ISEE Reading Comprehension: Understanding Purpose Practice Test 20

1. The author most likely refers to the twenty-one artists in order to

• A. emphasize that the Guggenheim sparked controversy.
• B. suggest the similarities between many artists and critics.
• C. illustrate that artists are not qualified to judge architecture.
• D. inform the reader why the Guggenheim is considered a masterpiece.

2. The phrase "as if that wasn't bad enough" is included to

• A. explain Paul's embarrassment over his lack of confidence.
• B. show that Edgar's insensitivity was not an isolated occurrence.
• C. show Paul's father as a keen observer who can be brutally honest.
• D. explain that Paul was upset over more than Edgar's treatment of him.

3. The author likely describes Douglass as a "vocal supporter" of voting rights for women in order to

• A. explain why he and Stanton were allies.
• B. illustrate the extent of his political judgment.
• C. expose him as inconsistent in his view on women.
• D. provide context for his opposition to changing the Fifteenth Amendment.

4. The primary purpose of the passage is to

• A. demonstrate that people with learning disabilities need only form new neural connections in order to function more effectively.
• B. suggest that the potential benefits of brain plasticity, while exciting and worthy of continued study, currently lack a scientific basis.
• C. convey the brain's remarkable ability to form new neural connections and provide possible benefits that may stem from that ability.
• D. provide an overview of brain function, particularly as it relates to sensory perception and the improvement of cognitive functions.

5. The author mentions smart phones in order to

• A. illustrate human inventiveness outside of fiction.
• B. contrast fictional androids with modern technology.
• C. lament the slow pace of technological development.
• D. demonstrate that fiction sometimes predicts the future.