TEAS Reading Practice Questions Related

What is all this talk of Cicadas lately in the United States? You might be wondering why the media has featured it. But in fact, the discussion about cicadas has emerged about as predictably as the Cicadas. Themselves from their underground refuge.

Let's get oriented with some background on cicadas. what is a cicada? A typical definition will at least tell you that the cicadas is a large loud insect with long transparent wings, mostly found in warm countries. A more detailed response might also inform you that cicadas have short antennae and wide-set eyes that jut out, with delicate translucent wings-and that not only is the cicadas loud, but few creatures make louder sounds. In fact it is male cicadas that are the noisy ones, to the tune of 80 to 100 decibels, which is like the roar of a loud engine. This is because male cicadas make strident, high buzzing by vibrating two membranes on its abdomen called tymbals Effectively turning body into a kind of echo chamber or drum. Female cicadas cannot replicate the buzzing though they respond with a clicking sound when they are ready to mate.

Although there are several species of cicadas mating typically takes place in trees whereafter the female deposits the eggs into the bark. When the eggs hatch the larval cicadas, called nymphs, drop to the ground and burrow. They then live as nymphs for most of their lives over 6 feet underground, with both male and female cicadas dying within weeks of their emergence from the soil. This is particularly true for North America cicadas especially the magi cicadas or periodical cicadas, which regularly emerge in intervals of 13 or 17 years depending on the species and the location. This is why talk of cicadas in the media is as predictable as their emergence in the U.S.

Based on the passage, which conclusion can be drawn about the author?

• A. They are overly emotional and...
• B. They would rather be at a concert
• C. They go to the theater as often as possible
• D. They enjoy the decor of most theaters

It can be difficult to write sometimes, especially if you are creating something brand new. It is even harder when you must write while following certain rules. Some writers thrive when there are limits, like poets. Many poetry forms follow very specific rules, like sonnets or elegies: you can't just throw some words on a page and call it a haiku. On the other hand, some successful poets really enjoy breaking the rules. They will reuse to use proper punctuation or follow any sort of structure. So then what good are the rules if you can just break them and still succeed? That doesn't make any sense. I guess that is why I am not a poet.

Which of the following pairs of examples from the passage best demonstrates why the use of plastics is a divisive topic?

• A. Plastic has advantages. Plastic is difficult to recycle efficiently.
• B. Plastic is consumed by birds. Plastic is entering our food.
• C. Plastic is popular. Plastic is used for packaging.
• D. Plastic is in landfills. Plastic is in the ocean.

Hedy Lamar was a woman of many talents. She was first known as a European film
actress in the 1930s and early 1940s. Some of her popular films included Boom Town
(1940) and White Cargo (1942); however, her roles generally did not include very
many spoken lines and she became bored. To relieve this boredom, Lamar took up
inventing.

Hedy Lamar did not have any formal training, but she did not allow that to stop her
from teaching herself in her spare time. Although she had a number of failed
inventions, such as an improved traffic light and a carbonated drink, Lamar did not
stop coming up with ideas. She even spent time working with the science engineering
team employed by Howard Hughes, the aviation tycoon.

During World War II, Lamarr learned that one of the military's new technologies,
radio-controlled torpedoes, were too easily jammed and redirected. She came up with
a type of radio signal that changed, or "hopped," frequencies and was unable to be
tracked or disrupted. With the assistance of her friend George Antheil, she was able
to design the system and patent it in August 1942.

Unfortunately, the United States Navy was not interested. The technology of the era
wasn't quite good enough to easily implement Lamarr's system, and the Navy was
not particularly interested in civilian inventions at the time. It wasn't until 20 years
later, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, that a version of Lamarr's system began
appearing on Navy ships.

The work Lamarr and Antheil did creating this frequency-hopping system led to
many technologies that are often taken for granted today. Their work led to the
development of cell phones, Bluetooth, and WiFi. Just think, we might not have any
of those things if Hedy Lamarr had been given more interesting roles.

Which of the following lines from the passage supports the inference that Hedy Lamarr worked earnestly to achieve her goals?

• A. She began starring in American films with MGM studios in the late 1930s and early 1940s
• B. She even spent time working with the science engineering team employed by Howard Hughes, the aviation tycoon
• C. Her roles generally did not include very many spoken lines and she became bored
• D. ... but she did not allow that to stop her from teaching herself in her spare time.

The volunteers for the incumbent candidate planned to canvass the neighborhood in an Attempt to garner more support from constituents in their political party. Unbeknownst to them, the voter address list was erroneously switched. Meaning that although they were walking door to door, they were walking to the doors of people registered under a different political party.

In a surprising twist, the process of discussing the candidate's stance on the issues did raise support. On Election Day, the incumbent candidate lost, but received more votes in the neighborhoods where volunteers canvassed, despite focusing on members of the opposing party.

Which of the following sources would be the best to understand the suspense genre better?

• A. A public library's digital catalog
• B. The online reviews of the genre
• C. A New York Times bestseller list
• D. An encyclopedia entry about the suspense genre

Grandma Harry; 30 minutes; Cookies/Desserts; Makes 1 dozen
- 1 egg
- ¾ cup sugar
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ½ cup flour
Beat egg white until foamy. Stir in sugar, beat again until stiff peaks form. Gently fold in peanut butter and vanilla. Add flour in small increments until dough forms. Chill dough for at least 2 hours. Roll into balls, roll in sugar, press down with a fork, and bake at
350 degrees F for 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool on cookie sheet. These are very fragile.

Which of the following words are synonyms for 'erroneously' as used in the passage?

• A. Correctly
• B. Inconsequentially
• C. Mistakenly
• D. Extraneously