Reading Comprehension
What problem did the Library’s copy of the first “Captain America” comic book have?
A. It was missing several pages
B. The ink had faded completely
C. It had tears and cracks
D. It had been written over with pen
C. It had tears and cracks
How does the author organize the first few paragraphs of the text?
A. By comparing the Library to a museum
B. By describing a specific example before giving background information
C. By listing reasons why libraries are important
D. By explaining the history of the Declaration of Independence
B. By describing a specific example before giving background information
What does the word “conservators” most likely mean as used in paragraph 2?
A. Librarians who buy new books
B. Scientists who design library buildings
C. People who repair and protect valuable items
D. Readers who collect comic books
C. People who repair and protect valuable items
Which sentence best states the central idea of the article?
A. The Library of Congress collects comic books and novels.
B. The Preservation Division uses science and technology to protect and study historical items.
C. Scientists should avoid damaging rare documents.
D. Libraries are no longer important for preserving culture.
B. The Preservation Division uses science and technology to protect and study historical items.
What is one reason the Library’s Preservation Division tested the new adhesive on the Captain America comic? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.
The Library wanted to make sure the adhesive would not damage the comic. The text says they “wanted to make sure it would not change or damage the paper.”
Why did the Preservation Division test the new adhesive before using it?
A. To see if it would make the comic book look newer
B. To compare it with older adhesives
C. To make sure it worked quickly
D. To make sure it wouldn’t damage the paper
D. To make sure it wouldn’t damage the paper
What is the author’s likely purpose in including the story about the Captain America comic book?
A. To show how comic books have influenced American culture
B. To explain how superheroes are based on real-life events
C. To provide an engaging introduction to the topic of preservation
D. To show how expensive rare comics can be
C. To provide an engaging introduction to the topic of preservation
Which word could best replace “perilous” in the sentence: “Many of them are in a perilous state”?
A. Unorganized
B. Dangerous
C. Historical
D. Sticky
B. Dangerous
Which paragraph best develops the idea that preservation is a collaborative, multi-disciplinary effort?
A. The paragraph listing the backgrounds of the staff
B. The paragraph about the history of the division
C. The paragraph about the Captain America comic
D. The paragraph describing the Barrow collection
A. The paragraph listing the backgrounds of the staff
Why might the Preservation Division’s work be considered important to future generations? Use one piece of textual evidence to support your answer.
Their work helps protect important documents and artifacts so future generations can learn from them. The article says the division enables “fundamental knowledge of materials to inform the way people interpret those materials.”
What can you infer about the type of work done by the Preservation Division?
A. It blends science and history to protect materials
C. It involves manual labor and repairs
B. It focuses on artistic redesign of materials
D. It mainly creates new books and archives
A. It blends science and history to protect materials
How does the author’s tone in the sentence “...and the Marvel universe was saved once more” affect the passage?
A. It creates a serious tone that emphasizes the comic’s value
B. It adds a humorous tone that makes the topic more engaging
C. It criticizes the amount of money spent on comics
D. It expresses doubt about the importance of preservation
B. It adds a humorous tone that makes the topic more engaging
What does the phrase “document archaeology” most likely suggest about France’s work?
A. She digs into historical texts to uncover hidden meaning
B. She buries books to protect them
C. She rewrites old documents for fun
D. She destroys documents to test their quality
A. She digs into historical texts to uncover hidden meaning
Why does the author mention Thomas Jefferson changing “subjects” to “citizens”?
A. To show how mistakes are common in writing
B. To prove that Jefferson didn’t support British rule
C. To compare Jefferson’s writing to comic books
D. To illustrate how preservation tools uncover hidden history
D. To illustrate how preservation tools uncover hidden history
What is the author’s purpose in including the detail about the Jefferson draft of the Declaration of Independence? Support your answer with one piece of evidence.
The author includes this detail to show how technology helps uncover hidden information. The text explains that France used multispectral imaging to discover Jefferson had changed the word “subjects” to “citizens.”
Which TWO details best support the idea that the Preservation Division uses advanced technology to preserve materials?
☐ A. “The Library’s work in scientific literacy has become critical.”
☐ B. “France once used multispectral imaging...to examine the Library’s draft copy of the Declaration of Independence.”
☐ C. “She discovered that Thomas Jefferson initially wrote ‘subjects’ then rewrote ‘citizens.’”
☐ D. “Barrow had collected more than 1,000 books dating from 1507 to 1899.”
☐ E. “CDs, DVDs, magnetic tape, fibers and fabrics are now tested with an array of sophisticated technology.”
B and E
How does the inclusion of expert voices like Jacob Nadal and Fenella France impact the structure of the text?
A. It adds emotional depth and personal reflection
B. It makes the article more biased by only showing one viewpoint
C. It adds credibility and supports the informational purpose
D. It distracts from the main topic with unrelated facts
C. It adds credibility and supports the informational purpose
What does the author mean by the phrase “the Marvel universe was saved once more”?
A. The Marvel company fixed its publishing mistakes
B. A new comic was released
C. A real-life superhero saved the world
D. The preservation team prevented a loss in the comic’s story
D. The preservation team prevented a loss in the comic’s story
Which of the following is the best objective summary of the article?
A. The article explains how the Library of Congress discovered secrets in the Declaration of Independence using invisible ink.
B. The article highlights how the Preservation Division at the Library of Congress uses science and technology to protect cultural artifacts.
C. The article describes how libraries are replacing physical books with digital tools.
D. The article focuses on how comic books are becoming more popular in academic settings.
B. The article highlights how the Preservation Division at the Library of Congress uses science and technology to protect cultural artifacts.
Explain how the author develops the idea that preservation requires a wide range of knowledge and skills. Use at least two pieces of evidence from the text to support your response.
The author develops this idea by describing the staff’s varied backgrounds, including “textile science, engineering, chemistry, physics, fine arts, forensics, and musical composition.” The article also shows that different technologies, like imaging and pH testing, are used to preserve items.
Part A: What is the main purpose of mentioning Thomas Jefferson’s draft of the Declaration of Independence?
A. To show the importance of American history
B. To demonstrate how technology reveals historical changes
C. To criticize Jefferson’s original wording
D. To compare Jefferson’s writing to modern comics
Part B: Which sentence from the text best supports the answer to Part A?
A. “She discovered that Thomas Jefferson initially wrote ‘subjects’...then carefully rewrote ‘citizens’ over it.”
B. “The division traces its birth to a 1970 grant...”
C. “France once used multispectral imaging...”
D. “Some of the resulting methods have influenced not only the way conservators treat artifacts...”
Part A – B | Part B – A
Read the sentence: “Some of the resulting methods have influenced not only the way conservators treat artifacts, but how people understand them.” What is the author trying to emphasize with this structure?
A. That preservation is only for historians
B. That physical treatment is more important than interpretation
C. That preservation affects both care and meaning
D. That people do not understand old documents
C. That preservation affects both care and meaning
Which statement best explains how the word “sophisticated” contributes to the meaning of the sentence: “CDs, DVDs, magnetic tape, fibers and fabrics are now tested with an array of sophisticated technology”?
A. It shows that the equipment is new and stylish
B. It emphasizes the complexity and advancement of the tools used
C. It shows that scientists are confused by the old materials
D. It implies that testing only happens with modern items
B. It emphasizes the complexity and advancement of the tools used
Which theme is most strongly developed throughout the passage?
A. Technology is making traditional libraries unnecessary
B. The preservation of cultural artifacts requires both scientific expertise and historical awareness
C. Comics are just as important as historical documents
D. Government funding limits how libraries function
B. The preservation of cultural artifacts requires both scientific expertise and historical awareness
How do the stories of the Captain America comic and the Declaration of Independence work together to support the article’s central idea? Use specific evidence from both examples.
Both examples show how preservation protects important cultural materials, whether they are pop culture or historic documents. The Captain America comic was saved using safe adhesives, and Jefferson’s draft was analyzed using imaging tools. These examples show how preservation helps maintain and understand important items from the past.