Claims
Main Idea
Evidence
Quick Tools
Vocabulary
100

Answer in one short sentence. Does the author think survival is always selfish? Yes or no? Because...

No. The author says survival is complicated — sometimes selfish, sometimes smart or heroic (paragraph 3).

100

 In one sentence, write the main idea of the passage (simple language).

  • Sentence frame: “The main idea is: ______ because ______.”

Survival is complicated — sometimes selfish, sometimes smart or heroic — and we should judge choices by context, not quick anger.

100

Quote one sentence that shows “people sometimes fall apart in crises.” Then say in one sentence why that sentence is evidence. 

Hint: Look at paragraph 6 and the Grand Central paragraphs. 

  • From where we sat, we heard a dull ‘boom!’ and then suddenly, people were running, streaming out of the tunnels and out the doors.” (paragraph 4)
  • Why evidence: Shows people panic and react without planning — this is an example of falling apart in a crisis.
100

What is a rhetorical question? Find one in paragraph 3 and copy it.

  •  A rhetorical question is a question the writer asks to make the reader think, not to get an answer.
  • Example from paragraph 3: “But is survival really selfish and uncivilized? Or is it smart?
100

Survival

Staying alive in a dangerous situation 

200

Copy or write a sentence from the passage that could work as a claim (a clear position).



  • "Survival is not always selfish; often it is the smart choice.”

or

  • “Sometimes people are heroes; sometimes they are acting to survive.”
200

What is the main idea of the Grand Central steam pipe example (paragraphs 4–5)? One short sentence. 

In Grand Central, people ______, which shows ______.”

 People watched the smoke and froze; the story shows that instinct or attention can stop people from acting to save themselves, which complicates the idea of universal “survival instinct.”

200

From the Grand Central story, pick two details that show people did not move to safety. Write both as short bullets and add one short note for each saying why it is evidence.

  • Detail 1: “People were transfixed at the column of smoke” — shows they watched instead of moving.
  • Detail 2: “Some people were crying, others were screaming, others were on their cell phones… but the crowd, for the most part, was not moving away” — shows people acted emotionally or distracted, not to increase survival.
200

 What does “self-preservation is an instinct” mean? Say it in one short sentence.

 “It means ______.”

  • It means that people naturally try to stay alive without thinking about rules or others.
  • Short example: The steam-pipe crowd froze instead of moving.
200

Selfish 

 caring only about yourself, not others.

300

How does the Ismay/Titanic story (paragraph 1) help the author’s claim about survival ethics? Write 1–2 short sentences.

The Titanic story shows how society quickly judges survivors (Ismay). It gives a famous example of someone blamed for surviving, so the author can question whether such judgment is fair.

300

 Write three simple bullet points (short sentences) that explain the passage’s main idea

What happened in these examples? (Titanic, Grand Central, airplane, Yates)

1)

2)

3) 


3) People react differently in danger — some run, some freeze, some help.


2) Survivors are sometimes blamed even if it was smart to survive.


3) The author says judgment should depend on the situation and evidence.

300

 Find two passages showing survivors feel guilt. Quote or paraphrase each and say which is stronger evidence and why (1 sentence). 

Hint: Look at paragraphs 7–8 (airplane woman) and the Ismay paragraph later. 

  • Example 1: “She said she battled a lot of guilt for saving herself instead of trying to save the others.” (paragraph 7) — Strong evidence because it’s direct first-person reflection.
  • Example 2: Ismay was “labeled an uncivilized coward” (paragraph 1) — shows public blame; less direct about personal guilt but shows social consequences.
300
  • What is “contrast” as a reading skill? Find one contrast in the passage and copy it (or paraphrase).
  • Frame: “Contrast = ______. Example from the text: ______ (paragraph #).”
  •  Contrast = when the author shows a sharp difference between what is expected and what happens.
  • Example: We expect people to run away from smoke, but in Grand Central people were transfixed and did not move (paragraphs 4–5).
300

Instinct 

 a natural, automatic reaction that people or animals have.

400

Use the airplane woman example (paragraphs 7–8). Write a short counterclaim someone might make against the idea that “survival can be smart.” Then write one sentence from the passage that answers that counterclaim.

  • Counterclaim: “Someone might say ________.”
  • Response (text evidence): “But the author writes ______ (quote or paraphrase).”


"She should have tried to save others; surviving herself is selfish.”

 “The author notes she probably could not have saved others from the back of the plane and would have died trying (paragraph 8).”

400

 Write a 4–5 sentence summary: think about these story elements. (Ismay, Grand Central, airplane woman, Yates.)

  • “The author says ______.”
  • “For example, ______.”
  • “Another example is ______.”
  • “Therefore, ______.”
  • The author asks whether survival is selfish or smart. For example, Ismay on the Titanic was hated for surviving. Some people freeze (Grand Central), while others act (airplane woman). The author concludes we should judge survival by context and evidence, not by quick blame.
400

 Choose one claim from the passage (quote it). Then find two pieces of evidence from different paragraphs that support that claim.

Hint/ Possible Claim: Survival is complicated

  • Claim: “But is survival really selfish and uncivilized? Or is it smart?” (paragraph 3)
  • Evidence 1: Ismay/Titanic anecdote — anecdote; shows public judgment and raises the question of fairness.
  • Evidence 2: Survival-training expert (paragraph 6) — expert testimony/observation; explains people’s reactions and unpredictability in crises.
400

Pick one short paragraph (name the paragraph number). Say the tone in one word (e.g., neutral, questioning, sympathetic) and explain in one short sentence how the tone helps the author’s point. 

 “Paragraph __: Tone = ___. It helps because ___.”

Neutral= detached and impersonal

Sympathetic= filled with compassion/understanding

Questioning= curiosity/ doubt

  • Paragraph 3: Tone = questioning. It helps because the author uses questions to show complexity and to invite readers to think, not to order them what to believe.
400

Berate 

 to strongly criticize or scold someone (often publicly).

500

Transfix/transfixed

to stare in amazement and not move.

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