Chapter 7: Mastery Test 8
 
Read each paragraph, and answer the questions that follow it.

Understanding Yourself

     1Understanding yourself is a key part of becoming more mature, for if you understand yourself, you are better able to understand others. 2To understand yourself better, think about three aspects of your life: your words, your actions, and your motives. 3First, listen to your own words and the tone you use when you speak. 4An unhappy, dissatisfied person chooses negative words and a whiny tone. 5An angry person lashes out hurtfully. 6A selfish person constantly uses "I" and "me." 7In contrast, a loving, caring person chooses words that build up, calm down, and focus on others. 8Also, study your actions, for actions speak louder than words. 9Bored or passive people are often satisfied watching television all day. 10Compulsive people overeat, overshop, or become addicted to drugs, alcohol, or gambling. 11Disciplined people set goals, and curious people read and listen. 12In addition, examine your motives. 13Motive is the reason behind your words and actions. 14For example, a motive of jealousy can lead to harsh, condemning words and even violence. 15On the other hand, love can lead to a father's sacrifice to put his son through college.
      1. The major details of this passage are  

 
 
 
 
      2. How many major details are given in this passage?  

 
 
 
 
      3. Sentence 3 is a  

 
 
      4. What is the second major detail discussed in the passage?  

 
 
 
 
      5. According to the passage, the reason behind words and actions is  

 
 
 
 
     

Death

     1Death is unavoidable; it claims us all. 2We can disagree about all sorts of ideas, and we can each hold our own views of life and life after death, but we all do share the same physical fate in death. 3Perhaps because death is so final and so mysterious, we often do not talk of death until we are faced with its possibility. 4Yet thinking about death may help us prepare for it. 5Basically, there seem to be two kinds of death. 6The first kind of death, the sudden death, takes us by surprise. 7The car wreck, murder, suicide, or a rapidly spreading terminal disease rips us from life. 8There is no time for goodbyes or unfinished business. 9Often these sudden deaths take us during youth or middle age. 10And if we are the survivors, we are the stunned loved ones. 11Often we feel guilt for unresolved differences or regret for what was said or left unsaid. 12We do take comfort in the fact that most sudden deaths mercifully reduce the time of suffering. 13The second kind of death is the slow, lingering death. 14This usually occurs as a result of old age or terminal disease. 15Such deaths challenge us as we die or as we watch our loved ones die slowly. 16This slow exit from life allows us to mend our relationships and say our goodbyes. 17This death is no surprise, but its slow, relentless process bears down on us with great weight. 18It is most difficult to be so helpless as both patient and caregiver. 19If the pain and suffering is great, then death comes as a relief.

6. Sentence 5 is  

 
 
 
      7. The major supporting details of this paragraph discuss  

 
 
 
 
      8. Sentence 6 is a  

 
 
      9. Sentence 13 is a  

 
 
      10. According to the passage, a "slow, lingering death" can give some comfort because  

 
 
 
 





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