Bristol Community College
Fall River, MA
Reading Refresher Workshop
Manual
Bristol Community College changes the world by changing lives, learner by learner.
The materials in this Manual may not be copied or distributed
without permission. Copyright 2004, Diane Manson,
Linda Mulready and Mary Swidey.
All rights reserved.
Funded through a Title III Grant of the Higher Education Act
Bristol Community College
Reading Refresher Workshop Manual
Table of Contents
Information about the Reading Refresher Workshop
Information about the ACCUPLACER
Main Idea: Explanation
Stated Main Idea: Exercises
Unstated Main Idea: Exercises
Patterns of Organization: Explanation
Common Transitions/Signal Words: Explanation
Patterns of Organization: Exercises
Inferencing: Explanation
Inferencing: Exercises #1
Inferencing: Exercises#2
Inferencing: Exercises #3
Tone: Explanation and Exercises
Purpose: Explanation and Exercises
Sentence Relationships: Explanation and Exercises
General Hints to Improve Reading
CPT Practice #1
CPT Practice #2
Answer Key to Exercises and Practice CPT Tests
Bristol Community College
Reading Refresher Workshop
Welcome: Introduction
You are about to begin to “review” and “refresh” your reading skills in order to
prepare yourself to take the ACCUPLACER Reading section College Placement Test.
The College Placement Test is administered to students admitted to Bristol
Community College or non-degree students enrolling in courses with testing
prerequisites. The Reading section of this test will help determine your level of reading
skills. It is important that you perform your best on this Test, and this reading review may
help.
The purpose of this Manual and the Reading Refresher Workshop is not to teach
new reading skills, but, as the title suggests, “refresh” those you already have in place.
Several separate reading skills are reviewed. Each is explained briefly, and then exercises
are given for you to practice. These skills are the major ones that are incorporated in the
CPT Reading Test. There also are several “Practice CPT” pages. These will allow you to
take sample tests. The questions on these tests are similar to the ones on the real Test. On
pages 30-31 is an Answer Key that gives the answers to all of the exercises and the Practice
Tests.
In addition, you may want to look at the other links and pages available on the
Website. They may give you additional information about the CPT and additional
exercises or more sample tests that are not provided in the printed Manual. We hope these
materials will be helpful to you and welcome any student suggestions to improve the
Manual.
We wish you “good luck” with the Placement Testing process and look forward to
welcoming you into our BCC community.
Bristol Community College
Reading Refresher Workshop
General Information about ACCUPLACER
ACCUPLACER is a basic skills assessment that can help students identify their
academic strengths and needs to assist in planning an appropriate schedule of coursework
at Bristol Community College. ACCUPLACER™ was developed, standardized, and
validated by the College Board, which also administers the SATs.
Bristol Community College uses ACCUPLACER to assess students' skill levels in
reading and mathematics to help determine which courses they should start with and to
help decide where they have the greatest chance of success. The computer automatically
determines a student's placement into reading and math classes. Course placement
recommendations made on the basis of placement test scores serve as a beginning step in
the advisement and placement process. Any available additional sources of information
regarding a student’s potential for success, such as high school and college records, are
used in the final determination of course placements.
Bristol Community College has developmental classes in English and math to help
students who need to improve their basic reading or math skills before attempting higherlevel coursework. ACCUPLACER is administered on a computer and is very easy to use.
ACCUPLACER computer testing is able to give students immediate feedback because they
get to see their scores on the computer screen as soon as they finish the test. The questions
will appear one at a time on the computer screen and multiple-choice.
Each ACCUPLACER test is designed using adaptive techniques. This means that
the computer automatically determines which questions are presented based on responses
to prior questions. This technique "zeroes-in" on just the right questions to ask you without
being too easy or too difficult. All questions are multiple choice and untimed. This helps to
eliminate some pressure and test anxiety that many students often feel. An untimed test
can also be beneficial for students with learning disabilities, who often need more time
than usual for testing. Students with a documented disability who require other types of
accommodations may schedule a special testing session. They need to contact our Office
of Disability Services for further information on testing accommodations at 508-678-2811
Extension 2955.
A student cannot "pass" or "fail" the placement tests. To ensure that test scores
accurately represent their skill levels, students however, may wish to review basic
concepts in reading, arithmetic, and algebra before taking ACCUPLACER™, especially if
they have been away from school for more than a year. Many students find that attending
one of our Workshops is helpful in refreshing their basic skills.
Bristol Community College
Reading Refresher Workshop
General Information about ACCUPLACER/CPT Reading Test
The Accuplacer/CPT Reading Test consists of 20 items. The items consist of a
reading passage and one multiple-choice question about the passage.
Some passages may be long, some short and some may be only two sentences. You
probably will get some of each length. The subject matter of the passages vary but may
include social science, natural science, physical science, human relations, humanities or the
arts.
The questions cover a variety of reading skills including identifying main idea,
analyzing secondary details, recognizing inferences, applying ideas and analyzing
sentence relationships. The test is untimed but all questions must be answered in the
order in which they appear.
Before taking this Test, review your reading skills by completing this Reading
Refresher Workshop. You also can get a good night’s sleep, have something healthy to eat,
relax and have confidence in yourself.
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Reading Refresher Workshop
Main Idea: Explanation
Main Idea
The main idea of a reading selection is the main point the author is trying to
convey. It is a statement that reflects the central point of the reading.
Stated and Unstated Main Idea
Main ideas can be stated or unstated. An unstated main idea can also be called an
implied main idea.
A main idea is stated when it appears directly in the reading selection. It is clearly
“stated” by the author. It may appear anywhere in the selection, but the usual placement
is in the beginning, perhaps the first or second sentence. It could be expressed as both the
first and the last sentence as well.
A main idea is “unstated” or “implied” when it does not appear directly in the
selection. The author chooses not to write a main idea statement him/herself. Instead,
he/she leaves the actual construction of the main idea up to the reader. The reader must
pull together the details and look at the overall message of the selection and then “write” a
main idea sentence that fits the selection. Being able to understand unstated main idea is
an important critical reading skill.
Supporting Details
Details support, develop, provide evidence and explain the main idea. Specific
details can include reasons, facts, examples, incidents or definitions. Most of what we read
can be labeled “details”.
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Reading Refresher Workshop
Stated Main Idea: Exercises
Finding Stated Main Idea
Read the paragraphs below. Think about finding the stated main idea. Then
choose the best answer to the question:
1. Scientists estimate today that the results of their research into aging will be felt by
a large segment of the population as we move into the next century. An increase in
longevity will be apparent with more and more people living to be 100. People will not
only live longer, but live healthier because of improved medical care, more exercise and
better eating habits. Many will have second and even third careers as the word
“retirement” takes on a new meaning. Slowly, the word “aging” will have to be redefined.
The sentence that best states the stated main idea is:
a. Scientists estimate today that the results of their research into aging will be
felt by a large segment of the population as we move into the next century
b. Many will have second and even third careers as the word “retirement”
takes on a new meaning.
c. Slowly, the word “aging” will have to be redefined.
d. Both a and c
2. Each weekend in October, over 200,000 people crowd into Huntsville, Texas to
see the Huntsville Prison Rodeo. The participants are holdup men, murderers, and
thieves, but they put on what some call the “wildest show on earth.” Some of the money
raised by admission goes for prize money, but most of it is used to pay for education and
rehabilitation programs. Huntsville State Prison sure has a unique way of raising funds to
benefit its prisoners.
The sentence that best states the stated main idea is:
a. Each weekend in October, over 200,000 people crowd into Huntsville, Texas
to see the Huntsville Prison Rodeo.
b. Huntsville State Prison sure has a unique way of raising funds to benefit its
prisoners.
c. The participants are holdup men, murderers, and thieves, but they put on
what some call the “wildest show on earth.”
d. Both a and c
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Reading Refresher Workshop
Unstated Main Idea: Exercises
Discovering Unstated Main Idea
Read the paragraphs below. Think about finding the unstated or implied main
idea. Then choose the best answer to the question:
1. Oranges are an excellent source of vitamin C and a good source of vitamin A.
Tangerines have less vitamin C than oranges, but actually have more vitamin A. Both are
good sources of potassium. In addition, they are sweet and tasty. An orange has about 60
calories and a tangerine has about 35 calories.
Which statement best expresses the implied or unstated main idea?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Oranges are better for your health than tangerines.
Tangerines are better for your health than oranges.
Both oranges and tangerines are good for your health and taste great.
You should eat fruits to stay healthy.
2. Many underachieving adolescents have had poor parent-child relationships. For
example, parents may reject them or fail to encourage them. In addition, the school
environment may contribute. Underachievers may find school boring or need extra help
that is not provided. Peer pressure may also cause teens to underachieve. They may fail
to “fit in” with a certain group of friends.
Which statement best expresses the implied or unstated main idea?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Many young people fail in school.
Students need parental support.
Young people feel as if they need to belong to a group.
There are several reasons that may explain why some young people do not do well in
school.
Bristol Community College
Reading Refresher Workshop
Patterns of Organization: Explanation
A Pattern of Organization is the method the author uses to arrange the details. The
author may choose from many methods, but usually selects the one that goes best with
his/her main idea or topic.
Readers can identify patterns of organization by being familiar with the main patterns
that author’s use. They also can be familiar with the signal words that are associated with
each pattern.
On this page are some common pattern types and their definitions. On the next pages
are common signal words for several patterns.
Common Patterns of Organization
Simple Listing Pattern: This pattern presents two or more ideas that continue along the
same line of thought. They add to each other but do not need to be in any exact order.
Time in a Sequence or Chronological Pattern: This pattern shows a time relationship. It
emphasizes when something happened in relation to something else.
Contrast Pattern: This pattern indicates a change in the direction of the writer’s thought.
It indicates to us that a new idea will be different in a significant way from the previous
one.
Comparison Pattern: This pattern is pointing out a similarity between two subjects.
It tells us that the second idea is like the first one in some way.
Statement/Example Pattern: This pattern provides one or more examples or illustrations to
develop and clarify a given idea.
Cause-Effect Pattern: This pattern describes the causes or reasons why something
happened and/or the results, consequences or effects of something.
Problem-Solution: This pattern presents one or more problems and then suggests one or
more solutions.
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Reading Refresher Workshop
Common Signal Words: Explanation
Readers can identify patterns of organization by being familiar with the main patterns
that author’s use. They also can be familiar with the signal words that are associated with
each pattern.
Words That Show Addition in a Simple Listing Pattern
These transitions/signal words tell you that the writer is presenting two or more ideas that
continue along the same line of thought. They introduce ideas that add to a thought
already mentioned. Here are common addition words:
and
also
another
in addition
moreover
next
first of all
second
third
furthermore
last of all
finally
Words That Show Time in a Sequence or Chronological Pattern
These transitions/signal words indicate a time relationship. They tell us when something
happened in relation to something else. Here are some common time words:
first
then
often
since
next
before
after
soon
as
now
until
previously
while
during
immediately
frequently
Words That Show Contrast in a Contrast Pattern
These transitions/signal words signal a change in the direction of the writer’s thought.
They tell us that a new idea will be different in a significant way from the previous one.
Here are some common contrast words:
but
in contrast
conversely
on the other hand
however
instead
nevertheless
on the contrary
yet
still
even though
Words
That Show in
Comparison
in a Comparison
although
spite of
despite Pattern
These transitions signal that the author is pointing out a similarity between two subjects.
Words That Show Comparison in a Comparison Pattern
These transitions signal that the author is pointing out a similarity between two subjects.
They tell us that the second idea is like the first one in some way. Here are some common
comparison words:
like
as
just like
just as
likewise
in like manner
equally
similarly
in a similar fashion
in the same way
Words That Show Illustration in a Statement/Example Pattern
These transitions indicate that an author will provide one or more examples to develop
and clarify a given idea. They tell us that the second idea is an example of the first. Here
are some common illustration words:
for example
for instance
as an illustration
to illustrate
such as
to be specific
once
specifically
including
Words That Show Cause and Effect in a Cause-Effect Pattern
Cause and effect transitions signal that the author is going to describe results or effects.
They tell us what happened or will happen because something else happened. Here are
some common cause and effect words:
thus
because
if . . . then
as a result
consequently
accordingly
therefore
since
so
Bristol Community College
Reading Refresher Workshop
Patterns of Organization: Exercises
Identifying Patterns of Organization
Read the paragraphs below. Think about what you have learned about Patterns of
Organization. Choose the best answer.
1. There are many similarities in the careers of two former Massachusetts politicians,
Tip O’Neal and John McCormick. Both men were concerned with local as well as
national politics. Similarly, both were of Irish heritage and held the position of the
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. Finally, both are honored and
remembered today.
The Pattern of Organization of the paragraph is:
a. statement/example
b. addition
c. comparison
d. cause-effect
2. Prejudice is a rigid emotional attitude often based on inadequate data. It is a
stereotyped thinking and includes a tendency to respond negatively toward a
certain person or group. It may be, for example, when someone believes that “all”
men or “all” women should act a certain way. It also is an attitude that may spur
hidden or open action against others.
The Pattern of Organization of the paragraph is:
a. statement/example
b. addition
c. contrast
d. cause-effect
3. In the process of preparing a computer program several steps need to be taken in a
proper order. First, the programmer must understand the problem. The
programmer must know what the program is required to do. He/she must also
know what output needs to be produced. Once the problem is understood, the
programmer next must design a program to solve it. Then the coding can actually
begin. The programmer uses his or her knowledge of computer language to write
and code the needed program.
The Pattern of Organization of the paragraph is:
a. time sequence
b. addition
c. contrast
d. cause-effect
4. What are the causes of social deviance? One theory says that people are born into a
pattern of deviant behavior. They may learn bad behavior from family and
community. This causes them to grow up with no real awareness or the
incorrectness of their actions.
The Pattern of Organization of the paragraph is:
a. statement/example
b. addition
c. comparison
d. cause-effect
5. In order to have a good vacation abroad, travelers should be sure to take several
items. They should pack a variety of clothes. They should be sure to have any
medications they need as well as enough money. In addition, they should have
their passport and visas, if needed.
The Pattern of Organization of the paragraph is:
a. statement/example
b. addition
c. time sequence
d. cause-effect
Bristol Community College
Reading Refresher Workshop
Inferencing: Explanation
To infer means to read “between the lines.” Inferring is a higher order reading skill
and requires greater concentration and thinking on the part of the reader. A reader must
not only understand the literal information within the reading selection but also draw
conclusions and make inferences from that information.
An author often implies his real meaning. He/she does not directly state a
message, but rather suggests a meaning. It becomes the reader’s task to uncover these
implications and even expand upon them. When a reader does this, he/she is inferencing.
An inference is more than a guess. An inference is a logical conclusion based on
hints that are stated or implied. A simple guess is a conclusion that has been reached
without real proof. A good reader bases his/her inferences on the author’s clues—choice
of words, logic, pattern, focus, tone and purpose. An author implies or suggests by hints;
the reader infers by putting those hints together. The reader thus unlocks meaning and
expands his/her understanding of the reading process.
Sometimes, however, for the reader to understand the full meaning of the
conclusions, he/she must draw on prior knowledge. Prior knowledge refers to the
reader’s previous experience, education, background and reading exposure. When the
reader can combine all reading skills with prior knowledge, he/she can realize the full
meaning of the selection. (See the diagram below)
The process of inferencing may seem difficult at first because it does involve critical
reading and thinking skills. It certainly demands not only sharp decoding but also
creativity and logic. However, once the reader arranges the facts and hints before him/her
and practices frequently, inferencing will come more easily.
Process Diagram of Inferencing
Directly stated facts, details, main idea
Clues, hints, word choice, pattern, tone,
Point of view
Prior knowledge, vocabulary,
experience, previous reading
INFERENCING
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Reading Refresher Workshop
Inferencing: Exercises #1
Read the paragraph carefully. Complete the paragraph by choosing the best answer.
Remember what you have learned about inferencing.
1. The first requirement of a good speaker is that he knows his fellow man. He must
know the prejudices, rights, and grievances of the man in the street. It is only in this
way that he can reach his audience, for before he can win his audience he must
a.
b.
c.
d.
use common words.
avoid controversial subject matter.
understand its members.
prepare his speech carefully.
2. Healthy blood vessels enable the blood to flow normally to all of the body’s organs,
and thus many of the diseases of old age are reduced. Older people who are alert
and physically active are undoubtedly those who have
a.
b.
c.
d.
proper posture.
correct breathing.
fit health.
youthful arteries.
3. Some hibernating animals store enough fat in their bodies to last them all winter. In
the desert, camels store fat in their humps and thus are able to travel for days without
a.
b.
c.
d.
heat.
sleep.
food.
water.
4. One of the best ways to protect yourself against rising rents is to buy a home of your
own. Otherwise, you will always be at the mercy of landlords who force you to
a.
b.
c.
d.
rent from them.
pay whatever they demand.
make your own repairs in the house.
move whenever they desire it.
5. The potency of propaganda lies largely in the subtlety of its action. Like an odorless
but deadly vapor, it seeps into the atmosphere undetected until it has
a.
b.
c.
d.
overpowered all who are exposed to it.
blended harmlessly with the air.
been recognized.
created the opposite effect.
6. Like the seed that was cast on stony ground, the communities founded on wood
manufacturing sprang up rapidly, and sometimes as rapidly wilted. When the
market is good, this product brings profit. But a wood dealer may be a millionaire
one day and a pauper the next, for this market is always
a.
b.
c.
d.
open.
precarious.
stable.
profitable.
7. The great writer read once again some of his early efforts, blushed at the lack of skill
that they showed, and wished them
a.
b.
c.
d.
reprinted.
criticized.
preserved.
destroyed.
8. The diet of the preying mantis consists solely of living insects. She is the terrible
dragon of the insect kingdom who demands a tribute of
a.
b.
c.
d.
farm products.
servants.
property.
fresh meat.
9. The history of painting shows so many examples of fine works which have perished
that we must take every possible precaution to prevent damage to those which may
be painted
a.
b.
c.
d.
by great artists.
by American artists.
on canvas.
in the future.
Bristol Community College
Reading Refresher Workshop
Inferencing: Exercises #2
Read the paragraph carefully. Complete the paragraph by choosing the best answer.
Remember what you have learned about inferencing.
1.. No man should be forced to be always in the company of others. Each man requires
some
a.
b.
c.
d.
solitude.
society.
fraternity.
idealism.
2. This vast grazing area was sparsely populated, since the successful operation of the
cattle business requires
a.
b.
c.
d.
very expensive equipment.
large capital outlays.
long-term planning.
comparatively few people.
3. The degree to which Americans and Englishmen identify with each other, by virtue of
their common language, literature, and ancestry, is often a hindrance to truly
sympathetic mutual understanding. The American is prone to exaggerate the
similarity which his English cousin actually bears to him. Thus the American expects
his cousin to behave in all circumstances as he himself would and judges the
Englishman
a.
b.
c.
d.
by his own standards.
by an absolute ideal.
as he would an immigrant.
on the basis of his actions.
4. The female population of the United States would have practically nothing to wear if it
were not for New York’s gigantic
a.
b.
c.
d.
advertisements.
department stores.
garment industry.
fashion magazines.
5. Alphabets are necessarily incomplete because it is not practical to assign a separate
symbol to every possible sound of human speech. Consequently, the same symbol
frequently has to
a.
b.
c.
d.
be changed when written.
do duty for two or more sounds.
be omitted in final practice.
be translated into different languages.
6. Mr. Smith did not want to appear, through purchases of a new car, fancy appliances,
and so forth, any more prosperous than his neighbors. In fact, by his actions and
purchases, he tried to present the picture of being merely comparable to them. He is
an example of the new type of person who reverses the old saying
a.
b.
c.
d.
“Birds of a feather flock together.”
“Handsome is as handsome does.”
“We must keep up with the Joneses.”
“A penny saved is a penny earned.”
7. You aren’t the only person who has felt self-conscious. Most people, at least at
some time during their lives, experience the feeling that all eyes are focused on them.
This is a very common feeling of young people. The unlimited self-confidence of
many of your acquaintances is just an act, cover-up for deep lying feelings of
a.
b.
c.
d.
uncertainty.
boldness.
self-importance.
youthfulness.
Bristol Community College
Reading Refresher Workshop
Inferencing: Exercises #3
Read each paragraph below and circle the letter of the correct inference. Remember
what you learned about inferencing.
1. According to researchers, the annual number of AIDS cases in the United States will
decrease in the next decade. The latest study, done by Dr. Marc Richardson, states that
the annual number of new AIDS cases will reach a maximum of 20,000 to 30,000 in the
next few years and then decline. He attributes this decline to the fact that the AIDS
virus has been contained to two high-risk groups-- homosexual/bisexual men and
virus and intravenous drug users—and these groups are being educated to change
their behaviors.
a.
b.
c.
d.
AIDS will decline because a cure has been found.
We can stop worrying about the spread of AIDS.
Education will reduce drug usage.
The risk of homosexual/bisexual men contracting AIDS will be reduced.
2. Eye contact between people differs from situation to situation and culture to culture.
We tend to have better eye contact if we are comfortable with the people we are talking
to and the subject we are talking about. In contrast, we avoid eye contact if we are
nervous about the person or conversation. Also, we have more eye contact when we
are trying to influence the other person. Looking into someone’s eyes makes us seem
sincere. Often we may avoid eye contact if we may be trying to hide something. In
some cultures, direct eye contact is valued, while in others it is considered impolite.
a. While lying, a child is likely to look his mother in the eye.
b. Salespeople are likely to have good eye contact.
c. If a person does not look at you directly, he or she always has something to
hide.
d. A defendant who wishes to seem innocent should lower his eyes in court.
3. As American cities grew, more and more people depended on fewer and fewer people
for their food supply. As our economy changed from rural to urban, people bought
their food from stores rather than producing it themselves. Today, over 90% of
Americans depend on food grown by others and purchased in stores. Most of this food
comes from farms located hundreds of miles away from the place of purchase.
a. American industrial development resulted in a large food industry.
b. Ten percent of Americans eat healthier foods.
c. Our urban economy will someday mean the total disappearance of American
farms.
d. Americans have lost variety in their diet.
Bristol Community College
Reading Refresher Workshop
Tone: Explanation and Exercises
The author’s tone expresses his or her feelings or attitude. The tone of an author’s
writing is similar to the tone of a person’s voice. However, because a speaker’s voice is not
heard in reading, it may be more difficult to discern the tone of a piece of writing. The
reader must look for clues to the author’s tone or attitude such as the author’s purpose,
word choice, and use of fact and opinion.
The following are some words that can be used to describe the author’s tone:
Positive
optimistic
hopeful
admiring
joyous
loving
sympathetic
appreciative
enthusiastic
Negative
pessimistic
hostile
scornful
appalled
arrogant
ridiculing
grim
outraged
Neutral
objective
straightforward
realistic
serious
solemn
matter-of-fact
Other words to describe tone: formal, informal, anxious, humorous, indifferent, amused
sentimental, unconcerned, sarcastic, critical.
Identifying Tone
Read each paragraph below and choose the writer’s tone/attitude.
1. Obesity continues to grow in the United States despite our national interest in being
thin and fit. More than 60% of adults in the U. S. are now estimated to be overweight
or obese. More than 300,000 people die from health problems related to excessive
weight each year.
a. hostile
b. optimistic
c. pessimistic
d. objective
2. As another school massacre makes the headlines, again we ask ourselves questions.
Didn’t anyone see this coming? What were the parents doing? Where did kids get
guns? Why didn’t the school pick up on the dangerous potential of another violent
child? Who do we blame for this atrocious new phenomenon of our twisted culture?
a. outraged
b. matter-of-fact
c. indifferent
d. sarcastic
Bristol Community College
Reading Refresher Workshop
Purpose: Explanation and Exercises
Most writers create a piece of writing with a general purpose in mind. Because
writers generally do not directly state their purpose, the reader must infer it from clues
that are given in the writing. The reader can do this by asking, “Why did the author write
this?” Some different purposes can be to inform, to entertain or to persuade.
Identifying Purpose
Read the paragraphs and identify the author’s purpose.
1. Traditional IQ tests have been in use for almost one hundred years to measure
intelligence. Recently, however, some psychologists have questioned the reliability of this
type of test. Dr. Howard Gardner suggests that people may have intelligences that are not
measured by these type of tests. He believes that there are eight different types of
intelligences and that using the old IQ tests alone is too limiting.
The purpose of this paragraph is to
a. entertain the reader
b. inform the reader about new ideas on IQ
c. persuade the reader to take a psychology course
d. convince the reader that IQ cannot be measured
2. This Proposition 100 sounds deceptively appealing but it gives the average citizen less
freedom. What it gives with one hand, it takes with the other. This Proposition is antifreedom and should not be passed.
The purpose of this paragraph is to
a. entertain the reader
b. inform the reader about new ideas
c. persuade the reader to be against a proposition
d. convince the reader that the proposition is good
Bristol Community College
Reading Refresher Workshop
Sentence Relationships: Explanation and Exercises
The skill of recognizing sentence relationships involves combining several reading
skills such as inferencing and patterns of organization.
Read the paragraph and then answer the questions that follow.
(1) Living together with elderly parents is one of the traditional customs of the
Vietnamese. (2) In fact, most Vietnamese are honored to have a mother, father, mother-inlaw, or father-in-law living with themselves and their children. (3) They want to live with
their parents, regardless of whether the parents are young or old, healthy or sick, rich or
poor, because they feel that it is their duty to take care of them until theirs deaths. (4) This
sense of duty is a reflection of the gratitude they feel toward their parents for all their hard
work and sacrifice. (5) Children are taught to think of their parents above even their own
needs and wants, to make sacrifices for their parents’ sake as their parents did for them, to
love and care for them in their old age. (6) Unfortunately, this tradition has become
undermined now by the current regime in Vietnam, which encourages children to have
loyalty to the government first.
1. The relationship between Sentence 1 and Sentence 2 is
a. a general statement and example.
b. Sentence 2 restates Sentence 1.
c. a comparison.
d. Sentence 2 provides a summary.
2. Sentences 3 and 4 are related because
a. Sentence 4 contradicts Sentence 3.
b. Sentence 4 restates Sentence 3
c. they show cause and effect.
d. Sentence 4 defines a term in Sentence 3.
3. The relationship between Sentence 5 and Sentence 6 is one of
a. contrast.
b. cause and effect.
c. summary.
d. elaboration.
Bristol Community College
Reading Refresher Workshop
General Hints to Improve Reading
Good reading skills take many years to build. You should make reading a lifetime
habit and then good comprehension will follow. Below are some suggestions to improve
your reading:
Read Frequently
Make reading an everyday habit. The more you read, the better you get at it. If you
have children or young relatives, read to or with them. They will love it and you can
“model” good reading habits to them.
Read a Variety of Materials
Read a wide variety of materials. Read newspapers, magazines and books. Read
about different subjects. This will help expand your knowledge base as well as improve
reading in general.
Read Books You Enjoy
People read more and better when they read about a topic in which they are
interested. Skim a book before you borrow or buy it to see if its subject is of interest to
you. Listen to the recommendations of friends, too. They often can lead you to a good
book. The Reading Lab Pamphlet has a list of books that BCC students have read and
recommended.
Bristol Community College
Reading Refresher Workshop
CPT Practice #1
Read each item below and choose the best answer.
Anthropologist Erving Goffman analyzed the composition of photographs used in popular
advertising. He noticed that the composition of photographs often contained
“genderisms,” that is, subtle stereotyped themes. In them, men were almost always
shown with their heads higher in the photo than women, even when both were seated.
According to Goffman, this positioning represents a subordination of women. The lower
position of the women’s heads may reflect their subordinate status to men.
1. The purpose of the passage is to
a. present opposing scientific theories
b. give a personal opinion
c. provide information about a person’s research study
d. suggest a solution to a problem
Anthropologist Erving Goffman analyzed the composition of photographs used in popular
advertising. In them, men were almost always shown with their heads higher in the photo
than women, even when both were seated.
2. How are the sentences related?
a. One contradicts the other.
b. One is a summary of the other summary.
c. One provides specific evidence that explains the other.
d. One is a comparison of the other.
Excellent writing is difficult to describe. Although in most contexts “excellence” implies
forcefulness, all excellent business writing is not necessarily forceful. Excellent business
writing can be tactful, descriptive and even technical. It can be formal or informal, and it
can deal with matters that are important or simple.
3. The author’s point of view about business writing is
a. different types of writing are good.
b. excellent business writing may be forceful but does not need to be.
c. business writing is the only good writing.
d. business writing is difficult to master.
Excellent business writing is difficult to describe. It can be tactful, descriptive and even
technical.
4. The two underlined sentences go together because
a. one is a cause and one is an effect.
b. one is a general statement and one supports it with a list.
c. they make a comparison.
d. they make a contrast.
Adrenaline is what they call it, of course, the cause of all this anxiety. It is a rush of nature
that protects us in perilous situations and brings on a readiness to fight or flee, the
anthropologists tell us, depending on the circumstances.
5. What does the second sentence do?
a. It provides more details.
b. It gives a comparison.
c. It provides a solution.
d. It provides a summary.
Consider the following sentence which is a first draft of a report to a client: The
introduction of new products appears to be an inadvisable during this current period of
time. Here is the rewritten version: Introducing new products right now is not a good
idea. As you can see, the loss of words does not change the meaning of the sentence.
6. The author implies
a. writing reports is a difficult task.
b. the person is a bad writer.
c. rewriting a report can reduce the wordiness.
d. introducing products is not a good idea.
The technical procedure that is used to guard against observer effects is the “double
blind.” It simply means that observers are kept unaware of or blind to which
experimental group subjects are in, so the observers’ expectations cannot affect the
outcome. Unfortunately, the double-blind method is virtually impossible to use in
gender difference research because the observer cannot be “blind” to the differences
between the physical appearance of men and women.
7. The phrase “double blind” refers to
a. people who are blind.
b. double blind observers.
c. the two sexes--men and women.
d. a way to ensure that the experiment is valid.
The technical procedure that is used to guard against observer effects is the “double
blind.” It simply means that observers are kept unaware of or blind to which
experimental group subjects are in, so the observers’ expectations cannot affect the
outcome
8. The two underlined sentences go together because
a. they are comparisons.
b. one defines a term mentioned in the other.
c. one gives an example of the other.
d. one is a cause and the other is an effect.
If your words and ideas are ready to leap onto the page, let them come. Otherwise, one of
the following techniques may help you to get started. Begin by telling your audience how
you feel about the problem or issue at hand. You might describe what went wrong or
project into the future. If you don’t have strong feelings about the issue, picture yourself
talking to someone who does. Picture yourself actually speaking the words of your
opponent.
9. The author suggests that
a. the reader is having a good time.
b. the reader is ignorant.
c. the reader is having difficulty getting started.
d. the reader is a good writer.
The misery and gloom were incalculable, as forests of dead chimneys stood starkly against
the sky. Over five thousand banks collapsed during the first three years of the Great
Depression, carrying with them the savings of thousands of people. Bread lines formed,
soup kitchens dispensed food, and apple sellers stood shivering on the streets. Families
felt the stress as jobless fathers were guilty and mothers nursed fewer babies. As cash
registers gathered cobwebs, the song “My, God, How the Money Rolls In” was replaced
with “Brother, Can You Spare a Dine?”
10. The tone of the passage can best be described as
a. happy.
b. angry.
c. depressing.
d. sarcastic.
Bristol Community College
Reading Refresher Workshop
CPT Practice #2
Read each item below and choose the best answer.
The magnitude of an earthquake is the total amount of energy released. The magnitude is
not measured directly, but is expressed on an arbitrary scale independent of the place of
observation. At the present time, the magnitude of an earthquake is expressed in terms of
the Richter scale. On the other hand, the intensity of an earthquake is the amount of
shaking of the earth’s surface at any given location.
1. The purpose of this paragraph is to
a. argue a point.
b. explain an opinion.
c. give information.
d. entertain the reader.
The magnitude of an earthquake is the total amount of energy released. On the other hand,
the intensity of an earthquake is the amount of shaking of the earth’s surface at any given
location.
2. The relationship of the two underlined sentences is
a. a definition.
b. a contrast.
c. an explanation.
d. a result.
Some argue that Custer disobeyed orders and attacked early before meeting up with
General Terry and his larger army, according to plan. But Custer might have believed
that he and his company had been spotted by Indians and that the Indians might slip
away if he did not attack immediately.
3. What is the relationship of the two underlined sentences?
a. One is a restatement of the other.
b. One is an explanation of the other.
c. One gives background information for the other.
d. One presents a view that contradicts the other.
People have varying degrees of self-involvement in their everyday tasks and activities.
They can be deeply involved in an activity, say, a political election, without being selfinvolved.
4. The relationship of the two underlined sentences is
a. a comparison and contrast
b. a definition
c. a general statement and an example
d. a list
The economy of Europe, although devastated by World War II, is now one of the strongest
in the world. Europe has been industrialized for two centuries. In the past 25 years,
Europeans have doubled their incomes, having twice as many goods and services at their
disposal as they had in 1965. This compares with an increase of only 60 percent in the
United States and an increase of 40 percent in Japan. However, U.S. income is higher than
European income.
5.
The author implies
a. the European economy recovered relatively quickly from WWII.
b. the U. S. economy is better than the European.
c. Europeans live a middle class life.
d. the Japanese people are poorer than the Europeans.
This compares with an increase of only 60 percent in the United States and an increase of
40 percent in Japan. However, U. S. income is higher than European income.
6. The two sentences go together because
a. one is the main idea and the other is a restatement of the main idea.
b. one is a cause and the other is an effect.
c. they present a contrast.
d. they are supporting details.
Mexico’s two most pressing problems are population growth and foreign debt. Nowhere
is population more visible than in Mexico City. Hoping to find jobs, more than 2,000
people move to the city each day. The metropolitan area is one of the world’s largest.
Experts predict it will have 26 million residents by 2000. Terrible joblessness, filthy slums,
disgusting fog, and viscous traffic jams are among the city’s problems. The rapid
economic growth has slowed and much of Mexico’s income comes from oil sales. In the
past, the country borrowed heavily from other nations to pay for sales. The country also
borrowed heavily from other nations to pay for industrialization. It was expected that oil
would pay off these debts. When world oil prices dropped in the 1980’s, Mexico found it
hard to repay its loans. Today, it has one of the highest foreign debts.
7. The author suggests that
a. Mexico is a great country.
b. Mexico is in trouble.
c. Mexico has many problems to solve.
d. People should not visit Mexico.
Waterbed owners beware! It can cost up to $300 a year to heat your luxurious sleeping
contraptions. The Southeastern Development Association recently released a report that
said the estimated 20 million waterbeds in the U.S. are incredible energy wasters. Electric
waterbed heaters sometimes run eight hours a day and use as much electricity as a large
refrigerator. Leaving the bed unmade every day can increase energy consumption by
about 32 percent through heat loss.
8. The reader can draw the conclusion that the author
a. owns a waterbed
b. thinks waterbeds are good ideas
c. thinks waterbeds are too costly
d. has studied energy consumption in great depth
Knowing how difficult it is for students to raise capital to realize business ventures, the
founders of “I Can’t Believe It’s Yogurt” stores-Julie and Bill Brice- sponsored a contest for
young entrepreneurs. The Brices, who began their franchise when they were in college,
offered the contest to students who could create a business that can be franchised. The
idea didn’t need to be new; it could be an improvement on an existing product or service.
First prize was $10,000, to be used as start-up costs. Last year 573 entries from 203 colleges
in 48 states were received.
9. An idea for a good entry into this contest might be
a. a McDonald’s on Main Street
b. a new shopping mall
c. an idea for a new way to service cars in the owners’ home driveways
d. a daycare
One of Jung’s best-known contributions to psychology is his theory on personality types.
He claims there are two basic orientations: extraversion and introversion. Both are
viewed as existing simultaneously in each person, with one usually being dominant. The
extravert’s energy is directed toward objects and events while the introvert is more
concerned with inner experiences. The extravert is outgoing and makes friends easily; the
introvert frequently prefers solitude and cultivates few relationships.
10. You can infer that extraverts would most likely be
a. researchers
b. writers
c. public speakers
d. plumbers
In every society, certain occupations are thought to have a higher status and greater
economic rewards than other occupations. The particular occupations may differ from
one society to another. For example, university professors are seen as being more
influential in Korea and Japan than they are in the United States.
11. The main subject of the paragraph is
a. occupations
b. the status of certain occupations
c. United States
d. university professors of Japan and Korea
People are troubled by the growing lack of privacy. There even may be little privacy
when people use the company e-mail system. Employers have the ability to recover emails that an employee has received or sent even if the employee has deleted the e-mails.
Employees are sometimes surprised when they are confronted with the fact that their emails have been recaptured by others. These e-mails may even be now used as evidence
in court cases.
12. The main point of the paragraph is
a. don’t send e-mails at work
b. don’t delete e-mails
c. make sure your company does not read your e-mails
d. be cautious about e-mail use at work
Answer Key
Finding Stated Main Idea (p. 6)
1. d
2. b
Discovering Unstated Main Idea (p. 7)
1. c
2. d
Identifying Patterns of Organization (pp. 11-12)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
c
a
a
d
b
Inferencing: Exercises #1 (pp. 14-15)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
c
d
c
b
a
b
d
d
d
Inferencing: Exercises #2 (pp.16-17)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
a
d
a
c
b
c
a
Inferencing: Exercises #3 (p. 18)
1. d
2. b
3. a
Answer Key (continued)
Identifying Tone (p. 19)
1. d
2. a
Identifying Purpose (p. 20)
1. b
2. c
Sentence Relationships: Exercises (p. 21)
1. a
2. c
3. a
CPT Practice #1 (pp. 23-25)
1. c
2. c
3. b
4. b
5. a
6. c
7. d
8. b
9. c
10. c
CPT Practice #2 (pp. 26-29)
1. c
2. b
3. d
4. c
5. a
6. c
7. c
8. c
9. c
10. c
11. b
12. d