TEAS Key Ideas and Details practice questions

Main ideas, supporting details, inferences, sequences and following directions in a passage. Key Ideas and Details is 15 of the 39 scored questions in TEAS Reading.

scored questions

15

of Reading's score

38%

for all of Reading

55 min

1. Passage: Nursing Skills Lab: Open Practice Hours (show)

   1

   Students may use the lab for supervised practice during the blocks below. Reserve a station on the online calendar at least 24 hours before the block begins. Each reservation covers one two-hour block, and a student may hold no more than two reservations per week. Blocks marked with an asterisk (*) include use of the injection trainer; the other blocks do not.

   2

   Monday: 9–11 a.m. and 1–3 p.m.*; supervisor Mr. Dalal. Wednesday: 9–11 a.m.*, 11 a.m.–1 p.m., and 3–5 p.m.; supervisor Ms. Ferreira. Friday: 1–3 p.m.* and 3–5 p.m.; supervisor Mr. Dalal. Saturday: 10 a.m.–12 p.m.; supervisor Ms. Ferreira.

   3

   A student who misses a reservation without canceling at least four hours ahead cannot reserve any blocks the following week. The final skills check-off takes place in the last week of the term, and during the final two weeks of the term the limit drops from two reservations per week to one. Mr. Dalal also holds a 15-minute check-off review at the end of each of his blocks.

   01Reading · Key Ideas and DetailsWhich statement best summarizes the notice?+−

   • A. It lists when supervised practice is available and the rules for reserving and keeping blocks. (correct)
   • B. It announces a final check-off exam and explains how it will be graded.
   • C. It explains how to use the injection trainer.
   • D. It describes the teaching qualifications of the lab supervisors.

   The notice is mostly a schedule of blocks plus rules about reserving, limits, and missed reservations. The check-off is mentioned only to explain a change in the limit.

2. Passage: Lichens as Air Monitors (show)

   1

   Lichens are not single organisms but partnerships between a fungus and an alga or bacterium that live together. Because they have no roots and no waxy outer coating, lichens absorb water and dissolved substances directly from rain and air across their whole surface. This habit makes them useful as living monitors of air quality.

   2

   Sulfur dioxide, a gas released when coal and some oils are burned, dissolves in the moisture lichens take in and damages the algal partner. Species with a leafy or shrubby shape are especially sensitive and are usually the first to vanish from polluted areas. Crusty lichens that lie flat against bark tolerate more pollution and often remain even where the air is quite dirty.

   3

   Researchers use this pattern by surveying trees and noting which growth forms are present. A trunk with only crusty lichens suggests moderate to heavy pollution, one with leafy forms suggests cleaner air, and one with shrubby forms hanging from its branches suggests the cleanest air.

   4

   Surveys do have limits. They reflect long-term exposure rather than the pollution on any single day, and factors such as tree species, bark acidity, and shade can also affect which lichens grow. For that reason, scientists usually compare many trees of the same species and treat lichen surveys as a supplement to, not a replacement for, instruments that measure air directly. In one northern city, leafy lichens began reappearing on oak trunks about a decade after the last coal-fired heating plant closed.

   02Reading · Key Ideas and DetailsWhich of the following statements does the passage support? Select all that apply.+−

   • A. A tree with shrubby lichens hanging from its branches probably grows in comparatively clean air. (correct)
   • B. A survey of one tree can reveal how polluted the air was on the previous day.
   • C. Comparing several trees of the same species helps reduce the influence of bark differences on survey results. (correct)
   • D. Finding only crusty lichens on a trunk shows that the air in the area is clean.
   • E. Scientists generally use lichen surveys alongside, rather than instead of, direct air-measuring instruments. (correct)
   • F. Lichens are sensitive to pollutants mainly because a waxy coating holds sulfur dioxide against them.

   A, C, and E match the passage's statements about shrubby forms, comparing trees of the same species, and supplementing instruments. B is wrong because surveys reflect long-term exposure, D is wrong because crusty lichens suggest moderate to heavy pollution, and F is wrong because lichens lack a waxy coating.

3. Passage: Taking Your Blood Pressure at Home (show)

   1

   Before you begin: Avoid caffeine, exercise, and smoking for 30 minutes. Use the bathroom first, then sit quietly for five minutes.

   2

   Step 1. Sit in a chair with your back supported, feet flat on the floor, and legs uncrossed. Rest your arm on a table so the cuff is level with your heart.

   3

   Step 2. Roll up your sleeve; never place the cuff over clothing. Wrap the cuff around your bare upper arm so its lower edge sits about one inch above the bend of your elbow. It should be snug enough that you can slip only one finger underneath.

   4

   Step 3. Press START once. Stay still and do not talk while the cuff inflates.

   5

   Step 4. When the cuff has deflated and the monitor beeps, read the two numbers. The top number is systolic and the bottom number is diastolic. Write both down with the date and time.

   6

   Step 5. Wait one minute and repeat on the same arm. If the two systolic numbers or the two diastolic numbers differ by more than 10 points, wait another minute and take a third reading.

   7

   Step 6. If the top number is 180 or higher or the bottom number is 120 or higher, wait five minutes and check again. If either number is still at or above those levels, call your provider right away. If you also have chest pain, trouble breathing, or sudden weakness, call 911 instead of waiting.

   03Reading · Key Ideas and DetailsAccording to the instructions, what comes directly after writing down the first reading?+−

   • A. Press START again right away
   • B. Switch the cuff to the other arm
   • C. Wait five minutes and then check again
   • D. Wait one minute, then repeat on the same arm (correct)

   Step 5 says to wait one minute and repeat on the same arm. The five-minute wait applies only to very high readings in Step 6.

4. 04Reading · Key Ideas and DetailsA patient's first reading is 128/82. After waiting one minute, the second reading on the same arm is 140/86. According to the instructions, what should the patient do next?+−

   • A. Record both and stop, because the bottom numbers differ by only 4 points.
   • B. Wait another minute and take a third reading. (correct)
   • C. Wait five minutes and check again, because the top number is high.
   • D. Move the cuff to the other arm and measure at once.

   The top numbers differ by 12 points, which is more than 10, so a third reading is required even though the bottom numbers are close. Choice A ignores the rule that either number can trigger it.

5. Passage: Eastbrook Community Pool Fall Schedule (show)

   1

   Lap swim: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and again from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. No lap swim is offered on Tuesday, Thursday, or Sunday.

   2

   Water aerobics (ages 18 and older): Tuesday and Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Monday and Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Family swim: Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Sunday, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Children under 12 must be accompanied in the water by an adult.

   3

   Swim lessons: Tuesday and Thursday, 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Lessons require separate registration.

   4

   Fees: Lap swim and water aerobics cost $4 per visit. Family swim costs $3 per person, and children under 3 enter free.

   5

   Notes: The pool is closed for cleaning Monday through Friday from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. The pool is closed on all major holidays. Lockers are available at the front desk for a $1 deposit, which is refunded when the key is returned.

   05Reading · Key Ideas and DetailsAccording to the schedule, how many hours of lap swim are offered in one full week with no holidays?+−

   • A. 10.5 hours
   • B. 12 hours
   • C. 12.5 hours (correct)
   • D. 14 hours

   Each of Monday, Wednesday, and Friday has 2 + 1.5 = 3.5 hours, for 10.5 hours, and Saturday adds 2 hours, for 12.5 hours. Choice A leaves out the Saturday session.

6. Passage: Keeping Vaccines Cold (show)

   1

   Many vaccines contain fragile biological material that loses strength when it is too warm or, for some products, too cold. Because a weakened vaccine cannot be restored, health departments rely on a 'cold chain': an unbroken series of storage and transport steps that keep each vial within its required temperature range from the factory to the exam room.

   2

   Most routine vaccines must be stored between 36°F and 46°F. Clinics therefore use purpose-built refrigerators rather than household models, which cycle widely in temperature and often send the coldest air onto shelves near the freezer compartment. Vials are kept in their original boxes toward the center of the unit, away from the door, where the temperature is most stable. A few vaccines are instead kept frozen, and these must never be placed in the refrigerator section for long-term storage.

   3

   Staff check and record the temperature at the start of every workday, and many clinics add a digital data logger that records readings around the clock. The logger matters because a refrigerator can drift out of range overnight or over a weekend, when no one is watching. If a reading falls outside the allowed range, staff do not simply discard the vaccine or continue using it. They move the vials to a working unit, label them 'do not use,' and contact the manufacturer, which can say from stability data whether the doses are still usable.

   4

   Careless handling can undo months of careful transport. A vial left on a counter during a busy clinic day, for example, may be exposed long enough to lose potency without any visible change.

   06Reading · Key Ideas and DetailsWhich statement best expresses the main idea of the passage?+−

   • A. Household refrigerators are a cheaper and equally reliable choice for storing vaccines.
   • B. A vaccine that has warmed past its range can be restored by cooling it promptly.
   • C. Protecting a vaccine's strength requires proper equipment, regular monitoring, and careful handling at every step. (correct)
   • D. Digital data loggers have made daily temperature checks unnecessary in clinics.

   Every paragraph describes a way the cold chain protects vaccine strength: equipment, monitoring, and handling. Choice D is tempting, but the passage says loggers are added to daily checks, not substituted for them.

7. 07Reading · Key Ideas and DetailsWhich statement best summarizes the third paragraph (the one beginning 'Staff check and record the temperature')?+−

   • A. Clinics replace daily checks with continuous logging and discard any vaccine as soon as a reading is out of range.
   • B. Clinics check temperatures only after weekends and keep using vaccines until the manufacturer reports a problem.
   • C. Clinics depend on the manufacturer to monitor storage temperatures and warn staff when readings drift.
   • D. Clinics check temperatures every workday and often add continuous logging; when a reading is out of range, staff set the vials aside and ask the manufacturer whether the doses are usable. (correct)

   Choice D covers the daily checks, the added logger, and the response to an out-of-range reading. Choice A is partly true but wrongly says logging replaces daily checks and that vaccine is discarded immediately.

8. 08Reading · Key Ideas and DetailsWhich statements does the passage support? Select all that apply.+−

   • A. Vials kept in the refrigerator door are the most protected from temperature changes.
   • B. Household refrigerators are less suitable for vaccines partly because their temperatures cycle widely. (correct)
   • C. A vaccine that has warmed above its range can regain its strength once it is cooled again.
   • D. A data logger can reveal a temperature problem that occurred while no one was in the clinic. (correct)
   • E. A weakened vaccine will usually look cloudy or discolored.
   • F. Vaccines that are kept frozen should not be stored long term in the refrigerator section. (correct)

   The passage cites wide temperature cycling in household units, overnight drift caught by loggers, and the rule against long-term refrigerator storage of frozen vaccines. The door is described as the least stable spot, weakened vaccine cannot be restored, and potency can be lost with no visible change.

9. 09Reading · Key Ideas and DetailsA clinic's Monday morning check shows 40°F, which is in range. The data logger, however, shows the refrigerator above 46°F from late Saturday night until early Sunday morning. Which conclusion is best supported by the passage?+−

   • A. The Monday reading shows the vaccines were not affected, so they can be used as usual.
   • B. The Monday check alone would have missed the problem, and the vials should be labeled 'do not use' until the manufacturer is consulted. (correct)
   • C. Because the temperature returned to range, the vaccines have regained their strength.
   • D. The doses must be thrown away at once because any out-of-range exposure makes a vaccine unusable.

   The passage says drift can occur when no one is watching, and that out-of-range vials are set aside while the manufacturer decides whether they are usable. Choice D is tempting but overstates the passage, which says the manufacturer determines usability.

10. Passage: Portioning Food with a Digital Scale (show)

    1

    Use a scale that weighs in grams, and place it on a flat, dry surface. Press ON and wait until the display reads 0 before putting anything on the platform. Set your empty bowl on the platform. The display will show the bowl's weight. Press TARE to reset the display to 0 so that the bowl is not counted.

    2

    Add the first food slowly until the display shows your target weight. If you go over the target, remove food with a spoon until the display shows the target. Do not press TARE to correct an overshoot; pressing TARE erases the weight already in the bowl from the display, so the reading will no longer show how much food you have. To measure a second food in the same bowl, press TARE once the first food is correct, and then add the second food until the display reaches its target weight.

    3

    The scale's limit is 2,000 g. This limit applies to everything on the platform, including the bowl, even after TARE has reset the display to 0. If the display shows Err, remove items at once.

    4

    When you are finished, press OFF and wipe the platform with a slightly damp cloth. Never put the scale in water.

    10Reading · Key Ideas and DetailsOrder these actions for measuring two foods in the same bowl, from first to last, according to the instructions.+−

    Correct order:

    1. Wait until the display reads 0 with nothing on the platform.
    2. Set the empty bowl on the platform.
    3. Press TARE to reset the display with the empty bowl in place.
    4. Add the first food until the display reaches its target weight.
    5. Press TARE a second time after the first food is at its target.
    6. Add the second food until the display reaches its target weight.

    The scale must read 0 first, then the bowl goes on, then TARE, then the first food, then TARE again, and finally the second food. Pressing TARE before the first food is added is easy to confuse with the second TARE, but the first resets for the bowl and the second for the first food.

11. 11Reading · Key Ideas and DetailsA user needs 180 g of rice and then 90 g of beans in the same bowl, and the bowl has already been tared. After the rice is added, the display reads 195 g. Which action follows the instructions?+−

    • A. Press TARE, remove 15 g of rice, then add beans until the display reads 90 g.
    • B. Press TARE, then add beans until the display reads 75 g.
    • C. Remove rice with a spoon until the display reads 15 g, press TARE, then add beans until the display reads 90 g.
    • D. Remove 15 g of rice with a spoon until the display reads 180 g, press TARE, then add beans until the display reads 90 g. (correct)

    An overshoot is corrected by spoon removal, not TARE, and TARE is pressed only once the first food is correct, before the second food. Choice A uses TARE to fix the overshoot, which the instructions forbid.

Keep practicing

Sources

1. ATI: ATI TEAS exam details (sections, questions, sub-areas)

Updated November 6, 2026