ACCUPLACER READING EXAM – COMPLETE
STUDY GUIDE & READING SKILLS REVIEW (2025
EDITION)
Accuplacer Reading Comprehension Practice Questions
Passage 1
The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system, composed of over 2,900
individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 1,400 miles off the coast of Queensland,
Australia. It is one of the planet's most biodiverse ecosystems, rivaled only by tropical
rainforests. This vast underwater metropolis provides a home for thousands of species,
including fish, sea turtles, giant clams, dolphins, and sharks. The reef's brilliant colors and
complex structures are built by billions of tiny living organisms called coral polyps. However, this
natural wonder is under significant threat from climate change, which causes ocean warming
and acidification, leading to widespread coral bleaching.
1. According to the passage, what is the primary cause of coral bleaching?
A. Overfishing
B. Pollution from the coast of Queensland
C. Ocean warming and acidification from climate change ✓
D. The activity of coral polyps
2. The author compares the Great Barrier Reef to a tropical rainforest to emphasize its:
A. Age
B. Size
C. Biodiversity ✓
D. Colorfulness
3. The word "metropolis" as used in the passage most nearly means:
A. A large, busy city ✓
B. A type of government
C. A single, large building
D. A peaceful sanctuary
4. The passage suggests that the physical structure of the reef is created by:
A. Sea turtles and dolphins
B. Volcanic activity
,C. Coral polyps ✓
D. Fossilized remains
5. The author's tone in the final sentence can best be described as:
A. Celebratory
B. Ironic
C. Concerned ✓
D. Humorous
Passage 2
In the early 20th century, the advent of assembly line production revolutionized manufacturing.
Pioneered by companies like Ford Motor Company, this method broke down complex tasks into
simple, repetitive steps that unskilled workers could quickly learn. This innovation drastically
reduced the cost of goods, making products like the automobile accessible to the average
consumer for the first time. While the assembly line boosted efficiency and economic growth, it
also drew criticism. Some social commentators argued that it dehumanized workers, reducing
them to cogs in a machine and stripping their labor of creativity and skill.
6. The primary purpose of this passage is to:
A. Persuade the reader to boycott assembly line products.
B. Describe the effects, both positive and negative, of the assembly line. ✓
C. Explain the specific steps involved in assembling an automobile.
D. Criticize Henry Ford for his treatment of workers.
7. According to the passage, a major outcome of assembly line production was:
A. An increase in the required skill level for workers
B. A decrease in the cost of manufactured goods ✓
C. A reduction in the number of available jobs
D. An improvement in the quality of all consumer products
8. The word "advent" in the passage is closest in meaning to:
A. Decline
B. Criticism
C. Arrival or invention ✓
D. Process
9. The criticism mentioned in the passage is based on the idea that the assembly line:
A. Was not efficient enough
B. Was too expensive to implement
,C. Made work less meaningful for people ✓
D. Required too many managers
10. Based on the passage, which of the following would the author most likely agree with?
A. The assembly line's benefits were entirely positive.
B. Technological progress can have mixed consequences. ✓
C. The criticisms of the assembly line were unfounded.
D. Only skilled workers should work on an assembly line.
Passage 3
(1) The practice of "forest bathing," or shinrin-yoku, originated in Japan in the 1980s. (2) It
involves slowly walking through a forest and mindfully engaging all five senses. (3) Proponents
claim it is simply a pleasant walk in the woods. (4) Numerous scientific studies have investigated
its physiological and psychological benefits. (5) Research has shown that it can significantly
reduce cortisol levels (a stress hormone), lower blood pressure, and improve mood and
concentration.
11. Which sentence in the passage is NOT consistent with the main idea?
A. Sentence 1
B. Sentence 2
C. Sentence 3 ✓
D. Sentence 4
12. The main idea of this passage is that forest bathing:
A. Is a Japanese practice with potential health benefits ✓
B. Is the most effective form of exercise
C. Requires a specific type of forest to be effective
D. Is only beneficial for reducing stress
13. Based on the passage, what is the key to performing shinrin-yoku correctly?
A. Walking very quickly to get exercise
B. Using all five senses mindfully ✓
C. Identifying different species of plants
D. Going with a large group of people
14. The passage suggests that the benefits of forest bathing are:
A. Purely psychological
B. Supported by scientific evidence ✓
, C. Exaggerated by its proponents
D. Only temporary
Passage 4
The narrative of the "self-made man" is a powerful archetype in American culture. It tells the
story of an individual who rises from poverty or humble beginnings to great success through
sheer determination, hard work, and personal initiative, often in the face of formidable
obstacles. This ideal celebrates individualism and personal responsibility. However, historians
often point out that this narrative can be misleading. It tends to downplay the role of
community support, public infrastructure, inherited wealth, and plain luck, creating an
unrealistic standard that can lead us to unfairly judge those who do not achieve similar success.
15. What is the main conflict presented in this passage?
A. The conflict between hard work and laziness.
B. The conflict between an idealized cultural narrative and a more complex reality. ✓
C. The conflict between individualism and community support.
D. The conflict between historians and the general public.
16. According to the passage, the "self-made man" archetype emphasizes:
A. Community and luck
B. Inherited wealth and public infrastructure
C. Determination and personal initiative ✓
D. The role of historians
17. The author's use of the word "misleading" suggests that the narrative is:
A. Completely false
B. Inspiring to everyone
C. Not entirely accurate ✓
D. A recent invention
18. The primary purpose of the passage is to:
A. Promote the ideal of the self-made man.
B. Criticize hard work and determination.
C. Analyze and question a popular cultural idea. ✓
D. Describe the life of a specific self-made man.
Passage 5
The following two passages present different views on the use of social media.
STUDY GUIDE & READING SKILLS REVIEW (2025
EDITION)
Accuplacer Reading Comprehension Practice Questions
Passage 1
The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system, composed of over 2,900
individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 1,400 miles off the coast of Queensland,
Australia. It is one of the planet's most biodiverse ecosystems, rivaled only by tropical
rainforests. This vast underwater metropolis provides a home for thousands of species,
including fish, sea turtles, giant clams, dolphins, and sharks. The reef's brilliant colors and
complex structures are built by billions of tiny living organisms called coral polyps. However, this
natural wonder is under significant threat from climate change, which causes ocean warming
and acidification, leading to widespread coral bleaching.
1. According to the passage, what is the primary cause of coral bleaching?
A. Overfishing
B. Pollution from the coast of Queensland
C. Ocean warming and acidification from climate change ✓
D. The activity of coral polyps
2. The author compares the Great Barrier Reef to a tropical rainforest to emphasize its:
A. Age
B. Size
C. Biodiversity ✓
D. Colorfulness
3. The word "metropolis" as used in the passage most nearly means:
A. A large, busy city ✓
B. A type of government
C. A single, large building
D. A peaceful sanctuary
4. The passage suggests that the physical structure of the reef is created by:
A. Sea turtles and dolphins
B. Volcanic activity
,C. Coral polyps ✓
D. Fossilized remains
5. The author's tone in the final sentence can best be described as:
A. Celebratory
B. Ironic
C. Concerned ✓
D. Humorous
Passage 2
In the early 20th century, the advent of assembly line production revolutionized manufacturing.
Pioneered by companies like Ford Motor Company, this method broke down complex tasks into
simple, repetitive steps that unskilled workers could quickly learn. This innovation drastically
reduced the cost of goods, making products like the automobile accessible to the average
consumer for the first time. While the assembly line boosted efficiency and economic growth, it
also drew criticism. Some social commentators argued that it dehumanized workers, reducing
them to cogs in a machine and stripping their labor of creativity and skill.
6. The primary purpose of this passage is to:
A. Persuade the reader to boycott assembly line products.
B. Describe the effects, both positive and negative, of the assembly line. ✓
C. Explain the specific steps involved in assembling an automobile.
D. Criticize Henry Ford for his treatment of workers.
7. According to the passage, a major outcome of assembly line production was:
A. An increase in the required skill level for workers
B. A decrease in the cost of manufactured goods ✓
C. A reduction in the number of available jobs
D. An improvement in the quality of all consumer products
8. The word "advent" in the passage is closest in meaning to:
A. Decline
B. Criticism
C. Arrival or invention ✓
D. Process
9. The criticism mentioned in the passage is based on the idea that the assembly line:
A. Was not efficient enough
B. Was too expensive to implement
,C. Made work less meaningful for people ✓
D. Required too many managers
10. Based on the passage, which of the following would the author most likely agree with?
A. The assembly line's benefits were entirely positive.
B. Technological progress can have mixed consequences. ✓
C. The criticisms of the assembly line were unfounded.
D. Only skilled workers should work on an assembly line.
Passage 3
(1) The practice of "forest bathing," or shinrin-yoku, originated in Japan in the 1980s. (2) It
involves slowly walking through a forest and mindfully engaging all five senses. (3) Proponents
claim it is simply a pleasant walk in the woods. (4) Numerous scientific studies have investigated
its physiological and psychological benefits. (5) Research has shown that it can significantly
reduce cortisol levels (a stress hormone), lower blood pressure, and improve mood and
concentration.
11. Which sentence in the passage is NOT consistent with the main idea?
A. Sentence 1
B. Sentence 2
C. Sentence 3 ✓
D. Sentence 4
12. The main idea of this passage is that forest bathing:
A. Is a Japanese practice with potential health benefits ✓
B. Is the most effective form of exercise
C. Requires a specific type of forest to be effective
D. Is only beneficial for reducing stress
13. Based on the passage, what is the key to performing shinrin-yoku correctly?
A. Walking very quickly to get exercise
B. Using all five senses mindfully ✓
C. Identifying different species of plants
D. Going with a large group of people
14. The passage suggests that the benefits of forest bathing are:
A. Purely psychological
B. Supported by scientific evidence ✓
, C. Exaggerated by its proponents
D. Only temporary
Passage 4
The narrative of the "self-made man" is a powerful archetype in American culture. It tells the
story of an individual who rises from poverty or humble beginnings to great success through
sheer determination, hard work, and personal initiative, often in the face of formidable
obstacles. This ideal celebrates individualism and personal responsibility. However, historians
often point out that this narrative can be misleading. It tends to downplay the role of
community support, public infrastructure, inherited wealth, and plain luck, creating an
unrealistic standard that can lead us to unfairly judge those who do not achieve similar success.
15. What is the main conflict presented in this passage?
A. The conflict between hard work and laziness.
B. The conflict between an idealized cultural narrative and a more complex reality. ✓
C. The conflict between individualism and community support.
D. The conflict between historians and the general public.
16. According to the passage, the "self-made man" archetype emphasizes:
A. Community and luck
B. Inherited wealth and public infrastructure
C. Determination and personal initiative ✓
D. The role of historians
17. The author's use of the word "misleading" suggests that the narrative is:
A. Completely false
B. Inspiring to everyone
C. Not entirely accurate ✓
D. A recent invention
18. The primary purpose of the passage is to:
A. Promote the ideal of the self-made man.
B. Criticize hard work and determination.
C. Analyze and question a popular cultural idea. ✓
D. Describe the life of a specific self-made man.
Passage 5
The following two passages present different views on the use of social media.
