Free Kaplan Nursing Reading Exam

1. Read the map below and answer the question. Question: Which feature on the map is between Sunset Point and Bryce Point?

Sunrise Point

Fairyland Point

Visitor’s Center

Inspiration Point

D. Inspiration Point is between Sunset Point and Bryce Point along the Rim Trail. See Lesson: Evaluating and Integrating Data.

Explanation

D. Inspiration Point is between Sunset Point and Bryce Point along the Rim Trail. See Lesson: Evaluating and Integrating Data.

2. Read the following text and then answer the question. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Get out all your equipment and ingredients. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. Then soften 1 cup of butter. Next add the butter and the eggs to the dry mixture and stir until all the ingredients are mixed. Mix in the chocolate chips. Using a tablespoon, spoon out the batter onto a pre-greased cookie sheet. Bake in the oven for 12 minutes. Allow cookies to cool before serving. Question: Which of the following words from the text indicate sequence?

Preheat, Mix

Then, Next

Using, Bake

Get, In

B. The words “Then” and “Next” indicate sequence because they tell you when to do a step. See Lesson: Summarizing Text and Using Text Features.

Explanation

B. The words “Then” and “Next” indicate sequence because they tell you when to do a step. See Lesson: Summarizing Text and Using Text Features.

3. Read the following passage and answer the question. Are you tired of your children not listening to you? Do they seem distracted every time you ask them to do something? Are you met with a glossy-eyed stare every time you say something to them? Part of the problem is too much screen time. Technology has its benefits, but it does a lot to ruin our children's focus. There are too many flashes of light, too many colors, too many hyperlinks to navigate – it's a wonder our children can even focus at all! Limiting your children's screen time would do wonders for them. Make more time to have face-to-face conversations. This will allow your children to actually practice good listening and communication skills. Hand them a book! This will help them sit still and focus on one thing for a period of time. Technology won't be going away anytime soon, but you can set limits for your children to help them focus, listen, and better engage with you. Question: This article is written for:

Parents

Children

Teachers

Policymakers

A. From phrases like “your children,” you can infer that the intended audience of this passage is parents. See Lesson: Understanding Primary Sources, Making Inferences, and Drawing Conclusions.

Explanation

A. From phrases like “your children,” you can infer that the intended audience of this passage is parents. See Lesson: Understanding Primary Sources, Making Inferences, and Drawing Conclusions.

4. Read the following passage and answer the question. Are you tired of your children not listening to you? Do they seem distracted every time you ask them to do something? Are you met with a glossy-eyed stare every time you say something to them? Part of the problem is too much screen time. Technology has its benefits, but it does a lot to ruin our children's focus. There are too many flashes of light, too many colors, too many hyperlinks to navigate – it's a wonder our children can even focus at all! Limiting your children's screen time would do wonders for them. Make more time to have face-to-face conversations. This will allow your children to actually practice good listening and communication skills. Hand them a book! This will help them sit still and focus on one thing for a period of time. Technology won't be going away anytime soon, but you can set limits for your children to help them focus, listen, and better engage with you. Question: The author of this article assumes that:

Parents are frustrated by their children not listening to them.

Parents are on screens more than their children are.

Children do not like to be told what to do by their parents.

Children would rather talk and read books than be on screens.

A. The author assumes that many parents have the problem of their children not listening to them or being able to focus well. See Lesson: Understanding Primary Sources, Making Inferences, and Drawing Conclusions.

Explanation

A. The author assumes that many parents have the problem of their children not listening to them or being able to focus well. See Lesson: Understanding Primary Sources, Making Inferences, and Drawing Conclusions.

5. Read the passages below and answer the question. Electroconvulsive therapy was pioneered in the 1930s as a method for combatting severe psychiatric symptoms such as intractable depression and paranoid schizophrenia. This procedure, which involves delivering a deliberate electrical shock to the brain, was controversial from the beginning because it caused pain and short-term memory loss. It fell strongly out of public favor after the 1962 publication of Ken Kesey's novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, which featured an unprincipled nurse using electroconvulsive therapy as a means of control over her patients. Paradoxically, medical advances at the time of the novel's publication made electroconvulsive therapy significantly safer and more humane. Although the public is still generally opposed to electroconvulsive therapy, it remains a genuine option for psychiatric patients whose symptoms do not improve with medication. Medical professionals who offer this option should be especially careful to make clear distinctions between myth and reality. On this topic, unfortunately, many patients tend to rely on fiction rather than fact. * We were led into a stark exam room, where three doctors positioned themselves so Mama and I had no direct path to the door. The one in charge cleared his throat and told me my mother needed electroshock. My brain buzzed—almost as if it was hooked up to some crackpot brainwashing machine—as Big Doctor droned on about his sadistic intentions. I didn't hear any of it. All I could think was that these people wanted to tie my mother down and stick wires in her ears. When Big Doctor was finished, he flipped through the papers on his clipboard and asked if I had questions. I mumbled something noncommittal. Then, when he and his silent escort left, I grabbed Mama and beat it out of that wacko ward as fast as I could make her go. Question: What is the purpose of the first paragraph of Passage 1?

To inform

To distract

To persuade

To entertain

A. Passage 1 is intended to inform readers about electroconvulsive therapy. See Lesson: Understanding the Author’s Purpose, Point of View, and Rhetorical Strategies.

Explanation

A. Passage 1 is intended to inform readers about electroconvulsive therapy. See Lesson: Understanding the Author’s Purpose, Point of View, and Rhetorical Strategies.

6. Read the passage below and answer the question. It is perhaps unsurprising that school dress codes are becoming more common in American public schools. In our high-status-driven society, students feel the pressure to keep up with the most current fashion trends. The additional anxiety of wanting to "fit in" with peers can distract students from performing their best academically. In addition, some fashion trends are downright inappropriate and can be distracting to other students! Enforcing a dress code can allow schools to offer guidelines for clothing options that are suitable for school. Some school administrators are in favor of requiring students to wear a specific school uniform. Others suggest this may not be the most advantageous option as cost could still be a factor for some students, resulting in the same level of anxiety. Instead, they argue, offering simple guidelines that afford students the ability to meet their school's dress code requirements with maximum flexibility. Question: If the author added a description of a student who wore inappropriate outfits to school and ended up distracting other students, what type of information would this be?

A main idea

A topic sentence

A supporting detail

An off-topic sentence

C. A description of a student wearing clothing that does not meet dress code requirements would function as a supporting detail in this paragraph about the school dress codes. See Lesson: Main Ideas, Topic Sentences, and Supporting Ideas.

Explanation

C. A description of a student wearing clothing that does not meet dress code requirements would function as a supporting detail in this paragraph about the school dress codes. See Lesson: Main Ideas, Topic Sentences, and Supporting Ideas.

7. Read the following text and then answer the question. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Get out all your equipment and ingredients. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. Then soften 1 cup of butter. Next add the butter and the eggs to the dry mixture and stir until all the ingredients are mixed. Mix in the chocolate chips. Using a tablespoon, spoon out the batter onto a pre-greased cookie sheet. Bake in the oven for 12 minutes. Allow cookies to cool before serving. Question: What does the term "pre-greased cookie sheet" tell you?

That you are supposed to grease the cookie sheet right after you spoon out the batter

That you are supposed to grease the cookie sheet at some time before putting the batter onto it

That you are supposed to grease the cookie sheet after preheating the oven

That you are supposed to grease the cookie sheet after the baking the cookies

B. The prefix “pre” in the word “pre-greased” means “before,” so the cookie sheet needs to be greased sometime before putting the batter onto it. See Lesson: Summarizing Text and Using Text Features.

Explanation

B. The prefix “pre” in the word “pre-greased” means “before,” so the cookie sheet needs to be greased sometime before putting the batter onto it. See Lesson: Summarizing Text and Using Text Features.

8. Read the following paragraph and answer the question. The idea of raising children in prison is controversial, but well-run prison nursery programs can actually be beneficial. A study of preschool age children showed that anxiety and depression are common among young children who are separated from their mothers at birth and reunited later. In contrast, babies who spent brief sentences of two years or less behind bars with their mothers showed greater resilience and stronger attachments. According to a nationwide analysis of women who participated in prison nursery programs, the benefits for mothers are even clearer than the benefits to children. Women who were allowed to remain with their infants during prison sentences were less likely to be convicted of another crime and less likely to use drugs in the five years after release. They were more likely to continue their education in prison and more likely to find employment on the outside. Mothers involved in prison nursery programs also reported better mental health and greater confidence in their own parenting skills. Question: Which statement expresses an opinion?

The idea of raising children in prison is controversial, but well-run prison nursery programs can actually be beneficial.

Mothers involved in prison nursery programs also reported better mental health and greater confidence in their own parenting skills.

B. The argument that prison nursery programs can be beneficial is an opinion statement because it makes a judgment. See Lesson: Facts Opinions and Evaluating an Argument.

Explanation

B. The argument that prison nursery programs can be beneficial is an opinion statement because it makes a judgment. See Lesson: Facts Opinions and Evaluating an Argument.

9. Read the passage below and answer the question. It is perhaps unsurprising that school dress codes are becoming more common in American public schools. In our high-status-driven society, students feel the pressure to keep up with the most current fashion trends. The additional anxiety of wanting to "fit in" with peers can distract students from performing their best academically. In addition, some fashion trends are downright inappropriate and can be distracting to other students! Enforcing a dress code can allow schools to offer guidelines for clothing options that are suitable for school. Some school administrators are in favor of requiring students to wear a specific school uniform. Others suggest this may not be the most advantageous option as cost could still be a factor for some students, resulting in the same level of anxiety. Instead, they argue, offering simple guidelines that afford students the ability to meet their school's dress code requirements with maximum flexibility. Question: The topic of this paragraph is:

Fashion trends.

Dress codes.

School uniforms.

Academic excellence.

B. The topic of this paragraph is dress codes. Enforcing a specific school uniform is related to this topic, but is not covered in detail in this passage. See Lesson: Main Ideas, Topic Sentences, and Supporting Ideas.

Explanation

B. The topic of this paragraph is dress codes. Enforcing a specific school uniform is related to this topic, but is not covered in detail in this passage. See Lesson: Main Ideas, Topic Sentences, and Supporting Ideas.

10. Which of the following sentences uses the MOST formal language?

What's up?

How are you?

How's it going?

How's your day?

B. How are you? It is the only sentence that does not have a contractions and does not use slang. See Lesson: Formal and Informal Language.

Explanation

B. How are you? It is the only sentence that does not have a contractions and does not use slang. See Lesson: Formal and Informal Language.

11. Read the following text and answer the questions. When my mother was a teenager, most kids didn't have cell phones. If she wanted to talk to her friends after school, she had to call their landline. Sometimes a friend's mom or dad answered, and she had to ask to talk to their kid. She says that was awkward. Also, if she and a friend talked on the phone for a long time, the whole family's phone line was busy, so nobody else could get calls. Parents got mad at kids for tying up the phone too long. Today, every kid I know has a smartphone. We talk and text whenever we want, and none of us ever have awkward conversations with our friends' parents. But in some ways, parents today have more control. A lot of parents check kids' phone records and read their texts, so they can tell if their kids are up to no good. Families don't all rely on one phone line, so when kids talk for a long time, we don't prevent anyone else in the family from communicating with their friends. But parents today still get mad—mainly because kids' phone habits cost too much money. Question: The structure of the passage is:

Description.

Cause/effect.

Problem-solution.

Compare/contrast.

D. The passage describes phone use in two eras, highlighting similarities and differences. This makes it a compare/contrast piece. See Lesson: Types of Passages, Text Structures, Genre and Theme.

Explanation

D. The passage describes phone use in two eras, highlighting similarities and differences. This makes it a compare/contrast piece. See Lesson: Types of Passages, Text Structures, Genre and Theme.

12. Read the following passage and answer the question. When Dr. Kingston Hussein saw an announcement for a conference titled Ethics of Human Embryonic Research, he booked his tickets six months in advance. "We need to stop and reflect on the ramifications of every new development in our research," said Dr. Hussein, the lead researcher in embryology at the Dampson Crockett Institute in Lewiston, Maine. "Every researcher in our field feels the weight of responsibility here. It's what we talk about when we go out for drinks after work." Attitudes like Dr. Hussein's stand in stark contrast to common public perceptions of embryonic research. "These guys think they're gods," said Liz Goode, chairwoman of The Center for Ethical and Dignified Humanity, an organization that opposes all research on human embryos. "They want to get rich selling designer babies to billionaires. It's a nightmare." An outside observer might expect a researcher like Dr. Hussein to avoid all contact with an activist like Goode. On the contrary, Dr. Hussein wrote to the organizers of the conference and requested that they invite Goode to host a panel. "We need dialogue," he said. "We need to hear what makes the public uncomfortable." He chuckled. "We also need to inform them about what we're actually doing." And what are embryonic researchers doing? "Not building designer babies," he said. Dr. Hussein uses words like "run-of-the-mill medical" to describe his research goals. For instance, he is seeking causes and treatments for a variety of neurological disorders. Reread the following quotation from the passage: "These guys think they're gods…They want to get rich selling designer babies to billionaires. It's a nightmare." Question: Which adjective most accurately describes Liz Goode's tone?

Harsh

Tolerant

Earnest

Ironic

A. Liz Goode is highly critical of embryonic research. Her tone could be described as harsh, scathing, or critical. See Lesson: Tone and Mood, Transition Words.

Explanation

A. Liz Goode is highly critical of embryonic research. Her tone could be described as harsh, scathing, or critical. See Lesson: Tone and Mood, Transition Words.

13. Read the map below and answer the question. Question: A person could get from the Lodge to Fairyland Point by:

Driving east on the road.

Driving west on the road.

Walking north on the Rim Trail.

Walking south on the Rim Trail.

C. The Rim Trail is the dotted line running generally north-south past the Lodge in the middle. Fairyland Point is in the far north, so a walk north on the trail would get you there. See Lesson: Evaluating and Integrating Data.

Explanation

C. The Rim Trail is the dotted line running generally north-south past the Lodge in the middle. Fairyland Point is in the far north, so a walk north on the trail would get you there. See Lesson: Evaluating and Integrating Data.

14. Read the following text and then answer the question. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Get out all your equipment and ingredients. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt. Then soften 1 cup of butter. Next add the butter and the eggs to the dry mixture and stir until all the ingredients are mixed. Mix in the chocolate chips. Using a tablespoon, spoon out the batter onto a pre-greased cookie sheet. Bake in the oven for 12 minutes. Allow cookies to cool before serving. Question: What sequence word would best fit at the beginning of this sentence from the text? Allow cookies to cool before serving.

Then

Last

After

Explanation

B. Since this is the final step, you would use the word “last” to indicate it is the final step in the directions. See Lesson: Summarizing Text and Using Text Features.

15. Read the following passage and answer the question: Are you tired of your children not listening to you? Do they seem distracted every time you ask them to do something? Are you met with a glossy-eyed stare every time you say something to them? Part of the problem is too much screen time. Technology has its benefits, but it does a lot to ruin our children's focus. There are too many flashes of light, too many colors, too many hyperlinks to navigate – it's a wonder our children can even focus at all! Limiting your children's screen time would do wonders for them. Make more time to have face-to-face conversations. This will allow your children to actually practice good listening and communication skills. Hand them a book! This will help them sit still and focus on one thing for a period of time. Technology won't be going away anytime soon, but you can set limits for your children to help them focus, listen, and better engage with you. Question: Which conclusion is not supported by the article?

The author thinks kids are on their screens too much.

The author thinks technology is negatively impacting children.

The author thinks parents do not know how to discipline their children.

The author thinks parents need to do more to help draw kids away from technology.

C. The author does not suggest parents do not know how to discipline their children. This article is about setting limits on technology. It is not about disciplining children. See Lesson: Understanding Primary Sources, Making Inferences, and Drawing Conclusions.

Explanation

C. The author does not suggest parents do not know how to discipline their children. This article is about setting limits on technology. It is not about disciplining children. See Lesson: Understanding Primary Sources, Making Inferences, and Drawing Conclusions.

16. Which of the following sentences uses the MOST informal language?

My puppy isn’t potty trained yet.

The heat in the summer is unbearable.

I want to take a vacation to the beach.

The dramatic TV show was extremely suspenseful.

A. My puppy isn’t potty trained yet. The sentence has contractions and words that are informal and less polite. See Lesson: Formal and Informal Language.

Explanation

A. My puppy isn’t potty trained yet. The sentence has contractions and words that are informal and less polite. See Lesson: Formal and Informal Language.

17. Read the following passage and answer the question. When Dr. Kingston Hussein saw an announcement for a conference titled Ethics of Human Embryonic Research, he booked his tickets six months in advance. "We need to stop and reflect on the ramifications of every new development in our research," said Dr. Hussein, the lead researcher in embryology at the Dampson Crockett Institute in Lewiston, Maine. "Every researcher in our field feels the weight of responsibility here. It's what we talk about when we go out for drinks after work." Attitudes like Dr. Hussein's stand in stark contrast to common public perceptions of embryonic research. "These guys think they're gods," said Liz Goode, chairwoman of The Center for Ethical and Dignified Humanity, an organization that opposes all research on human embryos. "They want to get rich selling designer babies to billionaires. It's a nightmare." An outside observer might expect a researcher like Dr. Hussein to avoid all contact with an activist like Goode. On the contrary, Dr. Hussein wrote to the organizers of the conference and requested that they invite Goode to host a panel. "We need dialogue," he said. "We need to hear what makes the public uncomfortable." He chuckled. "We also need to inform them about what we're actually doing." And what are embryonic researchers doing? "Not building designer babies," he said. Dr. Hussein uses words like "run-of-the-mill medical" to describe his research goals. For instance, he is seeking causes and treatments for a variety of neurological disorders. Question: Which adjective most accurately describes the author's tone?

Scathing

Objective

Negative

Ironic

B. The author of this passage is reporting on a controversial issue with an objective or impartial tone. See Lesson: Tone and Mood, Transition Words.

Explanation

B. The author of this passage is reporting on a controversial issue with an objective or impartial tone. See Lesson: Tone and Mood, Transition Words.

18. Read the following paragraph and answer the question. The idea of raising children in prison is controversial, but well-run prison nursery programs can actually be beneficial. A study of preschool age children showed that anxiety and depression are common among young children who are separated from their mothers at birth and reunited later. In contrast, babies who spent brief sentences of two years or less behind bars with their mothers showed greater resilience and stronger attachments. According to a nationwide analysis of women who participated in prison nursery programs, the benefits for mothers are even clearer than the benefits to children. Women who were allowed to remain with their infants during prison sentences were less likely to be convicted of another crime and less likely to use drugs in the five years after release. They were more likely to continue their education in prison and more likely to find employment on the outside. Mothers involved in prison nursery programs also reported better mental health and greater confidence in their own parenting skills. Consider the following sentence from the passage: Mothers involved in prison nursery programs also reported better mental health and greater confidence in their own parenting skills. Question: Is this statement a fact or an opinion? Why?

An opinion because it shares information about confidence, which is an emotion.

A fact because it states verifiable information about how women reported they felt.

A fact because it focuses on information from medical records rather than faulty memories.

An opinion because it relies on human input rather than objective sources like computer records.

B. The statement makes a factual statement about how people said they felt. This makes it a fact even though it contains opinion information.

Explanation

B. The statement makes a factual statement about how people said they felt. This makes it a fact even though it contains opinion information.

19. Read the following passage and answer the question. When Dr. Kingston Hussein saw an announcement for a conference titled Ethics of Human Embryonic Research, he booked his tickets six months in advance. "We need to stop and reflect on the ramifications of every new development in our research," said Dr. Hussein, the lead researcher in embryology at the Dampson Crockett Institute in Lewiston, Maine. "Every researcher in our field feels the weight of responsibility here. It's what we talk about when we go out for drinks after work." Attitudes like Dr. Hussein's stand in stark contrast to common public perceptions of embryonic research. "These guys think they're gods," said Liz Goode, chairwoman of The Center for Ethical and Dignified Humanity, an organization that opposes all research on human embryos. "They want to get rich selling designer babies to billionaires. It's a nightmare." An outside observer might expect a researcher like Dr. Hussein to avoid all contact with an activist like Goode. On the contrary, Dr. Hussein wrote to the organizers of the conference and requested that they invite Goode to host a panel. "We need dialogue," he said. "We need to hear what makes the public uncomfortable." He chuckled. "We also need to inform them about what we're actually doing." And what are embryonic researchers doing? "Not building designer babies," he said. Dr. Hussein uses words like "run-of-the-mill medical" to describe his research goals. For instance, he is seeking causes and treatments for a variety of neurological disorders. Reread the following quotation from the passage: "Every researcher in our field feels the weight of responsibility here. It's what we talk about when we go out for drinks after work." Question: Which adjective most accurately describes Dr. Hussein's tone?

Scathing

Apathetic

Earnest

Ironic

C. Dr. Hussein’s words show that he cares deeply about the responsibility of his position. His tone could be described as earnest or concerned. See Lesson: Tone and Mood, Transition Words.

Explanation

C. Dr. Hussein’s words show that he cares deeply about the responsibility of his position. His tone could be described as earnest or concerned. See Lesson: Tone and Mood, Transition Words.

20. Read the following text and answer the questions. When my mother was a teenager, most kids didn't have cell phones. If she wanted to talk to her friends after school, she had to call their landline. Sometimes a friend's mom or dad answered, and she had to ask to talk to their kid. She says that was awkward. Also, if she and a friend talked on the phone for a long time, the whole family's phone line was busy, so nobody else could get calls. Parents got mad at kids for tying up the phone too long. Today, every kid I know has a smartphone. We talk and text whenever we want, and none of us ever have awkward conversations with our friends' parents. But in some ways, parents today have more control. A lot of parents check kids' phone records and read their texts, so they can tell if their kids are up to no good. Families don't all rely on one phone line, so when kids talk for a long time, we don't prevent anyone else in the family from communicating with their friends. But parents today still get mad—mainly because kids' phone habits cost too much money. Question: What category of writing is this?

Narrative

Technical

Expository

Persuasive

C. This passage is an explanation of phone habits in two eras. Although it uses a few time words, it does not describe narrative scenes. It is an expository piece. See Lesson: Types of Passages, Text Structures, Genre and Theme.

Explanation

C. This passage is an explanation of phone habits in two eras. Although it uses a few time words, it does not describe narrative scenes. It is an expository piece. See Lesson: Types of Passages, Text Structures, Genre and Theme.

21. Read the passage below and answer the question. It is perhaps unsurprising that school dress codes are becoming more common in American public schools. In our high-status-driven society, students feel the pressure to keep up with the most current fashion trends. The additional anxiety of wanting to "fit in" with peers can distract students from performing their best academically. In addition, some fashion trends are downright inappropriate and can be distracting to other students! Enforcing a dress code can allow schools to offer guidelines for clothing options that are suitable for school. Some school administrators are in favor of requiring students to wear a specific school uniform. Others suggest this may not be the most advantageous option as cost could still be a factor for some students, resulting in the same level of anxiety. Instead, they argue, offering simple guidelines that afford students the ability to meet their school's dress code requirements with maximum flexibility. Question: The topic sentence of this paragraph is:

In our high-status-driven society, students feel the pressure to keep up with the most current fashion trends.

Enforcing a dress code can allow schools to offer guidelines for clothing options that are suitable for school

Some school administrators are in favor of requiring students to wear specific a school uniform.

A. The first sentence of this paragraph leads the reader toward the main idea, which is expressed next in a topic sentence about the benefits of school dress codes. See Lesson: Main Ideas, Topic Sentences, and Supporting Ideas.

Explanation

A. The first sentence of this paragraph leads the reader toward the main idea, which is expressed next in a topic sentence about the benefits of school dress codes. See Lesson: Main Ideas, Topic Sentences, and Supporting Ideas.

22. Read the passages below and answer the question. Electroconvulsive therapy was pioneered in the 1930s as a method for combatting severe psychiatric symptoms such as intractable depression and paranoid schizophrenia. This procedure, which involves delivering a deliberate electrical shock to the brain, was controversial from the beginning because it caused pain and short-term memory loss. It fell strongly out of public favor after the 1962 publication of Ken Kesey's novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, which featured an unprincipled nurse using electroconvulsive therapy as a means of control over her patients. Paradoxically, medical advances at the time of the novel's publication made electroconvulsive therapy significantly safer and more humane. Although the public is still generally opposed to electroconvulsive therapy, it remains a genuine option for psychiatric patients whose symptoms do not improve with medication. Medical professionals who offer this option should be especially careful to make clear distinctions between myth and reality. On this topic, unfortunately, many patients tend to rely on fiction rather than fact. * We were led into a stark exam room, where three doctors positioned themselves so Mama and I had no direct path to the door. The one in charge cleared his throat and told me my mother needed electroshock. My brain buzzed—almost as if it was hooked up to some crackpot brainwashing machine—as Big Doctor droned on about his sadistic intentions. I didn't hear any of it. All I could think was that these people wanted to tie my mother down and stick wires in her ears. When Big Doctor was finished, he flipped through the papers on his clipboard and asked if I had questions. I mumbled something noncommittal. Then, when he and his silent escort left, I grabbed Mama and beat it out of that wacko ward as fast as I could make her go. Question: What is the purpose of the second paragraph of Passage 1?

To inform

To distract

To persuade

To entertain

C. The second paragraph of passage 1 makes opinion statements about what doctors should do. This is a sign of persuasive writing. See Lesson: Understanding the Author’s Purpose, Point of View, and Rhetorical Strategies.

Explanation

C. The second paragraph of passage 1 makes opinion statements about what doctors should do. This is a sign of persuasive writing. See Lesson: Understanding the Author’s Purpose, Point of View, and Rhetorical Strategies.