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Password Skills Plus study materials
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Password Skills Plus practice questions

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Question 1Reading

Many deserts are not covered in sand. Some are rocky plains, and others are cold enough to freeze water at night. What all deserts share is very little rainfall. What is the main idea of the passage?

  1. Deserts have no plants.
  2. Deserts share very little rainfall. Correct answer.
  3. Deserts are always hot.
  4. Deserts are always covered in sand.

Explanation

The passage states that despite differences in sand and temperature, all deserts share very little rainfall. That common feature is the main idea, not the stereotypes mentioned.

Question 2Reading

The library opens at 9 a.m. on weekdays and at 11 a.m. on Saturdays. It is closed on Sundays. When does the library open on Saturdays?

  1. At 9 a.m.
  2. It is closed.
  3. At 10 a.m.
  4. At 11 a.m. Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage gives separate opening times: 9 a.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. on Saturdays. Locating the Saturday detail gives the answer.

Question 3Reading

The trail was treacherous after the storm; loose rocks and mud made each step dangerous. As used in the sentence, what does treacherous most nearly mean?

  1. Safe
  2. Short
  3. Crowded
  4. Dangerous Correct answer.

Explanation

Context clues such as loose rocks and mud show that treacherous means unsafe or hazardous. The sentence describes a risky trail.

Question 4Reading

Maria handed the keys to her brother because he was driving. What does he refer to in the sentence?

  1. The keys
  2. The driver
  3. Maria
  4. Her brother Correct answer.

Explanation

Pronouns refer to the nearest logical noun. The brother is the person who would be driving, so he refers to him.

Question 5Reading

First, rinse the beans. Then soak them overnight. Finally, boil them until tender. What should be done immediately after rinsing the beans?

  1. Drain them immediately.
  2. Boil them until tender.
  3. Serve them cold.
  4. Soak them overnight. Correct answer.

Explanation

Sequence words signal order: first rinse, then soak, finally boil. The word then marks the step immediately after rinsing.

Question 6Reading

The new park has three playgrounds and a large pond. It is the best place in town for families. Which statement from the passage is an opinion?

  1. The park has a large pond.
  2. The park is the best place in town for families. Correct answer.
  3. The park has three playgrounds.
  4. The park is located in town.

Explanation

A fact can be checked, such as the number of playgrounds or the presence of a pond. The phrase best place is a value judgment that varies by person.

Question 7Reading

Because the road was icy, the school bus arrived late. Why did the school bus arrive late?

  1. There was a traffic jam.
  2. The bus broke down.
  3. The road was icy. Correct answer.
  4. The driver was sick.

Explanation

The conjunction because directly introduces the cause: the icy road. The other choices are not stated in the sentence.

Question 8Reading

To make tea: boil water, add a tea bag, steep for three minutes, and remove the bag. What is the author's main purpose in this passage?

  1. To warn
  2. To entertain
  3. To instruct Correct answer.
  4. To persuade

Explanation

The passage lists steps in a process using imperative verbs such as boil and add. That structure is instructional.

Question 9Reading

When the waiter brought the bill, Elena reached for her purse, but Sam had already placed his credit card on the tray. What can be inferred from the passage?

  1. Sam intends to pay the bill. Correct answer.
  2. Elena forgot her purse.
  3. The waiter made an error.
  4. Sam has no credit card.

Explanation

Placing a credit card on the tray is the conventional action of offering to pay. The inference concerns Sam's intention, not Elena's memory.

Question 10Reading

The manager's terse reply-just 'No'-ended the discussion. As used in the sentence, what does terse most nearly mean?

  1. Lengthy
  2. Confusing
  3. Rude
  4. Brief Correct answer.

Explanation

The dash and the one-word reply show that terse means using few words. Brief fits the context of a curt No.

Question 11Reading

In the 1800s, ice was cut from frozen lakes in winter and stored in insulated houses. It was then shipped to cities and sold for keeping food cold. This trade declined after mechanical refrigeration became common. What is the main idea of the passage?

  1. How lakes freeze in winter
  2. The dangers of shipping ice
  3. How modern refrigerators work
  4. The ice trade and its decline Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage describes how ice was harvested and sold, then notes its decline after mechanical refrigeration. That is a trade and its end, not the science of freezing.

Question 12Reading

Although the museum advertises free entry, visitors must pay for special exhibitions. What is free at the museum?

  1. Special exhibitions
  2. Parking
  3. General admission Correct answer.
  4. Guided tours

Explanation

The contrast word although distinguishes free entry from paid special exhibitions. Therefore general admission is the free part.

Question 13Reading

Some people prefer city life for its convenience. Others choose rural areas for peace and space. Both have advantages. Which text structure is used in the passage?

  1. Chronological order
  2. Cause and effect
  3. Comparison Correct answer.
  4. Problem and solution

Explanation

The passage presents two preferences and says both have advantages, which is a comparison structure. It does not show one causing the other.

Question 14Reading

The proposal is not merely flawed; it is a costly distraction from the real issues. What is the tone of the sentence?

  1. Critical Correct answer.
  2. Humorous
  3. Enthusiastic
  4. Neutral

Explanation

Words such as flawed and costly distraction express disapproval. The tone is critical rather than neutral or enthusiastic.

Question 15Reading

Honeybees communicate the location of food by performing a waggle dance. The angle of the dance indicates direction relative to the sun, and the duration indicates distance. Which sentence best summarizes the passage?

  1. Bees use a dance to share food locations. Correct answer.
  2. Bees cannot see the sun.
  3. Bees dance to cool the hive.
  4. Bees communicate only by sound.

Explanation

The paragraph explains that the waggle dance conveys direction and distance to food. A summary should capture that main function.

Question 16Reading

The company has lost money for three years, and its largest client just canceled its contract. What is most likely to happen next?

  1. The company will face further financial trouble. Correct answer.
  2. A new client will sign immediately.
  3. Profits will rise.
  4. The company will expand.

Explanation

Three years of losses plus the loss of the largest client point to worsening finances. A reasonable prediction follows from those negative signals.

Question 17Reading

The scientists tested the soil samples before they analyzed them. What does them refer to in the sentence?

  1. The soil samples Correct answer.
  2. The tests
  3. The scientists
  4. The results

Explanation

The pronoun them refers to the noun phrase closest in sense: the soil samples that were tested and then analyzed. The scientists perform the action, not receive it.

Question 18Reading

The report states that rainfall fell by 12% last year. This decline is alarming and must be reversed. Which statement from the passage is a fact?

  1. Rainfall fell by 12% last year. Correct answer.
  2. The decline is alarming.
  3. The report is biased.
  4. The decline must be reversed.

Explanation

A fact is verifiable, such as a measured 12% decline. Alarming and must be reversed are opinions about that fact.

Question 19Reading

The note on the door said, 'Back in 15 minutes,' but the sign was yellowed and the lights were off. What can be inferred from the passage?

  1. The note was just written.
  2. The owner is inside.
  3. The shop has been closed for a long time. Correct answer.
  4. The shop is busy.

Explanation

A yellowed note and a dark shop suggest the sign has been there a long time and the shop is not currently open. That supports a long closure.

Question 20Reading

Our city must invest in bike lanes. They reduce traffic, lower pollution, and improve safety for everyone. What is the author's main purpose?

  1. To entertain readers
  2. To persuade readers to support bike lanes Correct answer.
  3. To describe a bicycle ride
  4. To inform about bicycle types

Explanation

The modal must and the listed benefits are meant to convince readers to support funding. That is a persuasive purpose.

Question 21Reading

The senator's speech praised bipartisanship, yet every proposal she named had been supported only by her own party. What is implied about the senator's speech?

  1. The speech was truly bipartisan.
  2. The other party supported every proposal.
  3. She avoided discussing politics.
  4. Her claim of bipartisanship conflicts with her examples. Correct answer.

Explanation

The word yet signals a contrast between the praise for bipartisanship and the one-party support for her proposals. The implication is inconsistency.

Question 22Reading

His argument was so convoluted that even his supporters struggled to follow it. As used in the sentence, what does convoluted most nearly mean?

  1. Simple
  2. Emotional
  3. Highly complicated Correct answer.
  4. Brief

Explanation

The result clause says even supporters struggled to follow it, so convoluted must mean complex or hard to follow. The word describes the argument's structure.

Question 23Reading

The invention of the printing press did not create literacy, but it made books far cheaper. As a result, ideas could spread faster than authorities could control them. What is the main point of the passage?

  1. Authorities invented the printing press.
  2. The printing press created literacy.
  3. The printing press lowered costs and helped ideas spread. Correct answer.
  4. Books became scarce after the printing press.

Explanation

The passage emphasizes cheaper books and the faster spread of ideas, not the creation of literacy. The main point is the press's effect on cost and communication.

Question 24Reading

While the study offers interesting correlations, its small sample and lack of controls make its conclusions premature. What is the author's attitude toward the study?

  1. Indifferent
  2. Hostile
  3. Fully supportive
  4. Cautiously skeptical Correct answer.

Explanation

The reviewer acknowledges interesting correlations but calls the conclusions premature because of weak methods. That balanced criticism is cautiously skeptical.

Question 25Reading

Critics often claim that video games cause violence. However, studies show that violent crime has fallen as game sales have risen. Correlation, in other words, is not causation. What is the function of the last sentence?

  1. It introduces a new topic.
  2. It criticizes critics personally.
  3. It warns that correlation does not prove causation. Correct answer.
  4. It provides a statistic.

Explanation

The final sentence draws a general lesson from the contrast between the claim and the evidence. It warns against assuming that correlation proves causation.

Question 26Reading

The community library now lends tools as well as books. Members can borrow drills, saws, and ladders for up to a week. What is the main idea of the passage?

  1. Libraries are replacing books with tools.
  2. Members must buy their own ladders.
  3. Power tools are dangerous for beginners.
  4. The library offers items beyond books for borrowing. Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage focuses on the library's expanded lending collection, which now includes tools in addition to books. The details about drills, saws, and ladders support that central point rather than replace it.

Question 27Reading

The workshop begins at 9 a.m. and ends at noon. Participants should bring a notebook and wear closed-toe shoes. What should participants bring?

  1. A laptop.
  2. A hammer.
  3. A notebook. Correct answer.
  4. Lunch.

Explanation

The passage explicitly lists a notebook as an item participants should bring. The other items are not mentioned in the instructions.

Question 28Reading

The instructions were ambiguous, so we called the office to ask for clarification. As used in the sentence, what does ambiguous most nearly mean?

  1. Lengthy
  2. Polite
  3. Unclear Correct answer.
  4. Clear

Explanation

The need to call for clarification shows that the instructions were not clear. 'Ambiguous' describes something open to more than one interpretation.

Question 29Reading

First, preheat the oven to 350°F. Next, mix the flour and sugar. Then, bake the batter for 25 minutes. What happens immediately after the flour and sugar are mixed?

  1. Bake the batter. Correct answer.
  2. Preheat the oven.
  3. Cool the cake.
  4. Add eggs.

Explanation

The sequence words 'First,' 'Next,' and 'Then' establish the order. Baking follows mixing in the listed steps.

Question 30Reading

The new bridge opened on May 3. It is 200 meters long and has two lanes. It is the most beautiful bridge in the region. Which sentence states an opinion?

  1. It has two lanes.
  2. It is the most beautiful bridge in the region. Correct answer.
  3. It is 200 meters long.
  4. The bridge opened on May 3.

Explanation

A statement is an opinion when it expresses a personal judgment that cannot be verified by measurement or observation. Beauty is a matter of taste, unlike dates and dimensions.

Question 31Reading

Maria called her sister because she needed a ride to the airport. What does she refer to in the sentence?

  1. The airport
  2. The sister
  3. A ride
  4. Maria Correct answer.

Explanation

The pronoun 'she' refers to the subject who performs the action of calling, which is Maria. The sister receives the call, and the airport is only the destination.

Question 32Reading

The flight was delayed because of heavy fog. Why was the flight delayed?

  1. A late crew
  2. Mechanical problems
  3. Heavy fog Correct answer.
  4. A storm

Explanation

The passage directly states the cause of the delay: heavy fog. No other reason is given.

Question 33Reading

Both the bicycle and the motorcycle have two wheels, but only the motorcycle has an engine. What do both vehicles have?

  1. An engine
  2. Pedals
  3. A license plate
  4. Two wheels Correct answer.

Explanation

The word 'both' signals a shared feature, and the passage says both have two wheels. The engine is identified as unique to the motorcycle.

Question 34Reading

When the lights flickered and the floor began to shake, the teacher calmly led the students under their desks. What is most likely happening?

  1. A fire drill
  2. A power failure
  3. An earthquake Correct answer.
  4. A snowstorm

Explanation

Flickering lights combined with a shaking floor point to seismic activity, and hiding under desks is a standard earthquake safety response. A power failure alone would not cause the floor to shake.

Question 35Reading

Many companies now allow employees to work from home several days a week. This reduces commuting time and office costs, but some managers worry that teamwork suffers. What is the passage mainly about?

  1. How to manage employees
  2. The history of commuting
  3. The benefits and drawbacks of remote work Correct answer.
  4. Why offices are expensive

Explanation

The passage presents both an advantage (reduced commuting and costs) and a concern (teamwork), making it a balanced discussion of remote work. The other choices focus on only one detail or on ideas not covered.

Question 36Reading

The professor's lecture was so abstruse that few students could follow her argument. As used in the sentence, what does abstruse most nearly mean?

  1. Difficult to understand Correct answer.
  2. Poorly organized
  3. Extremely long
  4. Very engaging

Explanation

The clue 'few students could follow her argument' indicates that the lecture was hard to comprehend. 'Abstruse' means obscure or difficult to understand.

Question 37Reading

The city council should reject the proposed parking fee. It would burden low-income drivers and do little to reduce traffic. What is the author's main purpose?

  1. To inform readers about parking rules
  2. To entertain readers with a story
  3. To describe a traffic study
  4. To persuade readers to oppose a fee Correct answer.

Explanation

The author takes a clear position ('should reject') and gives reasons to support it, which is the hallmark of persuasive writing. The passage does not merely report information or tell a story.

Question 38Reading

The company's apology was a masterpiece of evasion: it admitted nothing, promised nothing, and thanked customers for their 'patience.' What is the tone of the sentence?

  1. Sarcastic Correct answer.
  2. Sincere
  3. Enthusiastic
  4. Neutral

Explanation

Calling the apology a 'masterpiece of evasion' and placing 'patience' in quotation marks signals mockery rather than praise. The tone is critical and ironic.

Question 39Reading

The store's shelves were nearly empty, and a sign on the door read 'Everything must go.' What can be inferred about the store?

  1. It is having a holiday sale.
  2. It is expanding.
  3. It is closing. Correct answer.
  4. It is newly opened.

Explanation

Empty shelves and a clearance sign together suggest that the store is selling off its stock and shutting down. A holiday sale would not usually leave shelves nearly empty.

Question 40Reading

Some cities have built protected bike lanes. As a result, cycling injuries have dropped significantly. What is the relationship between the two sentences?

  1. Contrast
  2. Cause and effect Correct answer.
  3. Chronological order
  4. Problem and solution

Explanation

The phrase 'As a result' explicitly links the bike lanes to the drop in injuries, showing that one event causes the other. There is no contrast, time sequence, or stated problem being solved.

Question 41Reading

The recipe calls for two cups of flour, but the baker only had one and a half. She added half a cup of cornstarch instead. Why did the baker add cornstarch?

  1. To make the recipe healthier
  2. To replace the missing flour Correct answer.
  3. To make the dough sweeter
  4. To add color

Explanation

The baker was short half a cup of flour, and she added exactly half a cup of cornstarch, indicating a substitution. The passage gives no other reason for the addition.

Question 42Reading

The article explains that honeybees are declining due to pesticides, habitat loss, and disease. It notes that farmers rely on bees for pollination and suggests planting bee-friendly flowers. Which sentence best summarizes the article?

  1. Bees are important but threatened, and people can help. Correct answer.
  2. Pesticides are the only cause of bee decline.
  3. Flowers are difficult to grow.
  4. Farmers do not need bees.

Explanation

A good summary captures the main points: bees are valuable, they face multiple threats, and readers can take action. The other choices distort or omit key information.

Question 43Reading

The negotiations reached an impasse when neither side would compromise. As used in the sentence, what does impasse most nearly mean?

  1. A quick agreement
  2. A friendly discussion
  3. A deadlock Correct answer.
  4. A financial penalty

Explanation

The clause 'neither side would compromise' explains why no progress could be made. An impasse is a situation in which no agreement is possible.

Question 44Reading

The study found that participants who exercised daily slept better. The researchers concluded that exercise is the best treatment for insomnia. Which statement is an opinion?

  1. Exercise is the best treatment for insomnia. Correct answer.
  2. Participants exercised daily.
  3. Participants slept better.
  4. The study included participants.

Explanation

A claim that something is 'the best' treatment is evaluative and cannot be proven as a simple fact. The other statements report observable or stated features of the study.

Question 45Reading

The river has risen two feet since yesterday, and heavy rain is forecast for tonight. What is most likely to happen?

  1. The river will freeze.
  2. Flooding may occur. Correct answer.
  3. The river will dry up.
  4. The rain will stop.

Explanation

A rising river combined with more heavy rain increases the risk of overflow, so flooding is a reasonable prediction. The other outcomes contradict the evidence.

Question 46Reading

The company's annual report highlights record profits, but a footnote reveals that most of the gain came from selling a factory. What can be inferred from the passage?

  1. The report is entirely false.
  2. The company's core business is growing strongly.
  3. The profit may not reflect sustainable operations. Correct answer.
  4. The factory sale was unprofitable.

Explanation

If most of the profit came from a one-time asset sale, the company's ongoing operations may be weaker than the headline suggests. This makes the profit potentially unsustainable.

Question 47Reading

The biography is meticulously researched, yet it never quite brings its subject to life. What is the author's attitude toward the biography?

  1. Dismissive
  2. Confused
  3. Admiring but critical Correct answer.
  4. Enthusiastic

Explanation

The writer praises the research ('meticulously') but criticizes the portrayal ('never quite brings its subject to life'), creating a mixed but respectful evaluation. This is admiration combined with criticism.

Question 48Reading

Museums often display objects behind glass, which protects them but also creates distance. Some curators now use digital replicas to let visitors touch and explore. What is the main idea of the passage?

  1. Glass cases are unnecessary.
  2. Museums should remove all glass.
  3. Digital replicas can balance preservation and access. Correct answer.
  4. Visitors prefer replicas to originals.

Explanation

The passage sets up a tension between protecting objects and letting visitors engage with them, then presents replicas as a way to do both. That makes balance the central idea.

Question 49Reading

Her apology was couched in such equivocal language that no one could tell whether she admitted fault. As used in the sentence, what does equivocal most nearly mean?

  1. Completely honest
  2. Highly emotional
  3. Extremely brief
  4. Deliberately unclear Correct answer.

Explanation

The result clause 'no one could tell whether she admitted fault' shows that the language was ambiguous. 'Equivocal' means open to multiple interpretations, often intentionally so.

Question 50Reading

Two studies examined the same drug. One found a small benefit; the other found none. Both had small samples. Which conclusion is best supported by the passage?

  1. The studies were identical.
  2. The drug is proven effective.
  3. The drug is proven harmful.
  4. The evidence is inconclusive. Correct answer.

Explanation

Conflicting results from two small studies do not establish a clear answer, so the evidence remains inconclusive. A firm conclusion would require stronger and more consistent findings.