how does wilde portray the institution of marriage in the importance of being earnest

ATI TEAS 7

TEAS Reading Practice Test

1. How does Wilde portray the institution of marriage in The Importance of Being Earnest?

A. As a romantic union between two individuals.
B. As a social contract designed for economic and social gain.
C. As a trivial and superficial agreement.
D. As a necessary evil in a structured society.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: In The Importance of Being Earnest, Wilde portrays marriage as a social contract rather than a romantic union. The play satirizes the transactional nature of marriage in the society Wilde critiques. Characters like Lady Bracknell's interrogation of Jack highlight how marriage is viewed as a means for economic and social gain rather than genuine affection, emphasizing the societal norms of the time. Choice A is incorrect because Wilde's portrayal goes beyond a simple romantic view of marriage. Choice C is incorrect as it oversimplifies Wilde's critique of marriage and societal norms. Choice D is incorrect as it doesn't capture the nuanced satire Wilde employs in dissecting the institution of marriage.

2. Which of the following lines from the passage supports the inference that Hedy Lamarr worked earnestly to achieve her goals?

A. She began starring in American films with MGM studios in the late 1930s and early 1940s
B. She even spent time working with the science engineering team employed by Howard Hughes, the aviation tycoon
C. Her roles generally did not include very many spoken lines and she became bored
D. ... but she did not allow that to stop her from teaching herself in her spare time.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D, as it showcases Hedy Lamarr's determination and hard work towards achieving her goals. Despite facing challenges, such as not having many spoken lines in her roles, she persevered by teaching herself in her spare time. Choice A talks about her success in starring in American films but does not directly relate to her working earnestly. Choice B mentions her collaboration with Howard Hughes' science engineering team, which indicates involvement but not necessarily hard work towards personal goals. Choice C describes her becoming bored due to the lack of spoken lines in her roles and does not highlight her dedication and effort to achieve her aspirations.

3. Which of the following pairs of examples from the passage best demonstrates why the use of plastics is a divisive topic?

A. Plastic has advantages. Plastic is difficult to recycle efficiently.
B. Plastic is consumed by birds. Plastic is entering our food.
C. Plastic is popular. Plastic is used for packaging.
D. Plastic is in landfills. Plastic is in the ocean.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The examples of plastic's advantages and difficulties in recycling show why the topic is divisive. The passage mentions that plastic has advantages, but it is difficult to recycle efficiently, indicating a conflict between the benefits and environmental impact of plastics. This conflict contributes to the divisive nature of discussions surrounding the use of plastics. Choices B, C, and D do not provide contrasting examples that highlight the divisive nature of the topic.

4. Which source provides the best material for your assignment?

A. It may be true that some businesses profit from buying up wetlands; however, the important point is that wetlands are disappearing. An ecologist noted that there are not enough private donors to buy these places.
B. Greedy businesses are at the heart of the problem: they simply want to buy up cheap land to build and make money. They don't care about destroying our natural treasures. The physics professor noted that our town needs to buy this land.
C. It's clear that wetlands are endangered; they are going to disappear unless we do something about it. We should get private donors to buy the land. An ecologist noted that wetlands are in danger.
D. Businesses are part of the wetland problem. Without developers to buy them up, the town would not need to purchase the land to protect it. A physics professor noted that the wetland problem is related to greed.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Source C provides the best material for the assignment because it emphasizes the importance of preserving wetlands, acknowledges the endangered status of wetlands, and suggests a solution involving private donors. The source highlights the crucial issue at hand - the disappearance of wetlands - and proposes a practical solution, making it a reliable and relevant source for an assignment on wetlands conservation. Choice A focuses more on the profit aspect rather than conservation. Choice B blames greedy businesses without offering a practical solution. Choice D discusses the relationship between businesses and wetlands but lacks a clear solution for conservation compared to Source C.

5. Why did Julia not return to work after the alarm?

A. She was embarrassed that she could not finish the work her boss asked for.
B. She was tired and wanted to go home.
C. She got stuck in traffic and could not get back to her office.
D. Her boss gave her the afternoon off.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The most likely reason Julia did not return to work after the alarm is that she got stuck in traffic and could not get back to her office. The extract provides details about Julia's challenging morning, starting from being woken up early by lawn mowers, having a caffeine-free cup of coffee, facing traffic delays, arriving late at work, and receiving additional work from her boss. These events culminated in Julia deciding to leave after the fire alarm, indicating that being stuck in traffic was the primary reason for her absence. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because there is no direct evidence in the provided extract to support them. Julia's actions suggest that her decision to leave was more related to external factors like traffic issues rather than internal feelings of embarrassment, tiredness, or being given time off by her boss.