Evidence-Based Reading Flashcards

A passage describes a scientist who 'spent two decades quietly collecting evidence before publishing her findings.' The word 'quietly' most likely implies that the scientist worked:

Answer: Without drawing public attention or making premature announcements

Used figuratively, 'quietly' implies the scientist worked without fanfare or publicity, suggesting patient, unpublicized dedication to her research.

The following claim appears in a passage: 'Mandatory voting laws would solve the problem of low voter turnout.' Which of the following, if true, would most weaken this claim?

Answer: Countries with mandatory voting laws sometimes show high rates of blank or invalid ballots

High rates of blank ballots in countries with mandatory voting suggest the law may compel physical presence without ensuring meaningful participation, weakening the claim that it 'solves' the problem.

A passage about the Industrial Revolution states: 'Child labor in 19th-century factories was not merely an economic arrangement but a moral catastrophe that society normalized through law, custom, and silence.' The word 'normalized' most nearly means:

Answer: Made to appear acceptable or ordinary

In this context, 'normalized' means that society made child labor seem routine and acceptable rather than recognizing it as the moral violation it was.

In an informational passage, the author shifts from describing a problem in paragraphs 1–2 to proposing solutions in paragraphs 3–4. This organizational structure is best described as:

Answer: Problem-solution

When a passage first establishes a problem and then proposes ways to address it, the structure is problem-solution, one of the most common organizational patterns in informational writing.

A poem contains the lines: 'The river does not mourn the stones it leaves behind / It simply moves, as water must.' These lines most likely suggest that:

Answer: Letting go is a natural and necessary part of moving forward

The river serves as a metaphor for accepting change; just as water naturally flows forward, the poem suggests that moving on without grief is natural and necessary.

A passage reports: 'Survey respondents who identified as frequent readers scored higher on empathy measures than non-readers.' A researcher notes this is a correlational study. What conclusion is best supported by this finding?

Answer: People who read frequently tend to score higher on empathy measures

Correlational data supports an association between two variables but cannot establish that one causes the other, so only the claim about a tendency or pattern is warranted.

An author writes: 'Critics dismissed the novel as sentimental, yet it sold one million copies in its first year.' The word 'yet' signals:

Answer: A contrast between negative critical reception and strong public popularity

'Yet' is a contrast conjunction signaling that the unexpected commercial success contradicts the dismissive critical reception.