Chapter 19 English
What is a generalization about a passage?
A statement that captures an important idea or aspect of a passage, but doesn't necessarily hit every detail. - How to Interpret Generalizations of a Passage
In terms of a word's weight, are lighter words insignificant?
No, because they set up a base or norm that lets heavier words stand out - How to Interpret the Word Choice of a Writer
Which of the following sentences has a synonym for 'inconsistent'?
Capricious is a synonym for inconsistent. - How to Use Context to Determine the Meaning of Words
In the following sentence, which word serves as a definition of 'transient'? 'Her transient thoughts of quitting her dead-end job are fleeting, lasting only as long as the weekly meeting she abhors.'
Fleeting - How to Use Context to Determine the Meaning of Words
You are an aerospace engineer tasked with figuring out how to save the lives of fighter jet pilots. It's wartime. Inside a hangar, you are presented with 10 badly damaged, but still flyable, F-1000 fighter jets that have returned from their missions. You notice that 0/10 have any serious damage to the engine area, 1/10 have most of the serious damage confined to the wings, 7/10 have most of serious damage confined to the tail, and 2/10 have most of serious damage confined to the body. You are asked by your commander where they should put the most additional armor in order to save more pilots' lives. You tell them:
Put it over the engine. - Interpreting Data & Statistics in a Passage
If we are discussing a word's weight, what are we talking about?
The amount of emphasis on that word - How to Interpret the Word Choice of a Writer
Word choice can impact which of the following?
Word choice can greatly impact any of these - How to Interpret the Word Choice of a Writer
The word 'authenticity' is the antonym of the word 'spurious' in the following sentence. Why? 'The spurious accusations of the disgusting liar will be proven false since they completely lack authenticity.'
Because it has the opposite meaning - How to Use Context to Determine the Meaning of Words
Which word could be substituted for 'querulous' in the following sentence? 'The querulous child I babysit just won't stop bothering me until I let him play video games.'
Complaining - How to Use Context to Determine the Meaning of Words
'Cheap posters' and 'economy hatchback car' are examples that define which word in the following sentence? 'Even though he says he likes ornate artwork, extravagant clothes, and immoderate cars, Tom is so frugal that he hangs cheap posters on his walls and drives an economy hatchback car.'7
Frugal - How to Use Context to Determine the Meaning of Words
In the following passage, which word has the most weight? That night, the horrendous shriek of a lone bat shattered the encumbered silence'
Horrendous - How to Interpret the Word Choice of a Writer
What is the denotation of a word?
Its strict definition - How to Interpret the Word Choice of a Writer
If 4 out of 1,000 individuals get a heart attack from a first generation drug but only 2 out of 1,000 individuals get a heart attack from a second generation drug, then we can say: I. The new drug decreases the chances of a heart attack by half, compared to the old drug. II. The new drug decreases the chances of a heart attack by 0.20%, in absolute terms. III. The new drug is a lot safer than the old drug
NOT II and III - Interpreting Data & Statistics in a Passage
Which of the following is a reason why a generalization might be misleading?
NOT It covers only the main idea and glosses over some details. - How to Interpret Generalizations of a Passage
Airlines X, Y, and Z has the most complaints filed against them. Airlines A, B, and C had the fewest complaints filed against them. Are airlines X, Y, and Z automatically the worst airlines solely based on this data?
No, because these airlines may also have had a lot more passengers to begin with. - Interpreting Data & Statistics in a Passage
Think about this passage from the Declaration of Independence: Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. Which of the following is a MISLEADING generalization about this passage?
The author argues that the British are all suffering from hearing loss. - How to Interpret Generalizations of a Passage
Here is an excerpt from the American Declaration of Independence: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it... But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security...The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States... What generalization can you make about the main point of this excerpt?
The author makes the case for independence from Great Britain based on an argument about universal human rights. - How to Interpret Generalizations of a Passage
Take a look at this passage: The incredible growth of scientific knowledge in the past few centuries has not gotten rid of conspiracy theories. From Illuminati to reptilians to secret Communist plots, conspiracy theories are as strong as ever. Why? Because people don't just want scientific explanations for the world. They want explanations that make emotional sense, and satisfy their need for meaning. A powerful gang of secret agents controlling everything might be scary, but it's a lot less scary than a random world where bad things frequently happen to good people for no reason at all. Which of the following is an ACCURATE generalization about the STRUCTURE of the passage?
The author starts by presenting a strange paradox, and then explains it. - How to Interpret Generalizations of a Passage
When interpreting data and statistics in a passage, make sure to _____.
find out how the data was gathered - Interpreting Data & Statistics in a Passage
If a statistic claims that 95% of Americans support a billionaire business magnate for president, then you should suspect that _____.
the data was derived from a highly biased set of individuals - Interpreting Data & Statistics in a Passage
