Assessment E: Do People Really Change? (Central Idea)

1. Which sentence best describes the central idea of the article?
   

• 1. People’s personalities naturally change over time, often in predictable ways.

• 1. People’s personalities stop changing after they reach adulthood.
     

• 1. People’s personalities are more likely to change in childhood.
     

• 1. People always become kinder the older they get.

1. How does the author’s discussion of the “Big Five” contribute to the central idea of the article?

• 1. It describes the personality traits that are most likely to remain the same in a person.

• 1. It describes the main personality traits that may or may not change in a person.

• 1. It describes the personality traits that people most want to develop.

• 1. It describes why all people possess the five listed personality traits.

1. Why does the author most likely mention Harry Potter and Hermione Granger in paragraph 5?

• 1. to suggest that it is more important to have certain personality traits than others

• 1. to provide examples of people whose personalities have changed over time

• 1. to highlight that certain personality traits are more common than others

• 1. to help readers understand the different levels of personality traits

1. How does paragraph 7 contribute to the central idea of the article?

• 1. It suggests that being open to new experiences is more important than being agreeable.

• 1. It suggests that the relationship between traits is usually similar over time.

• 1. It suggests that even though some personality change is possible, it is rare.

• 1. It suggests that our personalities change randomly as we become adults.

What is the “big takeaway” or main conclusion from the new research mentioned in paragraph 8?

• People’s personalities never change after childhood.

• Our personalities transform over time in expected ways.

• Personality changes are random and unpredictable.

• People usually become less mature as they grow older.

You have just read “Do People Really Change?” by Jessica McBirney. Summarize the passage in four sentences.

(Tell me what it is mostly about.)