Analyzing Author Viewpoint
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1.
This ad is designed so that readers will associate Nike shoes with—
A. low prices and lasting quality.
B. helping children go to college.
C. kids learning to play basketball.
D. the high cost of a college education.
Okay, first I have to deliver this tray of food to my first table. Then I'll fill up these sodas and get extra salad
dressing for the table by the window. Gosh, what am I forgetting? Oh, I better run over here and ask how their food is
and fetch dessert for the little boy. Wow, we're busy tonight, I haven't even got time to take one break! Oh no,
someone is waving at me! I'd better go see what they need.
"Can I help you?" I ask.
"We've been sitting here with no service for five minutes. Are you going to stop taking a break now and help us,
miss, or do we have to leave?" An angry man asks.
"I'm so sorry, sir, I'll be right with you," I reply.
2. How does the narrator's perspective affect the message of the scene?
A. It does not affect the message.
B. It shows a positive bias toward the customer.
C. It shows that restaurant customers should be more sympathetic toward servers.
D. It shows that customers have a right to be mad.
3. You are delivering a presentation on teen curfews. Your audience is a group of tenth-grade
students. You have created four possible introductions for the presentation:
1) You just got off working the last shift of your part-time job. You’ve had to close the store, and after a long day
of work, you head home. On your way, you’re stopped by the police. Your day just got a little loner. You’re
issued a ticket and notice it’s because you’re out on a weekday past 11:00 PM…
2) Tenth-grade students face many challenges each day. One of these challenges is teen curfews…
3) Teen curfews punish all teenagers…
4) Hello. My name is Susan Beals. I would like to talk to you today about an important subject that faces each of
us...
Which introduction would best engage the attention of your audience?
A. Introduction 1
B. Introduction 3
C. Introduction 2
D. Introduction 4
4.
President Bush won rousing cheers from both parties during his State of the Union address for the war on
terrorism, but faced doubts among many Democrats about his domestic priorities. Leon Panetta, the former White
House Chief of Staff under President Clinton, questioned whether Bush can bring the same amount of unity to
domestic issues he has brought to the war on terrorism.
After the president's State of the Union address, many people weighed in with their opinions of the
speech. Why do you think Mr. Panetta had the comment that he did?
A. He is opposed to the war on terrorism.
B. He is a Democrat.
C. He is a Republican.
D. He is a political independent.
5. Margaret is writing a 500-word persuasive essay on traffic safety. Which of the
following would be the best thesis for Margaret to use?
A. Traffic safety is very important.
B. Seat belts laws don’t work at saving people’s lives.
C. Traffic laws are good.
D. Obeying traffic rules can keep people safe.
Leave Cell Phones in the School Locker
1) The definition of hip in school has finally surpassed the vain conversation about clothes and cliques. That went
out when MP3 players and cell phones made teens one of the more tech savvy segments of the U.S. population.
And as their phones arrived in the classroom, teachers and other school officials began reaching for their bottles
of Excedrin.
2) Regulation of cell phone usage can be a [dilemma between] letting kids be kids or doing what's best for the
educational environment. Once educators [give their views on the subject], the students and parents are around
the next corner offering their criticism.
3) Almost everyone can agree, however, that there's no need for cell phones during class. Leave them in lockers
or with a homeroom teacher or in the school office. Put them anywhere you can so they can't be found in the hand
that should be taking notes in class, or to the ear that should be listening to a lecture.
4) Students must concentrate on that new math theory, not the text message from the friend who's in study hall
upstairs.
5) Educators nationwide, however, have been thrust into the position of being cell phone cops as students ignore
or bend rules regarding usage during school. Based on the observations of North High School senior Rachel
Futchi, about "85 to 90 percent" of nearly 1,700 students at the Eastlake school have a cell phone each day. And
"maybe 50 percent" disregard the rule about not carrying cell phones to class and send and receive text
messages during school.
6) If it's happening in Eastlake, it's occurring beyond. It's the dawn of a modern educational crisis.
http://www.news-herald.com/
6. In paragraph 3, how does the author persuade the reader that cell phones in school are a
problem?
A. by suggesting that the problem will only get worse
B. by suggesting that many people feel this way
C. by quoting experts and authorities on the subject
D. by the use of scare tactics that shock the reader
7. Students in May's class are supposed to give a presentation on volunteering so it will encourage
other students to try it. May volunteers twice a week at a senior citizens center by reading and
visiting with bed-ridden senior citizens. She has been volunteering for 2 months and finds the
experience to be very satisfying. In fact, she comes home with many stories that she shares with
her own family and friends. She finds that not only does she feel more sociable, but it’s brought her
and her family closer.
Which of these points should be evident in May's presentation?
A. Volunteering doesn’t take up much time.
B. The people at the center appreciate her effort.
C. Volunteering benefits everyone involved.
D. There is no monetary reward in volunteering.
Your company is really in excellent health despite the short-term earnings hiccup. I feel the same way about
Disney as I like to feel about my family -- solid, on the right track, with strong fundamentals and an enthusiasm for
the future.
Certainly, in 1999, our entertainment product was second to none. "The Sixth Sense" bewitched audiences
around the world. "Tarzan" is on its way to becoming the second most successful animated film we've ever
released. The Disney Cruise Line added a second ship, Disney Wonder, and posted some of the highest guest
satisfaction rates in our history. The new attractions we added to our parks were not only cost-effective, but, even
more important, they were instant guest favorites. DisneyQuest and ESPNZone have been well received in the
cities in which they have been rolled out. Our new production of "Annie" was a huge ratings success on ABC's
Wonderful World of Disney. ESPN continues to offer a blend of wit and comprehensive coverage that is embraced
by sports fans everywhere. Zoog Disney is a landmark program on the Disney Channel that merges the worlds of
television and the Internet. World News Tonight is once again the number one prime-time news program. "One
Saturday Morning" continues to be a safe and exciting place for children to spend time with the Disney brand on
ABC. Radio Disney is a fresh choice on the dial for kids and their parents. The History Channel and A&E are
qualitatively two of the finest networks in the history of television. "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" has transcended
being a mere television show and has entered into the culture.
Disney 1999 Annual Report Letter to Stockholders
8. Who might have written such an article?
A. An employee at Radio Disney.
B. The leader of the company.
C. A competitor of the company.
D. A visitor to a Disney theme park.
9.
I think that making students wear school uniforms is stupid because they don't do anything for us except
keep us from growing up. School uniforms don't help the kids who are often made fun of. Mean people will
find a way to make fun of some kid no matter what the kid is wearing. So why should we wear uniforms if
they don't help anybody?
People say that uniforms protect us from school violence. How does it do that? Students could keep
weapons in their pockets, purses, or book bags. In other words, we are still in danger of having a violence. If
administrators are worried about violence, they should search students every morning. They should not take
our pride away by giving us uniforms.
People that enforce these things must think that we don't want to have a life and that we do not need to
be individuals. We need to be able to wear what we want to wear. By giving us uniforms, they are hurting
students more than they are helping them. This is what I think about school uniforms.
adapted from http://www.kidstimes.org/full_topic_listing.phtml?topic_id=4
Which line should be deleted from this paper in order to make it stronger?
A. School uniforms don't help the kids who are often made fun of
B. This is what I think about school uniforms.
C. So why should we wear uniforms if they don't help anybody?
D. In other words, we are still in danger of having a violence.
It used to be that people would go to great lengths to dress like their favorite celebrities; however, with
today’s lazy, vain society, the process of looking your favorite actor or musician just became a lot easier, or
has it? In the latest ridiculous reality TV fad, American twins have undergone surgery to look like actor Brad
Pitt.
Plastic surgeons in Britain have criticized television's "dangerous" new craze of putting members of the
public under the knife, often to make them look like celebrities." The growing trend in cosmetic surgery reality
shows, such as MTV's 'I Want a Famous Face,' sends a dangerous message," the British Association of
Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) said Tuesday.
"They prey on the vulnerabilities of a society increasingly obsessed with physical perfection," it added.
In “I Want a Famous Face,” Arizona twins Mike and Matt Schlepp paid a small fortune for nose jobs, chin
implants and porcelain dental veneers to look like Hollywood hunk Pitt, who later said he felt sorry for them.
"This is very far from being just a bit of fun," said Douglas McGeorge of BAAPS, the main professional body
for Britain's aesthetic surgeons. "There can be emotional damage and often these patients need counseling.”
The other thing that most of these people don’t understand is that no matter what they look like, they will
never have the personality of the celebrity whose face they're after. Stealing someone’s face doesn’t mean you
get to take what makes him/her special.
BAAPS also singled out "Extreme Makeover" on ABC television in the United States and the upcoming
"Cosmetic Surgery Live" on Britain's Channel Five, which denied its show would glamorize the process.
"Anyone watching this is going to have an unprecedented insight into what plastic surgery involves and
what the consequences are from both a scientific and human perspective," said a Channel Five spokesman.
BAAPS McGeorge highlighted the physical risks of extreme cosmetic surgery. "You only have to look at
Michael Jackson to see what happens when you push the envelope," he said.
adapted from "Plastic Surgeons Put the Knife Into TV Makeovers" by Pete Harrison
10. Which of these is a reason the author gives to support the thesis that celebrity makeovers
are dangerous?
A. Plastic surgeons in Britain have criticized television's "dangerous" new craze of putting members
of the public under the knife, often to make them look like celebrities.
B. American twins have undergone surgery to look like actor Brad Pitt.
C. This is very far from being just a bit of fun.
D. Stealing someone’s face doesn’t mean you get to take what makes him/her special.
Leave Cell Phones in the School Locker
1) The definition of hip in school has finally surpassed the vain conversation about clothes and cliques. That
went out when MP3 players and cell phones made teens one of the more tech savvy segments of the U.S.
population. And as their phones arrived in the classroom, teachers and other school officials began reaching for
their bottles of Excedrin.
2) Regulation of cell phone usage can be a [dilemma between] letting kids be kids or doing what's best for the
educational environment. Once educators [give their views on the subject], the students and parents are
around the next corner offering their criticism.
3) Almost everyone can agree, however, that there's no need for cell phones during class. Leave them in
lockers or with a homeroom teacher or in the school office. Put them anywhere you can so they can't be found
in the hand that should be taking notes in class, or to the ear that should be listening to a lecture.
4) Students must concentrate on that new math theory, not the text message from the friend who's in study hall
upstairs.
5) Educators nationwide, however, have been thrust into the position of being cell phone cops as students
ignore or bend rules regarding usage during school. Based on the observations of North High School senior
Rachel Futchi, about "85 to 90 percent" of nearly 1,700 students at the Eastlake school have a cell phone each
day. And "maybe 50 percent" disregard the rule about not carrying cell phones to class and send and receive
text messages during school.
6) If it's happening in Eastlake, it's occurring beyond. It's the dawn of a modern educational crisis.
http://www.news-herald.com/
11. Using the phrase “dawn of a modern educational crisis” in paragraph 6, the author
tries to persuade readers by—
A. making them angry about cell phones.
B. minimizing the problem of cell phones.
C. exaggerating the cell phone problem.
D. getting them to laugh about the problem.
VAN HELSING / *** (PG-13)
May 7, 2004
There have been countless movies uniting two monsters ("Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man," "King Kong
vs. Godzilla," etc.), but "Van Helsing" convenes Frankenstein, his Monster, Count Dracula, the Wolf Man,
Igor, Van Helsing the vampire hunter, assorted other werewolves, werebats and vampires, and even Mr.
Hyde, who as a bonus seems to think he is the Hunchback of Notre Dame.
The movie is like a Greatest Hits compilation; it's assembled like Frankenstein's Monster, from spare parts
stitched together and brought to life with electricity, plus lots of computer-generated images. The plot
depends on Dracula's desperate need to discover the secret of Frankenstein's Monster, because he can use
it to his countless offspring to life. Because Dracula (Richard Roxburgh) and his vampire brides are all dead,
they cannot give birth, of course, to live children.
Van Helsing (Hugh Jackman, Wolverine in the "X-Men" movies) is sometimes portrayed as young,
sometimes old in the Dracula movies. Here he's a professional monster-killer with a Phantom of the Opera
hat, who picks up a dedicated friar named Carl (David Wenham) as his sidekick.
The director, Stephen Sommers, began his career sedately, directing a very nice "Adventures of
Huckleberry Finn" (1993) and the entertaining "Jungle Book" (1994). Then Victor Frankenstein must have
strapped him to the gurney and turned on the juice, because he made a U-turn into thrillers, with "Deep
Rising" (1998), where a giant squid attacks a cruise ship, and "The Mummy" (1999) and "The Mummy
Returns". Now comes "Van Helsing," which employs the ultimate resources of CGI (computer generated
effects) to create a world that is violent and hectic, bizarre and entertaining, and sometimes very beautiful.
CGI can get a little boring when it allows characters to fall hundreds of feet and somehow survive, or when
they swoop at the ends of ropes as well as Spider-Man, but without Spidey's superpowers. But they can also
be used to create a visual feast, and here the cinematography by Allen Daviau ("E.T.") and the production
design by Allen Cameron join with Sommers' imagination for spectacular sights. The best is a masked ball in
Budapest, which is part real (the musicians balancing on balls, the waiters circling on unicycles) and part
fabricated in the computer. It's a remarkable scene, and will reward study on the DVD.
I also liked the movie's recreation of Victor Frankenstein's laboratory, which has been a favorite of
production designers, art directors and set decorators since time immemorial (Mel Books' "Young
Frankenstein" recycled the actual sets built for James Whale's "The Bride of Frankenstein"). Here
Frankenstein lives in a towering gothic castle, just down the road from Dracula, and the mechanism lifts the
Monsters to unimaginable heights to expose him to lightning bolts.
At the outset, we may fear Sommers is simply going for effects overkill, but by the end, he has somehow
succeeded in assembling all his monsters and plot threads into a high-voltage climax. "Van Helsing" is silly
and spectacular, and fun.
adapted from "Movie Review: Van Helsing" by Roger Ebert
12. Based upon the author’s review, what kind of support does the writer give for the
statement that the special effects in the movie are excellent?
A. cause and effect
B. personal experience
C. statistics
D. compare and contrast