501 Critical Reading Questions

501 Critical Reading Questions 501 Critical Reading Questions NEW YORK ® Copyright © 2004 LearningExpress, LLC. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. Published in the United States by LearningExpress, LLC, New York. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data: 501 critical reading questions.—1st ed. p. cm. ISBN 1-57685-510-4 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Reading (Secondary)—Examinations, questions, etc. 2. Reading comprehension— Examinations, questions, etc. 3. Readers (Secondary) I. Title: Five hundred one critical reading questions. II. Title: Five hundred and one critical reading questions. III. LearningExpress (Organization) LB1632.A16 2004 428.4'07'12—dc22 2004001114 Printed in the United States of America 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 First Edition ISBN 1-57685-510-4 For more information or to place an order, contact LearningExpress at: 55 Broadway 8th Floor New York, NY 10006 Or visit us at: www.learnatest.com The LearningExpress Skill Builder in Focus Writing Team is comprised of experts in test preparation, as well as educators and teachers who specialize in language arts. LearningExpress Skill Builder in Focus Writing Team Marco A. Annunziata Freelance Writer New York, New York Elizabeth Chesla English Instructor Language Arts Expert Harleysville, Pennsylvania Brigit Dermott Freelance Writer English Tutor, New York Cares New York, New York Margaret Muirhead Freelance Writer Arlington, Massachusetts Patricia Mulrane Freelance Writer New York, New York Lauren Starkey Freelance Reference Writer Essex, Vermont C Reed Test Preparation Expert Burbank, California Introduction ix 1 Popular Culture 1 2 U.S. History and Politics 27 3 Arts and Humanities 59 4 Health and Medicine 87 5 Literature and Literary Criticism 121 6 Music 155 7 Science and Nature 181 8 Sports and Leisure 211 9 Social Studies 245 Source Materials 267 Contents vii Why Should I Use this Book? Schools and employers know that students and workers who reason criti- cally about what they read are better students and more valuable employ- ees. That is why standardized tests almost invariably include a reading comprehension section. This book is designed to help you be a more successful critical reader. You are probably most interested in performing well on a standardized test such as the SAT, ACT, or a vocational or professional exam. By reading and working through 501 Critical Reading Questions you will become much more proficient at answering the multiple-choice questions found on those tests. The benefits you gain from this practice and from your conscious attention to critical reasoning skills will extend far beyond any exam and into all aspects of your life. Reading will become a much more rewarding and enjoyable experience, and your life will be richer for it. What Is in this Book? Each of the chapters in this book focuses on a different subject matter, so regardless of the exact exam you need to prepare for, there will be content similar to material you will face on your exam. However, it’s important that Introduction ix you practice with all the passages, not just the ones in your areas of inter- est. Sometimes unfamiliar subjects can teach you the most valuable lessons about critical reading. Each chapter contains three short reading passages, similar to the ones found on many exams, including the SAT. There are also six longer pas- sages, two of which are paired for purposes of comparison. Passages in Chapter One deal with popular culture and current events. History and politics are covered in Chapter Two. Chapter Three’s passages focus on the humanities—they are drawn from fields such as mythology, philosophy, and the arts. Chapter Four has passages that deal with health and medicine. Chapter Five draws passages from literature. Chapter Six’s passages are drawn from the field of music. Chapter Seven contains mate- rial on science and nature. Chapter Eight covers sports and leisure. And finally, Chapter Nine’s passages are based in the social sciences of anthro- pology and sociology. STAY ACTIVE The most important thing to know about critical reading is that it is an active endeavor. Keep your mind active and on its figurative toes at all times. Under- line important points as you read, argue with the author, make notes, and do whatever you need to stay involved with the passage. Seven Strategies for Success Even though short passages are new to the SAT, strategies for successfully answering the questions are identical to those for the longer passages. The first thing you will want to do, before diving into the practice, is to make sure you are thoroughly familiar with these strategies. Then feel free to adapt them to suit your needs and preferences. One word of caution, though: Be sure you actually try each strategy several times before decid- ing whether or not it suits you! 1. Get involved with the passage. Critical reading is an active endeavor, not a passive one. React to the material, form questions as you read, and make your own marks on the paper. Write in the margins, underline important words and sentences—talk back! x 501 Critical Reading Questions . allows. 501 Critical Reading Questions xii 501 Critical Reading Questions Remind Me Why I’m Doing This Finally, as you work through these 501 questions, . 501 Critical Reading Questions 501 Critical Reading Questions NEW YORK ® Copyright © 2004 LearningExpress,