ENG III Unit One Review Test
Read the passage below and answer question 1-4.
ASTHMA
About 17 million children and adults in the United States suffer from asthma, a condition that makes it hard to breathe. Today it is a problem that is treatable with modern medicine. In days gone by, there were many different superstitions about how to cure asthma. Some people thought that eating crickets with a little wine would help. Others felt that eating raw cat's meat might be the cure. Another idea was to gather some spiders' webs, roll them into a ball, and then swallow them. People also thought that if you ate a diet of only boiled carrots for two weeks, your asthma might go away. This carrot diet may actually have done some good for asthma patients, since vitamin A in carrots is good for the lungs.
1.Write a summary of the passage above:
______
______
______
Targets 1 & 2
2. The main purpose of the passage is to:
a. Describe to the reader herbal remedies
b. Inform the reader about some of the measures for treating asthma from long ago
c. Narrate for the reader the history of superstitions
d. Persuade the reader about the virtues of modern medicine
e. Inform the readerhow asthma came about
Target 3
3. Identify any bias or assumptions the author may have. Think about loaded language.
______
Target 4
4. Identify the theme(s) of the text.
______
Target 5
Read the passage below and answer question 5-8.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Black History Month is unnecessary. In a place and time in which we overwhelmingly elected an African-American president, we can and should move to a post-racial approach to education. As Detroit Free Press columnist Rochelle Riley wrote in a February 1 column calling for an end to Black History Month, "I propose that, for the first time in American history, this country has reached a point where we can stop celebrating separately, stop learning separately, stop being American separately."
In addition to being unnecessary, the idea that African-American history should be focused on in a given month suggests that it belongs in that month alone. Instead it is important to incorporate African-American history into what is taught every day as American history. It needs to be recreated as part of mainstream thought and not as an optional, often irrelevant, side note. We should focus efforts on pushing schools to diversify and broaden their curricula.
There are a number of other reasons to abolish it. First of all, it has become a shallow commercial ritual that does not even succeed in its (limited and misguided) goal of focusing for one month on a sophisticated, intelligent appraisal of the contributions and experiences of African-Americans throughout history. Second, there is a paternalistic flavor to the mandated bestowing of a month in which to study African-American history that is overcome if we instead assert the need for a comprehensive curriculum. Third, the idea of Black History Month suggests that the knowledge imparted in that month is for African-Americans only, rather than for all people.
5. Write a summary of the passage above.
______
______
______
Targets 1 & 2
6. The author's primary purpose in Passage 2 is to:
a. argue that Black History Month should not be so commercial
b. argue that Black History Month should be abolished
c. argue that Black History Month should be maintained
d. state that African-American history should be taught in two months rather than just one
e. explain that African-American history is not part of mainstream curriculum
Target 3
7. Identify any bias or assumptions the author may have. Think about loaded language.
______
Target 4
8. Identify the theme(s) of the text.
______
Target 5
9. Most states allow people to get a driver’s license at the age of 16. Some people feel that 16 is much too young for the responsibility that comes with driving a car and that teenagers should not be allowed to drive until the age of 18. Do you agree or disagree?
Write a thesis statement in which you make your claim.
______
______
______
Target 6
10. As part of the “war on drugs” and in reaction to an increase in school violence, many schools across the nation now conduct targeted searches of student lockers and backpacks. Although the
Supreme Court has ruled that public school officials have the right to search students’ persons and property when they have reasonable cause to suspect weapons or drugs, many people feel
this is a gross violation of students’ right to privacy. Others feel that since school officials are responsible for the well-being of students while they are in the building, they have the right to
search for drugs or weapons at any time. Write a thesis statement in which you make a claim stating your view.
______
______
______
Target 6
11. In many countries, citizens are required to serve in the military fora year or more. Do you believe the United States should institute asimilar practice?
______
______
______
Target 6
KMH- ENG III - RCSHSPage 1
Unit One Review Test (Practice)Rev. 08/11