T he r eader ’

TEST A
 
Answer the multiple-choice questions based on the content of the chapter. 
1. According to your text, the most ancient writings were probably used for 
A. scientific purposes. 
B. political purposes. 
C. religious purposes. 
2. The first known system of writing was created in the present-day country of 
A. Iraq. 
B. France. 
C. Greece. 
3. In a phonetic alphabet, letters represent 
A. meaning. 
B. sounds. 
C. hieroglyphics. 
4. In order to learn letters in the tenth century students utilized 
A. clay tablets. 
B. slate tablets. 
C. wooden tablets. 
5. In medieval times, who had access to books? 
A. Chinese and Korean women 
B. the rich and the clergy 
C. common men 

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82 Chapter 17, Reading Past and Present 
6. In the sixteenth century ordinary people were taught to read mainly for 
A. religious instruction. 
B. political debate. 
C. social interaction. 
7. The first American textbook was
A. the Bible. 
B. entitled 
American Spelling
. 
C. the
 New England Primer
.
 
 
8. In the mid 1800s, the teaching of reading changed from the letter-learning method to the 
A. phonetic method. 
B. phrase method. 
C. word method. 
9. In order to interest children in reading, one topic basal readers focused on was 
A. “activities with pets.” 
B. “family.” 
C. “school activities.” 
10. According to reading researchers, silent reading is superior to oral reading in comprehension. 
A. True 
B. False 
 
BONUS QUESTIONS
 
11. In a skills-based curriculum, reading skills are taught 
A. on an as-needed basis. 
B. in a sequential manner. 
C. before writing skills.