Unit 5 - Practice Quiz

PEV301

1 What is the primary goal of 'Reading Comprehension' in a verbal ability context?

A. To memorize facts presented in a passage
B. To understand, analyze, and interpret a written text
C. To read as fast as possible regardless of understanding
D. To correct the grammar errors in a text

2 Which reading strategy involves glancing rapidly through a text to search for specific information?

A. Skimming
B. Scanning
C. Intensive reading
D. Extensive reading

3 What does 'Skimming' a text entail?

A. Reading every word carefully
B. Reading primarily for specific details
C. Reading quickly to get the general idea or gist
D. Reading aloud to improve pronunciation

4 In the context of reading comprehension, what is an 'inference'?

A. A statement clearly written in the text
B. A conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning
C. A direct quote from the author
D. A summary of the first paragraph

5 When a question asks for the 'Main Idea' of a passage, what is it looking for?

A. The specific details supporting an argument
B. The central point or concept the author is communicating
C. The definition of difficult vocabulary words
D. The concluding sentence of the text

6 Passage: 'The rain had been falling for days. The river swelled, breaching its banks and creeping toward the houses. Residents packed their essentials and moved to higher ground.' What is the main idea of this text?

A. It rains a lot in this region.
B. Residents like to hike to higher ground.
C. A flood threatened the homes of residents.
D. The river banks were poorly constructed.

7 Passage: 'Unlike the outgoing and gregarious dog, the cat is often seen as a solitary creature. However, cats can form deep bonds with their owners, often showing affection in subtle ways.' What is the main idea?

A. Dogs are better pets than cats.
B. Cats are completely antisocial.
C. Cats demonstrate affection differently than dogs but still bond with humans.
D. Cats are difficult to understand.

8 Passage: 'Renewable energy sources like solar and wind are becoming cheaper. Conversely, fossil fuels are becoming more expensive to extract and process. Consequently, the energy market is shifting.' What is the main idea?

A. Solar panels are cheap to install.
B. Fossil fuels are bad for the environment.
C. Economic factors are driving a shift toward renewable energy.
D. Wind turbines are the future.

9 Passage: 'John looked at the pile of unpaid bills on the table. He sighed, rubbed his temples, and checked his bank balance again, hoping for a mistake.' What can be inferred about John?

A. John is bad at math.
B. John is experiencing financial stress.
C. John hates his job.
D. John is waiting for a package.

10 Passage: 'The classroom was silent. All heads were bent over the papers. The only sound was the scratching of pencils and the ticking of the clock.' What is likely happening?

A. The students are sleeping.
B. The students are taking an exam.
C. The students are drawing pictures.
D. The teacher is lecturing.

11 In the sentence, 'The politician's speech was full of rhetoric but lacked substance,' what does 'rhetoric' mean in this context?

A. Scientific facts
B. Persuasive language used for effect
C. Lies and deceit
D. Quiet whispering

12 In the sentence, 'The harsh winter conditions exacerbated the shortage of food,' what does 'exacerbated' mean?

A. Improved
B. Created
C. Worsened
D. Ignored

13 Passage: 'Although the movie was hyped as a masterpiece, the audience found the plot derivative and predictable.' What does 'derivative' mean here?

A. Original and unique
B. Imitative of another work
C. Exciting and fast-paced
D. Confusing and complex

14 Which of the following is a common 'distractor' in reading comprehension MCQs?

A. The correct answer paraphrased.
B. An option that is true in real life but not mentioned in the text.
C. A summary of the main argument.
D. A direct quote from the conclusion.

15 Passage: 'The chef tasted the soup, frowned, and reached for the salt shaker.' What can you infer?

A. The soup was too hot.
B. The soup was too salty.
C. The soup needed more flavor/seasoning.
D. The chef dislikes soup.

16 Passage: 'Sarah walked into the house with a wet umbrella and shaking off water from her coat.' What can be inferred?

A. It is snowing outside.
B. It is raining outside.
C. Sarah fell into a pool.
D. Sarah just took a shower.

17 What is the 'Tone' of a passage?

A. The volume at which it should be read.
B. The author's attitude toward the subject matter.
C. The difficulty level of the vocabulary.
D. The grammatical structure used.

18 Passage: 'Oh great, another meeting that could have been an email. I am absolutely thrilled to spend my afternoon here.' What is the tone of this passage?

A. Enthusiastic
B. Sarcastic
C. Professional
D. Educational

19 In the sentence, 'The manager was adamant that the deadline could not be moved,' what does 'adamant' mean?

A. Unsure
B. Flexible
C. Refusing to change one's mind
D. Angry

20 Passage: 'Digital privacy is a myth. Every click, like, and share is tracked, stored, and sold. Users are not customers; they are the product.' What is the main idea?

A. Social media is fun to use.
B. Users have full control over their data.
C. Online activity is extensively monitored and monetized.
D. Marketing is a necessary evil.

21 Passage: 'The ancient vase was fragile, so the museum curator handled it with extreme care.' What is the contextual meaning of 'fragile'?

A. Very old
B. Expensive
C. Easily broken or damaged
D. Heavy

22 Passage: 'Despite the team's valiant effort, they lost the game in the final seconds.' What does 'valiant' mean?

A. Lazy
B. Courageous and determined
C. Lucky
D. Poorly planned

23 Passage: 'The windows were boarded up, the lawn was overgrown, and mail overflowed from the box.' What can be inferred about the house?

A. The house is newly renovated.
B. The house is abandoned or vacant.
C. The owners are on a short vacation.
D. The house is hosting a party.

24 What indicates an 'Explicit' statement in a text?

A. Information that is hinted at but not said.
B. Information that is clearly and directly stated.
C. Information that contradicts the main idea.
D. Information that requires a dictionary to understand.

25 Passage: 'Many believe that electric cars are the sole solution to pollution. However, the production of batteries creates its own environmental hazards.' What is the main idea?

A. Electric cars are perfect.
B. Batteries are easy to make.
C. Electric cars have environmental downsides despite their benefits.
D. Pollution cannot be stopped.

26 In the phrase 'The proposal was ambiguous, leaving the board members confused,' what does 'ambiguous' mean?

A. Clear and concise
B. Open to more than one interpretation
C. Too expensive
D. Legally binding

27 Passage: 'He checked his watch for the third time in five minutes and tapped his foot incessantly.' What can be inferred?

A. He is relaxed.
B. He is impatient or anxious.
C. He is admiring his watch.
D. He is practicing a dance move.

28 Passage: 'The desert is a hostile environment. Temperatures fluctuate wildly between day and night, and water is scarce.' What does 'fluctuate' mean?

A. Stay the same
B. Rise continuously
C. Change irregularly; rise and fall
D. Disappear

29 When identifying the main idea, where is it most often found in a standard paragraph?

A. In the middle sentences only.
B. Often in the first or last sentence.
C. It is never stated, only implied.
D. In the footnotes.

30 Passage: 'To become a concert pianist, one must be tenacious, practicing hours every day for years.' What does 'tenacious' mean?

A. Talented naturally
B. Wealthy
C. Persistent and determined
D. Physically strong

31 Passage: 'The sudden noise caused the birds to scatter, leaving the feeder swinging empty in the wind.' What caused the feeder to be empty?

A. The wind blew the seeds out.
B. The birds ate all the food quickly.
C. The noise scared the birds away.
D. The feeder fell down.

32 Passage: 'While the city sleeps, the sanitation workers begin their shift, clearing the debris of the previous day to ensure a clean morning.' What is the main idea?

A. City people sleep too much.
B. Sanitation workers play a vital, unseen role in city maintenance.
C. Garbage trucks are loud.
D. Morning is the best time to work.

33 In the sentence 'Her candid remarks about the CEO surprised everyone at the meeting,' what does 'candid' mean?

A. Sweet and polite
B. Truthful and straightforward
C. Quiet and shy
D. Confusing

34 Passage: 'The negotiation reached an impasse as neither side was willing to compromise on the salary.' What does 'impasse' mean?

A. A successful conclusion
B. A situation where no progress is possible
C. A high point
D. A rapid agreement

35 Passage: 'The dog hid under the bed as the thunder rattled the windows.' What can be inferred?

A. The dog is playing hide and seek.
B. The dog is afraid of storms.
C. The dog is sleeping.
D. The dog hates the windows.

36 Passage: 'Fast fashion allows consumers to buy trendy clothes cheaply. However, this leads to massive textile waste and poor working conditions.' What is the author's likely opinion?

A. Fast fashion is purely beneficial.
B. Fast fashion has significant ethical and environmental costs.
C. Clothes should be more expensive.
D. Fashion trends are important.

37 In the phrase 'The evidence was irrefutable, forcing the suspect to confess,' what does 'irrefutable' mean?

A. Impossible to deny or disprove
B. Weak and circumstantial
C. Confusing
D. Hidden

38 Passage: 'She slammed the phone down and paced the room, her face red.' What emotion is being conveyed?

A. Joy
B. Confusion
C. Anger
D. Exhaustion

39 Passage: 'The novel was banal, using every cliché in the book.' What does 'banal' mean?

A. Exciting
B. Original
C. Lacking in originality; boring
D. Violent

40 Passage: 'The microscopic organisms in the soil are essential. They break down organic matter, releasing nutrients back into the earth for plants.' What is the main idea?

A. Soil is dirty.
B. Plants do not need nutrients.
C. Microscopic organisms play a critical role in the nutrient cycle.
D. Organic matter is dangerous.

41 Passage: 'John arrived at the party wearing a tuxedo, while everyone else was in jeans and t-shirts.' What can be inferred?

A. John is the host.
B. John does not own jeans.
C. John misunderstood the dress code.
D. It is a costume party.

42 In the sentence 'The instructions were convoluted, so we threw them away and guessed,' what does 'convoluted' mean?

A. Simple
B. Short
C. Extremely complex and difficult to follow
D. Colorful

43 Passage: 'The distinct smell of chlorine and the sound of splashing water filled the air.' Where is this taking place?

A. A library
B. A swimming pool
C. A beach
D. A kitchen

44 Passage: 'The economy is stagnant. Wages have not increased in a decade, yet the cost of living keeps rising.' What does 'stagnant' mean?

A. Moving quickly
B. Showing no activity or growth
C. Improving rapidly
D. Decreasing sharply

45 Passage: 'She glanced at the empty leash in her hand and whistled loudly, looking toward the woods.' What is happening?

A. She is walking her dog.
B. She has lost her dog.
C. She is buying a leash.
D. She is afraid of the woods.

46 Passage: 'His alibi was plausible, but the police still had their doubts.' What does 'plausible' mean?

A. Impossible
B. Seeming reasonable or probable
C. Proven false
D. Written down

47 Passage: 'The corporation's benevolent donation helped build three new schools.' What does 'benevolent' mean?

A. Selfish
B. Well-meaning and kindly
C. Accidental
D. Small

48 Which is a good strategy for answering 'Vocabulary in Context' questions?

A. Choose the definition you memorized, regardless of the sentence.
B. Look for clues in the surrounding sentences that hint at the meaning.
C. Always choose the longest word in the options.
D. Skip the question.

49 Passage: 'The stars were obscured by a thick blanket of clouds.' What does 'obscured' mean?

A. Brightened
B. Hidden or covered
C. Destroyed
D. Moved

50 Passage: 'Unlike the chaotic bustling of the market, the library was a sanctuary of peace.' What is the main idea?

A. Markets are better than libraries.
B. The library provided a quiet contrast to the noisy market.
C. You cannot buy books in a market.
D. Sanctuaries are expensive.