Practice Test 7 - ISEE Upper Level Reading Comprehension

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

Which of the following best summarizes the central argument of this passage?
Read the passage, then answer: What is the primary purpose of this passage? In an informative article for a school science magazine, the author explains how renewable energy affects local and national economies. The author begins by defining renewable energy as power from sources that naturally replenish, such as wind, solar, and hydropower. Next, the author describes how building these systems creates jobs beyond engineering, including construction, maintenance, and transportation. According to a 2023 report from the International Renewable Energy Agency, the renewable sector supported about 13.7 million jobs worldwide, a figure the author uses to show that energy choices can shape employment trends. The author then narrows the focus to household budgets, noting that once solar panels are installed, fuel costs are essentially zero, which can stabilize long-term electricity prices. To show how renewables influence business decisions, the author cites an economist from a state university who explains that predictable energy costs help manufacturers plan investments more confidently. The author adds a concrete example: a mid-sized town that installed a community solar array and used the savings to fund street repairs and library hours. The author is careful to acknowledge limits, explaining that renewable projects often require high upfront spending and new transmission lines. However, the author notes that these costs can be spread over decades, similar to roads and bridges, and can be reduced through competitive bidding. The author concludes by comparing energy to "the engine under the hood" of the economy, suggesting that cleaner power can keep that engine running steadily when markets shift.
The word "picayune" in the passage is best understood to mean...
Why did the author write this text? A school newsletter article explains how renewable energy affects local jobs and prices. It notes that in 2023, the United States added 279,000 clean-energy jobs, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The author defines terms like "grid," "capacity," and "energy efficiency" to prevent confusion. The article reports that a utility-scale solar farm can employ dozens of workers during construction, then fewer for long-term maintenance. It also explains that wind technicians and electricians often earn steady wages because their skills are specialized. To show trade-offs, the author mentions that building new transmission lines can raise short-term costs, even when long-term fuel costs drop. The writer quotes economist Dr. Lila Chen, who says, "When regions invest early, they attract suppliers and training programs." The author adds a second viewpoint from a manufacturing manager, who notes that predictable electricity prices help factories plan budgets. The tone remains measured, using phrases like "research suggests" and "one factor to consider." Near the end, the article lists practical examples, including community colleges offering certificate programs and small businesses selling parts for turbines. The conclusion summarizes that renewable projects can shift where jobs appear and how money circulates, without claiming a single outcome for every town.
Read the passage, then answer: What is the author trying to convey through this passage? This expository piece explains photosynthesis with careful sequencing. The author starts by stating that plants need a way to store energy, because sunlight is not available at night. The author then explains that chloroplasts act like tiny factories inside plant cells. In the first stage, light energy is captured and used to split water, which produces oxygen and energizes molecules that carry power to the next stage. The author emphasizes that oxygen is released through stomata, which also help regulate water loss. In the second stage, the author explains that carbon dioxide is "assembled" into sugar molecules using the energy carriers created earlier. The author uses an analogy, comparing the process to charging a battery and then using that battery to build something useful. A brief text diagram summarizes the flow: "Light → energy carriers → sugar." The author's tone is instructional, and the concluding paragraph connects the process to ecosystems, explaining that photosynthesis supports food chains by creating the energy-rich molecules other organisms consume. The author ends by reminding readers that even though photosynthesis happens quietly, it powers much of life on Earth.
The author's tone toward social media can best be described as:
In this context, "labyrinthine" most nearly means
Read the passage, then answer the question. The house on Maple Street had been empty for years, yet it still managed to look busy—busy falling apart. Shingles curled like dry bark. The porch swing hung crooked, frozen mid-sway. Nora stepped through the gate, and the latch clicked behind her with a sound that felt too deliberate. The yard was silent except for the wind, which worried the tall grass until it hissed. Nora's flashlight beam skimmed over a mailbox stuffed with soggy flyers. She told herself it was only a building, only wood and nails, but her voice sounded borrowed. In the entryway, the air turned colder. A sour smell lingered, like forgotten fruit. The wallpaper peeled in long strips, revealing darker patches underneath, as if the house wore bruises. Nora's breath shortened. She listened for footsteps and heard only her own, and that somehow made it worse. Upstairs, a door stood slightly open. The gap looked like an eye that refused to blink. Nora reached for the knob, and the floorboard beneath her answered with a sharp crack. She froze, heart hammering, and the darkness seemed to lean closer. Question: Which emotion does the passage primarily evoke through its language choices?
Read the passage, then answer the question. In 1928, Alexander Fleming, a bacteriologist working in London, made an observation that led to the discovery of penicillin. Fleming noticed that a mold called Penicillium had contaminated one of his petri dishes. The passage states that bacteria near the mold were not growing, while bacteria farther away continued to grow. Fleming concluded that the mold produced a substance that killed or inhibited bacteria. He named this substance penicillin and published his findings in 1929. However, the passage explains that penicillin was not immediately produced as a widely usable medicine. During the early 1940s, a team including Howard Florey and Ernst Chain developed methods to purify penicillin and produce it in larger quantities. The passage explicitly states that World War II increased the urgency of producing effective treatments for infected wounds. By 1944, penicillin was being produced on a large scale, and it was used to treat many soldiers. The passage also notes that penicillin is classified as an antibiotic, meaning it fights bacterial infections rather than viral illnesses. Which of the following is explicitly mentioned in the passage?
<div style="font-size:12pt; line-height:1.5;"> <p>Passage: In many schools, the push to improve student learning has led to a renewed interest in teaching "how to study," not just what to study. The key idea is that strong study habits are skills that can be practiced and refined, rather than traits that some students naturally possess and others lack. When students learn specific strategies—such as spacing out review sessions, testing themselves, and summarizing ideas in their own words—they often retain information longer and feel less overwhelmed. One teacher noticed that her class performed better after she replaced a single large review packet with short quizzes spread across several weeks. Another student who struggled in history began creating brief timelines after each chapter, which helped him connect events instead of memorizing isolated facts. A school counselor also taught students to set a timer for focused work and then take short breaks, reducing the temptation to multitask. These examples suggest that effective learning depends on deliberate methods. By treating studying as a learnable process, schools can help more students build confidence and achieve steady improvement.</p> <p>Question: Which sentence best summarizes the passage?</p> </div>
The word "inimical" in the passage is best defined as...
What can be concluded about the relationship between teaching methods and student learning in this chemistry class?
Which of the following best summarizes the main argument of this passage about renewable energy transition?
The author's perspective on true crime documentaries suggests which view of media's social responsibility?
In this passage, "sagacious" most nearly means
As used in the passage, "impasse" most closely means
What can be inferred about the likely cause of the declining student performance?
<div style="font-size:12pt; line-height:1.5;"> <p>Passage: In studying the American civil rights movement, it is easy to focus only on famous speeches and major marches. Yet one of the movement's most powerful strategies was persistent, organized local action. Change did not appear overnight; it grew from countless meetings, careful planning, and ordinary people choosing to take risks for a larger cause. In many towns, local leaders trained volunteers to remain calm during confrontations, understanding that a single angry response could distract from the movement's goals. In one community, students held weekly practice sessions in which they role-played insults and intimidation, preparing to sit at a segregated lunch counter without reacting. Elsewhere, neighbors created carpools so workers could continue boycotts even when buses were their usual transportation. These efforts were not dramatic on their own, but together they created steady pressure for legal and social change. The lesson is that historic transformations often depend on discipline and cooperation at the local level. By valuing preparation as much as public protest, the civil rights movement built momentum that could not be dismissed as a passing event.</p> <p>Question: What overarching theme is presented in the passage?</p> </div>
How does the author structure the information in this passage about climate change impacts and responses? Climate change is often discussed as a distant concern, yet its causes and effects are measurable in the present. Firstly, scientists identify a primary cause: greenhouse gases released when coal, oil, and natural gas are burned for electricity, heating, and transportation. Carbon dioxide concentrations have risen from about 280 parts per million in the preindustrial era to over 420 parts per million in recent years, increasing Earth's heat retention. Methane from agriculture and leaking fuel systems also contributes; although it persists for a shorter time, it traps more heat per molecule. As a result, average global temperatures have climbed by roughly 1.1°C since the late nineteenth century, shifting weather patterns and altering ecosystems. Consequently, the effects appear in several interconnected systems. Warmer air holds more water vapor, which can intensify heavy rainfall events; meanwhile, higher evaporation can worsen drought in already arid regions. In coastal areas, thermal expansion of warming seawater and melting land ice contribute to sea-level rise, increasing nuisance flooding during high tides. In contrast to gradual temperature trends, some impacts are episodic and costly, such as heat waves that strain electrical grids and raise health risks. For example, when temperatures remain elevated overnight, the body has less opportunity to recover, and hospitals often report increased heat-related illness. Because these effects compound, communities face a practical problem: infrastructure designed for past conditions may fail under new extremes. Roads can buckle under prolonged heat, and stormwater systems may be undersized for intense downpours. To address this, planners increasingly combine mitigation and adaptation in a deliberate sequence. Mitigation aims to reduce future warming by cutting emissions; for instance, replacing coal power with wind and solar reduces carbon output without requiring fuel combustion. Adaptation aims to reduce harm from changes already underway; for example, cities can expand tree canopy to lower urban temperatures and revise building codes to improve cooling efficiency. Similarly, individual choices and institutional policies can reinforce each other. When schools upgrade to efficient lighting and improved insulation, they lower operating costs and reduce emissions; when students learn to evaluate energy use, they can advocate for evidence-based improvements at home. However, the passage emphasizes that no single action is sufficient. Instead, it argues that understanding cause and effect clarifies why layered solutions—technological, behavioral, and infrastructural—are necessary to manage both current risks and long-term outcomes.
Times New Roman, 12-point, double-spaced. [Editorial] The school's new "no homework weekend" policy sounds like a gift, and in some ways it is. Students need rest. Families need time together. Sleep is not a luxury item. It is a basic requirement for thinking clearly. But the policy is being treated as a magic trick, as if removing homework automatically removes stress. It does not. Tests still exist. Projects still pile up. When assignments are simply moved to Monday through Thursday, the workload can become heavier, not lighter. Students end up sprinting all week so they can collapse on Saturday. A better plan would focus on coordination, not just rules. Departments could agree on major due dates, so three big assignments do not land on the same day. Teachers could offer smaller, spaced-out practice instead of one large task that appears overnight. Students could be taught how to plan, rather than being told, once again, to "manage your time" without any guidance. The goal should be balance. A weekend without homework is helpful only if the weekdays are reasonable. Otherwise, the policy becomes a nice-sounding sign taped over a crowded schedule. Rest matters. So does honesty about what causes stress in the first place. Which word best describes the author's tone?

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