Reading: Critical Analysis Flashcards
7 cards from real CBEST practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Reading: Critical Analysis flashcards as text
A passage argues: 'Schools that adopted the new math curriculum saw test scores rise. Therefore, the curriculum is the reason scores improved.' Which additional information would most weaken this conclusion?
Answer: A new standardized test was introduced the same year
A simultaneous change in the test itself could explain score changes independently of the curriculum, undermining the causal link.
Which sentence uses connotation most effectively to create a negative impression of a politician?
Answer: Senator Cruz rammed the controversial bill through despite public outcry.
'Rammed through' and 'despite public outcry' carry strongly negative connotations, framing the action as aggressive and undemocratic.
An author writes a passage about climate change using only statistics from a single oil company's report. A critical reader should question the:
Answer: Source bias and credibility of the data
Relying on data from a financially interested party raises serious concerns about bias and the objectivity of the evidence.
The following paragraph begins: 'First, consider the economic impact. Second, examine the social consequences. Finally, weigh the environmental costs.' This organizational structure is best described as:
Answer: Enumeration / sequential listing
Signal words like 'first,' 'second,' and 'finally' indicate the author is listing a sequence of points for consideration.
A reader is trying to distinguish between a fact and an opinion. Which of the following is a fact?
Answer: Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564.
A birthplace and birth year can be verified through historical records, making this a fact rather than a subjective judgment.
A passage uses the phrase 'a Herculean effort' to describe a community cleanup project. The author intends this phrase to convey:
Answer: That the task required extraordinary strength and effort
The allusion to Hercules, known for tremendous feats, signals that the effort required was exceptionally demanding.
An author concludes an essay with: 'If we do not act now, our children will inherit a world beyond saving.' The primary rhetorical strategy used here is:
Answer: An appeal to emotion using urgency and fear
The author invokes fear about children's future to motivate readers emotionally rather than providing logical evidence.