Multiple choice

Directions: Read the paragraph and answer the question that follows.

Ask an American schoolchild what he or she is learning in school these days and you might even get a reply, provided you ask it in Spanish. But don't bother, here's the answer: Americans nowadays are not learning any of the things that we learned in our day, like reading and writing. Apparently these are considered fusty old subjects, invented by white males to oppress women and minorities.No one ever spent a moment building my self-esteem when I was in school. In fact, from the day I first stepped inside a classroom my self-esteem was one big demolition site. All that mattered was the subject, be it geography, history, or mathematics. I was praised when I remembered that near, fit, friendly, pleasing, like and their opposites took the dative case in Latin. I was reviled when I forgot what a cosine was good for. Generally I lived my school years beneath a torrent of castigation so consistent I eventually ceased to hear it, as people who live near the sea eventually stop hearing the waves.

What is the theme of the passage?

  1. American students concentrate more on history and geography rather than on reading and writing.

  2. A modern American student is appreciated when he remembers his lessons or else he is reviled.

  3. Learning to love oneself is what a modern American student is learning in school.

  4. None of the above

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Let's scrutinize each option: (1)        First paragraph provides the clue for this option. Reading and writing are obsolete (old fashioned) subjects and an American student is not learning this in school, nowadays. Neither the passage mentions that they learn history and geography nowadays. Hence, option (1) is ruled out.  (2)        Second paragraph provides the clue for this option. A modern American student does not experience this in school. Instead, it is the author's experience, which throws light on past learning system. Hence, (2) is ruled out.  (3)        First sentence of the second paragraph provides the clue for this option. In the past, nobody was interested in building up self esteem in school, instead the focus used to be on geography, history, maths. This implies that self esteem is a big subject in American classrooms today. Hence, (3) is the answer.

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