UCAT · Verbal Reasoning

Short passages and comprehension (set 2)

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

Practise Short passages and comprehension (set 2) now

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

All 40 questions

  1. Why does the digit task matter to the argument? (Passage: Language and thought)
  2. What did the first group do better? (Passage: Language and thought)
  3. A reader claims: 'The experiment proves that language determines thought.' What is the correct assessment? (Passage: Language and thought)
  4. Which conclusion is the best supported? (Passage: Language and thought)
  5. What is the rival's criticism of the survey? (Passage: A retail pricing change)
  6. Which result occurred alongside the price change? (Passage: A retail pricing change)
  7. A reader claims: 'The pricing change was responsible for the fall in home waste.' What is the correct assessment? (Passage: A retail pricing change)
  8. Why might the policy not work elsewhere, according to the rival? (Passage: A retail pricing change)
  9. How many patients with the cemented design needed a second operation, if 600 received that design? (Passage: Hip replacement trial)
  10. Which statement is supported by the passage? (Passage: Hip replacement trial)
  11. A reader claims: 'The surgeons recommended cemented implants for all patients.' What is the correct assessment? (Passage: Hip replacement trial)
  12. Which advantage of uncemented implants is mentioned? (Passage: Hip replacement trial)
  13. What advantage of tidal power is given over wind and solar? (Passage: Tidal power)
  14. What do ecologists say about artificial feeding areas? (Passage: Tidal power)
  15. A reader claims: 'The barrage would meet one fifth of national demand.' What is the correct assessment? (Passage: Tidal power)
  16. Which statement is the best summary? (Passage: Tidal power)
  17. Which patients are given priority in triage, according to the passage? (Passage: The ethics of triage)
  18. Which assumption underlies the defenders' argument? (Passage: The ethics of triage)
  19. A reader claims: 'In triage, a patient who arrives early is always treated before one who arrives later.' What is the correct assessment? (Passage: The ethics of triage)
  20. Which of the following would the critics most likely accept? (Passage: The ethics of triage)
  21. At the present rate, how many years until the cliff reaches the nearest house? (Passage: Coastal erosion)
  22. What is the cost difference between the two options? (Passage: Coastal erosion)
  23. Which downside of the sea wall is mentioned? (Passage: Coastal erosion)
  24. A reader claims: 'Managed retreat is cheaper and has no disadvantages.' What is the correct assessment? (Passage: Coastal erosion)
  25. What is the main difficulty in interpreting the result? (Passage: Reading aloud)
  26. What was the difference in average score gain between the districts? (Passage: Reading aloud)
  27. A reader claims: 'Reading aloud raised vocabulary scores by 8 points.' What is the correct assessment? (Passage: Reading aloud)
  28. Which finding would most strengthen the claim that reading aloud works? (Passage: Reading aloud)
  29. Why has the regulator required separate reporting? (Passage: Autonomous vehicles)
  30. Why is distance driven in each condition also required? (Passage: Autonomous vehicles)
  31. Which statement would proponents be most likely to agree with? (Passage: Autonomous vehicles)
  32. A reader claims: 'Self-driving cars have proved safer than human drivers in all conditions.' What is the correct assessment? (Passage: Autonomous vehicles)
  33. On what point do both sides agree? (Passage: Museum repatriation)
  34. Why does the regional government object to loans? (Passage: Museum repatriation)
  35. Which statement is an argument of the trustees? (Passage: Museum repatriation)
  36. A reader claims: 'The museum has never allowed the objects to leave London.' What is the correct assessment? (Passage: Museum repatriation)
  37. Approximately how many students reported feeling very anxious? (Passage: Exam stress)
  38. Why is a random assignment planned? (Passage: Exam stress)
  39. A reader claims: 'The survey shows that breathing exercises reduce exam anxiety.' What is the correct assessment? (Passage: Exam stress)
  40. Which statement is consistent with the passage? (Passage: Exam stress)

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