Critical Reading Flashcards
7 cards from real CHSPE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Critical Reading flashcards as text
A passage argues that teenagers who work part-time during school earn better grades because they learn time management. A reader who thinks critically would first ask:
Answer: Does working cause better grades, or do motivated students do both?
Critical readers question whether correlation implies causation—motivated students may both work and earn good grades without one causing the other.
The tone of a passage can best be described as the author's:
Answer: Attitude toward the subject or audience
Tone refers to the author's attitude or emotional stance toward the subject, revealed through word choice and style.
Read: 'The mayor promised swift action, but three months later, nothing had changed.' The author's attitude toward the mayor is most likely:
Answer: Skeptical or critical
By contrasting the mayor's promise of 'swift action' with the fact that 'nothing changed,' the author implies skepticism or criticism.
Which text structure is used when a passage explains what caused wildfires and what resulted from them?
Answer: Cause and effect
A cause-and-effect structure explains why something happened (causes) and what happened as a result (effects).
A student reads an article titled 'Why Homework Should Be Banned.' This title tells the reader the article will most likely:
Answer: Argue one side of a debate about homework
The word 'should' in the title signals a persuasive argument advocating a specific position—that homework should be eliminated.
In context, the word 'paramount' in 'Student safety is paramount during a campus emergency' most nearly means:
Answer: Most important
'Paramount' means of greatest importance or supreme priority, fitting the emergency context where safety comes first.
An author includes a direct quote from a firefighter who survived a major blaze. What is the most likely reason for including this quote?
Answer: To add credibility and a firsthand perspective
Firsthand quotes from people with direct experience add credibility and a human, authentic perspective to a written piece.