Circle the correct item. 1. Which of the following statements would best serve as the headline for this passage?

1. Which of the following statements would best serve as the headline for this passage?

a) The encyclopedia of the extremes reflects the changing interests of modern society.

b) A book of simple origins makes it to the top as sales total a staggering 120 million copies.

c) Facts are often displayed in a boring, uninteresting manner, but not in the Guinness Book of Records.

d) The Guinness World Records website proves itself a valuable resource for insight into the full spectrum of modern life.

e) Where other books fall short, the index of superlative sciences never ceases to amaze.

2. According to the author, the most significant difference between older editions of the Guinness Book of Records and the new Guinness World Records website involves…

a) an end to the use of facts as a means to promote Guinness

b) an overall increase in the total number of facts presented

c) a move from fact-finding to the recording of achievements

d) a shift in focus from educational to entertaining material

e) a departure from book sales being limited to local pubs and bars

3. As used in paragraph 2, which is the best definition for empirical?

a) natural

b) derived from experience

c) recordable

d) excellent or unmatched

e) convenient or handy

4. Based on its use in paragraph 2, which of the following best describes something that is superlative?

a) Students give presentations about their favorite subjects for a grade. Amy Newhouse receives an 87% for her presentation, while Dustin Lincoln receives a 92%.

b) Although sharks are significantly bigger and have razor-sharp teeth, dolphins are smarter and can therefore successfully evade attack.

c) The lake holds a contest to see who can catch the biggest fish. Tommy wins, having caught a 6 lb. 5 oz. smallmouth bass.

d) A man built an enormous house of cards. It took him 44 days and 218,792 individual playing cards to complete.

e) Ichiro likes tennis and practices every day. In his last tournament, he placed 3rd of over 350 competitors, winning the bronze trophy.

5. Using the passage as a guide, it can be inferred that the author most likely believes reality television to be…

a) corrupt

b) absurd

c) idiotic

d) invaluable

e) shallow

6. In the final paragraph, the author writes, "And although one may be more likely now to learn about the widest human mouth than the highest number of casualties in a single battle of the Civil War, the Guinness World Records website offers a telling glimpse into the future of fact-finding and record-recording." Which of the following literary devices is used in this quotation?

a) Aphorism, characterized by the use of a concise statement that is made in a matter of fact tone to state a principle or an opinion that is generally understood to be a universal truth. Aphorisms are often adages, wise sayings and maxims aimed at imparting sense and wisdom.

b) Alliteration, characterized by the use of adjacent words that begin with the same sound or letter, creating a repetition of similar sounds in the sentence. This is used to add character to the writing and often adds an element of playfulness.

c) Amplification, characterized by the embellishment or extension of a statement in order to give it greater worth or meaning. This is often used for rhetorical purposes.

d) Anagram, characterized by the jumbling of the syllables of a phrase or the individual letters of a word to create a new word. Anagram is a form of wordplay that allows the writer to infuse mystery and a fun into the writing so that the reader can decipher the actual word on his or her own and discover enhanced depth of meaning.

e) Anthropomorphism in which a human quality, emotion or ambition is attributed to a non-human object or being. This is often used in order to relate the object to the reader on a familiar level and also to increase the level of relativity between the humans and objects while lending character to the subject.

7. Which of the following best summarizes the organization of this passage?

a) Introduction, history, conclusion

b) History, examples, explanations, conclusion

c) Exposition, history, conclusion

d) Introduction, thesis, supporting paragraphs, conclusion

e) Introduction, history, exposition, conclusion

8. All of the following words are synonymous with ‘to log’ EXCEPT…

a) to register;

b) to record;

c) to note;

d) to chart;

e) to type.

9. Guinness in its primary denotation is…

a) a famous book;

b) an Irish drink;

c) a Scottish drink;

d) a sort of beer;

e) a British drink.

10. Which of the following words is an antonym to ‘pointless’?

a) expedient;

b) futile;

c) meaningless;

d) vain;

e) inane.