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CBEST practice questions

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Question 1Reading

When the empty lot on Oak Street was cleared last spring, neighbors expected another parking garage. Instead, a group of residents persuaded the city to lease the land for a community garden. Today, forty families tend plots there, and produce donated from the garden supplies a nearby food pantry. Which sentence best states the main idea of the passage?

  1. A parking garage was built on the empty lot on Oak Street.
  2. Forty new families moved onto Oak Street so that they could grow their own vegetables in the former parking lot.
  3. The city sold the land to a developer who plans to build garages.
  4. Residents turned a vacant lot into a garden that now helps feed the community. Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage's central point is what happened to the lot and who benefits; the details about plots and donations support that point. Only one choice captures both the change to the land and its effect on others.

Question 2Reading

The city library's new lending program offers more than books. Cardholders may now borrow telescopes, sewing machines, and power tools. Each item can be checked out for one week, and a short orientation is required before the first loan. According to the passage, what must a cardholder do before borrowing a telescope for the first time?

  1. complete a short orientation Correct answer.
  2. show a library card from a neighboring city
  3. wait one full week after requesting the item
  4. pay a small rental fee for each item

Explanation

The passage states directly that a short orientation is required before the first loan of any of these items. The one-week period refers to how long an item may be kept, not a waiting period.

Question 3Reading

The committee's report was terse, barely two pages long, yet it covered every major finding. In this sentence, "terse" most nearly means

  1. delayed
  2. rude
  3. detailed
  4. brief Correct answer.

Explanation

The phrase "barely two pages long" is the clue: it tells us the report was short while still complete. "Terse" here describes economy of words rather than impoliteness.

Question 4Reading

Composting is simpler than many people expect. Collect fruit and vegetable scraps in a covered bin, add dry leaves or shredded paper, and turn the pile every week or two. In a few months, the scraps break down into a dark, crumbly material you can spread in your garden. What is the author's main purpose in this passage?

  1. to compare composting with other ways of disposing of waste
  2. to persuade readers to buy a particular brand of compost bin
  3. to explain how to compost and suggest that it is easy to do Correct answer.
  4. to describe the history of composting on farms

Explanation

The paragraph gives a sequence of steps and opens by calling the task simpler than expected, so it both instructs and reassures. No product, history, or comparison appears in the text.

Question 5Reading

Which of the following sentences expresses an opinion rather than a fact?

  1. The film runs two hours and fourteen minutes.
  2. The film was released in March in the United States.
  3. The film's final scene is the most moving moment in recent cinema. Correct answer.
  4. The film's director also wrote the screenplay and served as one of its producers.

Explanation

A statement is an opinion when it expresses a judgment that cannot be verified by measurement or record. Praise of a scene as "the most moving" is an evaluation, while the other sentences describe checkable details.

Question 6Reading

To replace a bicycle tire: first remove the wheel from the frame. Then pry the old tire off the rim with a lever, working your way around. Before installing the new tire, check the inside of the rim for sharp objects. Finally, seat the tire, inflate the tube slowly, and reattach the wheel. Which statement about the steps is correct?

  1. The old tire is removed after the new tire has been seated.
  2. The wheel should remain on the frame while the tire is pried off.
  3. The inner tube should be inflated to full pressure before the new tire is seated on the rim.
  4. Checking the rim for sharp objects comes before the new tire is installed. Correct answer.

Explanation

The directions place the rim inspection before installation, so the order is: remove the wheel, pry off the old tire, check the rim, then install. Only one choice matches that sequence.

Question 7Reading

The storm knocked out power across the county. ______, schools remained open the next morning. Which word or phrase best fills the blank?

  1. However Correct answer.
  2. Similarly
  3. Therefore
  4. Meanwhile

Explanation

The two sentences contrast an expectation with an outcome: a countywide outage would suggest closures, but schools opened. A contrast signal is therefore required.

Question 8Reading

I had looked forward to the concert for weeks. The orchestra played beautifully, but the hall's ventilation failed, and by the second movement the audience was fanning itself with programs. Still, I would go again tomorrow. Which phrase best describes the writer's tone?

  1. indifferent to the music but pleased to have spent an evening out of the house
  2. enthusiastic about the music while acknowledging an unpleasant condition Correct answer.
  3. angry about both the performance and the ventilation in the hall
  4. mocking of the orchestra's efforts and of the audience's patience

Explanation

The writer praises the playing and says they would return, yet reports the failed ventilation as a genuine drawback. The tone is appreciative with an honest caveat.

Question 9Reading

For three weeks, Mara watered the seedlings every morning and moved them to the sunniest window. On Friday she found the leaves yellow and drooping. She reread the seed packet: "Full sun. Water sparingly; let the soil dry between waterings." What can the reader most reasonably infer?

  1. Mara probably watered the seedlings more often than they needed. Correct answer.
  2. The seedlings received far too little sunlight during the three weeks she cared for them.
  3. Mara stopped watering the seedlings after the first week.
  4. The seed packet gave no useful information about how often to water.

Explanation

The packet advises letting the soil dry between waterings, yet Mara watered daily, and yellowing, drooping leaves fit that excess. Since she followed the sunlight instruction, light is an unlikely culprit.

Question 10Reading

Although the new bridge shortens the commute for drivers, it has done little to reduce the number of cars entering the city each morning. Which restatement best preserves the meaning of the sentence?

  1. The new bridge has reduced both commute times and the number of cars entering the city each morning.
  2. Drivers save time on the bridge, but the number of cars coming into the city has stayed about the same. Correct answer.
  3. The bridge has done nothing to shorten commute times, though it has clearly reduced the number of cars downtown.
  4. Fewer cars enter the city each morning because the bridge shortens the commute for drivers.

Explanation

The original grants one benefit (shorter commutes) while denying another (fewer cars). Only one choice keeps both halves of that contrast intact.

Question 11Reading

Letter to the editor: Our town's recycling program costs $40,000 a year and recovers only a small fraction of household waste. Before we expand it, the council should publish collection figures for each neighborhood. If some blocks are paying for a service they barely use, the program should be redesigned rather than enlarged. Which statement best summarizes the writer's position?

  1. The council should examine the program's actual results before expanding it. Correct answer.
  2. Every neighborhood in town uses the recycling program about equally.
  3. The council should raise taxes to pay for a larger and more efficient recycling program.
  4. The recycling program should be eliminated entirely because it wastes the town's money.

Explanation

The writer asks for published data and favors redesign over expansion until results are known. That is a call for review, not for eliminating or enlarging the program.

Question 12Reading

Two accounts describe the same fire. The first, written by the shop owner the next day, says the fire began in a back storeroom and spread within minutes. The second, in a town history published fifty years later, says the fire began in the street lamp outside and blames a careless lamplighter. What is the main difference between the two accounts?

  1. Only the second account names a person connected with the fire.
  2. Only the first account describes how quickly the fire spread.
  3. They disagree about where the fire started. Correct answer.
  4. They were written in different centuries.

Explanation

One account places the origin in a storeroom, the other at a street lamp outside. That disagreement about origin is the central contrast between them.

Question 13Reading

Because the valley's snowpack was unusually light last winter, reservoirs filled to only half their normal level. Farmers who depend on irrigation were told in March to plant only half their usual acreage. According to the passage, what was the direct cause of the reduced planting?

  1. A decision by farmers to grow different crops this year
  2. A drop in the price farmers could get for their crops
  3. A winter with less snow than usual in the valley Correct answer.
  4. An increase in the number of reservoirs in the valley

Explanation

The passage links the light snowpack to low reservoirs and then to the planting cut, using "Because" to mark the cause. Water shortage, not crop choice or prices, drives the decision.

Question 14Reading

Welcome, incoming students. This handbook explains how to register for classes, where to find tutoring, and what to do if you need to change your meal plan. Keep it handy during your first semester. Who is the intended audience of this passage?

  1. Staff members who manage campus dining halls and meal plans
  2. Teachers preparing a new course for the fall
  3. Parents paying tuition for the coming year
  4. Students beginning their first term at a school Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage addresses "incoming students" and explains tasks they must handle, such as registering and adjusting meal plans. Those details identify new students as the audience.

Question 15Reading

The museum's fossil hall will close in June for a two-year renovation. During that time, the most popular specimens will be displayed in a temporary gallery on the ground floor. What will most likely happen to visitors who come in July hoping to see the popular specimens?

  1. They will be given free tickets to a museum in another city.
  2. They will be able to see the specimens in a different part of the museum. Correct answer.
  3. They will find the museum closed entirely until the renovation ends.
  4. They will have to wait two years before any of the fossils are shown to the public again.

Explanation

The passage says the popular specimens move to a temporary gallery while the hall is renovated, so they remain on view inside the building. Only the hall, not the museum, closes.

Question 16Reading

Some cities paint their roofs white to reflect sunlight. Others plant grasses and shrubs on top of buildings. Both approaches lower indoor temperatures during heat waves. How is the passage organized?

  1. It compares the costs and benefits of a new technology.
  2. It presents two examples that support a general point. Correct answer.
  3. It describes a problem and then proposes a single solution to it.
  4. It lists events in the order in which they occurred.

Explanation

The first two sentences give parallel examples, and the final sentence states the shared benefit that ties them together. That is example-to-generalization structure.

Question 17Reading

An advertisement for a new mattress reads: "Sleep experts agree that our coil design is the most comfortable available. Nine out of ten customers we surveyed said they would buy it again." Which statement best evaluates the advertisement's evidence?

  1. The advertisement is trustworthy because it provides a specific statistic.
  2. The company surveyed its own customers, so the results may be slanted in its favor. Correct answer.
  3. Because the advertisement mentions experts, its claims should be accepted.
  4. The survey results cannot be checked by readers, so the advertisement's claim is proven false.

Explanation

The evidence comes from customers the company itself selected and questioned, which makes it self-interested and possibly unrepresentative. A claim is weakened by such a source but not automatically disproved.

Question 18Reading

The old truck's engine coughed twice and then went silent. In this sentence, the word "coughed" is used to

  1. describe a sputtering sound the engine made Correct answer.
  2. suggest that the truck was moving very quickly
  3. show that the truck had recently been repaired
  4. explain that the driver of the truck was sick

Explanation

The word transfers a human sound to a machine, evoking short, uneven bursts just before the engine stopped. The subject of the verb is the engine, not a person.

Question 19Reading

Commentary: Because our town's two bookstores have both closed, residents clearly have no interest in reading. The council should convert the empty storefronts into parking. Which is the strongest criticism of the writer's reasoning?

  1. It assumes that closing bookstores shows a lack of interest in reading rather than other causes. Correct answer.
  2. The commentary does not say how large the two empty storefronts are.
  3. The commentary fails to name the owners of the closed stores.
  4. It does not explain why the town needs additional parking spaces downtown.

Explanation

The argument jumps from store closings to a claim about reading habits, ignoring alternatives such as online shopping or rent increases. That unexamined leap is the central flaw.

Question 20Reading

The plan was called a "scheme" by its opponents and a "blueprint" by its supporters. The difference in the two words suggests that

  1. the plan has not yet been written down in any form
  2. both groups agree that the plan is well organized and likely to succeed
  3. the opponents have read the plan carefully and the supporters have not read it at all
  4. the opponents view the plan with suspicion while supporters see it as carefully designed Correct answer.

Explanation

"Scheme" carries a hint of something plotting or untrustworthy, while "blueprint" suggests careful, orderly planning. The word choice reveals each group's attitude toward the same plan.

Question 21Reading

Columnist: Our city should ban cars from the downtown core on weekends. Shoppers will come more often if parking is not a worry, and stores will earn more than they do now. The columnist's argument depends on which assumption?

  1. Most residents of the city own at least one car.
  2. Downtown stores are currently earning more than they earned last year.
  3. Weekend traffic downtown is heavier than weekday traffic downtown.
  4. People who currently avoid downtown on weekends do so mainly because of traffic and parking. Correct answer.

Explanation

The prediction that shoppers will return rests on the idea that traffic and parking are what keep them away. If other factors such as store selection matter more, the ban may not produce the promised result.

Question 22Reading

A researcher counted the birds visiting a feeder each week for a month: week 1, 12 birds; week 2, 15 birds; week 3, 14 birds; week 4, 31 birds. The feeder was refilled with a different seed mix at the start of week 4, and a cold snap began the same day. Which conclusion is best supported by the information given?

  1. The new seed mix caused the birds to visit twice as often.
  2. Bird visits increased steadily throughout the four weeks of the study.
  3. The cold snap reduced the number of birds coming to the feeder.
  4. The jump in visits cannot be attributed to the new seed alone. Correct answer.

Explanation

Two changes began on the same day, so the cause of the week-4 increase cannot be isolated from the data. Responsible interpretation requires acknowledging that the seed and the weather are confounded.

Question 23Reading

The company's anniversary report devotes four pages to its charitable giving and a single footnote to the layoffs of three hundred workers. The author's use of detail most likely serves to

  1. suggest that the report gives disproportionate attention to the company's charitable work Correct answer.
  2. explain why the company was forced to lay off three hundred workers
  3. argue that corporate anniversary reports should be much shorter
  4. praise the company for its generous charitable contributions to the community

Explanation

The sharp contrast between four pages and one footnote points to an imbalance in the report's emphasis. The author is observing how the company presents itself, not endorsing that presentation.

Question 24Reading

Critics who call the novel "difficult" usually mean that it rewards patience rather than that it is poorly written. Which statement best captures the meaning of the sentence?

  1. Reviewers who call the book hard going generally mean that it repays the effort it demands. Correct answer.
  2. Critics who dislike the novel consider it easy to read and enjoy.
  3. The novel is difficult because the author's sentences are carelessly constructed.
  4. The novel is poorly written, and most critics say so in their reviews.

Explanation

The sentence distinguishes difficulty that rewards effort from difficulty caused by bad writing. The critics' label is a comment on the demands the book makes, not on its quality.

Question 25Reading

Every student who joined the after-school chess club improved their math grades. Therefore, joining the chess club is what raised their math grades. The reasoning is flawed because

  1. it assumes that one event caused another without ruling out other explanations Correct answer.
  2. math grades are not a reliable measure of a student's ability
  3. chess clubs are not offered at every school in the district
  4. the passage does not say how many students joined the club

Explanation

The argument moves from a correlation to a cause without considering alternatives, such as students who seek out the club being more motivated to begin with. Only one choice names that flaw.

Question 26Reading

Honeybees communicate the location of food through a movement called the waggle dance. The angle of the dance relative to vertical shows the direction of the food from the hive, and how long the waggle lasts shows how far away it is. Researchers have found that other bees watch the dance and then fly directly to the food source. Which sentence best states the main idea of the passage?

  1. Vertical angles matter to many different insects.
  2. Honeybees use a dance to share food locations. Correct answer.
  3. Honeybees can fly long distances to find nectar and pollen.
  4. The waggle dance is very difficult for researchers to study.

Explanation

A main-idea statement must cover the whole passage, not just one detail. Every sentence here is about how the waggle dance conveys information about food to other bees. The other choices pick up single words or add ideas the passage never states.

Question 27Reading

The library's seed exchange opened in March. Patrons may take up to five packets of vegetable or flower seeds each month at no cost. In return, gardeners are encouraged to save seeds from their best plants and bring them back at the end of the season. According to the passage, what are gardeners encouraged to do?

  1. Take no more than five packets each week
  2. Pay a small fee for every packet they take
  3. Donate fresh vegetables to the library in fall
  4. Save seeds from their best plants and return them Correct answer.

Explanation

A detail question asks for information stated directly in the passage. The last sentence says gardeners should save seeds from their best plants and bring them back at season's end. The other choices change the time period, the cost, or the item involved.

Question 28Reading

After the long drought, the pond's water level had fallen so far that a wide band of cracked mud ringed the shore. In this sentence, the word "ringed" most nearly means

  1. made a loud chiming sound
  2. was measured with care
  3. formed a circle around Correct answer.
  4. was removed and replaced

Explanation

Context clues show that the mud band lies along the edge of the pond, encircling it. "Ringed" here works as a verb meaning "formed a ring around." The sound-related meaning of "ring" does not fit a band of mud.

Question 29Reading

Which sentence states an opinion rather than a fact?

  1. About 3,000 people attended the festival last year.
  2. The festival includes a parade and a craft fair.
  3. The town festival is held on the first Saturday in June.
  4. The craft fair is the best part of the festival. Correct answer.

Explanation

A fact can be checked against evidence, while an opinion expresses a judgment that reasonable people can dispute. Claiming that something is "the best" is an evaluation, not a verifiable detail. The other sentences give dates, features, and attendance figures that could be confirmed.

Question 30Reading

The city water department mails this notice to residents: "Because of maintenance on the Elm Street main, water service will be interrupted on Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Residents should store water for drinking and cooking before that morning." The main purpose of the notice is

  1. to describe the history of the city water system
  2. to inform residents about a service interruption Correct answer.
  3. to persuade residents to pay water bills on time
  4. to compare city water rates with nearby towns

Explanation

Purpose is what the writer wants the reader to know or do. This notice gives a time, a reason, and a preparation step, all aimed at telling people about a temporary outage. There is no attempt to argue a position, tell history, or compare rates.

Question 31Reading

Martina handed the keys to her sister, who had just arrived from the airport. In this sentence, the word "who" refers to

  1. her sister Correct answer.
  2. the keys
  3. Martina
  4. the airport

Explanation

A pronoun refers to the nearest sensible noun that fits the meaning. The clause describes someone arriving from the airport, which fits the sister, not Martina or an object. Substituting each candidate into the clause shows only "sister" makes sense.

Question 32Reading

The town's new park is a modest patch of grass with three benches and a swing set, but on summer evenings it is full of children, and the benches are never empty. The author's attitude toward the park is best described as

  1. quiet irritation
  2. open disappointment
  3. complete indifference
  4. approval mixed with affection Correct answer.

Explanation

Attitude comes from word choice and emphasis. The writer admits the park is small yet dwells warmly on its crowding with children and visitors, which signals fond approval. Words like "but" and "never empty" turn a plain description into a positive one.

Question 33Reading

Every morning for a week, Kenji filled the bird feeder before leaving for work. By the time he came home each evening, the seed was gone. What can the reader most reasonably conclude?

  1. Animals ate the seed during the day. Correct answer.
  2. The birds stopped visiting the feeder by Friday.
  3. Kenji forgot to fill the feeder on some days.
  4. A neighbor was emptying the feeder each day.

Explanation

A conclusion must follow from the stated evidence without adding unsupported assumptions. Seed that is present in the morning and gone by evening points to something consuming it while Kenji is away. The passage gives no hint of forgetfulness, abandonment, or a person involved.

Question 34Reading

Devon scanned the posted roster from the bottom up, then walked slowly to the parking lot without speaking to anyone or picking up a uniform order form. What is the most reasonable inference?

  1. He was not named on the roster. Correct answer.
  2. He was late for the first practice.
  3. He had already ordered his uniform.
  4. He had forgotten where the parking lot was.

Explanation

An inference is a conclusion supported by details rather than stated outright. Reading the list, then leaving silently and skipping the uniform form, suggests disappointment at not being listed. The other choices require details the passage does not supply.

Question 35Reading

The trail is only two miles long and well marked. ______, it is steep enough that hikers should allow two hours. Which word or phrase best fills the blank?

  1. However Correct answer.
  2. Similarly
  3. For example
  4. Therefore

Explanation

The blank must show a contrast between an easy feature (short and well marked) and a harder one (steep, slow going). "However" signals that contrast. The other transitions signal similarity, cause, or illustration, none of which fits the relationship.

Question 36Reading

Each spring the county holds a hazardous waste collection day. Residents may drop off old paint, batteries, and unused pesticides at no charge. The materials are then shipped to a facility that recycles or safely disposes of them. In the program's first year, volunteers collected forty tons of waste that would otherwise have ended up in ordinary trash or down drains. Which sentence best summarizes the passage?

  1. Recycling is more popular than disposal in the county.
  2. A county program collects hazardous waste and handles it safely. Correct answer.
  3. Paint and batteries are dangerous household items.
  4. Volunteers work hard at the yearly collection day.

Explanation

A summary condenses the whole passage, including its main subject and what happens. This passage describes a county collection event, what residents drop off, and how the waste is handled. The other choices take one detail or draw a comparison the passage never makes.

Question 37Reading

Letter writer: The town should install a traffic light at Oak and Third. Since the new supermarket opened on that corner, there have been three accidents there. The writer's argument assumes that

  1. the supermarket is popular with local residents
  2. traffic lights are costly to install and maintain
  3. the accidents happened because there is no traffic light Correct answer.
  4. the corner had accidents before the supermarket opened

Explanation

An argument's unstated assumption is the link it needs but does not prove. The writer moves from three accidents to a demand for a signal, which only works if a missing signal caused the accidents. The other choices are irrelevant or would weaken the case.

Question 38Reading

A website claims that its vitamin supplement prevents colds. Its evidence is this line: "Thousands of customers say they feel healthier." The main weakness of this evidence is that it

  1. was gathered by rival supplement companies
  2. relies on customers' impressions rather than a study Correct answer.
  3. is too costly for most readers to check
  4. contradicts the advice of most doctors

Explanation

Evidence must be capable of supporting the claim it is attached to. Personal feelings after taking a product do not show that colds were prevented, since no comparison or measurement is involved. The other choices raise objections the passage gives no reason to believe.

Question 39Reading

Riverside Cafe's patio is noisy, the service is slow, and the menu never changes. Still, the view of the bridge at sunset makes the wait worthwhile. The final sentence mainly serves to

  1. offer one point in the cafe's favor Correct answer.
  2. compare the cafe with other riverside restaurants
  3. describe how the cafe prepares its food
  4. suggest that the cafe should close its patio

Explanation

The writer lists complaints and then uses "still" to introduce a positive that offsets them. Recognizing that reversal is the key to identifying the sentence's function. The sentence does not recommend closing, draw comparisons, or discuss cooking.

Question 40Reading

Two headlines describe the same city meeting: "Protesters Clash With Police" and "Residents Turn Out to Voice Concerns." The difference in wording suggests that the two headlines

  1. present the event in different lights Correct answer.
  2. were published decades apart
  3. both contain factual errors
  4. report two separate events

Explanation

Word choice shapes how readers perceive an event even when the facts are the same. "Clash" emphasizes conflict, while "voice concerns" emphasizes civic participation. Neither headline is shown to be inaccurate or to describe a different event.

Question 41Reading

Read the paragraph. (1) The council voted Tuesday to add a bike lane on Main Street. (2) The lane will remove about thirty parking spaces between Elm and Pine. (3) Merchants have raised concerns about delivery access and lost customers. (4) The council has promised to review traffic patterns after the lane opens. Where would the following sentence best fit? "That review will take place six months after the lane opens."

  1. After sentence 4 Correct answer.
  2. After sentence 2
  3. After sentence 3
  4. After sentence 1

Explanation

A sentence belongs where it connects clearly to the sentence before it. The new sentence explains the timing of a review, and "review" is first mentioned in sentence 4, so it must follow sentence 4. Placing it earlier would refer to something not yet introduced.

Question 42Reading

Text A: "The new stadium will bring jobs and visitors downtown." Text B: "The stadium's construction jobs last two years, and the promised downtown revival has not followed in other cities." How does Text B respond to Text A?

  1. It argues that the stadium is too small for the region.
  2. It agrees that the stadium will create lasting jobs.
  3. It explains how stadiums are designed and built.
  4. It questions whether the promised benefits will last. Correct answer.

Explanation

Compare the two statements point by point: Text A promises jobs and visitors, and Text B challenges the durability of those benefits. The response is a challenge, not agreement or a new topic. Size and construction methods are never discussed.

Question 43Reading

Our gym should extend its hours until midnight because many members work late shifts and cannot arrive before 10 p.m. Which information would most strengthen this argument?

  1. A statement from a rival gym about its membership fees
  2. A description of the gym's newly purchased machines
  3. A list of the gym's current exercise classes
  4. A survey showing that most members work evening shifts Correct answer.

Explanation

Strong support directly backs the stated reason, which is that members work late. Data showing that most members work evening shifts confirms that reason at scale. The other choices address unrelated matters and would not support the proposal.

Question 44Reading

Before your first shift, complete the safety training module, pick up your badge at the front desk, and review the closing checklist posted in the break room. This passage is most likely written for

  1. delivery drivers
  2. new employees Correct answer.
  3. building safety inspectors
  4. customers of a retail store

Explanation

Audience is identified from clues about who must follow the instructions. "Your first shift," a badge, and a closing checklist all point to someone starting a job. Customers, inspectors, and drivers would not be told to complete a shift's training.

Question 45Reading

Advertisement: "Thousands of drivers have switched to Upstart Insurance. Clearly, it is the wisest choice for you." The reasoning in this advertisement is weak because

  1. the exact number of drivers is not given
  2. insurance is required by law in most states
  3. a popular choice can still be a poor one Correct answer.
  4. it never names the company's competitors

Explanation

This appeal treats widespread adoption as proof of quality. Large numbers of people can choose badly, so popularity alone cannot establish that a choice is wise. The other objections are either minor details or irrelevant to the logic.

Question 46Reading

When the school board announced that the arts budget would be cut, parents packed the meeting. The board chair thanked them for their "enthusiasm" and moved on to the next item. The quotation marks around "enthusiasm" suggest that the chair

  1. shared the parents' concerns about the budget
  2. planned to restore the arts budget
  3. was unsure what the parents wanted
  4. regarded the parents' concerns as unimportant Correct answer.

Explanation

Quotation marks around a word can signal that the writer means the opposite or doubts the word fits. Calling a protest "enthusiasm" and then moving on dismisses the parents rather than engaging them. The passage gives no sign that the chair agreed with them or planned a reversal.

Question 47Reading

Two articles describe the same study on caffeine. Article A, by a science reporter, names the journal, the sample size, and the study's funding source. Article B is a blog post that calls the study "proof" that caffeine is harmless and links only to the published abstract. Which article is the more reliable source, and why?

  1. Both equally, since they describe the same research study
  2. Article B, because blog posts usually appear before news articles
  3. Article A, because it discloses the study's details Correct answer.
  4. Article B, because it links directly to the published abstract

Explanation

Reliability depends on whether a source gives readers enough information to judge a study and whether it overstates the findings. Article A supplies the journal, sample size, and funding, which lets readers evaluate the work. Article B uses the word "proof" for a single study and offers minimal detail.

Question 48Reading

Supporters of the new rail line point to the jobs it will create during construction. Opponents point to the cost overruns of similar projects. Both sides, however, agree that the current bus system cannot absorb the region's growth, a problem that neither the jobs nor the overruns address. The author's main point is that

  1. cost overruns make the rail line a poor choice
  2. the rail line will create needed construction jobs
  3. the bus system should be expanded instead of rail
  4. the debate misses the region's larger problem Correct answer.

Explanation

The author reports both sides and then pivots with "however" to something neither side discusses. That pivot carries the main point: the argument has skipped the underlying capacity problem. Jobs and overruns are mentioned only as the positions being described, not endorsed.

Question 49Reading

Nadia read the letter twice, then set it down carefully, as if it might break. She picked up the phone, put it down, and went to stand by the window until the streetlights came on. The details in this passage mainly suggest that Nadia is

  1. preparing to move to another city
  2. troubled and unsure what to do Correct answer.
  3. angry at the person who sent the letter
  4. waiting for a package to be delivered

Explanation

Repeated small actions that lead nowhere, such as picking up the phone and setting it down, reveal a state of mind rather than a plot event. Together with the careful handling of the letter, they point to distress and indecision. Anger, moving, and a delivery would each require details the passage does not give.

Question 50Reading

The valley had always been quiet. Then the highway came. Now trucks cross it at all hours, and the old school sits behind a sound wall that hums. The short sentence "Then the highway came" mainly serves to

  1. explain who paid to build the highway
  2. slow the paragraph down to build suspense
  3. mark a sharp change in the valley's history Correct answer.
  4. describe the highway's exact route

Explanation

Sentence length and placement can signal importance: a brief sentence set between longer ones draws attention to a turning point. Here it divides the quiet past from the noisy present, so it marks a break in time. The sentence gives no builder, route, or suspenseful delay.