Passage 1: Which statement best expresses the central idea in the article?

• Power cannot corrupt us if we know who we really are.

• Power cannot corrupt us if we are naturally born leaders.

• Power doesn't corrupt us, it just allows us to be who we really are.

• Power doesn't corrupt us, it just looks that way because all leaders are naturally bad.

Passage 1: Which TWO textual evidence strongly supports the central idea of the text?

• "As Lord Acton famously expressed it, 'power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.'" (Paragraph 2)

• "Power didn't corrupt ordinary people. It corrupted people who already leaned toward corruption." (Paragraph 13)

• "'Power always reveals. When you have enough power to do what you always wanted to do, then you see what the guy always wanted to do.'" (Paragraph 19)

• "Back in the late 1930s, a man fresh out of law school was trying his first case when the judge threatened to disbar him: 'I have serious doubts whether you have ethical qualifications to practice law,' the judge said." (Paragraph 14)

Passage 1: The author quotes Lord Acton's famous statement about power in paragraph 2 and then​​ (a)  

• challenges it in his argument.
• supports it in his argument.
• uses it as his central argument.
• asks readers to forget it in his argument.

Passage 1: How does the author develop his claim in paragraphs 4-5?

• He shares that he sat down with people in power and learned first hand from them.

• He shares that he sat down with people in power and argued with them.

• He shares that he traveled around the world to research his claim.

• He shares that he traveled around the world to prove his claim.

Passage 1: What connection does the author draw between former presidents Richard Nixon and Abraham Lincoln? (Paragraphs 14-19)

• Both presidents changed when they came into positions of power.

• Both presidents were inspired to do good when in positions of power.

• Both presidents remained true to their character when in positions of power.

• Both presidents had bad characters before they were ever in positions of power.

Passage 2: Which sentence BEST expresses the central idea of the text?

• Studies on the human brain prove that love and lust produce the same chemicals in the brain, proving that they are essentially the same feeling.

• Love at first sight is something that occurs more often in books and on television, rather than in our real lives.

• Everyone is capable of experiencing love at first sight if they permit themselves to connect with someone on a deeper level.

• True love can develop within a short period of time for some people if they develop a sudden and deep connection with each other.

Passage 2: Which detail from the text best supports the central idea of the text?

• "If you find yourself smitten with someone you've only just met, you'll question whether you should give the feeling so much weight — and risk ending up like Michael." (Paragraph 6)

• "But other studies don't accept such a clean break between the chemistry of love at first sight and of 'true' love, instead suggesting that what happens in the brain at first blush may resemble what happens later on." (Paragraph 12)

• "They show the signs that we tend to regard as hallmarks of 'mature' love — profound passion, intimacy and commitment — right away. For Shakespeare, if you have this, you have love, whether it takes six months or six minutes." (Paragraph 26)

• "It's easy to say that people don't love each other when they first meet because they don't know each other and haven't had a chance to form a true attachment." (Paragraph 27)

Passage 2: How do paragraphs 1-4 contribute to the author's explanation of love at first sight?

• They convey it as something that doesn't really exist and only silly people believe in.

• They emphasize how it's impossible to prove or disprove, as everyone has unique experiences with love.

• They prove that it's not a silly notion, but rather can be supported through scans of the human brain.

• They suggest that it's mainly a plot device that is used to add romance and drama to television and movies.

Passage 2: What connection does the author draw between Shakespeare and love at first sight?

• The author shows how Shakespeare portrays love in a way that allows for love at first sight to be genuine.

• The author suggests that even Shakespeare believed that his characters were more infatuated with each other than in love.

• The author explains how love at first sight was a necessary tool in Shakespeare's plays to condense the story.

• The author emphasizes how Shakespeare viewed lust and love at first sight as one and the same.

Passage 2: Examples of Michael Scott and Romeo and Juliet allows the author to _______.

• explore the complexities of love since Scott's parody conveys the humorous aspect of it, while Romeo & Juliet provides a more romantic and traditional view.

• criticize the validity of love at first sight since both examples are fiction.

• argue against those who do not conform with the concept of love at first sight.

• allows the author to develop his argument through providing entertaining examples that may influence the readers to agree with his claim.