Next Generation Accuplacer Exam Practice
Questions and Answers
1. The contrasts the narrator draws in sentences 1 and 2 between the Players’ homes and the
houses in the “landscape” and between the Players’ automobiles and the “roads” are most
likely meant to suggest that the Players’ homes and automobiles are
A. old and neglected
B. modern and alien
C. small but expensive
D. grand but unappreciated
Answer: B
Rationale: Sentence 1 notes that in the “landscape,” “only a few very old, weathered houses
seemed to belong”; by contrast, the Players’ houses seemed “weightless,” “impermanent,” and
“misplaced,” like “bright new toys.” Sentence 2 establishes that the Players’ automobiles “didn’t
look right either,” that they appeared “unnecessarily wide and gleaming in the colors of candy
and ice cream,” that they seemed “to wince at each splatter of mud,” and that they “crawled
apologetically down the broken roads.” Choice A is incorrect because the Players’ homes and
automobiles are neither old nor neglected; in fact, the passage indicates that the homes and
automobiles are modern in relation to the “landscape” and “roads” (sentences 1-2) and that the
automobiles are “gleaming” (sentence 2). Choice C is incorrect because the Players’ homes and
automobiles are not small; for one thing, the automobiles are “unnecessarily wide” (sentence
2). Choice D is incorrect because there is no evidence in the passage that the Players’ homes
and automobiles are unappreciated.
2. Based on the passage, which of the following most accurately characterizes the claim that
“there was plenty of time to smooth the thing out” (sentence 8)?
A. A comforting falsehood that the Players know to be untrue
B. An outright lie that the director persuades the Players to accept
C. An optimistic conclusion reached by outside observers watching an early rehearsal
D. A realistic appraisal offered by the director after careful analysis of the play’s shortcomings
, Answer: A
Rationale: Sentence 9 establishes, in contrast to what is stated in sentence 8, that “there
wasn’t plenty of time” and that the Players “all knew it.” Despite knowing better, the Players use
the claim as part of the strategy described in sentence 8 to lighten the tense mood (“disarm
each other,” “forgiving laughter”). Choice B is incorrect because the passage suggests that the
source of the claim was the Players themselves, not the director. Choice C is incorrect because
no outside observers are mentioned in the passage. Choice D is incorrect because the passage
suggests that the source of the claim was the Players themselves, not the director, and because
the claim is false, not realistic.
3. The descriptive language in sentence 10 is mainly intended to reinforce the passage’s
depiction of the Players’
A. growing resentment of the director’s leadership
B. increasing reluctance to work as hard as they have been
C. lingering doubts about their fellow cast members
D. persistent mood of despair regarding the play
Answer: D
Rationale: The descriptive language of sentence 10—notably, “static,” “shapeless,” “inhumanly
heavy weight,” “promise of failure,” “apologetic nods and smiles,” “spastic haste,” “less explicit
promises of failure”—serves primarily to convey a persistent mood of despair on the part of the
Players toward the play. Choice A is incorrect because there is no evidence in the passage that
the Players blame the director for the problems with the play. Choice B is incorrect because the
passage indicates that the Players have relatively recently undertaken “a doubling and
redoubling of their rehearsal schedule” (sentence 9). Choice C is incorrect because there is no
evidence in the passage that the Players blame one another for the problems with the play;
instead, they share a generalized sense of failure.
4. The narrator most strongly suggests that which of the following resulted in the
transformation described in the last paragraph?
A. The change in time of day during which rehearsals were being held
B. The greater frequency with which rehearsals were being scheduled
, C. The shift in the director’s style from strict to more forgiving
D. The break in routine occurring the day before the first performance
Answer: D
Rationale: Sentence 10 indicates that the play “remained a static, shapeless, inhumanly heavy
weight” even after numerous rehearsals. “With twenty-four hours to go,” however, the Players
“had somehow managed to bring it off” (sentence 11). The narrator goes on to suggest that
something about the break in routine near the very end of the rehearsal period was
responsible. Feeling “giddy in the unfamiliar feel of make-up and costumes,” the Players “had
forgotten to be afraid”; instead, “they had let the movement of the play come and carry them
and break like a wave” and “had all put their hearts into their work” (sentence 12). Choice A is
incorrect because the passage does mention that the transformative last rehearsal took place
“tonight” (sentence 11) but does not clearly indicate the time of day during which prior
rehearsals were held, and it seems likely, given the intensifying schedule (“doubling and
redoubling,” sentence 9), that at least some prior rehearsals had taken place at night. Choice B
is incorrect because sentence 9 asserts that the “doubling and redoubling” of the rehearsal
schedule “seemed only to make matters worse.” Choice C is incorrect because there is no
evidence in the passage that the director changed his or her style.
5. The main purpose of the last paragraph of Passage 1 is to offer
A. criticism
B. justification
C. exemplification
D. comparison
Answer: B
Rationale: The first two paragraphs of Passage 1 describe what might seem like extremely
harsh restrictions on wireless transmissions: “no electronic transmitters at all,” “you’re not even
allowed to cozy up to an electric blanket,” “a police officer roves the streets listening for
forbidden wireless signals.” The last paragraph of Passage 1 serves mainly to offer justification:
the restrictions are “necessary” because “the town is home to the Green Bank Telescope,” and
“a rogue radio signal could prevent potential discoveries.” Choice A is incorrect because the last
paragraph of Passage 1 does not take a critical tone toward the electronics restrictions in Green
Bank, instead describing them as “necessary.” Choices C and D are incorrect because no
Questions and Answers
1. The contrasts the narrator draws in sentences 1 and 2 between the Players’ homes and the
houses in the “landscape” and between the Players’ automobiles and the “roads” are most
likely meant to suggest that the Players’ homes and automobiles are
A. old and neglected
B. modern and alien
C. small but expensive
D. grand but unappreciated
Answer: B
Rationale: Sentence 1 notes that in the “landscape,” “only a few very old, weathered houses
seemed to belong”; by contrast, the Players’ houses seemed “weightless,” “impermanent,” and
“misplaced,” like “bright new toys.” Sentence 2 establishes that the Players’ automobiles “didn’t
look right either,” that they appeared “unnecessarily wide and gleaming in the colors of candy
and ice cream,” that they seemed “to wince at each splatter of mud,” and that they “crawled
apologetically down the broken roads.” Choice A is incorrect because the Players’ homes and
automobiles are neither old nor neglected; in fact, the passage indicates that the homes and
automobiles are modern in relation to the “landscape” and “roads” (sentences 1-2) and that the
automobiles are “gleaming” (sentence 2). Choice C is incorrect because the Players’ homes and
automobiles are not small; for one thing, the automobiles are “unnecessarily wide” (sentence
2). Choice D is incorrect because there is no evidence in the passage that the Players’ homes
and automobiles are unappreciated.
2. Based on the passage, which of the following most accurately characterizes the claim that
“there was plenty of time to smooth the thing out” (sentence 8)?
A. A comforting falsehood that the Players know to be untrue
B. An outright lie that the director persuades the Players to accept
C. An optimistic conclusion reached by outside observers watching an early rehearsal
D. A realistic appraisal offered by the director after careful analysis of the play’s shortcomings
, Answer: A
Rationale: Sentence 9 establishes, in contrast to what is stated in sentence 8, that “there
wasn’t plenty of time” and that the Players “all knew it.” Despite knowing better, the Players use
the claim as part of the strategy described in sentence 8 to lighten the tense mood (“disarm
each other,” “forgiving laughter”). Choice B is incorrect because the passage suggests that the
source of the claim was the Players themselves, not the director. Choice C is incorrect because
no outside observers are mentioned in the passage. Choice D is incorrect because the passage
suggests that the source of the claim was the Players themselves, not the director, and because
the claim is false, not realistic.
3. The descriptive language in sentence 10 is mainly intended to reinforce the passage’s
depiction of the Players’
A. growing resentment of the director’s leadership
B. increasing reluctance to work as hard as they have been
C. lingering doubts about their fellow cast members
D. persistent mood of despair regarding the play
Answer: D
Rationale: The descriptive language of sentence 10—notably, “static,” “shapeless,” “inhumanly
heavy weight,” “promise of failure,” “apologetic nods and smiles,” “spastic haste,” “less explicit
promises of failure”—serves primarily to convey a persistent mood of despair on the part of the
Players toward the play. Choice A is incorrect because there is no evidence in the passage that
the Players blame the director for the problems with the play. Choice B is incorrect because the
passage indicates that the Players have relatively recently undertaken “a doubling and
redoubling of their rehearsal schedule” (sentence 9). Choice C is incorrect because there is no
evidence in the passage that the Players blame one another for the problems with the play;
instead, they share a generalized sense of failure.
4. The narrator most strongly suggests that which of the following resulted in the
transformation described in the last paragraph?
A. The change in time of day during which rehearsals were being held
B. The greater frequency with which rehearsals were being scheduled
, C. The shift in the director’s style from strict to more forgiving
D. The break in routine occurring the day before the first performance
Answer: D
Rationale: Sentence 10 indicates that the play “remained a static, shapeless, inhumanly heavy
weight” even after numerous rehearsals. “With twenty-four hours to go,” however, the Players
“had somehow managed to bring it off” (sentence 11). The narrator goes on to suggest that
something about the break in routine near the very end of the rehearsal period was
responsible. Feeling “giddy in the unfamiliar feel of make-up and costumes,” the Players “had
forgotten to be afraid”; instead, “they had let the movement of the play come and carry them
and break like a wave” and “had all put their hearts into their work” (sentence 12). Choice A is
incorrect because the passage does mention that the transformative last rehearsal took place
“tonight” (sentence 11) but does not clearly indicate the time of day during which prior
rehearsals were held, and it seems likely, given the intensifying schedule (“doubling and
redoubling,” sentence 9), that at least some prior rehearsals had taken place at night. Choice B
is incorrect because sentence 9 asserts that the “doubling and redoubling” of the rehearsal
schedule “seemed only to make matters worse.” Choice C is incorrect because there is no
evidence in the passage that the director changed his or her style.
5. The main purpose of the last paragraph of Passage 1 is to offer
A. criticism
B. justification
C. exemplification
D. comparison
Answer: B
Rationale: The first two paragraphs of Passage 1 describe what might seem like extremely
harsh restrictions on wireless transmissions: “no electronic transmitters at all,” “you’re not even
allowed to cozy up to an electric blanket,” “a police officer roves the streets listening for
forbidden wireless signals.” The last paragraph of Passage 1 serves mainly to offer justification:
the restrictions are “necessary” because “the town is home to the Green Bank Telescope,” and
“a rogue radio signal could prevent potential discoveries.” Choice A is incorrect because the last
paragraph of Passage 1 does not take a critical tone toward the electronics restrictions in Green
Bank, instead describing them as “necessary.” Choices C and D are incorrect because no
