501 Critical Reading Questions

(Sean Pound) #1

  1. c. The phrase broken up into long, thin fibersis used to describe
    asbestos bundles in lines 10–11, prior to the word phrase friable
    substancesupports that friable means easily broken down. All
    other choices are not supported in the passage.

  2. b.This choice best describes the passage in its entirety, while the
    other choices describe individual points made throughout the
    passage.

  3. d.Asbestosis usually occurs in people exposed to high levels of
    asbestos. Choice ais incorrect because not all insulation mate-
    rial contains asbestos fibers; choice bis incorrect because
    asbestos that is in good condition and not crumbled or breaking
    away does not need to be removed. Choice cis incorrect
    because the AHERA protects schools against asbestos exposure.
    Choice eis incorrect because asbestosis is a lung disease not a
    manmade substance.

  4. e. The correct choice is universal. The sentence Many commercial
    building and home insulation products contained asbestosafter the
    word ubiquitousshows that asbestos was commonly used.

  5. b.The author explains that lung cancer and asbestosis are diseases
    of the lung in lines 11–16 of the passage. Choice ais not true
    because lung cancer and asbestosis are not dangerous fibers,
    asbestos is. Choice cis incorrect as both diseases may be fatal,
    but may be treated, as well. Choice dis incorrect because we
    know lung cancer can develop in ways other than asbestos expo-
    sure. Choice eis incorrect because asbestosis in not necessarily
    a common illness.

  6. a. While the passage does include the other choices except choice
    e, the overall purpose of the passage is to teach asbestos aware-
    ness in the home and school.

  7. c. The tone of this passage is informative, serving to instruct the
    general reader about asbestos. Choices aand d(cautionaryand
    admonitory) are synonyms, and while the passage does show the
    dangers of asbestos, the general tone is not cautionary. Apathetic
    (choice b) means indifferent and idiosyncratic(choice e) means
    distinctive, neither of which apply.

  8. b.The author is writing for a layperson, meaning a homeowner,
    parent, or student. Choices aand edescribe professionals, while
    cand ddescribe people you would find in a school setting, all of
    whom may be interested in this information, but none of whom
    is the specific, targeted audience.

  9. a. The tone is best described as one of fascinated discovery
    unfolding during a lecture. A clue to the tone is the use of excla-

Free download pdf