Question

Critical reading is a demanding process. To read critically, you must slow down your reading and, with pencil in hand, perform specific operations on the text. Mark up the text with your reactions, conclusions, and questions. When you read, become an active participant.

This paragraph best supports the statement that
a) critical reading is a slow, dull, but essential process
b) the best critical reading happens at critical times in a person's life.
c) readers should get in the habit of questioning the truth of what they read.
d) critical reading requires thoughtful and careful attention.
e) critical reading should take place at the same time each day.

Answer 1

Hint: Comprehension is an ability to understand the meaning or importance of something (or the knowledge acquired as a result). Comprehensive paragraphs are often provided in a question to test comprehensive ability.

Complete answer:
In the given question, we have to identify which of the given statements are implied in the given paragraph.
Let us thus analyze the options given to us in this question:
Option (a.), 'critical reading is a slow, dull, but essential process', is incorrect as the author nowhere implies that it is a slow or dull process. He only calls it a ‘demanding’ process.
Option (b.), ‘the best critical reading happens at critical times in a person's life.', is incorrect as there is no reference or implication as to when critical reading happens best.
Option (c.), ‘readers should get in the habit of questioning the truth of what they read.', is incorrect as readers are nowhere mentioned and no advice is provided for them.
Option (d.), ‘critical reading requires thoughtful and careful attention.' is correct as the steps provided by the reader indicate and imply that careful attention is needed for the demanding process of critical thinking.
Option (e.), ‘critical reading should take place at the same time each day.', is incorrect as no implication or suggestion is made as to when critical thinking should happen.

Note:
After solving this question, the students may be interested to know more about critical thinking. Critical reading means that a reader applies certain processes, models, questions, and theories that result in enhanced clarity and comprehension. There is more involved, both in effort and understanding, in a critical reading than in a mere "skimming" of the text.