Reading 100
Final Exam
Fall 2014
Answer the following question using the passages to determine fact and opinion.
Passage 1
An arrest, in which a person is taken into custody, limits the arrestee's freedom. Arrest is a serious step in the
process of justice and involves a discretionary decision made by the police seeking to bring criminal
sanctions to bear. Most arrests are made peacefully, but if a suspect tries to resist, a police officer may need to
use force. Only about half of all people arrested are eventually convicted, and of those, only about a quarter
are sentenced to a year or more in prison.
Passage 2
An arrest is the worst thing that can happen to someone. Most of the time people who are arrested are not
guilty of any crime but in the "wrong place at the wrong time." Many people in the U.S. have been found
innocent after careful examination of DNA evidence after spending years in jail. In my view, you cannot
claim to have a fair criminal justice system if even one person is found guilty when they are truly innocent.
1.
Which of the following words or phrases from the above passage signal opinion in writing?
a.
"worst" and "in my view"
b.
"serious step" and "only about half"
c.
"found innocent" and "careful examination of DNA evidence"
d.
"taken into custody" and "limit's the arrestee's freedom"
Passage 1
The U.S. Constitution does require due process when processing a criminal justice case. However, I do not
believe that due process is granted in most criminal proceedings. We have had too many examples where
defendants were denied rights guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution to believe that due process really exists. I
urge the federal government to implement stricter oversight of due process to ensure than people's rights are
not violated.
Passage 2
The U.S. Constitution requires that criminal justice case processing be conducted with fairness and equity;
this requirement is referred to as due process. Simply put, due process means procedural fairness. It
recognizes the individual rights of criminal defendants facing prosecution by a state or the federal
government. Under the due process standard, rights violations may become the basis for the dismissal of
evidence or of criminal charges, especially at the appellate level.
2.
Which of the above passages is mostly made up of facts?
a.
Passage 1
b.
Passage 2
Reading 100
Final Exam
Fall 2014
Passage 1
The U.S. Constitution does require due process when processing a criminal justice case. However, I do not
believe that due process is granted in most criminal proceedings. We have had too many examples where
defendants were denied rights guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution to believe that due process really exists. I
urge the federal government to implement stricter oversight of due process to ensure than people's rights are
not violated.
Passage 2
The U.S. Constitution requires that criminal justice case processing be conducted with fairness and equity;
this requirement is referred to as due process. Simply put, due process means procedural fairness. It
recognizes the individual rights of criminal defendants facing prosecution by a state or the federal
government. Under the due process standard, rights violations may become the basis for the dismissal of
evidence or of criminal charges, especially at the appellate level.
3.
Choose the statement of fact
a.
I urge the federal government to implement stricter oversight of due process to ensure than people's
rights are not violated.
b.
However, I do not believe that due process is granted in most criminal proceedings.
c.
Under the due process standard, rights violations may become the basis for the dismissal of evidence or
of criminal charges, especially at the appellate level.
1) Trial by jury is one significant feature of the U.S. Justice system. 2) A jury trial is a legal proceeding in
which a body of persons is legally selected to weigh the evidence in a case and make a decision. 3) The
decision made by the jury is then applied by a judge. 4) A jury trial is known as the most equitable way to
conduct a criminal trial. 5) In the U.S. every person accused of a felony has a constitutional right to a trial by
jury.
4.
All of the following sentences are statements of fact except
a.
Sentence 1
b.
Sentence 2
c.
Sentence 4
d.
Sentence 5
5.
Which of the following is true about facts?
a.
they are expressions of emotion
b.
they are personal beliefs
c.
they are claims that can be proven
d.
they are interpretations
6.
Identifying the author's purpose and tone
a.
is the first thing to do when reading
b.
can be done by reading the title of a reading
c.
is the most important reading skill
d.
can tell you whether you are reading a fact rather than an opinion
7.
Choose the statement that is an opinion.
a.
Police officers protect and serve the community dutifully.
b.
Police officers are hired to protect the community.
Reading 100
Final Exam
Fall 2014
8.
Choose the statement that is a fact.
a.
Trial by jury is a flawed but mostly equitable system.
b.
A component of the United States criminal justice system is trial by jury.
9.
Authors use the classification organizational pattern to
a.
to compare ideas
b.
put their ideas into categories
c.
highlight their ideas
d.
illustrate their ideas
10.
Which of the following patterns of organization focuses on the sequence of events that occur over time?
a.
chronological order
b.
cause and effect
c.
definition
d.
classification
11.
Which of the following patterns of organization present a term and use examples to help the reader
understand the meaning of the term?
a.
cause and effect
b.
definition
c.
chronological order
d.
classification
Answer the following questions using the passage to determine the pattern of organization.
The first training for practical nurses was at the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) in New
York City in 1892. The following year this became the Ballard School. The program of study was 3 months
long, and the participants studied special techniques for caring for the sick as well as a variety of
homemaking techniques. Much of the care during this time was done in the client's home, making the
licensed practical nurse (LPN) a home health or visiting nurse. Eleven years later, a second school, the
Thompson Practical Nursing School, was established. In 1914, the state legislature in Mississippi passed the
first laws governing the practice of practical nurses. Other states were slow to follow. By 1940, only six states
had passed such laws. In 1955, the state board test pool of the NLN Education Committee established the
procedures for testing graduates of approved practical/vocational education programs in all states.
12.
The pattern of organization used in the above passage is
a.
chronological order
b.
comparison and contrast
c.
cause and effect
d.
definition
Reading 100
Final Exam
Fall 2014
To many it may appear that there are few differences between registered nurses and nurse practitioners.
While it may be true that both RNs and nurse practitioners perform many tasks in examining and treating
patients, there are significant differences in education and training. A Registered Nurses (RN) is a licensed
medical professional who has completed a four-year degree in nursing. RN's perform a wide-range of
functions in different medical settings and are generally responsible for assessing, planning and implementing
and evaluating nursing care for the sick and injured. On the other hand, a Nurse Practitioner (NP) is a
registered nurse who has normally completed either a master's degree or doctoral degree and undergone
training in diagnosis and management of common medical conditions. The NP, therefore, has advanced
clinical proficiency is assessment, diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions and often treat health
conditions within their range of practice, such as physical exams, ordering tests, and implementing therapies
for patients.
13.
The pattern of organization used in the above passage is
a.
chronological order
b.
comparison and contrast
c.
cause and effect
d.
definition
What is nursing? The short answer is helping those who are sick or injured. However, nursing is much more
complex and wide-ranging than that short definition. Long-time nurses might explain nursing in the following
ways. Nurses do not just care for the ill. They often provide comfort and care to the families of those who are
sick or injured. They often do this by keeping families informed and offering encouraging words. Nurses do
not just dole out medicines. They are trained professionals who must monitor the serious effects of all types
of medicines and how patients are responding to them. Nurses are not simply caretakers for those who are
hospital-bound. They are advocates for patients who may be too ill to speak themselves. They do this by
reporting on their patients' conditions to doctors and lead nurses. Nursing, as you have read, is much more
than helping those who are sick or injured.
14.
The patterns of organization used in the above passage are
a.
definition and illustration
b.
chronological order
c.
comparison and contrast
d.
cause and effect
15.
All of the following are types of support for valid arguments except
a.
observations
b.
emotional appeals
c.
logical reasoning
d.
research results
16.
All of the following are fact-based types of support for valid arguments except
a.
research results
b.
case studies
c.
observations
d.
statistics
Reading 100
Final Exam
Fall 2014
Answer the following questions using the passage to determine the author's argument.
Talk therapy is currently one of the most effective treatments for depression. It is known as a type of
psychotherapy where clients discuss problems with a psychologist or another mental health professional. In
particular, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a type of talk therapy, has been proven effective for treating
depression. A 2000 large-scale study published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed a higher rate
of treating depression when CBT was combined with drug therapy than when either method was used alone.
CBT is known as a short term therapeutic model that aims to change distorted attitudes and problem behavior
by identifying and replacing negative thoughts and changing the rewards for behaviors. Another type of talk
therapy is group therapy where two or more clients work together with a therapist to discuss emotional issues.
Group therapy is especially good for helping clients feel less alone which is a common feeling associated
with depression.
17.
What is the topic?
_________________________
18.
What is the author's argument?
__________________________
19.
What is the main support used to back up the author's argument?
__________________________
20.
What is meant by author bias in writing?
a.
prejudice against a group of people that is expressed in writing
b.
an opinion or preference that is expressed in writing
c.
an ability to persuade in writing
d.
an objective tone in writing
21.
An objective tone can also be described as
a.
neutral
b.
emotional
c.
biased
d.
dramatic
Reading 100
Final Exam
Fall 2014
Answer the following questions using the passage to determine author bias.
Big business in the United States has both positive and negative aspects. On the one hand, big companies can
harness all of their resources to compete which makes it difficult for small businesses to survive. On the other
hand, big corporations offer a tremendous amount of jobs to communities across the nation.
22.
The author's attitude in the above passage is
a.
pro-Big Business
b.
pro-small business
c.
anti-big business
d.
neutral
1) When a new Home Depot opens in a small town, local hardware store owners go into panic mode. 2)
Home Depot offers such low prices that smaller businesses can find it hard to compete. 3) A big chain
hardware store like Home Depot may offer big discounts, but they cannot offer the depth of knowledge and
personal attention that is given in a small hardware store. 4) One trip to a Home Depot with its maze of wide
aisles should make us all run out and support a locally-owned hardware store.
23.
The above passage is
a.
pro-Home depot
b.
biased against Home Depot
c.
neutral
d.
objective
Answer the following question using the passages to determine fact and opinion.
Passage 1
The U.S. Constitution does require due process when processing a criminal justice case. However, I do not
believe that due process is granted in most criminal proceedings. We have had too many examples where
defendants were denied rights guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution to believe that due process really exists. I
urge the federal government to implement stricter oversight of due process to ensure than people's rights are
not violated.
Passage 2
The U.S. Constitution requires that criminal justice case processing be conducted with fairness and equity;
this requirement is referred to as due process. Simply put, due process means procedural fairness. It
recognizes the individual rights of criminal defendants facing prosecution by a state or the federal
government. Under the due process standard, rights violations may become the basis for the dismissal of
evidence or of criminal charges, especially at the appellate level.
24.
How does the author's purpose and tone differ from Passage 1 to Passage 2?
a.
Passage 1 is informative and neutral and Passage 2 is persuasive and dramatic
b.
Passage 1 is persuasive and cynical and Passage 2 is informative and straightforward
c.
Passage 1 is instructional and serious and Passage 2 is entertaining and inspirational
Reading 100
Final Exam
Fall 2014
Read the following passage and answer the questions which follow:
This basic point of all serious study sounds commonsensical but is often ignored, even in college courses. It
actually traces back to the extremely complex thought of the German philosopher Hegel, who argued that
things happen not by caprice or accident but for good and sufficient reasons: "Whatever is real is rational."
That means that nothing is completely accidental and that if we apply reason we will understand why
something happens. We study politics in a "naturalistic" mode, not getting angry at what we see but trying to
understand how it came to be. For example, we hear of a politician who took money from a lobbyist. As
political scientists, we push our anger to the side and ask questions like: Do most politicians in that country
take money? Is it an old tradition and does the culture of this country accept it? Do the people even expect
politicians to take money? How big are campaign expenses? Can the politician possibly run for office without
taking money? In short, we see if extralegal exchanges of cash are part and parcel of the political system. If
they are, it makes no sense to get angry at an individual politician. If we dislike it, we may then consider how
the system might be reformed to discourage the taking of money on the side. And reforms may not work.
Japan reformed its electoral laws in an attempt to stamp out its traditional "money politics," but little
changed. Like bacteria, some things in politics have lives of their own.
(from Political Science: An Introduction, Chapter 1)
25.
The purpose of the above passage is
a.
to inform
b.
to persuade
c.
to entertain
d.
to instruct
26.
The tone of the above passage is best described as
a.
gloomy
b.
sentimental
c.
encouraging
d.
straightforward
27.
Examine the meaning of the following word parts
extra
outside
legal
related to law
According to the context and the meaning of these word parts, the best definition for extralegal is
a.
occurring outside the law
b.
occurring outside the political system
c.
within the political system
d.
within the law
28.
The main point of the above passage is best described in which sentence?
a.
Japan reformed its electoral laws in an attempt to stamp out its traditional "money politics," but little
changed.
b.
In short, we see if extralegal exchanges of cash are part and parcel of the political system.
c.
We study politics in a "naturalistic" mode, not getting angry at what we see but trying to understand
how it came to be.
d.
Like bacteria, some things in politics have lives of their own.
Reading 100
Final Exam
Fall 2014
External rewards undermine students' natural eagerness to learn. When we offer kids money and prizes, we
cheapen the value of learning. We have all seen kids who become so accustomed to external rewards that the
presents, candy, or money are what they want, rather than the academic achievement itself. I recently
overheard a teenage girl and her father arguing about how high her grades needed to be in order to get a car,
and what kind of car it would be. The conversation had everything to do with the prize and nothing to do with
learning. Our ultimate goal is to create citizens who make decisions for the right reasons—not because
someone is dangling a prize in front of them.
29.
According to the context, the word undermine in the first sentence most likely means
a.
to support
b.
to weaken
c.
to sustain
d.
to defend
30.
The author's tone in the above passage can best be described as
a.
critical
b.
neutral
c.
instructional
d.
indifferent
31.
The author's argument is mostly supported by
a.
research results
b.
statistics
c.
factual examples from the real world
d.
observation
32.
Which of the following best describes the author's argument?
a.
Good grades are easy to achieve in a world that rewards students with money and prizes
b.
Students should desire academic achievement more than money and prizes
c.
Money and prizes are sometimes good rewards for good grades
d.
Offering money and prizes in exchange for good grades devalues learning and takes away students'
natural desire to learn
33.
Choose the best topic for the above passage
a.
The value of learning
b.
Rewarding good grades with prizes and money
c.
Academic achievement
d.
Children's eagerness to learn
Reading 100
Final Exam
Fall 2014
History is one of the chief sources of data for political scientists. When we discuss the politics of the Third
French Republic (1871–1940), the growth of presidential power under Franklin Roosevelt (1933–1945), and
even something as recent as the Cold War (1947–1989), we are studying history. But historians and political
scientists look for different things and handle data differently. Typically, historians study one episode in
detail, digging up documents, archives, and news accounts on the topic. They have masses of data focused on
one point but venture few or no generalizations. Political scientists, on the other hand, begin by looking for
generalizations. We may take the findings of historians and compare and contrast them. A historian might do
a detailed study of Weimar Germany (1919–1933); a political scientist might put that study alongside studies
of France, Italy, and Russia of the same period to see what similarities and dissimilarities can be found. To be
sure, some historians do comparative studies; they become de facto political scientists.
(from Political Science: An Introduction, Chapter 1)
34.
From the above passage we can infer that a political scientist studying World War II would
a.
want to study previous wars for purposes of comparison
b.
only study history associated with World War II
c.
not make generalizations based on findings
d.
would focus solely on the history of pre-war Germany
35.
The purpose of the above passage is
a.
to debate
b.
to persuade
c.
to entertain
d.
to inform
36.
The tone of the above passage is best described as
a.
critical and gloomy
b.
neutral and straightforward
c.
encouraging and optimistic
d.
sentimental and dramatic
37.
Which best describes the pattern of organization used in the above passage?
a.
comparison and contrast
b.
cause and effect
c.
chronological order
d.
classification
38.
The context clues in the passage suggest that the best definition for de facto is
a.
in reality or fact
b.
by law
c.
by degree
d.
by comparison
39.
The context clues in the passage suggest that the best definition for comparative is
a.
based on opinion
b.
based on evidence
c.
based on comparison
d.
to debate
Reading 100
Final Exam
Fall 2014
40.
The main point of the above passage is
a.
Political scientists would not study one episode in history in detail
b.
studying history comparatively is an important part of the work of a political scientist
c.
historians and political scientists work in similar ways
d.
some historians become de facto political scientists
War and terrorism have revived interest in politics in the United States. Students and attentive citizens who a
few years ago turned away from politics are paying attention again. U.S. electoral turnout, with voters
angered by the war in Iraq and spurred by controversies over candidates and their policies, is up from lows of
50 percent in presidential elections.
(from Political Science: An Introduction, Chapter 1)
41.
What can we infer from the above passage?
a.
the voting public is never engaged in the political process
b.
the voting public is always engaged in the political process
c.
the voting public becomes more engaged with the political process when confronted with serious
issues, such as war and terrorism
d.
the voting public prefers to engage in presidential elections rather than local ones
42.
The tone of the above passage could best be described as
a.
straightforward
b.
dramatic
c.
biased
d.
bitter
43.
The context clues in the passage suggest that the best definition for revived is
a.
to become disengaged
b.
to become active again
c.
lifeless
d.
rewarding
44.
The best title for this passage would be
a.
Why Americans Are Interested in Politics Again
b.
Why Do Voters Turn Out in Presidential Elections?
c.
War and American Politics
d.
Why Do Students Vote?
There are hundreds of fad diets and diet books, but such diets are usually unbalanced and my result in serious illness
or even death. Fad diets cannot be maintained for long periods; therefore, the individual usually regains any lost
weight. Less than 5 percent of people who lose weight maintain the loss for more than one year. Constant losing
and gaining, known as the “yo-yo syndrome,” may be as harmful as the original overweight condition.
(Charles B. Corbin, Concepts of Fitness and Wellness, 7/e, 2008)
45. The author is opposed to
a.
Fruits and vegetables
b.
Fad diets
c.
Constant losing and gaining of weight
d.
Both b and c
Reading 100
Final Exam
Fall 2014
46. The author would agree that
a.
b.
c.
d.
Fad diets are often popularized by celebrities
Fad diets are a good way to maintain a healthy weight
Fad diets are likely to be unhealthy
If person lose weight by means of a fad diet, it is likely they will maintain the weight loss for at
least several years
The Beatles—the singer-guitarists Paul McCartney, John Lennon, and George Harrison, and the drummer Ringo
Starr—have been the most influential performing group the history of rock. Their music, hairstyle, dress, and
lifestyle were imitated all over the world, resulting in a phenomenon known as Beatlemania. All four Beatles were
born during the early 1940s in Liverpool, England, and dropped out of school in their teens to devote themselves to
rock. Lennon and McCartney, the main songwriters of the group, began working together in 1956 and were joined
by Harrison about two years later. In 1962 Ringo Starr became their new drummer. The group gained experience
by performing in Hamburg, Germany; and in Liverpool, a port to which sailors brought the latest American rock,
rhythm-and-blues, and country-and- western records. In 1961, the Beatles made their first record, and by 1963 they
were England’s top rock group. In 1964, they triumphed in the United States, breaking attendance records
everywhere and dominating the record market. Audiences often became hysterical, and the police had to protect the
Beatles from their fans. Beatle dolls, wigs, sweatshirts, and jackets flooded the market. Along with a steady flow of
successful records, the Beatles made several hit movies: A Hard Day’s Night!, and Yellow Submarine.
Roger Kamien, Music: An Appreciation, 9/e, 2008
47. For this paragraph, the author uses an organizational pattern that
a.
b.
c.
d.
Gives examples to support a point
Describes a series of events in chronological order
Compares and contrasts key details
Defines key terms
48. You can infer from this paragraph that the Beatles
a.
b.
c.
d.
Took college classes in music theory
Had little effect on rock music
Were well-known musicians before joining the group
Changed the course of rock music
49. Ringo Starr
a.
b.
c.
d.
Was the Beatles’ first drummer
Was born in the late 1940s
Joined the group after the Beatles released their first record
Was one of the group’s main songwriters
Reading 100
Final Exam
Fall 2014
If people stop to think about the plots in children’s stories, they may be surprised. Hansel and Gretel, for example,
were abandoned by their father and stepmother and left to wander in a dark forest. In another well-known story,
Cinderella was treated like a slave by her stepmother and stepsisters. Then there is the case of Little Red Riding
Hood, who was eaten by a wild animal. Finally, consider the example of the three blind mice. As if being blind was
not bad enough, they also had to deal with the horror of having their tales cut off by the farmer’s wife.
50. Choose the statement that best expresses the implied main idea of the above paragraph.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Children’s stories are about stepfamilies
Cinderella was treated like a slave
Animals and children are important characters in children’s stories
Children’s stories often deal with evil and violence