Polish Your Skills For Comprehension Passage! English Quiz

1. People act the way they are dressed. Those wearing beach clothes often put their feet on the desk, slouch in their chair, and look lazy. Those who look professional and businesslike work better and are better received by their colleagues (Casperson, 1999, p. 33).

People who wear heavy clothes to work are lazy.

Dressing nice will not help you get a better job.

People act the way they are dressed.

Men must always wear ties to work.

The given correct answer suggests that people's behavior is influenced by the way they dress. According to the explanation provided, those who dress in beach clothes tend to exhibit lazy behavior, while those who dress professionally are more productive and well-received by their colleagues. Therefore, the way people dress can have an impact on their actions and how they are perceived by others.

Explanation

The given correct answer suggests that people's behavior is influenced by the way they dress. According to the explanation provided, those who dress in beach clothes tend to exhibit lazy behavior, while those who dress professionally are more productive and well-received by their colleagues. Therefore, the way people dress can have an impact on their actions and how they are perceived by others.

2. Refer to the passage on the seventh question.

Thank you note means etiquette.

Etiquettes are not necessary.

Sending a thank-you note after the interview is a sign of proper etiquette.

None of these

The passage states that sending a thank-you note after an interview is a sign of proper etiquette. This means that it is considered polite and respectful to send a thank-you note in this situation. The answer suggests that sending a thank-you note is a sign of proper etiquette, which aligns with the information provided in the passage.

Explanation

The passage states that sending a thank-you note after an interview is a sign of proper etiquette. This means that it is considered polite and respectful to send a thank-you note in this situation. The answer suggests that sending a thank-you note is a sign of proper etiquette, which aligns with the information provided in the passage.

3. Refer to the passage on the first question.

Young children easily lose privileges.

Old children should take away young children's privileges.

Young children must have all the privileges.

It can be very beneficial for young children to lose privileges for a short amount of time.

The passage suggests that young children easily lose privileges and that it can be beneficial for them to lose privileges for a short amount of time. This implies that taking away privileges from young children can serve as a form of discipline or teaching them consequences for their actions. By temporarily losing privileges, young children may learn valuable lessons about responsibility, accountability, and the importance of following rules.

Explanation

The passage suggests that young children easily lose privileges and that it can be beneficial for them to lose privileges for a short amount of time. This implies that taking away privileges from young children can serve as a form of discipline or teaching them consequences for their actions. By temporarily losing privileges, young children may learn valuable lessons about responsibility, accountability, and the importance of following rules.

4. For young children, losing privileges for short amounts of time can be very effective. One way for this to happen is by using what is called "Time-Out." Time-Out means time away from all those fun things in a child's life. It is a way of disciplining your child without raising your hand or your voice. Basically, Time-Out involves having your child sit in one place for a certain amount of time. You can easily see that most kids wouldn't like Time-Out because they would rather be doing fun things (Burke & Herron, 1996, p. 40).

Time-Out is not an effective way of disciplining children.

Time-Out is an effective way of disciplining children.

Spanking is the least effective way of disciplining children.

Time-Out means sitting in one place for a certain amount of time.

The passage explains that Time-Out is a method of disciplining children by having them sit in one place for a certain amount of time. It states that most kids wouldn't like Time-Out because they would rather be doing fun things. This suggests that Time-Out can be an effective way of disciplining children as it takes away their privileges and activities that they enjoy. Therefore, the correct answer is that Time-Out is an effective way of disciplining children.

Explanation

The passage explains that Time-Out is a method of disciplining children by having them sit in one place for a certain amount of time. It states that most kids wouldn't like Time-Out because they would rather be doing fun things. This suggests that Time-Out can be an effective way of disciplining children as it takes away their privileges and activities that they enjoy. Therefore, the correct answer is that Time-Out is an effective way of disciplining children.

5. Refer to the passage on the third question.

What people wear has an effect on them.

People who are effective don't wear fancy clothes.

People who are lazy wear the same clothes.

All of these

The passage suggests that what people wear has an effect on them. It implies that people who are effective don't wear fancy clothes, while people who are lazy tend to wear the same clothes. This implies that the way people dress can influence their behavior or attitude.

Explanation

The passage suggests that what people wear has an effect on them. It implies that people who are effective don't wear fancy clothes, while people who are lazy tend to wear the same clothes. This implies that the way people dress can influence their behavior or attitude.

6. Refer to the passage on the ninth question.

Harsh punishments are the best.

Making punishments harsher to discipline the child is not a good way.

Punishments mean something when they are way harsher than the one given before.

All of these

The passage states that making punishments harsher to discipline a child is not a good way. This implies that harsh punishments are not effective in disciplining a child. The passage also suggests that punishments only hold meaning when they are harsher than previous ones. Therefore, the correct answer is that making punishments harsher is not a good method of discipline.

Explanation

The passage states that making punishments harsher to discipline a child is not a good way. This implies that harsh punishments are not effective in disciplining a child. The passage also suggests that punishments only hold meaning when they are harsher than previous ones. Therefore, the correct answer is that making punishments harsher is not a good method of discipline.

7. A growing number of individuals from corporate offices to coffee shops are finding romance in the workplace. Today’s emphasis on teamwork and longer work hours make the work environment an opportunity for personal relationships. Today’s busy, almost frantic, and often stressful lifestyle does not allow much free time for meeting interesting people outside the office. With a huge portion of our lives devoted to business meetings and associated activities, the likelihood of meeting someone we might wish to date is highly possible (Casperson, 1999, 147).

The workplace is a good place to find romance.

The workplace is not a good place to find romance.

Romance at the workplace occurs more often.

You can be fired for having a romance at the workplace.

The passage explains that due to factors such as longer work hours and the lack of free time outside of work, individuals are more likely to find romance in the workplace. The passage suggests that the work environment provides opportunities for personal relationships, indicating that romance at the workplace occurs more often.

Explanation

The passage explains that due to factors such as longer work hours and the lack of free time outside of work, individuals are more likely to find romance in the workplace. The passage suggests that the work environment provides opportunities for personal relationships, indicating that romance at the workplace occurs more often.

8. One problem with negative consequences is that parents can lose sight of when to stop giving them. If one consequence doesn't work, parents often try another that is harsher. They begin piling negative consequences on top of negative consequences. This can lead to an upward spiral where the parent ends up grounding the child for the next five years or something outlandish like that. This often happens when parents are frustrated and upset. Children know which "buttons" to push, and parents can quickly lose their patience. That's when "the snowball effect" usually takes place. For example, Amy's dad asked her to clean her room. She didn't do the chore, so her dad took away her telephone privileges for the weekend. Her room was messy the next day. For this, she lost a week of TV privileges. The room didn't get any cleaner, and her father got madder and more frustrated (Burke & Herron, 1996, p.45).

Positive reinforcement is the best method of parenting.

Kids should not be told to clean their rooms.

The "snowball effect" of negative consequences is not an effective method of discipline.

Children know how to frustrate their parents.

The passage explains that piling negative consequences on top of each other can lead to an upward spiral of harsher punishments, which is ineffective in disciplining children. The example of Amy's dad taking away her telephone privileges and then her TV privileges shows that this approach did not result in the desired outcome of a cleaner room. Additionally, the passage mentions that parents can quickly lose their patience when children frustrate them, further emphasizing the ineffectiveness of the "snowball effect" of negative consequences.

Explanation

The passage explains that piling negative consequences on top of each other can lead to an upward spiral of harsher punishments, which is ineffective in disciplining children. The example of Amy's dad taking away her telephone privileges and then her TV privileges shows that this approach did not result in the desired outcome of a cleaner room. Additionally, the passage mentions that parents can quickly lose their patience when children frustrate them, further emphasizing the ineffectiveness of the "snowball effect" of negative consequences.

9. Proper etiquette indicates that a thank you note should be sent immediately after the interview. Acknowledge the interviewer’s time and the information you gained about the company during the interview, and express your interest in working with the company. Even if you have concluded that the job or corporation is not a good match for you or your skills, send the thank you. Your graciousness will be remembered (Casperson, 1999, p. 126).

Applicants who send thank-you notes after interviews always get the job.

Proper etiquette is more important than job skills when getting a job.

Only send a thank-you note if you think you are going to get the job.

Always send a thank-you note after a job interview.

Sending a thank-you note after a job interview is a proper etiquette that should be followed regardless of whether the applicant thinks they will get the job or not. It is a way to acknowledge the interviewer's time and express gratitude for the opportunity to interview. It also shows professionalism and interest in the company. While sending a thank-you note does not guarantee getting the job, it leaves a positive impression and increases the chances of being remembered by the interviewer. Therefore, it is always recommended to send a thank-you note after a job interview.

Explanation

Sending a thank-you note after a job interview is a proper etiquette that should be followed regardless of whether the applicant thinks they will get the job or not. It is a way to acknowledge the interviewer's time and express gratitude for the opportunity to interview. It also shows professionalism and interest in the company. While sending a thank-you note does not guarantee getting the job, it leaves a positive impression and increases the chances of being remembered by the interviewer. Therefore, it is always recommended to send a thank-you note after a job interview.

10. Refer to the passage on the fifth question.

Today's busy life has made it hard to find interesting people outside.

Busy people find interesting people.

People who find interesting people are usually busy with a lot of work.

Both A & C

The passage states that today's busy life has made it difficult to find interesting people outside. This implies that busy people are finding it hard to come across interesting individuals. Additionally, the passage suggests that people who do find interesting people are usually busy with a lot of work. Therefore, the correct answer is that both statement A (Today's busy life has made it hard to find interesting people outside) and statement C (People who find interesting people are usually busy with a lot of work) are true.

Explanation

The passage states that today's busy life has made it difficult to find interesting people outside. This implies that busy people are finding it hard to come across interesting individuals. Additionally, the passage suggests that people who do find interesting people are usually busy with a lot of work. Therefore, the correct answer is that both statement A (Today's busy life has made it hard to find interesting people outside) and statement C (People who find interesting people are usually busy with a lot of work) are true.