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. Which of the following represents an opinion statement on the part of the author?

A. The problem with having a larger Bermuda Triangle is that it increases the odds of accidents.
B. The area known as the Bermuda Triangle has become such a part of popular culture that it can be difficult to sort through the myth and locate the truth.
C. The increase in ships from East Asia no doubt contributes to an increase in accidents.
D. Most consider the Triangle to stretch from Miami to Puerto Rico and include the island of Bermuda.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Choice C, 'The increase in ships from East Asia no doubt contributes to an increase in accidents,' represents an opinion statement made by the author. This statement reflects the author's belief or judgment about the impact of increased ships from East Asia on the occurrence of accidents in the Bermuda Triangle. The other choices, A, B, and D, provide factual information or general statements without expressing a personal opinion. Choice A discusses a potential consequence of a larger Bermuda Triangle, choice B highlights the cultural significance and difficulty in discerning truth about the Bermuda Triangle, and choice D describes the commonly accepted geographical boundaries of the Bermuda Triangle. Therefore, choice C is the correct answer as it represents an opinion statement on the part of the author.

3. Which of the following conclusions is best supported by the passage?

A. Julia will find a job closer to her home.
B. Julia will lose her job.
C. Julia will feel guilty and return to work.
D. Julia will drive home and go to sleep.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Based on the passage provided, there is no indication that Julia will find a job closer to her home, lose her job, or feel guilty and return to work. The passage simply states that Julia is tired and ready to go home, indicating that she will likely drive home and go to sleep. Throughout the passage, Julia faces a series of frustrating events that culminate in her decision to leave work and head home. There is no mention of job hunting, job loss, or feelings of guilt, making these options unsupported by the text.

4. What is the best summary of this passage?

A. Humans can use coloration and markings on snakes to determine whether they’re venomous.
B. Animals use coloration to hide from predators.
C. The scarlet kingsnake and the coral snake have nearly identical markings.
D. Venomous snakes often have bright markings, although nonvenomous snakes can also mimic those colors.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The best summary of the passage is that humans can use coloration and markings on snakes to determine whether they're venomous. The passage discusses how snake markings serve the purpose of warning predators and helping humans identify venomous snakes by their bright coloration. Choice B is incorrect because the passage focuses on how coloration helps snakes evade predators rather than hide from them. Choice C is incorrect as it only mentions two specific snakes with similar markings, which is a minor detail compared to the main point of identifying venomous snakes. Choice D is incorrect because it only partially reflects the passage, focusing solely on the relationship between markings and venom in snakes, missing the crucial aspect of human ability to discern venomous snakes based on their coloration.

5. Which one of the following statements might be accurately inferred based on the above passage?

A. The famous children's author produced a lesser-quality book under her pseudonym.
B. The famous children's author has expertise in Antebellum America.
C. The famous children's author did not receive adequate publicity for her historical novel.
D. Historical fiction novels are more popular than children's series.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C. The passage mentions that the author published a historical fiction novel under a pseudonym, which received critical acclaim but did not sell as well as her children's books. This indicates that the author did not receive adequate publicity for her historical novel, as it did not reach the same level of popularity as her children's books. Choices A and B are incorrect as there is no mention of the quality of the book produced under the pseudonym or the author's expertise in Antebellum America. Choice D is also incorrect as the passage does not compare the overall popularity of historical fiction novels to children's series.