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ASVAB subject guide

Paragraph comprehension

Find the answer supported by the passage rather than outside knowledge.

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Core review

What to study

  • Identify the main idea and the author’s purpose.
  • Return to the exact sentence that supports your answer.
  • Treat extreme words such as always and never cautiously.

Five-question review

Try original paragraph comprehension questions.

Attempt each question before opening the answer and explanation.

Question 1

A warehouse labels every shelf with an aisle number and item range. New shipments are placed only after the label is checked against the inventory record. Why are labels checked first?

  1. To reduce lighting costs
  2. To place items in the recorded location
  3. To count delivery vehicles
  4. To change item prices
Reveal answer and explanation

Correct answer: To place items in the recorded location

The passage connects checking the label with placing shipments according to the inventory record.

Question 2

Desert temperatures can fall sharply after sunset because dry air and sparse cloud cover allow heat to escape quickly. What causes the rapid nighttime cooling?

  1. Heavy rainfall
  2. Dry air and few clouds
  3. Strong ocean currents
  4. Dense vegetation
Reveal answer and explanation

Correct answer: Dry air and few clouds

The passage directly identifies dry air and sparse cloud cover as the cause.

Question 3

The team tested two filters with the same volume of water. Filter A removed more sediment, but Filter B processed the water in half the time. Which statement is supported?

  1. Filter A was faster
  2. Filter B removed more sediment
  3. The filters had different strengths
  4. Filter B was faster
Reveal answer and explanation

Correct answer: Filter B was faster

The passage says Filter B processed the water in half the time.

Question 4

Before operating the saw, the manual requires the guard to be secured and the workpiece to be clamped. The saw must remain unplugged during setup. When should the saw be plugged in?

  1. Before clamping
  2. While adjusting the guard
  3. After setup is complete
  4. Before reading the manual
Reveal answer and explanation

Correct answer: After setup is complete

Because it must remain unplugged during setup, it should be connected only after setup is complete.

Question 5

Some plants close tiny leaf openings during the hottest part of the day. This reduces water loss but also limits the carbon dioxide entering the leaf. What tradeoff is described?

  1. More growth for more water loss
  2. Less water loss but less carbon dioxide
  3. More sunlight but less heat
  4. Less oxygen but more soil
Reveal answer and explanation

Correct answer: Less water loss but less carbon dioxide

Closing the openings conserves water while reducing carbon-dioxide intake.

Related preparation

Continue across the ASVAB.

Subject guideArithmetic reasoningTurn a word problem into a few clear mathematical steps.Subject guideWord knowledgeUse vocabulary knowledge and context to find the closest meaning.Subject guideMathematics knowledgeApply algebra, geometry, exponents, and number rules accurately.Subject guideGeneral scienceReview broad life, earth, physical, and environmental science concepts.

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