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TABE Reading practice questions

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Question 1Key Ideas and Details

Many people think the Sahara is nothing but sand, but it is far more varied. Only about a quarter of the desert is made of sand dunes. The rest is rocky plateau, gravel plain, and dry mountain. Some of these areas support shrubs and grasses after rare rains. Which sentence best states the main idea of the paragraph?

  1. Travelers often picture the Sahara as an endless sea of sand.
  2. Rare rains sometimes bring shrubs and grasses to the desert.
  3. Sand dunes cover about a quarter of the Sahara's surface.
  4. The Sahara is more varied than many people imagine. Correct answer.

Explanation

The main idea is the broad point that covers the whole paragraph, not one supporting fact. Every sentence here works to show that the desert contains more than sand. Details about dunes and rain are evidence for that larger point.

Question 2Key Ideas and Details

The library's summer reading program begins June 5. Children who sign up receive a log to record the books they finish. Every ten books earns a small prize, and the child who reads the most by August 1 wins a bicycle. A closing party will be held in the parking lot. According to the passage, what happens when a child finishes ten books?

  1. The child receives the bicycle.
  2. The child earns a small prize. Correct answer.
  3. The child writes a report for the librarian.
  4. The child is invited to the closing party.

Explanation

A stated detail question is answered by locating the exact information in the text. The passage says that every ten books earns a small prize. The bicycle and the party are tied to other conditions.

Question 3Key Ideas and Details

Before planting, Maya loosened the soil with a garden fork and mixed in compost. She set the tomato seedlings about two feet apart and watered each one deeply. Then she spread straw around the stems to hold moisture. Finally, she tied the young plants to stakes so they would grow upright. What did Maya do immediately after setting out the seedlings?

  1. She watered each seedling deeply. Correct answer.
  2. She spread straw around the stems.
  3. She loosened the hard soil with a garden fork.
  4. She tied the plants to wooden stakes.

Explanation

Sequence questions are answered by tracking the order of actions as they are listed. The text says she set the seedlings apart and watered each one deeply in the same step. The straw and the stakes come afterward.

Question 4Key Ideas and Details

The town's only grocery store closed in March. Since then, residents have had to drive twenty miles to shop, and the local bus route has added a stop at the supermarket in the next town. Many older residents say they now shop less often. What caused residents to travel farther to buy food?

  1. The bus route was shortened by the county.
  2. The supermarket in the next town raised its prices.
  3. The town's grocery store closed. Correct answer.
  4. Older residents began shopping less often.

Explanation

A cause-and-effect question asks what made something else happen. The closing of the local store is the event that forced residents to drive twenty miles. The other items are results of that closing or are not mentioned.

Question 5Key Ideas and Details

Earthworms tunnel through soil, eating decaying leaves and other plant matter. As they digest, they leave behind castings rich in nutrients. Their tunnels let air and water reach plant roots. Farmers sometimes measure the health of a field by counting the worms in it. What is this paragraph mainly about?

  1. The diet of common garden earthworms
  2. The ways earthworms improve soil Correct answer.
  3. Why farmers remove worms from fields
  4. How earthworms find their way underground

Explanation

The topic is the subject all the sentences share. Nutrients, air, water, and healthy fields all point to soil improvement. The diet sentence is only one supporting fact about that subject.

Question 6Key Ideas and Details

The Apollo Theater opened in Harlem in 1914 as a burlesque house. In the 1930s it began hosting live music and variety shows, and its amateur night became famous for launching young performers. Today it is a landmark that still presents concerts and community events. According to the passage, what did the Apollo Theater originally open as?

  1. A concert hall
  2. A community center
  3. A movie theater
  4. A burlesque house Correct answer.

Explanation

A stated detail is answered directly from the text. The first sentence says the theater opened as a burlesque house in 1914. Its later uses as a music and community venue came afterward.

Question 7Key Ideas and Details

Ants can carry objects many times their own weight. A single ant can lift fifty times its body weight, and a group can move food much larger than any one of them. They cooperate by following chemical trails left by nestmates, which lead others to the food. Which sentence best summarizes the passage?

  1. Ants are among the strongest insects in the world.
  2. Ants leave chemical trails wherever they walk.
  3. Ants are strong and work together to move food. Correct answer.
  4. Ants can lift objects fifty times their body weight.

Explanation

A summary must capture the whole passage in a general statement. This passage covers both the ants' strength and their cooperation. Options that mention only trails or only lifting strength leave out half the text.

Question 8Key Ideas and Details

Nina poured milk into a saucepan and warmed it over low heat. She stirred in cocoa and sugar until they dissolved. After the mixture began to steam, she added a pinch of salt. She poured the cocoa into a mug and let it cool for a minute before drinking. Which step happened last?

  1. Nina stirred in cocoa and sugar.
  2. Nina warmed the milk over low heat.
  3. Nina let the cocoa cool in a mug. Correct answer.
  4. Nina added a pinch of salt.

Explanation

Ordering steps means following the time words and the order in which actions appear. The cooling step is described at the very end, after the cocoa is poured. Warming, stirring, and salting all come earlier.

Question 9Key Ideas and Details

In the 1800s, most American cities had no paid fire department. When a fire broke out, volunteers raced to the scene with hand-pumped engines, often competing to be first. Insurance companies paid only the companies that reached a burning building quickly, so speed mattered more than cooperation. Over time, cities decided that public safety required a single, trained force paid from taxes. What is the main idea of the passage?

  1. Volunteers in the 1800s were poorly trained but brave.
  2. Paid fire departments replaced rival volunteer crews. Correct answer.
  3. Insurance companies paid for most early firefighting in American cities.
  4. Hand-pumped fire engines were slow and often broke down.

Explanation

The main idea must account for the whole passage, which traces a change over time. The text moves from competing volunteers to a single force paid from taxes. Every other option either narrows the focus to one detail or states something the passage does not support.

Question 10Key Ideas and Details

When the museum opened in 1975, its second floor was closed to the public. Visitors could see only the first-floor galleries. In 2010 the museum announced a plan to repair the roof, the elevator, and the staircase to the upper level. Last spring, a new sign appeared at the top of those stairs. What can the reader reasonably infer?

  1. The museum's second floor is smaller than the first.
  2. The second floor is now open to visitors. Correct answer.
  3. The roof repair was never completed last year.
  4. The museum has decided to close permanently.

Explanation

An inference is a conclusion supported by clues rather than stated outright. The repairs, especially to the stairs, plus a new sign at the top of those stairs, suggest the upper floor is now in use. Nothing in the text supports the other claims.

Question 11Key Ideas and Details

The great auk was a flightless seabird that lived in the North Atlantic. It was hunted for its feathers, meat, and oil, and because it could not fly, it was easy to catch. By the 1840s the birds were gone from most of their range. The last pair was killed on an island off Iceland in 1844. Which detail best supports the idea that the great auk was easy for hunters to kill?

  1. Its feathers, meat, and oil were valuable.
  2. It lived in the North Atlantic.
  3. It could not fly. Correct answer.
  4. The last pair was killed in 1844.

Explanation

A supporting detail must directly back up the stated point. Being unable to fly explains why hunters could catch the birds easily. The other details describe where the bird lived, why it was hunted, and when it disappeared.

Question 12Key Ideas and Details

When a beaver builds a dam across a stream, water backs up and spreads over the surrounding land. The flooded area kills some trees, but it also creates a pond where fish, frogs, and water birds can live. Sediment settles in the slow water, clearing it downstream. According to the passage, what is one effect of a beaver dam?

  1. Streams downstream flow faster.
  2. Fish are forced to leave the pond.
  3. Water spreads over nearby land. Correct answer.
  4. Trees in the area grow taller.

Explanation

An effect is a result that follows from a cause. The passage states that when beavers dam a stream, water backs up and spreads over the land. The other options contradict information given in the text.

Question 13Key Ideas and Details

Recycling paper saves trees, but the process has limits. Each time paper is recycled, its fibers get shorter, so after about five to seven cycles the fibers are too short for new paper. Recycled paper also must be sorted and de-inked, which costs money and energy. Still, recycling keeps paper out of landfills, where it would produce methane as it decays. Which sentence best summarizes the passage?

  1. Recycling paper has real benefits and real limits. Correct answer.
  2. Recycling paper saves trees and keeps waste out of landfills.
  3. Paper can be recycled about five to seven times before its fibers fail.
  4. Sorting and de-inking make recycled paper expensive to produce.

Explanation

A good summary balances all parts of the passage rather than stressing one side. This paragraph presents both advantages and drawbacks of paper recycling. Options that mention only fiber limits or only benefits are partial.

Question 14Key Ideas and Details

Dear Mr. Alvarez, Thank you for your application for the position of night custodian. We received many applications from qualified candidates. Your name has been placed on our eligibility list, which we consult when openings occur. The list remains active for one year from today's date. What can be concluded about Mr. Alvarez's application?

  1. He must submit a new application next month to remain on the list.
  2. He did not meet the qualifications for the job.
  3. He may be contacted if a job opens within a year. Correct answer.
  4. He was hired immediately for the custodian job.

Explanation

A conclusion must follow from what the letter actually says. Being placed on an eligibility list that lasts one year means he could be called if an opening appears. The letter says nothing about being hired now or being unqualified.

Question 15Key Ideas and Details

To make the dye, the workers first soaked the dried flowers in water for a full day. Next they simmered the mixture until the liquid had reduced by half. After it cooled, they strained out the petals and added a small amount of vinegar to set the color. The dye was then ready for cloth. When did the workers add the vinegar?

  1. Before soaking the flowers in water
  2. While the mixture was still simmering on the stove
  3. After the liquid cooled and was strained Correct answer.
  4. Before the liquid had reduced by half

Explanation

Sequence is tracked through time words such as first, next, and after. The vinegar is added after the mixture cools and the petals are strained out. The soaking and simmering steps both happen earlier.

Question 16Key Ideas and Details

City trees do more than decorate streets. They shade pavement, lowering surface temperatures in summer. Their leaves trap dust and absorb some pollutants. Their roots soak up rainwater that would otherwise flood storm drains. A single mature street tree can save a city money in energy and drainage costs. What is the main idea of the passage?

  1. Shade from trees lowers summer pavement temperatures.
  2. City trees offer practical benefits beyond appearance. Correct answer.
  3. Street trees are expensive for cities to maintain.
  4. Tree roots can block storm drains during heavy rain.

Explanation

The main idea is the broad claim the details support. The opening sentence says trees do more than decorate, and each following sentence names a practical benefit. Cooling, pollution, and drainage are individual examples of that claim.

Question 17Key Ideas and Details

Adults often assume that musical training must begin in childhood, but this belief is mistaken. Adult learners bring patience and the ability to practice deliberately. Research on adult beginners shows steady progress in reading music and keeping rhythm, though progress may be slower than a child's. What adults need most is a realistic schedule and a teacher who welcomes beginners. The writer's main point is that adults can learn to play an instrument. Which detail best supports that point?

  1. Adult beginners show steady progress in reading music. Correct answer.
  2. Many adults took piano lessons when they were young.
  3. Some instruments are too costly for most adult beginners.
  4. Children often learn to play music faster than adults.

Explanation

A supporting detail must directly strengthen the stated point. Evidence that adult beginners improve at reading music shows that learning is possible. Details about children's speed, childhood lessons, or cost do not show adult progress.

Question 18Key Ideas and Details

The farm stand's sign reads: "Open daily 8 to 6, May through October. Cash only." On a Tuesday in February, the parking area in front of the stand is empty and a chain hangs across the entrance. What is the best inference to draw?

  1. The stand is closed because it is the off-season. Correct answer.
  2. The stand is open but no customers have arrived yet.
  3. The owners have run out of cash to make change.
  4. The farm stand has gone out of business for good.

Explanation

An inference should be the most reasonable explanation of all the clues together. The sign limits the season to May through October, and the visit occurs in February with the entrance chained. That points to a seasonal closing rather than a permanent one.

Question 19Key Ideas and Details

In the early 1900s, the chestnut tree was one of the most common trees in eastern American forests. Then a fungus arrived on imported nursery stock. The fungus spread through the bark, and within a few decades billions of chestnut trees had died. Foresters now breed resistant trees in the hope of restoring the species. What caused the death of billions of chestnut trees?

  1. A long drought across the eastern forests
  2. A fungus brought in on imported plants Correct answer.
  3. Competition from faster-growing species
  4. Heavy logging by timber companies

Explanation

The cause is the condition that produced the result described. The passage states that a fungus arrived on imported nursery stock and spread through the bark, killing the trees. Drought, logging, and competing species are not mentioned.

Question 20Key Ideas and Details

The city's bike-share program began with 200 bicycles at 20 stations. Riders complained that stations were too far apart, and many bikes ended up at a few crowded locations. Planners added 30 more stations in the second year and hired workers to move bikes from full stations to empty ones. Ridership rose by half. Which sentence best summarizes the passage?

  1. The city spent a great deal of money on new bicycles.
  2. Bike-share riders preferred to ride downhill rather than uphill.
  3. Bike sharing is replacing buses in many large American cities.
  4. More stations and rebalanced bikes raised ridership. Correct answer.

Explanation

A summary states the passage's overall point in a sentence. This paragraph describes a problem, two fixes, and the result of those fixes. Options about terrain, spending, or buses introduce ideas the passage never covers.

Question 21Key Ideas and Details

Historians once described the telegraph as an instant success that swept aside older ways of sending news. Recent studies tell a quieter story. Telegraph lines spread unevenly, favoring cities and railroads. Newspapers kept using the mail for most stories because telegrams were expensive. Not until the 1880s, forty years after the first line opened, did the telegraph truly shape daily reporting. Which statement best expresses the main idea?

  1. Telegraph lines were first built along railroad routes.
  2. The telegraph's influence arrived slowly and unevenly. Correct answer.
  3. Historians have generally exaggerated the cost of sending telegrams.
  4. Newspapers refused to use the telegraph until the 1880s.

Explanation

The main idea must capture the contrast the whole passage develops. The writer sets the old story of instant success against evidence of gradual, uneven adoption. The other options isolate a single detail or misstate the passage.

Question 22Key Ideas and Details

In her diary, a homesteader on the prairie writes: "We planted the cottonwoods the first spring, as the claim rules require. By the fourth summer they stood taller than the wagon. The neighbors who planted nothing have no shade to show, and the county has begun to ask questions about their claims." What can the reader most reasonably infer about the claim rules?

  1. The county had banned the planting of cottonwoods.
  2. Settlers who planted no trees risk losing their claims. Correct answer.
  3. The rules gave settlers free cottonwood seedlings.
  4. Neighbors were required to share shade with one another.

Explanation

An inference combines clues that the writer does not spell out. The rules require planting trees, and the county is now questioning neighbors who planted nothing. Together these clues suggest that failing to plant puts a claim in danger.

Question 23Key Ideas and Details

Two researchers tested whether students remembered more from printed pages or screens. In three studies with a total of 1,200 students, print readers scored higher on tests that asked them to explain ideas in their own words. On tests that asked for simple facts, the two groups scored about the same. The researchers noted that most students said they preferred reading on screens. Which conclusion is best supported by the passage?

  1. Print may aid deeper understanding more than screens do. Correct answer.
  2. Students should stop using screens for any schoolwork.
  3. Students who prefer screens are weaker readers overall.
  4. Screen reading is better for remembering simple facts.

Explanation

A valid conclusion stays within the evidence presented. Print readers did better only on questions requiring explanation, which suggests an advantage in understanding rather than in memory for facts. The passage does not support sweeping recommendations or claims about reader ability.

Question 24Key Ideas and Details

Octopuses have about 500 million neurons, more than half of them in their arms rather than their brains. An arm can taste and grip without direction from the central brain. In lab tests, octopuses solve puzzles, open jars, and even squirt water at lights that annoy them. Each arm seems to act partly on its own while the animal pursues a larger goal. Which detail best supports the claim that octopus intelligence differs from that of mammals?

  1. Octopuses in labs sometimes squirt water at bright lights.
  2. Octopuses have around 500 million neurons in total.
  3. Most of an octopus's neurons are in its arms. Correct answer.
  4. Octopuses can open jars and solve simple puzzles.

Explanation

The claim is about a difference from mammals, whose neurons are concentrated in a central brain. The detail that most octopus neurons sit in the arms shows a decentralized system. Puzzle solving, neuron totals, and squirting water do not by themselves show a difference in organization.

Question 25Key Ideas and Details

Early weather forecasts relied on reports from a handful of scattered stations, so forecasters often learned of a storm only after it had passed. The invention of the electric telegraph in the 1840s let stations send observations within minutes. Networks of observers grew, and by the end of the century forecasts covered whole countries. Yet forecasts still missed storms that formed far out at sea, where no station existed. Which sentence best summarizes the passage?

  1. Better communication improved forecasts but did not perfect them. Correct answer.
  2. Weather stations are now located on ships at sea.
  3. Early forecasters learned of storms only after they had passed.
  4. The electric telegraph was invented in the 1840s.

Explanation

A summary must cover the passage from beginning to end, including both progress and remaining problems. The paragraph describes improvement through telegraphy and a gap that stayed open at sea. The other options present a single detail or something the passage does not say.

Question 26Key Ideas and Details

The Westside Library used to close at 5 p.m. on weekdays. Last month it began staying open until 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Attendance in the evening has tripled, and most evening visitors are adults who work during the day. What is the main idea of the passage?

  1. Most people who visit the library during the week are adults.
  2. Later hours brought many new evening visitors. Correct answer.
  3. The library is now open until 8 p.m. every day.
  4. The library should open earlier in the morning.

Explanation

A main idea must cover the whole passage, not just one detail. The passage explains that the library added evening hours and that attendance rose sharply as a result. The other choices either misstate the facts or offer an opinion the passage never gives.

Question 27Key Ideas and Details

When a honeybee finds a patch of flowers, it returns to the hive and performs a waggle dance. The angle of the dance shows the direction of the flowers relative to the sun, and the length of the waggle shows how far away they are. Other bees watch the dance and then fly to the patch. According to the passage, what does the length of the waggle show?

  1. the direction of the flowers
  2. how far away the flowers are Correct answer.
  3. the number of flowers in the patch
  4. the age of the dancing bee

Explanation

The passage directly states that the length of the waggle shows distance. The angle, not the length, shows direction. The other details are not mentioned in the passage.

Question 28Key Ideas and Details

First, rinse the seeds under cool water. Then spread them on a tray and leave them in a sunny window for two days. Once they are dry, store them in a labeled jar. What should you do right after rinsing the seeds?

  1. Label the jar carefully.
  2. Spread them on a tray. Correct answer.
  3. Leave them for two days.
  4. Store them in a labeled jar.

Explanation

Sequence questions require following the order words such as first, then, and once. The passage says to rinse the seeds first and then spread them on a tray. Drying and storing happen after that step.

Question 29Key Ideas and Details

In many coastal towns, bright lights from homes and hotels shine toward the beach at night. Newly hatched sea turtles crawl toward the brightest light, which they confuse with the moonlit ocean. As a result, many move inland instead of toward the water. What causes the turtles to move inland?

  1. nearby building lights Correct answer.
  2. the hatching of the turtles at night
  3. the sandy slope of the beach
  4. the reflection of the moon on the ocean

Explanation

The passage explains a cause-and-effect relationship: artificial lights confuse the turtles, so they crawl the wrong way. The moonlit ocean is what they are seeking, not what misleads them. The other choices are not named as causes.

Question 30Key Ideas and Details

Maya set her umbrella by the door and hung her dripping coat on the hook. She poured a cup of tea and wrapped both hands around it. What can you most reasonably infer?

  1. Maya is getting ready to go to work.
  2. It is raining and cold outside. Correct answer.
  3. Maya has just woken up from a long nap.
  4. The tea is too hot for Maya to drink.

Explanation

An inference is a conclusion supported by clues in the text. The dripping coat and umbrella point to rain, and holding the tea with both hands suggests cold. The passage does not support the other conclusions.

Question 31Key Ideas and Details

Three years ago, a vacant lot on Elm Street was full of weeds and trash. Neighbors cleared it, built raised beds, and planted vegetables. Today they share the harvest, and children from nearby apartments come to help water the plants. What is the main idea of the passage?

  1. Raised beds are the best way to grow vegetables.
  2. Children enjoy watering plants.
  3. Weeds are very difficult to remove from vacant lots.
  4. A vacant lot became a shared neighborhood garden. Correct answer.

Explanation

The main idea summarizes the whole passage: a trash-filled lot was turned into a garden used by neighbors. The other choices focus on a single detail or make a claim the passage does not support.

Question 32Key Ideas and Details

A camel's hump does not store water. It is made mostly of fat, which the animal can break down for energy when food is scarce. A camel's body also conserves water by producing dry dung and little urine. What is the camel's hump mostly made of?

  1. bone
  2. muscle
  3. water
  4. fat Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage explicitly states that the hump is made mostly of fat. It also corrects the common belief that the hump stores water. The other materials are not mentioned.

Question 33Key Ideas and Details

When the town's only bookstore closed, retired teacher Helen Park opened a small shop in an old garage. She stocked used books and invited local authors to read on Saturdays. Within a year, the shop had become a gathering place for readers of all ages. Which sentence best summarizes the passage?

  1. Local authors prefer to give readings in garages rather than in stores.
  2. A retired teacher's bookstore became a community gathering place. Correct answer.
  3. The town's only bookstore closed because the rent was too high.
  4. A retired teacher refuses to sell used books in her shop.

Explanation

A good summary captures the central point without adding unsupported details. The passage is about Helen Park opening a bookstore that grew into a community spot. The other choices either add information or misstate the facts.

Question 34Key Ideas and Details

A note taped to the apartment door read: "Dana-the key is under the blue pot. I fed the cat at 7. Back Sunday." What is most likely true?

  1. Dana has lost the only key to the apartment.
  2. The note was written by Dana herself.
  3. The cat has not been fed recently.
  4. Dana has been away and is expected back. Correct answer.

Explanation

The note leaves a key and mentions feeding the cat and returning Sunday, which suggests Dana has been gone. The note is addressed to Dana, so someone else wrote it. The other choices contradict details in the note.

Question 35Key Ideas and Details

During sleep, the brain replays patterns of activity from the day. In studies, people who slept after learning a list of words recalled more of them than people who stayed awake. Sleep appears to help stabilize new memories. What is the central idea of the passage?

  1. Dreaming is more important than learning.
  2. People remember more when they stay awake all night.
  3. Sleep helps the brain preserve new memories. Correct answer.
  4. Word lists are the best way to test memory.

Explanation

The passage presents evidence that sleep improves recall and concludes that sleep helps stabilize memories. The other choices either contradict the evidence or focus on details not central to the passage.

Question 36Key Ideas and Details

Roman engineers built roads in layers. They dug a trench, placed large stones at the bottom, added layers of gravel and sand, and topped it with smooth paving stones. The roads were slightly arched so rainwater drained off to the sides. Why were Roman roads slightly arched?

  1. to drain rainwater Correct answer.
  2. to mark distances between towns
  3. to slow down heavy carts
  4. to make paving stones fit together

Explanation

The passage gives the reason directly: the arch let rainwater drain off to the sides. The other purposes are not mentioned. This is a supporting-detail question about a stated cause.

Question 37Key Ideas and Details

To test which paper towel absorbs the most water, place three brands in separate bowls with 100 mL of water. After two minutes, lift each towel and let it drip for ten seconds. Then measure the water left in each bowl. What is done immediately before measuring the leftover water?

  1. Pour 100 mL of water into each bowl.
  2. Lift the towels and let them drip. Correct answer.
  3. Place the towels in the bowls.
  4. Compare the three brands of towel.

Explanation

The steps are given in order, and the last step before measuring is lifting the towels to drip. Placing and pouring happen earlier. Comparing brands is the overall purpose, not a step in the procedure.

Question 38Key Ideas and Details

When a nonnative vine was planted along a riverbank, it grew quickly and formed dense mats. The mats blocked sunlight, and native water plants below died. Fish that depended on those plants for cover also declined. What directly caused the native water plants to die?

  1. The river dried up completely.
  2. Fish ate the native plants.
  3. The vines added oxygen to the water.
  4. The vines blocked sunlight. Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage states that the mats blocked sunlight, which killed the plants below. The fish decline came after the plants died, so fish did not cause the plant loss. The other choices are not supported.

Question 39Key Ideas and Details

The town replaced faded street signs with larger signs that reflect headlights. Drivers reported fewer wrong turns at night. The project cost more than expected, but the town plans to finish the remaining intersections next year. Which sentence best summarizes the passage?

  1. New signs helped drivers, and the town will continue. Correct answer.
  2. The town wasted a great deal of money on a project that failed.
  3. Drivers disliked the larger signs at night.
  4. The town has finished replacing every sign.

Explanation

The summary must include the positive result and the plan to continue. The passage says wrong turns fell and the town will finish later. The other choices contradict the passage.

Question 40Key Ideas and Details

A bakery tracked its bread sales for one week: Monday 40 loaves, Tuesday 42, Wednesday 45, Thursday 41, Friday 60, Saturday 75, Sunday 30. Which conclusion is best supported by the data?

  1. Sales stayed almost the same all week long.
  2. Wednesday sales were lower than Monday sales.
  3. The bakery sold the most bread on Sunday.
  4. Sales were highest on Saturday. Correct answer.

Explanation

Saturday's total of 75 loaves is the highest number in the list. Sunday's total of 30 is the lowest, and sales vary widely during the week. Wednesday's 45 is higher than Monday's 40.

Question 41Key Ideas and Details

A young painter spent weeks on a mural. When rain washed away the paint, she rebuilt it with waterproof colors. Later, when the wall was torn down, she used the same colors on a new wall. Which theme is best supported by the story?

  1. Rain ruins all outdoor artwork.
  2. Artists should avoid working outside.
  3. Walls should never be painted.
  4. Setbacks can lead to better solutions. Correct answer.

Explanation

A theme is a broader lesson the story illustrates. The painter responds to each loss by adapting and improving her method. The other choices are narrow statements not supported by the outcome.

Question 42Key Ideas and Details

Rooftop gardens are planted on top of buildings. They absorb rainwater that would otherwise run into storm drains, and they insulate buildings, reducing heating and cooling costs. In dense cities, they also give birds and insects small patches of habitat. What is the main idea of the passage?

  1. Storm drains are the main cause of flooding.
  2. Birds prefer to live on top of tall buildings.
  3. Rooftop gardens are too expensive for most cities to build.
  4. Rooftop gardens offer several practical benefits. Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage lists three advantages of rooftop gardens, so the main idea is that they have practical benefits. The passage does not discuss cost, flooding causes, or bird preferences.

Question 43Key Ideas and Details

For centuries, lighthouse keepers trimmed wicks, polished lenses, and recorded weather. The job required staying awake through the night and being ready to help ships in distress. Automated lights replaced most keepers in the 20th century. According to the passage, what was one duty of a lighthouse keeper?

  1. building new lenses for lamps
  2. recording weather conditions Correct answer.
  3. selling supplies to sailors
  4. repairing damaged ships

Explanation

The passage lists recording weather among the keeper's duties. The other tasks either are not mentioned or confuse the keeper's work with other jobs. This is a stated-detail question.

Question 44Key Ideas and Details

When the letter arrived, Luis read it once, then read it again. He folded it slowly, put it in his pocket, and walked outside without his coat. What does Luis's behavior most suggest?

  1. He is distracted by important news. Correct answer.
  2. He is angry at the mail carrier.
  3. He is excited about a party invitation.
  4. He is planning to buy a new coat.

Explanation

Reading the letter twice and going outside without a coat suggest that Luis is absorbed by what he read. The passage gives no clue about a party, anger at the carrier, or shopping. The inference should stay close to the textual clues.

Question 45Key Ideas and Details

Trains and buses both carry many passengers at once. Trains run on fixed tracks and are often faster over long distances, while buses can change routes and reach neighborhoods without tracks. For short trips within a city, buses are usually more flexible. According to the passage, what advantage do buses have?

  1. They can change routes. Correct answer.
  2. They carry more passengers than trains.
  3. They are always faster than trains.
  4. They run on fixed tracks.

Explanation

The passage contrasts the two modes and says buses can change routes. Trains are described as often faster over long distances and as running on fixed tracks. The passage says both carry many passengers, not that buses carry more.

Question 46Key Ideas and Details

Some plants release chemicals into the soil that slow the growth of nearby plants. This is called allelopathy. Farmers can use it by planting certain cover crops between seasons; the chemicals suppress weeds without added herbicides. How does the example of cover crops support the main idea?

  1. It proves that weeds are stronger than crops.
  2. It shows that allelopathy can help farmers. Correct answer.
  3. It describes the process by which chemical herbicides are made.
  4. It explains why plants need soil to grow.

Explanation

The main idea is that plants can affect other plants through chemicals. The cover-crop example shows a practical use of that idea, so it supports the claim that allelopathy can benefit people. The other choices misread the example.

Question 47Key Ideas and Details

The new park is touted as a triumph of planning. Yet its paths lead nowhere in particular, its benches face a parking lot, and its lone tree stands in a concrete square. Calling it a park requires generous imagination. What is the author's attitude toward the park?

  1. critical Correct answer.
  2. puzzled
  3. admiring
  4. indifferent

Explanation

The author uses sarcasm and lists flaws such as paths that lead nowhere and benches facing a parking lot. The phrase "requires generous imagination" signals disapproval. Admiring and indifferent do not fit the negative details.

Question 48Key Ideas and Details

For decades, city planners widened roads to reduce traffic. Studies later showed that wider roads often attract more drivers, and congestion returns. Some cities now remove lanes or add tolls, and traffic in those places has fallen. The results vary, but the old assumption is no longer accepted. Which sentence best summarizes the passage?

  1. Widening roads is the most reliable way to reduce traffic congestion.
  2. Wider roads do not reliably reduce traffic, so some cities try the opposite. Correct answer.
  3. City planners have completely stopped building new roads in recent years.
  4. Most drivers strongly dislike paying tolls on roads they already use every day.

Explanation

A strong summary includes both the challenged assumption and the new approaches. The passage says wider roads often fail to reduce congestion and that some cities now remove lanes or add tolls. The other choices overstate or add unsupported claims.

Question 49Key Ideas and Details

A dam built upstream reduced the flow of fresh water into an estuary. Without fresh water, salt levels rose. Oysters, which need lower salt levels to reproduce, stopped forming new beds. The birds that fed on oysters moved elsewhere. Which chain best shows the effects described in the passage?

  1. salt → dam → oysters → birds
  2. dam → less fresh water → more salt → fewer oysters Correct answer.
  3. dam → more fresh water → more oysters → more birds
  4. birds → oysters → salt → dam

Explanation

The passage presents a chain of causes and effects starting with the dam. Less fresh water led to higher salt, which harmed oyster reproduction. The other chains reverse the order or contradict the passage.

Question 50Key Ideas and Details

Some historians argue that the printing press caused an immediate revolution in reading. Others point out that for decades after its invention, most people still could not read, and books remained expensive. The press did spread ideas faster, but its effects unfolded gradually rather than overnight. What is the central idea of the passage?

  1. Most historians agree the press caused an instant revolution in reading.
  2. The press spread ideas faster, but its impact was gradual. Correct answer.
  3. The printing press had no effect on reading.
  4. Books became cheap immediately after the press appeared.

Explanation

The passage balances two claims and concludes that the press sped up the spread of ideas while its effects came slowly. The other choices either deny the press's effect or overstate the speed of change.