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NB ELPA Reading study materials
NB ELPA Reading study resources

NB ELPA Reading practice questions

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Question 1Main Idea and Gist

A short passage describes how a community garden began, who tends it, and what it produces. Which sentence best states the main idea of such a passage?

  1. The garden opens at seven in the morning on weekdays.
  2. Many people enjoy gardening as a hobby.
  3. Tomatoes and peppers grow well in sunny spots.
  4. A neighborhood garden started small and now supplies fresh food to local families. Correct answer.

Explanation

The main idea must cover the whole passage rather than one detail. A statement about the garden starting small and now feeding local families summarizes the origin, the workers, and the produce together. Details such as opening hours or which vegetables grow belong to supporting information.

Question 2Main Idea and Gist

A paragraph explains that a city added bike lanes, and then reports fewer traffic injuries and more riders. What is the paragraph mainly about?

  1. Why some drivers dislike bike lanes
  2. How to ride a bicycle safely
  3. The positive results of adding bike lanes Correct answer.
  4. The cost of building bike lanes in cities

Explanation

The paragraph presents a change and then lists its effects, so the main idea is the outcome of that change. Injury numbers and rider counts are evidence supporting the overall result. Options about cost, driver opinions, or riding tips introduce topics the paragraph never discusses.

Question 3Main Idea and Gist

Read this passage: "Sea otters float on their backs and wrap themselves in kelp. This keeps them from drifting away while they sleep. They also use rocks to crack open shells for food." What is the passage mainly about?

  1. How sea otters survive in the ocean Correct answer.
  2. Which animals eat sea otters
  3. Why kelp forests are important
  4. Where sea otters sleep at night

Explanation

Both details describe behaviors that help otters live in the sea: anchoring in kelp and using tools for food. Together they point to a broader idea about survival strategies. The passage never discusses predators or the wider importance of kelp forests.

Question 4Main Idea and Gist

A notice says a library will extend its weekend hours starting next month because students requested more study space. What is the main point of the notice?

  1. The library needs more study tables.
  2. The library will close on weekends next month.
  3. The library is responding to student needs by staying open longer. Correct answer.
  4. Students prefer to study at home.

Explanation

The notice announces a change and gives the reason for it, so the main point links the longer hours to student demand. The reason clause explains why the change is happening. Options about tables, home study, or closing contradict or go beyond the notice.

Question 5Main Idea and Gist

A passage explains the steps for recycling paper: collecting, sorting, shredding, and pressing into new sheets. Which statement best captures the main idea?

  1. Paper should never be thrown in the trash.
  2. Shredding is the most difficult step in recycling.
  3. Recycling paper involves several stages that turn used paper into new sheets. Correct answer.
  4. New sheets are usually white.

Explanation

A process passage is summarized by naming the process and its overall result. The four steps together describe how used paper becomes new sheets. Single steps and side comments are supporting details rather than the main idea.

Question 6Main Idea and Gist

A short text says: "Our class planted seeds in March. By May, small green shoots appeared. In June, the tallest plants reached our knees." What is the text mainly about?

  1. The height of the students in the class
  2. The growth of the class plants over time Correct answer.
  3. How to choose seeds for a garden
  4. Why May is a good month for planting

Explanation

The sentences follow the plants through a sequence of dates, showing change over time. That timeline is the organizing idea of the text. Seed selection, month preferences, and student height are not the subject of the sentences.

Question 7Main Idea and Gist

A poster announces a school food drive and states that donations will be given to a local shelter. What is the poster mainly asking readers to do?

  1. Buy food at the school cafeteria
  2. Donate food for people in need Correct answer.
  3. Volunteer to cook meals
  4. Visit the local shelter

Explanation

A poster's main purpose is usually the action it promotes. Since the poster announces a food drive whose donations go to a shelter, the central request is to give food. The other options describe activities the poster does not request.

Question 8Main Idea and Gist

A paragraph states that honeybees visit flowers to collect nectar and, in the process, carry pollen from one flower to another. What is the paragraph mainly explaining?

  1. Why flowers have bright colors
  2. The role of bees in pollinating flowers Correct answer.
  3. Where bees build their nests
  4. How honey is made in a hive

Explanation

The paragraph connects the bees' nectar collecting with the movement of pollen between flowers. That connection is the central point about pollination. Honey production, flower color, and nesting sites are not the focus of the sentences.

Question 9Main Idea and Gist

A passage describes a town that replaced its streetlights with energy-saving bulbs and then saw its electricity bills drop sharply. Which statement best expresses the main idea?

  1. Electricity bills rise during the winter months.
  2. Some residents prefer brighter streetlights.
  3. Streetlights are expensive to install in small towns.
  4. Energy-saving bulbs can reduce a town's electricity costs. Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage presents a change and its measurable effect on cost, so the main idea is the link between the new bulbs and lower bills. The bill reduction is the evidence that supports this conclusion. The other options introduce claims the passage does not make.

Question 10Main Idea and Gist

Read this passage: "Many deserts are not covered in sand. Some have rocky ground, and others have dry grass. All of them, however, receive very little rain." What is the main idea?

  1. Rainfall in deserts is increasing.
  2. All deserts are covered with deep sand.
  3. Deserts look different from one another but share a lack of rain. Correct answer.
  4. Dry grass grows only in deserts.

Explanation

The passage contrasts the varied surfaces of deserts and then unites them with one common feature: little rain. The main idea should capture both the variety and the shared trait. Options claiming uniform sand, exclusive grass, or rising rainfall misread the text.

Question 11Main Idea and Gist

A news story reports that a new bridge shortened commutes, but also that some residents worry about increased traffic in their neighborhood. What is the story mainly about?

  1. The mixed effects of the new bridge on the community Correct answer.
  2. Why residents moved to the neighborhood
  3. The engineering design of the new bridge
  4. The history of bridges in the region

Explanation

The story presents both a benefit and a concern, so its main idea is the combination of effects. Balanced reporting of positives and negatives points to a mixed outcome. Design, moving history, and regional bridge history are not the subject of the report.

Question 12Main Idea and Gist

A passage explains that some birds migrate long distances, navigating by stars and Earth's magnetic field. What is the passage mainly about?

  1. Why migration is dangerous for birds
  2. How migrating birds find their way Correct answer.
  3. Which birds stay in one place all year
  4. How birds build nests before migrating

Explanation

The passage focuses on the methods birds use to navigate during migration. Stars and the magnetic field are the evidence for that central point. Nest building, resident birds, and migration dangers are outside the passage's focus.

Question 13Main Idea and Gist

An email from a manager thanks employees for extra weekend work and reminds them that a celebration lunch is scheduled for Friday. What is the email mainly about?

  1. Appreciation for employees and a planned lunch Correct answer.
  2. Rules for using the office kitchen
  3. A change in the weekend work schedule
  4. A request for volunteers on Friday

Explanation

The email has two connected purposes: thanking staff and announcing a lunch in their honor. Both parts center on recognizing the employees' effort. Schedule changes, kitchen rules, and volunteer requests are not mentioned.

Question 14Main Idea and Gist

A paragraph notes that a popular cooking show made home cooks try new recipes, and that sales of unusual spices rose soon after. What is the paragraph mainly suggesting?

  1. The show influenced viewers' cooking habits. Correct answer.
  2. Spices are cheaper than they used to be.
  3. The show was canceled after one season.
  4. Home cooks prefer simple recipes.

Explanation

The paragraph links a television show to changes in what viewers cooked and bought. That causal link is the main point about the show's influence. Cancellation, prices, and recipe preferences are not supported by the details given.

Question 15Main Idea and Gist

A short article describes a scientist who studies how plants respond to sound and found that some seedlings grow toward certain vibrations. What is the article mainly about?

  1. The career paths of famous scientists
  2. A scientist's research on plant responses to sound Correct answer.
  3. How to grow seedlings at home
  4. Why plants need sunlight to grow

Explanation

The article centers on one researcher and one finding, so the main idea names that research focus. The detail about seedlings is evidence for the broader topic. Home gardening, sunlight, and career paths are not the article's subject.

Question 16Main Idea and Gist

A passage explains that a city introduced a bike-share program, describing the number of stations, the rental process, and the annual membership fee. What is the passage mainly doing?

  1. Explaining the history of bicycles
  2. Comparing bike sharing with bus travel
  3. Describing how a bike-share program works Correct answer.
  4. Persuading readers to stop driving cars

Explanation

The passage provides factual information about stations, rentals, and fees, which together explain how the program operates. Informational passages are summarized by what they describe, not by a persuasive goal. Comparisons with buses and bicycle history are absent.

Question 17Main Idea and Gist

A passage says that a small bakery began selling bread at a farmers market, then opened a storefront, and now delivers to nearby restaurants. What is the passage mainly about?

  1. The growth of a small bakery business Correct answer.
  2. The best kinds of bread to bake at home
  3. Why farmers markets are popular
  4. How restaurants choose suppliers

Explanation

The three stages trace a business expanding from a market stall to a storefront to delivery service. That progression is the organizing idea of the passage. Baking tips, market popularity, and restaurant sourcing are not the focus.

Question 18Main Idea and Gist

A passage describes a study in which students who took handwritten notes remembered more than students who typed. What is the passage mainly about?

  1. The best laptops for students
  2. How teachers should design exams
  3. Why some students dislike lectures
  4. A finding about note-taking methods and memory Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage reports a comparison between two note-taking methods and their effect on memory. The central idea is that finding, not advice about devices or exams. Laptops, student attitudes, and exam design are not the passage's subject.

Question 19Main Idea and Gist

A letter to the editor argues that the town should build more sidewalks because pedestrians currently walk on busy roads. What is the letter mainly doing?

  1. Reporting on a recent traffic accident
  2. Making a case for adding sidewalks Correct answer.
  3. Thanking workers for road repairs
  4. Describing the history of the town's roads

Explanation

The letter states a proposal and gives a reason, which is the structure of an argument. The safety concern about pedestrians supports the recommendation. History, accident reports, and thanks are not the letter's purpose.

Question 20Main Idea and Gist

A passage explains that a type of frog can freeze solid in winter and revive in spring, and then describes how its cells survive the cold. What is the passage mainly about?

  1. How a frog survives freezing and revives Correct answer.
  2. Where this frog finds food in winter
  3. Why frogs are common in cold regions
  4. The sounds frogs make in spring

Explanation

The passage introduces the frog's freezing ability and then explains the mechanism behind it. Both parts serve the central idea of how the animal survives and revives. Feeding, regional abundance, and frog calls are not the passage's focus.

Question 21Main Idea and Gist

A passage notes that early maps placed south at the top, that later mapmakers shifted to north, and that the change spread as printing made maps easier to copy. What is the passage mainly explaining?

  1. How printing presses were built
  2. Why maps are useful for sailors
  3. How the north-up map convention became standard Correct answer.
  4. Why some countries lie in the south

Explanation

The passage traces a change in map orientation and identifies printing as the force that spread it. Together these details explain how a convention became standard. Sailing, printing technology, and geography of countries are not the main subject.

Question 22Main Idea and Gist

A passage describes a researcher who found that urban birds sing at higher pitches than rural birds of the same species, possibly to be heard over traffic noise. What is the passage mainly about?

  1. How to record bird songs in forests
  2. A possible link between city noise and bird songs Correct answer.
  3. Why rural areas have more bird species
  4. The migration patterns of city birds

Explanation

The passage presents an observation and a proposed explanation involving traffic noise. The word "possibly" signals that the link is a hypothesis, which is the central claim. Recording methods, species counts, and migration are not discussed.

Question 23Main Idea and Gist

A passage describes a company that tested a four-day workweek, reporting that output stayed the same while employees reported less stress and fewer sick days. What is the passage mainly about?

  1. How to measure employee salaries
  2. The results of a shorter workweek trial Correct answer.
  3. Why some workers prefer remote jobs
  4. The reasons companies relocate their offices

Explanation

The passage reports several outcomes of one experiment, so the main idea summarizes those results together. Output, stress, and sick days are the evidence supporting that summary. Relocation, salaries, and remote work are not part of the passage.

Question 24Main Idea and Gist

A passage explains that coral reefs look like rocks but are built by tiny animals, and that the reefs shelter many fish species. What is the main idea?

  1. Rocks in the ocean are usually formed by fish.
  2. Coral reefs are living structures that support many fish. Correct answer.
  3. Coral reefs are dangerous for swimmers.
  4. Most fish species live in cold water.

Explanation

The passage corrects a common assumption and then adds a key function, so the main idea combines both: reefs are built by living animals and provide shelter. The comparison to rocks is only a starting point. Cold-water fish and swimmer safety are not discussed.

Question 25Main Idea and Gist

A passage describes how a museum changed its labels from technical terms to plain language and then saw visitors spend more time at exhibits. What is the passage mainly suggesting?

  1. Visitors prefer short museum visits.
  2. Clear labels may help visitors engage more with exhibits. Correct answer.
  3. Museums should display fewer objects.
  4. Technical terms are always more accurate.

Explanation

The passage pairs a change in label wording with a change in visitor behavior, suggesting a connection between clarity and engagement. The word "suggesting" keeps the claim appropriately cautious. Reducing objects, accuracy of terms, and visit length are not supported by the details.

Question 26Main Idea and Gist

A short notice says: "The library will close at noon on Friday for staff training. It will reopen Saturday at nine." What is the notice mainly about?

  1. The training that librarians receive each year
  2. A change in the library's weekend hours
  3. A temporary change to the library's schedule Correct answer.
  4. The reason the library needs new staff

Explanation

The main idea is the overall point a text communicates, not a single supporting fact. Here both sentences describe when the library will be closed and when it reopens, so the gist is a short-term schedule change. Details such as the reason for closing support that idea rather than replacing it.

Question 27Main Idea and Gist

A paragraph states: "Ants can carry objects many times their own weight. Some species build bridges with their bodies so others can cross gaps. Others farm fungus for food." What is the paragraph mainly about?

  1. The many species of ants
  2. Why ants live in large groups
  3. How ants find their food
  4. The remarkable abilities of ants Correct answer.

Explanation

A main-idea question asks what the whole paragraph is about, so you should look for the idea that covers every sentence. Strength, body bridges, and fungus farming are all examples of surprising ant capabilities. The paragraph never explains how ants locate food or why they form colonies.

Question 28Main Idea and Gist

A brief report says: "The town pool opened two weeks late this summer because a pump failed. Repairs are finished, and attendance has already set a record." Which sentence best states the main idea?

  1. The town should replace the pool building.
  2. The pool opened late but is now doing very well. Correct answer.
  3. Pool pumps often fail during hot weather.
  4. Record attendance caused the pump to break.

Explanation

The gist must account for both the delay and the strong attendance that followed. Only one option captures that two-part story without adding unsupported claims. The other options either reverse cause and effect or introduce opinions the report never states.

Question 29Main Idea and Gist

A short text says: "Our school replaced paper newsletters with an online calendar. Parents now get updates instantly, and the office prints far fewer pages." What is the text mainly about?

  1. Why paper is expensive for schools
  2. How to sign up for a school calendar
  3. A switch that helped families and the office Correct answer.
  4. The best way to write a newsletter

Explanation

The main idea should unite all the details in the text. Instant updates for parents and less printing for the office are two benefits of the same change, so the gist is that the switch helped both groups. The text does not give instructions or general advice.

Question 30Main Idea and Gist

A paragraph explains: "Some plants release chemicals from their roots that slow the growth of nearby plants. Gardeners use this to keep weeds down, but the same chemicals can harm vegetables planted too close." What is the main idea?

  1. Root chemicals can be useful but also risky. Correct answer.
  2. Weeds are impossible to control without chemicals.
  3. Gardeners should stop planting vegetables.
  4. All plants release the same chemicals.

Explanation

The paragraph presents a benefit and a drawback of the same natural process, so the gist must include both sides. Saying the chemicals can help and harm captures that balance. The other options overstate the text or contradict it.

Question 31Main Idea and Gist

A review says: "The new cafe is small and often crowded. Still, the bread is baked hourly, the prices are low, and the staff remember regular customers." What is the reviewer's main point?

  1. Crowds make the cafe a poor choice for regulars.
  2. The cafe would be better if it moved to a larger space.
  3. The cafe's weaknesses are outweighed by its strengths. Correct answer.
  4. The cafe's low prices are its only real advantage.

Explanation

The reviewer admits one drawback but then lists several positives, signaled by the word "still." The overall judgment is therefore favorable despite the crowding. Identifying that contrast is the key to finding the main point.

Question 32Main Idea and Gist

A passage states: "For years, the village fetched water from a distant well. A new pipe now brings water to each home, so children who once walked for hours can attend school." What is the passage mainly about?

  1. How a water project changed daily life Correct answer.
  2. The history of well digging in villages
  3. Why children should walk to school
  4. The cost of building pipes

Explanation

The passage contrasts life before and after the pipe, showing an effect on children's schooling. That makes the main idea a change in daily life caused by the project. Cost and well-digging history are not discussed.

Question 33Main Idea and Gist

A short article says: "Octopuses can squeeze through gaps the size of a coin. They also change color in less than a second and open jars to reach food." Which statement best expresses the main idea?

  1. Octopuses use color mainly to stay warm.
  2. Octopuses prefer to live in small spaces.
  3. Octopuses are closely related to squid.
  4. Octopuses are unusually flexible and clever. Correct answer.

Explanation

Each detail in the article demonstrates a different kind of ability: squeezing, color change, and problem solving. Together they support the broader claim that octopuses are remarkably adaptable and intelligent. The other choices add facts or purposes the article never mentions.

Question 34Main Idea and Gist

An announcement reads: "The annual book sale will be held in the gym this year instead of the parking lot, because rain is expected. Prices and hours are unchanged." What is the announcement mainly telling people?

  1. That the sale has a new location only Correct answer.
  2. That prices at the sale have gone up
  3. That the gym is now open to the public
  4. That the book sale has been cancelled

Explanation

The announcement gives one change and then explicitly says everything else stays the same. The main message is therefore a location change caused by weather. Noticing the phrase "prices and hours are unchanged" rules out the other options.

Question 35Main Idea and Gist

A paragraph notes: "Early iceboxes used blocks of ice delivered by wagon. Electric refrigerators ended those deliveries, and milk, meat, and fruit could then be kept for weeks." What is the main idea?

  1. Electricity was expensive in early cities.
  2. Ice harvesting was a dangerous job.
  3. Refrigeration changed how people stored food. Correct answer.
  4. Milk was once delivered by wagon each morning.

Explanation

The paragraph traces a shift from ice delivery to electric cooling and names the result: food could be stored much longer. That makes the gist a change in food storage. The other options focus on minor details or add information not present.

Question 36Main Idea and Gist

A column says: "Neighborhood trees lower summer temperatures, absorb rainwater that would flood streets, and give birds places to nest. Cutting them down to save money is a poor bargain." What is the column mainly arguing?

  1. Neighborhoods spend too much on trees.
  2. Birds should be moved to parks.
  3. Trees provide benefits that justify their cost. Correct answer.
  4. Rainwater is the main cause of street damage.

Explanation

The column lists three practical benefits and then rejects removing trees to save money, so its main point is that trees are worth keeping. A main-idea question about an argument asks for the claim the details support. The other options isolate details or misread the author's position.

Question 37Main Idea and Gist

A passage says: "The museum's night hours began as a six-week trial. Attendance doubled, and younger visitors made up most of the crowd. The trial is now permanent." What is the passage mainly about?

  1. Why museums should close earlier in winter
  2. The cost of keeping a museum open at night
  3. How a trial program succeeded and continued Correct answer.
  4. The kinds of exhibits younger visitors prefer

Explanation

The passage follows a sequence: a trial began, it drew large and new audiences, and it became permanent. The gist is the success and continuation of the program. Exhibit preferences and operating costs are not part of the text.

Question 38Main Idea and Gist

A text explains: "A seed contains a tiny plant and a store of food. When water and warmth reach it, the plant begins to grow and uses the food until its first leaves can make more." What is the main idea?

  1. Leaves are the most important part of a plant.
  2. Water damages seeds that are left outside.
  3. Seeds need sunlight to begin growing.
  4. A seed carries what a new plant needs to start. Correct answer.

Explanation

The text describes the seed's contents and how they support growth until the plant can feed itself. That makes the main idea the seed's role as a self-contained starting kit. The other options either contradict the text or single out one part.

Question 39Main Idea and Gist

A passage says: "The city painted crosswalks with a textured surface. Drivers slowed at those crossings, and pedestrian injuries fell. Some drivers complained of tire noise, but officials voted to keep the surface." Which statement best captures the main idea?

  1. A safety measure was kept despite a minor drawback. Correct answer.
  2. Tire noise is a serious problem in the city.
  3. Drivers ignore painted crosswalks.
  4. Pedestrians caused most traffic injuries.

Explanation

The passage presents a problem, a solution with measurable results, a complaint, and a final decision. The unifying idea is that the city kept a safety feature even though it had a small downside. That synthesis is what a hard main-idea question requires.

Question 40Main Idea and Gist

A passage reports: "Two schools swapped pen-pal letters for video calls. Students spoke more often and practiced a second language aloud. Teachers noted that shy students, who rarely wrote, began to participate." What is the passage mainly about?

  1. The benefits of changing how pen pals met Correct answer.
  2. Why letters are better for shy students
  3. The cost of video equipment for schools
  4. How schools choose a second language

Explanation

The passage names one change and then lists its effects on frequency, speaking practice, and participation. The main idea is therefore the advantages of the new format. Options that reverse the author's view or introduce unrelated topics are wrong.

Question 41Supporting Details

A passage states: "The city opened its new library in 1998. The building has three floors and a rooftop garden." According to the passage, what does the library building have?

  1. A parking garage
  2. A rooftop garden Correct answer.
  3. A movie theater
  4. An indoor pool

Explanation

Supporting details are facts stated directly in the text. The passage explicitly mentions a rooftop garden as a feature of the building, so that is the detail the reader can confirm from the text alone.

Question 42Supporting Details

Read this sentence: "Marta packed a compass, a water bottle, and a rain jacket before her hike." Which item did Marta pack?

  1. A water bottle Correct answer.
  2. A tent
  3. A camera
  4. A map

Explanation

The sentence lists exactly three packed items: a compass, a water bottle, and a rain jacket. Only one answer choice appears in that list, so it is the supported detail.

Question 43Supporting Details

A notice says: "The pool closes at 6 p.m. on weekdays and at 8 p.m. on weekends." What time does the pool close on weekends?

  1. 7 p.m.
  2. 6 p.m.
  3. 5 p.m.
  4. 8 p.m. Correct answer.

Explanation

The notice gives two separate closing times tied to different days. Weekends are paired with 8 p.m., so a reader must match the correct day to the correct time.

Question 44Supporting Details

A passage says: "The team practiced every morning for three weeks before the tournament." How long did the team practice before the tournament?

  1. Three years
  2. Three days
  3. Three weeks Correct answer.
  4. Three months

Explanation

The passage gives a specific duration attached to the team's practice. The exact phrase is "three weeks," so the reader should copy that detail rather than estimate.

Question 45Supporting Details

A passage explains: "Bees carry pollen from flower to flower. This helps plants make seeds and fruit." According to the passage, what is one result of bees carrying pollen?

  1. Bees build larger hives
  2. Soil becomes wetter
  3. Flowers grow taller
  4. Plants make seeds and fruit Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage links pollen carrying to a specific outcome: plants making seeds and fruit. Supporting-detail questions ask for the result the text actually names, not a plausible guess.

Question 46Supporting Details

A passage notes: "The museum is free on the first Sunday of each month." When can visitors enter the museum for free?

  1. The last Friday of each month
  2. Every weekday
  3. The first Sunday of each month Correct answer.
  4. Every Sunday

Explanation

The text specifies a single recurring free day rather than all Sundays. The exact detail is the first Sunday of each month, which the reader should locate and match.

Question 47Supporting Details

A passage reports: "The storm knocked down two trees on Oak Street and flooded the road near the school." What damage happened near the school?

  1. The road flooded Correct answer.
  2. Two trees fell
  3. A window broke
  4. Power lines fell

Explanation

The passage separates two effects by location: fallen trees on Oak Street and flooding near the school. Matching the detail to the right place is the key supporting-detail skill here.

Question 48Supporting Details

A recipe says: "Bake the bread for 40 minutes, then let it cool for 10 minutes before slicing." How long should the bread cool before slicing?

  1. 5 minutes
  2. 50 minutes
  3. 10 minutes Correct answer.
  4. 40 minutes

Explanation

The recipe gives two separate times for two steps: baking and cooling. The cooling step is explicitly ten minutes, so the reader must attach the number to the correct action.

Question 49Supporting Details

A passage says: "Unlike her brother, who prefers team sports, Lena enjoys solo activities such as swimming and running." What does the passage suggest about Lena's preferences?

  1. She dislikes all exercise
  2. She prefers team sports
  3. She only swims in competitions
  4. She enjoys activities done alone Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage contrasts Lena with her brother and labels her activities as solo. The examples of swimming and running support the idea that she likes doing things alone rather than on a team.

Question 50Supporting Details

A passage states: "The company hired 20 new workers last year, mostly in the sales department." What detail best supports the claim that sales grew in staffing?

  1. The company is large
  2. The company hired 20 new workers
  3. The hiring happened last year
  4. Most new workers joined sales Correct answer.

Explanation

A supporting detail must directly back the specific claim being made. The claim concerns sales staffing, so the phrase about most new workers joining sales is the detail that supports it most directly.