accuplacer reading full length practice test

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

Athletes from Rutgers University and Princeton University participated in the first intercollegiate football game back in 1869. Players wore hats, coats, vests, and suspenders instead of helmets and pads; some Rutgers players wore scarlet-colored scarves to distinguish themselves from their opponents. Although the game more closely resembled the game of rugby, it was definitely the forerunner of American football. Rutgers, now known as the Scarlet Knights, ultimately won the game by a score of 6 'runs' to Princeton's 4 (today the score would be kept in 'points,' not runs).
Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?
  • A. American football has not changed much since the first intercollegiate football game was played.
  • B. Most early football players did not know how to throw a football properly.
  • C. Rutgers' current football team is better than Princeton's.
  • D. The name Scarlet Knights most likely refers to clothing worn by Rutgers players in the 1869 game.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D

The inference about the name Scarlet Knights likely relates to clothing worn by Rutgers players in the 1869 game, as historical context suggests team names often reflect uniforms or school colors. Option A is incorrect; while some aspects of American football have evolved, the statement oversimplifies the sport's development over time. Option B lacks support from the passage, as it does not provide evidence regarding the skills of early players. Option C is subjective and cannot be inferred without specific performance data comparing the two teams.

Other Related Questions

Which choice best summarizes the passage?
  • A. The narrator receives a ham radio from her father, then begins using it to exchange messages with another child.
  • B. The narrator's father is interrupted as he's putting together a ham radio, but later returns to the project and eventually completes it.
  • C. The narrator's father brings home the parts needed to build a ham radio, but he and the narrator struggle to assemble them.
  • D. The narrator and her father put together a ham radio and get radio licenses, then use the radio to receive messages.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D

Option D effectively encapsulates the passage by highlighting both the assembly of the ham radio and the subsequent achievement of obtaining radio licenses, emphasizing the active engagement of both the narrator and her father in communication. Option A is too narrow, focusing solely on the exchange of messages without mentioning the assembly or licensing process. Option B inaccurately suggests that the father is interrupted, which does not capture the collaborative effort in building the radio. Option C implies struggle without acknowledging the successful completion and use of the radio, missing the positive outcome of their efforts.
Because these speeding particles' compositions were quite different from those of other low-energy cosmic rays, scientists dubbed them ___ cosmic rays.
  • A. intermittent
  • B. transitory
  • C. resilient
  • D. anomalous
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D

The term "anomalous" refers to something that deviates from the norm or is irregular, which accurately describes these speeding particles with compositions differing from typical low-energy cosmic rays. Option A, "intermittent," implies something occurring at irregular intervals, which does not capture the essence of the particles' unique composition. Option B, "transitory," suggests a temporary existence, failing to address the distinctiveness of the particles. Option C, "resilient," indicates strength or durability, which is unrelated to the compositional differences being highlighted. Thus, "anomalous" best conveys the uniqueness of these cosmic rays.
What is the main purpose of the questions in sentences 10–12?
  • A. To reveal the narrator's sense of isolation from family members other than her father
  • B. To suggest the narrator's uncertainty about whether the radio will work
  • C. To demonstrate the knowledge of electric principles required to operate the radio
  • D. To provide examples of the kinds of messages the narrator and her father obtained
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D

The main purpose of the questions in sentences 10–12 is to provide examples of the types of messages that the narrator and her father received, illustrating their communication and connection through the radio. Option A misinterprets the focus of the questions, as they do not primarily express isolation but rather highlight shared experiences. Option B suggests uncertainty about the radio's functionality, which is not the central theme of the questions. Option C incorrectly emphasizes technical knowledge, while the questions are more about the content of the messages rather than the mechanics of operating the radio.
In context, the metaphor in the third sentence ('it was... 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 in the third sentence effectively situates the Lewis and Clark expedition within a larger historical framework, emphasizing its significance in the broader narrative of American exploration and expansion. Option A incorrectly focuses solely on the age of the United States, neglecting the expedition's specific context. Option B misinterprets the metaphor's intent, as it does not critique literary value but rather highlights historical importance. Option C suggests a diminishing view of the expedition's accomplishments, which contradicts the metaphor's purpose of elevating its significance within American history.