Paragraph Comprehension (PC) AFQT

Honeybees do more than make honey. As they move from flower to flower gathering nectar, they carry pollen with them, allowing plants to produce fruit and seeds. Without this steady work, many of the crops that people depend on would fail to grow. What is the main idea of this passage?

1. Honeybees are valuable because they help plants reproduce, not just because they make honey.
2. Honeybees prefer flowers that produce the sweetest nectar.
3. Most crops can grow perfectly well without any insects.
4. Making honey is the most important thing bees do for people.

The passage opens by saying bees do more than make honey and then explains how they help plants produce fruit and seeds. That broader role is the main idea.

The lighthouse keeper climbed the spiral stairs every evening at dusk to light the great lamp. On stormy nights he stayed awake until dawn, watching for ships that might drift too close to the rocks. His careful attention saved many crews from disaster. According to the passage, when did the keeper light the lamp?

1. At noon each day
2. Every evening at dusk
3. Only during storms
4. Whenever a ship appeared

The passage states directly that the keeper climbed the stairs to light the lamp every evening at dusk. This is a stated detail.

Maria packed her hiking boots, a heavy coat, and a thick sleeping bag before leaving for her trip. She checked the weather report twice and added an extra pair of wool socks to her bag. What can be inferred about Maria's destination?

1. She is traveling somewhere cold.
2. She is going to a warm beach resort.
3. She plans to stay indoors the whole time.
4. She will only be gone for a few hours.

The heavy coat, thick sleeping bag, and wool socks all point to cold weather, so it is reasonable to infer her destination is cold. The passage never says this outright.

The new bridge was built to be durable, engineered to withstand decades of heavy traffic, harsh winters, and strong river currents. Its designers used reinforced steel and thick concrete so that repairs would rarely be needed. As used in this passage, the word "durable" most nearly means:

1. expensive
2. long-lasting
3. attractive
4. narrow

The passage describes the bridge as able to withstand decades of stress and rarely needing repairs, so "durable" here means long-lasting.

Some people believe that reading only one kind of book makes a person well informed, but this is a mistake. A reader who studies history, science, and poetry gains a wider view of the world than one who sticks to a single subject. Variety, not repetition, builds a truly educated mind. What is the author's main point?

1. History is the most valuable subject a person can study.
2. Reading a variety of subjects makes a person better educated than reading only one.
3. Poetry is more difficult to understand than science.
4. People should avoid reading books they do not enjoy.

The author argues that a reader who studies many subjects gains a wider view and that variety builds an educated mind. That is the central point.

During the drought, the town asked residents to limit watering their lawns and to fix any leaking pipes. Families that ignored these requests were later charged higher water rates. Within a month, the reservoir level stopped falling. Which statement is best supported by the passage?

1. The reservoir had already run completely dry.
2. The town's efforts helped slow the loss of water.
3. Residents refused to change their habits at all.
4. The drought ended because of heavy rainfall.

The passage says the town asked residents to conserve and charged higher rates, and that the reservoir stopped falling within a month, supporting that the efforts slowed water loss. Rainfall is never mentioned.