how does wilde portray the institution of marriage in the importance of being earnest

ATI TEAS 7

TEAS Reading Practice Test

1. How does Wilde portray the institution of marriage in The Importance of Being Earnest?

A. As a romantic union between two individuals.
B. As a social contract designed for economic and social gain.
C. As a trivial and superficial agreement.
D. As a necessary evil in a structured society.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: In The Importance of Being Earnest, Wilde portrays marriage as a social contract rather than a romantic union. The play satirizes the transactional nature of marriage in the society Wilde critiques. Characters like Lady Bracknell's interrogation of Jack highlight how marriage is viewed as a means for economic and social gain rather than genuine affection, emphasizing the societal norms of the time. Choice A is incorrect because Wilde's portrayal goes beyond a simple romantic view of marriage. Choice C is incorrect as it oversimplifies Wilde's critique of marriage and societal norms. Choice D is incorrect as it doesn't capture the nuanced satire Wilde employs in dissecting the institution of marriage.

2. Using the same reasoning as that in the passage, an automobile with eighteen wheels does what to the following hypothesis: 'All automobiles have only four wheels'?

A. It proves the hypothesis.
B. It raises the hypothesis's probability.
C. It disproves the hypothesis.
D. It decreases the hypothesis's probability.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: An automobile with eighteen wheels contradicts the hypothesis that 'All automobiles have only four wheels.' This contradiction reduces the probability that the hypothesis is true. The hypothesis is not proven by the presence of an eighteen-wheel automobile, nor does it raise the probability of the hypothesis being true. Instead, it directly challenges the hypothesis, leading to a decrease in its probability of being correct.

3. In the statement above, several items are italicized, while only one is placed in quotation marks. According to the rules of punctuation, the following should be placed in quotation marks: article titles, book chapters, short stories, and episodes of television shows. Considering the list of works that Angela read, into which category does 'The Cask of Amontillado' most likely fit?

A. newspaper article
B. book chapter
C. short story
D. television show episode

Correct answer: C

Rationale: 'The Cask of Amontillado' is a short story written by Edgar Allan Poe. Short stories are considered literary works that should be placed in quotation marks according to the rules of punctuation. Therefore, 'The Cask of Amontillado' would fall under the category of works that should be placed in quotation marks.

4. A 'competitive salary' is one that is

A. Much less than salaries offered for comparable jobs
B. Much greater than salaries offered for comparable jobs
C. Similar to the average salary offered for comparable jobs
D. Impossible to compare to the salaries offered for comparable jobs

Correct answer: C

Rationale: A competitive salary is one that is similar to the average salary offered for comparable jobs. In the context of the job advertisement provided, a competitive salary is typically in line with what other employers are paying for similar positions to attract and retain the best talent in the industry. Choice A is incorrect because a competitive salary is not 'much less' than salaries offered for comparable jobs; it aims to be competitive. Choice B is incorrect as a competitive salary is not 'much greater' than salaries offered for comparable jobs; it aims to be fair and competitive. Choice D is incorrect as a competitive salary is not 'impossible to compare to' the salaries offered for comparable jobs; it is meant to be competitive and aligned with industry standards.

5. Which of the following is not an example given by the author of an element of the Western paradigm?

A. Hero highly skilled at warfare
B. Evil villain in black hat
C. Everyone riding horses
D. Community made up of upstanding citizens

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The author did not mention everyone riding horses as an element of the Western paradigm in the provided passage. The passage discusses the virtuous hero in the white hat, the evil villain in the black hat, and the community made up of upstanding citizens as elements of the Western paradigm. The hero being highly skilled at warfare and the community having morally upstanding citizens were also mentioned. Therefore, option C is the correct answer. Options A, B, and D are incorrect because they were all examples given by the author in the passage.