Reading Comprehension Exam 2

Reading Comprehension and Written Expression Exam 2

• Passage: The passage is an excerpt from an article titled "Contemporary cinematic tragedy and the Silver-Lining Genre" by Sandra Shapsay and Steven Wagschal.
• Date: April 2014
• Focus: Discusses tragedy in contemporary cinema.

Phonology (Optional)

• Sound [ɔ:]: A list of words containing this sound, including examples from the text: interwoven, antagonism, chronological, audience, awkward, mores, laws, shot, toward, draws out, moments, soaring, fortune, remotest, portrayed.
• Sound [ʌ]: List of words containing this sound: rules, obstruct, figure, upscale, suburban, constructs, much, fund, consumption, junk, hunger, burns, freedom, plot, wisdom, flood, bonfire, money, avuncular, adopt, journeys, splendour, untouched, recurrent, puffy.
• Instructions: Identify words from a list that do not contain the specified sound.

Translation

• English Phrase: "A sustained critique (...) freedom" (p.10, lines 18-20)
• French Translation: Une critique soutenue du matérialisme et du gaspillage capitalistes apparaît, intriquée avec l'opposition croissante de McCandless aux règles et aux lois sociales qui font obstacle à la liberté individuelle.

Comprehension Questions (Pages 10-11, Lines 28-32)

• Question a: Chris McCandless sends a printed bank draft for $24,000 to Oxfam to break free from consumer society, sever ties with family and social expectations, and condemn financial greed inherent in American capitalism.
• Question b: The title of the first chapter, "My own birth," symbolizes a significant stage in Chris's journey – symbolically representing a death and rebirth signifying his newfound temporary freedom.
• Question c: McCandless's actions are extreme because he abandons possessions, social structures, and his former life. He deliberately puts himself in a vulnerable position by relying on the natural environment.

Additional Questions and Answers (pages 11)

• Question d-Apex: The "camera shot from above" or "eagle soaring" represents the peak of Chris's freedom, as it symbolizes a momentous moment of utmost freedom.
• Question e-Military Display: The military airplane display is intended by the authors of the article as an example of the presence of society's social structures, that are found in remotest locations. This serves as an illustration to highlight that there is no escape from social structures even in remote locations.

Statement Discussion (200-250 words)

• Topic: The statement that cinematic tragedies are rare, and melodramas are plentiful, is troubling. Tragic films prompt examination of complex ethical, existential, and political problems in society. This contrasts with melodramatic films, which often offer simpler, easier-to-understand solutions to problems.
• Example 1 (Film): [Possible example from film]
• Example 2 (Film): [Possible example from another film]
• Analysis: Cinematic tragedies provoke greater understanding of human challenges, forcing viewers to confront complex societal issues.

Essay Writing Guidelines

• Introduction: Introduce the topic and issue in one sentence, then formulate a thesis statement or an arguable claim/opinion on the topic.
• Development: Divide into 2-3 paragraphs, each with a controlling idea, supporting points, and concluding sentences that link to the next paragraph.
• Conclusion: Summarize arguments and state conclusions with conclusive remarks.