CBEST Reading: Critical Analysis 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A journalist writes: 'Studies suggest that social media may contribute to anxiety in some teens.' Which word signals the claim is qualified rather than absolute?
- Studies
- may (Correct answer)
- contribute
- teens
Correct answer: may
'May' signals uncertainty, making the claim hedged rather than a definitive assertion.
Question 2: Read the following: 'Our town's crime rate dropped 12% last year. Clearly, the new curfew law is working.' What logical flaw does this argument contain?
- Circular reasoning
- Hasty generalization
- Post hoc ergo propter hoc (Correct answer)
- Ad hominem
Correct answer: Post hoc ergo propter hoc
Post hoc fallacy assumes the curfew caused the drop simply because the curfew preceded it, ignoring other possible causes.
Question 3: An author describes a city as 'a labyrinth of noise and forgotten dreams.' This description is best classified as:
- A factual report
- A metaphor expressing mood (Correct answer)
- A simile comparing two things
- A literal geographic description
Correct answer: A metaphor expressing mood
The figurative comparison of a city to a labyrinth and personification of dreams create a metaphor conveying atmosphere.
Question 4: Which of the following would most strengthen an argument that reading fiction improves empathy?
- A list of popular fiction titles from last year
- A controlled study showing empathy gains in fiction readers vs. non-readers (Correct answer)
- An author's personal belief in storytelling's power
- A survey of bookstore sales trends
Correct answer: A controlled study showing empathy gains in fiction readers vs. non-readers
A controlled study with a comparison group provides direct empirical evidence for the causal claim.
Question 5: A passage states: 'Not everyone agrees, but most historians believe the drought was a key factor in the empire's collapse.' The author's primary purpose here is to:
- Prove the drought single-handedly caused the collapse
- Acknowledge disagreement while presenting a majority scholarly view (Correct answer)
- Argue against historians who study environmental causes
- Entertain readers with a historical mystery
Correct answer: Acknowledge disagreement while presenting a majority scholarly view
The phrase 'not everyone agrees, but most historians believe' signals the author is balancing dissent with a prevailing scholarly consensus.
Question 6: In an editorial, the author states: 'Anyone who opposes this policy simply doesn't care about children.' This statement is an example of:
- A well-supported inference
- A false dichotomy / appeal to emotion (Correct answer)
- A valid deductive conclusion
- An objective summary of opponents' views
Correct answer: A false dichotomy / appeal to emotion
The statement unfairly reduces complex opposition to a single uncharitable motive, combining false dichotomy with emotional manipulation.
Question 7: A reader encounters the sentence: 'The committee tabled the motion.' In a US context, this most likely means the committee:
- Approved the motion immediately
- Postponed discussion of the motion (Correct answer)
- Rejected the motion permanently
- Passed the motion by a narrow vote
Correct answer: Postponed discussion of the motion
In American English, 'tabled' a motion means to set it aside or postpone it for later consideration.
CBEST Reading: Critical Analysis 2
A journalist writes: 'Studies suggest that social media may contribute to anxiety in some teens.' Which word signals the claim is qualified rather than absolute?