These questions require students to analyze a specific part of the passage and determine how it contributes to the text as a whole. They test reading comprehension, the ability to understand the author's purpose, and how individual sentences or phrases shape meaning within the passage.
To answer correctly, students must consider the broader context and select the option that best explains the role of the underlined portion, whether it illustrates an idea, provides an example, creates contrast, or emphasizes a key point.
The following text is from an explorer’s account of a journey to the Arctic.
Traveling through the Arctic was more challenging than we had anticipated. Supplies were limited, and the bitter cold tested our endurance daily. The ice beneath our feet creaked ominously, threatening to crack at any moment.
Which choice best describes the function of the underlined portion in the text as a whole?
A) It expresses relief at surviving the harsh journey.
B) It explains why the expedition was difficult.
C) It shows that the team was well prepared for the trip.
D) It compares this journey to a previous one.
The following text is from a novel describing a tense family gathering.
Marianne sat silently at the end of the table, her eyes fixed on the window. In contrast, her brother James spoke loudly, filling the room with laughter and bold stories.
Which choice best describes the function of the underlined portion in the text as a whole?
A) It highlights the contrast between the two characters.
B) It suggests that James admired Marianne’s quiet nature.
C) It emphasizes that both characters felt uncomfortable.
D) It introduces a new character to the scene.
The following text is from a historical account of the Industrial Revolution.
Factories sprung up rapidly across cities, promising progress but also bringing difficulties. Pollution from smokestacks darkened the skies, and workers toiled long hours in dangerous conditions.
Which choice best describes the function of the underlined portion in the text as a whole?
A) It describes the benefits of industrial expansion.
B) It criticizes the attitudes of factory owners.
C) It outlines laws created to protect workers.
D) It provides an example of the challenges faced during industrialization.
The following text is from a memoir describing a childhood home.
The house itself was small and plain, but the garden was something else entirely. I spent countless afternoons beneath the old oak tree, listening to the rustle of its leaves and feeling utterly at peace.
Which choice best describes the function of the underlined portion in the text as a whole?
A) It describes the house’s architectural features.
B) It contrasts the garden with the surrounding neighborhood.
C) It conveys the narrator’s emotional connection to the garden.
D) It explains the role of trees in providing shade.
The following text is from an essay about rainforests.
Rainforests cover only a small fraction of Earth’s surface but host an astonishing variety of life. From tiny insects hidden beneath leaves to brightly colored birds soaring above the canopy, every layer of the forest teems with creatures.
Which choice best describes the function of the underlined portion in the text as a whole?
A) It describes how rainforests are being destroyed.
B) It illustrates the diversity of life in the rainforest.
C) It argues that rainforests are not worth preserving.
D) It compares rainforests to other ecosystems.
Answers:
1) B) It explains why the expedition was difficult.
2) A) It highlights the contrast between the two characters.
3) D) It provides an example of the challenges faced during industrialization.
4) C) It conveys the narrator’s emotional connection to the garden.
5) B) It illustrates the diversity of life in the rainforest.
