UCAT · Verbal Reasoning

Short passages and comprehension (set 1)

44 practice questions, each with the answer and an explanation.

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Random questions from this topic, one at a time. You see the answer and the explanation straight after each one.

All 44 questions

  1. Which statement is best supported by the passage? (Passage: Urban beekeeping)
  2. A reader claims: 'The council has stopped any new hives being placed in the city.' What is the correct assessment? (Passage: Urban beekeeping)
  3. What is the main concern of the critics mentioned in the passage? (Passage: Urban beekeeping)
  4. Which conclusion can NOT be drawn from the passage? (Passage: Urban beekeeping)
  5. How many of the 61 companies did NOT say they intended to continue? (Passage: The four-day week trial)
  6. Which of the following is the researchers' stated caution? (Passage: The four-day week trial)
  7. A reader claims: 'Every participating company saw its revenue increase.' What is the correct assessment? (Passage: The four-day week trial)
  8. Approximately how many hours would a full-time employee on a usual 40-hour week work during the trial? (Passage: The four-day week trial)
  9. According to the passage, why are antibiotics usually not appropriate for colds? (Passage: Antibiotic stewardship)
  10. Why is the review carried out after 48 hours? (Passage: Antibiotic stewardship)
  11. Which statement is a fair criticism of the study, according to the passage? (Passage: Antibiotic stewardship)
  12. A reader claims: 'Stewardship reviews cut hospital deaths.' What is the correct assessment? (Passage: Antibiotic stewardship)
  13. What does the passage suggest about the miasma theory? (Passage: The Great Stink)
  14. Which factor most directly prompted Parliament to act? (Passage: The Great Stink)
  15. A reader claims: 'Cholera was eliminated in London within weeks of the bill being passed.' What is the correct assessment? (Passage: The Great Stink)
  16. Which inference is best supported by the passage? (Passage: The Great Stink)
  17. Who makes the final decision on the solar farm? (Passage: Solar farm planning)
  18. Which of the following is a condition attached to the officer's recommendation? (Passage: Solar farm planning)
  19. A reader claims: 'The officer's report supports approval without any conditions.' What is the correct assessment? (Passage: Solar farm planning)
  20. Which statement is an objection raised by residents? (Passage: Solar farm planning)
  21. What do the authors suggest explains the difference in recall? (Passage: Sleep and memory)
  22. How many students stayed awake all night? (Passage: Sleep and memory)
  23. Which statement weakens confidence in the authors' explanation? (Passage: Sleep and memory)
  24. A reader claims: 'Recovery sleep fully removed the effect of the sleepless night.' What is the correct assessment? (Passage: Sleep and memory)
  25. Which statement best summarises the independent review's finding? (Passage: Library closures)
  26. Why do campaigners say book-loan figures understate the value of libraries? (Passage: Library closures)
  27. If a fifth of the libraries in the region closed and 120 remained open, how many libraries were there originally? (Passage: Library closures)
  28. A reader claims: 'The councils closed libraries to protect social care.' What is the correct assessment? (Passage: Library closures)
  29. What does 'peak water' refer to? (Passage: Glacier retreat)
  30. Which conclusion follows from the passage? (Passage: Glacier retreat)
  31. A reader claims: 'The estimate that peak water has passed is certain.' What is the correct assessment? (Passage: Glacier retreat)
  32. Why might glacier retreat increase river flow in the short term? (Passage: Glacier retreat)
  33. What is the analyst's concern? (Passage: A new bus network)
  34. By how many did the number of routes fall in the change? (Passage: A new bus network)
  35. A reader claims: 'Every resident of the town now has a shorter walk to a bus stop.' What is the correct assessment? (Passage: A new bus network)
  36. Which statement is best supported by the passage? (Passage: A new bus network)
  37. How do the authors describe their result? (Passage: Plant-based diets)
  38. Which factor was NOT adjusted for in the study? (Passage: Plant-based diets)
  39. A reader claims: 'Plant-based eaters had exactly a 10 per cent lower risk after all factors were controlled.' What is the correct assessment? (Passage: Plant-based diets)
  40. If 70,000 adults were followed and 40 per cent mainly ate plant-based diets, how many ate plant-based diets? (Passage: Plant-based diets)
  41. What limited the supply of early insulin? (Passage: Rationing of insulin)
  42. A reader claims: 'Human insulin was in clinical use by 1978.' What is the correct assessment? (Passage: Rationing of insulin)
  43. Which statement about the warning-signs claim is supported? (Passage: Rationing of insulin)
  44. Which of these is a valid inference? (Passage: Rationing of insulin)

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