Kaplan Nursing School Entrance Reading Practice Test 2026-2027 and Free Sample Questions

Read the passage and answer the question. When the river flooded each spring, farmers along its banks complained about the damage to fences and roads. Yet the same families who complained never moved to higher ground, and they planted their largest crops in the very fields the floodwaters reached. After each flood, those fields produced the richest harvests in the valley. Which conclusion can best be inferred from the passage?

Read the passage and answer the question. The new supervisor was known for her candor. When a project fell behind schedule, she did not soften the news or shift blame onto others. She told the team plainly what had gone wrong and what needed to change. Some employees found this unsettling at first, but most came to appreciate knowing exactly where they stood. As used in the passage, the word candor most nearly means

Read the passage and answer the question. Before you begin assembling the bookshelf, lay out all parts on a flat surface and count them against the included list. Confirm you have the correct screwdriver and that the room offers enough space to work. Skipping these steps is the most common reason assembly takes longer than expected. What is the author's primary purpose in this passage?

Read the passage and answer the question. Sea otters spend much of their time grooming their dense fur, which traps a layer of air against their skin. Unlike seals and whales, otters have no thick blubber to insulate them from cold ocean water. This air layer is their main defense against the cold, so anything that damages the fur, such as an oil spill, can be fatal. According to the passage, how do sea otters stay warm in cold water?

Read the passage and answer the question. The city library opened in 1925 and now holds more than 200,000 books. It is open six days a week and offers free internet access. In my view, it is the finest public building in the entire region, and everyone should visit it at least once a month. Which sentence from the passage expresses an opinion rather than a fact?

Read the passage and answer the question. After the storm passed, residents first checked their families for injuries. Once everyone was confirmed safe, they inspected their homes for structural damage. Only after the buildings were judged sound did they begin clearing debris from the yards and streets. According to the passage, what did residents do immediately after confirming their families were safe?

Read the passage and answer the question. The committee's plan was ambitious but ultimately unfeasible. They proposed building a new bridge, repaving every street, and renovating the town hall, all within a single year and on a small budget. Engineers reviewed the timeline and budget and concluded the goals simply could not be met. As used in the passage, the word unfeasible most nearly means

Read the passage and answer the question. Maria arrived at the clinic an hour before her shift began. She reviewed each patient's chart, double-checked the medication cart against the orders, and arranged supplies before her coworkers arrived. When the morning rush came, she moved through it without hesitation. What can best be inferred about Maria from the passage?

Read the passage and answer the question. Many people believe that drinking coffee dehydrates the body because caffeine acts as a mild diuretic. However, research shows that the water content of a typical cup of coffee more than offsets any small fluid loss caused by the caffeine. For most people, moderate coffee consumption contributes to daily fluid intake rather than reducing it. Which statement best expresses the main idea?

Read the passage and answer the question. The hikers underestimated the trail and brought meager supplies. They carried only a single bottle of water and a small bag of nuts for a route that took eight hours to complete. By midday they were rationing every sip and bite. As used in the passage, the word meager most nearly means

Read the passage and answer the question. The renovation of the old theater is finally complete, and the result is breathtaking. The restored ceiling glows with gold detail, the seats are plush and comfortable, and the stage gleams under new lighting. Every visitor who steps inside seems to pause in wonder. What is the author's tone in this passage?

Read the passage and answer the question. The bakery posted a sign each afternoon that read sold out by two o'clock. Customers began arriving earlier and earlier, and a line often formed before the doors opened at seven. The owner considered hiring more staff and expanding the kitchen. Which conclusion can best be inferred from the passage?

Read the passage and answer the question. The desert tortoise survives long dry periods by storing water in its bladder. It can absorb this stored water back into its body when fresh sources are unavailable. The tortoise also digs burrows that shield it from extreme surface temperatures, which can swing widely between day and night. According to the passage, where does the desert tortoise store water?

Read the passage and answer the question. Learning a second language as an adult is often described as harder than learning one in childhood. While adults may struggle more with accent and pronunciation, they bring real advantages. They can study grammar systematically, draw on their first language for comparison, and stay motivated by clear goals. With consistent effort, adult learners regularly reach a high level of fluency. Which statement best expresses the main idea?

Read the passage and answer the question. The witness gave a lucid account of the accident. She described the sequence of events clearly, named the streets involved, and noted the exact time, leaving the investigators with no confusion about what had happened. As used in the passage, the word lucid most nearly means

Read the passage and answer the question. Recycling a single aluminum can saves enough energy to power a television for three hours. Every can that ends up in a landfill instead of a recycling bin wastes that energy and the resources used to mine new aluminum. Please rinse your cans and place them in the blue bin. Small actions like this add up to a real difference. What is the author's primary purpose in this passage?

Read the passage and answer the question. The science museum lowered its admission price on Wednesday evenings. Within a month, Wednesday attendance had tripled, and the gift shop and cafe reported their busiest evenings of the week. The museum director announced that the discount would continue indefinitely. Which conclusion is best supported by the passage?

Read the passage and answer the question. Honeybees communicate the location of food through a movement called the waggle dance. A returning bee moves in a figure-eight pattern on the comb, and the angle of the dance indicates the direction of the food relative to the sun. The length of the waggle portion signals how far away the food is. According to the passage, what does the length of the waggle portion of the dance indicate?

Read the passage and answer the question. The new policy was meant to streamline the approval process. Instead of routing each request through five separate offices, applications would now go directly to a single review board. Managers expected decisions to come back in days rather than weeks. As used in the passage, the word streamline most nearly means