RST Practice 1

PART A: Which statement identifies the central idea of 'Why It Matters That Teens are Reading Less'?

• The time that teenagers spend with digital media negatively impacts their ability to read and understand longer reading material.

• Teenagers are not developing the social skills they need to succeed in the world, as digital devices encourage them to spend time alone.

• Fast-paced games and constantly updating social media makes it difficult for teenagers to be entertained by paper media, such as books and magazines.

• The time that teenagers spend playing video games or on social media takes away from their commitment to their studies, negatively affecting their grades.

PART B: Which detail from the text best supports the answer to Part A?

• 'One out of 10 8th graders in 2016 spent 40 hours a week or more gaming – the time commitment of a full-time job.' (Paragraph 6)

• 'In another analysis, we found that today's teens go out with their friends considerably less than previous generations did.' (Paragraph 11)

• 'Of course, teens are still reading. But they're reading short texts and Instagram captions, not longform articles that explore deep themes and require critical thinking and reflection.' (Paragraph 15)

• 'Data connecting excessive digital media time to mental health issues suggests a limit of two hours a day of free time spent with screens...' (Paragraph 20)

PART A: Which of the following describes the author's main purpose in "Why It Matters That Teens are Reading Less"?

• to offer teenagers fun and engaging alternatives to spending time with digital media

• to emphasize the disadvantages of spending more time online and less time reading

• to show how reading from digital devices is not as beneficial as reading from paper sources

• to speculate how teenagers will be impacted in the future if they continue to rely on digital devices

PART B: Which TWO details from the text best support the answer to Part A?

• "...they're reading short texts and Instagram captions, not longform articles that explore deep themes and require critical thinking and reflection." (Paragraph 15)

• "Perhaps as a result, SAT reading scores in 2016 were the lowest they have ever been since record keeping began in 1972." (Paragraph 15)

• "In 1980, 60% of 12th graders said they read a book, newspaper or magazine every day that wasn’t assigned for school." (Paragraph 12)

• "While 70% of 8th and 10th graders once went to the movies once a month or more, now only about half do." (Paragraph 10)

• "There was a study from the Pew Research Center a few years ago finding that young people actually read more books than older people." (Paragraph 17)

PART A: In "Decoding the Teenage Brain: How Reading Changes in Adolescence," how does the development of the adolescent brain impact reading abilities?

• It enhances impulse control, making it easier for teens to stay focused on reading.

• While adolescents develop stronger thinking skills, the changes in their brains can also make reading more difficult.

• It eliminates the need for explicit reading strategies, as teens naturally develop comprehension skills.

• It causes teens to lose interest in reading, making engagement nearly impossible.

In "Decoding the Teenage Brain: How Reading Changes in Adolescence," how does the structure of the article help develop the author’s main idea?

• A. It presents a chronological timeline of how reading skills develop from childhood to adolescence.

• B. It organizes information into sections that highlight key changes in adolescent reading abilities and how to support them.

• C. It uses a question-and-answer format to address common concerns about teenage reading habits.

• D. It primarily relies on statistical data and research studies to explain adolescent brain development.

PART A: What is the meaning of the phrase “metacognitive skills” as used in the article “Decoding the Teenage Brain: How Reading Changes in Adolescence”?

• The ability to think about and regulate one’s own thinking

• The process of memorizing large amounts of information quickly

• The natural ability to understand difficult texts without assistance

• The tendency to read books that align with personal interests

PART B: Which sentence from the article best helps clarify the meaning of “metacognitive skills”?

• “Adolescents are becoming more aware of their own thinking processes and learning strategies.” (Paragraph 7)

• “This is an opportune time to teach them explicit reading strategies like summarizing, questioning, and visualizing, which can help them become more independent and effective readers.” (Paragraph 7)

• By understanding the unique challenges and opportunities presented by the teenage brain, teachers can provide targeted support and empower our students to become lifelong readers.” (Paragraph 11)

• “Explicitly teaching reading strategies: Help teens develop the metacognitive skills they need to monitor their comprehension and apply appropriate strategies when they encounter challenges.” (Paragraph 9)

PART A: What does the word "autonomy" most likely mean as used in the article "What Stops Teens Reading Books for Pleasure"?

• The ability to make independent choices

• A strong dislike for school reading

• A preference for challenging books

• The habit of avoiding responsibility

PART B: Which phrase from the article best helps clarify the meaning of "autonomy"?

• "...did not align with their own interests..." (Paragraph 5)

• "...not having choice over..." (Paragraph 5)

• "...yet they had other goals for reading..." (Paragraph 5)

• "These mismatched needs..." (Paragraph 5)