly stated; 'suggests participants lost interest' is a logical deduction, not a reported fact.
A passage's first paragraph describes a problem, the second proposes a solution, and the third evaluates the solution's limitations. What is the text structure?
Answer: Problem-solution with evaluation
The three-part structure (problem → solution → limitations) defines a problem-solution pattern extended with critical evaluation.