Reading and Drawing Conclusions Practice Test (page 3)

Reading and Drawing Conclusions Practice Test

Today, you'll practice concepts covered in these Study Guides:

• Finding the Implied Main Idea Help
• Assuming Causes and Predicting Effects Help
• Emotional Versus Logical Appeals Help
• Finding Meaning in Literature Help

If this seems like a monumental task, don't worry: It isn't. You've already mastered some of these skills and should be very comfortable with the others. In fact, you will probably be surprised at how easy you find this exercise to be.

Practice Passage

Are you ready? Read the following essay. Remember, read actively and make observations in the space provided on the next page. Then answer the questions that follow. This will give you a chance to see how well your reading skills are coming along.

Although many companies offer tuition reimbursement, most companies reimburse employees only for classes that are relevant to their positions. This is a very limiting policy. A company that reimburses employees for all college credit courses—whether job related or not—offers a service not only to the employees, but to the entire company.

One good reason for giving employees unconditional tuition reimbursement is that it shows the company's dedication to its employees. In today's economy, where job security is a thing of the past and employees feel more and more expendable, it is important for a company to demonstrate to its employees that it cares. The best way to do this is with concrete investments in them.

In turn, this dedication to the betterment of company employees will create greater employee loyalty. A company that puts out funds to pay for the education of its employees will get its money back by having employees stay with the company longer. It will reduce employee turnover, because even employees who don't take advantage of the tuition reimbursement program will be more loyal to their company, just knowing that their company cares enough to pay for their education.

Most importantly, the company that has an unrestricted tuition reimbursement program will have higher quality employees. Although these companies do indeed run the risk of losing money on employees who go on to another job in a different company as soon as they get their degree, more often than not, the employee will stay with the company. And even if employees do leave after graduation, it generally takes several years to complete any degree program. Thus, even if the employee leaves upon graduating, throughout those years, the employer will have a more sophisticated, more intelligent, and therefore more valuable and productive employee. And, if the employee stays, that education will doubly benefit the company: Not only is the employee more educated, but now that employee can be promoted so the company doesn't have to fill a high-level vacancy from the outside. Open positions can be filled by people who already know the company well.

Though unconditional tuition reimbursement requires a significant investment on the employer's part, it is perhaps one of the wisest investments a company can make.

Questions

1. According to the practice passage, the most important result of unrestricted tuition reimbursement is that
   1. employees are happier and work harder.
   2. companies with unrestricted tuition reimbursement have higher quality employees.
   3. it shows the company's dedication to its employees.
   4. employees can take fun courses such as art and film even if those courses are unrelated to their job requirements.
2. How, according to the passage, will unconditional tuition reimbursement reduce employee turnover?
   1. by making employees more loyal
   2. by paying employees more money
   3. by promoting education
3. The first sentence of the passage, "Although many companies offer tuition reimbursement, most companies reimburse employees only for classes that are relevant to their positions," is
   1. fact.
   2. opinion.
4. The second sentence of the passage, "This is a very limiting policy," is
   1. fact.
   2. opinion.
5. This passage is organized according to which of the following strategies? (Mark all that apply.)
   1. chronological order
   2. order of importance
   3. cause and effect
   4. compare and contrast
6. The point of view used in this passage is the
   1. first-person point of view.
   2. second-person point of view.
   3. third-person point of view.
7. The writer most likely chose this point of view because
   1. the writer is describing a personal experience.
   2. it enables readers to identify with the situation.
   3. its objectivity encourages the reader to take the writer's ideas seriously.
8. The writer most likely uses the word wisest in the last sentence, rather than words such as profitable, practical, or beneficial, because
   1. wisdom is associated with education, the subject of the essay.
   2. the writer is trying to appeal to people who are already highly educated.
   3. the writer believes tuition reimbursement is a good choice even though it does not benefit companies.
9. Which logical conclusion can be reached after reading the passage?
   1. Unrestricted tuition reimbursement is a big expense.
   2. Some companies like to educate their employees.
   3. Companies benefit greatly by offering unrestricted tuition reimbursement.
   4. Employees are motivated only by benefit programs such as unrestricted tuition reimbursement.
10. The passage suggests that, compared to employees of companies that offer unconditional tuition reimbursement, employees of companies that do not offer this benefit are
    1. less loyal.
    2. more likely to be promoted.
    3. not as smart.
11. Expendable (paragraph 2) most nearly means
    1. expensive.
    2. flexible.
    3. replaceable.
12. The writer appeals primarily to the reader's
    1. emotions.
    2. sense of logic.
    3. senses.
13. The main idea of the passage is that
    1. companies should reimburse employees for work-related courses.
    2. both companies and employees would benefit from unconditional tuition reimbursement.
    3. companies should require their employees to take college courses.