ASVAB Paragraph Comprehension Practice Test 234721 Results

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Questions 5 5
Correct 0 2.96
Score 0% 59%

Review

1
Pragmatism is a philosophical tradition that began in the United States around 1870. Pragmatism is a rejection of the idea that the function of thought is to describe, represent, or mirror reality. Instead, pragmatists develop their philosophy around the idea that the function of thought is as a instrument or tool for prediction, action, and problem solving. Pragmatists contend that most philosophical topics - such as the nature of knowledge, language, concepts, meaning, belief, and science - are all best viewed in terms of their practical uses and successes rather than in terms of representative accuracy.
Pragmatism would best be described as a philosophy that focuses on:
59% Answer Correctly
Reflection and learning from the past.
Practicality and present problem solving.
Imagination and planning for the future.
Describing and understanding the nature of reality.
Solution
According to this passage, pragmatists focus on present problem solving and the practical uses of philosophy.
2
In 2011, the Ohio Turnpike raised its limit to 70 and recorded its lowest traffic fatality rate ever that year. The higher speed limit attracts travelers to use the safer, limited-access, divided highways of the interstates from more traditional roads. That makes both types of roads safer.
Why does increasing the speed limit on interstates make traditional roads safer?
63% Answer Correctly
Drivers attracted by the high speed limits of the interstates are reckless and getting them off the traditional roads makes those roads safer.
After this change there are more police patrolling traditional roads.
More travelers choose to use interstates which reduces the number of cars on traditional roads.
Only the safest drivers still choose to drive traditional roads because they don't want to drive as fast.
Solution
More travelers using safer interstates increases their safety and reduces traffic on traditional roads. This reduction of travelers on traditional roads make those road safer because there are fewer vehicles on them. None of the other answers relate to the information given in the paragraph.
3
A perennial stream or perennial river is a stream or river (channel) that has continuous flow in parts of its stream bed all year round during years of normal rainfall. "Perennial" streams are contrasted with "intermittent" streams which normally cease flowing for weeks or months each year, and with "ephemeral" channels that flow only for hours or days following rainfall.
Which of the following is the correct order of stream type from the least amount of time flowing to the most amount of time flowing over the course of a year?
57% Answer Correctly
ephemeral, perennial, intermittent
perennial, intermittent, ephemeral
ephemeral, intermittent, perennial
perennial, ephemeral, intermittent
Solution
Ephemeral streams flow for hours or days, intermittent streams flow for weeks or months, and perennial streams flow continuously throughout the year.
4
On Monday, after a long quarter-century, West Virginians said goodbye to their state's 6 percent food tax. Now to see what, if any, business we've been missing. In 1989, retailers warned that sales in West Virginia would go down if legislators imposed a 6 percent tax on food. "Whatever they put on would be passed on to the consumer," Charles Forth, who owned supermarkets in both West Virginia and Ohio, told the newspaper in February 1989. "Six percent is $6 on $100. That will make a difference when people are already hurting and trying to make ends meet." It's a lot easier to drive customers away than to win them back, a fact legislators should bear in mind when it comes to taxation.
The author is _______________ that eliminating the 6 percent food tax will bring customers back to West Virginia stores.
45% Answer Correctly
denying
skeptical
confident
hopeful
Solution
The author cites a local retailer who predicted that sales in West Virginia would go down if the food tax was implemented and, although no facts are given to indicate that sales did in fact go down, the tone of the paragraph implies that the perception is that they have. The author is skeptical that eliminating the food tax will bring customers back claiming "It's a lot easier to drive customers away than to win them back".
5
Six years ago, lawyer-banker-scholar Charles Morris wrote a prophetic book - 'Two-Trillion-Dollar Meltdown: Easy Money, High-Rollers and the Great Credit Crunch' - that foresaw the 2008 Great Recession before it clobbered America and the world. Now Morris has reversed course and sees good times ahead. His forthcoming book, 'Comeback,' predicts that surging U.S. energy independence will bring a buoyant rise in American manufacturing and jobs.
This passage implies that you should pay attention to Charles Morris because:
73% Answer Correctly
His first book was a best seller.
His predictions have come true once already.
The U.S. is becoming more energy independent.
He's a published author.
Solution
This passage implies that because Charles Morris foresaw the 2008 Great Recession that his opinions about future economic events are credible and should be paid attention to.