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WorksheetsIs Survival Selfish 2026
Total questions: 20
Worksheet time: 10mins
Multiple Choice: What is the central claim of Lane Wallace's argument in "Is Survival Selfish?"
Survivors are always selfish in crisis situations.
There is no single answer to whether survival is selfish because each situation is unique.
People should always risk their lives to save others.
Only heroes survive dangerous situations.
Multiple Choice: Which rhetorical device does Wallace use in paragraph 3 to engage readers?
Simile
Rhetorical question
Metaphor
Alliteration
Multiple Choice: In the story of the Titanic, why was J. Bruce Ismay criticized?
He was the captain of the ship.
He saved himself while women and children were still on board.
He built the lifeboats.
He gave up his seat for someone else.
Multiple Choice: According to Wallace, what is the most important factor in survival?
Physical strength
Luck
The ability to remain calm and act
Having survival equipment
What does the author suggest about people who perform impulsive rescues?
They always plan their actions carefully.
They are driven by instinct rather than conscious choice.
They are never successful.
They are selfish.
In the "Touching the Void" example, what difficult decision did Simon Yates make?
He left his friend behind at the base camp.
He cut the rope to save himself, risking his friend's life.
He called for help immediately.
He carried his friend down the mountain.
What is a possible reason survivors feel guilty after saving themselves?
They believe they could have done more to help others.
They are praised by everyone.
They always break the rules.
They forget what happened.
What is the effect of Wallace's use of contrasts and contradictions throughout the text?
It confuses the reader about the main idea.
It highlights the complexity of survival situations and challenges simple judgments.
It makes the argument less persuasive.
It only focuses on negative outcomes.
How does the author support her claim that people are sometimes blamed for saving themselves?
by arguing that some people are heroes and other people are not
by asking the reader questions that force them to assign blame
by giving examples of what happened during and after a crisis
by showing that it takes selfishness to want to save yourself
The author included the information in paragraph 7 to –
demonstrate that in some circumstances saving your life is the right action
argue that this woman cost other people their lives by her actions
offer an example of what you should do in an airplane fire
criticize the other passengers for not trying to save themselves
The author concludes her argument with –
recommendations for what you should do in a live-and-die situation
another example that explains what being selfish in a crisis means
a story about a friend who says you have to be brave and foolish
generalizations arguing that the issue is not so simple
The author says that J. Bruce Ismay “was savaged by the media and the general public for climbing into a lifeboat and saving himself.” She uses the word savaged to convey
the tragedy of the sinking of the Titanic.
Ismay’s luck at being saved.
Ismay’s selfishness in taking a spot in the lifeboat.
the fierceness of the media attack.
In paragraphs 4 and 5, the author describes how people reacted to an explosion near Grand Central Station. Her description supports her point that
people’s instincts for self-preservation does not always take over.
dangerous situations can occur anytime and anywhere.
people are attracted to scenes of disaster.
a person must be determined to get to safety.
According to the survival training expert cited in paragraph 6, what is the reason some people do not survive life-threatening situations?
They are in poor physical shape.
They lose their ability to think clearly.
They do not have survival training.
They believe fate will determine the outcome.
What was the controversy surrounding Ismay?
he died helping people
he climbed into a lifeboat even though there were still women and children on board
he assaulted a person to get into the lifeboat
he pretended to be disabled to get a spot on the lifeboat
Which of the following would be something you might laud?
a supreme accomplishment
a failure to complete a task
If something were to transfix you, how would you react?
stand in awe
run in fear
Which of the following would be likely to consume something?
a cloud of fog
a forest fire
If I berate another person, how would that person feel?
humiliated
delighted
If a king issued an edict, what would it be like?
an opinion
a law
