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Reading Comprehension Quiz (Robert D. Putnam, “Health and Happiness”)

Reading Comprehension Quiz

Robert D. Putnam, “Health and Happiness”

Read “Health and Happiness” and check your comprehension by answering the following questions. Click the submit button when finished.

Question In the first paragraph, Putnam cites a study by Emile Durkheim suggesting that “self-destruction is not merely a personal tragedy, he found, but a sociologically predictable consequence of the degree to which one is integrated into society.” Based on this idea, people

1. In the first paragraph, Putnam cites a study by Emile Durkheim suggesting that “self-destruction is not merely a personal tragedy, he found, but a sociologically predictable consequence of the degree to which one is integrated into society.” Based on this idea, people

do not necessarily need to have friends and acquaintances.

are healthier when they have friends and acquaintances.

who tend to be loners are often quite healthy and confident compared to more social people.

who are more socially engaged face a greater risk of self-destruction than those who are alone.

Question Putnam writes that the “positive contributions to health made by social integration and social support rival in strength the detrimental contributions of well-established biomedical risk factors like cigarette smoking.” The reader is left to infer that

2. Putnam writes that the “positive contributions to health made by social integration and social support rival in strength the detrimental contributions of well-established biomedical risk factors like cigarette smoking.” The reader is left to infer that

people who are social can smoke and not worry about the effects.

the health benefits of being social are just about as powerful as the negative effects of smoking.

smoking is fine so long as it occurs in a positive social environment.

smoking leads to social isolation and should be avoided.

Question At the bottom of paragraph 6, Putnam employs italics for the last part of the final sentence. What effect does using italics have on the information?

3. At the bottom of paragraph 6, Putnam employs italics for the last part of the final sentence. What effect does using italics have on the information?

It draws the reader to one of the crucial points of the article.

It breaks up the monotony of the standard text.

It is a foreign language and is supposed to be italicized.

Italics indicate something that is unimportant, and the reader is allowed to skip it.

Question Putnam writes in paragraph 7 that researchers found “an astonishingly strong relationship between poor health and low social capital.” This means that

4. Putnam writes in paragraph 7 that researchers found “an astonishingly strong relationship between poor health and low social capital.” This means that

individuals who have poor health are always alone.

individuals who are loners tend to be poor.

individuals who tend to be loners tend to have poorer health than average.

individuals who have poor health are always poor.

Question In the case study of Roseto, Pennsylvania, Putnam cites that this close-knit Italian American community had better health, on average, than other surrounding communities during the 1950s and 1960s. In the 1980s, as young people moved away and were less connected to the community, the health of the citizens

5. In the case study of Roseto, Pennsylvania, Putnam cites that this close-knit Italian American community had better health, on average, than other surrounding communities during the 1950s and 1960s. In the 1980s, as young people moved away and were less connected to the community, the health of the citizens

stayed the same.

was even better.

decreased dramatically.

could not be verified by the available data.

Question Based on the reading and Figure 1, a socially-engaged Caucasian man, of average income, living in South Dakota

6. Based on the reading and Figure 1, a socially-engaged Caucasian man, of average income, living in South Dakota

has a greater chance of dying of a sudden heart attack at an early age.

has an average chance of dying of a sudden heart attack at an early age.

has a lower chance of dying of a sudden heart attack at an early age.

will not die from a heart attack.

Question Putnam concludes that “Americans are healthier than ever before” based on life expectancy, advances in medicine, etc. However, Americans, in “self-reports indicate that we are feeling worse.” What does Putnam blame this on?

7. Putnam concludes that “Americans are healthier than ever before” based on life expectancy, advances in medicine, etc. However, Americans, in “self-reports indicate that we are feeling worse.” What does Putnam blame this on?

increased smoking among teenagers

being too connected with our communities

increased environmental factors such as global warming and pollution

less connectedness with communities

Question Putnam says that, according to the DDB Needham Life Style survey, “Happiness. […] is correlated with material well-being.” But more important than money, studies indicate that

8. Putnam says that, according to the DDB Needham Life Style survey, “Happiness. […] is correlated with material well-being.” But more important than money, studies indicate that

belonging to a club is more important than being married.

more education makes people less happy.

job success makes us more restless.

marriage makes people most happy.

Question Putnam writes that “Perhaps happy people are more likely than unhappy people to get married, win raises at work, continue in school, attend church, join clubs, host parties, and so on.” Why does he include this information?

9. Putnam writes that “Perhaps happy people are more likely than unhappy people to get married, win raises at work, continue in school, attend church, join clubs, host parties, and so on.” Why does he include this information?

It indicates to the reader that his study, while convincing, is only one theory.

It indicates to the reader that his study is completely flawed.

It indicates to the reader that he is uncertain and wishes to cover all of the possible answers.

None of the above.