501 Reading Comprehension Questions

The answers to this section begin on page 15.

Read the following sentences and try to choose the best definition for the
italicized word by searching for context clues in the sentence.

1. The designer window treatments in her house, installed 17 years

ago, were outmoded.
a. unnecessary
b. pointless
c. out-of-date
d. worthless

2. The spies conducted a covert operation.

a. dangerous
b. foreign
c. hidden
d. illegal

3. The baseball player’s malice toward the referee was revealed in his
spiteful remarks to the media, which almost ruined the referee’s
career.
a. vindictive
b. crazy
c. rude
d. unpleasant

4. Although Zachary is much too inexperienced for the managerial

position, he is a willful young man and obdurately refuses to with-
draw his application.
a. foolishly
b. reluctantly
c. constantly
d. stubbornly

5. His neighbor’s superficial remarks trivialized the property line

dispute and infuriated Malcolm.
a. enraged
b. petty
c. insulting
d. misleading

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 501 Reading Comprehension Questions

6. She showed a blatant disregard for the rules.

a. obvious
b. hidden
c. last-minute
d. rebellious

7. Her fashion sense was usually described as flamboyant, but on the

night of the party, Tanya’s outfit was uncharacteristically modest.
a. impeccable
b. showy
c. sloppy
d. unassuming

8. Mr. Powers was so gullible that he believed even the most outland-
ish excuses of his insincere employees.
a. intelligent
b. naïve
c. dishonest
d. critical

9. You cannot become a certified teacher without completing the

prerequisite student-teaching assignment.
a. required
b. optional
c. preferred
d. advisable

10. Charles, aware of his susceptibility to gum disease, is diligent about

flossing.
a. uncomfortable
b. excited
c. thorough
d. ambivalent

11. Even though she’d read her supervisor’s memo four or five times,
she still found his rambling message ambiguous.
a. profound
b. inspiring
c. ridiculous
d. unclear

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 501 Reading Comprehension Questions

12. Excited about winning the award, Marcia walked up to the podium
and delivered an animated acceptance speech.
a. abbreviated
b. courteous
c. reserved
d. lively

13. The intermittent rain soaked the garden many different times dur-
ing the day.
a. protracted
b. periodic
c. incredulous
d. light

14. I got a vicarious thrill watching you on the diving board.

a. shared
b. unpleasant
c. adventurous
d. evil

15. After several small brushfires at the campground, officials felt the
need to augment the rules pertaining to campfires.
a. criticize
b. retract
c. consider
d. expand

16. As soon as the details of the election were released to the media,
the newspaper was inundated with calls—far too many to be han-
dled effectively.
a. provided
b. bothered
c. rewarded
d. flooded

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 501 Reading Comprehension Questions

17. The doctor got to the crux of the issue.

a. outline
b. opposite
c. crucial point
d. unhealthy

18. When people heard that timid Bob had taken up skydiving, they
were incredulous.
a. fearful
b. outraged
c. convinced
d. disbelieving

19. The technical department enthusiastically hired Ms. Long because

she was proficient in the use of computers.
a. sincere
b. adequate
c. competent
d. skilled

20. Even under tremendous public pressure, the planning committee

would not commit itself wholeheartedly to the proposal and gave
only tentative approval to the waterfront development plan.
a. provisional
b. ambiguous
c. unnecessary
d. total

21. The preacher used a euphemism for an unpleasant subject.

a. ugly picture
b. substituted word
c. homeless person
d. visual aid

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 501 Reading Comprehension Questions

22. Since the townspeople were so dissatisfied, various methods to

alleviate the situation were debated.
a. ease
b. tolerate
c. clarify
d. intensify

23. That perfume always evokes pleasant memories.

a. angers
b. erases
c. calls up
d. confuses

24. The attorney wanted to expedite the process because her client was
becoming impatient.
a. accelerate
b. evaluate
c. reverse
d. justify

25. The suspect gave a plausible explanation for his presence at the
scene, so the police decided to look elsewhere for the perpetrator
of the crime.
a. unbelievable
b. credible
c. insufficient
d. apologetic

26. He based his conclusion on what he inferred from the evidence, not
on what he actually observed.
a. predicted
b. imagined
c. surmised
d. implied

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 501 Reading Comprehension Questions

27. The neighborhood-watch group presented its ultimatum at the

town board meeting: Repave the streets or prepare for protests.
a. earnest plea
b. formal petition
c. solemn promise
d. non-negotiable demand

28. The editor of the newspaper needed to be sure the article present-
ed the right information, so his review was meticulous.
a. delicate
b. painstaking
c. superficial
d. objective

29. The general public didn’t care about the trial and was apathetic
about the verdict.
a. enraged
b. indifferent
c. suspicious
d. saddened

30. The doctors were pleased that their theory had been fortified by the
new research.
a. reinforced
b. altered
c. disputed
d. developed

31. The captain often delegated responsibility to his subordinates, so as

to have time to do the important tasks himself.
a. analyzed
b. respected
c. criticized
d. assigned

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 501 Reading Comprehension Questions

32. The news about toxic waste dumping aroused the anger of many
viewers of the news broadcast.
a. informed
b. appeased
c. provoked
d. deceived

33. The athlete was adroit at handling the ball.

a. clumsy
b. large
c. obnoxious
d. skillful

34. The new shipping and receiving building is an expansive facility,

large enough to meet our growing needs.
a. obsolete
b. meager
c. spacious
d. costly

35. The attorneys were now certain they could not win the case, be-
cause the ruling had proved to be so detrimental to their argument.
a. decisive
b. harmful
c. worthless
d. advantageous

36. My brother drives us crazy by crooning in the shower.

a. hooting
b. bellowing
c. crying
d. shouting

37. Mark seems very pensive today.

a. writing
b. hostile
c. cooped-up
d. thoughtful

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 501 Reading Comprehension Questions

38. The air in the rainforest was humid, making the heat seem even
more smothering than before.
a. hot
b. damp
c. hazy
d. volatile

39. The balloon, loose from its string, rose up into the sky, a shiny
purple sphere.
a. circle
b. globe
c. ovoid
d. nodule

40. After the storm caused raw sewage to seep into the ground water,
the Water Department had to take measures to decontaminate the
city’s water supply.
a. refine
b. revive
c. freshen
d. purify

41. Please say something that will edify the audience.

a. perplex
b. annoy
c. instruct
d. amuse

42. The volcano lies dormant now, but we feel sure that it will erupt
again within the year.
a. inactive
b. slack
c. elevated
d. inattentive

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 501 Reading Comprehension Questions

43. Because of his disregard for the king’s laws, the prince was pun-
ished by being banished from the kingdom.
a. apart
b. kidnapped
c. exiled
d. spirited

44. I relinquished my place in line to go back and talk with my friend

Diane.
a. defended
b. yielded
c. delayed
d. remanded

45. He juxtaposed the book’s ideas with current events, showing us how
they related.
a. caused confusion
b. bend and fold
c. placed side-by-side
d. threw away

46. The thief jostled me in a crowd and was thus able to pick my
pocket.
a. mugged
b. bumped
c. assailed
d. hindered

47. While we traveled in Italy, we stayed in an inexpensive hostel.

a. inn
b. compound
c. home
d. four-star hotel

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 501 Reading Comprehension Questions

48. My friend asked me to lie for her, but that is against my philosophy.
a. principles
b. regulations
c. personality
d. introspection

Choose the best vocabulary word for questions 49–51.

49. We had no idea who the special guest speaker would be, because
the organizers of the event were so _____________________.
a. animated
b. secretive
c. talented
d. emotional

50. Cindy had some ______________ about marrying George, because

he was sometimes violent.
a. enthusiasm
b. ignorance
c. trepidation
d. urgency

51. He asked his wife to _____________ the situation after she had
offended the neighbor.
a. rectify
b. exacerbate
c. ruminate
d. extend

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 501 Reading Comprehension Questions

Questions 52 and 53 are based on the following paragraph.

Rhesus monkeys use facial expressions to communicate with each

other and to enforce social order. For example, the “fear grimace,”
although it looks ferocious, is actually given by a __________ monkey
who is intimidated by a __________ member of the group.

52. What is the meaning of the underlined word grimace as it is used in

the passage?
a. wrinkle
b. contortion
c. shriek
d. simper

53. Which pair of words, if inserted into the blanks in sequence, makes
the most sense in the context of the passage?
a. calm . . . aggressive
b. dominant . . . subordinate
c. confident . . . fearless
d. subordinate . . . dominant

SYNONYMS

Words that mean the same thing, or nearly the same thing. A few
examples:
change, alter happy, cheerful
cuddle, caress overweight, obese
combine, unite talkative, chatty

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 501 Reading Comprehension Questions

Questions 54 and 55 are based on the following paragraph.

In prolonged space flight, besides the obvious hazards of meteors,

rocky debris, and radiation, astronauts will have to deal with muscle
atrophy brought on by weightlessness; therefore, when they return
to Earth, they face a protracted period of weight training to rebuild
their strength.

54. What is the most likely meaning of the underlined word debris as it
is used in this passage?
a. fragments
b. decay
c. bacteria
d. alien life

55. The underlined word atrophy, as used in the paragraph, most

nearly means
a. pain.
b. wasting.
c. weakening.
d. cramping.

Question 56 is based on the following paragraph.

Most of the women in the orchestra wore conventional black skirts

and white shirts during concerts and had their hair neatly pulled
back. Robin, with her brightly colored clothing and unusual hair-
styles, was considered quite eccentric.

56. What is the meaning of the underlined word eccentric as it is used

in the sentence?
a. unconventional
b. joyful
c. unreliable
d. proud

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 501 Reading Comprehension Questions

Questions 57, 58, and 59 are based on the following paragraph.

Donna’s memo caused much contention around the office last week.
She may have meant well, but her usually caustic tone offended
almost everybody. She has become a consistent nuisance at work,
and probably should be fired.

57. Based on the tone of the passage, which of the following words
best describes the author’s attitude toward Donna?
a. exasperated
b. admiring
c. patronizing
d. isolated

58. The underlined word caustic, as used in this passage, most nearly
means
a. cause and effect.
b. reoccurring.
c. biting.
d. unclear.

59. What is the meaning of the underlined word contention as it is

used in this passage?
a. theorizing
b. discord
c. gossip
d. calm

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