501 Critical Reading Questions

d.
Choices 
a, b,
and 
e
are too specific to be the primary purpose of
the passage, whereas choice 
c
is too general. The passage focuses
on the importance of the first 
official report
(line 27) to name
smoking a serious health hazard.
197.
c.
One meaning of 
preoccupied
is lost in thought; another is engaged
or engrossed. In this case, 
absorbed
is nearest in meaning.
198.
a.
The 
debate over the hazards and benefits of smoking
(line 6) that con-
tinued since the 
sixteenth century
(line 9) points to a long-standing
controversy.
199.
e.
An alliance of prominent private health organizations
(line 28) gave
the push for an official report on smoking.
200.
d.
The quotation illustrates the response to the report, describing its
effect on the country as a 
bombshell
(line 48).
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