Reading and Textual Analysis Flashcards

An author compares the human brain to a 'bustling city that never sleeps.' This figurative language is meant to convey the brain's:

Answer: Constant, complex activity

The city metaphor emphasizes ongoing, intricate activity.

Which detail would best support the claim that a town's library is a community hub?

Answer: It hosts free classes, story hours, and meeting spaces

Programs and gathering spaces directly demonstrate community use.

A passage shifts from describing a problem to listing solutions. This organizational pattern is best called:

Answer: Problem and solution

Presenting an issue then fixes is the problem-solution structure.

The tone of a passage that uses words like 'gloomy,' 'fading,' and 'silent' is most likely:

Answer: Somber

Dark, quiet word choices create a somber mood.

An argument claims phones harm sleep, then cites only one friend's experience. The reasoning is weak because it:

Answer: Relies on insufficient anecdotal evidence

A single anecdote cannot reliably support a broad claim.

In 'The committee tabled the proposal,' the phrasal meaning of 'tabled' in U.S. usage is:

Answer: Postponed for later consideration

In American usage, to 'table' a proposal is to set it aside.

Which sentence contains an opinion rather than a fact?

Answer: The museum's new exhibit is the most beautiful in the state

'Most beautiful' is a subjective judgment, not verifiable fact.