Practice Test 12 - ISEE Upper Level Reading Comprehension

20 questions. Answer them in any order, then submit to see your score and every explanation.

Times New Roman, 12-point, double-spaced. [Historical Speech] Students, you will be told that leadership belongs to the loudest voice in the room. That is a tempting idea, because loudness is easy to notice. But leadership is not volume. Leadership is direction. A leader is the student who invites the new classmate to sit down, even when the table is full. A leader is the one who admits a mistake before it becomes a rumor. A leader is the one who studies for the test, not because it is assigned, but because learning matters. These actions do not earn applause every time. They do something better. They build trust. Do not wait for a title to act with responsibility. Titles can be handed out quickly, and they can be taken away just as fast. Character is earned slowly, in small choices that seem invisible. When you return a lost wallet, when you include someone in a group, when you refuse to laugh at a cruel joke, you are practicing leadership. Some days you will fail. You will say the wrong thing, or stay silent when you should speak. Learn from it. Apologize. Try again. The point is not to become perfect. The point is to become dependable. If we want a stronger school, we need fewer speeches about greatness and more students willing to do the ordinary work of kindness. The tone of the passage can best be described as...?
What can be inferred about the value different members derive from the online book club?
Read the passage, then answer: Which piece of evidence best supports the author's main argument? Many educators argue that arts education should be treated as a core part of schooling, not an optional enrichment. The author's central argument is that sustained participation in music, visual arts, or theater can strengthen skills that transfer to other subjects, including attention, collaboration, and persistence. Although arts classes are sometimes reduced during budget cuts, the author contends that doing so overlooks measurable benefits. The passage first explains that arts learning requires focused practice. A student rehearsing an instrument must monitor mistakes, adjust technique, and repeat difficult sections. Similarly, a student revising a drawing must evaluate proportions and refine details over time. These habits resemble the careful revision expected in writing and science labs. Next, the author cites research on classroom behavior. Several studies comparing students who take multi-year arts courses with similar peers report higher attendance and fewer disciplinary incidents among arts participants. While the author admits that motivated students may be more likely to enroll, the studies attempt to account for prior records. The author also highlights collaboration. Theater productions and ensemble performances demand listening, timing, and shared responsibility. When one performer misses a cue, the whole group must adapt, which teaches students to respond calmly under pressure. Finally, the passage acknowledges that arts programs cost money for materials and instructors. However, the author concludes that the broader academic and social gains justify steady funding, especially when schools aim to develop well-rounded learners. Overall, the author argues that arts education supports transferable skills and should remain consistently available. The evidence emphasizes both individual discipline and group cooperation, linking arts practice to broader student success.
As used in the passage, "equivocation" means...
As used in the passage, "preposterous" most closely means
What evidence most strongly supports the conclusion that animal migration patterns are precisely adapted evolutionary responses rather than random movements?
The author primarily organizes this passage using which structural pattern?
In the passage, the word "pedantic" most nearly means...
Which of the following statements best summarizes the main argument of this passage?
Which of the following best summarizes the central argument of this passage?
Drawing from both passages, what characterizes the current renewable energy transition most accurately?
The narrator's attitude toward the commute can be characterized as
The author's purpose in mentioning rural communities and scientists with concerns is to
Based on the passage, what specific factor enabled the widespread dissemination of Renaissance ideas and knowledge beyond the intellectual elite?
The author's attitude toward the witness testimony can be characterized as
What can be inferred about the effectiveness of the firm's promotion criteria?
Read the passage, then answer the question. The locker room was too bright. Light bounced off white tiles and made every movement feel exposed. Jada tied her laces, then retied them. Too loose. Too tight. She stood. She sat. She stood again. Down the row, someone snapped a wristband. Another player drummed fingers on a bench—fast, faster, then stopped. The air was thick with deodorant and nerves. Jada pulled her mouthguard from its case and tasted plastic. "Two minutes," the assistant coach called. The words were flat, but they hit hard. Jada's pulse jumped. She pictured the first serve. The crowd. The mistake she couldn't afford. In the hallway, the roar of the gym leaked in, muffled but steady, like waves behind a wall. Jada inhaled. Held it. Let it out in a thin stream. Her teammate bumped her shoulder—small, quick, a silent promise. "Let's go," Jada said. Her voice sounded steadier than she felt. They walked toward the noise. Question: Which words or phrases best establish the mood in the passage?
Read the passage, then answer: Which statement best summarizes the author's purpose? This persuasive essay supports requiring school uniforms. The author describes a morning when a student arrives upset because classmates teased her thrift-store sweater. The author argues that a uniform policy cannot solve every social problem, but it can remove one common target for comparison. The tone is compassionate and urgent, suggesting that schools should reduce avoidable stress where they can. The author also uses a logical point: when clothing choices take up less attention, teachers spend less time policing dress code details and more time teaching. To strengthen the argument, the author cites a study from a statewide education group reporting that schools with uniforms saw a 15 percent drop in dress-code referrals during the first year. The author acknowledges concerns about self-expression, but responds that identity is shown through actions, friendships, and creativity, not only through outfits. A rhetorical device appears near the end: the author compares uniforms to "a quiet background," allowing students' ideas to stand out. The essay concludes by urging a pilot program with family input, emphasizing that the goal is a calmer, more focused learning environment.
The author's primary purpose in this passage is to
Read the embedded passage: A cause-and-effect explanation can connect greenhouse gas emissions to changes in daily life. Burning fossil fuels increases carbon dioxide; as a result, additional heat is trapped in the atmosphere. Consequently, heat waves can become more frequent, and nighttime temperatures may remain elevated. The passage then links warming to infrastructure. Hotter conditions can soften asphalt and strain rail lines; as a result, transportation agencies may impose speed restrictions to prevent damage. The author also explains that warmer air holds more moisture; consequently, intense rainfall can overwhelm drainage systems, causing localized flooding. Data-driven context appears when the passage notes that carbon dioxide has risen from roughly 280 parts per million in preindustrial times to over 420 parts per million recently. The concluding sentences mention efficiency and renewable energy, but the core organization remains a chain of causes and effects. Which phrase indicates a cause and effect relationship in the passage?

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