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TASC English Inquiry study materials
TASC English Inquiry study resources

TASC English Inquiry practice questions

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Question 1Reading: Key Ideas and Details

A paragraph states that a city added bike lanes and that bicycle commuting rose 30 percent the next year. Which sentence best expresses the main idea?

  1. Bike lanes are expensive to build and maintain.
  2. The city added new bike lanes downtown.
  3. Bicycle commuting increased after the city added bike lanes. Correct answer.
  4. Thirty percent of residents own a bicycle.

Explanation

A main idea combines the key details into one general statement rather than repeating a single fact. The paragraph links two details, the new lanes and the rise in commuting, so the correct choice ties them together. Options that restate one detail or add unsupported claims do not capture the whole paragraph.

Question 2Reading: Key Ideas and Details

Read this passage: 'Mara checked the sky, packed an umbrella, and left early. By noon the clouds had vanished.' What can a reader most reasonably infer?

  1. Mara forgot her umbrella at home.
  2. Mara left work earlier than usual.
  3. Mara expected rain that did not arrive. Correct answer.
  4. Mara stayed indoors all afternoon.

Explanation

An inference is a conclusion supported by details but not stated outright. Packing an umbrella shows Mara anticipated rain, and the vanished clouds show the rain never came. The other choices contradict the passage or add facts that are absent.

Question 3Reading: Key Ideas and Details

A passage says: 'The museum's new wing opened in May. Attendance that summer doubled.' Which detail directly supports the claim that the new wing drew visitors?

  1. The wing opened in May.
  2. Attendance that summer doubled. Correct answer.
  3. The wing contains modern art.
  4. The museum is in a large city.

Explanation

Supporting details are facts that back up a stated claim. The claim is that the new wing attracted visitors, and the doubling of summer attendance is the evidence that shows this effect. The other details describe the wing or museum but do not measure visitor response.

Question 4Reading: Key Ideas and Details

A story says: 'Dev read the letter twice, folded it slowly, and put it in a drawer without a word.' What does this detail most suggest about Dev?

  1. He plans to mail the letter.
  2. He is troubled by what he read. Correct answer.
  3. He is pleased by the news.
  4. He has forgotten the letter's contents.

Explanation

Character actions and gestures often reveal feelings that the text does not state directly. Reading twice, folding slowly, and staying silent suggest unease or concern rather than delight. Nothing in the actions suggests mailing the letter or forgetting its contents.

Question 5Reading: Key Ideas and Details

Which sentence from a passage is the topic sentence of a paragraph about reducing food waste?

  1. Many grocery stores now sell imperfect produce at a discount.
  2. Restaurants sometimes donate leftover meals to shelters.
  3. Simple changes at home can sharply reduce the food a household throws away. Correct answer.
  4. Composting turns scraps into usable soil.

Explanation

A topic sentence states the paragraph's central point and is broad enough to cover the details that follow. This sentence makes a general claim about household changes, which the other sentences could support as examples. The remaining options are specific examples rather than an organizing idea.

Question 6Reading: Key Ideas and Details

A passage states: 'The bridge was closed for repairs. Drivers took a longer route, and commute times rose.' What is the cause of the longer commute times?

  1. More drivers bought cars.
  2. The bridge closure forced detours. Correct answer.
  3. Gas prices increased.
  4. The repairs finished early.

Explanation

Cause and effect questions ask what produced a stated result. The passage presents the bridge closure first and then reports detours and longer commutes, showing the closure caused the delay. The other choices introduce events the passage never mentions.

Question 7Reading: Key Ideas and Details

A paragraph describes a dog that barks at the mail carrier every day. Which statement best summarizes the paragraph?

  1. The dog's owner works from home.
  2. A dog greets the mail carrier each day with barking. Correct answer.
  3. The mail carrier delivers letters quickly.
  4. Dogs are generally difficult to train.

Explanation

A summary restates the passage's central point briefly and accurately. The paragraph is about one dog's daily barking at the mail carrier, so the summary that names both the dog and the carrier is best. The other choices add information or make broad claims the paragraph does not support.

Question 8Reading: Key Ideas and Details

A passage says: 'The recipe calls for three eggs, but the bowl already holds two.' What detail is stated explicitly rather than inferred?

  1. The recipe is difficult to prepare.
  2. The cook is making a cake.
  3. The cook will fail to follow the recipe.
  4. The bowl contains two eggs. Correct answer.

Explanation

An explicit detail is directly stated in the text, while an inference requires reasoning beyond it. The passage plainly states that the bowl already holds two eggs. The other options require guesses about the cook's plans or the recipe's difficulty.

Question 9Reading: Key Ideas and Details

Read this passage: 'The town's only factory closed in 2005. Within two years, the population had fallen by a fifth.' Which inference is best supported?

  1. New businesses opened downtown.
  2. Residents left to find work elsewhere. Correct answer.
  3. The town's schools were overcrowded.
  4. The factory was rebuilt in 2007.

Explanation

A supported inference follows logically from the stated facts without adding unsupported assumptions. A factory closure removes jobs, and a population drop soon after suggests residents moved away seeking work. The other choices either contradict the passage or introduce events it never describes.

Question 10Reading: Key Ideas and Details

A paragraph begins: 'Learning a musical instrument benefits more than the ears.' Which sentence would best follow as a supporting detail?

  1. Concerts often sell out quickly.
  2. Studies link music practice to improved memory and focus. Correct answer.
  3. Some children prefer sports to music.
  4. Many instruments are made of wood.

Explanation

A supporting detail must develop the topic sentence's point. The opening claims that music training helps beyond hearing, and evidence about memory and focus extends that idea. The other sentences shift to unrelated topics such as materials, ticket sales, or preferences.

Question 11Reading: Key Ideas and Details

A passage says: 'The council debated the proposal for months. In the end, the measure passed by a single vote.' What does the final sentence mainly emphasize?

  1. The debate was brief.
  2. The outcome was narrow. Correct answer.
  3. The council rarely votes.
  4. The proposal was popular.

Explanation

The phrase 'by a single vote' stresses how close the result was. Readers should notice that the margin, not the length of debate or popularity, is the point being emphasized. The passage actually shows a long debate, which contradicts the idea that it was brief.

Question 12Reading: Key Ideas and Details

A story says: 'Lena smiled at the guests, but her hands shook as she set the table.' What does the contrast between her smile and her hands reveal?

  1. She dislikes the guests.
  2. She is angry about the table.
  3. She is eager to leave the party.
  4. She is hiding her nervousness. Correct answer.

Explanation

Contrasting details often reveal an inner state that a character does not express openly. The smile is a controlled outward display, while the shaking hands expose anxiety beneath it. This pairing indicates concealed nervousness rather than dislike or anger.

Question 13Reading: Key Ideas and Details

A passage reports: 'Sales of electric kettles doubled after the store moved them beside the tea.' Which conclusion is best supported?

  1. Tea sales fell during the same period.
  2. Customers stopped buying coffee.
  3. Product placement influenced buying. Correct answer.
  4. The kettles were defective.

Explanation

The passage shows a change in sales following a change in location, which supports a link between placement and purchasing. A careful reader avoids claiming more than the data shows, such as effects on other products. The doubling of sales also rules out the idea that the kettles were faulty.

Question 14Reading: Key Ideas and Details

A paragraph explains that a library extended its hours and that evening visits increased. Which sentence would best serve as the paragraph's concluding sentence?

  1. The building was constructed in 1950.
  2. Longer hours appear to have made the library more accessible. Correct answer.
  3. The library has thousands of books.
  4. Many libraries have quiet study rooms.

Explanation

A concluding sentence should tie the paragraph's details into a closing point. The paragraph connects extended hours with more evening visits, so a sentence noting increased accessibility completes the idea. The other choices introduce unrelated facts about books, rooms, or construction.

Question 15Reading: Key Ideas and Details

Read this passage: 'The chef tasted the sauce, frowned, and reached for the salt.' What can be inferred about the sauce?

  1. It was ready to serve.
  2. It had burned in the pan.
  3. It needed more seasoning. Correct answer.
  4. It was too salty already.

Explanation

The chef's actions form a chain of evidence: tasting, frowning, then reaching for salt. This sequence implies the sauce lacked seasoning and needed adjustment. Reaching for salt would make no sense if the sauce were already too salty, burned, or finished.

Question 16Reading: Key Ideas and Details

A passage states: 'Unlike her brother, who quit after a week, Priya practiced the piano daily for a year.' What does the comparison emphasize?

  1. Priya's lack of interest
  2. The difficulty of the piano
  3. Her brother's talent
  4. Priya's persistence Correct answer.

Explanation

Comparisons highlight a difference the author wants readers to notice. Setting Priya's year of daily practice against her brother's brief attempt emphasizes her persistence. The passage says nothing about talent, difficulty, or Priya's interest level beyond her practice.

Question 17Reading: Key Ideas and Details

A paragraph says: 'The storm knocked out power for three days. Stores threw away spoiled food, and schools closed.' Which sentence best states the paragraph's main idea?

  1. Power outages are common in winter.
  2. Stores waste too much food.
  3. Schools close during most storms.
  4. The storm caused widespread disruption. Correct answer.

Explanation

The main idea should cover all the details rather than one of them. Spoiled food and closed schools are both effects of the outage, so a statement about widespread disruption captures the whole paragraph. The other choices either overgeneralize or focus on a single detail.

Question 18Reading: Key Ideas and Details

A passage says: 'The author thanked her editor, her research assistant, and the librarians who tracked down rare sources.' What does this detail suggest about the book?

  1. It contains no citations.
  2. It was written in a single week.
  3. It was published without revision.
  4. It relied on extensive research. Correct answer.

Explanation

Acknowledging an assistant and librarians who located rare sources signals that the book depended on substantial research. Careful readers connect such details to the work behind a text. The other choices contradict the evidence or add claims the passage never makes.

Question 19Reading: Key Ideas and Details

A passage says: 'The trail was marked clearly, yet hikers kept losing their way.' Which statement best explains the apparent contradiction?

  1. Hikers rarely follow marked trails.
  2. Clear markings can still be missed or misunderstood. Correct answer.
  3. The trail was closed to the public.
  4. The trail was not marked at all.

Explanation

When a passage presents a contrast, readers should look for a resolution that respects both parts. The markings existed, so the explanation must account for hikers failing to use them, such as missing or misreading signs. Denying the markings contradicts the text.

Question 20Reading: Key Ideas and Details

A passage states: 'The company cut prices by half and still lost customers.' Which conclusion is most defensible?

  1. Customers preferred higher prices.
  2. The company raised prices later.
  3. Price was not the only factor in customers' decisions. Correct answer.
  4. The product was sold out.

Explanation

If lower prices failed to keep customers, other factors must also influence their choices. A defensible conclusion stays within what the evidence shows and avoids claiming that customers wanted to pay more. The passage offers no information about later prices or inventory.

Question 21Reading: Key Ideas and Details

A story says: 'The letter sat unopened on the desk for a week, and each morning Ana found a new excuse to leave it there.' What does this detail most strongly suggest?

  1. Ana plans to return the letter.
  2. Ana is reluctant to face its contents. Correct answer.
  3. Ana receives many letters daily.
  4. Ana has forgotten the letter exists.

Explanation

Repeated avoidance, shown by a week of excuses, points to an emotional reason rather than simple forgetfulness. A reader infers that Ana fears what the letter says. Forgetting is unlikely given that she notices it each morning, and returning or receiving letters is not supported.

Question 22Reading: Key Ideas and Details

A passage argues: 'Cities that added trees along busy streets recorded cooler summer temperatures than similar cities without them.' Which assumption does the argument rely on?

  1. The compared cities were alike in other relevant ways. Correct answer.
  2. Trees are inexpensive to plant.
  3. Cooler cities attract more residents.
  4. Busy streets are always unpleasant.

Explanation

A comparison-based argument assumes the groups differ mainly in the factor being studied. If the cities differed in other ways that affect temperature, the tree effect could not be isolated. Cost, population attraction, and comfort are separate issues the argument does not depend on.

Question 23Reading: Key Ideas and Details

A paragraph describes a scientist who repeated an experiment many times and reported every result, including failures. Which inference about the scientist is best supported?

  1. The scientist worked alone.
  2. The scientist expected quick results.
  3. The scientist valued transparency. Correct answer.
  4. The scientist distrusted all colleagues.

Explanation

Reporting failures alongside successes shows a commitment to openness about the process. The best inference names that quality rather than guessing at motives the passage does not describe. Working alone, distrust, and speed are not supported by the details given.

Question 24Reading: Key Ideas and Details

A passage says: 'The festival was free, well advertised, and held on a sunny weekend, yet attendance was low.' Which explanation best fits the passage?

  1. Some unstated factor kept people away. Correct answer.
  2. The weather discouraged visitors.
  3. Free events always attract crowds.
  4. The advertising was ineffective.

Explanation

When favorable conditions fail to produce the expected result, readers should infer that another cause is at work. Since cost, promotion, and weather were all favorable, an unmentioned factor best explains the low turnout. Blaming advertising or weather contradicts the passage.

Question 25Reading: Key Ideas and Details

A passage states: 'The novel's narrator praises the mayor in every chapter, but the events she describes show him acting cruelly.' What does this discrepancy mainly reveal?

  1. The events are imaginary.
  2. The narrator is unreliable. Correct answer.
  3. The mayor is misunderstood.
  4. The novel has no plot.

Explanation

A gap between what a narrator claims and what the events show signals that the narrator's account cannot be fully trusted. Readers must weigh the described actions against her praise. The other choices ignore the contradiction or draw conclusions the passage does not support.

Question 26Reading: Key Ideas and Details

A passage states: 'The museum extended its hours on Thursdays, and attendance on that day doubled within a month.' Which conclusion is best supported by the passage?

  1. Other days of the week saw attendance drop.
  2. Visitors were attracted by the longer Thursday hours. Correct answer.
  3. The museum's overall attendance tripled.
  4. The museum will extend hours on other days.

Explanation

The passage links a change (longer Thursday hours) to a result (Thursday attendance doubled). The most direct supported conclusion is that the longer hours attracted more visitors on that day. The other options go beyond the information given.

Question 27Reading: Key Ideas and Details

Read this passage: 'The company's new software was released in January. By March, user complaints had increased by 40 percent.' Which statement best summarizes the passage?

  1. User complaints rose sharply after the software's release. Correct answer.
  2. The company ignored user complaints for two months.
  3. The software was released too early in the year.
  4. Most users preferred the previous version of the software.

Explanation

A summary should capture the main points without adding interpretation. The passage states two facts: the release date and the rise in complaints. Only the first option restates both facts accurately and concisely.

Question 28Reading: Key Ideas and Details

A passage says: 'The instructions say to preheat the oven to 350 degrees, but the recipe card lists 375 degrees.' Which detail is stated explicitly in the passage?

  1. The instructions contain an error.
  2. The oven should be preheated. Correct answer.
  3. The recipe card is outdated.
  4. The oven temperature is unimportant.

Explanation

An explicit detail is directly stated in the text. The passage clearly states that the instructions say to preheat the oven. The other options require inference or judgment not stated in the passage.

Question 29Reading: Key Ideas and Details

A paragraph begins: 'Regular exercise improves more than physical health.' Which sentence would best follow as a supporting detail?

  1. Many people find it hard to stick to an exercise routine.
  2. Studies show that people who exercise regularly report better mood and sharper focus. Correct answer.
  3. Physical health is the most important part of well-being.
  4. Gym memberships can be expensive in large cities.

Explanation

The opening sentence claims that exercise benefits more than physical health, so the next sentence should provide an example of a non-physical benefit. Only the first option gives such an example, mentioning mood and focus.

Question 30Reading: Key Ideas and Details

A passage says: 'The council debated the proposal for months. In the end, the measure passed by a single vote.' What does the passage suggest about the council's decision?

  1. It was postponed indefinitely.
  2. It was widely supported from the start.
  3. It was controversial and narrowly approved. Correct answer.
  4. It was unanimous.

Explanation

The long debate and the one-vote margin indicate that the decision was contentious and close. The passage does not state that support was broad or that the measure was postponed.

Question 31Reading: Key Ideas and Details

A story says: 'Lena smiled at the guests, but her hands shook as she set the table.' What does the contrast between her smile and her hands suggest?

  1. She is too weak to set the table.
  2. She is excited about the party.
  3. She is hiding her nervousness. Correct answer.
  4. She is angry at the guests.

Explanation

The smile is a controlled outward expression, while the shaking hands reveal an inner state. The contrast suggests she is trying to appear calm while feeling nervous.

Question 32Reading: Key Ideas and Details

A paragraph explains that a library extended its hours and that evening visits increased. Which sentence would best serve as a summary of the paragraph?

  1. The library should extend hours on weekends too.
  2. Evening visits are more popular than morning visits.
  3. Libraries are important community resources.
  4. The library's longer hours led to more evening visits. Correct answer.

Explanation

A summary should restate the main idea and key detail without adding new claims. The paragraph connects extended hours with increased evening visits, which the first option captures. The other options are opinions or unsupported comparisons.

Question 33Reading: Key Ideas and Details

A passage states: 'Unlike her brother, who quit after a week, Priya practiced the piano daily for a year.' What does the passage suggest about Priya?

  1. She is more persistent than her brother. Correct answer.
  2. She dislikes her brother.
  3. She was forced to practice.
  4. She is a better pianist than her brother.

Explanation

The contrast is between quitting after a week and practicing daily for a year. This suggests Priya is more persistent, not necessarily more talented or forced. The passage does not comment on her feelings toward her brother.

Question 34Reading: Key Ideas and Details

A paragraph says: 'The storm knocked out power for three days. Stores threw away spoiled food, and schools closed.' Which sentence best states the main idea?

  1. Food spoils quickly without refrigeration.
  2. Stores should buy backup generators.
  3. The storm caused widespread disruption. Correct answer.
  4. Schools close whenever it storms.

Explanation

The paragraph lists several effects of the storm: power loss, food spoilage, and school closures. Together these show widespread disruption. The other options are either too narrow or unsupported recommendations.

Question 35Reading: Key Ideas and Details

A story says: 'The letter sat unopened on the desk for a week, and each morning Ana found a new excuse to leave it there.' What does this suggest about Ana?

  1. She has forgotten the letter exists.
  2. She is eager to read the letter.
  3. She is too busy to open mail.
  4. She is avoiding the letter's contents. Correct answer.

Explanation

Finding new excuses each morning suggests deliberate avoidance rather than forgetfulness or busyness. The detail that the letter remains unopened for a week reinforces that Ana is reluctant to face its contents.

Question 36Reading: Key Ideas and Details

A passage argues: 'Cities that added trees along busy streets recorded cooler summer temperatures than similar cities without added trees.' Which assumption underlies the argument?

  1. Busy streets are always hotter than quiet ones.
  2. Trees are the only way to cool a city.
  3. The cities compared were otherwise similar in climate and layout. Correct answer.
  4. The temperature difference was temporary.

Explanation

For the comparison to support the claim that trees cause cooling, the cities must be similar in other relevant factors. If they differed in climate or layout, the temperature difference might have another cause. The other options are either too strong or not necessary assumptions.

Question 37Reading: Key Ideas and Details

Read this paragraph: "Marta checked the bus schedule three times before leaving home. She arrived at the stop ten minutes early and stood under the shelter, watching the street. When the bus finally appeared, she stepped forward, then stopped and let it pass without boarding." Which statement best describes what the paragraph shows about Marta?

  1. She did not know which bus would take her to work.
  2. She had misread the schedule and missed the only bus.
  3. She was waiting for a friend to arrive at the stop.
  4. She prepared carefully but hesitated at the moment of action. Correct answer.

Explanation

The paragraph stresses Marta's careful preparation, since she checks the schedule repeatedly and arrives early. Her decision to let the bus pass without boarding contradicts that preparation, showing hesitation at the moment of action. No detail suggests confusion about the route, a companion, or a missed bus.

Question 38Reading: Key Ideas and Details

Read this passage: "The town planted shade trees along Main Street in 2010. Before then, summer afternoon temperatures at the street level often reached 100 degrees. After the trees matured, the same spots measured about 92 degrees on comparable afternoons, and shop owners reported more foot traffic during July and August." Which conclusion is best supported by the passage?

  1. The 2010 planting was the first tree project in the town's history.
  2. Planting trees caused winter temperatures on Main Street to rise.
  3. Shade trees likely made Main Street cooler and more inviting in summer. Correct answer.
  4. Foot traffic increased because shop owners lowered their prices.

Explanation

The passage links mature shade trees to lower summer street temperatures and to more reported foot traffic in the hottest months. Together these details support the conclusion that the trees made the street cooler and more inviting. The passage offers no evidence about winter, pricing, or earlier tree projects.

Question 39Reading: Key Ideas and Details

Read this passage: "The reviewer praised the restaurant's bread, its desserts, and its view of the harbor. She wrote two sentences about the main courses, both concerning the speed of service. At the end, she called the meal 'a lovely evening.'" What does the structure of the review most strongly suggest?

  1. The reviewer wanted the restaurant to close its kitchen earlier.
  2. The reviewer believed the restaurant was too expensive for most diners.
  3. The reviewer had visited the restaurant only once before writing.
  4. The reviewer found the main courses less memorable than the other parts of the meal. Correct answer.

Explanation

The reviewer spends her praise on the bread, desserts, and view, while the main courses receive only brief remarks about service speed. This imbalance suggests the main dishes left less of an impression than the other elements. The warm closing line softens the review without contradicting that emphasis.

Question 40Reading: Key Ideas and Details

Read this passage: "When the city replaced the intersection's four-way stop with a roundabout, reported collisions fell by half within a year. City engineers noted that roundabouts force drivers to slow down and to look in several directions at once." Which statement best explains why the collisions decreased?

  1. The roundabout changed driver behavior in ways that reduced dangerous conflicts. Correct answer.
  2. Drivers avoided the intersection once the roundabout opened.
  3. The city added new traffic signals to control the intersection.
  4. Collisions fell because fewer cars used the road after the change.

Explanation

The engineers' explanation connects the roundabout to slower speeds and greater attention from drivers. Those behavioral changes account for the drop in collisions, so the best answer identifies the effect on driver behavior. The passage gives no evidence of reduced traffic volume or new signals.

Question 41Reading: Craft and Structure

Read this sentence: 'The scientist's hypothesis, though daring, was ultimately disproven by three independent experiments.' What does the word 'daring' most nearly mean here?

  1. Popular
  2. Careless
  3. Bold Correct answer.
  4. Simple

Explanation

Context clues show the hypothesis is contrasted with being disproven, and 'though daring' marks it as strikingly bold or adventurous in its claims. 'Daring' describes courage to risk being wrong, which matches 'bold.'

Question 42Reading: Craft and Structure

In the sentence 'The committee's decision was met with lukewarm enthusiasm,' what does 'lukewarm' suggest about the response?

  1. It was completely absent.
  2. It was mild and unexcited. Correct answer.
  3. It was overwhelming and loud.
  4. It was angry and hostile.

Explanation

'Lukewarm' literally means slightly warm, and figuratively it describes weak or half-hearted feeling. Applied to enthusiasm, it signals a mild, unenthusiastic response rather than strong support or anger.

Question 43Reading: Craft and Structure

A paragraph begins: 'Recycling programs reduce landfill waste. They also save energy. In addition, they create jobs.' Which text structure does the paragraph use?

  1. Problem and solution
  2. Comparison and contrast
  3. Cause and effect
  4. List or enumeration Correct answer.

Explanation

The signals 'also' and 'in addition' introduce additional supporting points of equal weight. This is enumeration, where several related items are presented in sequence rather than compared or causally linked.

Question 44Reading: Craft and Structure

What is the main purpose of a topic sentence in a paragraph?

  1. To list every source the author consulted.
  2. To summarize the entire essay's conclusion.
  3. To provide a quotation from an expert.
  4. To introduce the paragraph's central idea. Correct answer.

Explanation

A topic sentence states the controlling idea that the rest of the paragraph develops and supports. It functions as a signpost for the reader, not as a summary of the whole essay or a citation list.

Question 45Reading: Craft and Structure

Read: 'The old bridge groaned under the weight of the truck, its cables shivering like plucked strings.' Which literary device is used in 'shivering like plucked strings'?

  1. Metaphor
  2. Hyperbole
  3. Personification
  4. Simile Correct answer.

Explanation

A simile compares two unlike things using 'like' or 'as.' The cables are explicitly compared to plucked strings with the word 'like,' making the comparison direct and stated.

Question 46Reading: Craft and Structure

Which word in this sentence carries the most negative connotation: 'The politician's scheme to fund the project was quietly abandoned'?

  1. Scheme Correct answer.
  2. Politician's
  3. Quietly
  4. Fund

Explanation

Connotation is the emotional shading a word carries beyond its literal meaning. 'Scheme' implies something sly or manipulative, giving it a more negative charge than neutral words like 'plan.'

Question 47Reading: Craft and Structure

In a passage, the author writes: 'However, not everyone agrees with this approach.' What is the function of the word 'However'?

  1. It signals a shift to a contrasting idea. Correct answer.
  2. It introduces a supporting example.
  3. It summarizes the previous paragraph.
  4. It marks the passage's final conclusion.

Explanation

Transition words like 'however' signal contrast or a change in direction. Here it prepares readers for an opposing viewpoint that complicates the preceding claim.

Question 48Reading: Craft and Structure

What does it mean to identify an author's point of view in an informational text?

  1. To determine the author's attitude or stance toward the topic. Correct answer.
  2. To locate the publication date.
  3. To list unfamiliar vocabulary words.
  4. To count the number of paragraphs.

Explanation

Point of view in informational writing refers to the author's perspective, attitude, or stance on the subject. It is revealed through word choices, emphasis, and what the author chooses to include or omit.

Question 49Reading: Craft and Structure

Read: 'The museum's new wing, a gleaming glass structure, has drawn record crowds and sparked debate about its cost.' Which phrase best captures the author's tone?

  1. Nostalgic and wistful
  2. Playful and joking
  3. Balanced and observant Correct answer.
  4. Openly hostile

Explanation

The sentence presents both a positive outcome (record crowds) and a concern (debate about cost) without favoring either. This even-handed presentation signals a balanced, observant tone.

Question 50Reading: Craft and Structure

An author writes: 'Some claim that remote work harms productivity, yet recent data from three industries show steady or rising output.' What is the author's stance?

  1. The author is undecided and offers no evidence.
  2. The author believes productivity data are meaningless.
  3. The author strongly opposes remote work.
  4. The author leans toward the view that remote work does not harm productivity. Correct answer.

Explanation

The word 'yet' signals contrast, and the author counters the claim with supporting data about steady or rising output. The stance therefore leans toward rejecting the idea that remote work harms productivity.