Criticism is a four letter word/ all my babies are gone now

What is the primary purpose of the selection?

• to encourage readers to write reviews rather than criticism

• to offer readers a new perspective on criticism

• to document the harm suffered by the author because of criticism

• to suggest that good parenting requires criticism

the author mentions the movie E.T. in order to-

• support his opinion that good movies provoke good debates

• explain his inability to view movies with a critical eye

• provide context for his early experience handling criticism

• indicate that the events in his article took place long ago

"Your room could double for the city dump."

The author's purpose in including this statement is to-

• Provide an example of unconstructive criticism

• indicate how harsh parents can be

• show that his mother was as critical as his brother

• demonstrate the importance of clear, direct statements

What does the boxed information on constructive criticism (Your room could double for the city dump.) have in common with the reading selection

• it emphasizes the importance of defending yourself when you have been criticized

• it reminds readers that different kinds of people respond differently to criticism

• it offers specific pieces of advice for the reader to use

• it employs the viewpoint of a sympathetic first person narrator

The author refers to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in order to-

• clarify the difference between reviewing and criticism

• call attention to his favorite book

• offer a suggestion on how the book could have been improved

• provide an example of a good plot

Why does the author directly address the reader in paragraphs in 21 through 27?

• his offering praise for well written books

• he is scolding the reader for thinking too critically

• he wants to engage and instruct the reader

• he has changed his opinion

Beginning with paragraph 7, the author's tone shifts from-

• complimentary to condescending

• optimistic to cynical

• lighthearted to reflective

• academic to conversational

By saying that one of her son's "can walk too well" in paragraph 5, the author implies that-

• her son has become overconfident

• she is very proud of her son's accomplishment

• she is not ready for her son to leave

• her son is unusually graceful and agile

In which line does the author used passive voice to generalize her experience

• the nightmare sleepover

• that's what the books never told me

• I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less

• believe me mistakes were made

In the last sentence of paragraph 9 the reader can infer that "the experts" the author refers to are-

• her own children

• the authors of parenting books

• the women on the playground

• her own parents