Saturday, April 11, 2015
READING COMPREHENSION
Question 1-10
The
First Amandement to the American Constitution declares freedom of the press to
all people. Although this right was not officially adopted until 1971, the
famous Zenger trial of 1735 laid the groundwork for insuring this precious
freedom.
John
Peter Zenger emigrated as a teenager from Germany. In 1733, he began punlishing
the New York Weekly Journal. The following year, he was arrested for writing a
story about the crown-appointed governor of New York. With Zenger was
imprisoned for nine months, his wife dutifully published the newspaper every
day, bravely telling the truth about the corrupt government officials sent by
the king of the colonies.
Finally
Zenger’s long-awaited trial took place.
The hostile judge dismissed Zenger’s local lawyers, making it necessary for his
wife to seek out Andrew Hamilton, a prominent Philadelphia lawyer. Persuaded by
Hamilton the jury bravely returned a not-guilty verdict, defying the judge’s
orders for a conviction.
As
a result of determination and bravery on the part of the colonist, a lasting
victory for freedom of the press was gained by a young immigrant.
1.
John Peter Zenger was a
(A)
Corrupt governor of New York
(B)
Famous lawyer
(C)
Brave newspaper publisher
(D)
Hostile judge
2.
What political problem existed in
the colonies at that time?
(A)
Government officials were corrupt
(B)
Newspaper exaggerated the truth about
political officials
(C)
Lawyers were hostile to witnesesses
(D)
All newspaper punlishers were
imprisoned
3.
How long did it take after the Zenger trial before the
concept of freedom of the press was officially adopted?
(A)
9 months
(B)
1 year
(C)
56 years
(D)
58 years
4.
All of the following are true
EXCEPT
(A)
Despite Zenger’s imprisoned, his newspaper
continued to be prisoned
(B)
Andrew Hamilton encouraged the jury to fight
for freedom
(C)
The jury obeyed the judge’s orders and
convicted Zenger
(D)
The king controlled the colonies through his
own appointed rulers
5.
Why was Peter Zenger arrested?
(A)
He emigrated from Germany
(B)
His wife published his newspaper for him
(C)
He wrote a story about the governor of New
York
(D)
He persuaded a jury to defy the judge’s orders
6.
It can be inferred that the judge
was hostile toward Peter Zenger because
the judge
(A)
Represented the ideas of the king
(B)
Hated newspaper publishers
(C)
Didn’t like interference with the Constitution
(D)
Had appointed the governor about
whom Zenger wrote
7.
The word “defying” in line 18 is closest
in meaning to
(A)
Altering
(B)
Defecting
(C)
Disregarding
(D)
Defending
8.
In line 11, the word “dutifully” is
closest in meaning to
(A)
Faithfully
(B)
Carelessly
(C)
Unfortunately
(D)
Vigorously
9.
The main idea of the passage is
(A)
Andrew Hamilton gave Americans freedom of the
press
(B)
Peter Zenger’s persistent fight paved the way
for freedom of the press
(C)
Judges don’t always get juries to agree with
him
(D)
Peter Zenger’s trial prepared the way for
jurors to defy judges’ orders
10.
The passage indicates that the
governor was appointed by the monarch of another country in lines
(A)
3-5
(B)
6-8
(C)
8-9
(D)
14-16
