ACCUPLACER Reading Practice Test

Try our free Next-Generation Accuplacer Reading practice test. The Accuplacer Reading test includes 20 multiple choice questions. It measures your reading comprehension in four categories: Ideas, rhetoric, synthesis, and vocabulary. Read each passage carefully and then answer the questions that follow.

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Question 1
In this passage, two teenagers decide to steal from a local bodega.

(1) As Marie placed her hand on the cold handle of the door, she felt a chill run through her body. (2) Her parents would be home soon, wondering where she was, but this was something she had to do. (3) She looked back at Jessica, who only yesterday was mocking Marie in front of their classmates for her braces and good grades, and thought she saw a hint of worry on Jessica’s face. (4) If it had been worry Marie saw on Jessica’s face, it was quickly gone, replaced with a steely stare that shoved Marie through the door and into the bodega. (5) Marie didn’t go immediately to the thing she desired; she was too smart for that. (6) She was not practiced in deception, though, and when the clerk looked up at her, Marie began to panic. (7) How would she react to the cashier on a normal day? (8) Should she say “hi”? (9) Marie settled on a friendly nod, and wondered if this movement of her head was enough to distract the cashier from her eyes, which she thought look like a small child screaming for help through the window of a moving car.

(10) The cashier said nothing, though, and Marie went over to look at the magazines on the rack near the cooler. (11) As she blankly looked at the magazines, Marie eyed the cashier, who was now on her phone; Marie decided now was the time to make her way over to the small bottles she couldn’t take her mind off. (12) She didn’t drink, but that didn’t matter; Jessica did, and Marie could feel her eyes through the wall. (13) Marie pocketed a fifth of tequila, grabbed a candy bar, and hurried to the front of the store. (14) The cashier, startled to suddenly see Marie in front of her, took the candy and scanned it. (15) Marie handed her some money, and picked up pace as she reached the door. (16) The sunlight peeked through the opening as she pushed forward–

(17) “Hey!” She heard from behind her. She trembled. (18) “You forgot your change.” (19) Marie was so relieved she almost didn’t hear the glass breaking below her as she turned. She looked down at the agave puddle of her shame, sighed, and stepped towards the counter.
 

The imagery in sentence 4 is mainly intended to reinforce the passage’s depiction of Marie as

A
afraid of what she is about to do.
B
seasoned at this kind of thing.
C
reluctantly following someone’s directions.
D
physically unable to deny Jessica.
Question 1 Explanation: 
Answer choice (C) is correct because sentence 4 mentions how Jessica’s “steely stare shove[s] Marie through the door.” She is being encouraged by Jessica’s look. Answer choice (D) might be tempting, but since it is the look that “shoved” Marie through the door, there’s no indication of Marie being physically forced to participate in this robbery.
Question 2
In this passage, two teenagers decide to steal from a local bodega.

(1) As Marie placed her hand on the cold handle of the door, she felt a chill run through her body. (2) Her parents would be home soon, wondering where she was, but this was something she had to do. (3) She looked back at Jessica, who only yesterday was mocking Marie in front of their classmates for her braces and good grades, and thought she saw a hint of worry on Jessica’s face. (4) If it had been worry Marie saw on Jessica’s face, it was quickly gone, replaced with a steely stare that shoved Marie through the door and into the bodega. (5) Marie didn’t go immediately to the thing she desired; she was too smart for that. (6) She was not practiced in deception, though, and when the clerk looked up at her, Marie began to panic. (7) How would she react to the cashier on a normal day? (8) Should she say “hi”? (9) Marie settled on a friendly nod, and wondered if this movement of her head was enough to distract the cashier from her eyes, which she thought look like a small child screaming for help through the window of a moving car.

(10) The cashier said nothing, though, and Marie went over to look at the magazines on the rack near the cooler. (11) As she blankly looked at the magazines, Marie eyed the cashier, who was now on her phone; Marie decided now was the time to make her way over to the small bottles she couldn’t take her mind off. (12) She didn’t drink, but that didn’t matter; Jessica did, and Marie could feel her eyes through the wall. (13) Marie pocketed a fifth of tequila, grabbed a candy bar, and hurried to the front of the store. (14) The cashier, startled to suddenly see Marie in front of her, took the candy and scanned it. (15) Marie handed her some money, and picked up pace as she reached the door. (16) The sunlight peeked through the opening as she pushed forward–

(17) “Hey!” She heard from behind her. She trembled. (18) “You forgot your change.” (19) Marie was so relieved she almost didn’t hear the glass breaking below her as she turned. She looked down at the agave puddle of her shame, sighed, and stepped towards the counter.
 

Based on the passage, which of the following characterizes Marie’s feelings when she worries that her eyes “look like a small child screaming for help through the window of a moving car” (sentence 9)?

A
Marie is being held captive and forced to do something against her will.
B
Marie does not think she is hiding her guilt very well.
C
It makes Marie feel childish whenever her parents force her to do something.
D
Marie knows that Jessica is in the car, waiting, and she has no choice but to continue to act as her prisoner.
Question 2 Explanation: 
Answer choice (B) is correct because Marie is trying to act normal in front of the cashier and is worried that she is failing at it. She worries that if the cashier were to look at her eyes, she would know that Marie is about to do something she doesn’t want to do. While answer choices (A) and (D) might be tempting, it would be an exaggeration to say that Marie is being held prisoner or forced against her will. It’s more likely that she is just the victim of peer pressure and has gotten in over her head.
Question 3
In this passage, two teenagers decide to steal from a local bodega.

(1) As Marie placed her hand on the cold handle of the door, she felt a chill run through her body. (2) Her parents would be home soon, wondering where she was, but this was something she had to do. (3) She looked back at Jessica, who only yesterday was mocking Marie in front of their classmates for her braces and good grades, and thought she saw a hint of worry on Jessica’s face. (4) If it had been worry Marie saw on Jessica’s face, it was quickly gone, replaced with a steely stare that shoved Marie through the door and into the bodega. (5) Marie didn’t go immediately to the thing she desired; she was too smart for that. (6) She was not practiced in deception, though, and when the clerk looked up at her, Marie began to panic. (7) How would she react to the cashier on a normal day? (8) Should she say “hi”? (9) Marie settled on a friendly nod, and wondered if this movement of her head was enough to distract the cashier from her eyes, which she thought look like a small child screaming for help through the window of a moving car.

(10) The cashier said nothing, though, and Marie went over to look at the magazines on the rack near the cooler. (11) As she blankly looked at the magazines, Marie eyed the cashier, who was now on her phone; Marie decided now was the time to make her way over to the small bottles she couldn’t take her mind off. (12) She didn’t drink, but that didn’t matter; Jessica did, and Marie could feel her eyes through the wall. (13) Marie pocketed a fifth of tequila, grabbed a candy bar, and hurried to the front of the store. (14) The cashier, startled to suddenly see Marie in front of her, took the candy and scanned it. (15) Marie handed her some money, and picked up pace as she reached the door. (16) The sunlight peeked through the opening as she pushed forward–

(17) “Hey!” She heard from behind her. She trembled. (18) “You forgot your change.” (19) Marie was so relieved she almost didn’t hear the glass breaking below her as she turned. She looked down at the agave puddle of her shame, sighed, and stepped towards the counter.
 

The final sentence of the passage implies that which of the following happens next in the story?

A
Marie will admit to what she has done and face the consequences.
B
Jessica will come in and help Marie rob the bodega.
C
The cashier knew about the plan and will help Marie.
D
Marie will make a run for it and try to escape.
Question 3 Explanation: 
Answer choice (A) is correct because Marie’s final actions are to sigh and step towards the counter. It would only make sense that she is going to tell the cashier what happened. There is no evidence to imply that any of the other answer choices will occur.
Question 4
In this passage, two teenagers decide to steal from a local bodega.

(1) As Marie placed her hand on the cold handle of the door, she felt a chill run through her body. (2) Her parents would be home soon, wondering where she was, but this was something she had to do. (3) She looked back at Jessica, who only yesterday was mocking Marie in front of their classmates for her braces and good grades, and thought she saw a hint of worry on Jessica’s face. (4) If it had been worry Marie saw on Jessica’s face, it was quickly gone, replaced with a steely stare that shoved Marie through the door and into the bodega. (5) Marie didn’t go immediately to the thing she desired; she was too smart for that. (6) She was not practiced in deception, though, and when the clerk looked up at her, Marie began to panic. (7) How would she react to the cashier on a normal day? (8) Should she say “hi”? (9) Marie settled on a friendly nod, and wondered if this movement of her head was enough to distract the cashier from her eyes, which she thought look like a small child screaming for help through the window of a moving car.

(10) The cashier said nothing, though, and Marie went over to look at the magazines on the rack near the cooler. (11) As she blankly looked at the magazines, Marie eyed the cashier, who was now on her phone; Marie decided now was the time to make her way over to the small bottles she couldn’t take her mind off. (12) She didn’t drink, but that didn’t matter; Jessica did, and Marie could feel her eyes through the wall. (13) Marie pocketed a fifth of tequila, grabbed a candy bar, and hurried to the front of the store. (14) The cashier, startled to suddenly see Marie in front of her, took the candy and scanned it. (15) Marie handed her some money, and picked up pace as she reached the door. (16) The sunlight peeked through the opening as she pushed forward–

(17) “Hey!” She heard from behind her. She trembled. (18) “You forgot your change.” (19) Marie was so relieved she almost didn’t hear the glass breaking below her as she turned. She looked down at the agave puddle of her shame, sighed, and stepped towards the counter.
 

The contrast between Marie and Jessica described in sentence 12 reinforces which of the following assumptions we can make about the two girls?

A
Jessica and Marie, though different, are very close friends.
B
Marie is the one in the store because she is the brave one of the two.
C
Jessica cares a lot for Marie, more so than Marie cares for her.
D
Jessica is leading this robbery; Marie doesn’t want to do it.
Question 4 Explanation: 
Answer choice (D) is correct because Marie is participating in this robbery even though she doesn’t even want what she’s stealing. According to the passage, Jessica wants it and that’s all that matters.
Question 5
Passage 1

The refugee crisis at America’s southern border with Mexico has become untenable. Thousands of people have chosen to leave their homes in Central and even South America to make the trek to America’s border, often walking hundreds of miles, in order to escape violence, war, gangs, and other life-threatening problems. Instead of receiving these refugees with compassion and care, this administration has begun putting them in cages, separating children from parents, and treating them as if they are less than human.

While our government assures Americans that they are taking the best care to ensure the safety of these refugees as they decide what to do with them, reports from these detention sites paint a different picture. Stories of disease, malnutrition, and death arise daily. What are we doing to take care of these refugees, particularly the refugees who are under age? Reports have now been released that the government has lost (yes, LOST) over a thousand children and that hundreds of other children have had to endure sexual abuse while in custody.

These refugees need our help. They left their homes in fear and walked hundreds of miles to find someone they hoped would be able to help. Instead, we’ve put them in a cage and dehumanized them. Reach out to your local congressman and asked them to challenge the President over his administration’s treatment of these poor people.

Passage 2

Studies have proven that the majority of the illegal recreational drugs that are ravaging America’s small towns come through our southern border. The thing America needs most is secure borders. We may be a country that has historically been accepting of immigrants, but we can’t sit idly by while criminals and drugs march through our doors and into our innocent, small towns.

We don’t have to stop all immigration at our southern border, but it’s smart for our border agents to detain these people so they can be effectively vetted. We can let refugees find safety inside our country’s borders, but we need to first make sure they aren’t a threat to our livelihood. If people were coming into your house, wouldn’t you want to know who they were?

Many liberals want to completely open our borders and let everyone inside, but this just isn’t smart. If we do this, the violence and crime in areas of Mexico and Guatemala will just move into our towns. If nothing else, the government exists to keep its people safe, and letting this crime bleed into our country endangers everyone in it.
 

The main purpose of the last paragraph of Passage 1 is to

A
provide a contradictory point of view.
B
call the audience to action.
C
provide data for claims the author has made throughout the passage.
D
introduce a direct refutation of Passage 2.
Question 5 Explanation: 
Answer choice (B) is correct because the author specifically asks the audience to call their representative and try to make a change. While that author of Passage 2 would disagree with this action, there’s no evidence to suggest that the author’s intent in this paragraph is to refute Passage 2.
Question 6
Passage 1

The refugee crisis at America’s southern border with Mexico has become untenable. Thousands of people have chosen to leave their homes in Central and even South America to make the trek to America’s border, often walking hundreds of miles, in order to escape violence, war, gangs, and other life-threatening problems. Instead of receiving these refugees with compassion and care, this administration has begun putting them in cages, separating children from parents, and treating them as if they are less than human.

While our government assures Americans that they are taking the best care to ensure the safety of these refugees as they decide what to do with them, reports from these detention sites paint a different picture. Stories of disease, malnutrition, and death arise daily. What are we doing to take care of these refugees, particularly the refugees who are under age? Reports have now been released that the government has lost (yes, LOST) over a thousand children and that hundreds of other children have had to endure sexual abuse while in custody.

These refugees need our help. They left their homes in fear and walked hundreds of miles to find someone they hoped would be able to help. Instead, we’ve put them in a cage and dehumanized them. Reach out to your local congressman and asked them to challenge the President over his administration’s treatment of these poor people.

Passage 2

Studies have proven that the majority of the illegal recreational drugs that are ravaging America’s small towns come through our southern border. The thing America needs most is secure borders. We may be a country that has historically been accepting of immigrants, but we can’t sit idly by while criminals and drugs march through our doors and into our innocent, small towns.

We don’t have to stop all immigration at our southern border, but it’s smart for our border agents to detain these people so they can be effectively vetted. We can let refugees find safety inside our country’s borders, but we need to first make sure they aren’t a threat to our livelihood. If people were coming into your house, wouldn’t you want to know who they were?

Many liberals want to completely open our borders and let everyone inside, but this just isn’t smart. If we do this, the violence and crime in areas of Mexico and Guatemala will just move into our towns. If nothing else, the government exists to keep its people safe, and letting this crime bleed into our country endangers everyone in it.
 

Which choice best describes the relationship between Passage 1 and Passage 2?

A
Passage 1 discusses opening America’s borders to everyone, while Passage 2 argues that America’s borders should be closed to all.
B
Passage 1 is supported mostly by specific data, while Passage 2 is supported mostly by emotional anecdotes.
C
Passage 1 argues for human rights at America’s southern border, while Passage 2 advocates for America’s right to secure the border until each potential citizen has been properly vetted.
D
Passage 1 and Passage 2 explore different aspects of the immigration issue, but they generally agree with each other.
Question 6 Explanation: 
Answer choice (C) is correct because it accurately describes the contrasting relationship between the two passages. Answer choice (A) also displays this contrasting relationship, but it oversimplifies each author’s stance. The author to Passage 1 doesn’t say that America’s border should be completely open, nor does Passage 2 suggest that America should be closed to all immigrants.
Question 7
Passage 1

The refugee crisis at America’s southern border with Mexico has become untenable. Thousands of people have chosen to leave their homes in Central and even South America to make the trek to America’s border, often walking hundreds of miles, in order to escape violence, war, gangs, and other life-threatening problems. Instead of receiving these refugees with compassion and care, this administration has begun putting them in cages, separating children from parents, and treating them as if they are less than human.

While our government assures Americans that they are taking the best care to ensure the safety of these refugees as they decide what to do with them, reports from these detention sites paint a different picture. Stories of disease, malnutrition, and death arise daily. What are we doing to take care of these refugees, particularly the refugees who are under age? Reports have now been released that the government has lost (yes, LOST) over a thousand children and that hundreds of other children have had to endure sexual abuse while in custody.

These refugees need our help. They left their homes in fear and walked hundreds of miles to find someone they hoped would be able to help. Instead, we’ve put them in a cage and dehumanized them. Reach out to your local congressman and asked them to challenge the President over his administration’s treatment of these poor people.

Passage 2

Studies have proven that the majority of the illegal recreational drugs that are ravaging America’s small towns come through our southern border. The thing America needs most is secure borders. We may be a country that has historically been accepting of immigrants, but we can’t sit idly by while criminals and drugs march through our doors and into our innocent, small towns.

We don’t have to stop all immigration at our southern border, but it’s smart for our border agents to detain these people so they can be effectively vetted. We can let refugees find safety inside our country’s borders, but we need to first make sure they aren’t a threat to our livelihood. If people were coming into your house, wouldn’t you want to know who they were?

Many liberals want to completely open our borders and let everyone inside, but this just isn’t smart. If we do this, the violence and crime in areas of Mexico and Guatemala will just move into our towns. If nothing else, the government exists to keep its people safe, and letting this crime bleed into our country endangers everyone in it.
 

The main purpose of the last paragraph of Passage 2 is to

A
call the audience to action.
B
contrast the main idea of Passage 1.
C
instill fear in the audience.
D
provide a specific solution to a problem.
Question 7 Explanation: 
Answer choice (C) is correct because the author wants to use fear to encourage their audience to believe that America needs more secure borders. While this certainly contrasts Passage 1 (B), there is no evidence that Passage 2 was written in response to Passage 1. Similarly, the author is not providing a specific solution (D), but rather a vague suggestion. Without a specific goal, the author is also not really calling the audience to action (A).
Question 8
Passage 1

The refugee crisis at America’s southern border with Mexico has become untenable. Thousands of people have chosen to leave their homes in Central and even South America to make the trek to America’s border, often walking hundreds of miles, in order to escape violence, war, gangs, and other life-threatening problems. Instead of receiving these refugees with compassion and care, this administration has begun putting them in cages, separating children from parents, and treating them as if they are less than human.

While our government assures Americans that they are taking the best care to ensure the safety of these refugees as they decide what to do with them, reports from these detention sites paint a different picture. Stories of disease, malnutrition, and death arise daily. What are we doing to take care of these refugees, particularly the refugees who are under age? Reports have now been released that the government has lost (yes, LOST) over a thousand children and that hundreds of other children have had to endure sexual abuse while in custody.

These refugees need our help. They left their homes in fear and walked hundreds of miles to find someone they hoped would be able to help. Instead, we’ve put them in a cage and dehumanized them. Reach out to your local congressman and asked them to challenge the President over his administration’s treatment of these poor people.

Passage 2

Studies have proven that the majority of the illegal recreational drugs that are ravaging America’s small towns come through our southern border. The thing America needs most is secure borders. We may be a country that has historically been accepting of immigrants, but we can’t sit idly by while criminals and drugs march through our doors and into our innocent, small towns.

We don’t have to stop all immigration at our southern border, but it’s smart for our border agents to detain these people so they can be effectively vetted. We can let refugees find safety inside our country’s borders, but we need to first make sure they aren’t a threat to our livelihood. If people were coming into your house, wouldn’t you want to know who they were?

Many liberals want to completely open our borders and let everyone inside, but this just isn’t smart. If we do this, the violence and crime in areas of Mexico and Guatemala will just move into our towns. If nothing else, the government exists to keep its people safe, and letting this crime bleed into our country endangers everyone in it.
 

Given the arguments in each of these passages, with which statement would the authors of both passages most likely agree?

A
Allowing immigrants into America makes the country better.
B
A wall across the American-Mexican border would curb drug trafficking in America.
C
America is not handling Central and South American refugees with the care they deserve.
D
There is a serious problem at the southern border of America that needs to be prioritized.
Question 8 Explanation: 
Answer choice (D) is correct because both authors describe a problem at the American-Mexican border. The two authors have different ideas on what that problem is, but they both agree that there is a problem. Each of the other answer choices represents an opinion that one of these authors would agree with, but not the other.
Question 9
As technology advances at an exponential level, people wonder whether traditional institutions like public libraries will even be necessary. Every year, people are able to access more information and do it faster, so do we even need to have a city-funded building where people can gather to obtain information they have in their pockets? These kinds of questions, though, stem for a very narrow understanding of what a public library is, and what it can provide to a community.

When we think of public libraries, we understandably think of books. But public libraries aren’t just buildings with lots of books, they’re community centers. If you look at the calendar of your local library, you’ll likely see any number of activities that service the community, like yoga classes, book readings for children, and even addiction therapy group meetings. We also have to consider that while the majority of people have smart phones and WIFI at their fingertips, not everyone does. Public libraries give people a place to read, use computers, and generally find knowledge without having to pay a huge media bill.
 

What is the structural purpose for the final sentence of the second paragraph?

A
It provides a potential solution to the problem introduced earlier in the paragraph.
B
It shows reverence to the opposing opinion before explain why that opinion is incorrect.
C
It marks a shift in the author’s opinion from supporting libraries to denouncing them as wasteful.
D
It serves as a transition into a discussion of everything that a library provides to a community.
Question 9 Explanation: 
Answer choice (D) is correct because the final sentence of the paragraph criticizes the opinion narrowness of the opposing paragraph in order to transition into the next paragraph, which will explore the author’s opinion. Answer choice (B) is tempting because the sentence mentions the opposing argument, but the sentence is far from “reverent” towards this opinion.
Question 10
When I needed to rent a tuxedo for my Senior prom, I went to a local store and sifted through the dusty clothes they had been hanging in their showroom for 30 years and tried to pick out the best their puny selection had to offer. Today’s teenagers have other options, though, that open them up to more options for less money. The rise of online clothes rentals stores is one of the most surprising outcomes of the technological revolution. These stores provide a large selection, lower prices, and the ever-tantalizing ability to do all your shopping without leaving home.
 

In the passage, the use of “sifted,” “dusty,” and “puny” serve mainly to emphasize the

A
narrator's love of internet-based clothing companies.
B
narrator's frustration with technology.
C
narrator’s distaste for formal clothing.
D
narrator's low opinion of traditional tuxedo rental stores.
Question 10 Explanation: 
Answer choice (D) is correct because the narrator is being critical of the way things used to be in favor of the way things are now. Answer choice (A) might be tempting, but these words are not praising new trends, but rather condemning old ones.
Question 11
After the recent capture of the alleged “Golden State Killer,” who is currently awaiting trial on over 20 counts of murder, law enforcement agencies are looking to expand their ability to gather evidence in the course of their investigations. In order to catch the Golden State Killer, law enforcement officers used data from a popular DNA profile company, Ancestry. Officials took a DNA sample from one of his crime scenes, and ran it through Ancestry’s database. When the DNA from the crime scene matched one of Ancestry’s users, officials investigated the user and found that he had a relative who fit the profile they already had on the killer.

Evidence from a DNA profile site led officials to the door of a man they may not have been able to find any other way, but it has also called into question the ethics of law enforcement agencies being able to access the database of sites like Ancestry in the course of their investigations. Opponents of this process see it as an invasion of privacy, while proponents of it argue that if consumers are willingly giving their DNA to a company, they must accept that it could be used against them by police. Whether you support the practice or not, it’s hard to argue with the results in the case of the Golden State Killer. Law enforcement was able to catch someone who has terrorized, raped, and murdered dozens of people over the last 30 years, a man who likely would have lived the rest of his life unnoticed if they hadn’t used this method to catch him.
 

The second paragraph marks a shift in the passage from a discussion of

A
a specific case to the effect that case might have on the future of law enforcement.
B
the early days of DNA evidence to how it’s used in modern investigations.
C
the psychological profile of a serial killer to an overview of the American serial killer epidemic.
D
DNA evidence in America to a discussion of its use around the globe.
Question 11 Explanation: 
Answer choice (A) is correct because the writer uses the first paragraph of the passage to discuss a specific case, and then uses the second paragraph to explain the impact of that single case. None of the other answer choices are reflected in the passage.
Question 12
I never wanted cats. I’ve always loved animals, but I was more of a dog person. I wanted a pet that would give me love and comfort, and cats always seemed more self-sufficient than loving and affectionate. But when I realized my landlord wouldn’t allow me to have a dog, I was distraught. I found myself still looking on pet websites even though I knew I couldn’t get a dog. That’s when I saw the cutest cat I had ever seen. I had to have her, and when I found out she had a brother, I had to have him, too.

I reached out to the owner and when she told me both kittens were available, I jumped in my car without another thought. They were 45 minutes away, and I wanted them in my arms as soon as possible. I was about halfway to their city, though, when I realized I didn’t know where to go. The cats’ profiles on the site didn’t have an address, and the owner wasn’t picking up her phone. I never thought I wanted a cat, and now I was in tears at the thought of losing these two kittens I had never met. After some online research, though, I was able to find an address, and rushed there as quickly as I could. Luckily, they were still available, and I fell in love with them immediately.
 

Based on the context of the passage, “distraught” most nearly means which of the following?

A
Extremely depressed
B
Deeply upset
C
Unable to move
D
Overly tired
Question 12 Explanation: 
Answer choice (B) is correct because the narrator is clearly upset that she can’t get a dog. Answer choice (A) might be tempting, but “extremely depressed” is too strong of a phrase for what the narrator is feeling. She is upset, but she is able to figure out a solution.
Question 13
When the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced their Best Picture nominees for 2018 on January 22, 2019, many rejoiced the Academy’s recognition of Black Panther, the most popular movie of the year. Others, however, pointed to the nomination as a placation of the movie’s fans, arguing that while it was a good movie, it was far from the best picture of the year. While Black Panther didn’t win the award for Best Picture, its nomination is important. Even if Black Panther was not the best picture of the year, it certainly was the most important. Movies that change the landscape of movies for years to come deserve to be recognized, though, so Black Panther’s nomination is entirely deserved. If the Academy doesn’t use their award show to recognize the people who are revolutionizing their industry, what’s the point of giving out awards at all?
 

The rhetorical question at the end of the passage serves mainly to

A
question the decision-making abilities of the Academy that nominated Black Panther.
B
emphasize how good of a film Black Panther was.
C
reinforce the author’s opinion that Black Panther deserved a Best Picture nomination.
D
call the audience to action and ask them to contact the Academy.
Question 13 Explanation: 
Answer choice (C) is correct because the author’s argument is that Black Panther deserved a nomination because it was an important film. Answer choice (B) is incorrect because the only time the author mentions the quality of the movie is when he writes, “even if Black Panther was not the best picture of the year . . .”
Question 14
The Home Box Office Channel, or HBO, was founded in 1978, and while it gained popularity rather quickly, it took almost 25 years for entertainment companies to really see the potential for subscription-service entertainment. HBO was long seen as a luxury, something that wasn’t a viable business plan in a congested market. HBO was taking the market share, and other companies would just be trying to squeeze into a market that was too small for anyone else. Plenty of other services arose, and some were successful (like Showtime), but it took until the early 2000’s for the entertainment industry to understand the true potential of pay-for-programming services. It’s around that time that HBO began expanding to provide more original content, driving a large spike in subscribers. It was also around that time that Netflix began changing the entertainment world forever. Now, there are a seemingly infinite number of streaming services that customers are willing to pay to receive, and it makes people in the entertainment industry wonder whether they should have learned from the HBO model a little earlier.
 

When the writer says, “it took almost 25 years for entertainment companies to really see the potential for subscription-service entertainment,” she most likely means that

A
HBO’s business model wasn’t viable in the 1980’s.
B
the entertainment industry rejected HBO when it was first developed.
C
the entertainment industry still hasn’t learned its lesson.
D
subscription-service entertainment is currently very popular.
Question 14 Explanation: 
Answer choice (D) is correct because the writer is implying that it took them 25 years to see the potential, but they see it now. None of the other choices are a viable option.
Question 15
There may be nothing more dangerous in our modern-day world than stress, which is specifically linked to six different causes of death: heart disease, cancer, lung ailments, accidents, cirrhosis of the liver, and suicide. On top of that, it’s very difficult to treat, as it often stems from the problems that people face in their everyday lives. Some adults have found a unique way to cope with their stress-levels, though: coloring books.

Coloring books are no longer just for children, and studies are supporting a current movement towards adults using coloring books as a way to manage their stress. According to experts, coloring can reduce stress, relieve anxiety, and help foster feelings of accomplishment. Coloring works a lot like meditation; by coloring, a person gives their brain something fun, creative, and manageable to focus on. Coloring in a coloring book may not be a clinical solution to things like depression and anxiety, it can be a helpful way for people to manage their stress and anxiety on a daily basis.
 

What is the author’s purpose in describing the fact that stress is “specifically linked to six different causes of death: heart disease, cancer, lung ailments, accidents, cirrhosis of the liver, and suicide”?

A
To point out that coloring can save a person’s life.
B
To highlight the extremity of the issue.
C
To suggest that people often overreact to the problems in their lives.
D
To imply that people who suggest coloring as a clinical solution are endangering people’s lives.
Question 15 Explanation: 
Answer choice (B) is correct because the writer introduces these causes of death in order to establish stress as a serious problem that deserves real attention. Answer choice (A) may be tempting, but the writer is careful to indicate that coloring in a coloring book isn’t a “cure” to stress, and answer choice (A) is a little too exaggerated for the passage.
Question 16
The term “microbrewery” may not be an accurate way of describing small breweries anymore. Many of these companies are far from “micro” anymore as the popularity of craft beers continues to grow. While traditional beers will always be the beers-of-choice for many people, the bigger companies are starting to feel the impact of these microbreweries. Many of the big beer companies are unsure how to respond. They can continue their business as usual and continue to do well with their demographic of customers. With the rise of the microbrewery industry, however, the customer-base for big beer companies is becoming older and older, so business-as-usual might not be a good long-term strategy. Getting into the craft beer industry themselves, though, might be a fool’s errand. Craft beer drinkers don’t want a craft beer from the big companies and people who love the big beer brands don’t want a craft beer. Unless America’s Goliath-sized beer companies find a way to adapt, microbreweries could be loading their slingshot and taking aim.
 

According to the passage, why might large beer companies have trouble tapping in to the craft beer market?

A
Their target market doesn’t want craft beer, and craft beer lovers don’t want craft beer from a big company.
B
They are not equipped to make craft beer because they’re production lines are too big.
C
On a larger scale, craft beer is not financially viable.
D
Big beer companies don’t understand the craft beer market the way that microbreweries do.
Question 16 Explanation: 
Answer choice (A) is correct because the writer even writes, “craft beer drinkers don’t want a craft beer from the big companies and people who love the big beer brands don’t want a craft beer.
Question 17
Just when people were starting to think that traditional mail was going to become obsolete, Amazon showed everyone the potential for what traditional mailing and delivery services could offer. Now, it’s feasible for someone to do all of their shopping (grocery, gifts, etc.) online, without having to leave their home. Amazon’s transformation of the goods delivery business has turned a slow, expensive process into something that’s quicker, easier, and often even less expensive than going to a brick-and-mortar store. The restaurant industry and companies like Uber have taken a page from Amazon’s playbook and made food delivery even easier as well. People can now order almost anything online, and expect quick and inexpensive delivery. Users can even subscribe to companies who will cultivate packages for them, and send them items that the company thinks the customer will like each month. Amazon’s delivery services have not only revived our reliance on postal delivery, but they’ve also helped to revolutionize the way we shop for everything from furniture to groceries.
 

Which of the following would be most similar to the examples of Amazon’s influence the author provides in the passage?

A
Many of these companies have contracts with UPS, FedEx, or other private mailing services, so the USPS is still struggling.
B
Pet owners can set up regular deliveries of everything they need, including pet food, pet litter, pet toys, and even pet medicine.
C
Studies show that current teenagers have a lower attention span that teenagers from previous generations, and many people are attributing that to their increased access to technology.
D
The rise of technology has also given people more entertainment at their fingertips in the way of Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming services.
Question 17 Explanation: 
Answer choice (B) is correct because it is the only option that describes a positive service that has been popularized as a result of Amazon’s transformation of the goods delivery economy. Answer choice (D) discusses technology, but it is not consistent with the context and tone of the passage.
Question 18
In 2018, Childish Gambino became a national obsession when he released his viral video for the song, “This is America.” The video is shocking right from the beginning, as it shows Gambino dancing and singing for a few seconds before brutally shooting a man in the head. The rest of the video is filled with this juxtaposition: Gambino singing and dancing while chaos ensues in the background, likely a metaphor for how Gambino views modern America. America is listening, too, as this video became one of the most viewed videos ever, and Childish Gambino, who was already famous, suddenly was thrust even further into the limelight.

Childish Gambino’s career anything but typical; he didn’t even start his career in music. Many fans know Gambino as Donald Glover, a talented actor/comedian who created the critically acclaimed television show, “Atlanta,” and carried the cult television comedy, “Community.” Only big fans, though, know that Glover’s big break came as a writer on the television show, “30 Rock.” While he was mainly behind the scenes on “30 Rock,” eagle-eyed viewers can spot him with small speaking roles in a few episodes.
 

The passage most strongly emphasizes which aspect of Childish Gambino’s career?

A
His viral song, “This is America.”
B
His role on the TV show, “Community.”
C
His early writing on TV show, “30 Rock.”
D
His directing portfolio.
Question 18 Explanation: 
Answer choice (A) is correct because the writer devotes an entire paragraph to Childish Gambino’s song, “This is America.” Each of the other options represents something that the writer mentioned in the passage, but none are nearly as important to the passage as his song.
Question 19

The following sentence has a blank indicating that something has been left out. Beneath the sentence are four words or phrases. Choose the word or phrase that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

Whenever our family gets together, we have agreed to _____________ from discussing politics because it has caused too many fights.

A
grow
B
run away
C
learn
D
abstain
Question 19 Explanation: 
Answer choice (D) is correct because the word in the blank needs to be something that means “stop” or “avoid.” While answer choice (B) technically fits this definition as well, “run away” doesn’t fit the tone of the sentence.
Question 20

The following sentence has a blank indicating that something has been left out. Beneath the sentence are four words or phrases. Choose the word or phrase that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

Some cultures still have a __________ view of women, and don’t believe in educating them because they believe that women can only manage the home and raise children.

A
matriarchal
B
myopic
C
conservative
D
shrewd
Question 20 Explanation: 
Answer choice (B) is correct because the sentence is criticizing a limited view of women, and myopic means “lacking insight.” While answer choice (C) might be tempting because this view of women is typically more prevalent in conservative-thinkers as opposed to liberal-thinkers, the word “conservative” doesn’t hold the same critical connotation as “myopic.”
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