The Elite College Students Who Can’t Read Books

According to the article, what change has Nicholas Dames noticed in his students over the past decade?

• They are more enthusiastic about reading

• They struggle to finish multiple books in a semester

• They prefer non-fiction over fiction

• They read faster than previous generations

What surprising revelation did a first-year student share with Professor Dames?

• She had never enjoyed reading

• She had only read e-books before college

• She had never been required to read an entire book in high school

• She preferred audiobooks to physical books

Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a reason for declining reading skills among students?

• Increased use of smartphones and social media

• Emphasis on informational texts in high schools

• Focus on standardized testing in education

• Lack of access to books in schools and libraries

How have some college professors adapted to students' reduced reading abilities?

• By assigning more challenging texts

• By increasing the number of books assigned

• By assigning fewer pages or shorter works

• By eliminating reading assignments altogether

What change did the article mention regarding the Columbia Literature Humanities curriculum?

• They increased the number of books on the reading list

• They removed Crime and Punishment from the list

• They switched to only assigning contemporary literature

• They replaced all novels with short stories

According to the article, how do many current students view reading books?

• As an essential skill for their future careers

• As more important than their other coursework

• As similar to listening to vinyl records - somewhat outdated

• As their primary source of entertainment

What benefit of reading books does the article highlight?

• Improved vocabulary

• Better test scores

• Enhanced empathy and understanding of others

• Increased speed reading abilities

What trend does the article note about book reading among different age groups?

• Younger people read more books than older adults

• Middle-aged adults read the most books

• Older adults are the most voracious readers

• All age groups are reading books equally

Which of the following is described as a consequence of 'deep reading' according to neuroscientist Maryanne Wolf?

• Improved memory retention

• Enhanced critical thinking and self-reflection

• Faster reading speed

• Better mathematical skills

What change did Professor Dames notice in his students' responses about their favorite book?

• They now prefer non-fiction over fiction

• They increasingly cite young-adult books like Percy Jackson

• They no longer have favorite books

• They prefer classic literature more than before