<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<competency testname="Adaptive Reading Test 2" shuffle_choices="1" shuffle_questions="0" displaytype="list">
<direction><![CDATA[Choose the best answer to each question.]]></direction>
<qa name="q1157" theta="-0.0588235294117679" difficulty="0.578947368421053" discrimination="0.574012983484415" guessing="0.25" distraction="1.702" group="990" category="" correct_goto="" incorrect_goto="" branch_using=""><question><![CDATA[One of the Jewish religion’s most sacred and widely observed holidays, Passover (Hebrew: Pesach), commemorates the story of the Israelites’ departure from ancient Egypt, which appears in the Hebrew Bible’s books of Exodus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, among other texts. Jews observe the weeklong festival with a number of important rituals, including traditional Passover meals known as seders, the removal of leavened products from their home, the substitution of matzo for bread and the retelling of the exodus tale.<br><br></em>Which phrase helps explain what "exodus" means?]]></question><answer goto="" value="1"><![CDATA[departure from]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[ancient Egypt]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[important rituals]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[most sacred]]></answer></qa>
<qa name="q656" theta="-2.05882352941177" difficulty="0.823529411764706" discrimination="0.317331016525806" guessing="0.25" distraction="1.702" group="650" category="" correct_goto="" incorrect_goto="" branch_using=""><question><![CDATA[Pfirman and others agree that managing greenhouse gases is the only way to control melting sea ice.<br><br></em>Which phrase explains what the author means by "managing greenhouse gases"?]]></question><answer goto="" value="1"><![CDATA[keep carbon dioxide gas levels under control]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[burning fossil fuels]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[make up for any cooling of the Arctic]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[more and more greenhouse gases]]></answer></qa>
<qa name="q775" theta="0.529411764705879" difficulty="0.5" discrimination="0.677977090333282" guessing="0.25" distraction="1.702" group="1090" category="" correct_goto="" incorrect_goto="" branch_using=""><question><![CDATA[People living in Africa and advances in agriculture sparked the beginning of the Middle Stone Age.<br><br></em>Which of the following words, if it replaced "advances" in the sentence above, would CHANGE the meaning of the sentence?]]></question><answer goto="" value="1"><![CDATA[challenges]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[developments]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[improvements]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[progress]]></answer></qa>
<qa name="q163" theta="1.41176470588235" difficulty="0.384615384615385" discrimination="0.376784725590526" guessing="0.25" distraction="1.702" group="1240" category="" correct_goto="" incorrect_goto="" branch_using=""><question><![CDATA[Which of the following contains a word that is a synonym for "instinctive"?]]></question><answer goto="" value="1"><![CDATA[Frank Lloyd Wright buildings are visceral and meant to be experienced.]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[Products that are still staples 65 years later and core products of our company came out of this tower, said Greg Anderegg, director of global community affairs.]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[The original round recessed light fixtures in the ceiling had not aged well and were replaced with replicas.]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[It's my shout-out to all these people whose names I've seen in the archives, Boesel said.]]></answer></qa>
<qa name="q666" theta="-2.64705882352941" difficulty="0.894736842105263" discrimination="0.558318485702274" guessing="0.25" distraction="1.702" group="550" category="" correct_goto="" incorrect_goto="" branch_using=""><question><![CDATA[Empathy is linked with social behavior. Research shows that we have strong empathy when we are in social groups like a sports team.<br><br></em>Which phrase could replace "linked with" without changing the meaning of the first sentence of the caption?]]></question><answer goto="" value="1"><![CDATA[connected to]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[caused by]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[part of]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[prevented by]]></answer></qa>
<qa name="q934" theta="2.88235294117646" difficulty="0.117647058823529" discrimination="0.323541196967778" guessing="0.25" distraction="1.702" group="1490" category="" correct_goto="" incorrect_goto="" branch_using=""><question><![CDATA[It's a surprising scene in the traditional province, which more often makes headlines for family feuds or sectarian violence against its large Coptic Christian minority.<br><br></em>Which of the following could replace the word "surprising" WITHOUT changing the meaning of the sentence?]]></question><answer goto="" value="1"><![CDATA[unusual]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[ridiculous]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[staggering]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[unpredictable]]></answer></qa>
<qa name="q564" theta="0.0588235294117616" difficulty="0.571428571428571" discrimination="0.267357928067343" guessing="0.25" distraction="1.702" group="1010" category="" correct_goto="" incorrect_goto="" branch_using=""><question><![CDATA[All presidents and first ladies seek a quiet life for young children.<br><br></em>What does the author mean by "a quiet life"?]]></question><answer goto="" value="1"><![CDATA[a life that is not disturbed]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[a life that is comfortable]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[a life that is not difficult]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[a life that is very happy]]></answer></qa>
<qa name="q405" theta="-0.941176470588239" difficulty="0.692307692307692" discrimination="0.449783931878282" guessing="0.25" distraction="1.702" group="840" category="" correct_goto="" incorrect_goto="" branch_using=""><question><![CDATA[The workers could not stay very long. Most of them worked on farms. They had to sign contracts. These said how long they could stay.<br><br></em>A "contract" is:]]></question><answer goto="" value="1"><![CDATA[a deal two people make]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[a person who works on a farm]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[a program for Mexican workers]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[a time limit put on farmers]]></answer></qa>
<qa name="q805" theta="-2.47058823529412" difficulty="0.882352941176471" discrimination="0.245563452256497" guessing="0.25" distraction="1.702" group="580" category="" correct_goto="" incorrect_goto="" branch_using=""><question><![CDATA[More water is leaving the High Plains Aquifer than is coming in. It goes out primarily through irrigation.<br><br></em>Which word could replace "primarily" WITHOUT changing the meaning of the sentence?]]></question><answer goto="" value="1"><![CDATA[mainly]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[partly]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[permanently]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[rapidly]]></answer></qa>
<qa name="q485" theta="-2.58823529411765" difficulty="0.888888888888889" discrimination="0.260244392714354" guessing="0.25" distraction="1.702" group="560" category="" correct_goto="" incorrect_goto="" branch_using=""><question><![CDATA[Global warming also changes the timing of important events. Birds migrate sooner. Trees get their leaves earlier.<br><br></em>What does the word "timing" mean in the paragraph?]]></question><answer goto="" value="1"><![CDATA[when things happen]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[doing things again]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[doing things together]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[how things happen]]></answer></qa>
<qa name="q885" theta="-0.176470588235297" difficulty="0.588235294117647" discrimination="0.552457824562335" guessing="0.25" distraction="1.702" group="970" category="" correct_goto="" incorrect_goto="" branch_using=""><question><![CDATA[These changes affect the brain and other important organs. Sacco said that at this point, a therapeutic feeding treatment is needed to save someone's life. Therapeutic food is designed specifically for someone who is malnourished and whose body can no longer process normal food. People are often fed through tubes or through their veins in these cases.<br><br></em>Which phrase from the paragraph helps you understand WHY a starving person needs immediate medical assistance before they can eat regularly?]]></question><answer goto="" value="1"><![CDATA[body can no longer process normal food]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[a therapeutic feeding treatment]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[designed specifically for someone who is malnourished]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[fed through tubes or through their veins]]></answer></qa>
<qa name="q975" theta="0.823529411764703" difficulty="0.458333333333333" discrimination="0.311064411172209" guessing="0.25" distraction="1.702" group="1140" category="" correct_goto="" incorrect_goto="" branch_using=""><question><![CDATA[There's so much misinformation and misrepresentation about Muslim lives, Jaffery says.<br><br></em>What does the phrase "mispresentation about Muslim lives" mean?]]></question><answer goto="" value="1"><![CDATA[false accounts of Muslim lives]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[increasing amount of information about Muslim lives]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[vague portrayals of Muslim lives]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[variety of information about Muslim lives]]></answer></qa>
<qa name="q496" theta="-1.64705882352942" difficulty="0.772727272727273" discrimination="0.256480657596963" guessing="0.25" distraction="1.702" group="720" category="" correct_goto="" incorrect_goto="" branch_using=""><question><![CDATA[The Nazis were defeated in 1945. After the war, violence against Jews became much less.<br><br></em>Which word could replace "defeated" WITHOUT changing its meaning?]]></question><answer goto="" value="1"><![CDATA[beaten]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[celebrated]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[finished]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[tired]]></answer></qa>
<qa name="q838" theta="1.88235294117647" difficulty="0.318181818181818" discrimination="0.215991311953121" guessing="0.25" distraction="1.702" group="1320" category="" correct_goto="" incorrect_goto="" branch_using=""><question><![CDATA[Generally, the words "urban" and "suburban" are sometimes incorrectly used to replace "black" and "white." The words stand in for black and white because of stereotypes about where black and white people live. The Billboard Hot 100 chart, however, was one place where these spaces blurred.<br><br></em>The author uses the word "blurred" to mean:]]></question><answer goto="" value="1"><![CDATA[overlapped together]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[became confusing]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[became distinct]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[struggled together]]></answer></qa>
<qa name="q167" theta="-0.764705882352944" difficulty="0.666666666666667" discrimination="0.533059314300449" guessing="0.25" distraction="1.702" group="870" category="" correct_goto="" incorrect_goto="" branch_using=""><question><![CDATA[Funding is an issue all across the state, but when you are losing students, it totally exacerbates the problem, said Stu Silberman, executive director of the Prichard Committee, a group seeking to make Kentucky one of the top 20 states in reading scores, teacher salaries and other education categories.<br><br></em>What is the meaning of the word "exacerbates" as used in the above sentence?]]></question><answer goto="" value="1"><![CDATA[to make conditions worse]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[to make conditions better]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[to keep the condition the same]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[to correct the situation]]></answer></qa>
<qa name="q637" theta="0.352941176470585" difficulty="0.529411764705882" discrimination="0.785794612615258" guessing="0.25" distraction="1.702" group="1060" category="" correct_goto="" incorrect_goto="" branch_using=""><question><![CDATA[It's unfortunate that some people still consider belonging to a male membership organization superior to belonging to a female one, a leader of the Girl Scouts said.<br><br></em>Which of the following phrases, if it replaced the phrase "superior to" in the sentence above, would CHANGE the meaning of the sentence?]]></question><answer goto="" value="1"><![CDATA[less important than]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[better than]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[more remarkable than]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[preferable to]]></answer></qa>
<qa name="q781" theta="-0.411764705882356" difficulty="0.619047619047619" discrimination="0.359010757876056" guessing="0.25" distraction="1.702" group="930" category="" correct_goto="" incorrect_goto="" branch_using=""><question><![CDATA[It is absolutely phenomenal to see this many blooming desert plants all at the same time, she said. "I think it's probably a once-in-a-lifetime thing."<br><br></em>The author uses the phrase "once-in-a-lifetime" to mean:]]></question><answer goto="" value="1"><![CDATA[uncommon]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[frequent]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[standard]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[strange]]></answer></qa>
<qa name="q181" theta="-1.58823529411765" difficulty="0.769230769230769" discrimination="0.349418252127037" guessing="0.25" distraction="1.702" group="730" category="" correct_goto="" incorrect_goto="" branch_using=""><question><![CDATA[The president of the teachers union describes policies that "create a revolving door of under-prepared and under-supported novices." What do you think he believes about teachers' roles in the problem?]]></question><answer goto="" value="1"><![CDATA[teachers need more support to stay in their profession and gain experience]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[teachers have plenty of training in dealing with kids]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[teachers don't think there is a problem]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[there are enough experienced and fully licensed teachers dealing with problem kids]]></answer></qa>
<qa name="q792" theta="2" difficulty="0.307692307692308" discrimination="0.283949347873465" guessing="0.25" distraction="1.702" group="1340" category="" correct_goto="" incorrect_goto="" branch_using=""><question><![CDATA[In the case of radioactivity, this time is an important part of each nucleus. In a given time, it has a 50-50 chance of spontaneously decaying. The length of time it takes for half the atoms in a sample to decay is called the half-life.<br><br></em>Which option is the BEST definition of "spontaneously" as it is used above?]]></question><answer goto="" value="1"><![CDATA[randomly]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[accidentally]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[certainly]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[willingly]]></answer></qa>
<qa name="q1097" theta="2.58823529411764" difficulty="0.230769230769231" discrimination="0.209669553453012" guessing="0.25" distraction="1.702" group="1440" category="" correct_goto="" incorrect_goto="" branch_using=""><question><![CDATA[Novices, in contrast, don’t have access to these memories and thus have to work through the possible contingencies of each move.<br><br></em>What is the meaning of the word "contingencies" as used in the sentence above?]]></question><answer goto="" value="1"><![CDATA[preparations]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[efforts]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[strategies]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[uncertainties]]></answer></qa>
<qa name="q817" theta="0.29411764705882" difficulty="0.538461538461538" discrimination="0.20072256931087" guessing="0.25" distraction="1.702" group="1050" category="" correct_goto="" incorrect_goto="" branch_using=""><question><![CDATA[Seizures can be frightening for those who have never witnessed one before. Historically, the loss of control of the body and brain that came with having an epileptic seizure was often misunderstood. The biblical story of Jesus performing an exorcism on a young boy having seizures, for instance, led some to believe they were a result of demonic possession. Only in modern times has epilepsy been truly recognized as a disease of the brain.<br><br></em>Which word from the paragraph helps you understand that people once thought seizures were a sign of evil?]]></question><answer goto="" value="1"><![CDATA[demonic]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[biblical]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[frightening]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[possession]]></answer></qa>
<qa name="q146" theta="1.88235294117647" difficulty="0.318181818181818" discrimination="0.485288707186753" guessing="0.25" distraction="1.702" group="1320" category="" correct_goto="" incorrect_goto="" branch_using=""><question><![CDATA[Select the sentence that shows that sports enthusiasts don't mind paying extra for cable subscriptions.]]></question><answer goto="" value="1"><![CDATA[In the grand scheme of things, the deal seems reasonable to sports fans.]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[The nine highest-rated single telecasts of 2012 involved live sporting events.]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[ESPN was beamed into 98.9 million households in 2012, ranking near the top of the most-widely distributed cable networks.]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[Chiefs on Sundays, plus the Royals and Missouri football and basketball when his schedule allows. "I don't really watch anything live, except sports," Bennett said.]]></answer></qa>
<qa name="q506" theta="-2.94117647058824" difficulty="0.941176470588235" discrimination="0.503608158357733" guessing="0.25" distraction="1.702" group="500" category="" correct_goto="" incorrect_goto="" branch_using=""><question><![CDATA[As he did, he told the god Apollo to shape their new bodies. So Apollo turned their faces to the side. He pulled the skin from their sides over their stomachs. He shaped their chests and smoothed out their wrinkles.<br><br></em>What is the BEST definition of the word "shape" based on the information in the selection?]]></question><answer goto="" value="1"><![CDATA[form]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[divide]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[paint]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[plan]]></answer></qa>
<qa name="q584" theta="1.35294117647059" difficulty="0.388888888888889" discrimination="0.590730557789988" guessing="0.25" distraction="1.702" group="1230" category="" correct_goto="" incorrect_goto="" branch_using=""><question><![CDATA[The three leaders weren't smiling. They looked troubled, she said. She thought they looked thoughtful. So, she snapped the shot.<br><br></em>What did Varela MOST LIKELY mean when she said they looked "troubled"?]]></question><answer goto="" value="1"><![CDATA[They looked like they were concerned about something.]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[They looked like they had done something wrong.]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[They looked like they were confused about something.]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[They looked like they were dangerous.]]></answer></qa>
<qa name="q1073" theta="1.70588235294117" difficulty="0.352941176470588" discrimination="0.255701491690004" guessing="0.25" distraction="1.702" group="1290" category="" correct_goto="" incorrect_goto="" branch_using=""><question><![CDATA[Behavioral changes require training people how to cook with fresh food and to use it before it goes bad – programs that UpLift and other groups incorporate as part of their efforts to alleviate food deserts.<br><br></em>Which word or phrase DOES NOT help the reader understand the meaning of "behavioral changes" as used in this context?]]></question><answer goto="" value="1"><![CDATA[alleviate food deserts]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[consumption habits improved]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[consumption patterns or weight loss]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[people's eating habits change]]></answer></qa>
<qa name="q1024" theta="-1.23529411764706" difficulty="0.727272727272727" discrimination="0.420874616138987" guessing="0.25" distraction="1.702" group="790" category="" correct_goto="" incorrect_goto="" branch_using=""><question><![CDATA[Arenas has overheard offensive conversations about Muslims by people who do not realize she is a follower of Islam because she doesn't wear a hijab, a headscarf worn by some Muslim women.<br><br></em>The author uses the word "offensive" to mean:]]></question><answer goto="" value="1"><![CDATA[insulting and disrespectful]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[aggressive and confident]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[rude and detailed]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[suspicious and distasteful]]></answer></qa>
<qa name="q697" theta="2.23529411764706" difficulty="0.277777777777778" discrimination="0.257267248231211" guessing="0.25" distraction="1.702" group="1380" category="" correct_goto="" incorrect_goto="" branch_using=""><question><![CDATA[In one year, the Beagle Brigade prompted 162,000 seizures of food, insects and animal products nationwide. Tess, Baymon and other dogs at South Florida’s airports and seaports scored 8,000 of those hits.<br><br></em>What does the author mean by "scored"?]]></question><answer goto="" value="1"><![CDATA[were responsible for]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[completely overruled]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[helped out with]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[trained at]]></answer></qa>
<qa name="q818" theta="1.52941176470588" difficulty="0.375" discrimination="0.451687720435539" guessing="0.25" distraction="1.702" group="1260" category="" correct_goto="" incorrect_goto="" branch_using=""><question><![CDATA[Which of the following words, if it replaced the word "disrupted" in the sentence below, would CHANGE the meaning of the sentence?<br><br></em>Epilepsy is characterized by seizures, during which the brain's normal operation is disrupted, often dramatically.]]></question><answer goto="" value="1"><![CDATA[sustained]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[broken]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[damaged]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[interrupted]]></answer></qa>
<qa name="q531" theta="0.647058823529409" difficulty="0.473684210526316" discrimination="0.319314195252214" guessing="0.25" distraction="1.702" group="1110" category="" correct_goto="" incorrect_goto="" branch_using=""><question><![CDATA[David Posner works for a Jewish group. He said the president and others must speak out against these anti-Jewish feelings across the country.<br><br></em>What does Posner mean by saying the president must "speak out" against anti-Jewish feelings?]]></question><answer goto="" value="1"><![CDATA[tell people they are wrong]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[say they are not dangerous]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[stop thinking about them]]></answer><answer goto="" value="0"><![CDATA[talk loudly about them]]></answer></qa>
</competency>