TEAS Reading Questions Related

Christopher Columbus is often credited for discovering America. This is
incorrect. First, it is impossible to "discover" something where people already
live; however, Christopher Columbus did explore places in the New World
that were previously untouched by Europe, so the term “explorer†would be
more accurate. Another correction must be made, as well: Christopher
Columbus was not the first European explorer to reach the present day
Americas! Rather, it was Leif Erikson who first came to the New World and
contacted the natives, nearly five hundred years before Christopher
Columbus.
Leif Erikson, the son of Erik the Red (a famous Viking outlaw and explorer in
his own right), was born in either 970 or 980, depending on which historian you seek. His own family, though, did not raise Leif, which was a Viking
tradition. Instead, one of Erik's prisoners taught Leif reading and writing,
languages, sailing, and weaponry. At age 12, Leif was considered a man and
returned to his family. He killed a man during a dispute shortly after his
return, and the council banished the Erikson clan to Greenland.
In 999, Leif left Greenland and traveled to Norway where he would serve as a
guard to King Olaf Tryggvason. It was there that he became a convert to
Christianity. Leif later tried to return home with the intention of taking
supplies and spreading Christianity to Greenland, however his ship was blown
off course and he arrived in a strange new land: present day Newfoundland,
Canada.
When he finally returned to his adopted homeland Greenland, Leif consulted
with a merchant who had also seen the shores of this previously unknown
land we now know as Canada. The son of the legendary Viking explorer then
gathered a crew of 35 men and set sail. Leif became the first European to
touch foot in the New World as he explored present-day Baffin Island and
Labrador, Canada. His crew called the land Vinland since it was plentiful with
grapes.
During their time in present-day Newfoundland, Leif's expedition made
contact with the natives whom they referred to as Skraelings (which translates
to "wretched ones" in Norse). There are several secondhand accounts of their
meetings. Some contemporaries described trade between the peoples. Other
accounts describe clashes where the Skraelings defeated the Viking explorers
with long spears, while still others claim the Vikings dominated the natives.
Regardless of the circumstances, it seems that the Vikings made contact of
some kind. This happened around 1000, nearly five hundred years before
Columbus famously sailed the ocean blue.
Eventually, in 1003, Leif set sail for home and arrived at Greenland with a
ship full of timber.
In 1020, seventeen years later, the legendary Viking died. Many believe that
Leif Erikson should receive more credit for his contributions in exploring the
New World.

In which of the following battles were there more Confederate casualties than Union casualties?

• A. Cold Harbor
• B. Chancellorsville
• C. Atlanta
• D. Shiloh

Eventually, his son King Charles II would be crowned, and this Charles is believed to have converted secretly to the Catholic Church. Charles II died without a legitimate heir, and his brother James ascended to the throne as King James II. James was recognized to be a practicing Catholic, and his commitment to Catholicism would prove to e his downfall. James's wife Mary Beatrice lost a number of children during their infancy, and when she became pregnant again in 1687 the public became concerned. If James had a son, that son would undoubtedly be raised a Catholic, and the English people would not stand for this. Mary gave birth to a son, but the story quickly circulated that the royal child had died and the child named James's heir was a foundling smuggled in. James, his wife, and his infant son were forced to flee; and James's Protestant daughter Mary was crowned the queen. In spite of a strong resemblance to the king, the young James was generally rejected among the English and the Lowland Scots, who referred to him as "the Pretender." But in the Highlands the Catholic princeling was welcomed. He inspired a group known as Jacobites, to reflect the Latin version of his name. His own son Charles, known affectionately as Bonnie Price Charlie, would eventually raise an army and attempt to recapture what he believed to be his throne. The movement was soundly defeated at the Battle of Culloden in 1746, and England and Scotland have remained ostensibly Protestant ever since.

Based on the information provided within the passage, which of the following can be inferred about King James II's son?

• A. Considering his resemblance to King James II, the young James was likely the legitimate child of the king and the queen.
• B. Given the queen's previous inability to produce a healthy child, there were suspicions about the prince's legitimacy by the English and the Lowland Scots.
• C. James 'the Pretender' was not as popular among the Highland clans as his son Bonnie Prince Charlie.
• D. James was unable to acquire the resources needed to build the army and plan the invasion that his son succeeded in doing.

Stories have been a part of the world since the beginning of recorded time. For centuries before the invention of the printing press, stories of the world were passed down to generations through oral tradition. With the invention of the printing press, which made written material available to wide ranges of audiences, books were mass-produced and introduced into grater society. For the last several centuries, books have been at the forefront of education and entertainment. With the invention of the Internet, reliance on books for information quickly changed. Soon, almost everything that anyone needed to known could be accessed through the internet. Large printed volumes of encyclopedias became unnecessary as all of the information was easily available on the Internet. Despite the progression of the Internet, printed media was till very popular int he forms of both fiction and non-fiction books. While waiting for an appointment, enduring a several-hour flight, or relaxing before sleep, books have been a reliable and convenient source of entertainment, and one that society has not been willing to give up. With the progression and extreme convenience of technology, printed books are going to soon become a thing of the past. Inventions such as the iPad from Macintosh and the Kindle have made the need for any kind offprinted media unnecessary. With a rechargeable battery, a large screen, and the ability to have several books saved on file, electronic options will soon take over and society will no longer see printed books. Although some people may say that the act of reading is not complete without turning a page, sliding a finger across the screen or pressing a button to read more onto the next page is just as satisfying to the reader. The iPad and Kindle are devices that have qualities similar to a computer and can be sued for so much more than just reading. These devices are therefore better than books because they have multiple uses. In cultural society that is part of the world and due to long-standing tradition, stories will always be an important way to communicate ideas nd provide information and entrainment. Centuries ago, stories could only be remembered and retold through speech. Printed media changed the way the world communicated and was connected, and now, as we move forward with technology, it is only a matter of time before we must say goodbye to the printed pas and welcome the digital and electronic future.

What is the main argument of this essay?

• A. iPads and Kindles are easier to read than books
• B. The printing press was a great invention
• C. The Internet is how people receive information
• D. Technology will soon replace printed material

The Dewey Decimal Classes. 000 Computer science, information, and general works 100 Philosophy and psychology 200 Religion 300 Social sciences 400 Languages 500 Science and mathematics 600 Technical and applied science 700 Arts and recreation 800 Literature 900 History, geography, and biography Jorgen is doing a project on the Ancient Greek mathematician and poet Eratosthenes. In his initial review, Jorgen learns that Eratosthenes is considered the first person to calculate the circumference of the earth, and that he is considered the first to describe geography as it is studied today.

To which section of the library should Jorgen go to learn more about the letters of the Greek alphabet and the meaning of the word 'beta'?

• A. 200
• B. 400
• C. 700
• D. 900

Raul is going to Egypt next month. He has been looking forward to this
vacation all year. Since childhood, Raul has been fascinated with pyramids,
especially the Great Pyramid of Giza, which is the oldest of the Seven
Wonders of the Ancient World. According to religious custom, Egyptian
royalty is buried in the tombs located within the pyramid's great labyrinths.
Since it has been many years since Raul read about the pyramid's history, he
wants to read a book describing how and why the Egyptians built the Great
Pyramid thousands of years ago.

Which of the following is an opinion, rather than a historical fact, expressed by the author?

• A. Leif Erikson was definitely the son of Erik the Red.
• B. Leif Erikson's crew called the land Vinland.
• C. Leif Erikson deserves more credit for his accomplishments.
• D. Leif Erikson explored the Americas nearly five hundred years before Columbus.