The solar panels TEAS passage covers the history of White House solar installations from Carter to Obama. This reading comprehension section tests your ability to identify main ideas, detect bias, make inferences, and understand the author’s purpose through a 45-year timeline of environmental policy decisions.
What Is the Solar Panels TEAS Passage About?
The TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) reading section includes 53 questions you’ll answer in 55 minutes. The solar panels passage is a recurring topic that traces presidential decisions about renewable energy at the White House.
You’ll read about three key moments. President Jimmy Carter installed 32 solar panels on the White House roof in 1979, calling them “a small part of one of the greatest and most exciting adventures ever undertaken by the American People.” President Reagan removed those panels during roof repairs in 1986 and never replaced them. President Barack Obama reinstalled solar technology in 2010 as part of his environmental agenda.
This passage appears on nursing entrance exams because it tests critical thinking skills you’ll use daily in healthcare. You need to separate facts from opinions, understand cause and effect, and make evidence-based conclusions—the same skills required when reading patient charts or medical research.
The passage runs 200-300 words. Questions focus on comprehension, not solar technology knowledge. You’re evaluated on reading accuracy, not science expertise.
Breaking Down the Passage Content
The main theme centers on how presidential priorities shape national symbols. The White House solar panels represent shifting attitudes toward renewable energy over four decades.
Key dates anchor your understanding. In 1979, Carter responded to the oil crisis by installing panels as a symbolic gesture toward energy independence. Seven years later, in 1986, Reagan’s administration removed them, with reports suggesting his team prioritized other issues over renewable energy visibility. Obama’s 2010 reinstallation marked a return to environmental messaging.
Pay attention to Carter’s quote. He framed solar energy as an “adventure” for Americans, suggesting a forward-thinking vision. This language contrasts with Reagan’s passive approach (removal without replacement) and Obama’s active environmental focus.
The passage includes both objective facts (dates, actions) and subjective language (describing Carter as “ahead of his time”). Your job is to distinguish between verifiable information and interpretive statements.
Common Question Types for This Passage
Main Idea Questions
These ask what the passage is primarily about. Wrong answers often focus on minor details or make claims too broad for the text.
Sample format: “Which of the following best describes the primary purpose of this passage?”
Strategy: The main idea connects all paragraphs. For this passage, it’s not “solar panel technology” (too specific) or “presidential history” (too broad). The correct answer discusses how different presidents approached renewable energy policy through White House installations.
Read the first and last sentences of each paragraph first. Main ideas usually appear there.
Inference Questions
You’ll draw conclusions not explicitly stated but supported by evidence.
Example: “Which of the following inferences can be made about President Carter?” The passage doesn’t say “Carter was ahead of his time,” but his 1979 actions and enthusiastic quote, combined with the passage’s tone about later resistance to solar energy, support this inference.
Tips for inference questions:
- Your answer must be supported by passage details
- Avoid bringing outside knowledge into your reasoning
- Choose the inference requiring the fewest assumptions
- Wrong answers often make logical leaps that the text doesn’t support
Biased Language Questions
These test your ability to spot subjective or loaded language versus neutral reporting.
Biased language reveals the author’s opinion through word choice. In the solar panels passage, describing Obama’s decision as part of his “administration’s focus on environmental issues” is relatively neutral. But if the passage said he “finally” installed panels or used words like “wisely” or “unfortunately,” that’s bias.
Look for:
- Adjectives that show judgment (forward-thinking, misguided, impressive)
- Adverbs that add opinion (wisely, foolishly, remarkably)
- Phrases suggesting value judgments
- Comparisons that favor one side
Objective statements stick to verifiable facts: “Obama installed solar panels in 2010.” Subjective statements add interpretation: “Obama’s enlightened leadership brought solar power back to the White House.”
Step-by-Step Strategy to Answer Questions
Start by reading the questions before the passage. This primes your brain for what matters. You’ll know whether to watch for dates, focus on tone, or track cause-and-effect relationships.
Skim the passage for structure. Note where transitions occur and where key information clusters. The solar panels passage follows chronological order, so dates create natural sections.
Eliminate obviously wrong answers first. TEAS uses distractor answers that seem right at first glance. Cross out choices that contradict the passage, make extreme claims, or introduce information not mentioned in the text.
Find evidence for your answer in the passage. Never rely on memory alone. Put your finger on the sentence that supports your choice. If you can’t point to supporting text, reconsider your answer.
Watch your time. You get roughly 62 seconds per question. If you’re stuck after 90 seconds, mark it and move on. Return to difficult questions after finishing easier ones.
Practice Questions With Explanations
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of this passage?
A) To explain how solar panels work B) To argue for renewable energy adoption C) To describe changing presidential attitudes toward solar energy D) To criticize Reagan’s environmental policies
Answer: C
Explanation: The passage tracks three presidents’ actions regarding White House solar panels across 45 years. It doesn’t explain solar technology (A), doesn’t argue for adoption (B), and while it mentions Reagan’s removal, it doesn’t criticize him directly (D). The focus is descriptive, not persuasive.
Question 2: Which of the following sentences contains biased language?
A) “Carter installed 32 solar panels in 1979.” B) “Reagan removed the panels during roof repairs in 1986.” C) “Obama wisely reinstalled solar technology in 2010.” D) “The panels represented a shift in environmental policy.”
Answer: C
Explanation: “Wisely” is a judgment word revealing the author’s opinion. The other options state facts or use neutral descriptive language. This question format is common—you’ll often see one obviously biased choice among neutral statements.
Question 3: Based on the passage, which inference about Carter is most supported?
A) He was an expert in solar technology. B) He viewed solar energy as symbolically important. C) He installed the most solar panels of any president.t D) He regretted his decision later
Answer: B
Explanation: Carter’s quote about the panels being part of “one of the greatest adventures” suggests symbolic importance. The passage doesn’t mention his technical expertise (A), compare panel quantities (C), or discuss regret (D). Strong inferences need direct textual support.
Question 4: Why does the passage mention the 1986 roof repairs?
A) To explain why Reagan removed the panels. B) To criticize building maintenance practices. C) To show solar panels require extensive upkeep. D) To argue for better White House infrastructure
Answer: A
Explanation: The passage states Reagan removed panels “during roof repairs,” providing context for the removal without making judgments about maintenance, solar upkeep, or infrastructure needs. Detailed questions like this test whether you understand cause and purpose.
Key Facts to Memorize
Lock these details into memory before test day:
- 1979: Carter installs 32 solar panels
- 1986: Reagan removes panels during roof repairs
- 2010: Obama reinstates solar technology
- Carter’s quote: Called panels “a small part of one of the greatest and most exciting adventures”
- Main theme: Presidential approaches to renewable energy symbolism
- Passage type: Informational/historical, chronological structure
- Time span: 31 years from installation to reinstallation
Memory trick: “Carter Created, Reagan Removed, Obama Opened again” (3 C’s, R’s, O’s match decades: 70s, 80s, 2010s).
The passage emphasizes actions over technology. Focus on who did what and when, not how solar panels function.
Why This Passage Appears on the TEAS
The ATI TEAS exam prepares you for health science programs where reading comprehension directly impacts patient care. You’ll encounter medical journals, treatment protocols, and patient histories that require the same skills this passage tests.
Environmental policy passages teach you to analyze complex topics with multiple viewpoints. In nursing, you’ll read conflicting research studies and must identify which claims have evidence backing them.
Bias detection matters in healthcare. Medical literature sometimes contains subtle bias in how treatments are described or which patient populations get studied. Recognizing loaded language helps you evaluate sources critically.
Inference questions mirror clinical reasoning. You’ll often work with incomplete information, making educated conclusions based on available evidence—exactly what this passage practices.
The TEAS doesn’t expect subject expertise. Whether the passage discusses solar panels, historical events, or scientific processes, you’re tested on reading skills, not background knowledge. This levels the playing field for students from all educational backgrounds.
Study Tips for TEAS Reading Success
Practice with diverse passage types weekly. The TEAS includes informational, persuasive, and narrative texts. Read one of each type daily, timing yourself at 3-4 minutes per passage with questions.
Build your reading speed without sacrificing comprehension. Start by reading passages at a comfortable pace while tracking every detail. Gradually increase speed, checking your understanding with questions afterward. Your goal: 200-250 words per minute with 80%+ accuracy.
Use official ATI practice tests before unofficial resources. ATI’s question style is distinct. Third-party materials help with general skills but may not match actual test patterns.
Study in 25-minute focused blocks. Your brain retains more with short, intense sessions than marathon cramming. Take 5-minute breaks between sessions. Complete 3-4 blocks daily in the two weeks before your test.
Create a wrong-answer journal. When you miss practice questions, write down why. Did you misread? Make an unsupported inference? Fall for a distractor? Patterns in your mistakes reveal what to strengthen.
Read actively with a pencil. Underline key dates, circle transition words, and put stars next to main ideas. Physical engagement improves retention and speeds up finding evidence for answers.
Test-day time management: Spend 60 seconds reading the passage, 40 seconds per question, and save 10 minutes at the end for review. If you finish early, recheck questions you marked as uncertain.
The night before your test, review your key facts list, but don’t cram new material. Your brain needs rest more than one additional practice passage.
The solar panels TEAS passage tests fundamental reading skills through accessible content. You don’t need environmental science knowledge or political expertise—just the ability to read carefully, think logically, and support your answers with evidence.
Focus on what the passage explicitly states before making inferences. Distinguish between neutral reporting and biased language. Connect supporting details to main ideas. These skills will serve you throughout nursing school and your healthcare career.
Your TEAS score opens doors to nursing programs. This passage is one small piece of that bigger goal. Approach it methodically, practice consistently, and trust the strategies that work. You’re building skills that matter far beyond test day.
