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The Deaf President Now Movement

The Deaf President Now (DPN) movement marked a growing shift in perceptions of deaf people.

Gallaudet University, in Washington D.C., was established as a school for deaf students. The founder convinced Congress to fund the school, and it eventually became an institution for higher learning. In a nod of support, U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant signed the Gallaudet diplomas. Future presidents continued the tradition, so all Gallaudet graduates receive diplomas signed by the U.S. President.

Gallaudet University grew as a center for deaf education and advocacy. In 1988, Gallaudet University was selecting a new university president. The board of trustees had well-qualified candidates, and all but one was deaf. On a Sunday, the board hastily announced they had selected the sole hearing candidate.

The reaction on campus was outrage. Students congregated to protest. Crowds marched to the meeting location and demanded an explanation. Through the closed-door discussion with protest leaders, a trustee created more discontent. He allegedly stated, "Deaf people are not able to function in a hearing world."

Throughout the week, there were more speeches and rallies. A media blitz spread the news globally. Students did not attend class to express their anger. Protest leaders formalized their demands, including a deaf president, the offending trustee must resign, the board of trustees must have 51% deaf leadership, and no reprisals against participants.

Support flowed in from across the world. The U.S. Vice President wrote, "Gallaudet has a responsibility to set an example and thus to appoint a president who is not only highly qualified, but who is also deaf."

Which of the following is irrelevant information when summarizing the passage?

  • A. The board of trustees selected the only hearing candidate.
  • B. Students wore buttons that read 3%.
  • C. Students protested for just a week.
  • D. All the demands of the DPN protest were met.
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Option B, 'Students wore buttons that read 3%', is irrelevant information when summarizing the passage. The main focus should be on significant events like the controversial selection of a hearing candidate, the subsequent protests, and the demands made by the protest leaders. Options A, C, and D are more pertinent as they cover essential aspects of the protest, such as the board's selection process, the duration and intensity of the protests, and the outcomes of the demands made by the protesters.

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Alice was not scared. Not at all. Maybe a little bit. But she was determined to confront the ghost in her house. Alice lived in a farmhouse built in 1921. All of the floors and doors were original; the doors even had skeleton key locks. But by far the most terrifying part of the house was the basement. She kept that door locked and ignored the thumps, crashes, and cries that came from below the house. What made Alice determined to confront the ghost today was the especially loud crashes the previous night. She'd gotten no sleep, convinced the ghost was going to break through the door and do something horrible. What, she wasn't sure, but the ghost would do something.
Alice hadn't seen the ghost, but what else could be making loud noises in an old house? The one time she had been down in the basement was after buying the house unseen. Once she saw the shelves with old glass jars, she was a little put off. But what made her keep the door shut and locked was the abrupt end of the concrete floor halfway across the room. Because nothing good ever happened in a basement with a dirt floor. Alice had seen enough horror movies to know that.
Alice stared at the basement door, trying to gather enough confidence to open it and march down the stairs like she owned the place. Because she did-or she would, once she finished paying her mortgage in 30 years. Alice took a deep breath and yanked the door open. She marched down the stairs, only to stop abruptly at the bottom. Because she was face to face with not a ghost at all. It was a calico cat, one who looked utterly unimpressed by her brave journey into the basement.

Which one of the following provides evidence supporting the interpretation that Alice believes ghosts can be contained?

  • A. She kept that door locked and ignored the thumps, crashes, and cries that came from below the house.
  • B. All of the floors and doors were original; the doors even had skeleton key locks.
  • C. Alice had seen enough horror movies to know that.
  • D. Once she saw the shelves with old glass jars, she was a little put off.
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Choice A provides evidence that supports the interpretation that Alice believes ghosts can be contained. By keeping the door to the basement locked and ignoring the noises coming from below the house, Alice demonstrates her belief that she can control or contain the ghost within the basement. This behavior indicates her attempt to isolate and distance herself from potential ghostly encounters, reinforcing the idea that she thinks ghosts can be contained. Choices B, C, and D do not directly relate to the containment of ghosts, making them incorrect answers.

Letter from the chair of Elkinsville Ecological Society.
Many of you have heard about the proposes northward expansion of the interstate which currently ends just south of Elkinsville. In the recent debate over how this work will go forward, the focus has been on weighing economic costs and benefits. Indeed, many local politicians claim to favor the project because it will bring in the short term and more visitors to Elkinsville in the long run. These politicians also argue that the proposed plan is the least environmentally damaging way to expand the highway farther upstate. This cannot be true, however, since the proposed expansion involves not just the widening of existing roads, but also the construction of more than a dozen miles of new-terrain highway.

Which of the following statements is supported by evidence from the passage?

  • A. The Elkinsville Ecological Society will continue to oppose the northern expansion of the interstate.
  • B. Politicians in Elkinsville will win their efforts to approve the northern expansion of the interstate highway.
  • C. There are no Elkinsville Ecological Society members among the city's politicians.
  • D. A detailed environmental study of the northern expansion of the interstate has been conducted by the Elkinsville Ecological Society.
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The passage mentions that the focus of the debate has been on weighing economic costs and benefits of the proposed northward expansion of the interstate. It also states that the Elkinsville Ecological Society is involved in this matter. While politicians argue for the project, the passage does not mention any direct involvement or opposition by the Elkinsville Ecological Society, making it unclear whether they will oppose or support the expansion. However, the passage does imply that the proposed expansion involves construction that may have environmental impacts. Therefore, based on the passage, the statement supported by evidence is that a detailed environmental study of the northern expansion of the interstate has been conducted by the Elkinsville Ecological Society.

Hey there, Kitchen Utensil aficionados! It's Bob Thurman again, bringing you a brand-new piece of equipment for your home food station! Are you tired of your blocks of premium aged cheddar getting all crumbly when you try to slice them? Don't you hate leaving your fingerprints in that hard stick of butter? Well, worry no more! From the company that brought you the SmackDice comes the dairy McGrabs! You no longer have to worry about your film, sweaty grip destroying your cheeses or you butters. All you have to do is slip on our pated heat-deflecting mitten, complete with a plastic-grip palm pad, and slice you smooth dairy products with no threat of them melting or crumbling from your body heat!

Which one of the following options best describes how Thurman supports his argument?

  • A. By addressing his audience at just the right moment
  • B. By appealing to a shared sense of community and values
  • C. By evoking feelings of annoyance and relief
  • D. By presenting evidence and logical explanations
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Thurman supports his argument by evoking feelings of annoyance and relief. He addresses common problems the audience may face with cutting cheese and butter, highlighting the frustration (annoyance) and then offering a solution that alleviates this frustration (relief). This emotional appeal is designed to resonate with the audience's experiences and create a sense of empathy and connection, making them more likely to consider the product being promoted.

Dear Aunt Suzanne,
I have a few minutes before I get on the bus to Galway back to Dublin and wanted to tell you how my trip to Ireland is going. We just spent two days in Inis Mor, the largest of the Aran Islands, which are just off the central west coast of Ireland. We tool a ferry from Galway, a ride that takes about an hour and was quite gray and stormy.
For an Island that is only about 12 square miles, there is a lot to do and see on Inis Mor! After eating stew and vegetable soup and brown bread with butter, we went to the seater market, where all kinds of woolen products are sold. The Aran Islands are known for their wool because sheep thrive here and generations have used woolen sweaters and hats to survive long cold days of fishing on the open sea. In fact, I learnt that each family or clan has its own signature knitting pattern and some are able to tell which family someone belongs to by the pattern of their sweater! The Healy pattern is an interesting combination of twists and braids, and I found you a birthday souvenir with a beautiful example.
The next day, we rented bicycles and toured the island. We saw ancient ruins, a prehistoric hill fort, and a white sand beach. We also climbed down to a mysterious rock formation known as “The Worm Hole,” a rectangular hole in a stone shore that fills with thrashing waves and looks like it houses a terrible serpent (see attached photo). The Worm Hole was difficult to find, and when we stopped someone for directions, she only spoke Gaelic. Sometimes this island seems stuck in an earlier time.
I’m excited to see you when I get home. I have lots more pictures to share!

According to the passage, which of the following events happens last?

  • A. Eva eats stew and vegetable soup.
  • B. Eva takes a ferry from Galway.
  • C. Eva purchases a patterned sweater.
  • D. Eva takes a bus to Dublin.
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D. The passage mentions that Eva has a few minutes before getting on the bus to Galway back to Dublin. Since this event is mentioned as a future action, it logically happens last in the sequence of events described in the passage. Before taking the bus to Dublin, Eva has already taken a ferry from Galway, eaten stew and vegetable soup, and purchased a patterned sweater on Inis Mor.

What is all this talk of cicadas lately in the United States? You may be wondering why the media has featured it, but in fact, the discussion about Cicadas has emerged about as predictably as the Cicadas themselves from their underground refuge. Let’s get oriented with some background on Cicadas.
What is a Cicada? A typical definition will at least tell you that a cicada is a large, loud insect with transparent wings, mostly found in warm countries. A more detailed response might also inform you that cicadas have short antennae and wide-set eyes that jut out, with delicate, translucent wings- and not only is the cicada loud, but few creatures make a louder sound. In fact, it is male cicadas that are the noisy ones, to the tune of 80 to 100 decibels, which is like the roar od a loud engine. This is because male cicadas make a strident high buzzing by vibrating two membranes on its abdomen called tymbals, effectively turning its body into a kind of echo chamber or drum. Female cicadas cannot replicate the buzzing, though they respond with a clicking sound when they are ready to mate.
Although there are several species of cicada, mating typically takes place in trees whereafter the female deposits the eggs into the bark. When the eggs hatch, the larval cicadas, called nymphs, drop to the ground and burrow. They then live as nymphs for the most of their lives over 6 feet underground, with both male and female cicadas dying within weeks of their emergence from the soil. This is particularly true for north American cicadas, especially the Magicicada, or periodical cicadas, which regularly emerge in intervals of 13 or 17 years, depending on the species and the location. This is why talk of cicadas in the media is as predictable as their emergence in the U.S.

From the passage, which of the following perspectives can be inferred?

  • A. Cicadas and public interest in cicadas are global
  • B. Cicadas and public interest in cicadas are inspirational
  • C. Cicadas and public interest in cicadas are inexplicable
  • D. Cicadas and public interest in cicadas are cyclical
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct perspective that can be inferred from the passage is that cicadas and public interest in cicadas are cyclical. The passage discusses how the emergence of cicadas and the media attention surrounding them happen predictably, as part of their natural cycle. It mentions the periodic emergence of cicadas in the U.S. at intervals of 13 or 17 years, highlighting the cyclical nature of this phenomenon. Therefore, the correct answer is D, as the passage implies that the occurrence and interest in cicadas follow a cyclical pattern rather than being global, inspirational, or inexplicable.

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