Practice Test 2 - ISEE Upper Level Reading Comprehension

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

The reviewer's tone toward Dr. Martinez's research proposal is
The author's descriptive language creates a mood that can best be described as
What is the fundamental disagreement between the passages about the transition from traditional to digital media?
Read the passage, then answer the question. In September 1787, delegates met in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation, yet they soon drafted an entirely new Constitution. The Articles had created a weak national government that could not levy taxes directly, regulate interstate commerce, or enforce uniform policies among the states. George Washington served as presiding officer of the Constitutional Convention, and his presence helped lend credibility to the proceedings. James Madison arrived with extensive notes and proposals, and he later became known as a principal architect of the Constitution. The delegates debated representation, executive power, and the balance between large and small states. The Great Compromise created a bicameral legislature with a House of Representatives based on population and a Senate with equal representation for each state. The convention also established a single president, chosen through an Electoral College system, rather than by direct national vote. To restrain governmental power, the document divided authority among three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. After the convention, ratification required approval by nine states, and public debate intensified. Supporters of the Constitution, called Federalists, argued that a stronger central government was necessary for stability and national defense. Opponents, known as Anti-Federalists, warned that the new government might endanger individual liberties. In response, Federalists promised to add amendments protecting rights, and this promise helped secure ratification. The Constitution took effect in 1789 after the required states ratified it. In 1791, the Bill of Rights, consisting of ten amendments, was added to protect freedoms such as speech and religion. The creation of a stronger national framework changed American governance by giving Congress taxing power and authority over interstate trade. These explicit changes were designed to address the practical failures of the Articles of Confederation. Question: Which of the following is explicitly mentioned in the passage?
The author's purpose in discussing pharmaceutical patents is to
Read the passage, then answer: What is the most accurate definition of revolution as used in the passage? In the late eighteenth century, a kingdom burdened by debt faced growing unrest. Bread prices rose, wages stagnated, and rumors spread that the court lived in extravagant comfort. Public frustration, once whispered, became impossible to ignore. At first, reformers asked for limited changes: fairer taxes and a stronger voice for ordinary citizens. When these requests were dismissed, protests intensified. Crowds gathered not only to complain, but to demand a new political structure. Soon, the movement became a revolution. It was not a single riot or an angry speech. It was a rapid, sweeping transformation that dismantled old institutions and replaced them with unfamiliar ones, often through conflict. Diplomacy with neighboring countries grew tense, because other monarchs feared the upheaval would spread. The new leaders insisted that their sovereignty belonged to the people, not to a hereditary ruler. Years later, historians still debated the revolution's costs and benefits. Yet most agreed that it permanently altered how citizens understood power and government.
Which piece of evidence best supports the author's main argument? The author concludes that the Apollo program's legacy extends beyond the 1969 moon landing because it accelerated technological development and reshaped scientific management. While the dramatic image of Neil Armstrong stepping onto the lunar surface on July 20, 1969, is central to public memory, the author argues that the program's deeper impact lay in the systems created to meet unprecedented engineering challenges. These systems included rigorous testing protocols, complex supply chains, and new approaches to coordinating thousands of specialists. The passage cites NASA reports describing how components were repeatedly tested under extreme conditions, from vibration to temperature swings. It also notes that contractors had to document failures and redesign parts quickly, creating a culture in which problems were expected and analyzed rather than hidden. Secondary sources quoted by the author point to spinoff technologies, such as improved materials and advances in computing, that later influenced civilian industries. The author acknowledges that the program was expensive and that some innovations might have emerged eventually. However, the author argues that Apollo compressed decades of development into a shorter period by providing a clear goal and sustained funding. Therefore, the author concludes that Apollo should be understood as a catalyst for broader technological and organizational change, not only as a single historic event.
In what ways do the passages agree or differ on the long-term effects of remote work on cities and inequality?
In this context, "perfunctory" most nearly means
How does the fourth paragraph function in relation to the benefits of traditional food production described in the second and third paragraphs?
Read the passage, then answer the question. The stadium tunnel narrowed the world to concrete and echo. Priya jogged in place. Stop. Start. Stop. Her cleats tapped a quick rhythm that matched the pounding in her ears. Ahead, the field glowed under floodlights, bright and far too open. The announcer's voice boomed, then faded, then boomed again. Priya flexed her fingers inside her gloves. She could feel sweat gathering at the base of her neck. "Eyes up," her captain said. "First touch. Simple." Priya nodded too fast. The words were small, but they landed hard. She swallowed. Her mouth was dry. The air smelled of cut grass and rubber. The whistle shrieked. Priya sprinted. No time to think. Just move. Just chase. The ball skidded toward her, and the entire crowd seemed to inhale at once. Question: Which words or phrases best establish the mood in the passage?
What evidence best demonstrates that antibiotic resistance evolution follows predictable patterns consistent with natural selection theory?
Which piece of evidence best supports the author's main argument? The author argues that the U.S. national parks movement gained momentum because reformers linked conservation to public health and democratic access, not only to scenic beauty. In the late 1800s, industrial cities faced crowded housing and polluted air, and many physicians promoted outdoor recreation as a remedy. The author concludes that parks were defended as "public resources" that should benefit ordinary citizens, rather than private playgrounds for the wealthy. The passage cites primary sources, including excerpts from John Muir's writings in the 1890s, which described wilderness as a place for physical renewal. It also references speeches by President Theodore Roosevelt, who in 1903 visited Yosemite and argued that natural spaces should be protected for the nation's future. Secondary historians quoted by the author note that these arguments resonated with a growing middle class seeking affordable travel and recreation. Furthermore, the author points to the 1916 creation of the National Park Service as an institutional outcome of these ideas. The agency's founding mission emphasized both preservation and public enjoyment, a dual goal that reflected earlier reform rhetoric. Although business interests sometimes supported parks for tourism, the author maintains that the most persuasive public argument centered on shared national benefit. Therefore, the author concludes that conservation succeeded politically when it was framed as a democratic health measure, not merely an aesthetic preference.
According to the passage, what specific stellar conditions must be met for a black hole to form through the natural collapse process?
Which of the following details strengthens the author's claim about music training improving auditory attention? The author concludes that learning an instrument can sharpen auditory attention, helping students distinguish important sounds from background noise. The passage argues that music practice requires sustained focus on pitch, rhythm, and timing, which may strengthen the brain's ability to process complex sound patterns. Although the author does not claim that music training guarantees higher grades, the author suggests it can support listening skills useful in classrooms. The author cites a study comparing adolescents with at least 3 years of instrumental training to peers with no formal training. In a laboratory task, participants listened to overlapping voices and had to repeat a target sentence while ignoring distractions. The music-trained group performed more accurately and showed faster response times. Researchers also reported stronger neural responses to the target voice in noninvasive recordings, suggesting more efficient sound processing. The author acknowledges that students who choose music may differ in motivation, which complicates interpretation. However, the author notes that the study controlled for several background factors, including age and baseline reading ability. Therefore, the author concludes that music training is plausibly linked to improved auditory attention, even if further research is needed.
During the winter exams, the proctor noticed that Lina sharpened her pencil only once, yet she kept turning it in her fingers as if measuring its length. Her answers were neither hurried nor hesitant, but she paused before each new section to read the directions twice, lips moving silently. When another student's calculator beeped, Lina flinched, then pressed her palm flat on the desk until the knuckles whitened. After the exam, she did not compare responses with friends; instead, she walked directly to the guidance office and asked whether "scores are ever corrected after they're posted." The counselor, attempting reassurance, mentioned that Lina's average was already high; Lina responded, "High isn't the same as safe," and asked when the next retake window opened. In the waiting area, she unfolded a letter with a university crest, but the page she reread was the financial aid schedule, not the congratulatory paragraph. Based on the passage, why might Lina be unusually concerned about minor exam details?
Through specific word choices, the author creates a mood that can best be described as
In this passage, "indomitable" most nearly means
Read the passage, then answer the question. The gym felt smaller than usual. The ceiling lights hummed. The polished court shone like a mirror that refused to show anyone's doubts. Jalen bounced the ball once, twice, and the sound snapped through the air. On the far side, the other team lined up. No one smiled. Sneakers squeaked. A referee checked the clock, then checked it again, as if time might misbehave. Jalen's hands were dry, but his stomach churned. He rolled his shoulders. Inhale. Exhale. The coach's last instructions still rang in his head—short, sharp, urgent. "Box out. Talk. Move." The crowd rustled like a restless animal, waiting to pounce on a mistake. The whistle blew. Jalen's heartbeat kicked. The ball rose, and for a breathless moment everything tightened: legs coiled, eyes locked, muscles ready. Then the game began, fast and unforgiving. Question: How does the setting influence the mood in the text?
Based on the passages, what is the most accurate synthesis of viewpoints on CRISPR gene editing in human embryos?

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