ASVAB Paragraph Comprehension Practice Test 479940 Results

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Questions 5 5
Correct 0 3.52
Score 0% 70%

Review

1
In linguistics, the comparative method is a technique for studying the development of languages by performing a feature-by-feature comparison of two or more languages with common descent from a shared ancestor, as opposed to the method of internal reconstruction, which analyzes the internal development of a single language over time.
Which of the following would be the most useful for someone using the comparative method in linguistics when studying a particular language?
66% Answer Correctly
Old folk songs that have been passed down among generations of speakers of the language.
The same text written in two different dialects of the language.
Two editions of the same text written one-hundred years apart.
An ancient text written in the language.
Solution
The wrong answers all provide insight into how a single language has changed over time while the text written in two different dialects offers an opportunity to compare languages that share a common ancestor.
2
The Peace Corps is a volunteer program run by the United States government. The stated mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance; helping people outside the United States to understand American culture; and helping Americans to understand the cultures of other countries.
Which of the following activities would not fit the stated goals of the Peace Corps?
78% Answer Correctly
Organizing a protest against unfair labor laws in Bangladesh.
Teaching English to local business owners in Croatia.
Organizing a foreign exchange program for an American high school.
Setting up a computer network for an elementary school in Taiwan.
Solution
Engaging in local politics does not fit the stated mission of the Peace Corps.
3
A utility cooperative is a type of cooperative that is tasked with the delivery of a public utility such as electricity, water or telecommunications to its members. Profits are either reinvested for infrastructure or distributed to members in the form of "patronage" or "capital credits", which are essentially dividends paid on a member's investment into the cooperative. Each customer is a member and owner of the business with an equal say as every other member of the cooperative, unlike investor-owned utilities where the amount of say is governed by the number of shares held.
A utility cooperative is most similar to which of the following types of organizations?
77% Answer Correctly
a dictatorship
a monarchy
a partnership
a military organization
Solution
Similar to a partnership, in a utility cooperative the members have a say in how the cooperative is run. In the other types of organizations all members do not share in the decision making.
4
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:
72% Answer Correctly
His first book was a best seller.
His predictions have come true once already.
He's a published author.
The U.S. is becoming more energy independent.
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.
5
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
Describing and understanding the nature of reality.
Practicality and present problem solving.
Reflection and learning from the past.
Imagination and planning for the future.
Solution
According to this passage, pragmatists focus on present problem solving and the practical uses of philosophy.