Daily Quiz

Question 1:

The structure of the passage can best be described as:

A. an explanation of two opposing viewpoints followed by an analysis of each one.
B. a personal anecdote followed by a reflection on its meaning.
C. a description of a historical film, followed by a critique of its content.
D. a general argument in favor of the superiority of historical narratives followed by specific examples.

Question 2:

As it is used in the line 105, excavate most nearly means:

A. dig
B. study
C. discover
D. interpret

Question 3:

Which of the following statements best summarizes the difference between historical narratives and historical films, as presented in the final paragraph (lines 111-139)?

A. historical narratives attempt to find connections between unrelated events, while historical films present those events as random and unpredictable.
B. historical narratives often make use of scientific techniques, while such techniques are not used in historical films.
C. historical narratives emphasize reason and logic, while historical films rely on emotional appeal.
D. historical narratives are written over a long period of time, while historical films are produced quickly.

Question 4:

In context of the final paragraph, the narrator considers the most effective movies to be ones that:

A. are the most unlike books.
B. have a strong psychological impact.
C. contain screenplays written by professional historians.
D. challenge illusions about imposing order on random events.

Question 5:

The main purpose of the sixth paragraph (lines 89-110) is to:

A. emphasize that historians and historical filmmakers base their interpretations of the past on different kinds of evidence.
B. indicate that historians and historical filmmakers often reach different conclusions using the same kinds of evidence.
C. refute a commonly accepted misconception about the seriousness of historical filmmaking.
D. point out important similarities between the way historians and historical filmmakers approach their subjects.

Question 6:

The passage mentions all of the following criticisms of the portrayal of history on television EXCEPT:

A. it contains elements of political bias.
B. it does not encourage logical argumentation.
C. it is simplistic and reductive.
D. it fails to foster an exchange of ideas.

Question 7:

What is the main idea of the passage?

A. historical books are threatened by the popularity of films.
B. historical television cannot properly portray history in the way that prose can.
C. television has weaknesses for portraying history, but relying on a narrative allows for emotional power.
D. the narrative cannot be respected as a medium for telling history because analysis fails to account for emotion.

Question 8:

The above main idea is best established in which of the following lines?

A. “Most Americans seem to prefer the image to the word… More and more of us are learning our history from television.” (Lines 41-47)
B. “television is limited, just as prose is limited, and in its limitations lies its strength as well as its weaknesses.” (Lines 81-84)
C. “Although historians working in prose may also choose to write in the narrative tradition, many prefer to analyze rather than chronicle” (Lines 114-118)
D. “Despite the fact that the idea of the narrative has been challenged for imposing the illusion of order on random events, I find myself continuing to tell stories” (Lines 131-136)

Question 9:

The author indicates that a major weakness of the programs mentioned in Paragraph 4 (lines 48-72) is that:

A. the enthusiasm with which they are promoted is not reflected in the care with which they are produced.
B. they have ceased to engage viewers because they are shown too frequently.
C. they are formulaic and driven by market demands rather than a search for historical truth.
D. their producers are insulated from the criticism the films provoke.

Question 10:

When the author says that “the medium is pulling in another direction” (lines 123-124), he is referring to the fact that:

A. films about history often distort the basic facts of historical occurrences.
B. films about history often lack the emotional power of the written word.
C. films about history use analysis as a tool rather than as an end in itself.
D. films about history are often unfairly judged by critics who prefer books.

Reading 26

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