Reading Practice Test #U2013 6 (Reading Comprehension)

Question 1

What evidence best indicated the location of the blast?

See solution for the supported answer suggested that the explosion may have been caused by a comet. (B) highlighted why tree resin from the time of the blast contained high-proton elements. (C) indicated that the blast may have resulted from Earth’s impact with a black hole. (D) explained why debris from outer space would have burned up in the atmosphere. The question asks how the simile in the sentence from paragraph 4 reflects the tone of the paragraph. The image of two or three fireflies creating small specks of light in the darkness creates a sense of isolation or loneliness in Margaret, as shown in the sentence, “A sudden feeling of isolation took possession of her” (paragraph 4). Therefore, Option B is correct. Option A is incorrect because Margaret is confused and indecisive, showing her discomfort with her situation. Option C is incorrect because Margaret expresses distress in her situation, questions her decision, and worries about being labeled a “fool” (paragraph 4). Option D is incorrect because the simile is meant to show how far away things are from Margaret, not create a feeling of dread, which develops later in paragraph 9 The question asks about the relationship between the theme and paragraph 9, where Margaret desperately tries to get someone on the train to notice her. One important theme of this excerpt concerns Margaret’s willingness to take action to ensure that she reaches her destination. This determination, described in Option A, is why she gathers her belongings together without help, gets off the train without being assisted by employees, and then attempts to climb back on while the train employees are busy examining the engine. Option B is incorrect because, while the narrator describes her screaming as useless, she does not feel that her efforts overall are useless, and she does not give up until paragraph 10. Option C is incorrect because, while Margaret is feeling a sense of “failure” in paragraph 9, she does not condemn herself as the train moves away. Option D is incorrect because Margaret has expressed “terror” in paragraph 9 over being unable to catch someone’s attention, not frustration over her lack of control over her surroundings

Correct Answer:

See solution for the supported answer

Explanation:

The question asks for evidence that best supports a detail in the passage. When scientists were able to travel to the site almost two decades after the blast, they found a circle of “scorched and downed trees” that marked the blast site (paragraph 2), making Option D the correct answer. Option A is incorrect because, although the scientists searched for a crater, they never found one (paragraph 2). Option B is also incorrect because the tremors recorded at a seismic station thousands of miles away detailed the magnitude of the event, not the location (paragraph 1). Option C is incorrect because, although huts were flattened when the blast occurred, the destruction of the huts was not evident when the site was found almost two decades later (paragraph 1)

Question 2

The June 30 date of the Tunguska event was significant to some scientists because it

The question asks for an explanation of what the imagery in the excerpt from paragraph 9 conveys. The words “useless” and “failure” in the sentence indicate that Margaret’s best efforts do not help her. The phrase “the last car slatted itself past” shows that Margaret is helpless to stop the train from departing, which leaves her completely vulnerable, as described in Option D. Option A is incorrect because describing Margaret’s “sickening sense of terror” indicates that she is extremely afraid of being left behind rather than increasingly irritated with the other passengers. Option B is incorrect because Margaret spends her time “screaming, running, trying to attract some one’s attention” in an effort to be noticed so that the train will stop, not attempting to run as fast as the train. Option C is incorrect because while Margret’s screaming and running could easily suggest feelings of anger, descriptions of her “sickening sense of terror and failure” indicate otherwise See solution for the supported answer It confirms Margaret’s understanding that she cannot rely on help from anyone else. (B) It leads Margaret to realize that her efforts to change her situation are ineffective. (C) It causes Margaret to believe that her own actions led to an unfavorable outcome. (D) It reinforces Margaret’s frustration about her lack of control over her surroundings. The questions asks for an explanation of how paragraph 1 supports the passage. Paragraph 1 provides several examples of the severe damage caused by the explosion, as stated in Option B. Option A is incorrect because the scientific aspects of the explosion are not discussed until later in the passage. Option C is incorrect because paragraph 1 discusses some of the effects of the blast rather than the potential cause. Although human suffering is one detail described in paragraph 1, this is not the primary evidence of the explosion’s destruction, making Option D incorrect

Correct Answer:

See solution for the supported answer

Explanation:

suggested that the explosion may have been caused by a comet. (B) highlighted why tree resin from the time of the blast contained high-proton elements. (C) indicated that the blast may have resulted from Earth’s impact with a black hole. (D) explained why debris from outer space would have burned up in the atmosphere.

Question 3

What did Galli’s analysis of tree resin at the site reveal?

The question asks how the questions at the end of the last paragraph affect the passage. Although the passage introduces a number of theories about the Tunguska explosion, no definitive explanation has been reached. This idea is stated in Option D. Option A is incorrect because, although the passage does not discourage further study, it does not specifically promote it. Option B is incorrect because, although the author presents multiple possible causes, the passage suggests that the damage was most likely caused by one of these possibilities rather than several of them simultaneously. The author is certainly curious about the actual cause of the Tunguska explosion but objectively presents the questions about it that remain unanswered, making Option C incorrect The question asks for evidence that best supports a detail in the passage. When scientists were able to travel to the site almost two decades after the blast, they found a circle of “scorched and downed trees” that marked the blast site (paragraph 2), making Option D the correct answer. Option A is incorrect because, although the scientists searched for a crater, they never found one (paragraph 2). Option B is also incorrect because the tremors recorded at a seismic station thousands of miles away detailed the magnitude of the event, not the location (paragraph 1). Option C is incorrect because, although huts were flattened when the blast occurred, the destruction of the huts was not evident when the site was found almost two decades later (paragraph 1) See solution for the supported answer It confirms Margaret’s understanding that she cannot rely on help from anyone else. (B) It leads Margaret to realize that her efforts to change her situation are ineffective. (C) It causes Margaret to believe that her own actions led to an unfavorable outcome. (D) It reinforces Margaret’s frustration about her lack of control over her surroundings.

Correct Answer:

See solution for the supported answer

Explanation:

Certain elements were unusually abundant around the time of the blast. (B) Particles from outer space can add carbon atoms to trees. (C) Spruce trees were able to survive the Tunguska explosion. (D) Meteorites are composed of gold, copper, and other high-proton elements.

Question 4

Based on the passage, what is the most likely reason it took nineteen years from the date of the explosion before scientists first visited the Tunguska site?

The question asks which sentence correctly explains the connection between the sentence from paragraph 4 and the overall plot of the excerpt. The train’s need to stop for water is not evident to Margaret, which causes the external conflict. The sentence from paragraph 4 reveals how Margaret’s confusion over her best course of action prevents her from recognizing the nature of the external conflict; therefore, Option D is correct The question asks how the simile in the sentence from paragraph 4 reflects the tone of the paragraph. The image of two or three fireflies creating small specks of light in the darkness creates a sense of isolation or loneliness in Margaret, as shown in the sentence, “A sudden feeling of isolation took possession of her” (paragraph 4). Therefore, Option B is correct. Option A is incorrect because Margaret is confused and indecisive, showing her discomfort with her situation. Option C is incorrect because Margaret expresses distress in her situation, questions her decision, and worries about being labeled a “fool” (paragraph 4). Option D is incorrect because the simile is meant to show how far away things are from Margaret, not create a feeling of dread, which develops later in paragraph 9 suggested that the explosion may have been caused by a comet. (B) highlighted why tree resin from the time of the blast contained high-proton elements. (C) indicated that the blast may have resulted from Earth’s impact with a black hole. (D) explained why debris from outer space would have burned up in the atmosphere. See solution for the supported answer

Correct Answer:

See solution for the supported answer

Explanation:

The question asks for the most likely reason it was difficult for scientists to discover the site of the Tunguska explosion. Paragraph 2 notes that the site of the blast was very “remote,” as stated in Option B. Option A is incorrect because none of the possible blast explanations mentioned in the passage suggest a nuclear explosion or radioactivity. Option C is incorrect because, even before visiting the site, scientists debated possible causes of the explosion (paragraphs 2–3). Option D is incorrect because the passage states in paragraph 2 that no evidence of a crater, or craters, was ever found

Question 5

What is the primary role of paragraph 1 in the structure of the passage?

See solution for the supported answer The question asks for an explanation of what the imagery in the excerpt from paragraph 9 conveys. The words “useless” and “failure” in the sentence indicate that Margaret’s best efforts do not help her. The phrase “the last car slatted itself past” shows that Margaret is helpless to stop the train from departing, which leaves her completely vulnerable, as described in Option D. Option A is incorrect because describing Margaret’s “sickening sense of terror” indicates that she is extremely afraid of being left behind rather than increasingly irritated with the other passengers. Option B is incorrect because Margaret spends her time “screaming, running, trying to attract some one’s attention” in an effort to be noticed so that the train will stop, not attempting to run as fast as the train. Option C is incorrect because while Margret’s screaming and running could easily suggest feelings of anger, descriptions of her “sickening sense of terror and failure” indicate otherwise The question asks for the most likely reason it was difficult for scientists to discover the site of the Tunguska explosion. Paragraph 2 notes that the site of the blast was very “remote,” as stated in Option B. Option A is incorrect because none of the possible blast explanations mentioned in the passage suggest a nuclear explosion or radioactivity. Option C is incorrect because, even before visiting the site, scientists debated possible causes of the explosion (paragraphs 2–3). Option D is incorrect because the passage states in paragraph 2 that no evidence of a crater, or craters, was ever found The question asks how the questions at the end of the last paragraph affect the passage. Although the passage introduces a number of theories about the Tunguska explosion, no definitive explanation has been reached. This idea is stated in Option D. Option A is incorrect because, although the passage does not discourage further study, it does not specifically promote it. Option B is incorrect because, although the author presents multiple possible causes, the passage suggests that the damage was most likely caused by one of these possibilities rather than several of them simultaneously. The author is certainly curious about the actual cause of the Tunguska explosion but objectively presents the questions about it that remain unanswered, making Option C incorrect

Correct Answer:

See solution for the supported answer

Explanation:

The questions asks for an explanation of how paragraph 1 supports the passage. Paragraph 1 provides several examples of the severe damage caused by the explosion, as stated in Option B. Option A is incorrect because the scientific aspects of the explosion are not discussed until later in the passage. Option C is incorrect because paragraph 1 discusses some of the effects of the blast rather than the potential cause. Although human suffering is one detail described in paragraph 1, this is not the primary evidence of the explosion’s destruction, making Option D incorrect

Question 1

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Prepare with the Reading Practice Test #U2013 6 (Reading Comprehension) practice quiz. This question bank includes 13 questions covering paragraph, sentence, excerpt, read, and last. Use it to review important concepts, identify knowledge gaps, and build confidence for the related exam, course, or assessment.

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Reading Practice Test #U2013 6 (Reading Comprehension)

This practice set contains 13 questions from the matching question bank and focuses on paragraph, sentence, excerpt, read, and last. Work through each question carefully, review the provided solutions, and revisit topics that need more study before your next attempt.

This is an independent study resource intended for practice and review; it is not an official examination or an endorsement by any organization named in the title.

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Reading Practice Test #U2013 6 (Reading Comprehension)

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