Question
Directions: Refer to your annotated text from today’s lesson. Read and annotate the following text, and
answer the questions that follow.
How to Resist and Counter Today’s Flood of Fake News
By Alexandra Witze
Adapted by Newsela Staff. Text retrieved from Newsela with permission.
[20] People with strong political views, especially in the United States, tend to get their news from very
different media, they showed. And this can overwhelm someone's reasoning skills when it comes to taking
protective actions.
[21] Inattention, too, can help fake news to spread, Pennycook says. Fortunately, he adds, there's a simple
solution: "We have to stop shutting off our brains so much."
[22] For debunking, timing can be everything. Tagging headlines as "true" or "false" after presenting them
helped people remember one week later whether the information they were hearing had been accurate. It
worked far better than tagging them that way before or at the moment the information was shared. That's
according to a February 2021 report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
[23] Nadia Brashier is a cognitive psychologist at Harvard University. She worked with Pennycook and Rand
on this study. So did political scientist Adam Berinsky at MIT. Prebunking still has value, they say. But
providing a quick and simple fact-check after someone reads a headline can be helpful, too. That's especially
true for social media, where people can scroll through posts almost mindlessly.
1 What is the main point of the text regarding how to address the spread of fake news?
A. People should rely on political scientists to filter news.
B. Fact-checking headlines immediately before sharing helps people retain the correct information.
C. Prebunking is more effective than any other solution.
D. Debunking headlines after sharing them is more effective for long-term retention.
2 Which quotation from the article shows that inattention can lead to the spread of
misinformation?
A. Timing can be everything when debunking. (paragraph 22)
B. People with strong political views... tend to get their news from very different media. (paragraph
20)
C. Inattention, too, can help fake news to spread. (paragraph 21)
D. We have to stop shutting off our brains so much. (paragraph 21)
3 Read the quotation from paragraph 21.
We have to stop shutting off our brains so much.
What is the most likely reason the author includes this statement?
A. To show that people can avoid misinformation by staying alert when consuming media.
B. To suggest that people should be skeptical of all information they receive online.
C. To argue that fake news is inevitable in today’s digital age.
D. To illustrate that social media platforms are designed to manipulate people's attention.
4 Which TWO examples from the text best illustrate the use of parallelism to emphasize the
author’s point about combating misinformation?
People with strong political views, especially in the United States, tend to get their news from
very different media. (paragraph 20)
Tagging headlines as 'true' or 'false' after presenting them helped people remember one week
later whether the information they were hearing had been accurate. (paragraph 22)
“We have to stop shutting off our brains so much.” (paragraph 21)
Prebunking still has value, they say. But providing a quick and simple fact-check after someone
reads a headline can be helpful, too. (paragraph 23)
Providing a quick and simple fact-check... can be helpful, too. (paragraph 23)
5 How does the concept of forgiveness apply to the author’s argument about misinformation and
fake news? Consider how individuals and society respond to errors in judgment or
misinformation. Support your answer with details from the text.
Remember to –
● Answer the question
● Cite evidence from the texts
● Explain your reasoning
● Summarize key points
answer the questions that follow.
How to Resist and Counter Today’s Flood of Fake News
By Alexandra Witze
Adapted by Newsela Staff. Text retrieved from Newsela with permission.
[20] People with strong political views, especially in the United States, tend to get their news from very
different media, they showed. And this can overwhelm someone's reasoning skills when it comes to taking
protective actions.
[21] Inattention, too, can help fake news to spread, Pennycook says. Fortunately, he adds, there's a simple
solution: "We have to stop shutting off our brains so much."
[22] For debunking, timing can be everything. Tagging headlines as "true" or "false" after presenting them
helped people remember one week later whether the information they were hearing had been accurate. It
worked far better than tagging them that way before or at the moment the information was shared. That's
according to a February 2021 report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
[23] Nadia Brashier is a cognitive psychologist at Harvard University. She worked with Pennycook and Rand
on this study. So did political scientist Adam Berinsky at MIT. Prebunking still has value, they say. But
providing a quick and simple fact-check after someone reads a headline can be helpful, too. That's especially
true for social media, where people can scroll through posts almost mindlessly.
1 What is the main point of the text regarding how to address the spread of fake news?
A. People should rely on political scientists to filter news.
B. Fact-checking headlines immediately before sharing helps people retain the correct information.
C. Prebunking is more effective than any other solution.
D. Debunking headlines after sharing them is more effective for long-term retention.
2 Which quotation from the article shows that inattention can lead to the spread of
misinformation?
A. Timing can be everything when debunking. (paragraph 22)
B. People with strong political views... tend to get their news from very different media. (paragraph
20)
C. Inattention, too, can help fake news to spread. (paragraph 21)
D. We have to stop shutting off our brains so much. (paragraph 21)
3 Read the quotation from paragraph 21.
We have to stop shutting off our brains so much.
What is the most likely reason the author includes this statement?
A. To show that people can avoid misinformation by staying alert when consuming media.
B. To suggest that people should be skeptical of all information they receive online.
C. To argue that fake news is inevitable in today’s digital age.
D. To illustrate that social media platforms are designed to manipulate people's attention.
4 Which TWO examples from the text best illustrate the use of parallelism to emphasize the
author’s point about combating misinformation?
People with strong political views, especially in the United States, tend to get their news from
very different media. (paragraph 20)
Tagging headlines as 'true' or 'false' after presenting them helped people remember one week
later whether the information they were hearing had been accurate. (paragraph 22)
“We have to stop shutting off our brains so much.” (paragraph 21)
Prebunking still has value, they say. But providing a quick and simple fact-check after someone
reads a headline can be helpful, too. (paragraph 23)
Providing a quick and simple fact-check... can be helpful, too. (paragraph 23)
5 How does the concept of forgiveness apply to the author’s argument about misinformation and
fake news? Consider how individuals and society respond to errors in judgment or
misinformation. Support your answer with details from the text.
Remember to –
● Answer the question
● Cite evidence from the texts
● Explain your reasoning
● Summarize key points
Answers
GPT-4o mini
1. **What is the main point of the text regarding how to address the spread of fake news?**
**D. Debunking headlines after sharing them is more effective for long-term retention.**
The text emphasizes the importance of timing in debunking misinformation and presents evidence that tagging headlines as "true" or "false" after they have been shared is more effective for helping individuals remember accurate information later on (paragraph 22).
2. **Which quotation from the article shows that inattention can lead to the spread of misinformation?**
**C. Inattention, too, can help fake news to spread. (paragraph 21)**
This statement directly identifies inattention as a factor that contributes to the proliferation of fake news, making it the most relevant quotation.
3. **What is the most likely reason the author includes the statement: "We have to stop shutting off our brains so much"?**
**A. To show that people can avoid misinformation by staying alert when consuming media.**
The author uses this statement to highlight the necessity for individuals to remain engaged and critical of the information they encounter, which can help mitigate the spread of misinformation.
4. **Which TWO examples from the text best illustrate the use of parallelism to emphasize the author’s point about combating misinformation?**
- **Prebunking still has value, they say. But providing a quick and simple fact-check after someone reads a headline can be helpful, too. (paragraph 23)**
- **Tagging headlines as 'true' or 'false' after presenting them helped people remember one week later whether the information they were hearing had been accurate. (paragraph 22)**
Both examples underscore the author’s emphasis on proactive measures to combat misinformation by presenting solutions in a balanced and parallel structure.
5. **How does the concept of forgiveness apply to the author’s argument about misinformation and fake news?**
The concept of forgiveness can be seen in the way society and individuals respond to the spread of misinformation. In the context of fake news, it is important for people to forgive themselves and others for potentially getting misled, recognizing that errors in judgment are common in the fast-paced digital information landscape. The author argues for proactive strategies like debunking and fact-checking to manage misinformation, which implies that we should be forgiving and understanding towards those who may fall victim to fake news. By learning from these experiences and emphasizing educational solutions, individuals and society can become more resilient against misinformation. This idea is supported by the text's focus on the necessity of critical engagement with news content and the importance of providing correct information after the fact, as seen in the studies mentioned by the researchers on fact-checking and retention (paragraphs 22-23). Ultimately, the notion of forgiveness allows for a constructive approach to address misinformation, fostering a more informed and self-aware populace.
**D. Debunking headlines after sharing them is more effective for long-term retention.**
The text emphasizes the importance of timing in debunking misinformation and presents evidence that tagging headlines as "true" or "false" after they have been shared is more effective for helping individuals remember accurate information later on (paragraph 22).
2. **Which quotation from the article shows that inattention can lead to the spread of misinformation?**
**C. Inattention, too, can help fake news to spread. (paragraph 21)**
This statement directly identifies inattention as a factor that contributes to the proliferation of fake news, making it the most relevant quotation.
3. **What is the most likely reason the author includes the statement: "We have to stop shutting off our brains so much"?**
**A. To show that people can avoid misinformation by staying alert when consuming media.**
The author uses this statement to highlight the necessity for individuals to remain engaged and critical of the information they encounter, which can help mitigate the spread of misinformation.
4. **Which TWO examples from the text best illustrate the use of parallelism to emphasize the author’s point about combating misinformation?**
- **Prebunking still has value, they say. But providing a quick and simple fact-check after someone reads a headline can be helpful, too. (paragraph 23)**
- **Tagging headlines as 'true' or 'false' after presenting them helped people remember one week later whether the information they were hearing had been accurate. (paragraph 22)**
Both examples underscore the author’s emphasis on proactive measures to combat misinformation by presenting solutions in a balanced and parallel structure.
5. **How does the concept of forgiveness apply to the author’s argument about misinformation and fake news?**
The concept of forgiveness can be seen in the way society and individuals respond to the spread of misinformation. In the context of fake news, it is important for people to forgive themselves and others for potentially getting misled, recognizing that errors in judgment are common in the fast-paced digital information landscape. The author argues for proactive strategies like debunking and fact-checking to manage misinformation, which implies that we should be forgiving and understanding towards those who may fall victim to fake news. By learning from these experiences and emphasizing educational solutions, individuals and society can become more resilient against misinformation. This idea is supported by the text's focus on the necessity of critical engagement with news content and the importance of providing correct information after the fact, as seen in the studies mentioned by the researchers on fact-checking and retention (paragraphs 22-23). Ultimately, the notion of forgiveness allows for a constructive approach to address misinformation, fostering a more informed and self-aware populace.