ATI TEAS 7
TEAS Reading Practice Test Questions
Extract:
This excerpt is an adaptation of Jonathan Swift's "Gulliver's Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World".
My gentleness and good behavior had gained so far on the emperor and his court, and indeed upon the army and people in general, that I began to conceive hopes of getting my liberty in a short time. I took all possible methods to cultivate this favorable disposition. The natives came, by degrees, to be less apprehensive of any danger from me. I would sometimes lie down, and let five or six of them dance on my hand; and at last the boys and girls would venture to come and play at hide-and-seek in my hair.
I had now made good progress in understanding and speaking the language. The emperor had a mind one day to entertain me with several of the country shows, wherein they exceed all nations I have known, both for dexterity and magnificence. I was diverted with none so much as that of the rope-dancers, performed upon a slender white thread, extended about two feet, and twelve inches from the ground, Upon which I shall desire liberty, with the reader's patience, to enlarge a little.
This diversion is only practiced by those persons who are candidates for great employments, and high favor at court. They are trained in this art from their youth, and are not always of noble birth, or liberal education. When a great office is vacant, either by death or disgrace (which often happens,) five or six of those candidates petition the emperor to entertain his majesty and the court with a dance on the rope; and whoever jumps the highest, without falling, succeeds in the office.
Very often the chief ministers themselves are commanded to show their skill, and to convince the emperor that they have not lost their faculty. FlyNap, the treasurer, is allowed to cut a caper on the straight rope, at least an inch higher than any other lord in the whole empire. I have seen him do the somersault several times together, upon a trencher fixed on a rope which is no thicker than a common packthread in England. My friend Reldresal, principal secretary for private affairs, is, in my opinion, if I am not partial, the second after the treasurer; the rest of the great officers are much upon a par.
Question 1 of 5
Which of the following statements best summarizes the central purpose of this text?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C because the text describes how Gulliver becomes familiar with the customs and practices of the new society he finds himself in. He interacts with the natives, learns their language, and participates in their shows, indicating his growing understanding and acceptance of the new culture.
Choice A is incorrect because the text goes beyond detailing his experiences to focus on his growing familiarity with the society.
Choice B is incorrect because Gulliver not only observes but actively engages with the customs.
Choice D is incorrect as the focus is on Gulliver's adaptation rather than reflecting on cultural differences.
Extract:
This excerpt is from The Life-Story of Insects by Geo H. Carpenter.
Insects as a whole are preeminently creatures of the land and the air. This is shown not only by the possession of wings by a vast majority of the class, but by the mode of breathing to which reference has already been made, a system of branching air-tubes carrying atmospheric air with its combustion-supporting oxygen to all the insect's tissues. The air gains access to these tubes through a number of paired air-holes or spiracles, arranged segmentally in series.
It is of great interest to find that, nevertheless, a number of insects spend much of their time under water. This is true of not a few in the perfect winged state, as for example aquatic beetles and water-bugs ('boatmen' and 'scorpions') which have some way of protecting their spiracles when submerged, and, possessing usually the power of flight, can pass on occasion from pond or stream to upper air. But it is advisable in connection with our present subject to dwell especially on some insects that remain continually under water till they are ready to undergo their final molt and attain the winged state, which they pass entirely in the air.
The preparatory instars of such insects are aquatic; the adult instar is aerial. All may-flies, dragon-flies, and caddis-flies, many beetles and two-winged flies, and a few moths thus divide their life-story between the water and the air. For the present we confine attention to the Stoneflies, the May-flies, and the Dragon-flies, three well-known orders of insects respectively called by systematists the Plecopteran, the Ephemeroptera, and the Odonata.
In the case of many insects that have aquatic larvae, the latter are provided with some arrangement for enabling them to reach atmospheric air through the surface-film of the water. But the larva of a stone-fly, a dragon-fly, or a may-fly is adapted more completely than these for aquatic life; it can, by means of gills of some kind, breathe the air dissolved in water.
Question 2 of 5
Why do some insects have a life cycle divided between water and air?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because the life cycle of insects is divided between water and air to demonstrate the evolutionary advantages of this adaptation. Insects have evolved to inhabit both aquatic and aerial environments, allowing them to thrive in diverse conditions.
Choice A is incorrect because the division between water and air in the life cycle does not solely highlight adaptability but also evolutionary strategies.
Choice B is incorrect because the question focuses on the reason for the specific division in the life cycle, not on environmental challenges.
Choice C is incorrect because while metamorphosis is part of the life cycle, it does not directly explain why it is divided between water and air.
Extract:
This excerpt is from an analysis of The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde.
Wilde's play, "The Importance of Being Earnest", is a satire that targets the absurdities and trivialities of the British aristocracy. The play's subtitle, 'A Trivial Comedy for Serious People,' aptly summarizes Wilde's intentions. Through clever dialogue, puns, and a healthy dose of irony, Wilde exposes the superficiality and hypocrisy of the upper classes.
The characters in the play, such as Jack Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff, lead double lives, reflecting the dual nature of their social standing. The use of 'Bunburying,' a term coined by Wilde, illustrates the lengths to which these characters go to escape their social obligations and lead a life of deceit. The play also pokes fun at the institution of marriage, which is depicted as a social contract rather than a romantic union.
For example, Lady Bracknell's interrogation of Jack regarding his suitability as a husband for her daughter Gwendolen reveals the transactional nature of marriage in the society Wilde is critiquing. Wilde's portrayal of the aristocracy is not merely critical, but also humorous, making The Importance of Being Earnest one of his most beloved and enduring works.
Question 3 of 5
What is the purpose of the subtitle 'A Trivial Comedy for Serious People' in the context of the play?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The subtitle 'A Trivial Comedy for Serious People' in Oscar Wilde's play 'The Importance of Being Earnest' serves to reflect the trivial concerns of the characters and the superficiality of their lives. Wilde uses this subtitle to highlight the irony in portraying seemingly serious people who are preoccupied with trivial matters and appearances.
Choice A is incorrect because the subtitle does not aim to emphasize the seriousness of the social critique but rather the triviality of the characters' lives.
Choice B is incorrect as the subtitle doesn't downplay the seriousness of the play; instead, it juxtaposes the trivial with the serious.
Choice D is incorrect because the subtitle does not aim to highlight the absurdity of taking serious matters lightly, but rather to underscore the triviality of the characters' concerns and behaviors.
Extract:
This excerpt is an adaptation of Jonathan Swift's "Gulliver's Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World".
My gentleness and good behavior had gained so far on the emperor and his court, and indeed upon the army and people in general, that I began to conceive hopes of getting my liberty in a short time. I took all possible methods to cultivate this favorable disposition. The natives came, by degrees, to be less apprehensive of any danger from me. I would sometimes lie down, and let five or six of them dance on my hand; and at last the boys and girls would venture to come and play at hide-and-seek in my hair.
I had now made good progress in understanding and speaking the language. The emperor had a mind one day to entertain me with several of the country shows, wherein they exceed all nations I have known, both for dexterity and magnificence. I was diverted with none so much as that of the rope-dancers, performed upon a slender white thread, extended about two feet, and twelve inches from the ground, Upon which I shall desire liberty, with the reader's patience, to enlarge a little.
This diversion is only practiced by those persons who are candidates for great employments, and high favor at court. They are trained in this art from their youth, and are not always of noble birth, or liberal education. When a great office is vacant, either by death or disgrace (which often happens,) five or six of those candidates petition the emperor to entertain his majesty and the court with a dance on the rope; and whoever jumps the highest, without falling, succeeds in the office.
Very often the chief ministers themselves are commanded to show their skill, and to convince the emperor that they have not lost their faculty. FlyNap, the treasurer, is allowed to cut a caper on the straight rope, at least an inch higher than any other lord in the whole empire. I have seen him do the somersault several times together, upon a trencher fixed on a rope which is no thicker than a common packthread in England. My friend Reldresal, principal secretary for private affairs, is, in my opinion, if I am not partial, the second after the treasurer; the rest of the great officers are much upon a par.
Question 4 of 5
What does the word 'principal' refer to in the following text?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: In this context, the word 'principal' refers to the primary or chief role that Reldresal holds as the principal secretary for private affairs. This term signifies his significant position and authority within the hierarchy. The other choices are incorrect because 'principal' does not mean 'an acolyte' (a follower or assistant), 'an individual who provides nurturing,' or 'one in a subordinate position.'
Question 5 of 5
Even without Franz Ferdinand's assassination ... Which of the following most logically completes the passage?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A. Given the alliances and tensions at the time, the assassination was simply the trigger in an already volatile situation, making war highly likely.
Choice B is incorrect because the alliances and existing tensions would likely have led to a conflict even without the assassination.
Choice C is incorrect as it wrongly implies that only these three countries were involved in the conflict.
Choice D is incorrect as Austria alone starting the war doesn't consider the broader context of alliances and power dynamics among the world powers.