TEAS 7 Reading Practice Test Questions
Understanding Textual Analysis:
Enhancing Comprehension Skills
I. Identifying Key Information and Main Ideas
1. Significance of Global Temperature Change
Text: A global temperature change of a few degrees is more significant than it may
seem at first glance. This is not merely a change in weather in any one location.
Rather, it is an average change in temperatures around the entire surface of the
planet. It takes a vast amount of heat energy to warm every part of our world-
including oceans, air, and land-by even a tiny measurable amount. Moreover,
relatively small changes in the earth's surface temperatures have historically caused
enormous changes in climate. In the last ice age 20,000 years ago, when much of
the northern hemisphere was buried under huge sheets of ice, mean global
temperatures were only about five degrees Celsius lower than they are now.
Scientists predict a temperature rise of two to six degrees Celsius by 2100. What if
this causes similarly drastic changes to the world we call home?
Question: Which sentence best expresses the significance of a few degrees of
global temperature change?
Answer: a. A global temperature change of a few degrees is more significant
than it may seem at first glance.
Elaboration: This sentence acts as the topic sentence, directly stating the central
idea that seemingly small global temperature shifts carry substantial importance.
The subsequent sentences in the paragraph provide supporting details to elaborate
on this main point.
2. Identifying the Topic of a Paragraph
Text: (Same as above)
Question: In the provided text, what is the primary topic being discussed?
,Answer: a. the topic (Note: The question is incomplete in the original text.
Assuming it asks for the topic of the paragraph...)
Elaboration: The primary topic of this paragraph is the significance of even small
changes in global temperature. The author emphasizes that these changes are not
localized weather fluctuations but planetary averages with potentially drastic
consequences for the Earth's climate, drawing a comparison to the temperature
difference during the last ice age.
3. Identifying the Implied Message
Text: (Same as above)
Question: Which sentence best captures the implied message of the text?
Answer: c. People should be concerned by even minor global temperature
change.
Elaboration: While not explicitly stated, the paragraph strongly implies that even
a few degrees of global temperature change should be a cause for concern. The
comparison to the ice age and the prediction of future temperature rise serve to
highlight the potential for significant and detrimental changes to our planet.
4. Understanding the Function of a Sentence
Text: (Same as above)
Question: What is the function of the sentence: "In the last ice age 20,000 years
ago, when much of the northern hemisphere was buried under huge sheets of ice,
mean global temperatures were only about five degrees Celsius lower than they are
now"?
Answer: d. Supporting detail
Elaboration: This sentence serves as a supporting detail by providing a historical
example to illustrate the main point. It demonstrates that even a relatively small
difference in global average temperature (5 degrees Celsius) can lead to dramatic
and widespread climatic changes, such as the formation of massive ice sheets.
5. Identifying Accurate Supporting Information
, Text: (Same as above)
Question: Which of the following statements is supported by the information in
the text?
Answer: b. The world was only about one degree cooler during the Little Ice
Age from 1700 to 1850. (Note: This answer is incorrect based on the provided
text. The text mentions a 5-degree difference during the last ice age, not the Little
Ice Age. This highlights the importance of accurate information.)
Correction and Elaboration: The provided text states that during the last ice age,
global temperatures were about five degrees Celsius lower than they are now. The
text does not provide information about the temperature difference during the Little
Ice Age. Therefore, option b is not supported by the given information.
II. Analyzing Paragraph Structure and Purpose
6. Identifying the Topic of a Group of Sentences
Text: Publishers typically pay male authors slightly higher advances than female
authors. They also price men's books higher, which results in higher royalty
payments for male creators. Male authors are more likely than female authors to
win literary awards, receive speaking invitations, and gain attention from major
reviewers, all of which drive sales.
Question: Which phrase best describes the topic of the group of sentences above?
Answer: b. Gender differences in author income.
Elaboration: The sentences collectively focus on the disparities in financial
compensation and opportunities between male and female authors within the
publishing industry. Terms like "higher advances," "higher royalty payments," and
factors influencing sales all relate to the economic aspects of being an author,
specifically highlighting gender-based differences.
7. Identifying an Effective Topic Sentence
Text: (Same as above)
Question: Which of the following sentences would best function as a topic
sentence to unite the information above?
Understanding Textual Analysis:
Enhancing Comprehension Skills
I. Identifying Key Information and Main Ideas
1. Significance of Global Temperature Change
Text: A global temperature change of a few degrees is more significant than it may
seem at first glance. This is not merely a change in weather in any one location.
Rather, it is an average change in temperatures around the entire surface of the
planet. It takes a vast amount of heat energy to warm every part of our world-
including oceans, air, and land-by even a tiny measurable amount. Moreover,
relatively small changes in the earth's surface temperatures have historically caused
enormous changes in climate. In the last ice age 20,000 years ago, when much of
the northern hemisphere was buried under huge sheets of ice, mean global
temperatures were only about five degrees Celsius lower than they are now.
Scientists predict a temperature rise of two to six degrees Celsius by 2100. What if
this causes similarly drastic changes to the world we call home?
Question: Which sentence best expresses the significance of a few degrees of
global temperature change?
Answer: a. A global temperature change of a few degrees is more significant
than it may seem at first glance.
Elaboration: This sentence acts as the topic sentence, directly stating the central
idea that seemingly small global temperature shifts carry substantial importance.
The subsequent sentences in the paragraph provide supporting details to elaborate
on this main point.
2. Identifying the Topic of a Paragraph
Text: (Same as above)
Question: In the provided text, what is the primary topic being discussed?
,Answer: a. the topic (Note: The question is incomplete in the original text.
Assuming it asks for the topic of the paragraph...)
Elaboration: The primary topic of this paragraph is the significance of even small
changes in global temperature. The author emphasizes that these changes are not
localized weather fluctuations but planetary averages with potentially drastic
consequences for the Earth's climate, drawing a comparison to the temperature
difference during the last ice age.
3. Identifying the Implied Message
Text: (Same as above)
Question: Which sentence best captures the implied message of the text?
Answer: c. People should be concerned by even minor global temperature
change.
Elaboration: While not explicitly stated, the paragraph strongly implies that even
a few degrees of global temperature change should be a cause for concern. The
comparison to the ice age and the prediction of future temperature rise serve to
highlight the potential for significant and detrimental changes to our planet.
4. Understanding the Function of a Sentence
Text: (Same as above)
Question: What is the function of the sentence: "In the last ice age 20,000 years
ago, when much of the northern hemisphere was buried under huge sheets of ice,
mean global temperatures were only about five degrees Celsius lower than they are
now"?
Answer: d. Supporting detail
Elaboration: This sentence serves as a supporting detail by providing a historical
example to illustrate the main point. It demonstrates that even a relatively small
difference in global average temperature (5 degrees Celsius) can lead to dramatic
and widespread climatic changes, such as the formation of massive ice sheets.
5. Identifying Accurate Supporting Information
, Text: (Same as above)
Question: Which of the following statements is supported by the information in
the text?
Answer: b. The world was only about one degree cooler during the Little Ice
Age from 1700 to 1850. (Note: This answer is incorrect based on the provided
text. The text mentions a 5-degree difference during the last ice age, not the Little
Ice Age. This highlights the importance of accurate information.)
Correction and Elaboration: The provided text states that during the last ice age,
global temperatures were about five degrees Celsius lower than they are now. The
text does not provide information about the temperature difference during the Little
Ice Age. Therefore, option b is not supported by the given information.
II. Analyzing Paragraph Structure and Purpose
6. Identifying the Topic of a Group of Sentences
Text: Publishers typically pay male authors slightly higher advances than female
authors. They also price men's books higher, which results in higher royalty
payments for male creators. Male authors are more likely than female authors to
win literary awards, receive speaking invitations, and gain attention from major
reviewers, all of which drive sales.
Question: Which phrase best describes the topic of the group of sentences above?
Answer: b. Gender differences in author income.
Elaboration: The sentences collectively focus on the disparities in financial
compensation and opportunities between male and female authors within the
publishing industry. Terms like "higher advances," "higher royalty payments," and
factors influencing sales all relate to the economic aspects of being an author,
specifically highlighting gender-based differences.
7. Identifying an Effective Topic Sentence
Text: (Same as above)
Question: Which of the following sentences would best function as a topic
sentence to unite the information above?
