Question

mid-year test (online) (lms graded)
read the two selections. then, choose the best answer to each question.
selection 1: a strange mirror: the world of the fable
1 fables are short, fictional stories that often include animals that act like humans. the animals in fables have conversations, make mistakes, trick each other, take risks, and learn lessons—just like people. through their animal characters, fables are generally
how do the ideas presented in paragraph 2 and paragraph 3 contribute differently to the argument in selection 2?
a. paragraph 2 describes animals who interact with humans; paragraph 3 describes animals that act like humans.
b. paragraph 2 supports using fables to teach lessons to young children; paragraph 3 argues that character transcends species.
c. paragraph 2 provides examples that historically predate the examples in paragraph 3; together, the two paragraphs tell a continuous story.

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option:

• Option A: The question is about how the paragraphs contribute to the argument of Selection 2 (though Selection 2’s text isn’t fully shown, we infer from context). Option A describes what the paragraphs discuss (animal interactions) but not how they contribute to an argument. Eliminate A.

• Option B: Fables use animals acting like humans to teach lessons (from Selection 1). If Selection 2’s argument relates to fables/animal-human parallels, Paragraph 2 could support using fables for children (via animal-human behavior examples), and Paragraph 3 could argue that “character transcends species” (extending the idea that animal characters represent human-like traits beyond just children’s lessons). This aligns with analyzing how each paragraph contributes to an argument (supporting a claim vs. expanding it).

• Option C: The claim that “together, the two paragraphs tell a continuous story” is unlikely, as academic/argumentative writing (like fable analysis) focuses on supporting an argument, not storytelling. Also, “historically predate” is not implied by the context. Eliminate C.

Answer:

B. Paragraph 2 supports using fables to teach lessons to young children; paragraph 3 argues that character transcends species.