Which of the following stories' messages is significantly distorted through the use of an irrelevant detail?
- A. A soft profile about a local politician's part-time rock band that mentions his political differences with his bandmates
- B. A feature story of a local business owner running for political office in which she admits to having employed illegal laborers
- C. A profile of several local Jewish and Arab business leaders that mentions ongoing hostilities in the Middle East
- D. A news report about a local citizen protesting property tax rates that includes details about an immigration violation he committed twenty years previously
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D. In the news report about a local citizen protesting property tax rates that includes details about an immigration violation he committed twenty years previously, the irrelevant detail about the immigration violation distracts from the main message of the protest against property tax rates. The inclusion of this detail shifts the focus away from the citizen's current concerns and the reasons for his protest, thus distorting the story's message. Choices A, B, and C do not include irrelevant details that significantly distort the main messages of the stories. Choice A mentions political differences with bandmates but still focuses on the politician's part-time rock band. Choice B discusses the employment of illegal laborers but remains centered on the business owner's political aspirations. Choice C talks about ongoing hostilities in the Middle East but does not veer away from the main focus on the local Jewish and Arab business leaders.
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The guide words at the top of a dictionary page are considerable and conspicuous. Which of the following words is an entry on this page?
- A. consonantal
- B. consumption
- C. conserve
- D. conquistador
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is "C: conserve." In a dictionary page where the guide words are "considerable" and "conspicuous," the word "conserve" would be an entry as it falls alphabetically within those guide words. Choice A, "consonantal," starts with a different letter, so it would not be located between the guide words. Choice B, "consumption," also starts with a different letter and would not be between the guide words. Choice D, "conquistador," starts with a different letter and is also far from the guide words alphabetically, making it an incorrect entry on this particular page.
Does the author imply that she believes the hero should be more nuanced and less unconditionally good in U.S.-made movies?
- A. believes the hero should always appear to be morally worthy.
- B. believes the hero should never appear to be morally worthy.
- C. believes the hero should be more nuanced and less unconditionally good.
- D. believes the hero is an uninteresting character.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The author implies that she believes the hero should be more nuanced and less unconditionally good in U.S.-made movies. This is evident from her claim that it is hard to find a movie that presents the hero as anything other than supremely morally worthy, suggesting a desire for more complexity and depth in the portrayal of the hero character. Choice A is incorrect because the author does not advocate for the hero always appearing morally worthy. Choice B is incorrect as the author does not suggest that the hero should never appear morally worthy. Choice D is incorrect as the author does not state that the hero is an uninteresting character, but rather emphasizes the need for a more nuanced portrayal.
Which of the following choices introduces a specific claim and distinguishes it from counterclaims?
- A. Is texting while driving really a critical safety issue? Are all kinds of distracted driving created equal? What can be said about the nature of distracted driving among teenagers?
- B. It's true that distracted driving is dangerous. There may be nothing more dangerous than texting while driving. Texting while driving has resulted in more than 15,000 deaths and over 200,000 injuries. The majority of texting drivers are teens, although other age groups have been implicated.
- C. Texting while driving is one of the key issues facing young people today: it's a fact that texting drivers have killed over 16,000 people between 2002 and
- D. While some argue that texting while driving is just one form of distracted driving, it stands out as particularly hazardous due to the level of focus it diverts from the road. Studies show that drivers who text are 23 times more likely to be involved in an accident compared to other forms of distracted driving.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Choice B introduces a specific claim that texting while driving is extremely dangerous by stating that 'there may be nothing more dangerous than texting while driving' and supports this claim with statistics on the number of deaths and injuries caused by texting while driving. It further emphasizes the impact by mentioning that the majority of texting drivers are teens. This approach of providing specific evidence helps to distinguish the claim from counterclaims and strengthens the argument. Choices A, C, and D do not introduce a specific claim supported by factual evidence and fail to distinguish it from potential counterclaims, making them less effective in presenting a strong argument.
When evaluating the credibility of a source during research, which statement is true?
- A. The author's reputation is more important than whether they cite sources.
- B. The source should always be as recent as possible, considering the subject.
- C. The author's point of view and/or purpose is crucial for credibility.
- D. The kinds of sources various audiences value influence credibility for them.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The kind of sources different audiences value can indeed influence the credibility of a source for them. Different audiences may place varying levels of trust in different types of sources, such as peer-reviewed journals, government reports, or mainstream media outlets. Understanding the preferences of the target audience is essential for establishing credibility when presenting information. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect. The author's reputation is important but not more critical than citing sources, as proper citations contribute to transparency and reliability. The recency of a source is essential but not always the most crucial factor; relevance to the subject matter is also significant. The author's point of view and purpose are indeed relevant to assessing credibility; understanding their biases and intentions is vital in evaluating the reliability of a source.
A 'competitive salary' is one that is
- A. Much less than salaries offered for comparable jobs
- B. Much greater than salaries offered for comparable jobs
- C. Similar to the average salary offered for comparable jobs
- D. Impossible to compare to the salaries offered for comparable jobs
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A competitive salary is one that is similar to the average salary offered for comparable jobs. In the context of the job advertisement provided, a competitive salary is typically in line with what other employers are paying for similar positions to attract and retain the best talent in the industry. Choice A is incorrect because a competitive salary is not 'much less' than salaries offered for comparable jobs; it aims to be competitive. Choice B is incorrect as a competitive salary is not 'much greater' than salaries offered for comparable jobs; it aims to be fair and competitive. Choice D is incorrect as a competitive salary is not 'impossible to compare to' the salaries offered for comparable jobs; it is meant to be competitive and aligned with industry standards.