which of the following could be considered a theme of the passage

ATI TEAS 7

ATI TEAS 7 Reading Practice Test

1. Which of the following could be considered a theme of the passage?

A. Anyone can become royalty.
B. People should only marry for advantage.
C. Queen Victoria was a fair, but unlikely, queen.
D. Even the most unlikely events can happen.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The theme of the passage revolves around the idea that even the most unlikely events can happen. The passage describes the improbable events leading to Queen Victoria becoming the queen, emphasizing how unpredictable and unexpected her rise to the throne was. Choice A is not supported as Victoria was born into royalty, so not just anyone can become royalty as implied. While there are mentions of marriages for advantage in the passage, it is not the central theme but rather a detail in the historical context, making choice B incorrect. Although the passage discusses Queen Victoria being an unlikely queen, this statement is too specific to be a theme; a theme should be broader and universally applicable, making choice C incorrect.

2. Of the individuals described below, who seems like the best applicant for the roommate advertisement?

A. Frances is a research assistant in the science department and owns a Yorkshire terrier.
B. Adelaide works in the humanities department and is seeking a three-month rental.
C. Cosette is allergic to cigarette smoke and requires a quiet place to study.
D. Felix is a graduate student in the history department and does not own a car.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The best applicant for the roommate advertisement is Cosette. The ad specifies that the current occupants are quiet, the house is clean/smoke-free, and no pets are allowed. Cosette is allergic to cigarette smoke, indicating she is a non-smoker and prefers a smoke-free environment. She also needs a quiet place to study, aligning with the quiet environment mentioned in the ad. Additionally, the ad prefers long-term applicants, and Cosette's need for a quiet place to study implies she will likely remain for an extended period. Frances owning a Yorkshire terrier goes against the ad's 'no pets' policy. Adelaide seeking a three-month rental does not align with the preference for long-term applicants. Felix not owning a car is not relevant to the criteria set by the ad.

3. The author of the passage describes Harriet Tubman's life as a slave to show

A. why she wanted to escape slavery.
B. why she was a spy during the Civil War.
C. why she suffered from seizures.
D. how she loved babies.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: 'why she wanted to escape slavery.' The author details Harriet Tubman's life as a slave to highlight the hardships and injustices she faced, motivating her to seek freedom for herself and others. Choice B is incorrect because while Tubman was a spy during the Civil War, the passage focuses on her experiences as a slave. Choice C is incorrect as the passage mentions her suffering from seizures due to a head injury, not as a primary reason for describing her life as a slave. Choice D is incorrect as the passage briefly mentions her experience as a nursemaid for a baby, but it does not focus on her love for babies as a key aspect of describing her life as a slave.

4. Which of the following is true of hypotheses of the form 'All x and y'?

A. Something that is neither x nor y disproves the hypothesis.
B. Something that is both x and y disproves the hypothesis.
C. Something that is x but not y disproves the hypothesis.
D. Something that is y but not x disproves the hypothesis.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C. According to the passage, when encountering evidence that disproves a hypothesis of the form 'All x and y,' something that is x but not y can disprove the hypothesis. Using the example provided in the passage, a monkey (x) that has no hair (not y) would disprove the hypothesis 'All monkeys are hairy.' Choice A is incorrect because something that is neither x nor y is not specifically mentioned in the passage to disprove such hypotheses. Choice B is incorrect because the passage states that something that is both x and y confirms the hypothesis, not disproves it. Choice D is incorrect as the passage does not discuss something that is y but not x disproving the hypothesis; it focuses on x but not y as evidence to disprove the hypothesis.

5. What is the instructor's main purpose in writing this email to his students?

A. To criticize students for their poor performance on the recent essay exam
B. To motivate students to persevere despite setbacks
C. To offer students a chance to improve their scores and avoid failing the course
D. To acknowledge the difficulty of the essay exam for most students

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The instructor's main purpose in writing the email is to provide students with opportunities to improve their scores and avoid failing the course. The email outlines different options for extra credit projects that can help students make up for the low scores they received on the essay exam. This shows that the instructor is focused on helping students succeed rather than criticizing them (choice A), motivating them (choice B), or acknowledging the difficulty of the exam (choice D).