Text Related by Topic or Theme

Text Related by Topic or Theme

HSE Academy

On the HiSET Reading Test..

You may need to read related paired passages and answer questions based on your understanding of them both. The two text will be related by topic (what the passage addresses) or theme (the writer's message about a topic). You will need to understand each passage on its own and be able to synthesize (blend) information to draw a conclusion.

On the next slide are two paragraphs about the same topic. One is a news story, and the other is an opinion piece. Read both selections and answer the following questions based on your understanding and analysis of both texts.

Important tip!!

Make sure to rule out any answers that you know have nothing to do with the passages or don't make any sense!!

Multiple Choice

What is the topic of both of these selections?

• Greasy foo in school cafeterias

• New guidelines for healthy school meals

Multiple Choice

What information is given in the news story?

• The government is "babysitting" our schools

• Certain unhealthy foods may be banned from public schools

Multiple Choice

Which relevant argument is made in the response letter?

• The new regulations are a good way to help combat childhood obesity

• The new regulations are a poor idea because monitoring student behavior is not a school's responsibility

Lets practice some more!!

I have two more passages with questions to follow!!

Multiple Choice

The topic of both passages is

• ways in which industries can exaggerate financial harm

• examples of recent legislation to protect and industry

• online piracy of music files

• the signing of new, experimental musicians

Multiple Choice

The main argument of passage 1 is that

• new, experimental artists are necessary for the music industry to succeed

• additional action to combat online piracy is warranted piracy causes financial losses to the music industry

• the shutdown of major file-sharing websites was a positive because they contributed to $12.5 bil. per year in damages

• from '04-'09, 30 bil. songs were downloaded illegally

Multiple Choice

Which claim in passage 2 supports the conclusion drawn in passage 1?

• Fear of piracy makes it difficult for new, experimental acts to get signed.

• Recent legislation has begun to reduce the amount of online music piracy.

• A person who downloads music illegally would likely download fewer songs if he/she had to pay for them.

• Financial harm from illegal music downloads are often exaggerated.

Multiple Choice

With which of the following statements would the writers of both passages agree?

• Online piracy of digital files has a harmful effect on the music industry.

• Online piracy of digital files causes serious damage to the economy.

• The main reason to combat online piracy is to ensure that new, experimental artists can find investors.

• Music is important for a healthy society to function properly.

Do we have any questions?