TEAS Reading · Practice Question

    Reading: Sequence of Events: TEAS Practice Question with Answer & Explanation

    An original TEAS 7-style reading practice question, written for nursing-school applicants — with a full breakdown of every answer choice.

    Question

    Read the following passage: "As Maya finalized the quarterly report, a faint, acrid scent of ozone and burning plastic wafted toward her desk. She immediately saved her progress and shut down her desktop computer to prevent any potential electrical short. Standing up, she stared at the wall-mounted fire extinguisher for a moment, debating whether to deploy it; however, she decided it was safer to exit the building instead. She bypassed the elevators and hurried toward the concrete emergency staircase at the end of the hall." Which of the following correctly describes the chronological sequence of events as they appear in the passage?

    • A.Maya first contacted the IT department, then she smelled an electrical odor, and finally she evacuated using the freight elevator.
    • B.Maya first noted a burning scent, then she powered down her workstation, and finally she paused to consider using the fire extinguisher before heading to the staircase.
      Correct
    • C.Maya first heard the fire alarm, then she gathered her personal belongings, and finally she assisted a coworker in the hallway.
    • D.Maya first unplugged her monitor, then she smelled a metallic odor, and finally she triggered the manual fire alarm switch next to the door.

    Correct answer: B. Correctly identify the order of events in a narrative by distinguishing between what is mentioned in the text and what is inferred.

    Understanding Chronological Order on the TEAS

    On the ATI TEAS 7 Reading section, a common question type asks you to identify the correct sequence of events. This requires "close reading," where you must distinguish between the order in which events are written and the order in which they actually happened in the story.

    Why Choice B is Correct

    Choice B accurately reflects the progression of the narrative:

    1. "Maya first noted a burning scent": The passage begins with her smelling ozone and burning plastic.
    2. "then she powered down her workstation": Following the scent, she saved her work and shut down the computer.
    3. "finally she paused to consider using the fire extinguisher before heading to the staircase": After standing up, she "debated" (considered) using the extinguisher but then headed for the stairs.

    Analysis of Incorrect Options

    • Choice A: This is incorrect because Maya never contacted IT. While "electrical odor" is correct, she avoided the elevator and headed for the staircase instead.
    • Choice C: This is incorrect because the passage never mentions a fire alarm or gathering personal belongings. These are "outside" facts that your brain might fill in during a fire scenario, but they are not in the text.
    • Choice D: This is incorrect because she shut down the computer after smelling the scent, not before. Additionally, the passage does not mention her pulling a manual fire alarm.

    TEAS Concept: Drawing Inferences and Sequence

    When tackling these questions, look for transition words or logical cause-and-effect.

    • Sequential markers: Words like "finally," "after," "next," or "immediately."
    • Action verbs: Focus on what the character does (smelled, saved, shut down, debated, bypassed).

    Memory Tip for Nursing Students

    Think of sequencing like an Emergency Room Triage. You must assess the patient (scent), intervene (shut down computer), and then decide on the next level of care (evacuate). If you get the steps out of order, the outcome changes. When reading TEAS passages, visualize the character moving through the room to keep the timeline straight in your mind.

    Quick study tip: Always look for transition words like 'after,' 'subsequently,' or 'following' to help pinpoint the exact timeline of a narrative passage.

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