Test-takers will be asked to complete 2 or 3 of these tasks on the exam. There will be 5 to 7 answer options for each task and 2 or 3 of these will be correct answers. Reading texts can be up to 300 words long. The maximum score will range between 4 and 9 marks,  depending on whether you get 2 or 3 on the exam. However, there is ‘negative marking’. You get 1 mark for a correct answer, but you lose a mark for a wrong answer.

Scoring:  Imagine that there are 5 answer options and A & B are correct.
A	ü	ü	ü			ü
B	ü					ü
C		ü		ü		ü
D				ü
E
	2 marks	0 marks	1 mark	0 marks	0 marks	1 mark

 

1 mark is a good score!

 

 

The Author’s Perspective:

 

This prompt is easily the most difficult to answer because it is asking you to find ‘the author’s perspective’ or ‘point of view’. Because these are formal readings, you will always be asked to find the author’s underlying opinion in the reading, which is usually written in the 3^rd person. Therefore, the text can be misleading if you are looking for synonymous language reflective of the answer choices. There are several ways you can be misled when attempting to answer a reading question in Multiple Choice Multiple Answer.

Example 1:

Read the text and answer the multiple-choice question by selecting all the correct responses. More than one response is correct.

In March 1963 the last electric tramcar rattled its way through the streets of Los Angeles signaling the end of what is now considered to have been a golden era of mass transit in the city. Today, cars with their associated air pollutants dominate the streets and arterial roads. Locals are asking why the tramcars disappeared. Many accuse a consortium of car companies, including General Motors of deliberately sabotaging the public transport system by buying the tramcars and replacing them with less attractive, less efficient buses, forcing many public transport users to buy their own cars. As fewer people used the public transport system, it became increasingly inefficient causing a knock-on effect. Some argue that the move away from public transport towards roads and cars is now embedded in the American national consciousness and is reflected in the language. We talk about ‘investing’ in roads and freeways, but we talk about ‘subsidizing’ public transport. Governments criticize public transport networks for ‘losing money.’ One wonders if roads generally ‘make money.’ Public transport is a civic necessity. We see it prioritized in many cities in the world and we see efficient systems capable of moving tens and even hundreds of thousands of people each day. New York is the only remaining American city where public transport is efficient and where less than 50 percent of the population own cars.  Yet, even New York pales next to transport systems like those in Tokyo, Seoul, Paris, Berlin and numerous other large cities. Many would now like to see a move back to public transport but wonder if it is possible. It’s well known that rates of cancer, asthma, emphysema, and other lung diseases are higher in smoggy cities. Taxpayers have always subsidized the medical bills – effectively subsidizing the car and oil industries.

According to the passage, the author says: 1.       Berlin has an efficient public transport system. 2.       One argument is that the car and oil industries are responsible for smog which causes health problems. 3.       Taxpayers should subsidize the road networks. 4.       The public transport system in New York will soon give way to cars too. 5.       We should invest in roads and freeways. 6.       Many people blame car companies for ending the tramcar system in Los Angeles.

Did Auto, Oil Conspiracy put the Brakes on Trolleys. (2003, March 23). Retrieved January 25, 2020, from https://www.latimes.com/me-2003-los-angeles-streetcar-history-story.html

One way you can be misled is by way of a literary device like personification. In answer option 1. the statement reads “Berlin has an efficient public transportation system”, but the text says: “Yet, even New York pales next to transport systems like those in Tokyo, Seoul, Paris, Berlin, and numerous other large cities.” Here, personification is being used as human characteristics are given to an inanimate object – the City of New York. The comparison being made is between a sick-looking New York with the, we assume, the healthy transport systems of Seoul, South Korea; Paris, France; and Berlin, Germany. Therefore, this answer is correct because Berlin is one of those ‘healthy’ transport systems.

Answer option 2. is also correct since the list of illnesses mentioned (see underlined text) refers directly to this writer’s plea from the first paragraph that too many people are driving cars and polluting the air: “cars with their associated air pollutants dominate the streets and arterial roads”.

Answer option 4. is also wrong because the text does not directly say at any point that New York will stop its public transport system. However, this could be an inference you can make. Pearson makes questions that will contain this misdirection to try and deceive you – Always answer what the prompt is asking! If the prompt had asked ‘what inferences can be made from this text’, then you would have a correct answer. But it doesn’t, so you always have to have a direct correspondence between the answer option and the text – mind you the synonymous language used from text to answer option, or from answer option to text, is slightly confusing as well, the text should directly support the answer option you are checking.

The difficultly of this text lies in how the author expresses his/her opinion that the move to cars away from public transport has caused many new problems. Notice the use of language here:

“Some argue that the move away from public transport towards roads and cars is now embedded in the American national consciousness and is reflected in the language. We talk about ‘investing’ in roads and freeways, but we talk about ‘subsidizing’ public transport”.

The sentence after mentioning the movement from public transport to cars is embedded in the national consciousness the author uses the pronoun “We”, as though you, the reader, are woven right in this discussion. “We” is not the author, nor the narrator, is a group of people that help make up his readership or audience. Now, the next sentence completely reverses what the author wants because he is speaking through the nation’s consciousness that has been ‘embedded’, or in other words, he is going to tell you just what has been embedded: “We talk about ‘investing’ in roads and freeways, but we talk about ‘subsidizing’ public transport”. This statement is the exact opposite of what the author wants, and it proves he is extremely bitter about this subject. Answer option 5. is wrong because investing in roads and freeways is the last thing the other wants.

Note: this is where you will always get trapped in the prompt that asks you for the author’s prompt IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A ONE TO ONE CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE ANSWER OPTION TO THE TEXT. You have to try and understand the author’s point of view or perspective.

Likewise, answer option 3. is wrong as well because taxpayers are already subsidizing roads and freeways and not transportation – again this is part of the same ‘bitter’ response as in answer option 5. This bitterness is expressed in the passage that reads: Governments criticize public transport networks for ‘losing money.’ ‘One wonders if roads generally ‘make money.’ You have to be able to read the last sentence, ‘One wonders if roads generally ‘make money.’, as the author is extremely sardonic or cynical. In any event, the author would prefer a return to public transport away from the ownership of cars.

Answer option 6. is also correct as the use of synonymous language is used between the answer options and the text. The text says:

“Many accuse a consortium of car companies, including General Motors of deliberately sabotaging the public transport system by buying the tramcars and replacing them with less attractive, less efficient buses, forcing many public transport users to buy their own cars”.

The synonymous language of accuse with blame found in the answer option 6., and the fact that the meanings of the passages are the same, confirms this is a correct answer: “Many people blame car companies for ending the tramcar system in Los Angeles.”

 

The Limiting Prompt:

• Notice the prompt type here as it is asking for the new theory. This means that you have to specify in the text where to look for the answer options are. Do not get drawn into the ‘old theory’.

Example 2.

Read the text and answer the multiple-choice question by selecting all the correct responses. More than one response is correct.

 

A popular theory in recent neuroscience proposes that slow development of the prefrontal cortex, and its weak connectivity with brain reward regions, explains teenagers’ seemingly impulsive and risky behaviour. But now there is a new interpretation. Recent research suggests that previous thinking has misinterpreted adolescent exploratory behaviour as impulsive and lacking in control. The new argument is that much of what looks like adolescent impulsivity is behaviour that is guided by the desire to learn about the world. It seems that the rise in adolescent levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine may underlie the increased drive for sensation seeking and it also supports the brain’s ability to exert greater control and to learn from experience. What’s happening is that adolescents lack experience so they’re trying things out for the first time; like learning how to drive. They’re also trying drugs, deciding what to wear and who to hang out with. For some youth, this leads to problems. But when trying things for the first time, mistakes are sometimes made. Researchers have previously interpreted this as a lack of control when for most youth, it’s just exploration. Recent work suggests that the way individuals think about risk and reward changes as they mature. The reason teens are doing all of this exploring and novelty seeking is to build experience so that they can do a better job in making the difficult and risky decisions in later life; decisions like ‘Should I take this job?’ or ‘Should I marry this person?’ There’s no doubt that this period of development is a challenge for parents, but that’s doesn’t mean that the adolescent brain is somehow deficient or lacking in control.

Which of the following statements about teenagers can be supported by the new theory outlined in this text?   1.       The teenage years are dangerous and parents need to rise to the challenge to control their children’s behaviour.   2.       Teenagers’ impulsive and risky behaviour is explained by the weak connection between areas of the brain signaling reward and the prefrontal cortex.   3.       Dopamine is not responsible for drug-taking and addiction.   4.       Exploratory behaviour in the teen years provides teenagers with experience to help them with decision making in later life.   5.       Dopamine is linked with a tendency toward exploratory behaviour.

Why teens take risks: It’s not a deficit in brain development. (2017, August 16). Retrieved January 24, 2020, from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170816122345.htm

In the example above, answers 4. And 5. Are correct because the text emphasized the ‘exploration’ caused by dopamine (see underlined text). Answer option 1. is wrong because nowhere in the text does it say ‘parent need to rise to the occasion; rather, it says that it is ‘a challenge for parent’ – don’t make an inference, you always have to support your answer from the exact meaning of the text. Answer option number 2. is wrong because this option references the ‘old theory’ found in the first paragraph. Finally, answer option number 3 is wrong because this answer option opposes, states the opposite, of what the text is suggesting – that dopamine is responsible for ‘the need to learn about the world’ for teenagers.

According to the text

Example 3.

Read the text and answer the multiple-choice question by selecting all the correct responses. More than one response is correct.

In a recent study, nearly 182,000 people were recorded to have had a heart attack, with almost 6% being dog owners and nearly 155,000 people were recorded to have had an ischemic stroke, with almost 5% being dog owners. Dog ownership was confirmed by data from the Swedish Board of Agriculture (registration of dog ownership has been mandatory since 2001) and the Swedish Kennel Club (all pedigree dogs have been registered since 1889).   The lower risk of death associated with dog ownership could be explained by an increase in physical activity and the decreased depression and loneliness, both of which have been connected to dog ownership in previous studies. “We know that social isolation is a strong risk factor for worse health outcomes and premature death.   Previous studies have indicated that dog owners experience less social isolation and have more interaction with other people,” said Tove Fall, D. V. M., professor at Uppsala University in Sweden. “Furthermore, keeping a dog is good motivation for physical activity, which is an important factor in rehabilitation and mental health.” While this study draws from a large sample, potential misclassifications of dog ownership in couples living together, the death of a dog and change of ownership could have affected the outcomes of the study.   “The results of this study suggest positive effects of dog ownership for patients who have experienced a heart attack or stroke. However, more research is needed to confirm a causal relationship and giving recommendations about prescribing dogs for prevention. Moreover, from an animal welfare perspective, dogs should only be acquired by people who feel they have the capacity and knowledge to give the pet a good life.”

According to the text which of the following statements are true.   1.       Dogs induce heart attacks in older people.   2.       Animal welfare suggests that people who want dogs should know about dogs be able to treat them properly throughout the dog’s life.   3.       Social isolation helps owners motivate their dogs.   4.       An elderly person who owns a dog might struggle with mental health.   5.       One explanation of a lower death rate is an increase in physical activity and mental health.   6.      The text states that dogs offer motivation for physical activity.

Dog ownership is associated with longer life, especially among heart attack and stroke survivors. (2019, October 8). Retrieved January 25, 2020, from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/10/191008083121.htm

In the text above, answer options 2., 5., and 6. are correct because they can be supported by the text (see underlined text). Answer option 1. Is wrong since this statement suggests ‘the opposite’ of what the entire text recommends – that dogs can reduce heart attacks. Answer 3. is wrong because this statement cannot be supported in the text; in fact, the text suggests that social isolation is a detriment to mental health. Finally, answer option number 4. is wrong because this suggests an inference from the text – those elderly people who struggle with mental health might find benefits from owning a dog. Therefore, they own a dog because they struggle with mental health.

Chart and text:

Example 4.

With a chart and text, it is important to remember that there are usually answer options whereby you can look at the chart and not read the text. Look to these first because you may get any easy answer, so you can move to the next question in the section knowing that you scored one.

Read the text and answer the multiple-choice question by selecting all the correct responses. More than one response is correct.

 

VITAMIN / MINERAL WHERE TO FIND THEM BENEFITS Vitamin A Liver, carrot, sweet potato Skin, bones, vision, hair Vitamin B1 Egg, legumes, whole grains Energy, heart, muscles Vitamin B2 Dairy, eggs, greens Body growth, energy, hair Vitamin B3 Dairy, eggs, fish Digestive system, skin, energy Vitamin B6 Avocado, banana, legumes Nerves, breakdown of proteins, hair Vitamin B12 Eggs, soymilk, poultry Metabolism, hair Vitamin C Guava, red pepper, citrus Immune system, skin, teeth, hair Vitamin D Fatty fish, egg, sunlight Bones, immune system Vitamin E Wheat germ, sunflower seeds Skin, vision, hair Vitamin K Spinach, kale, broccoli Bones, blood Choline Egg, beef, cauliflower Nervous system, brain Pantothenic Acid Mushroom, cauliflower, broccoli Skin, energy Folic Acid / Folate Dark greens, legumes, citrus Tissue growth, hair Biotin Tomatoes, romaine lettuce, carrot Hair, nails, skin

According to the passage, which of the following is true about vitamin supplements: 1.   In the future people in the Asia-Pacific region will be the largest consumers of vitamin supplements. Older people are seeking more sunshine to ensure sufficient levels of Vitamin D. Reasons for the growth in the market include rising healthcare costs and an aging population. Eggs contain Vitamins B3 and B12. Useful supplements for skin include Vitamins A, B3, C and Choline. The value of the market is expected to have grown by almost 20 billion dollars by 2020.

 

Globally, the vitamin supplements market is expected to grow at a calculated annual growth rate of approximately 6.8% between 2014 and 2020, rising from a market value of US$37.4 billion in 2013 to US$59.6 billion in 2020. Asia-Pacific is the largest market for vitamin supplement products and an aging population is one of the key factors. With increasing age, it is more difficult for the body to absorb the required nutrients from food, and people are turning to supplements to bridge the gap. Ensuring optimal levels of Vitamin D is of particular concern to the elderly, as they generally have lower exposure to sunlight and many suffer from loss of appetite. It is likely that Vitamin D will lead the growth in the industry.

Increased consumer awareness of health issues, coupled with rising healthcare costs, is found to be influencing supplement demand in North America, while the supplement market in Europe is being propelled by the incidence of chronic diseases, among other factors.

Haggan, M. (2015, March 31). VITAMIN/SUPPLEMENT MARKET GROWING. Retrieved January 24, 2020, from https://ajp.com.au/news/vitaminsupplement-market-growing/

In the text above (and chart), for instance, answer options number 4 and 5 refer directly to the chart. When you check these with what is written in the chart, you will realize that answer 4. is correct and answer 5. is incorrect, but because it is wrong, it eliminates and an option for you, so there are now possibly 2 of the remaining 4 options that are correct. The word ‘almost’ in answer number 6. makes this answer wrong because when we subtract the market value of US$37.4 billion in 2013 from US$59.6 billion in 2020, we get over 20 billion dollars. Answer option number 3. is correct because the text gives 2 reasons for ‘growth in the market’ (see underlined text). Finally, both answer options 1. and 2. are wrong. The former is wrong because the text never mentions directly that the Asia-Pacific region will be the largest consumer in the future; rather, it suggests only an increase in North America. The latter is wrong since nowhere in the text does it directly state that elderly people seek sunshine. This is another good example of how test-takers can be misled because the text does say ‘ensuring optimal levels of Vitamin D is of particular concern to the elderly’, but not that ‘the elderly are seeking more sunshine’. If you had answered option 3, you would have made an ‘inference’ or a logical conclusion after reading the text. Don’t make inferences unless the text asks you to ‘infer’ from the text!