Close Reading
Try the strategy!
Read the passage below and answer the question that follows. Use the close
reading and multiple-choice strategies.
The range of the American bison extended over about one-third of the entire continent
of North America. Had the bison remained for a few more centuries in undisturbed
possession of his range, and with liberty to roam at will over the North American
continent, it is almost certain that several distinctly recognizable varieties would have
been produced. The buffalo of the hot regions in the extreme south would have become
a short-haired animal like the gaur of India and the African buffalo. The individuals
inhabiting the extreme north would have developed still longer hair and taken on more
of the dense hairiness of the musk ox. In the "wood" or "mountain buffalo" we already
have a distinct foreshadowing of the changes which would have taken place in the
individuals which made their permanent residence upon rugged mountains.
Which of the following conclusions is best supported by the passage?
a. The American bison evolved similarly to the African buffalo.
b. If the American bison had been allowed to continue as they were, various distinct
varieties would have emerged.
c. In warmer climates, American bison would have developed longer, more dense
hair.
d. It was morally wrong for buffalo populations to be so significantly decreased by
overhunting.
The correct answer is:
How did you reach this conclusion?
What strategies did you use?
How are you feeling about these strategies?
(1) A picture is worth a thousand words. When you go on vacation, it is often customary
to send friends and family members photo postcards from the beautiful places you visit.
The postcards not only let them know where you are and how you're doing, but
(3) they provide them with a keepsake from your vacation. Today, the ritual of sending
postcards has been somewhat replaced by posting vacation pictures on Facebook,
Instagram, and other social media
(5) sites. In a recent survey of vacationers, 75% said that they are more likely to post on
Facebook than to send a postcard. Not long ago, however, it was not uncommon for
people to amass many hundreds of
(7) postcards received from acquaintances. As these collections grew, a hunger for
more postcards arose, and some people became amateur postcard collectors.
Which of the following would be a synonym for the word "customary" as it is used in line
1 of the selection?
a.
b.
c.
d.
unusual
measure
common
judicial
The correct answer is:
How did you reach this conclusion?
What strategies did you use?
How are you feeling about these strategies?