ASVAB Section 8: Paragraph comprehension Exam Questions and Answers (Page: 5)

QUESTION: 21

After a series of well-publicized failures by various inventors, Orville and Wilbur Wright succeeded in flying and controlling a heavier than-air craft on December 17, 1903. The War Department, stung by its investment in a failed effort by Samuel Langley and compounded by the Wright’s own secretiveness, initially rejected the brothers’ overtures toward the government to buy the aircraft. Prevailing sentiments held that the immediate future still belonged to the balloon. In August 1908, the two brothers delivered the first Army aircraft to the U.S. Government. That the U.S. government managed to purchase an airplane was a minor miracle. For more than four years after the Wright brothers’ successful flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, the government refused to accept the fact that man had flown in a heavier than air machine.
Which of the following statements is not supported by the above passage?

The U.S. Government felt that balloons were more practical than airplanes.
The Wright Brother’s own secretiveness contributed to their problems in getting the government interested in their aircraft.
The historic flight took place on the East Coast.
It took more than six years for the Wright Brothers to interest the U.S. Government in their airplane.

Answer(s): D

Explanation:

According to the passage it took over four years for the Government to believe that anyone had flown a heavier-than-air craft.
The historic flight was in December 1903, and the Wright Brothers delivered the first aircraft to the government in August 1908, 41⁄2 years later.
All of the other statements are supported by the passage.

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QUESTION: 22

An ex-post-facto law is a law applied retroactively. Usually it makes an act illegal that was legal at the time it was performed. The U.S. Constitution prohibits ex-post-facto criminal laws, although the British Commonwealth allows them.
According to this passage, it can be assumed that _______.

ex-post-facto laws are a problem in the United States
laws applied retroactively are fair
a person could be prosecuted for an act that was not a crime when he or she did it
retroactive laws are illegal in the British Commonwealth

Answer(s): C

Explanation:

Because the U.S. Constitution prohibits these kinds of laws, Choice "ex-post-facto laws are a problem in the United States" is incorrect.
The passage doesn’t support Choice "laws applied retroactively are fair" The passage states that the British Commonwealth allows ex-post-facto laws, so Choice "retroactive laws are illegal in the British Commonwealth" is incorrect.

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QUESTION: 23

Troy weight is based on a pound of 12 ounces and an ounce of 480 grains. Common, or avoirdupois, weight is based on a pound having 16 ounces and an ounce having 437.5 grains. A common pound has 7,000 grains while a troy pound has 5,760.
According to this passage, ______________.

a troy pound is smaller than a common pound
a troy pound and a common pound are the same weight
common weight and avoirdupois weight are different measures
a troy ounce is smaller than a common ounce

Answer(s): A

Explanation:

The passage describes how troy and common weights are different, so Choice "a troy pound and a common pound are the same weight" is incorrect.
Common and avoirdupois are the same system, so Choice "common weight and avoirdupois weight are different measures" is incorrect.
A troy ounce is larger than a common ounce, so Choice "a troy ounce is smaller than a common ounce" is incorrect.

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QUESTION: 24

Good leaders get involved in their subordinates’ careers. People merely obey arbitrary commands and orders, but they respond quickly and usually give extra effort for leaders who genuinely care for them. An often neglected leadership principle in today’s environment of technology and specialization is knowing the workers and showing sincere interest in their problems, career development, and welfare. Leadership is reflected in the degree of efficiency, productivity, morale, and motivation demonstrated by subordinates. Leadership involvement is the key ingredient to maximizing worker performance.
A key leadership principle that’s often ignored is _________.

leading by example
showing sincere interest in the problems of the workers
ensuring workers have access to the most modern technology
maximizing worker performance

Answer(s): B

Explanation:

The passage doesn’t address leading by example or use of technology by workers, so Choices "leading by example" and "ensuring workers have access to the most modern technology" would be incorrect.
Maximizing worker performance is a result of leadership involvement, not a principle of leadership, making Choice "maximizing worker performance" incorrect.
The correct answer is found in the third sentence of the passage.

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QUESTION: 25

Leukemia is a blood disease in which white blood cells in the blood or bone marrow reproduce rapidly, interfering with the body’s ability to produce red blood cells. Red blood cells are needed to perform vital bodily functions.
According to this passage, __________________.

white blood cells perform no vital function in the body
no treatment for leukemia exists
leukemia makes it hard for the body to produce red blood cells
white blood cells are found only in the blood

Answer(s): C

Explanation:

The passage doesn’t support Choices "white blood cells perform no vital function in the body" or "no treatment for leukemia exists."
The passage states that white blood cells are found in blood and bone marrow, so Choice "white blood cells are found only in the blood" is wrong.

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Test Prep ASVAB Section 8: Paragraph comprehension Exam (page: 5) Test Prep ASVAB Section Eight : Paragraph comprehension Updated on: 09-Feb-2026

QUESTION: 21

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QUESTION: 22

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QUESTION: 23

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QUESTION: 24

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QUESTION: 25

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Test Prep ASVAB Section 8: Paragraph comprehension Exam (page: 5)
Test Prep ASVAB Section Eight : Paragraph comprehension
Updated on: 09-Feb-2026