Directions How to Answer

Aptitude Test Topic: Reading Comprehension

Reading Comprehension questions are designed to test a wide range of abilities that are required in order to read and understand the kinds of prose commonly encountered in advanced studies.

Directions

Directions

This passage is accompanied by questions about its content. For each question, select the best answer among the five choices. Answer all questions on the basis of what the passage states or implies.

To give the answer click/tap the option alphabet for your answer choice. for correct answer green check and for wrong answer a red cross will appear along with a button to show explanation with or without video of the question answer.

Reading Comprehension: Long Passage Practice MCQ

On the surface, the conquest of the Aztec empire by Herman Cortes is one of the most amazing military accomplishments in history. With a small fighting force numbering in the hundreds, Cortes led the Spanish explorers into victory against an Aztec population that many believe topped 21 million. In light of such a seemingly impossible victory, the obvious question is: how did a small group of foreign fighters manage to topple one of the world's strongest, wealthiest, and most successful military empires?

Several factors led to Cortes' success. First, the Spanish exploited animosity toward the Aztecs among rival groups and convinced thousands of locals to fight. In one account of a battle, it is recorded that at least 200,000 natives fought with Cortes. Next, the Spanish possessed superior military equipment in the form of European cannons, guns, and crossbows, leading to effective and efficient disposal of Aztec defenses. For example, Spanish cannons quickly defeated large Aztec walls that had protected the empire against big and less technically advanced armies.

Despite the Spanish advantages, the Aztecs probably could have succeeded in defending their capital city of Tenochtitlan had they leveraged their incredible population base to increase their army's size and ensured that no rogue cities would ally with Cortes. In order to accomplish this later goal, Aztec leader Motecuhzoma needed to send envoys to neighboring cities telling their inhabitants about the horrors of Spanish conquest and the inevitability of Spanish betrayal.

In addition, the Aztecs should have exploited the fact that the battle was taking place on their territory. No reason existed for the Aztecs to consent to a conventional battle, which heavily favored the Spanish. Motecuhzoma's forces should have thought outside the box and allowed Cortes into the city, only to subsequently use hundreds of thousands of fighters to prevent escape and proceed in surprise "door-to-door" combat. With this type of battle, the Aztecs would have largely thwarted Spanish technological supremacy. However, in the end, the superior weaponry of the Spanish, the pent-up resentment of Aztec rivals, the failure of Aztec diplomacy, and the lack of an unconventional Aztec war plan led to one of the most surprising military outcomes in the past one thousand years.

Question Statement:

The author implies which of the following about the Aztec view toward an unconventional military confrontation of the Spanish?

The Aztecs did not consider it

The Aztecs considered it, but rejected it out of beliefs about how battles ought to be fought

The Aztecs considered this, but it was too late

The Aztecs were certain a victory could be achieved via traditional combat

The Aztecs felt the geography of Tenochtitlan did not favor this strategy

Explanation:

Correct Answer: A

The author never mentions that the Aztecs had a view toward an unconventional military conflict with the Spanish. The topic is mentioned only as the author notes that the Aztecs should have pursued this type of a confrontation with the Spanish. Further, when the author did mention unconventional combat, he prefaced it with the statement: "Motecuhzoma's forces should have thought outside the box..." Based upon these facts, our best inference is that the Aztecs did not ever consider an unconventional military confrontation with Cortes.

A.This seems to be implied in the author's suggestion that "Motecuhzoma's forces should have thought outside the box..."

B.The passage never mentions nor implies that the Aztecs considered an unconventional military confrontation with the Spanish.

C.The passage never mentions nor implies that the Aztecs considered an unconventional military confrontation with the Spanish.

D.The passage never mentions nor implies that the Aztecs were certain they could achieve victory in a traditional means.

E.The passage never mentions nor implies that the Aztecs considered an unconventional military confrontation, let alone how it would be influenced by the geography of Tenochtitlan.

Question: 3 Test: 18 of 18 Next Test

Tests

You are taking Aptitude Test No. 18

Each aptitude test is comprised of 10 except the last test which might have fewer than 10 in some topics.

You are at question (MCQ) number 3 and Test Number 18 of Reading Comprehension: Long Passage. To deal with Reading Comprehension questions, you must take lesson on the subject. In case of science and Art subjects revise your text books and in case of general aptitude topics take lessons from the topic page.

The question: The author implies which of the following about the Aztec view toward an unconventional military con .... with options: The Aztecs did not consider it , The Aztecs considered it, but rejected it out of beliefs about how battles ought to be fought , The Aztecs considered this, but it was too late , The Aztecs were certain a victory could be achieved via traditional combat can be solved with the concepts and understanding of Reading Comprehension.