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Schools expect textbooks to be a valuable source of information for
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01 May 2022, 00:50
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Schools expect textbooks to be a valuable source of information for students. My research suggests, however, that textbooks that address the place of Native Americans within the history of the United States distort history to suit a particular cultural value system. In some textbooks, for example, settlers are pictured as more humane, complex, skillful, and wise than Native Americans. In essence, textbooks stereotype and deprecate the numerous Native American cultures while reinforcing the attitude that the European conquest of the New World denotes the superiority of European cultures. Although textbooks evaluate Native American architecture, political systems, and homemaking, I contend that they do it from an ethnocentric, European perspective without recognizing that other perspectives are possible. One argument against my contention asserts that, by nature, textbooks are culturally biased and that I am simply underestimating children’s ability to see through these biases. Some researchers even claim that by the time students are in high school, they know they cannot take textbooks literally. Yet substantial evidence exists to the contrary. Two researchers, for example, have conducted studies that suggest that children’s attitudes about particular cultures are strongly influenced by the textbooks used in schools. Given this, an ongoing, careful review of how school textbooks depict Native Americans is certainly warranted.
Question 1
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74% (01:54) correct
26% (02:07) wrong based on 117 sessions
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1. Which of the following would most logically be the topic of the paragraph immediately following the passage?
(A) Specific ways to evaluate the biases of United States history textbooks (B) The centrality of the teacher’s role in United States history courses (C) Nontraditional methods of teaching United States history (D) The contributions of European immigrants to the development of the United States (E) Ways in which parents influence children’s political attitudes
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73% (00:57) correct
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2. The primary purpose of the passage is to
(A) describe in detail one research study regarding the impact of history textbooks on children’s attitudes and beliefs about certain cultures (B) describe revisions that should be made to United States history textbooks (C) discuss the difficulty of presenting an accurate history of the United States (D) argue that textbooks used in schools stereotype Native Americans and influence children’s attitudes (E) summarize ways in which some textbooks give distorted pictures of the political systems developed by various Native American groups
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3. The author mentions two researchers’ studies (lines 22-25) most likely in order to
(A) suggest that children’s political attitudes are formed primarily through textbooks (B) counter the claim that children are able to see through stereotypes in textbooks (C) suggest that younger children tend to interpret the messages in textbooks more literally than do older children (D) demonstrate that textbooks carry political messages meant to influence their readers (E) prove that textbooks are not biased in terms of their political presentations
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4. The author’s attitude toward the content of the history textbooks discussed in the passage is best described as one of
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5. It can be inferred from the passage that the researchers mentioned in line 19 would be most likely to agree with which of the following statements?
(A) Students form attitudes about cultures other than their own primarily inside the school environment. (B) For the most part, seniors in high school know that textbooks can be biased. (C) Textbooks play a crucial role in shaping the attitudes and beliefs of students. (D) Elementary school students are as likely to recognize biases in textbooks as are high school students. (E) Students are less likely to give credence to history textbooks than to mathematics textbooks.
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72% (00:42) correct
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6. The author implies that which of the following will occur if textbooks are not carefully reviewed?
(A) Children will remain ignorant of the European settlers’ conquest of the New World. (B) Children will lose their ability to recognize biases in textbooks. (C) Children will form negative stereotypes of Native Americans. (D) Children will develop an understanding of ethnocentrism. (E) Children will stop taking textbooks seriously.
Re: Schools expect textbooks to be a valuable source of information for
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17 Aug 2022, 00:30
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Passage map: Author argues for a revision of the depiction of native americans in history textbooks by stating his argument, providing counter claims, and supporting both with evidence.
Question 1 A is correct because it accurately encapsulates the main idea of the passage without being too broad or too specific B is incorrect because nothing is mentioned about teachers; the argument deals with textbooks C is also incorrect for similar reasons D is incorrect because it warps the information given by stating the opposite of what the author intended E is incorrect because nothing is mentioned of parent's influence
Question 2 A is incorrect because "one research study" is not discussed B is a contender answer - it's broad enough to trick people to go for it, but not specific enough to be correct. Really, only one revision is discussed - the revision of the representation of native americans in history. Also, more importantly, the passage isn't a description. It's a clear argument - the argument is contained in the last sentence. C is incorrect because the argument is premised on the notion that history textbooks aren't accurate and that changes can be made to them D is correct because the passage is an argument and its intention is exactly to argue that history textbooks misrepresent the history of Native Americans (see second sentence of the passage) and that the impact of this is that children walk away with a distorted perception of reality E is incorrect because the intention isn't to Summarise. Secondly, no where is it mentioned that the Native Americans Developed political systems
Question 3 Before looking at the answers, it's important to be cognizant of any OPINIONS given in the passage. Quite clearly, the "two researchers" studies' are provided as evidence as a counter to the claim of "some researchers". They claim that students, by the time the get to high-school, know they can't take textbooks seriously. The transition word "YET" is a clear indication that a contrast is about to happen.
A is incorrect because the researchers don't suggest anything, their research is cited as evidence; second, the researchers studies' suggest the exact opposite of what A states B is spot on with what we interpreted. C is incorrect as it is the opposite D is incorrect as it is not founded on any evidence E is incorrect as it is completely unfounded
Question 4 Overall, before i look at the answers I'm clear on the tone and note it down. Initially the author is quite transparent about how he feels - he takes this stuff quite seriously and there is clear passion in his argument. In fact, it warrants me to question whether the author is native american. The passage is an argument and carries tones that the author is UNIMPRESSED to say the least about the representation of NA's in history textbooks.
A is incorrect because this is a clear argument where an opinion is given - thus, indifference is false B is incorrect because the author is direct and to the point about his argument - he isn't hesitant at all C is incorrect for similar reasons D is incorrect because its quite apparent the author takes this stuff seriously and is not amused E is the clear answer as it encapsulates the general vibe of the author and direction his or her argument takes
Question 5 Before looking at the answers, again, be clear on the opinions used in the text - what are the authors opinions and what are the opinions of others? This is easier to do in a short passage, harder to do in a longer passage where multiple opinions may be given. More broadly, the "researchers" generally believe that by the time students hit high-school they don't take textbooks as fact and actually form their own opinion
A is unfounded and thus wrong B is correct because it highlights the opinion of the researchers via illustration C is false as it contradicts the "researchers" views D is completely unfounded as the researchers only argue that high-school students are conscious, not elementary - as implied by "by the time..." E is completely too narrow in scope and logically irrelevant from what is stated by the researchers
Question 6 In the last two sentences the author argues that an on-going careful review of how textbooks depict Native Americans is needed because children's attitudes are strongly influenced by textbooks used in schools (as suggested by the "two researchers")
A is a lure answer. It's too specific and refers to the previous part of the passage. However, A isn't the outcome, it's the current situation - that Europeans' conquest is misrepresented in history textbooks is a fact, not a byproduct. The byproduct is that children will look at this misrepresentation and be influenced by it. Extra details on A as I stupidly got this wrong. B is incorrect because the argument is that children are influenced by the biases and that they aren't exactly consciously aware of these biases C is correct (it should be "form", not "from") as it provides the byproduct - that children will form negative stereotypes based on misrepresentations D is incorrect as they don't develop an understanding, they base their interpretation from ethnocentricism E is incorrect because it is completely unfounded
Re: Schools expect textbooks to be a valuable source of information for
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22 Feb 2024, 11:10
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