Excerpt: My friend Reldresal, principal secretary for private affairs, is, in my opinion, if I am not partial, the second after the treasurer; the rest of the great officers are much upon a par.
1. What is the word 'principal' referring to in the following text?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: In the provided text, 'principal' is referring to the primary or chief individual. The principal secretary for private affairs is considered second only to the treasurer, indicating a position of high importance. The term 'acolyte' (Choice B) refers to a ceremonial assistant, which does not fit the context. 'An individual who provides nurturing' (Choice C) and 'One in a subordinate position' (Choice D) do not accurately describe the role of the 'principal' in the text.
Excerpt: I would sometimes lie down, and let five or six of them dance on my hand; and at last the boys and girls would venture to come and play at hide-and-seek in my hair.
2. What can the reader infer from this passage?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C. In the passage, it is mentioned that the children play in Gulliver's hair, implying that he is considerably larger than them. This suggests that Gulliver is of a significant size compared to the children. Choice A is incorrect as there is no indication of the children torturing Gulliver in the passage. Choice B is incorrect because the passage does not mention Gulliver's reason for traveling. Choice D is incorrect as the passage does not provide evidence of Gulliver's love and enthusiasm for people of all sizes.
Excerpt: The emperor had a mind one day to entertain me with several of the country shows, wherein they exceed all nations I have known, both for dexterity and magnificence.
3. What is the significance of the word 'mind' in the following passage?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In the provided passage, 'mind' refers to a definitive decision. The context indicates that the emperor made a conscious decision to entertain the speaker with country shows. Choice A, 'The ability to think,' is too broad and does not capture the specific decision-making aspect implied in the passage. Choice B, 'A collective vote,' and Choice D, 'A mythological question,' are irrelevant and do not align with the context provided.
Excerpt: David Foster Wallace's Infinite Jest is the holy grail of modern literature. It will stand the test of time in its relevance. Every single person who starts reading Infinite Jest cannot physically put down the book until completing it.
4. What is the central idea conveyed in the passage?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The passage describes Infinite Jest as a modern classic that holds significant value, indicating that it is highly recommended for everyone to read it. Choice A focuses solely on the praise of the book without emphasizing the recommendation to read it. Choice B, mentioning it as a page-turner, does not capture the essence of it being a modern classic that everyone should read. Choice C is a factual statement about the authorship but does not encompass the main point that the book is a modern classic that deserves to be read by all.
Excerpt: The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria is often ascribed as the cause of World War I. However, the assassination merely lit the fuse in a combustible situation since many of the world powers were in complicated and convoluted military alliances. For example, England, France, and Russia entered into a mutual defense treaty seven years prior to World War I. Even without Franz Ferdinand's assassination ______________________.
5. Which of the following most logically completes the passage?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A. The passage indicates that the world powers were already in a combustible situation due to complicated military alliances, making war extremely likely even without the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Choice B is incorrect because the passage does not suggest that World War I would never have happened. Choice C is incorrect as it specifically names the countries that would have started the war, which is not supported by the passage. Choice D is also incorrect as the passage does not solely attribute the war's start to Austria.
3000+ Practice Questions: to help you prepare adequately for the ATI TEAS 7.