accuplacer reading sample questions practice test

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

The following sentence has a blank indicating that something has been left out. Beneath the sentence are four words or phrases. Choose the word or phrase that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.
The English monarch Elizabeth I may have wanted the miniature portraits of herself and her disgraced mother kept secret, since they were her ring.
  • A. concealed within
  • B. carved upon
  • C. displayed beside
  • D. different from
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A

The term "concealed within" accurately reflects the desire to keep the portraits secret, suggesting they were hidden or kept away from public view. This aligns with Elizabeth I's intent to protect her image and her mother's reputation. Option B, "carved upon," implies a physical alteration or decoration, which does not convey secrecy. Option C, "displayed beside," suggests visibility and openness, contradicting the idea of keeping the portraits secret. Option D, "different from," does not relate to the concept of secrecy and fails to address the context of the portraits' significance.

Other Related Questions

In context, the statement that the woman is 'draped from brow to ankle in gold and wind-crushed linen' (sentence 10) primarily
  • A. reveals the narrator's assumptions about the woman's income
  • B. explains why the woman might be uncomfortable in the cold weather
  • C. shows how different the woman's clothing is from the narrator's clothing
  • D. emphasizes how out of place the woman seems in the surrounding environment
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D

The description of the woman as being "draped from brow to ankle in gold and wind-crushed linen" highlights her extravagant attire, which starkly contrasts with her surroundings, suggesting she is out of place. This visual disparity emphasizes her uniqueness in the environment. Option A incorrectly focuses on income rather than the visual impact of her clothing. Option B misinterprets the context; the statement does not address her comfort in cold weather. Option C, while noting differences in clothing, misses the broader implication of her being out of sync with her environment, which is the core of the description.
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 indicates that the narrator's encounter with the woman prompts deep reflection on personal emotions and familial connections. This aligns with option C, as it emphasizes the narrator's introspection regarding her family and background. Option A is incorrect; while the narrator may have complex feelings about her new home, the focus is not solely on negativity. Option B suggests a specific longing for her mother, which is not explicitly stated in the text. Option D implies a focus on the reasons for moving, but the narrator's thoughts center more on her feelings than on past decisions. Thus, option C best captures the essence of the narrator's experience.
In the context of Passage 2, the quotation by the expert primarily serves to
  • A. analyze a hypothesis
  • B. account for a phenomenon
  • C. advocate an action
  • D. qualify a claim
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B

The quotation by the expert primarily serves to account for a phenomenon by providing insight into the underlying reasons or mechanisms behind it. This explanation helps clarify why the observed event occurs, enhancing the reader's understanding. Option A, analyzing a hypothesis, suggests a focus on evaluating an idea rather than explaining an occurrence. Option C, advocating an action, implies a call to action that is not present in the quotation. Option D, qualifying a claim, would indicate that the expert is limiting or adjusting a statement, which does not align with the purpose of the quotation in context.
Unlike the author of Passage 1, the author of Passage 2 implies that keeping a blog might
  • A. benefit the community
  • B. involve irksome tasks
  • C. attract favorable attention
  • D. reward real creativity
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B

The implication in Passage 2 suggests that maintaining a blog can involve tedious or bothersome tasks, which aligns with option B. This contrasts with the more positive view presented in Passage 1. Option A is incorrect as it focuses on community benefits, which is not addressed in Passage 2. Option C misinterprets the author's tone; while attracting attention may be a byproduct, it isn't emphasized as a primary implication. Option D suggests that blogging inherently fosters creativity, which is not a theme in Passage 2, where the focus is more on the challenges rather than the rewards.