which of the following sentences distracts the reader from the main focus of the passage

ATI TEAS 7

TEAS Reading Questions

1. Which of the following sentences distracts the reader from the main focus of the passage?

A. Malory's work, which is believed to be largely a translation of older French stories, was written in prose style.
B. Instead of embracing the romance angle, however, Malory focused more on the moral elements within these stories.
C. In Tennyson's work, Arthur chooses to forgive Guinevere, and she chooses to spend the rest of her days doing good works in a convent.
D. Charles Dickens is remembered for doing the same thing in his novels about the abuses of lower-class children in Victorian England.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The focus of the passage is on Malory and Tennyson and their interpretations of the Arthurian legends. The mention of Charles Dickens in choice D is irrelevant and distracts the reader from the main discussion. While the other choices discuss Malory's prose style, his focus on moral elements, and Tennyson's approach to the Arthurian stories, choice D brings in a comparison to Charles Dickens and his novels about lower-class children in Victorian England. This mention of Dickens does not directly relate to the main theme of the passage, making it the correct answer as the distracting sentence.

2. What is the best definition of economy as it is used in this passage?

A. Exchange of money, goods, and services
B. Delegation of household affairs
C. Efficient money management
D. Less expensive

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct definition of 'economy' in this passage is 'efficient money management.' The passage emphasizes the importance of expending less than what is earned, which is a key aspect of efficient money management. Choice A, 'Exchange of money, goods, and services,' is too broad and does not capture the essence of the passage. Choice B, 'Delegation of household affairs,' is not directly related to the context of the passage. Choice D, 'Less expensive,' does not encompass the concept of managing money efficiently as discussed in the passage.

3. Which of the following choices introduces a specific claim and distinguishes it from counterclaims?

A. Is texting while driving really a critical safety issue? Are all kinds of distracted driving created equal? What can be said about the nature of distracted driving among teenagers?
B. It's true that distracted driving is dangerous. There may be nothing more dangerous than texting while driving. Texting while driving has resulted in more than 15,000 deaths and over 200,000 injuries. The majority of texting drivers are teens, although other age groups have been implicated.
C. Texting while driving is one of the key issues facing young people today: it's a fact that texting drivers have killed over 16,000 people between 2002 and
D. While some argue that texting while driving is just one form of distracted driving, it stands out as particularly hazardous due to the level of focus it diverts from the road. Studies show that drivers who text are 23 times more likely to be involved in an accident compared to other forms of distracted driving.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Choice B introduces a specific claim that texting while driving is extremely dangerous by stating that 'there may be nothing more dangerous than texting while driving' and supports this claim with statistics on the number of deaths and injuries caused by texting while driving. It further emphasizes the impact by mentioning that the majority of texting drivers are teens. This approach of providing specific evidence helps to distinguish the claim from counterclaims and strengthens the argument. Choices A, C, and D do not introduce a specific claim supported by factual evidence and fail to distinguish it from potential counterclaims, making them less effective in presenting a strong argument.

4. Which of the following best provides detailed support for the claim that 'seatbelts save lives'?

A. A government website containing driving accident information
B. A blog developed by one of the largest car companies in the world
C. An encyclopedia entry on the seatbelt and its development
D. A social media post from a famous race car driver

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A. Government websites usually contain reliable and detailed statistics supporting the effectiveness of seatbelts. Choice B, a blog from a car company, may have biased information to promote their products. Choice C, an encyclopedia entry, may not necessarily have the most up-to-date or detailed information on the topic. Choice D, a social media post from a race car driver, lacks the credibility and detailed information that a government website can provide.

5. What word best describes the organization of this passage?

A. Modeling
B. Hypothesizing
C. Explaining
D. Observing

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is 'Explaining.' The passage is structured in an explanatory manner, providing a detailed account of how a plunger works. It explains the process step by step, from the initial depression of the plunger to the increase in pressure inside the clogged pipe. 'Modeling' and 'Observing' are not suitable choices as the passage does not involve creating models or direct observations. 'Hypothesizing' is also incorrect as the passage focuses on describing the functioning of a plunger rather than proposing or discussing potential hypotheses.