Vocabulary
What does humility mean?
Being willing to admit that you do not know everything.
Which clue suggests that “elevated” means “increased”?
The passage says brain activity “stayed elevated” and then explains this as “kept at a high level.”
What did scientists use to take pictures of readers’ brains?
MRI scans.
In transmitting, what does the prefix trans- suggest?
Across or from one place to another.
What is one way reading can help a person focus?
It can help the mind ignore distractions.
What does diminution mean?
A gradual shrinking or loss over time.
What does the phrase “a workout for your brain’s attention center” suggest about reading?
Reading practices and strengthens the brain’s ability to focus.
What finding showed that brain activity continued after readers finished a book?
The extra brain activity stayed elevated for several days after readers finished.
What does the suffix -ive help indicate about the word defective?
It helps form an adjective describing a quality or condition.
Why might reading about a character’s life help readers understand others?
It lets readers consider experiences and feelings different from their own.
What does manipulating mean in the passage?
Shaping or guiding the story to affect readers’ feelings.
What nearby details help explain “subtle touches”?
The writer uses a small detail or a quiet pause to shape the story and influence how readers feel.
Which sentence supports the idea that regular reading strengthens attention?
The passage says that reading regularly, even briefly each day, strengthens the ability to focus
What smaller word can you find inside humanity, and how does it relate to the word’s meaning?
Human; humanity refers to qualities, feelings, and experiences people share.
What can readers infer about how the author views reading?
The author sees reading as beneficial because
it can strengthen the brain,
support focus, and
help people understand others.
What does sophisticated mean as used in the passage?
Complex and full of layers.
How does the description of a town’s slow shrinking clarify “diminution”?
It shows that diminution means a gradual decrease or loss.
What text evidence supports the claim that reading builds brain connections?
The passage says reading increases connectivity in the left temporal cortex and strengthens message paths between brain areas.
In revolutionize, what does the root volv suggest about the word’s meaning?
It is related to turning or changing; here, revolutionize means to transform greatly.
Why does the author mention yoga when explaining reading’s effects?
The comparison helps readers understand that reading may reduce stress, much as yoga can.
Explain the difference between defective and subtle using their meanings in the passage
Defective describes a flaw, such as a memory problem; subtle describes something quiet or not easily noticed.
How does the phrase “stepping into someone else’s shoes” help explain the passage’s message?
It suggests that reading lets people imagine another person’s experiences and perspective.
Identify two details that support the idea that reading benefits the brain.
Reading activates more brain areas, and regular reading strengthens focus.
Other supported details include lasting brain activity and increased connectivity.
Break transmitting into meaningful parts, then explain how those parts connect to the passage.
Trans- means across or from one place to another
mit relates to sending.
In the passage, the brain sends messages from one area to another.
How does the passage’s discussion of brain activity, stress, and empathy develop its central idea?
These examples show that reading can benefit people in several ways: it engages the brain, may reduce stress, and can help readers understand other people.