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. What is the main idea of this passage?

A. Studying a foreign language will help graduating students find jobs after high school.
B. Studying a foreign language should be a mandatory requirement for high school graduation.
C. Studying a foreign language helps students gain an understanding of other cultures.
D. Studying a foreign language is essential if a student hopes to get into college.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The main idea of the passage is that studying a foreign language should be a compulsory requirement for high school graduation. This is emphasized due to its increasing importance for the global economy, college acceptance rates, and job market competitiveness. The passage argues for states to amend their requirements to reflect this necessity, highlighting the benefits of studying a foreign language. Choice A is incorrect because while the passage mentions job market competitiveness, the main focus is on the requirement for high school graduation. Choice C is incorrect as while understanding other cultures is a benefit of studying a foreign language, it is not the primary message of the passage. Choice D is incorrect as the passage does not solely focus on the necessity of studying a foreign language for college acceptance; rather, it advocates for its inclusion as a high school graduation requirement.

3. According to the timeline, which of the following events happens second?

A. Barton works as a federal patent clerk
B. Barton travels to Europe
C. Barton identifies anonymous soldiers
D. Barton works on the frontlines of the Civil War

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Based on the timeline provided, Barton working on the frontlines of the Civil War is the second event to occur. This event happened after her work as a patent clerk but before other events. Barton's travel to Europe and identification of anonymous soldiers happened after her service on the frontlines of the Civil War, making them later events in the timeline.

4. Based on the information in the announcement, what might the reader assume about how the university determined the lunch schedule?

A. The university arranged the schedule alphabetically, according to the name of each department.
B. The university checked with the departments in advance to make sure faculty members would be amenable to the change.
C. The university checked to see when the most faculty members from each department would be entering the canteen.
D. The university was more concerned about crowding in the canteen and simply decided to establish different times for each department.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The announcement states that the university polled the various departments about schedules to determine a recommended roster for each department to visit the canteen for lunch. This indicates that the university checked to see when the most faculty members from each department would be entering the canteen to offset the crowding issue. Therefore, the correct choice is C. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because there is no mention of arranging the schedule alphabetically, checking with departments in advance for agreement, or simply establishing different times without considering faculty members' schedules in the announcement. The university's approach was to tailor the lunch schedule based on each department's peak entry times to manage the crowding problem effectively.

5. With which of the following statements would the author of the passage most likely agree?

A. Malory and Tennyson shaped their approach to the Arthurian legends based on the defining qualities of their respective eras.
B. Because Le Morte d'Arthur is more of a translation than a literary creation, Idylls of the King is a superior work.
C. By undermining the moral qualities that Malory highlighted, Tennyson failed to appreciate the larger purpose of the stories in a medieval context.
D. Ultimately, Malory's influence on Tennyson was minimal because Tennyson took a different approach and infused his poems with the mood of his day.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The author of the passage would most likely agree with the statement that Malory and Tennyson shaped their approach to the Arthurian legends based on the defining qualities of their respective eras. The passage discusses how Malory emphasized the moral elements in Medieval literature, while Tennyson, as a Victorian poet, focused more on romantic qualities and nature in his works. This difference in emphasis reflects the characteristics of their eras. Therefore, choice A aligns with the author's likely agreement. Choice B is incorrect because it incorrectly compares the two works based on translation and creation, which is not the main point of comparison discussed in the passage. Choice C is incorrect because Tennyson's different approach does not necessarily mean he failed to appreciate the stories' purpose, but rather highlights a shift in emphasis. Choice D is incorrect because the passage indicates that Tennyson was indeed heavily influenced by Malory, albeit with a different approach, making Malory's influence significant rather than minimal.