Passage E

Practice Tests
Practice Tests for the Texas Academic Skills Program Reading Test
Passage E

Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow.

24. Which of the following statements best expresses the overall main idea of the passage?

A. Organisms exhibit various responses to both positive and negative experiences.

B. Scientists are now able to measure differences in the brain as a result of one's life experiences.

C. Positive and negative life experiences affect the brain's structure and the way it functions.

D. Such research should benefit us all.

25. Based on this passage, which of these is a reasonable conclusion?

A. Babies raised in an enriched home environment will probably score higher on intelligence tests than babies raised in an environment devoid of playthings.

B. Only children who play the violin will score high on intelligence tests.

C. Brain scans reveal absolute truths about behavior.

D. The more stress you are under, the more prepared you become to handle it.

26. The material in paragraph 1 relates to the main idea of the overall section by providing a(n)

A. contrast

B. argument

C. list

D. example

27. The main idea of paragraph 2 is that

A. violin players have a very delicate touch.

B. young violinists have a greater representation of fingers on their left hand.

C. the representation of the right hand is different than the left hand on a brain image of a violinist.

D. it is possible to measure very specific brain differences related to individuals' life experiences.