Question

1. Which statement best expresses the central idea of the passage?
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2 points
A. Society no longer values hard work.
B. Productivity has replaced creativity as society’s highest goal.
C. Defining productivity as constant visible achievement may harm deeper thinking and innovation.
D. Rest is more important than professional success.
2. Which sentence from the passage best supports the correct answer to Question 1?
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2 points
A. “Individuals increasingly internalize the expectation that every moment must yield visible achievement…”
B. “Ambition has long been celebrated…”
C. “Ironically, the very creativity and innovation that productivity seeks to generate often emerge during periods of apparent idleness.”
D. “Productivity has evolved from a measure of output to a measure of personal worth.”
3. What is the author’s tone toward modern productivity culture?
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2 points
A. Admiring
B. Neutral
C. Subtly critical
D. Mocking
4. Which phrase from the passage contributes most to the author’s critical tone?
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2 points
A. “professional advancement”
B. “intensified emphasis on constant efficiency”
C. “long been celebrated”
D. “meaningful progress”
5. The author’s use of the word “ironically” primarily serves to:
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2 points
A. introduce humor
B. highlight a contradiction in society’s values
C. provide historical context
D. shift to a new topic
6. Which inference is BEST supported by the passage?
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2 points
A. People are less productive today than in the past.
B. Rest can contribute to innovation and creativity.
C. Ambition is harmful in all situations.
D. Society should eliminate productivity standards.
7. Which organizational pattern does the author primarily use?
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2 points
A. Chronological
B. Cause and effect
C. Compare and contrast
D. Definition with counterargument

Answer 1

1. C
2. C
3. C
4. B
5. B
6. B
7. D

Brief justification:
- Q1: Choice C captures the passage’s main point about constant visible achievement undermining deeper thinking/innovation.
- Q2: The sentence about irony (C) directly supports that creativity often comes from idleness, opposing the push for constant productivity.
- Q3: The author points out problems with productivity culture without outright ridicule, so the tone is subtly critical.
- Q4: “intensified emphasis on constant efficiency” expresses the critic’s negative view of modern productivity norms.
- Q5: “Ironically” flags the contradiction between the intended goal of productivity and its actual effect on creativity.
- Q6: The passage implies that rest/idleness can foster innovation, so B is best supported.
- Q7: The passage defines a concept (modern productivity) and then presents a counterargument (its negative effects), matching definition with counterargument.