Reading Comprehension Success in 20 Minutes a Day, 3rd Edition

Your Observations:
Example: I noticed that Anne was relaxing and watch-
ing TV when Brenda arrived.
1. Why does Brenda get angry?
a. because Anne is unfriendly
b. because she had a bad day at work
c. because Anne didn’t do the dishes
d. because Anne is lazy
2. Why didn’t Anne do the dishes?
a. She didn’t have time to do them.
b. She wanted to start a fight.
c. She was too lazy.
d. She wants Brenda to get a new roommate.
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A S S U M I N G C A U S E S A N D P R E D I C T I N G E F F E C T S
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3. What does Anne do that shows she doesn’t intend
to shoulder her share of the responsibilities?
a. She turns off the television.
b. She begins to wash the dishes in the sink.
c. She always helps around the house.
d. She talks on the phone with a good friend.
Answers
1. c. Brenda’s face “hardens” with anger when she
sees the dishes in the sink. You can tell she
expects the kitchen to be clean when she
comes home. Anne waits for Brenda to begin
her “daily inspection,” and when she walks in,
she looks around the kitchen as if she’s
inspecting it. Then she sees the dishes and her
face hardens. She asks why the dishes are still
in the sink. Further, she reminds Anne about
the company she is expecting.
2. b. You can tell Anne is not worried about
Brenda’s reaction because she is lazily watch-
ing television instead of cleaning the kitchen.
She knows Brenda is going to check the
kitchen and that Brenda is going to be mad
about the dishes when she sees them. As
Anne waits, she thinks about what she is
going to say to Brenda.
3. d. Anne’s actions speak loudly. She answers the
phone and discontinues a conversation that is
important if the two of them intend to
remain roommates.