TEAS 7 READING COMPREHENSION DIAGNOSTIC
TEST (45 QUESTIONS)
1. Question 1 of 45
Brilliant Octopuses
When thinking of intelligent animals, dolphins and elephants may be the
first to come to mind. However, researchers have observed octopuses to
be startlingly brilliant creatures. Octopuses have displayed curious
behavior, such as pulling out loose tank valves, opening jars, and escaping
their tanks when no one was watching. In 2010, a German octopus named
Paul was even said to have correctly predicted the outcome of all seven of
Germany’s games during the South African World Cup. Octopuses, of
which the earth is home to about 300 distinct species, are cephalopods, and
have exceptionally large brains for non-mammals. According to Jennifer
Mather, a comparative psychologist at the University of Lethbridge in
Alberta, Canada, the quality that makes octopuses smart is their ability to
apply learned information. For example, when given a mussel and a clam
to eat, the octopus chose the mussel as they are easier to open. However,
when offered clams on the half-shell, the octopus pivoted away from
mussels– deciding to go with the new simplified option. These creatures
proved capable of complex problem solving. When opening the shells,
octopuses employed a variety of techniques, such as chipping away at the
shell and injecting the clam with poison to weaken the mollusk, and even
using their salivary papilla to drill a hole and inject the toxin. The
octopuses chose which strategy to use based on which species they were
presented with, and altered their approach to what would work best. As
humans, this makes sense to us, but most animals would simply repeat the
same technique, despite receiving the same results.
Further evidence of the intelligence of octopuses can be found in their
desire to play, a behavioral trait of exceptional animals. Mather and her
colleague Roland Anderson placed an octopus and an empty pill bottle in
an otherwise empty tank. Although nothing happened at first, eventually
the octopus blew water at the bottle, causing it to go over a jet and then
return to the octopus. The animal repeated this behavior, similar to what a
,human might exhibit when bouncing a ball – exploring the options for
engaging with a new stimulus. These clever creatures have even been
documented shooting water at aquarium workers, and deliberately
tampering with various aspects of their tanks, inciting leaks and
malfunctions. Octopuses remain a common animal for humans to keep and
study in captivity. Their remarkable intelligence and display of complex
behavior traits invites study and further consideration, at the very least.
Which of the following is a condensed summary of the key ideas in
paragraph 2?
Octopuses use their salivary papilla to drill holes and inject toxins when
consuming mollusks.
Octopuses are brilliant creatures, due largely in part to their ability to
identify a mussel as easier to eat than a clam.
One of the best examples of the intelligence of octopuses is their ability to
apply learned information and adjust to the most appropriate strategy
when solving a problem.
Simple animals employ the same techniques repeatedly, but octopuses are
creative innovators.
End Quiz
Answer Explanation
Correct
One of the best examples of the intelligence of octopuses is their ability to apply
learned information, and adjust to the most appropriate strategy when solving a
problem is the correct answer.
This answer summarizes the main idea of the entirety of paragraph 2. The
paragraph provides details about what makes octopuses so intelligent, but overall
the main point is that they are able to apply learned information. Another clue is
that this is stated in the first sentence of the paragraph. Often, but not always, the
main idea of a paragraph will be in the first sentence.
Octopuses are brilliant creatures, due largely in part to their ability to identify a
mussel as easier to eat than a clam.
This is incorrect. This is a supporting detail, not the main idea of the paragraph.
, Octopuses use their salivary papilla to drill holes and inject toxins when
consuming mollusks.
This is incorrect. This is a specific detail that illustrates how an octopus attacks a
problem. It is incorrect because it does not summarize what the paragraph is
mainly about.
Simple animals employ the same techniques repeatedly, but octopuses are
creative innovators.
This is incorrect. This is incorrect because it is more about comparing octopuses to
other animals than about what makes octopuses intelligent, which is what the
paragraph is mostly about.
2. Question 2 of 45
Brilliant Octopuses
When thinking of intelligent animals, dolphins and elephants may be the
first to come to mind. However, researchers have observed octopuses to
be startlingly brilliant creatures. Octopuses have displayed curious
behavior, such as pulling out loose tank valves, opening jars, and escaping
their tanks when no one was watching. In 2010, a German octopus named
Paul was even said to have correctly predicted the outcome of all seven of
Germany’s games during the South African World Cup. Octopuses, of
which the earth is home to about 300 distinct species, are cephalopods, and
have exceptionally large brains for non-mammals.
According to Jennifer Mather, a comparative psychologist at the University
of Lethbridge in Alberta, Canada, the quality that makes octopuses smart is
their ability to apply learned information. For example, when given a
mussel and a clam to eat, the octopus chose the mussel as they are easier
to open. However, when offered clams on the half-shell, the octopus
pivoted away from mussels– deciding to go with the new simplified option.
These creatures proved capable of complex problem solving. When
opening the shells, octopuses employed a variety of techniques, such as
chipping away at the shell and injecting the clam with poison to weaken
the mollusk, and even using their salivary papilla to drill a hole and inject
the toxin. The octopuses chose which strategy to use based on which
species they were presented with, and altered their approach to what
, would work best. As humans, this makes sense to us, but most animals
would simply repeat the same technique, despite receiving the same
results.
Further evidence of the intelligence of octopuses can be found in their
desire to play, a behavioral trait of exceptional animals. Mather and her
colleague Roland Anderson placed an octopus and an empty pill bottle in
an otherwise empty tank. Although nothing happened at first, eventually
the octopus blew water at the bottle, causing it to go over a jet and then
return to the octopus. The animal repeated this behavior, similar to what a
human might exhibit when bouncing a ball – exploring the options for
engaging with a new stimulus. These clever creatures have even been
documented shooting water at aquarium workers, and deliberately
tampering with various aspects of their tanks, inciting leaks and
malfunctions. Octopuses remain a common animal for humans to keep and
study in captivity. Their remarkable intelligence and display of complex
behavior traits invites study and further consideration, at the very least.
Which of the following is a reasonable conclusion that can be drawn
from the passage as a whole?
Octopuses are the most intelligent creatures on earth.
If placed in a new environment, an octopus would likely explore their
surroundings and interact with any novel stimuli.
Octopuses only eat clams and mussels.
Octopuses are likely capable of and would enjoy playing catch with an
aquarium worker.
End Quiz
Answer Explanation
Correct
If placed in a new environment, an octopus would likely explore their
surroundings and interact with any novel stimuli. Based upon information from
the entire passage, we can reasonably conclude this to be true. Evidence in the
passage showed that octopuses are curious, playful, and engage with unknown
objects.
Octopuses are the most intelligent creatures on earth. While the passage
describes why octopuses are intelligent, and compares them to other intelligent
TEST (45 QUESTIONS)
1. Question 1 of 45
Brilliant Octopuses
When thinking of intelligent animals, dolphins and elephants may be the
first to come to mind. However, researchers have observed octopuses to
be startlingly brilliant creatures. Octopuses have displayed curious
behavior, such as pulling out loose tank valves, opening jars, and escaping
their tanks when no one was watching. In 2010, a German octopus named
Paul was even said to have correctly predicted the outcome of all seven of
Germany’s games during the South African World Cup. Octopuses, of
which the earth is home to about 300 distinct species, are cephalopods, and
have exceptionally large brains for non-mammals. According to Jennifer
Mather, a comparative psychologist at the University of Lethbridge in
Alberta, Canada, the quality that makes octopuses smart is their ability to
apply learned information. For example, when given a mussel and a clam
to eat, the octopus chose the mussel as they are easier to open. However,
when offered clams on the half-shell, the octopus pivoted away from
mussels– deciding to go with the new simplified option. These creatures
proved capable of complex problem solving. When opening the shells,
octopuses employed a variety of techniques, such as chipping away at the
shell and injecting the clam with poison to weaken the mollusk, and even
using their salivary papilla to drill a hole and inject the toxin. The
octopuses chose which strategy to use based on which species they were
presented with, and altered their approach to what would work best. As
humans, this makes sense to us, but most animals would simply repeat the
same technique, despite receiving the same results.
Further evidence of the intelligence of octopuses can be found in their
desire to play, a behavioral trait of exceptional animals. Mather and her
colleague Roland Anderson placed an octopus and an empty pill bottle in
an otherwise empty tank. Although nothing happened at first, eventually
the octopus blew water at the bottle, causing it to go over a jet and then
return to the octopus. The animal repeated this behavior, similar to what a
,human might exhibit when bouncing a ball – exploring the options for
engaging with a new stimulus. These clever creatures have even been
documented shooting water at aquarium workers, and deliberately
tampering with various aspects of their tanks, inciting leaks and
malfunctions. Octopuses remain a common animal for humans to keep and
study in captivity. Their remarkable intelligence and display of complex
behavior traits invites study and further consideration, at the very least.
Which of the following is a condensed summary of the key ideas in
paragraph 2?
Octopuses use their salivary papilla to drill holes and inject toxins when
consuming mollusks.
Octopuses are brilliant creatures, due largely in part to their ability to
identify a mussel as easier to eat than a clam.
One of the best examples of the intelligence of octopuses is their ability to
apply learned information and adjust to the most appropriate strategy
when solving a problem.
Simple animals employ the same techniques repeatedly, but octopuses are
creative innovators.
End Quiz
Answer Explanation
Correct
One of the best examples of the intelligence of octopuses is their ability to apply
learned information, and adjust to the most appropriate strategy when solving a
problem is the correct answer.
This answer summarizes the main idea of the entirety of paragraph 2. The
paragraph provides details about what makes octopuses so intelligent, but overall
the main point is that they are able to apply learned information. Another clue is
that this is stated in the first sentence of the paragraph. Often, but not always, the
main idea of a paragraph will be in the first sentence.
Octopuses are brilliant creatures, due largely in part to their ability to identify a
mussel as easier to eat than a clam.
This is incorrect. This is a supporting detail, not the main idea of the paragraph.
, Octopuses use their salivary papilla to drill holes and inject toxins when
consuming mollusks.
This is incorrect. This is a specific detail that illustrates how an octopus attacks a
problem. It is incorrect because it does not summarize what the paragraph is
mainly about.
Simple animals employ the same techniques repeatedly, but octopuses are
creative innovators.
This is incorrect. This is incorrect because it is more about comparing octopuses to
other animals than about what makes octopuses intelligent, which is what the
paragraph is mostly about.
2. Question 2 of 45
Brilliant Octopuses
When thinking of intelligent animals, dolphins and elephants may be the
first to come to mind. However, researchers have observed octopuses to
be startlingly brilliant creatures. Octopuses have displayed curious
behavior, such as pulling out loose tank valves, opening jars, and escaping
their tanks when no one was watching. In 2010, a German octopus named
Paul was even said to have correctly predicted the outcome of all seven of
Germany’s games during the South African World Cup. Octopuses, of
which the earth is home to about 300 distinct species, are cephalopods, and
have exceptionally large brains for non-mammals.
According to Jennifer Mather, a comparative psychologist at the University
of Lethbridge in Alberta, Canada, the quality that makes octopuses smart is
their ability to apply learned information. For example, when given a
mussel and a clam to eat, the octopus chose the mussel as they are easier
to open. However, when offered clams on the half-shell, the octopus
pivoted away from mussels– deciding to go with the new simplified option.
These creatures proved capable of complex problem solving. When
opening the shells, octopuses employed a variety of techniques, such as
chipping away at the shell and injecting the clam with poison to weaken
the mollusk, and even using their salivary papilla to drill a hole and inject
the toxin. The octopuses chose which strategy to use based on which
species they were presented with, and altered their approach to what
, would work best. As humans, this makes sense to us, but most animals
would simply repeat the same technique, despite receiving the same
results.
Further evidence of the intelligence of octopuses can be found in their
desire to play, a behavioral trait of exceptional animals. Mather and her
colleague Roland Anderson placed an octopus and an empty pill bottle in
an otherwise empty tank. Although nothing happened at first, eventually
the octopus blew water at the bottle, causing it to go over a jet and then
return to the octopus. The animal repeated this behavior, similar to what a
human might exhibit when bouncing a ball – exploring the options for
engaging with a new stimulus. These clever creatures have even been
documented shooting water at aquarium workers, and deliberately
tampering with various aspects of their tanks, inciting leaks and
malfunctions. Octopuses remain a common animal for humans to keep and
study in captivity. Their remarkable intelligence and display of complex
behavior traits invites study and further consideration, at the very least.
Which of the following is a reasonable conclusion that can be drawn
from the passage as a whole?
Octopuses are the most intelligent creatures on earth.
If placed in a new environment, an octopus would likely explore their
surroundings and interact with any novel stimuli.
Octopuses only eat clams and mussels.
Octopuses are likely capable of and would enjoy playing catch with an
aquarium worker.
End Quiz
Answer Explanation
Correct
If placed in a new environment, an octopus would likely explore their
surroundings and interact with any novel stimuli. Based upon information from
the entire passage, we can reasonably conclude this to be true. Evidence in the
passage showed that octopuses are curious, playful, and engage with unknown
objects.
Octopuses are the most intelligent creatures on earth. While the passage
describes why octopuses are intelligent, and compares them to other intelligent
