Question

critical skills practice: reading comprehension
directions: read the paragraph then answer the question below.
shakespeare’s hamlet continues to influence culture today, even hundreds of years after it was written. the famous line “to be, or not to be” is often quoted in movies, tv shows, and even cartoons to express deep thinking or confusion. themes from the play, such as revenge, betrayal, and the struggle to make difficult choices, appear in modern books and films, showing that hamlet’s struggles are still relatable. characters who hesitate to take action or who question the meaning of life are often compared to hamlet, making him a symbol of indecision. schools, theaters, and even popular video games sometimes reference the play, proving that hamlet is not just an old story but a lasting part of modern culture.
question: according to the passage, what is the meaning of the phrase “to be, or not to be” when used in modern culture?

• it shows someone is ready to fight.
• it describes a person’s anger at betrayal.
• it refers to characters who never make mistakes.
• it is used to express deep thought or confusion.

Explanation:

To solve this, we refer to the passage: "The famous line 'To be, or not to be' is often quoted in movies, TV shows, and even cartoons to express deep thinking or confusion." We compare this with the options:

• Option 1: The passage doesn't link the phrase to fighting, so eliminate.
• Option 2: The passage doesn't connect it to anger at betrayal, so eliminate.
• Option 3: The passage has no mention of characters who never make mistakes, so eliminate.
• Option 4: Matches the description from the passage.

Answer:

D. It is used to express deep thought or confusion.