CIA Report Encourages Extremists

The author most likely included paragraphs 1 through 3 in order to show that he thinks releasing the report...

• A. was a sensible thing to do to protect American interests

• B. will cause the public to protest the actions it details

• C. will ease tensions between the U.S. and other nations

• D. was an illogical action made by U.S. leaders

The author’s style suggests that the purpose for writing the article is to —

• A. persuade the public to express disapproval of the CIA’s unsavory methods

• B. criticize Diane Feinstein’s reason for publishing the report

• C. warn of possible dire consequences for publishing the report

• D. show what happens when people are unlawfully imprisoned and tortured

The reader can conclude from the selection that the author believes that —

• A. others nations admire the U.S. and align themselves with its policies

• B. the CIA always uses “enhanced interrogation” methods to protect U.S. citizens

• C. Senator Feinstein regrets the impact that publishing the CIA report has had

• D. America’s many enemies continuously look for reasons to attack

What is the best summary of the article?

• A. Sometimes it’s hard to predict unintended consequences of an action. A butterfly flaps its wings in China, and it rains in America. Did Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee embolden al-Qaida when they released their report on what the CIA did after September 11, 2001? Maybe. Or maybe something else would have encouraged alQaida. It’s hard to know.

• B. Although he is never openly critical, clearly the author is displeased with Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee after they published details of CIA behavior when trying to prevent a repeat of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Perceptively, he points out that the Democrats have made a repeat of that attack more likely as a result.

• C. The author takes the position that the Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee made a mistake when they revealed details about CIA operations following the September 11, 2001 attacks. In their effort to make America a better country, he argues, they likely made it less safe, empowering our enemies and forcing our allies to keep their distance.

• D. In this one-sided attack on elected officials who are doing the best they can, the author suggests that Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee made a mistake in delivering transparency relating to the CIA’s response to the September 11, 2001 attacks. Rather than hold al-Qaida responsible for future attacks, he shamelessly and incorrectly blames Americans.