501 Critical Reading Questions

b.
gives a point and argues its counterpoint.
c.
cites several specific examples of laws that benefit women.
d.
addresses its audience in the second person.
e.
recommends an action to be taken.
Answers
48.
a.
The fact that judicial review can override decisions made by the
legislative and executive branches implies that it gives the court
great authority.
49.
c.
To maintain the “life” of the Constitution, the court applies 
its
broad provisions to complex new situations
(line 11) that arise in cur-
rent law.
501
Critical Reading Questions

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50.
c.
To
declare
means to make known formally or officially. To
pro-
claim
is its synonym, with a slightly different connotation. It
implies declaring clearly, forcefully, and authoritatively.
51.
e.
The last sentence offers a view in opposition to the points made ear-
lier in the passage supporting the Supreme Court’s power to inter-
pret the Constitution.
52.
c.
According to the passage, the Second Confiscation Act passed by
Congress in 1862 
provided the desired signal
(line 7), encouraging him
to pursue his plan of a proclamation.
53.
b.
The 
speechless
(line 14) reaction of Secretaries Seward and Welles
implies that they were surprised by the plan and were concerned
about its political and military consequences.
54.
e.
One meaning of 
qualified
is fitted by training or experience for a
given purpose (“he is qualified for the job”). Another meaning is
having complied with specific requirements (“she qualified for the
marathon”). In this context, 
qualified
means limited or modified in
some way.
55.
a.
The author calls the Emancipation Proclamation the 
crowning
achievement
(line 32) of Lincoln’s administration.
56.
a.
Lines 14–15 state that 
political cartoons can serve as a vehicle for swaying
public opinion and can contribute to reform.
57.
e.
The consonance in the string of verbs 
provoke, poke, and persuade
in
line 3, as well as the verb choice 
skewering
in line 4 expresses a play-
fulness of tone. The author’s description of the cartoon images of
Bill Clinton and George W. Bush (lines 9–12) also mirrors the play-
fulness of the art of caricature.
58.
e.
One meaning of 
vehicle
is a way of carrying or transporting some-
thing. In this context, 
vehicle
refers to a medium, or the means by
which an idea is expressed.
59.
d.
The author cites Thomas Nast’s symbols for Tammany Hall and
the Democratic and Republican Parties as examples of images that
have entered the public consciousness and are 
still in currency today
(line 19).
60.
b.
The passage illustrates several protest strategies used in the civil
rights movement. Choices