PracticeVideosBlogFlashcards

Question

Read the following passage, then answer the question. "The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families as part of the New Deal. Originally for young men ages 18–25, the program eventually expanded to include World War I veterans. The CCC gave work to 3 million men during the program's nine-year existence. Recruits lived in work camps, earned money, and learned skills. They planted about 3 billion trees and helped develop more than 800 state parks." What is the main purpose of this passage?

Reading Comprehension

Question · Easy

Question

Read the following passage, then answer the question. "The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families as part of the New Deal. Originally for young men ages 18–25, the program eventually expanded to include World War I veterans. The CCC gave work to 3 million men during the program's nine-year existence. Recruits lived in work camps, earned money, and learned skills. They planted about 3 billion trees and helped develop more than 800 state parks." Which of the following is an explicit detail from the passage?

Reading Comprehension

Question · Easy

Question

Read the following passage, then answer the question. "Urban heat islands occur when cities experience significantly warmer temperatures than nearby rural areas. The primary cause is the replacement of natural land cover with pavement, buildings, and other heat-absorbing surfaces. Dark roofing materials and asphalt absorb solar radiation throughout the day and release it as heat at night. This effect can increase city temperatures by 1–7 degrees Fahrenheit. Beyond discomfort, urban heat islands raise energy consumption for cooling, worsen air quality, and have been linked to increased heat-related illness and death." Which statement best summarizes the passage?

Reading Comprehension

Question · Easy

Question

Read the following passage, then answer the question. "Urban heat islands occur when cities experience significantly warmer temperatures than nearby rural areas. The primary cause is the replacement of natural land cover with pavement, buildings, and other heat-absorbing surfaces. Dark roofing materials and asphalt absorb solar radiation throughout the day and release it as heat at night. This effect can increase city temperatures by 1–7 degrees Fahrenheit. Beyond discomfort, urban heat islands raise energy consumption for cooling, worsen air quality, and have been linked to increased heat-related illness and death." Based on the passage, what can be inferred about dark roofing materials?

Reading Comprehension

Question · Medium

Question

Read the following passage, then answer the question. "Microplastics are tiny plastic fragments less than 5 millimeters in size. They enter the environment through multiple pathways: the breakdown of larger plastic waste, synthetic clothing fibers released during washing, and microbeads found in personal care products. Microplastics have now been detected in oceans, rivers, soils, drinking water, and even human blood. While research is ongoing, scientists are concerned about potential health effects including inflammation and chemical toxicity, particularly as plastics often carry harmful additives." Which sentence from the passage best supports the idea that microplastics are a widespread problem?

Reading Comprehension

Question · Medium

Question

Read the following passage, then answer the question. "Microplastics are tiny plastic fragments less than 5 millimeters in size. They enter the environment through multiple pathways: the breakdown of larger plastic waste, synthetic clothing fibers released during washing, and microbeads found in personal care products. Microplastics have now been detected in oceans, rivers, soils, drinking water, and even human blood. While research is ongoing, scientists are concerned about potential health effects including inflammation and chemical toxicity, particularly as plastics often carry harmful additives." The word 'additives' in the final sentence most nearly means:

Reading Comprehension

Question · Medium

Question

Read the following passage, then answer the question. "The minimum wage in the United States has not been raised at the federal level since 2009, when it was set at $7.25 per hour. Since then, many states and cities have enacted their own higher minimum wages, with some jurisdictions reaching $15 or more per hour. Proponents argue that higher minimum wages reduce poverty and stimulate local economies because low-wage workers tend to spend additional income quickly. Opponents counter that higher wages force businesses — particularly small businesses — to cut staff, raise prices, or close entirely." Which organizational pattern does this passage primarily use?

Reading Comprehension

Question · Medium

Question

Read the following passage, then answer the question. "The minimum wage in the United States has not been raised at the federal level since 2009, when it was set at $7.25 per hour. Since then, many states and cities have enacted their own higher minimum wages, with some jurisdictions reaching $15 or more per hour. Proponents argue that higher minimum wages reduce poverty and stimulate local economies because low-wage workers tend to spend additional income quickly. Opponents counter that higher wages force businesses — particularly small businesses — to cut staff, raise prices, or close entirely." A person who opposes raising the minimum wage would most likely agree with which of the following?

Reading Comprehension

Question · Medium

Question

Read the following passage, then answer the question. "Sleep deprivation is a growing public health concern in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that about one-third of American adults do not get the recommended seven or more hours of sleep per night. Chronic sleep loss is associated with increased risk of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and mental health disorders. Despite these risks, Americans' average sleep duration has declined over recent decades, driven in part by longer work hours, greater screen use, and artificial light exposure at night." Which statement is best supported by the passage?

Reading Comprehension

Question · Easy

Question

Read the following passage, then answer the question. "Sleep deprivation is a growing public health concern in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that about one-third of American adults do not get the recommended seven or more hours of sleep per night. Chronic sleep loss is associated with increased risk of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and mental health disorders. Despite these risks, Americans' average sleep duration has declined over recent decades, driven in part by longer work hours, greater screen use, and artificial light exposure at night." The word 'chronic' as used in the passage most nearly means:

Reading Comprehension

Question · Easy

Question

Read the following short story excerpt, then answer the question. "Maria sat at the kitchen table long after dinner, her coffee growing cold, turning the envelope over and over in her hands. The return address was the state university she had applied to three months ago. She had told no one. Her mother washed dishes with her back turned, humming quietly, unaware. Maria set the envelope down, stood up, and walked to the window. The street was empty. A single light flickered at the corner." What can the reader infer about Maria's emotional state?

Reading Comprehension

Question · Medium

Question

Read the following short story excerpt, then answer the question. "Maria sat at the kitchen table long after dinner, her coffee growing cold, turning the envelope over and over in her hands. The return address was the state university she had applied to three months ago. She had told no one. Her mother washed dishes with her back turned, humming quietly, unaware. Maria set the envelope down, stood up, and walked to the window. The street was empty. A single light flickered at the corner." What is the significance of the detail 'her coffee growing cold'?

Reading Comprehension

Question · Medium

Question

Read the following passage, then answer the question. "The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), signed into law in 1990, is one of the most comprehensive civil rights laws in the United States. It prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in employment, public accommodations, commercial facilities, transportation, and state and local government activities. Employers with 15 or more employees must provide 'reasonable accommodations' to qualified employees with disabilities, unless doing so would cause 'undue hardship' to the employer. The ADA has significantly expanded opportunities for people with disabilities in the workplace and in public life." According to the passage, which of the following is a requirement of the ADA?

Reading Comprehension

Question · Easy

Question

Read the following passage, then answer the question. "The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), signed into law in 1990, is one of the most comprehensive civil rights laws in the United States. It prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in employment, public accommodations, commercial facilities, transportation, and state and local government activities. Employers with 15 or more employees must provide 'reasonable accommodations' to qualified employees with disabilities, unless doing so would cause 'undue hardship' to the employer. The ADA has significantly expanded opportunities for people with disabilities in the workplace and in public life." Based on the passage, which of the following scenarios would most likely be covered under the ADA?

Reading Comprehension

Question · Hard

Question

Read the following passage, then answer the question. "Rachel Carson's 1962 book Silent Spring is widely credited with launching the modern environmental movement in the United States. Carson meticulously documented the damage caused by widespread use of synthetic pesticides, particularly DDT, to birds, fish, and other wildlife. She challenged the chemical industry's assurances of safety and questioned the authority of scientists who dismissed environmental concerns. Her work directly influenced the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency in 1970 and the eventual ban on DDT in the United States in 1972." Which of the following best describes how Rachel Carson's book affected policy?

Reading Comprehension

Question · Easy

Question

Read the following passage, then answer the question. "Rachel Carson's 1962 book Silent Spring is widely credited with launching the modern environmental movement in the United States. Carson meticulously documented the damage caused by widespread use of synthetic pesticides, particularly DDT, to birds, fish, and other wildlife. She challenged the chemical industry's assurances of safety and questioned the authority of scientists who dismissed environmental concerns. Her work directly influenced the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency in 1970 and the eventual ban on DDT in the United States in 1972." The author uses the word 'meticulously' to describe Carson's work. This word choice suggests that Carson's research was:

Reading Comprehension

Question · Medium

Question

Read the following passage, then answer the question. "Water scarcity affects more than 40 percent of the world's population and is projected to worsen as global temperatures rise. Agriculture accounts for approximately 70 percent of global freshwater use. Critics of industrial agriculture argue that water-intensive crops like almonds and cotton should be grown only in regions with natural water abundance. However, proponents of market solutions counter that water pricing — charging more for high-consumption uses — would naturally incentivize farmers to reduce usage without government mandates." What is the author's main purpose in presenting both critics and proponents in this passage?

Reading Comprehension

Question · Medium

Question

Read the following passage, then answer the question. "Water scarcity affects more than 40 percent of the world's population and is projected to worsen as global temperatures rise. Agriculture accounts for approximately 70 percent of global freshwater use. Critics of industrial agriculture argue that water-intensive crops like almonds and cotton should be grown only in regions with natural water abundance. However, proponents of market solutions counter that water pricing — charging more for high-consumption uses — would naturally incentivize farmers to reduce usage without government mandates." Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the critics' argument?

Reading Comprehension

Question · Hard

Question

Read the following passage, then answer the question. "In the decades following World War II, the United States experienced a dramatic shift in population from cities to suburbs. This movement, commonly called 'white flight,' was driven by a combination of factors: the availability of affordable mortgages through the GI Bill, new highway construction that made commuting feasible, and racially discriminatory housing policies such as redlining, which restricted Black Americans' access to these same suburban opportunities. The result was deepening residential segregation that shaped American cities for generations." According to the passage, which factor is identified as a cause of residential segregation?

Reading Comprehension

Question · Medium

Loading more…