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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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Which of the following sentences uses the word 'smart' with a negative connotation, rather than a positive connotation or simply the word's denotation?
- A. Eliot's teacher said he was not quite gifted, but too smart for a general class.
- B. Eliot was smart to have studied the day before the test; he got a good grade.
- C. Eliot was identified by his teacher as one of the smart students in her classes.
- D. Eliot got into trouble when he gave a smart answer to his teacher's question.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: In sentence D, the word 'smart' is used with a negative connotation as it describes Eliot getting into trouble for giving a smart answer to his teacher's question. This implies that being smart in this context led to a negative consequence. Choices A, B, and C use 'smart' in a positive or neutral light, highlighting intelligence or wise decisions without any negative implications.
The next four questions are based on the following passage.
It could be argued that all American war movies take as their governing paradigm that of the Western, and that we, as viewers, don't think critically enough about this fact. The virtuous hero in the white hat, the evil villain in the black hat, the community threatened by violence; these are the obvious elements of the paradigm. In addition, the hero is highly skilled at warfare, though reluctant to use it, the community is made up of morally upstanding citizens, and there is no place for violence in the community: the hero himself must leave the community he has saved once the battle is complete. This way of seeing the world has soaked into our storytelling of battle and conflict. It's hard to find a U.S.-made war movie that, for example, presents the enemy as complex and potentially fighting a legitimate cause, or that presents the hero (usually the U.S.) as anything other than supremely morally worthy. It is important to step back and think about the assumptions and frameworks that shape the stories we're exposed to; if we're careless and unquestioning, we absorb biases and world views with which we may not agree.
Which of the following is part of the world view, with which we may not agree, that the author implies we might absorb from these movies if we're careless and unquestioning:
- A. Enemies of the U.S. do not ever fight for legitimate causes.
- B. The community is morally bankrupt.
- C. The U.S. is complex.
- D. The U.S. is not skilled at warfare.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A. Throughout the text, the author discusses how American war movies often portray U.S. enemies as lacking legitimate causes. This portrayal can lead to a simplistic view of global conflicts and perpetuate stereotypes. Choice B is incorrect as the text does not discuss the community being morally bankrupt. Choice C is incorrect as the focus is not on the complexity of the U.S. but on the portrayal of enemies and heroes. Choice D is incorrect as the text actually mentions that the hero in the movies is highly skilled at warfare.
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.
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.
The next four questions are based on the following passage.
It could be argued that all American war movies take as their governing paradigm that of the Western, and that we, as viewers, don't think critically enough about this fact. The virtuous hero in the white hat, the evil villain in the black hat, the community threatened by violence; these are the obvious elements of the paradigm. In addition, the hero is highly skilled at warfare, though reluctant to use it, the community is made up of morally upstanding citizens, and there is no place for violence in the community: the hero himself must leave the community he has saved once the battle is complete. This way of seeing the world has soaked into our storytelling of battle and conflict. It's hard to find a U.S.-made war movie that, for example, presents the enemy as complex and potentially fighting a legitimate cause, or that presents the hero (usually the U.S.) as anything other than supremely morally worthy. It is important to step back and think about the assumptions and frameworks that shape the stories we're exposed to; if we're careless and unquestioning, we absorb biases and world views with which we may not agree.
What is the primary purpose of the passage?
- A. Analyze an interesting feature of American cinema.
- B. Refute the Western paradigm.
- C. Suggest a way to improve war movies.
- D. Suggest that viewers think critically about underlying assumptions in the movies we watch.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The primary purpose of the passage is to suggest that viewers think critically about the underlying assumptions in the movies they watch. It discusses how American war movies often conform to a Western paradigm and urges readers to analyze these portrayals and question the messages being conveyed. Choice A is incorrect because the passage does not focus on analyzing an interesting feature of American cinema but rather on prompting critical thinking. Choice B is incorrect as the passage does not aim to refute the Western paradigm but rather to highlight its influence on American war movies. Choice C is incorrect as the passage does not suggest a way to improve war movies but rather encourages viewers to be more mindful and aware of the underlying assumptions in the movies they consume.