Comprehension
How do the friends in “The Black Hole of Technology” react when Fouly asks them whether they have seen Miley Cyrus’s post?
a. They ask Fouly for more information.
b. They quickly check social media.
c. They ask to see Fouly’s phone.
d. They look out the window.
b. They quickly check social media
In “The Black Hole of Technology,” the author frequently contrasts the words go and stop, as in this example.
In a life of go, go, go I had finally stopped.
Which statement best explains the overall effect of this contrast in the blog post?
a. It shows the difference between the speed of information today and in earlier times.
b. It proves that a world of constant, rapid travel can suddenly end.
c. It shows the difference between consuming information and appreciating the world.
d. It reveals the author’s love for travel and ever-changing landscapes.
c. It shows the difference between consuming information and appreciating the world.
According to the author, what are people today consumed by?
a. Cell Phones
b. Video Games
c. Computers
d. Technology
d. Technology
What is a clause?
a. a symbol of Christmas
b. a group of compound sentences
c. a sentence
d. subordinating conjunctions
c. a sentence
Which part of speech is the underlined word in the following sentence?
Our group of students arrived ahead of time.
a. adjective
b. adverb
c. conjunction
d. noun
d. noun
What opinion about technology does the author state at the beginning of “The Black Hole of Technology”?
a. Technology helps us learn to absorb information.
b. Technology makes us instant experts on many topics.
c. Technology is keeping us from processing and interacting.
d. Technology cannot be compared to printed books or newspapers.
c. Technology is keeping us from processing and interacting.
Which of the following choices best gives the meaning of this sentence, which begins “The Black Hole of Technology”?
The black hole of endless, unimportant streams of technology-enabled information is devouring everyone living in the twenty-first century.
a. Machines are taking over the jobs and duties that used to belong to human beings.
b. Technology was supposed to make us better but instead has made us less human.
c. People today are overly distracted and overwhelmed by meaningless texts, posts, and tweets.
d. It has not taken long for the entire world to become connected through the powerful reach of technology.
c. People today are overly distracted and overwhelmed by meaningless texts, posts, and tweets.
What is the most likely meaning of devouring in the following sentence?
She is devouring every page of the new book in her favorite series.
a. looking at with interest
b. taking in greedily
c. struggling with
d. ripping out
b. taking in greedily
How can you fix a dependent clause?
a. mark out words that don't belong
b. dependent clauses don't need to be fixed
c. mark out words, then add a comma and conjunction followed by the completion of the sentence.
d. add a subordinating conjunction, relative pronoun, or comma followed by the completion of the sentence.
d. add a subordinating conjunction, relative pronoun, or comma followed by the completion of the sentence.
What part of speech are the underlined words in the following sentence?
Refreshing water is always a treat on a hot day.
a. interjection
b. noun
c. adjective
d. verb
c. adjective
What event in “The Black Hole of Technology” strengthens the author’s opinion about technology?
a. a Miley Cyrus concert
b. a drive in the family car
c. a flight to a foreign land
d. a hike to an ancient temple
d. a hike to an ancient temple
Read the following passage from “The Black Hole of Technology.” Look for words and phrases that the author repeats.
No one stops to process information anymore to determine its significance or importance. No one appreciates the value of personal interaction or nature. Everything is go, go, go. Not once do we stop.… Now, I’m always consumed by my “tech,” and I never stop to take a break.
Which sentence best explains the author’s use of repetition in this passage?
a. She repeats the word go to make her argument more reasonable.
b. She repeats the word stop to emphasize an idea that is important to her.
c. She repeatedly uses sentences of similar length to persuade the reader to see things her way.
d. She repeats the phrase no one to make fun of people who use a lot of technology.
b. She repeats the word stop to emphasize an idea that is important to her.
If a certain clue consumed a detective, which of the following was most likely true?
a. The clue was not what the detective expected.
b. The clue was not that valuable to the detective.
c. The detective saw other similar clues while investigating the case.
d. The detective spent most of his time working with that particular clue.
d. The detective spent most of his time working with that particular clue.
Which of the following sentences is composed of two independent clauses?
a. Dad and I watch football regularly, but we cheer for different teams.
b. My team, which is currently in first place, will surely win.
c. Dad’s team has not scored since the second half began.
d. Whenever my team scores, Dad growls irritably.
a. Dad and I watch football regularly, but we cheer for different teams.
What part of speech is the underlined word in the following sentence?
Last night's audience seemed excited to see the performance.
a. interjection
b. noun
c. preposition
d. verb
d. verb
What does the author of “The Black Hole of Technology” notice about villagers in Cambodia? Choose two options.
a. Most of them are dressed up.
b. They have no cell phones.
c. Their homes are on stilts.
d. They are all quite young.
e. They seem very happy.
b & e
Which sentence best summarizes the author’s claim in “The Black Hole of Technology”?
a. Modern technology enhances our everyday lives.
b. It is important to take the time to enjoy beautiful weather.
c. Modern technology can distract us from enjoying our surroundings and interacting with the people around us.
d. Social media is an important piece of modern technology that allows us to see into the lives of our favorite celebrities.
c. Modern technology can distract us from enjoying our surroundings and interacting with the people around us.
If you are absorbing information, which is most likely to be true?
a. You are adding the information to what you know.
b. You are explaining the information to others.
c. You are imagining yourself performing research.
d. You are growing more puzzled by the information.
a. You are adding the information to what you know.
Which pair of statements best describes the ways in which the authors of “Teens and Technology Share a Future” and “The Black Hole of Technology” present their points of view?
a. The first author focuses on current uses of technology. The second author deals with future uses.
b. The first author addresses older readers. The second author addresses only teenagers.
c. The first author addresses readers directly. The second author uses a personal anecdote.
d. The first author expresses a negative viewpoint. The second author is more optimistic.
c. The first author addresses readers directly. The second author uses a personal anecdote.
What part of speech is the underlined word in the following sentence?
Would you like chocolate or vanilla?
a. conjunction
b. noun
c. pronoun
d. preposition
a. conjunction
What does the author of “The Black Hole of Technology” vow to do the next time she’s walking along a road?
a. value her surroundings
b. text her friends about it
c. take photos as a memento
d. keep one ear and one eye open
a. value her surroundings
In “The Black Hole of Technology,” the author visits a Cambodian village.
Which quotation from that part of the blog post most clearly appeals to the reader’s emotions?
a. … I walked along the wide, crowded dirt path on our way to visit yet another Cambodian temple.
b. I slipped my phone out of my bag to check the signal, but before I could even unlock it, it was snatched out of my hands.
c. When the guide started a long speech about the origin of the temple, I turned to face him.
d. A toddler was laughing her head off, playing with an old man who I assumed was her grandfather.… Everyone around me was smiling, despite having to live their lives in poverty.
d
Which of the following would you need to do in order to gain an understanding?
a. absorb
b. process
c. devour
d. consume
b. process
With which of these ideas from “Teens and Technology Share a Future” would the author of “The Black Hole of Technology” most likely agree?
a. The keys to the future lie in the hands of today’s teenagers who use technology.
b. There are many useless and meaningless bits of information on your network.
c. Technology has the power to help us meet new people and invent new things.
d. Teenagers can use devices to become the most informed generation of human beings.
b. There are many useless and meaningless bits of information on your network.
Which part of speech is the underlined word in the following sentence?
The plane flew over the rain clouds.
a. conjunction
b. noun
c. pronoun
d. preposition
d. preposition