Paragraph Comprehension Practice Test

Sara could just never seem to make it home during the holidays. Blizzards had kept her snowed in the past four Christmases, and one Thanksgiving dinner was delayed because of a freak thunderstorm. While she treasured spending time with her loved ones, Sara often wished she lived near another airport. Then perhaps she could see them more often throughout the holidays. What is the main point of this passage?

The area where Sara lives experiences harsh winters

Sam always looked forward to sleeping over at his best friend Josh's house. They had been classmates for a short time, but they formed a great friendship rather quickly. Sam packed his sleep sack and some toys, and then his mom dropped him off at Josh's house. Josh greeted Ryan on the porch. They started playing right away. First they rode bikes. Next they played tag in the back yard. When they were tired they went inside. As soon as they walked in the house, Sam's eyes starting getting red and itchy. He spotted a dog sitting on the couch. Sam started sneezing uncontrollably. "I'm sorry, Josh. It's been a lot of fun, but I have to call my mom." From this passage you can infer that:

Sam is allergic to dogs.

A good night's sleep is essential to doing well on your next exam. If you stay up late, you will feel fatigued and unfocused, making doing well difficult. A good breakfast is also a must when preparing for an important test. Sugary treats will have you burning out early, and skipping the meal altogether will have you thinking about food all day, not the right answers on the paper. The last thing to remember is relax! Simply do the best you can, and know that you studied well and are fully prepared for what is to come. Good luck. According to the reading above, what is not an important thing to do in order to prepare for an exam?

Cram your study time into the night before

Sam loves to eat; there are few foods that he does not enjoy. In the summer, a refreshing salad is his favorite treat, along with a cool glass of lemonade on the side. He has never been known to pass up a hearty sandwich or piece of pizza, either. Sushi is probably his favorite meal, as he eats it on a weekly basis. Although he will eat almost anything, there is one thing that Sam absolutely despises: milk. Sam is most likely to turn away what at breakfast?

A bowl of cereal

When buying a home, you must inspect the property from top to bottom. Ensure that all of the faucets are in working order, and that the plumbing is fully functioning. Turn on the stove burners and oven, check the electrical outlets and look for any structural damage. If anything seems out of order, point it out before signing any papers. Do not be afraid to ask any questions, after all, you are planning on living here. Be vigilant, and you are sure to enjoy your new home for years to come. What is the best title for this section?

Inspect Before You Buy

"Grrr!" Omelia grumbled as she threw off her blouse and threw it into a pile of clothes. She jogged to her closet and rifled through the remaining clothes. Her face furled. She sighed again and swiped a red dress off its hanger. She held it next to her body and gazed into the mirror for a moment, huffed, and then slipped into the dress. She took a second look in the mirror, scowled and threw her hands in the air in disappointment. She heard her husband's voice, "Omelia, our first guests are here. Are you ready?" Omeila shouted, "Tell them I'll be down in a few minutes!" She slid the red dress back off and threw it onto the growing pile of clothes. From this passage you can infer that:

Omelia is disappointed that she can't find something to wear for her own dinner party.

The Great American Beer Company began with three goals: Brew the best beer in America as judged by a national magazine, use only ingredients grown in their local area in Maine, and pay a living wage to their employees. Which of the following activities would not fall under the umbrella of the company's stated goals?

Providing a free annual meal to employees on Thanksgiving.

The Detroit Tigers lost a record number of baseball games in 2003 when they lost 119 games, the most in American League history. General Manger Dave Dombrowski began running the Tigers in 2002. After a rough start those first two seasons, Dombrowski began signing All-Star caliber free agents like Ivan Rodriguez and Magglio Ordonez while also drafting young players like Justin Verlander who would all play a big role in the Tigers making it to the World Series in 2006. The St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Tigers that season in five games. Based on the above, which of the following statements is NOT true?

The Tigers signed free agent Justin Verlander.

Known for his 1984 hit "Purple Rain", Prince was an absolute icon. His record of the same name is the sixth best selling album of all time, and it is clear why. He spoke to generations about love and loss, and his vocals were some of the most unique the world has ever heard. Prince went on to record over thirty albums, his most recent coming out in 2015. Although his life ended too soon at the age of 57 in 2016, he will leave a legacy on this Earth that no one will ever touch. In what year did Prince release his hit song "Purple Rain"?

1984

Keith began working for Hydrochem Chemical Manufacturing in 2003. Unlike his previous job which was a publically owned company, Hydrochem was an employee owned company. As an employee owned company Keith and the other employees have a say in everything from the types of insurance available to the company's retirement package. However, Keith didn't take part in the company's health insurance because he was on his wife's policy. Based on what we know of Hydrochem Chemical Manufacturing, their employee owned status is most similar to which other type of organization?

A democracy

"Blue!" Amy shouted as she bounded through the meadow, "Come back, Blue!" She was almost out of breath, but she kept sprinting through the tall grass. "Blue, come on, boy! It's time to go home!" Amy continued frantically shouting. Her voice was becoming hoarse. Mom and Dad said not to venture to the meadow. Amy never thought they would know. From this passage we can infer that:

Amy lost Blue in the meadow, and she was not allowed to go there.

"Well," Danny said, "I guess we just won't go." Great, he thought, I really wanted to see her tonight. He hung up the phone, too tired to argue. His girlfriend Mindy had just told him that she did not want to go to the movies tonight like they had planned. He sighed, looked at his screen, and decided to text Mindy to apologize. "I am sorry, babe. It has been a long day and I was just looking forward to spending a little time with you." Danny put the phone down and laid in bed, wondering if she would ever text him back. We can conclude that:

Danny is disappointed about the cancellation

"Jonas, don't forget your boogie board!" Mom said as she applied sunscreen on Jonas's brother. Jonas threw some towels in the back of the SUV and hollered through the garage door, "OK Mom!" He then grabbed his boogie board. "Bobby!" Jonas called. There was no response. Mom buckled Jonas's brother up into the car seat. "Jonas, can you help me with his umbrella?" Jonas hustled down the stairs, tripped over a chew toy, and then helped his mom put the large umbrella in the SUV. "Mom, I can't find Bobby," Jonas said sadly. His mother shrugged and said, "That's OK, Jonas. He probably shouldn't come with us anyway." From this passage you can infer that:

Jonas wants Bobby to go on the trip.

As we walked back down the valley, it became clear that we wouldn't make it home before sunset. I suggested that we stop and eat what was left of lunch in our backpacks but Jamie said there wasn't time. Earlier in the week we had lost track of time as well and found ourselves in the same situation. We could have taken Rex with us, or let him out before we left, but we were still getting used to him being a part of our lives. The author implies that:

Rex was a new pet that needed to be let outside.

"Wait!", Sherry bellowed with tears in her eyes. Mike was about to board the plane, and step out of her life forever. She had run for five minutes straight to catch him before he got onto that plane; he needed to know how she felt. As he turned around to meet her gaze her heart stopped, and for a moment she remembered what love at first sight felt like. From the context, the reader can gather that:

Sherry is in love with Mike

If you are looking to update your wardrobe this summer, a simple sundress is a staple that can accentuate any style. Dress it down with some strappy sandals and a boho braid, or add some boots and a cowboy hat for a sexy western vibe. You can even throw one on after a swim for a sweet cover-up. They are light, versatile, and very easy to accessorize. Whatever your style may be, a fun sundress is always sure to please. The main idea of this text is:

Sundress are a great summer staple

Human bodies are not meant to be sedentary. Taking a five-minute walk break for every hour you are on the computer or at your desk is a great idea to keep from staying too inactive. Stretching is another way to keep your body from tightening up, and your limbs nice and loose. Simple activities such as taking the stairs instead of an elevator or walking to work instead of driving are other fantastic ways to stay in shape without having to hit the gym. The main point of this text is that:

Taking the time to get active is essential to help maintain a healthy body

We always played at all hours; he was a very hyper boy. When I was sick, he would hop into bed and curl up next to me, making sure that I was alright. Riley was compassionate that way, and I could always count on him for a smile. He did not ask for much besides his food dish to be filled and a game of fetch every now and then. He was my best friend, and I loved him very much. From the text, one can infer that Riley is:

The family dog

Many feel that Disney movies today focus too much on the princess needing a prince. Frozen changed that perception by showing the main character, Elsa, living her life without a male companion taking care of her. She instead chose to devote her time to using the powers she had for good, and helping her sister as well as her community. Even though she does not have a husband, she is a capable woman with many great attributes. From this passage, we learn that:

The movie Frozen can show us that princesses do not need princes

After eating tacos for dinner on Tuesday, the Nelson family had leftovers on both Wednesday and Thursday evenings. On Friday, the family always has a vegetarian dinner, and this week the family had pizzas. On the weekends everyone cooks for themselves as Mr. and Mrs. Nelson both work weekends and their two girls are busy playing sports and are rarely home. From this passage we can infer that:

The pizza the Nelsons ate on Friday was a vegetable pizza.

The political parties of Welland have been around for over 200 years. Unlike surrounding areas, Welland has 5 separate political parties all with roughly equal memberships. The five parties are the conservatives, social conservatives, democratic socialists, libertarians, and greens. Typically the greens and democratic socialists vote in unison while the conservative and social conservatives also vote similarly. The libertarians tend to vote on an issue by issue basis, making it difficult for any group to gain sustained executive power. For the two similar voting groups to gain power, it would make sense to:

create an alliance with the libertarians

The junior varsity basketball team hadn't won a game in three years. While leading at half time of their most recent game, the team's coach gave an exhilarating speech and the team played the best half of basketball they ever had. Despite the excellent play, with two minutes left in the game a storm knocked out the power and the game was postponed until next month. The adjective "exhilarating" referred to in the passage suggests that the coach's speech was:

encouraging

Lake Las Vegas is the perfect getaway for a simple stay-cation or a weeklong adventure. With three hotels boasting multiple amenities, leaving the resort will hardly be on your mind. After a long day of kayaking on the lake, you can retire to your room and enjoy a soak in your deep Heavenly brand tub. For breakfast the next morning, try out one of the signature buffets offered, your taste buds will surely thank you for it. Nothing is off limits at Lake Las Vegas. In this context, boasting mean:

featuring