Practice Test: Reading Comprehension

Read each passage carefully and answer the questions based solely on the information provided. Time yourself at approximately 90 seconds per question.

Passage A

The U.S. Navy's nuclear submarine program, which began in the 1950s under Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, has proven to be one of the most consequential military technology investments of the modern era. Nuclear propulsion eliminated the need for submarines to surface regularly for air and fuel, allowing them to remain submerged for months at a time. This capability transformed submarines from coastal defense platforms into strategic weapons capable of operating anywhere in the world's oceans. The nuclear submarine fleet now serves as one leg of the nation's strategic nuclear triad, alongside land-based missiles and strategic bombers.

Passage B

Coral reefs, often called the rainforests of the sea, support approximately 25% of all marine species despite occupying less than 1% of the ocean floor. The foundation of a reef is built by tiny animals called coral polyps, which secrete calcium carbonate to form hard skeletons. Over thousands of years, these skeletons accumulate to create massive reef structures. However, coral reefs face unprecedented threats from rising ocean temperatures, which cause coral bleaching — a process in which stressed corals expel the symbiotic algae that provide them with food and color. Without these algae, the corals turn white and, if conditions do not improve, eventually die.

Passage C

The concept of triage, now fundamental to emergency medicine and military medical practice, originated during the Napoleonic Wars. French surgeon Dominique Jean Larrey developed a system for categorizing wounded soldiers based on the severity of their injuries and the likelihood of survival with treatment. Rather than treating soldiers in order of rank — the previous practice — Larrey prioritized those who would benefit most from immediate medical attention. This revolutionary approach meant that some severely wounded soldiers who could not be saved were made comfortable but not treated first, while those with survivable injuries received prompt care. Modern triage systems, while more sophisticated, still operate on Larrey's fundamental principle: allocate limited medical resources where they will do the most good.