ASVAB Paragraph Comprehension Practice Test 868160 Results

	Your Results	Global Average
Questions	5	5
Correct	0	2.78
Score	0%	56%

Review

"Democracy's real test lies in its respect for minority opinions." - Ellery Sedgwick

Showing respect for a minority opinion _______________ democracy.

67% Answer Correctly

	invalidates
	undermines
	validates
	challenges

Solution

If democracy's test is whether or not it respects minority opinions then showing respect for a minority opinion is positive and validates democracy. Each of the other answers paints showing respect for minority opinion negatively.

The 1980 New York Mets season was the 19th regular season for the Mets, who played home games at Shea Stadium. Led by manager Joe Torre, the team had a 67-95 record, yielding a 5th place finish in the National League East.

In the context of this paragraph, the word "yielding" most closely means:

52% Answer Correctly

	Being flexible.
	Complying with the requests or desires of others.
	Giving way under pressure.
	Being submissive.

Speed skating is a competitive form of ice skating in which the competitors race each other in traveling a certain distance on skates. Types of speed skating are long track speed skating, short track speed skating, and marathon speed skating. Short track speed skating takes place on a smaller rink, normally the size of an ice hockey rink. Distances are shorter than in long track racing, with the longest Olympic race being 3000 meters. Races are usually held as knockouts, with the best two in heats of four or five qualifying for the final race, where medals are awarded. Disqualifications and falls are not uncommon. The sport originates from pack-style events held in North America and was officially sanctioned in the 1970s, becoming an Olympic sport in 1992. Although this form of speed skating is newer, it is growing faster than long track speed skating, largely because short track can be done on an ice hockey rink rather than a long-track oval.

What does the author cite as the reason that short track speed skating is growing faster than long-track speed skating?

64% Answer Correctly

	Short track speed skating is newer and appeals to younger skaters.
	Short track speed skating can be played in a more accessible venue.
	Short track speed skating is more exiting due to frequent disqualifications and falls.
	Short track speed skating is more exiting because of the shorter tracks and knockout race format.

Solution

The author states that short track speed skating is growing faster than long track speed skating "largely because short track can be done on an ice hockey rink rather than a long-track oval" which implies that the ability to be played in a more accessible venue is fueling its growth.

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

	skeptical
	confident
	hopeful
	denying

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".

A rule change was enacted before the 1974 National Football League (NFL) season to add one sudden death overtime period (15 minutes) to all preseason and regular season games. If no team scored in this period, the game would result in a tie. This rule was enacted to decrease the number of tie games. The first ever regular season overtime, a September 22 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Denver Broncos, ended in a 35-35 draw. It was not until November 10, when the New York Jets defeated the New York Giants, 26-20, that an overtime game would produce a winner.

Based on this information, which of the following statements is accurate?

50% Answer Correctly

	There's not enough information to determine if this rule change impacted the number of ties.
	The number of ties have stayed the same after this rule change.
	The number of ties have increased after this rule change.
	The number of ties have been reduced after this rule change.

Solution

Without knowing how many ties occurred in pre-1974 NFL seasons we can't determine if the number of ties in 1974 was more than, less than, or the same as in past years.