accuplacer reading comprehension practice test

Commonly used by colleges and universities to place students into appropriate courses.

In many accounts of the American West, the Lewis and Clark expedition (1803–1806) mistakenly marks the beginning of recorded history, with the captains' journals constituting a baseline of information about the region. The earlier history of the West is frequently seen as an unimportant backstory. Although the Lewis and Clark expedition was a momentous event, it was only a subplot in a historical drama of time, place, and people that had been playing for thousands of years. The 'new lands' that Lewis and Clark explored were in fact very old: the explorers did not bring the West into United States history—they brought the United States into the history of the West.
In context, the metaphor in the third sentence ('it was only a subplot in a historical drama of time, place, and people that had been playing for thousands of years') chiefly serves to:
  • A. call attention to the age of the United States as a nation
  • B. question the literary value of the writings by Lewis and Clark
  • C. trivialize the accomplishments of the Lewis and Clark expedition
  • D. place the Lewis and Clark expedition into a broad context
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D

The metaphor emphasizes the Lewis and Clark expedition as part of a much larger historical narrative, illustrating its significance within the vast timeline of human events. This context helps readers understand that while the expedition was important, it is just one chapter in a much larger story. Option A incorrectly focuses solely on the age of the United States, missing the broader historical context. Option B misinterprets the metaphor by suggesting it critiques the literary value of the writings, which is not the focus. Option C wrongly implies that the metaphor diminishes the expedition's significance, whereas it actually situates it within a grander narrative.

Other Related Questions

The author implies that the social sciences:
  • A. are valued for their techniques
  • B. can make no contribution to progress
  • C. cannot deal with long-term issues
  • D. may someday add to the world's knowledge
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D

The social sciences are portrayed as fields that hold potential for future contributions to global knowledge, indicating optimism about their evolving role. Option A suggests that their value lies solely in techniques, which limits their broader impact. Option B dismisses their potential entirely, contradicting the author's implication of future contributions. Option C incorrectly asserts that social sciences cannot address long-term issues, overlooking their capability to analyze historical trends and societal changes. Thus, the emphasis on future contributions aligns best with the text's implications.
The final paragraph suggests that seeing the woman has caused the narrator to:
  • A. face the negative feelings she has about her new home
  • B. realize that she misses her mother more than she admits
  • C. think about her own feelings about her family and background
  • D. remember the reason she moved away from her home country
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C

The final paragraph emphasizes the narrator's introspection triggered by seeing the woman, leading her to reflect on her own feelings about family and background. This deep connection to identity is central to her experience. Option A misinterprets the focus; while negative feelings may exist, the emphasis is on personal reflection rather than facing negativity. Option B suggests a specific emotion related to her mother, which is not explicitly indicated in the text. Option D implies a recollection of her reasons for moving, but the paragraph centers more on her current emotional state rather than past motivations.
In context, 'Telemundo' and 'Ms. magazine' serve as examples of media that:
  • A. devised similar marketing techniques
  • B. were created by the same media visionary
  • C. underwent profound changes as a result of Johnson's work
  • D. were designed to appeal to particular groups of consumers
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D

Both 'Telemundo' and 'Ms. magazine' were designed to cater to specific audiences, focusing on the needs and interests of their respective consumer groups. Telemundo targets the Hispanic community, providing culturally relevant content, while Ms. magazine addresses feminist issues and women’s rights. Option A is incorrect as there is no evidence that both utilized similar marketing techniques. Option B is misleading; they were not created by the same visionary. Option C is inaccurate; while Johnson's work influenced media, it did not specifically lead to profound changes in either outlet.
Which of the following, if true, would most challenge the 'implication' mentioned in the fourth sentence? 'Some experts reject the implication that Çatalhöyük’s farmers cultivated distant fields, since large quantities of grain would have had to be transported.'
  • A. Çatalhöyük's farmers obtained through trade the wheat and barley that Rosen analyzed.
  • B. Çatalhöyük's farmers understood the impact of soil conditions on crop productivity.
  • C. Çatalhöyük's farmers shared wheat and barley fields with neighboring villages.
  • D. Çatalhöyük's farmers used wood that deteriorated in the damp environment.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A

Option A directly challenges the implication that farmers at Çatalhöyük cultivated distant fields by suggesting they obtained the grains through trade instead. This undermines the need for transporting large quantities of grain from faraway locations, thus supporting the idea that local cultivation was not necessary. Option B focuses on soil conditions but does not address the transportation issue, leaving the original implication intact. Option C implies shared resources with neighbors but does not clarify whether these fields were local or distant, failing to challenge the transportation concern. Option D discusses environmental factors unrelated to the cultivation and transport of grain, making it irrelevant to the implication.