Fears and Phobias

1. Read this sentence from paragraph 3. Fear helps protect us. Which statement from the article supports the idea in this sentence?

• Like all emotions, fear can be mild, medium, or intense, depending on the situation and the person. (paragraph 4)
• Fear is the word we use to describe our emotional reaction to something that seems dangerous. (paragraph 8)
• A fear can be healthy if it cautions a person to stay safe around something that could be dangerous. (paragraph 10)
• Young kids often have fears of the dark, being alone, strangers, and monsters or other scary imaginary creatures. (paragraph 15)

2. The section “How Fear Works” is organized to show the —

• benefits of having fears
• various reasons why we have fears
• different types of fear that we have
• way the brain and body respond to fear

3.Read this sentence from paragraph 6 of the selection. This response is known as “fight or flight” because that is exactly what the body is preparing itself to do: fight off the danger or run fast to get away. Which idea does the sentence help explain?

• Why the brain reacts instantly when it senses danger
• Why the brain cannot understand scary situations
• Why people have different responses to fear
• Why people learn to face their fears

4. Read this sentence from paragraph 9 of the selection. People fear things or situations that make them feel unsafe or unsure. What does the word unsafe mean as used in this sentence?

• Not certain
• In danger
• Guarded
• Misunderstood

5. The purpose of paragraph 13 in the selection is to —

• give hope to people who suffer from fears
• explain how overcoming fear is possible
• describe different ways to be calm and relax
• tell why people are afraid of flying in planes

6. Which heading indicates that its section will focus on a specific population (group of people)?

• Fears During Childhood
• Fears People Have
• How Fear Works
• What is Fear?

7. Which TWO statements are the most likely reasons the author wrote this selection?

• To tell readers about how fears and phobias work
• To persuade readers to get help if they have fears
• To explain how fears and phobias can be overcome
• To entertain readers with stories of how people overcame their fears
• To provide evidence that the amygdala keeps track of all strong emotions

9. What is the purpose of the boxed feature after paragraph 7?

• To list different types of frightening activities
• To describe why some people cannot feel fear
• To explain how phobias are not the same as fear
• To point out that some people react positively to fear

10. How does paragraph 10 contribute to the development of the author’s ideas?

• It warns that a fear can turn into a phobia.
• It explains that fears are usually overreactions.
• It notes that people avoid danger only if they feel fear.
• It informs readers that fears can be both good and bad.

11. In paragraph 27, why does the author include information about dog phobias?

• to give a specific example of how a fear could be overcome
• to show that phobias are the result of a single event
• to persuade readers to seek help for their fears
• to describe a physical reaction to fear