Practice using passage evidence to choose an answer. These six original CARE-created TEAS reading questions include the passage where needed, with an explanation after you submit each response.
No account or payment required. These are CARE-created questions, not official ATI questions. This short sample is not a full-length exam or a predicted TEAS score. It reuses the Reading questions in our 24-question free sample.
Question 1 of 60 correct so far
The river that moves its own banks
A river does not simply run through a landscape; it rearranges it. Water moving along the outside of a bend travels faster than water on the inside, and that faster water carries away sediment from the bank it presses against. On the inside of the same bend, where the current slows, the river drops what it is carrying. The bend therefore migrates sideways, year after year, cutting into one bank while building the other.
Given enough time, a bend can loop so far that its neck narrows to almost nothing. A single flood may then cut straight across the neck, abandoning the loop entirely. The severed curve, left behind as a crescent of still water, is called an oxbow lake.
This is why maps of older rivers are so difficult to keep current, and why a property line drawn along a river in one century may sit well away from the water in the next. The river has not broken the boundary. It has simply continued doing what rivers do.
Reading
Which statement best summarizes the passage as a whole?
More TEAS Reading practice questions with answers and rationales
Work each question first, then open the answer. These 12 original CARE-written TEAS 7 reading questions explain the correct answer and why each wrong choice fails. They are separate from the interactive practice above and are not official ATI questions.
Question 1 · Reading R.1.1: Summarize a multi-paragraph text (main idea)
College students often treat sleep as the first thing to sacrifice when deadlines pile up. Yet research on memory suggests the trade is costly. During deep sleep, the brain replays the day's information and strengthens the connections that store it. A student who studies until 3 a.m. and sleeps four hours may recall less on an exam than a classmate who studies for less time but sleeps seven or eight hours. Sleep also affects mood and attention: tired students report more irritability and make more errors on routine tasks. Campus health centers therefore recommend setting a fixed bedtime and scheduling study sessions earlier in the evening instead of relying on all-night cramming.
Which statement best expresses the main idea of the passage?
A. Sleep may matter more for a good mood than for remembering new information.
B. Giving up sleep to study can hurt learning, so study plans should include rest.
C. Students who sleep eight hours a night earn higher grades than students who study longer.
D. Campus health centers recommend that students stop studying in the evening to protect sleep.
Show the answer and rationale
Correct answer: B. Giving up sleep to study can hurt learning, so study plans should include rest.
The main idea is the central point the whole passage supports. Every detail, from memory consolidation to mood and the closing advice, supports the claim that sacrificing sleep is a poor way to prepare and that study time should be scheduled to protect sleep.
A: The passage says sleep affects both memory and mood and never ranks them.
C: The passage says a well-rested student may recall more, not that rested students beat every student who studies longer.
D: Health centers recommend studying earlier in the evening, not stopping evening study.
College students often treat sleep as the first thing to sacrifice when deadlines pile up. Yet research on memory suggests the trade is costly. During deep sleep, the brain replays the day's information and strengthens the connections that store it. A student who studies until 3 a.m. and sleeps four hours may recall less on an exam than a classmate who studies for less time but sleeps seven or eight hours. Sleep also affects mood and attention: tired students report more irritability and make more errors on routine tasks. Campus health centers therefore recommend setting a fixed bedtime and scheduling study sessions earlier in the evening instead of relying on all-night cramming.
According to the passage, what happens during deep sleep?
A. The brain replays information and strengthens the connections that store it.
B. The brain discards unimportant details so that attention improves the next day.
C. The body lowers the level of stress that causes irritability during the day.
D. The brain practices routine tasks so that errors are reduced the next day.
Show the answer and rationale
Correct answer: A. The brain replays information and strengthens the connections that store it.
A detail question asks for information stated directly in the text. The passage states that during deep sleep the brain replays the day's information and strengthens the connections that store it.
B: The passage never says the brain discards details during sleep.
C: The passage links poor sleep to irritability but does not describe stress changes during deep sleep.
D: Errors on routine tasks are mentioned as an effect of tiredness, not as something the brain practices during sleep.
Question 3 · Reading: Key Ideas and Details - inferences
Notice posted at the entrance of a pediatric clinic: "Please use the hand sanitizer at the door before entering the waiting area. Visitors who have had a fever, cough, or vomiting in the past 24 hours are asked to reschedule when possible, because many of our patients are infants or have conditions that weaken their immune systems. If you cannot reschedule, please tell the front desk staff so that we can seat you in our separate room. Thank you for helping us protect our youngest patients."
Based on the notice, why does the clinic offer a separate room to visitors who cannot reschedule?
A. To let those visitors be seen before the other patients who are waiting
B. To keep sick visitors from using the hand sanitizer at the front desk
C. To lower the chance of spreading illness to vulnerable patients
D. To give staff enough space to treat the visitors' fever and cough
Show the answer and rationale
Correct answer: C. To lower the chance of spreading illness to vulnerable patients
An inference is a conclusion supported by clues in the text. The notice explains that many patients are infants or have weakened immune systems and asks sick visitors to reschedule, so seating them apart most likely limits the spread of infection to those patients.
A: The notice says nothing about seeing visitors first; the visitors are not the clinic's patients.
B: The notice asks everyone to use the sanitizer.
D: The notice describes the clinic's patients as infants and others at risk, not treatment of visitors.
Question 4 · Reading R.2.4: Evaluate the author's point of view or perspective (tone)
Notice posted at the entrance of a pediatric clinic: "Please use the hand sanitizer at the door before entering the waiting area. Visitors who have had a fever, cough, or vomiting in the past 24 hours are asked to reschedule when possible, because many of our patients are infants or have conditions that weaken their immune systems. If you cannot reschedule, please tell the front desk staff so that we can seat you in our separate room. Thank you for helping us protect our youngest patients."
Which word choice best describes the tone of the notice?
A. Stern and threatening
B. Apologetic and uncertain
C. Humorous and casual
D. Polite and explanatory
Show the answer and rationale
Correct answer: D. Polite and explanatory
Tone is shown by word choice. Phrases such as "Please," "are asked to," and "Thank you," along with a reason for each request, create a courteous, explanatory tone.
A: The notice makes requests and does not threaten consequences.
B: The clinic never apologizes and states its requests confidently.
Question 5 · Reading R.2.3: Evaluate the author's purpose (organization of ideas)
Many clinics once relied on paper sign-in sheets. Patients wrote their names on a clipboard, and staff called them in the order listed. However, the sheets showed every patient's name to everyone in the waiting room, and poor handwriting often led to mistakes when staff read the names aloud. To solve these problems, many clinics now use tablet check-in systems. The tablet records the patient's information privately, and the waiting-room screen displays only initials. As a result, patient privacy has improved and name errors have become less common.
Which description best fits how the passage is organized?
A. A comparison of two clinics that use different methods to check in patients
B. A problem with an older check-in method, then a solution and its results
C. A list of steps that a patient follows in order to check in at a clinic
D. A definition of a clinic term followed by several examples of its use
Show the answer and rationale
Correct answer: B. A problem with an older check-in method, then a solution and its results
Text structure is the pattern an author uses to organize ideas. This passage describes problems with paper sign-in sheets (privacy and unclear handwriting), introduces tablet check-in as the solution, and ends with the results.
A: The passage compares an older method with a newer one over time, not two different clinics.
C: The passage does not give a sequence of steps for patients.
D: No term is defined and then illustrated with examples.
Question 6 · Reading: Craft and Structure - word meaning in context
Read the sentence: "Although the emergency department was chaotic, the charge nurse remained composed and gave clear instructions to each team." As used in the sentence, what does the word "composed" most nearly mean?
A. Calm and in control
B. Made up of several parts
C. Written in an organized form
D. Moving quickly
Show the answer and rationale
Correct answer: A. Calm and in control
Context clues show the meaning. The word "although" signals a contrast with the chaotic department, and the nurse still gave clear instructions, so "composed" means calm and self-controlled.
B: This is a different meaning of composed (consisting of parts) and does not fit a person's manner here.
C: This meaning applies to writing, not to a nurse's behavior.
D: Moving quickly does not contrast with chaos and is not suggested by the sentence.
The student council has proposed a free campus shuttle that would run from the library to the residence halls between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. Council members argue that the shuttle is needed because students who study late should not have to walk across campus alone at night. They also note that the university already runs a daytime shuttle for the science buildings. The proposal will be discussed at the next meeting of the university's budget committee, where the council will present its case.
Which additional piece of evidence would most strengthen the council's argument for the late-night shuttle?
A. The student council has 14 members and meets every other week to review new proposals from students.
B. The daytime science shuttle was added three years ago and is very popular with science majors.
C. The library recently bought new study chairs and repainted the main reading room this fall.
D. A survey found most students leaving the library after 10 p.m. walk alone over half a mile.
Show the answer and rationale
Correct answer: D. A survey found most students leaving the library after 10 p.m. walk alone over half a mile.
Evidence strengthens an argument when it directly supports the claim. The council argues that students should not have to walk far alone at night, so survey data about students walking alone after 10 p.m. relates directly to that safety concern.
A: The size of the council does not show that a shuttle is needed.
B: The history of the daytime shuttle does not address late-night safety.
C: New chairs have no connection to the need for transportation.
Question 8 · Reading: Integration of Knowledge and Ideas - using a schedule
Riverside Community Clinic: Weekly Services
Service | Days | Hours
Walk-in care | Mon, Wed, Fri | 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Vaccination clinic | Tue, Thu | 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Blood pressure checks | Mon through Fri | 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Nutrition counseling (appointment only) | Thu | 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The clinic is closed on weekends and federal holidays. Patients with appointments should arrive 15 minutes early to complete paperwork. Walk-in patients are seen in order of arrival, except that urgent problems are seen first.
A patient wants to get a vaccination and a blood pressure check on the same day. Which plan fits the clinic's schedule?
A. Monday: blood pressure check at 12:30 p.m. and vaccination at 2:00 p.m.
B. Wednesday: vaccination at 3:00 p.m. and blood pressure check at 12:15 p.m.
C. Tuesday: blood pressure check at 12:15 p.m. and vaccination at 1:15 p.m.
D. Friday: vaccination at 10:00 a.m. and blood pressure check at 12:30 p.m.
Show the answer and rationale
Correct answer: C. Tuesday: blood pressure check at 12:15 p.m. and vaccination at 1:15 p.m.
Blood pressure checks are offered 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. on weekdays, and vaccinations only on Tuesday and Thursday from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Only Tuesday at 12:15 p.m. followed by 1:15 p.m. satisfies both, since both times fall within the listed hours on a vaccination day.
A: No vaccinations are given on Monday.
B: No vaccinations are given on Wednesday.
D: No vaccinations are given on Friday, and 10:00 a.m. is before vaccination hours.
Question 9 · Reading: Integration of Knowledge and Ideas - using a schedule
Riverside Community Clinic: Weekly Services
Service | Days | Hours
Walk-in care | Mon, Wed, Fri | 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Vaccination clinic | Tue, Thu | 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Blood pressure checks | Mon through Fri | 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Nutrition counseling (appointment only) | Thu | 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The clinic is closed on weekends and federal holidays. Patients with appointments should arrive 15 minutes early to complete paperwork. Walk-in patients are seen in order of arrival, except that urgent problems are seen first.
How many more hours per week is walk-in care available than the vaccination clinic?
A. 2
B. 4
C. 6
D. 8
Show the answer and rationale
Correct answer: B. 4
Walk-in care runs 4 hours (8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.) on 3 days, or 12 hours per week. The vaccination clinic runs 4 hours (1:00 to 5:00 p.m.) on 2 days, or 8 hours. The difference is 12 - 8 = 4 hours.
A: Does not equal 12 - 8; it would require a different count of hours.
C: Does not equal 12 - 8.
D: 8 is the total weekly vaccination hours, not the difference.
Question 10 · Reading: Integration of Knowledge and Ideas - comparing two passages
Text 1: Telehealth visits allow patients to see a clinician by video from home. Supporters point out that patients save travel time, avoid missing work, and are more likely to attend follow-up visits. For people who live far from a clinic, video visits may be the only practical way to receive regular care. Many patients also say they feel more relaxed talking about their health in a familiar setting.
Text 2: Telehealth has limits. Through a screen, a clinician cannot listen to a patient's lungs, feel an abdomen, or closely examine a wound. Some patients also lack a reliable internet connection or a private space for the visit. For these reasons, many health systems use telehealth for routine follow-up appointments and schedule in-person visits for problems that need a physical exam.
Which statement best describes how the two texts differ?
A. Text 1 emphasizes the benefits of telehealth, while Text 2 emphasizes its limitations.
B. Text 1 describes how telehealth works, while Text 2 gives a history of telehealth.
C. Text 1 criticizes telehealth, while Text 2 praises it.
D. Text 1 is about patients, while Text 2 is about clinicians' pay.
Show the answer and rationale
Correct answer: A. Text 1 emphasizes the benefits of telehealth, while Text 2 emphasizes its limitations.
Text 1 lists advantages (saved travel time, access for distant patients, comfort). Text 2 lists drawbacks (no physical exam, limited internet access, privacy) and a way systems respond to them.
B: Text 2 does not give a history of telehealth.
C: This reverses the texts; Text 1 is supportive and Text 2 points out limits.
Question 11 · Reading: Integration of Knowledge and Ideas - comparing two passages
Text 1: Telehealth visits allow patients to see a clinician by video from home. Supporters point out that patients save travel time, avoid missing work, and are more likely to attend follow-up visits. For people who live far from a clinic, video visits may be the only practical way to receive regular care. Many patients also say they feel more relaxed talking about their health in a familiar setting.
Text 2: Telehealth has limits. Through a screen, a clinician cannot listen to a patient's lungs, feel an abdomen, or closely examine a wound. Some patients also lack a reliable internet connection or a private space for the visit. For these reasons, many health systems use telehealth for routine follow-up appointments and schedule in-person visits for problems that need a physical exam.
With which statement would the authors of both texts most likely agree?
A. Telehealth is usually the best way to evaluate a wound.
B. Telehealth is often a poor choice for patients who live far from a clinic.
C. Telehealth is generally the right setting for problems that need a physical exam.
D. Telehealth can be a good option for routine follow-up care.
Show the answer and rationale
Correct answer: D. Telehealth can be a good option for routine follow-up care.
Text 1 says patients are more likely to attend follow-up visits by video. Text 2 says many systems use telehealth for routine follow-up appointments. Both therefore support telehealth for follow-up care, even though Text 2 stresses its limits.
A: Text 2 says a clinician cannot examine a wound through a screen, so it would not agree.
B: Text 1 says video visits may be the only practical way for distant patients to receive regular care, so it would not agree.
C: Text 2 says problems needing a physical exam call for in-person visits, so it would not agree.
Question 12 · Reading: Craft and Structure - fact and opinion
Which of the following statements about a community clinic is an opinion?
A. The clinic first opened its doors in the year 2018.
B. The waiting room has 24 chairs along the walls.
C. The clinic's staff is the friendliest in the county.
D. Most appointments at the clinic last about 20 minutes each.
Show the answer and rationale
Correct answer: C. The clinic's staff is the friendliest in the county.
A fact can be checked or measured, while an opinion expresses a personal judgment. Whether staff is the "friendliest" depends on feelings and cannot be verified, whereas the opening year, chair count, and appointment length can be checked.
A: The opening year can be verified from records.
B: The number of chairs can be counted.
D: Appointment length can be measured from records.
Decide whether the question asks for a stated detail, the main idea, or an inference. Locate the supporting sentence or relationship in the passage. An answer that sounds reasonable from outside knowledge still needs support from the text.
