VCLA Practice Questions (2026) — Free Sample Questions with Answers

Answer: B

20 percent: This divides the increase of 300 by the 2022 value (1,500) instead of the starting value.

25 percent: Correct. The increase is 1,500 − 1,200 = 300, and 300 ÷ 1,200 = 0.25, or 25 percent.

30 percent: This treats the increase of 300 students as if it were 30 percent without dividing by the starting value.

300 percent: 300 is the number of additional students, not a percent change.

Percent change = (new − original) ÷ original × 100; always divide by the starting value.

Answer: C

the year solar panels were first sold commercially: The history of solar technology has no bearing on whether panels would lower bills for new homes today.

whether residents prefer tile or metal roofing: Roofing style preferences do not address the argument's claim about electricity costs.

how installation costs compare with bill savings: Correct. The argument rests on financial benefit to residents, so whether savings outweigh the added cost directly tests it.

how many electric cars are registered locally: Electric car ownership might affect usage, but it does not test whether required panels would save residents money overall.

Relevant evidence bears directly on the argument's stated reason; ask what fact would most strengthen or weaken that specific link.

Answer: B

Congress was slow to pass laws in response to new technology.: The 1918 law is a closing detail; the passage does not discuss Congress's response to technology in general.

Railroads' scheduling needs drove the adoption of standard time zones.: Correct. The passage explains the problem local solar time created for railroads and how railroads responded by adopting time zones.

Setting clocks by the sun was more accurate than using time zones.: The passage never compares accuracy, and it presents solar time as a source of confusion.

Travelers on horseback rarely needed to know the exact local time.: This is a supporting detail used for contrast, not the point of the whole passage.

The main idea connects the problem, the cause, and the outcome the passage traces; single details are too narrow.

Answer: A

My brother and I were hoping to visit the museum, but it was closed for renovations.: Correct. It uses the subject pronoun "I," the plural verb "were" for a compound subject, and "but" to fix the comma splice.

My brother and I was hoping to visit the museum, but it was closed for renovations.: This fixes the pronoun and comma splice, but the compound subject still needs the plural verb "were."

Me and my brother were hoping to visit the museum, but it was closed for renovations.: This fixes agreement and the comma splice, but "me" cannot serve as a subject.

My brother and I were hoping to visit the museum, it was closed for some renovations.: This fixes the pronoun and verb but leaves the comma splice joining two independent clauses.

On revision items, check every error type in turn: pronoun case, subject-verb agreement, and how clauses are joined.

Answer: D

The committee released its final report on Monday.: "Its" correctly refers to the committee acting as a single unit.

Neither of the boys remembered to bring his jacket.: "Neither" is singular, so the singular "his" agrees with it.

After the students and I finished, the teacher thanked us.: "I" is correct as part of the subject, and "us" is correct as the object of "thanked."

When Maria spoke with her aunt, she said the trip was off.: Correct. "She" could refer to Maria or to her aunt, so the pronoun reference is ambiguous.

A pronoun must clearly refer to one antecedent and agree with it in number; if two nouns could fit, rewrite with a noun.

Answer: B

Spanish is the second most widely spoken language in the United States.: This is a fact about one language, but it does not show a benefit of learning a second language.

Studies link bilingualism to stronger skill in switching between tasks.: Correct. It gives a specific, non-travel benefit, directly supporting the claim in the topic sentence.

Many travelers carry phrasebooks when they visit foreign countries.: This focuses on travel, the very area the topic sentence says the benefits go beyond.

Some language classes meet in the evening for adults who work all day.: Class schedules are a logistical detail, not a benefit of knowing a language.

Development sentences should provide specific evidence for the exact claim in the topic sentence.