READING

SKILLS 
Dr. Raihan M. Sharif 
READ EACH OF THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS AND THE SENTENCES THAT
FOLLOW.

PLACE A CHECK MARK IN FRONT OF EACH SENTENCE THAT IS A REASONABLE

INFERENCE THAT CAN BE MADE FROM THE STATEMENT.
 Political candidates must now include the Internet in their campaign plans.

a. Political candidates may host online chats to assess voter

    opinion.
b. Informal debates between candidates may be conducted
    online.
c. Internet campaigning will drastically increase overall                 
 campaign expenditures.
d. Television campaigning is likely to remain the same
 Half of the public education classrooms in the United States are now
hooked up to the Internet.

a. Children are more computer literate than their parents.

b. Many students now have access to current world news and

    happenings.

c. Books are no longer considered the sole source of information

    on a subject

d. Teachers have become better teachers now that they have

    Internet access.
 The Internet can make doctors more efficient through the use of new software
 

and databases that make patient diagnosis more accurate.

a. The cost of in-person medical care is likely to decrease.

b. Doctors may be able to identify patients with serious illness sooner.

c. Doctors are likely to pay less attention to their patients’ descriptions of

symptoms.

d. Information on the symptoms and treatment of rare illnesses

    is more readily available.
READ EACH STATEMENT AND PLACE A CHECK MARK NEXT TO THE
INDIVIDUAL WHO WOULD SEEM TO BE THE BEST AUTHORITY ON
THE SUBJECT.
 One simple way to improve your diet is to put away the saltshaker.

a. Paula Weigel, registered dietician and nutritionist

b. John Mishler, life-long dieter
c. Maria Sanchez, columnist for Food and Wine magazine

 The Dalai Lama is one of the great spiritual leaders of our time.

a. Richard Gere, film actor and follower of Buddhism

b. Alice Kohler, college student majoring in religion
c. Joseph Campbell, author and scholar of religion and
    mythology 

 Genetic engineering has enhanced both the quality and quantity of many
crops, including soybeans, rice, and corn.

a. Craig Stinson, stockbroker

b. Andrew Burnette, television news reporter in the Midwest
c. Charlotte Corbeille, professor of agriculture at Iowa State
       University
READ EACH OF THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS AND IDENTIFY WHETHER IT SOUNDS LIKE FACT (F),OPINION (O), OR EXPERT OPINION (EO)

1. Most Americans feel strongly about the gun control issue.

2. Mosquitoes can transmit a disease known as encephalitis.

3. By 2020, the world population is predicted to exceed 8 billion.

4. Marine biologists use the Internet in researching and identifying plant and animal species.

5. Computer users often feel guilty and blame themselves when their computer fails or performs   an illegal operation.

6. iTunes is the second biggest United States music retailer.

7. James Gleick, a well-known author who writes about technology, notes that networked digital devices set the pace of change in the computer field.

8. An increasing number of private citizens have their own Web sites

BASED ON THE TITLE OF EACH OF THE FOLLOWING
ESSAYS, PREDICT WHETHER THE AUTHOR’S PURPOSE IS
TO INFORM OR PERSUADE
1. Changing Habits: How Shopping Online Is Different

2. I Got Straight A’s, but I Wasn’t Happy

3. Animals Can’t Speak: We Must Speak for Them!

4. Guns Don’t Kill People; People Kill People

5. What the Bible Says About the End of the World

KEY STRATEGIES: HOW TO DETECT BIAS?   

To detect bias, ask the following questions:

1. Is the author acting as a reporter—presenting facts—or as salesperson providing only favorable information?

2. Does the author feel strongly about or favor one side of the issue?

3. Does the author use connotative or figurative language to create a positive

or negative image?

4. Does the author seem emotional about the issue?

5. Are there other views toward the subject that the writer does not recognize or discuss?
READ EACH OF THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS, AND PLACE A CHECK
MARK IN FRONT OF THE ONES THAT REVEAL BIAS.
 
1. Cities should be designed for the pedestrian, not the automobile.

2. There are more channels than ever before on cable television.

3. The current system of voter registration is a sham.

4. Professional sports have become elitist.

5. Space exploration costs millions of dollars each year.

READ SENTENCES BELOW AND IDENTIFY GENERALIZATION 

1. The Internet is changing America.

2. Influenza causes severe epidemics every two years.

3. Most drug cases start with busts of small, local dealers and move to a search of their suppliers.

4. Attending college is essential for economic success and advancement.

5. Colds are caused by viruses, not bacteria, not cold weather, and not improper diet.
 IDENTIFY ASSUMPTION: 
1. Cosmetics should not be tested on animals, since they may cause pain, injury, or even death.

a. Animals have the right to avoid pain and suffering. 

b. Cosmetics should be tested on people.
c. Animals should be anesthetized before research is conducted 

2. Teacher’s aides lack advanced college degrees: therefore, they are unable to
teach children effectively.

a. Teacher’s aides should obtain advanced degrees.

b. Advanced college degrees are needed in order to teach effectively.
c. Teachers who hold advanced degrees are not necessarily
effective teachers.
IDENTIFY ASSUMPTION: 
 Border states in the United States must take action to curb illegal immigration; otherwise, state funds
will be quickly exhausted.

a. The writer opposes using state funds to help illegal immigrants.

b. Illegal immigrants must enter the United States legally to receive state aid.
c. State funding guidelines should be revised
 Circular Reasoning

ERRORS IN Hasty Generalization

REASONING  Non Sequitur (It does not follow)

False Cause

Either-Or Fallacy 
 IDENTIFY ERRORS IN
REASONING:
1. All African-American students in my biology class earned A grades, so African-Americans must  excel
in life sciences.

2. If you are not for nuclear arms control, then you’re against protecting our future.

3. My sister cannot do mathematical computations or balance her checkbook because she has  math anxiety.

4. A well-known mayor, noting a decline in the crime rate in the four largest cities in his state, quickly announced
that his new “get-tough on criminals” publicity campaign was successful and took credit for the decline.

5. I always order a fruit pastry for dessert because I am allergic to chocolate.