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Townview CIP - Science Reading Exercises for TAKS

Multiple Choice
Identify the letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
 
 
Critical Reading
 

 1. 
Vincent Canby’s review, “Star Wars—A Trip to a Far Galaxy That’s Fun and Funny . . . ,” was written
a.
the day after the movie originally opened.
b.
to celebrate the movie’s twentieth anniversary.
c.
just before the movie came out.
d.
after the phenomenal financial success of the movie.
 

 2. 
Canby’s review in “Star Wars—A Trip to a Far Galaxy That’s Fun and Funny . . . ,”  primarily
a.
explains how the special effects were made.
b.
focuses on the conflict between good and evil.
c.
introduces the movie and praises it.
d.
explains the story in specific detail.
 

 3. 
In “Star Wars—A Trip to a Far Galaxy That’s Fun and Funny . . . ,” Canby includes references to Buck Rogers and King Arthur in order to
a.
demonstrate his knowledge of the medium.
b.
characterize the feeling of the story.
c.
assess the role of the movie in cinema history.
d.
explain how the tales have changed.
 

 4. 
In “Star Wars—A Trip to a Far Galaxy That’s Fun and Funny . . . ,” how does Canby support his belief that the two robots are “the year’s best new comedy team”?
a.
He describes them as special effects.
b.
He explains the status of robots in this society.
c.
He contrasts their physical appearance.
d.
He compares them to Laurel and Hardy.
 

 5. 
According to Canby’s review, who are the true stars of “Star Wars—A Trip to a Far Galaxy That’s Fun and Funny . . . ,”?
a.
Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher
b.
director George Lucas and his writers
c.
robots C3PO and R2D2
d.
the production designer and special effects crew
 

 6. 
Why should the film not be approached with expectations of cosmic implications?
a.
The intent of the movie is fun.
b.
The many references go by too quickly to track.
c.
The plot is insufficient to carry the references.
d.
The references are well known to science-fiction followers.
 

 7. 
By quoting the bartender as saying, “We don’t serve their kind in here,” Canby is providing evidence
a.
of social commentary in the film.
c.
of the successful special effects.
b.
that the scene is funny.
d.
that the plot is weak.
 

 8. 
What weakness does Canby see in Star Wars?
a.
the special effects
c.
the plot
b.
the acting
d.
the theme
 

 9. 
Why are performances in a film like this difficult to judge?
a.
The actors are all unknowns.
b.
Acting with effects added later complicates the task of the performer.
c.
The special effects are so distracting that we can’t focus on the actors.
d.
This type of film typically places a low premium on acting.
 

 10. 
The overall purpose of Canby’s review is to
a.
determine how long Star Wars will remain popular.
b.
note the weaknesses of the film for viewers.
c.
familiarize the audience with the film and recommend it.
d.
trace the history and references to other works in the film.
 

 11. 
Roger Ebert’s review, “Star Wars: Breakthrough Film Still Has the Force,” was written
a.
before Vincent Canby’s review was published.
b.
when the movie first appeared.
c.
when the movie was restored and re-released.
d.
at the height of the Star Wars craze.
 

 12. 
In “Star Wars: Breakthrough Film Still Has the Force,” why does Ebert think the movie has “colonized our imaginations”?
a.
It is one of the most profitable films of all time.
b.
It is so effective it seems to be real.
c.
Its characters and story are now part of our culture.
d.
It has been so successful that nothing negative can be said about it.
 

 13. 
What, according to Ebert, does Star Wars have in common with Birth of A Nation and Citizen Kane?
a.
All three films are about the struggle for justice.
b.
All three films exploited new techniques for movies.
c.
All three films were immediate box office smashes.
d.
All three films made stars of their casts.
 

 14. 
In “Star Wars: Breakthrough Film Still Has the Force,” what recommendations does Ebert have for improving Star Wars the film?
a.
more explanation of the philosophy and shorter battle scenes
b.
more character development between battle scenes
c.
modernized planet scenes, which haven’t aged well
d.
more romance between Skywalker and Princess Leia
 

 15. 
What is Ebert’s overall purpose in writing “Star Wars: Breakthrough Film Still Has the Force”?
a.
to claim a place for Star Wars as a movie classic
b.
to assess changes in the re-released version
c.
to dispute Canby’s assertion that the film is mere fun
d.
to discuss changes in the way we view the film now
 
 
Vocabulary and Grammar
 

 16. 
In “Star Wars—A Trip to a Far Galaxy That’s Fun and Funny . . . ,” Canby includes an eclectic list of items that are associated with Star Wars. This means the list is
a.
widely accepted by most movie-goers.
b.
controversial and not agreed upon.
c.
composed of material from various sources.
d.
chosen especially by Canby from his own preferences.
 

 17. 
What is the parenthetical interrupter in the following sentence?
Star Wars, one should remember, was by no means the first or only movie to dramatize interplanetary warfare.
a.
to dramatize interplanetary warfare
c.
by no means
b.
or only
d.
one should remember
 

 18. 
In “Star Wars: Breakthrough Film Still Has the Force,” Ebert writes that Star Wars was a “technical watershed.” A watershed is
a.
a moment or event after which nothing is the same.
b.
something that sets a standard that can never be matched.
c.
a box office hit of astronomical proportions.
d.
a high point, as in a process, beyond which quality decreases.
 

 19. 
In “Star Wars: Breakthrough Film Still Has the Force,” Ebert lists special effects, advanced sound, and new photographic techniques as methods that were “ripe for synthesis” in the movie-making industry. Synthesis means
a.
human-made or manufactured.
b.
a grouping of items or ideas developed for review.
c.
a separation of something from the original object or entity.
d.
a whole made up of separate elements put together.
 

 20. 
Parenthetical interrupters should be
a.
placed at the beginning of the sentence.
b.
used often for maximum effect.
c.
placed in parentheses or brackets.
d.
set off from the rest of the sentence by commas.
 



 
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