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PERT Reading practice questions

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Question 1Key Ideas and Details

Many people think of the desert as empty, but it is full of life. Cactus roots spread wide to catch rain, lizards hide under rocks during the day, and owls hunt at night. Even a small patch of sand can hold insects, seeds, and burrows. What is the main idea of the passage?

  1. Desert animals are active only at night.
  2. Deserts support many kinds of living things. Correct answer.
  3. Sand is the main feature of a desert.
  4. Cacti are the most important desert plants.

Explanation

The main idea is the central point that all the details support. Here, the examples of cactus roots, lizards, owls, insects, and seeds all illustrate that deserts are full of life. The other statements are either unsupported or too narrow to cover the whole passage.

Question 2Key Ideas and Details

The city library started a seed-lending program last spring. Visitors can borrow packets of vegetable and flower seeds, grow the plants, and return new seeds at the end of the season. The program has already handed out more than two thousand packets. Which detail supports the idea that the program is popular?

  1. The seed-lending program began last spring.
  2. Visitors may borrow packets of vegetable seeds.
  3. The library is located in the center of the city.
  4. Over 2,000 seed packets have been given out. Correct answer.

Explanation

A supporting detail gives evidence for a stated idea, and popularity is shown by a large number of participants or items used. The fact that more than two thousand packets were handed out directly shows high demand. The other details describe how the program works or where it is located, not how popular it is.

Question 3Key Ideas and Details

A young inventor noticed that her grandmother often forgot to water her plants. She built a small sensor that checks the soil and sends a text when the plant needs water. Her grandmother now uses the device on all her houseplants. Which sentence best summarizes the passage?

  1. Houseplants need regular water to stay healthy.
  2. A grandmother keeps many houseplants in her home.
  3. A girl invented a plant-watering reminder. Correct answer.
  4. Soil sensors can send text messages to phones.

Explanation

A good summary states the main who, what, and why in a single sentence without listing every detail. This passage is mainly about a girl who solved her grandmother's plant-care problem with an invention. The other choices focus on a minor detail, a general fact, or a related idea that misses the main event.

Question 4Key Ideas and Details

When Maya arrived at the beach, the sand was cool and the sky was still gray. She set up her chair and waited. By the time the first swimmers entered the water, the sand had grown warm. What can you infer about the time of day?

  1. It was early morning. Correct answer.
  2. It was late in the evening.
  3. It was shortly after noon.
  4. It was the middle of the night.

Explanation

An inference is a logical conclusion based on clues in the text. Cool sand and a gray sky that later become warm sand suggest the sun is rising and warming the beach. That pattern fits early morning better than any other time listed.

Question 5Key Ideas and Details

To make a paper boat, first fold the paper in half. Next, fold the corners down to the center line. Then fold up the bottom edges, and finally pull the sides apart. Which step happens right after folding the corners to the center line?

  1. Folding the paper in half
  2. Folding up the bottom edges Correct answer.
  3. Cutting the paper into a square shape
  4. Pulling the sides apart

Explanation

Sequence questions require tracking the order of steps signaled by words such as first, next, then, and finally. The passage places folding up the bottom edges immediately after folding the corners down. The other steps occur earlier or later in the process.

Question 6Key Ideas and Details

The town planted trees along Main Street last year. This summer, the sidewalks were noticeably cooler, and shoppers stayed outside longer. What was the cause of the cooler sidewalks?

  1. The summer was unusually short.
  2. Trees were planted along the street. Correct answer.
  3. The sidewalks were repaved.
  4. Shoppers decided to stay outside longer.

Explanation

A cause-effect relationship links an action to its result. The passage states that trees were planted and that afterward the sidewalks became cooler. Staying outside longer is an effect of the cooler conditions, not the cause.

Question 7Key Ideas and Details

Please remember to turn off the lights when you leave the room. Keeping lights on in empty rooms wastes electricity and raises the monthly bill. What is the author's main purpose?

  1. To describe how electricity is generated
  2. To persuade readers to save energy Correct answer.
  3. To explain the history of lighting
  4. To entertain readers with a story

Explanation

Author's purpose is the reason a writer creates a text. The words 'please remember' and the warning about wasted electricity and higher bills are intended to convince readers to change their behavior. That makes persuasion the main purpose.

Question 8Key Ideas and Details

Honeybees communicate by dancing. A bee that has found food performs a waggle dance to show the direction and distance of the flowers. Other bees watch and then fly to the food source. Which statement is the central idea rather than a supporting detail?

  1. A single bee performs a waggle dance.
  2. Other bees carefully watch the dancing bee.
  3. The dance shows the direction and distance.
  4. Honeybees use dance to share information. Correct answer.

Explanation

The central idea is the broad point that all the details explain. Each detail about the waggle dance, watching bees, and directions supports the larger idea that honeybees communicate through dance. The other statements describe individual parts of that process.

Question 9Key Ideas and Details

The museum's new exhibit features tools made from stone and bone. Labels explain how each tool was used for hunting, cooking, or sewing. Visitors can touch replicas of the tools. What can be inferred about the exhibit?

  1. It is meant only for children.
  2. It charges extra for touching items.
  3. It is designed to be hands-on. Correct answer.
  4. It displays modern kitchen tools.

Explanation

An inference draws a conclusion from stated evidence. Because visitors are allowed to touch replicas, the exhibit is clearly designed for hands-on interaction. Nothing in the passage suggests the other conclusions.

Question 10Key Ideas and Details

Some plants protect themselves with chemicals. When insects bite their leaves, these plants release substances that taste bitter or smell strange. The chemicals can discourage insects from eating the plant and may even attract predators that eat the insects. What is the main idea of the paragraph?

  1. Plants use chemicals to defend against insects. Correct answer.
  2. Insects are often attracted to bitter-tasting leaves.
  3. Some plants have leaves that smell strange.
  4. Predators eat insects that feed on plants.

Explanation

The main idea is the broad point that the details explain. The paragraph focuses on how plants release chemicals that discourage insects or attract their predators. The other choices are supporting details or unsupported claims.

Question 11Key Ideas and Details

Regular exercise has many benefits for students. It can improve mood and reduce stress. It also helps people sleep better at night. In addition, physical activity strengthens the heart and muscles. Which sentence from the passage best supports the idea that exercise affects emotions?

  1. It can improve mood and reduce stress. Correct answer.
  2. Regular exercise has many benefits for students.
  3. It also helps people sleep better at night.
  4. Physical activity strengthens the heart and muscles.

Explanation

A supporting detail must directly relate to the specific idea in the question. Mood and stress are emotional conditions, so the sentence about improving mood and reducing stress is the relevant evidence. The other sentences deal with sleep, physical health, or a general claim.

Question 12Key Ideas and Details

A community garden was built on an empty lot. Neighbors worked together to clear the trash and plant vegetables. Now families grow food there, and the lot has become a place where people meet and talk. Which sentence best summarizes the passage?

  1. An empty lot became a shared garden. Correct answer.
  2. Neighbors meet often to talk in the garden.
  3. Families now enjoy eating fresh vegetables.
  4. An empty lot was once filled with trash and weeds.

Explanation

A summary captures the overall change or main point in a concise way. The passage traces how a trash-filled lot was transformed into a garden used by the community. The other options describe only one stage or one activity.

Question 13Key Ideas and Details

The water cycle begins when the sun heats water in oceans and lakes. The water turns into vapor and rises. High in the air, the vapor cools and forms clouds. Eventually, the water falls back to earth as rain or snow. Which event occurs immediately before clouds form?

  1. Water vapor cools high in the air. Correct answer.
  2. Rain or snow falls to the earth.
  3. Water turns into vapor and slowly rises upward.
  4. The sun heats water in oceans.

Explanation

Sequence questions depend on order words and logical steps. The passage says the vapor cools and then forms clouds, so cooling happens right before cloud formation. Heating and rising occur earlier, and rain or snow occurs afterward.

Question 14Key Ideas and Details

Because the factory installed new filters, the amount of smoke released into the air dropped sharply. Nearby residents reported that the air smelled cleaner within a month. What effect did the new filters have?

  1. Residents moved away from the area.
  2. Air pollution in the area decreased. Correct answer.
  3. The factory was closed for an entire month.
  4. The factory produced more smoke.

Explanation

The effect is the result of a cause. The new filters caused less smoke to be released, which means air pollution decreased. The improved smell reported by residents supports that conclusion.

Question 15Key Ideas and Details

Our city should build more bike lanes. Bike lanes make streets safer for riders of all ages and reduce traffic by encouraging people to leave their cars at home. What is the author's main purpose?

  1. To tell a story about a long bike ride.
  2. To describe a dangerous city street.
  3. To explain how cars and bikes are built.
  4. To argue for adding bike lanes. Correct answer.

Explanation

The author states an opinion using 'should' and then gives reasons about safety and traffic. This structure is typical of persuasive writing aimed at convincing readers to support bike lanes. The passage does not narrate a story or explain construction.

Question 16Key Ideas and Details

Elephants live in family groups led by the oldest female. The group travels together to find food and water. Older elephants also teach younger ones where to find food during dry seasons. Which statement is the central idea?

  1. The oldest female leads the family group.
  2. Elephants travel long distances to find food and water.
  3. Older elephants teach younger ones useful skills.
  4. Elephant families work together to survive. Correct answer.

Explanation

The central idea is the broad principle that connects all the details. Leadership, group travel, and teaching all show cooperation within elephant families. The other statements are specific supporting facts.

Question 17Key Ideas and Details

When the power went out, the grocery store's refrigerators stopped running. The manager checked the temperature inside and decided to throw away all the dairy products. What conclusion can be drawn about the dairy products?

  1. They were moved to another store.
  2. They were still fresh and cold.
  3. They were sold at a discount.
  4. They had become unsafe to sell. Correct answer.

Explanation

A conclusion must follow logically from the evidence. The refrigerators stopped running, and the manager checked the temperature before discarding the dairy products. This implies the products were no longer safe to sell.

Question 18Key Ideas and Details

After weeks of practice, Sam finally learned to play the song on the piano. His fingers still slipped sometimes, but he kept playing until the end. When he finished, his teacher smiled and said, 'You never gave up.' Which sentence best states the theme?

  1. Good teachers should be strict with students.
  2. Learning to play music is always easy.
  3. Persistence leads to success. Correct answer.
  4. Piano lessons can be very expensive.

Explanation

A theme is a general message about life that the events illustrate. Sam's weeks of practice and his refusal to stop despite mistakes show that persistence brings progress. The other statements are unsupported or contradict the passage.

Question 19Key Ideas and Details

Volunteers at an animal shelter noticed that dogs were anxious when left alone. They started playing soft music in the kennels. The dogs became calmer and barked less. Which sentence is the best summary?

  1. The shelter has many volunteers.
  2. Soft music calmed anxious shelter dogs. Correct answer.
  3. Dogs often bark when they are alone.
  4. Music is played in many animal shelters.

Explanation

A summary should combine the key subject and the main result. The passage describes volunteers using music to calm anxious dogs. The other choices focus on background information, a minor detail, or an unsupported generalization.

Question 20Key Ideas and Details

The new bridge will open on June 10. It will have two lanes for cars and a separate path for bicycles. City officials say the bridge will cut commute times by ten minutes. Which detail shows that the bridge may help people get to work faster?

  1. It includes a separate path for bicycles.
  2. It will have two separate lanes for cars.
  3. It is scheduled to open on June 10.
  4. It cuts commute times by ten minutes. Correct answer.

Explanation

The question asks for evidence of faster travel to work. A reduction in commute time is direct proof that travel will be quicker. The opening date, bike path, and car lanes describe features of the bridge but do not directly show speedier commutes.

Question 21Key Ideas and Details

The archaeologist found seeds, worn grinding stones, and pieces of pottery at the site. The seeds were from plants that grow in wet soil. The pottery pieces were small and broken, as if left behind after many seasons of use. Which conclusion is best supported by the evidence?

  1. All of the pottery was made in another region.
  2. The site was occupied for only a single season.
  3. The people living there did not eat any plants.
  4. People stayed at the site for a long period. Correct answer.

Explanation

A strong conclusion must be supported by multiple details rather than a single clue. Worn tools, seeds from wet-soil plants, and pottery broken from many seasons of use all point to long-term occupation. The other conclusions contradict the evidence or go beyond it.

Question 22Key Ideas and Details

Early maps of the ocean showed sea monsters in unexplored areas. As sailors traveled farther, mapmakers replaced the monsters with detailed coastlines and currents. The monsters disappeared not because the sea changed, but because knowledge grew. How does the passage develop its central idea?

  1. By showing how new knowledge changed maps. Correct answer.
  2. By explaining how sailors built ships.
  3. By comparing today's maps with very old maps.
  4. By describing the habits of sea monsters.

Explanation

The central idea is that growing knowledge replaced imaginary sea monsters with accurate details. The passage develops this idea by tracing a change over time as sailors explored farther. It does not describe monster behavior or ship construction.

Question 23Key Ideas and Details

The city planted drought-resistant grass in its parks. The grass needs less water and stays green longer during dry months. Water use in the parks fell by thirty percent, and the parks remained open all summer. Which statement would be a weak summary of the passage?

  1. The parks were closed during the summer. Correct answer.
  2. Drought-resistant grass stayed green in dry months.
  3. The new grass reduced park water use by 30 percent.
  4. The city saved water by planting different grass.

Explanation

A weak summary distorts or contradicts the passage instead of capturing its main point. The passage explicitly says the parks remained open all summer, so saying they were closed is inaccurate. The other statements reflect facts or main ideas from the passage.

Question 24Key Ideas and Details

When a beaver builds a dam, the stream slows and spreads into a pond. The pond stores water that would otherwise rush downstream. During dry periods, this stored water keeps the stream flowing, which helps fish and plants survive. What is the chain of effects described in the passage?

  1. Streams slow down, so ponds disappear, so fish die.
  2. Beavers build dams, water is stored, and wildlife survives. Correct answer.
  3. Dry periods cause beavers to leave, so streams stop flowing.
  4. Fish survive, so beavers build dams, so streams slow down.

Explanation

A cause-effect chain links events in the order they occur. The passage begins with beavers building dams, which creates ponds that store water, which in turn helps fish and plants survive. The other choices reverse the order or contradict the passage.

Question 25Key Ideas and Details

It is true that online learning offers flexibility. However, students who learn entirely online may miss the daily conversations and quick feedback that a classroom provides. A mix of both approaches may serve most learners best. What is the author's main purpose?

  1. To argue that online learning should be avoided.
  2. To prove that traditional classrooms are outdated.
  3. To describe the early history of online learning.
  4. To recommend a balanced approach to learning Correct answer.

Explanation

The author acknowledges a benefit of online learning but points out a drawback, then suggests a mix of both approaches. This balanced position shows the purpose is to recommend a combination rather than to attack one method. No historical information is provided.

Question 26Key Ideas and Details

Many students throw away unopened milk cartons and fruit at lunch. To reduce waste, Jefferson Middle School set up a share table in the cafeteria. Students place unopened, untouched food there, and anyone who wants it can take it. Last month, the school kept 300 pounds of food out of the trash. Which sentence best states the main idea of the passage?

  1. Students at Jefferson Middle School drink a lot of milk with lunch.
  2. The trash cans at Jefferson Middle School are often full.
  3. A school's share table keeps edible food from being thrown away. Correct answer.
  4. Cafeterias should stop serving fruit to students.

Explanation

The passage describes a program that keeps unopened food out of the trash and reports the amount saved. The other sentences are either minor details or claims not made in the text.

Question 27Key Ideas and Details

The Bookmobile visits Elm Street on the first Monday of each month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It parks beside the community center. Residents can check out books and return them at the next visit. On which day does the Bookmobile visit Elm Street?

  1. The last Saturday of each month
  2. Every Friday afternoon
  3. Every Tuesday morning
  4. The first Monday of each month Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage states directly that the Bookmobile visits Elm Street on the first Monday of each month. This is an explicit detail, so the answer is found by locating the time phrase in the text.

Question 28Key Ideas and Details

A cactus has thick, waxy stems that store water. Its leaves are thin spines, which lose very little water. These features let a cactus survive in dry places where most plants would wilt. What is the passage mainly about?

  1. How spines protect cacti from animals
  2. Why cacti have colorful flowers
  3. Where cacti are sold in stores
  4. How cacti survive in dry environments Correct answer.

Explanation

The whole passage explains how a cactus's thick stems and spines help it store water and survive dry places. The details about flowers and stores are not in the text.

Question 29Key Ideas and Details

To make recycled paper, workers first sort used newspaper from other waste. Next, the paper is shredded and mixed with water to form pulp. The pulp is then pressed flat and dried into new sheets. What happens right after the paper is shredded?

  1. It is mixed with water to form pulp. Correct answer.
  2. It is pressed flat.
  3. It is dried into sheets.
  4. It is sorted from other waste.

Explanation

The passage lists the steps in order: sorting, shredding, mixing with water, pressing, and drying. The step after shredding is mixing with water to form pulp.

Question 30Key Ideas and Details

The town started a recycling program in March. Each household received two bins: blue for paper and green for cans and bottles. Collection happens every Wednesday. Which detail supports the idea that the program tells residents how to sort waste?

  1. The town began the program in March of this year.
  2. Blue and green bins help residents sort paper from cans. Correct answer.
  3. The town started a recycling program.
  4. Collection of all recycling bins happens every Wednesday.

Explanation

The question asks for a detail that shows the program tells residents how to sort waste. The two colored bins are the only detail that explains sorting by material.

Question 31Key Ideas and Details

Lena opened the door and saw a wet umbrella leaning against the wall. Water dripped from it onto the mat. She looked outside and noticed dark clouds. What can the reader infer?

  1. Lena is about to water the plants.
  2. It is a sunny afternoon.
  3. The umbrella belongs to Lena's neighbor.
  4. Someone just came in from the rain. Correct answer.

Explanation

A wet umbrella and dark clouds are clues that rain has just occurred. A reader combines these details to infer that someone came in from the rain.

Question 32Key Ideas and Details

Maria practiced free throws every day after school. At first she made only two out of ten. She adjusted her stance and kept track of her misses. By the end of the month, she made seven out of ten. Which sentence best summarizes the passage?

  1. Maria made seven out of ten free throws on her first try.
  2. Maria improved her free-throw shooting through daily practice. Correct answer.
  3. Maria's coach told her to change her stance.
  4. Maria plays basketball with her friends after school.

Explanation

A summary should state the main action and result without minor or incorrect details. The passage shows Maria improving from two to seven free throws through daily practice.

Question 33Key Ideas and Details

When ice formed on the sidewalk, the custodian spread salt on the walkway. The salt caused the ice to melt, so students could walk safely. Why did the custodian spread salt on the sidewalk?

  1. To make the sidewalk look clean
  2. To melt ice so students could walk safely Correct answer.
  3. To mark the edge of the walkway for students
  4. To keep students from playing outside in the cold

Explanation

The passage states that the salt caused the ice to melt so students could walk safely. Cause-and-effect questions ask why an action was taken, and the text gives the reason directly.

Question 34Key Ideas and Details

Some people believe that background music helps students concentrate. However, a study found that students who listened to music while reading remembered fewer details than students who read in silence. The researchers concluded that music can compete with reading for a person's attention. What is the main point of the passage?

  1. Reading in silence is always the best way to study.
  2. Music can make it harder to focus while reading. Correct answer.
  3. Students should never listen to music of any kind.
  4. Background music improves memory for details.

Explanation

The passage presents a study and the researchers' conclusion that music competes with reading for attention. The main point is that music can make concentration harder, not that it never helps.

Question 35Key Ideas and Details

Dante noticed that his friend Luis had no lunch again. Dante opened his own bag, pulled out two sandwiches, and set one beside Luis without saying anything. Luis looked up and smiled. What does Dante's action show about him?

  1. He is angry at Luis for forgetting his lunch.
  2. He is kind and notices when others need help. Correct answer.
  3. He likes to show off his food to his friends.
  4. He does not like to share his lunch with anyone.

Explanation

Dante quietly gives Luis a sandwich without being asked, which shows concern for a friend who has no lunch. The text gives no evidence of showing off, anger, or dislike of sharing.

Question 36Key Ideas and Details

An octopus can change the color and texture of its skin in less than a second. It can copy the look of rocks, coral, or seaweed. This ability helps it hide from predators and surprise prey. Which detail explains why an octopus's ability to change appearance is useful?

  1. It helps the octopus hide and surprise prey. Correct answer.
  2. An octopus lives in the ocean.
  3. An octopus can change its skin in less than a second.
  4. An octopus has eight arms.

Explanation

The question asks why the octopus's color and texture changes are useful. The passage states directly that the ability helps it hide from predators and surprise prey.

Question 37Key Ideas and Details

The neighborhood association organized a cleanup day. Volunteers picked up litter along the creek and planted native bushes on the bank. They also posted signs asking people not to dump trash. By the end of the day, the creek looked cleaner and the bank was more stable. Which sentence best summarizes the passage?

  1. A neighborhood cleanup improved the creek and its bank. Correct answer.
  2. Signs are the best way to stop littering.
  3. Volunteers picked up litter and planted bushes along the creek.
  4. Native bushes need a lot of water to grow.

Explanation

The passage describes several cleanup actions and their combined result: a cleaner creek and a more stable bank. A summary should capture both the actions and the outcome.

Question 38Key Ideas and Details

When a bill is proposed in a state legislature, it is first sent to a committee. The committee studies the bill and may hold hearings. If the committee approves, the full legislature debates and votes on it. If it passes, the governor can sign it into law. What happens immediately after a committee approves a bill?

  1. The committee studies the bill and holds hearings.
  2. The governor signs it into law.
  3. The full legislature debates and votes on it. Correct answer.
  4. The bill is first proposed in the legislature.

Explanation

The passage gives the order: proposal, committee study, full legislature debate and vote, then governor. The step right after committee approval is the full legislature's debate and vote.

Question 39Key Ideas and Details

Kim watered her houseplant every day for two weeks. The soil stayed soggy, and the leaves turned yellow. A gardener told her that the roots needed air and that too much water could harm the plant. Why did the plant's leaves turn yellow?

  1. Too much water harmed the plant's roots. Correct answer.
  2. The plant was not watered often enough.
  3. The gardener cut off the plant's leaves.
  4. Kim moved the plant into direct sunlight.

Explanation

The passage explains that soggy soil harms roots and that too much water can damage the plant. The yellow leaves are an effect of that damage.

Question 40Key Ideas and Details

A rooftop garden can lower the temperature inside a building. The plants shade the roof, and the soil absorbs heat. In summer, this can reduce the need for air conditioning. Which sentence best states the main idea?

  1. Rooftop gardens are difficult to build.
  2. Rooftop gardens can keep buildings cooler. Correct answer.
  3. Air conditioning uses a lot of electricity.
  4. Plants on a roof need special soil.

Explanation

The passage explains how plants and soil on a roof can lower building temperature and reduce air conditioning. The other options are not stated or are unsupported details.

Question 41Key Ideas and Details

Every afternoon, Gus the dog sat by the front window. When a car turned into the driveway, he wagged his tail and ran to the door. One day, no car came, and Gus stayed by the window until dark. What can the reader infer about Gus?

  1. Gus is afraid of cars.
  2. Gus is waiting for someone to come home. Correct answer.
  3. Gus does not recognize the family car in the driveway.
  4. Gus prefers to sleep outside.

Explanation

Gus reacts to a car in the driveway by running to the door, and when no car comes he waits. These details support the inference that he is waiting for someone to return home.

Question 42Key Ideas and Details

The telescope at the science center is open to the public on Friday nights. Visitors can look at the moon and planets through the lens. A guide explains what they see. On which night can visitors use the telescope?

  1. Friday nights Correct answer.
  2. Monday mornings
  3. Sunday evenings
  4. Saturday afternoons

Explanation

The passage explicitly states that the telescope is open to the public on Friday nights. This is a directly stated detail, so no inference is needed.

Question 43Key Ideas and Details

Walking to school gives students exercise before class. It also reduces traffic near the school, which makes the area safer. For these reasons, families who live close enough should consider walking instead of driving. What is the author's point?

  1. Students should never ride the bus or get a ride from parents.
  2. Traffic near schools is not a problem.
  3. Exercise is more important than safety.
  4. Walking to school benefits students and the community. Correct answer.

Explanation

The author lists exercise and safer traffic as reasons families should consider walking. The point is that walking benefits both students and the community.

Question 44Key Ideas and Details

Andre studied for his science test by reading his notes once. He did not test himself or review the material again. During the test, he struggled to remember the definitions. Based on the passage, what conclusion is best supported?

  1. Andre might have done better with more review. Correct answer.
  2. Reading notes once is the best way to study for a test.
  3. Andre did not care about his grade.
  4. The science test was unfair to Andre.

Explanation

The passage shows Andre studied only once and struggled on the test. A supported conclusion is that more review might have helped him remember.

Question 45Key Ideas and Details

Robins build cup-shaped nests in trees, using twigs and grass. Woodpeckers carve holes in tree trunks for their nests. Both kinds of birds raise their young in nests, but their nest-building methods differ. What does the passage mainly compare?

  1. How robins and woodpeckers build their nests differently Correct answer.
  2. The places where robins and woodpeckers live in winter
  3. The foods that robins and woodpeckers eat
  4. The songs that robins and woodpeckers sing

Explanation

The passage describes how robins and woodpeckers build different kinds of nests and states that their methods differ. The comparison is about nest-building, not food, song, or winter homes.

Question 46Key Ideas and Details

As the audition drew near, Priya practiced her monologue but kept stopping to check her phone. She rewrote her introduction three times and still frowned at it. When her friend asked if she was ready, Priya shrugged and said, "I guess we'll see." Which inference about Priya is best supported?

  1. She doubts that her preparation is good enough. Correct answer.
  2. She is confident that she will do well.
  3. She has completely forgotten all the words to her monologue.
  4. She is not interested in the audition at all.

Explanation

Priya keeps checking her phone, rewrites her introduction, and gives an uncertain answer. These behaviors suggest she is unsure her preparation is good enough.

Question 47Key Ideas and Details

School laptops give students quick access to research and allow them to turn in assignments online. Yet teachers report that some students copy answers from websites instead of thinking through problems. The value of laptops, then, depends on how carefully assignments are designed. What is the central idea of the passage?

  1. School laptops should be banned in all classrooms.
  2. Students prefer online assignments to paper ones.
  3. Laptop benefits depend on assignment design. Correct answer.
  4. Teachers do not know how to use laptops.

Explanation

The passage balances benefits of laptops with a concern about copying and concludes that value depends on assignment design. The central idea is that design determines whether the benefits are realized.

Question 48Key Ideas and Details

Coral reefs are built by tiny animals called polyps. When the ocean gets too warm, the corals expel the algae that live in their tissues and give them color. This is called bleaching. Without the algae, the corals lose a major food source and may die. Which sentence best summarizes the passage?

  1. Coral reefs are made of rocks and sand.
  2. Algae are harmful to corals in all temperatures.
  3. Warm water can make corals lose needed algae. Correct answer.
  4. Polyps are tiny animals that live in cold water.

Explanation

The passage explains that warm water causes corals to expel algae, which can lead to death. A summary should include the cause, the loss of algae, and the consequence.

Question 49Key Ideas and Details

When wolves were removed from a national park, deer multiplied and ate young trees along the river. Without tree roots to hold the soil, the riverbanks eroded. When wolves were later returned, they reduced the deer population, and trees began to grow again. What was an effect of removing the wolves?

  1. The deer population decreased.
  2. Deer ate young trees, so riverbanks eroded. Correct answer.
  3. The riverbanks became more stable.
  4. Young trees along the river grew faster than before.

Explanation

The passage gives a chain: removing wolves led to more deer, which ate young trees, which caused riverbanks to erode. The erosion is an effect of removing wolves.

Question 50Key Ideas and Details

Several studies show that teenagers' natural sleep cycles shift later in the night. As a result, early school start times may leave many teens sleep-deprived. Some districts that moved start times later reported better attendance and fewer tardy students. Which sentence best states the author's claim?

  1. Teenagers need less sleep than adults.
  2. Later school start times may benefit teenagers. Correct answer.
  3. All students should go to bed before 9 p.m.
  4. Attendance is the only measure of school success.

Explanation

The author uses sleep research and district reports to argue that later start times may help teenagers. The claim is that later start times may benefit teenagers, and the reports are evidence.