THEA THEA Reading 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A passage argues: 'If we allow one exception to the rule, soon everyone will demand exceptions, and the rule will be meaningless.' This is an example of which logical fallacy?
- Ad hominem
- Slippery slope (Correct answer)
- False dilemma
- Circular reasoning
Correct answer: Slippery slope
Slippery slope assumes that one action will inevitably lead to an extreme chain of negative consequences.
Question 2: The word 'ephemeral' in the context 'the ephemeral beauty of cherry blossoms lasts only a week' most nearly means:
- Vibrant and colorful
- Lasting only a short time (Correct answer)
- Widespread and abundant
- Deeply rooted
Correct answer: Lasting only a short time
'Ephemeral' means lasting for a very short time, consistent with the context clue 'only a week.'
Question 3: A passage begins with a broad statement about human nature and then uses three specific examples to support it. This structure is known as:
- Inductive reasoning moving to a conclusion
- Deductive reasoning from general to specific (Correct answer)
- A compare-and-contrast pattern
- A cause-and-effect pattern
Correct answer: Deductive reasoning from general to specific
Starting with a general claim and supporting it with specific examples is deductive reasoning structure.
Question 4: In the sentence 'The deadline loomed like a storm cloud on the horizon,' what is the effect of the simile?
- It shows the deadline was related to weather
- It creates a sense of threat and foreboding about the deadline (Correct answer)
- It suggests the deadline was pleasant and anticipated
- It explains why the deadline was set
Correct answer: It creates a sense of threat and foreboding about the deadline
Comparing the deadline to a storm cloud uses the negative connotations of storms to create a feeling of dread.
Question 5: A student reads a passage and wants to distinguish between facts and opinions. Which of the following is a FACT?
- The legislation was the most important ever passed
- The bill was signed into law on March 15, 1965 (Correct answer)
- Every citizen benefited greatly from the new policy
- The law was clearly a mistake
Correct answer: The bill was signed into law on March 15, 1965
A specific, verifiable date is a fact; the other options contain subjective judgments that cannot be objectively verified.
Question 6: Which reading strategy is MOST useful when a reader encounters an unfamiliar word with no context clues?
- Skip the word and continue reading
- Analyze the word's prefix, root, and suffix for meaning (Correct answer)
- Replace the word with a synonym that seems to fit
- Ask another person to read the passage aloud
Correct answer: Analyze the word's prefix, root, and suffix for meaning
Breaking an unfamiliar word into its morphological components (prefix, root, suffix) is a reliable strategy for inferring meaning.
Question 7: A passage presents two scientists who disagree about the cause of a phenomenon, giving equal space to each view. What is the author's most likely purpose?
- To prove one scientist is wrong
- To present multiple perspectives and let readers evaluate the evidence (Correct answer)
- To entertain with a debate story
- To argue that science cannot answer the question
Correct answer: To present multiple perspectives and let readers evaluate the evidence
Giving equal space to opposing views is characteristic of an objective, informative purpose that presents multiple perspectives.
THEA THEA Reading 4
A passage argues: 'If we allow one exception to the rule, soon everyone will demand exceptions, and the rule will be meaningless.' This is an example of which logical fallacy?