501 Critical Reading Questions

Critical Reading Questions

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2 5
TV, and the last paragraph repeats the questioning. There are
no outcomes or any need for change mentioned. A brief history
is given, and the subject of getting famous through exposure on
Reality TV is brought up, but neither is the primary purpose of
the passage.
29.
b.
Passage 1 centers on a problem with Reality TV, and while
Passage 2 does mention some problems, they are not what he or
she feels, but rather the opinion of some people. Choice a is
incorrect because Passage 1 does not defend Reality TV. Choice
c is incorrect because the author of Passage 2 acknowledges that
some people have a problem with Reality TV (lines 1–3 and
48–49). Choice d is incorrect because Passage 2 does not say
anything about variety in TV programming. Choice e is wrong
because Passage 2 doesn’t mention the cost of producing TV
shows.
30.
a.
Ratings refers to how many people watch the show. A homerun
is the best possible kind of hit, so a ratings homerun is a symbolic
term meaning that many people watch the show. Choices b, c,
and e reference ball games literally, but the author used the
term figuratively, so those choices are incorrect. Nielsen is the
company that gathers TV ratings, but high ratings have nothing
to do with whether they like a show or not.
31.
e.
Both passages show that there is a debate about Reality TV. In
Passage 1, the author is against it, but notes that it is popular
(lines 10 and 37). The author of Passage 2 likes it, and also rec-
ognizes that it gets a bad rap (line 1). Although most of the
other choices are factual, they do not appear in both passages,
and are not illustrated by them.
32.
c.
The clue comes in Passage 1, which describes the swathing and
flower gluing as crimes against defenseless walls. Swathing is
therefore something done to a wall. The only choice that makes
sense is c, to cover.
33.
d.
While there is evidence for the other choices, they are not the
most troublesome. The author repeats in every paragraph the
idea that Reality TV isn’t real.
34.
e.
Look back to lines 7–10, where George’s single tax proposal
(the idea The Landlord’s Game was meant to teach) is described
as aiming to weaken the ability to form monopolies, encourage equal
opportunity, and narrow the gap between rich and poor.
35.
b.
Lines 13–20 explain the first part of the question, while lines
52–55 contain the answer to the second. Don’t be distracted by
the other answers that contain true statements that are not,
501