16 Paragraph Comprehension (PC) Practice Questions & Answers

1. 1. Read the passage: "The desert tortoise spends much of the hot summer underground in a burrow it digs with its strong front legs. This shelter keeps the animal cool during the day and warm on cold desert nights. Without such burrows, the tortoise could not survive the extreme temperatures of its home." What is the main idea of this passage?

   • A.The desert is cold at night and hot during the day
   • B.Desert tortoises have strong front legs
   • C.Tortoises dig burrows in the summer
   • D.The burrow is essential to the desert tortoise's survival in extreme temperatures✓ Answer

   The main idea is the overall point that ties the passage together. Each sentence builds toward the final statement that the tortoise could not survive without the burrow, so the burrow's role in survival is the central idea; the other choices are supporting details, not the main point.

   Source: ASVAB Paragraph Comprehension — Identifying the main idea/topicReport a problem with this question

2. 2. Read the passage: "Maria arrived at the library ten minutes before it opened. She waited on the front steps until a librarian unlocked the doors at nine o'clock. Only then did she go inside to return her books." At what time did the library open?

   • A.Ten minutes before nine
   • B.Ten o'clock
   • C.Nine-ten
   • D.Nine o'clock✓ Answer

   This is a stated-detail question, answerable directly from the text. The passage explicitly says the librarian unlocked the doors 'at nine o'clock,' which is when the library opened; the ten minutes refers only to how early Maria arrived, not the opening time.

   Source: ASVAB Paragraph Comprehension — Identifying stated facts and detailsReport a problem with this question

3. 3. Read the passage: "Before you paint a wooden fence, you should first scrape away any loose, peeling paint. Next, sand the surface smooth and wipe off the dust. Only after these steps should you apply the first coat of new paint." According to the passage, what should you do immediately before applying the new paint?

   • A.Scrape away loose paint
   • B.Sand the surface smooth and wipe off the dust✓ Answer
   • C.Apply a second coat
   • D.Buy a new brush

   This tests sequence of events. The passage lists three steps in order and says the new paint goes on 'only after these steps,' with sanding and wiping off dust being the step directly preceding painting; scraping comes first, not immediately before.

   Source: ASVAB Paragraph Comprehension — Identifying sequence of eventsReport a problem with this question

4. 4. Read the passage: "When ice forms on a lake, it floats instead of sinking. This is unusual, because most substances become denser and heavier when they turn solid. Because the ice stays on top, fish and other creatures can continue to live in the water below it." It can be inferred from the passage that if ice sank instead of floating, then:

   • A.Ice would become lighter than water
   • B.Life below the surface could be endangered✓ Answer
   • C.Lakes would never freeze at all
   • D.Fish would grow larger in winter

   An inference must follow logically from the text. The passage states creatures survive because the ice stays on top; reversing that condition removes the protective layer and the survival benefit, so life below would be threatened, which is the only choice supported by the passage's cause-and-effect logic.

   Source: ASVAB Paragraph Comprehension — Drawing inferencesReport a problem with this question

5. 5. Read the passage: "Please remember to turn off all lights and lock the storage room before you leave for the day. Leaving the lights on wastes energy, and an unlocked room puts our supplies at risk. Your careful attention to these small tasks protects the whole workshop." The author's main purpose in this passage is to:

   • A.To announce a change in working hours
   • B.To complain about high energy bills
   • C.To describe how the workshop was built
   • D.To instruct workers to complete closing tasks and explain why they matter✓ Answer

   Author's purpose asks why the passage was written. The text gives a direct instruction ('turn off the lights and lock the room') and reasons for doing so, so its purpose is to instruct and justify; it never describes construction, complains, or announces new hours.

   Source: ASVAB Paragraph Comprehension — Identifying the author's purposeReport a problem with this question

6. 6. Read the passage: "The old wooden bridge groaned under the weight of the loaded wagon. Its boards had rotted over many rainy seasons, and rusted nails no longer held them firmly in place. The driver held his breath as he urged the horses across." It can be inferred that the driver held his breath because:

   • A.He disliked the smell of the horses
   • B.He was counting the boards on the bridge
   • C.He was tired from the long journey
   • D.He feared the weakened bridge might collapse✓ Answer

   An inference draws an unstated conclusion from clues in the text. The passage emphasizes the rotted boards, rusted nails, and groaning bridge, so the logical reason for the driver's tension is fear of collapse; the other options have no support in the described details.

   Source: ASVAB Paragraph Comprehension — Drawing inferencesReport a problem with this question

7. 7. Read the passage: "A camel can travel for days across the desert without drinking. It stores fat in its hump, which the body can break down for energy and water when food and drink are scarce. This ability makes the camel well suited to life in dry regions." According to the passage, what does the camel store in its hump?

   • A.Water
   • B.Fat✓ Answer
   • C.Food it has eaten whole
   • D.Sand

   This is a stated-detail question. The passage says directly that the camel 'stores fat in its hump'; although the fat can be broken down into water, water itself is not what is stored, making 'fat' the only answer supported by the exact wording.

   Source: ASVAB Paragraph Comprehension — Identifying stated facts and detailsReport a problem with this question

8. 8. Read the passage: "For centuries, sailors navigated by the stars. The North Star holds a nearly fixed position in the night sky, so travelers could face it to know which way was north. From that single direction, they could work out east, west, and south." The passage suggests that the North Star was useful to sailors mainly because it:

   • A.Moved quickly across the sky each hour
   • B.Was the brightest object in the entire sky
   • C.Could only be seen during the daytime
   • D.Stayed in nearly the same place, marking north reliably✓ Answer

   This inference rests on the stated cause. The passage attributes the star's usefulness to its 'nearly fixed position,' which let sailors identify north; the text never calls it the brightest, says it moves, or claims it is visible by day, so those choices contradict the passage.

   Source: ASVAB Paragraph Comprehension — Drawing inferencesReport a problem with this question

9. 9. Read the passage: "The new employee handbook is not meant to punish anyone. Rather, it exists to make sure every worker knows what is expected and is treated fairly. When rules are written clearly, misunderstandings become far less common." What is the author trying to show about the handbook?

   • A.It is designed to make firing workers easier
   • B.It is meant to be helpful and fair, not punishing✓ Answer
   • C.It applies only to new employees, not experienced ones
   • D.It is a temporary document that will soon be removed

   Identifying the author's attitude means reading the tone and framing. The passage explicitly denies a punishing purpose and stresses fairness and clarity, so the author frames the handbook positively; the other choices introduce claims the text never makes.

   Source: ASVAB Paragraph Comprehension — Identifying the author's tone/attitudeReport a problem with this question

10. 10. Read the passage: "Recycling paper saves trees, but it also saves energy and water. Making new paper from used paper requires far less power than making it from freshly cut wood. For this reason, recycling benefits the environment in more than one way." Which statement best expresses the main idea?

    • A.New paper is always better than recycled paper
    • B.Recycling paper helps the environment in several ways✓ Answer
    • C.Trees are the only resource saved by recycling
    • D.Making paper from wood requires a lot of water

    The main idea unifies all the supporting facts. The passage lists trees, energy, and water as things saved and concludes recycling helps 'in more than one way,' so the multi-benefit statement is the main idea; option C directly contradicts the text.

    Source: ASVAB Paragraph Comprehension — Identifying the main idea/topicReport a problem with this question

11. 11. Read the passage: "The word 'brittle' describes a material that breaks or snaps easily instead of bending. Dry twigs, thin glass, and old rubber bands are all brittle. When such items are stressed, they crack rather than stretch." As used in the passage, the word 'brittle' most nearly means:

    • A.Very flexible
    • B.Easily broken✓ Answer
    • C.Difficult to see
    • D.Extremely heavy

    Word-in-context questions are answered from the surrounding definition. The passage itself defines 'brittle' as breaking or snapping easily instead of bending, so 'easily broken' matches; 'flexible' is the opposite of the meaning given in the text.

    Source: ASVAB Paragraph Comprehension — Identifying word meaning in contextReport a problem with this question

12. 12. Read the passage: "Anna practiced the piano every single day, even when she was tired. Her teacher often reminded her that skill grows slowly through steady effort. By the end of the year, Anna could play pieces that had once seemed impossible." Which conclusion is best supported by the passage?

    • A.Steady daily practice led to Anna's improvement✓ Answer
    • B.Anna gave up whenever she felt tired
    • C.Anna was born a naturally gifted pianist
    • D.Anna's teacher played the pieces for her

    A supported conclusion follows from the stated facts. The passage links Anna's daily practice and steady effort to her later success, so 'practice led to improvement' is justified; option D contradicts the text, which says she practiced even when tired.

    Source: ASVAB Paragraph Comprehension — Drawing inferencesReport a problem with this question

13. 13. Read the passage: "Volcanic soil is often surprisingly fertile. When a volcano erupts, it spreads minerals across the surrounding land. Over time, these minerals enrich the ground, allowing farmers to grow healthy crops in areas that were once buried in ash." According to the passage, why is volcanic soil fertile?

    • A.Eruptions spread minerals that enrich the ground✓ Answer
    • B.Volcanoes keep the soil warm year-round
    • C.Farmers add fertilizer to the ash
    • D.Ash blocks all sunlight from the crops

    This stated-detail question is answered by the passage's cause-and-effect chain. The text explicitly says eruptions spread minerals that 'enrich the ground,' making crops possible; the other options are not mentioned or contradict the passage.

    Source: ASVAB Paragraph Comprehension — Identifying stated facts and detailsReport a problem with this question

14. 14. Read the passage: "The lighthouse keeper climbed the spiral stairs each evening to light the lamp. Ships passing in the dark depended on that steady beam to avoid the rocky shore. If the light failed even once, a vessel might run aground." It can be inferred that the lighthouse keeper's job was:

    • A.Only necessary during daylight hours
    • B.Easy and required little responsibility
    • C.Important to the safety of passing ships✓ Answer
    • D.Unrelated to the ships at sea

    The inference follows from the stated stakes. The passage says ships depended on the light and could run aground if it failed, so the keeper's work was clearly important to ship safety; the remaining options conflict with those details.

    Source: ASVAB Paragraph Comprehension — Drawing inferencesReport a problem with this question

15. 15. Read the passage: "Not all snakes are dangerous to humans. In fact, the great majority are harmless and even helpful, because they eat rats and mice that damage crops. People who kill every snake they see may be removing a useful ally." The author most likely wrote this passage in order to:

    • A.Correct a common misconception about snakes✓ Answer
    • B.Explain how to catch snakes safely
    • C.Warn readers that all snakes are deadly
    • D.Describe the appearance of different snakes

    Author's purpose is found in what the passage argues. The text opens by denying that all snakes are dangerous and stresses their usefulness, so its aim is to correct the mistaken belief that snakes are harmful; option C states the very idea the passage refutes.

    Source: ASVAB Paragraph Comprehension — Identifying the author's purposeReport a problem with this question

16. 16. Read the passage: "To make bread rise, bakers add yeast to the dough. The yeast feeds on sugars and releases tiny bubbles of gas. These bubbles become trapped in the dough, causing it to swell and grow light and airy." According to the passage, what causes the dough to swell?

    • A.The heat of the baker's hands
    • B.Bubbles of gas trapped in the dough✓ Answer
    • C.Extra flour added to the dough
    • D.Sugar melting inside the oven

    This is a stated-detail question with a clear cause. The passage says the gas bubbles 'become trapped in the dough, causing it to swell,' so trapped gas is the direct answer; the other options are never mentioned as the cause.

    Source: ASVAB Paragraph Comprehension — Identifying stated facts and detailsReport a problem with this question

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