Reading Comprehension #4
The Wants of Man Circle the letter of the best answer according to the
Stuarts Chase passage.
The wants of man are impossible of exact
definition. They are constantly growing, shrinking, 1. Why are the wants of man impossible of exact
and changing. In a certain sense, they are different definition?
for every living person. One man's meat is a) People have different notions of them.
sometimes another man's poison. Any allowable b) They are not constant.
definition of the wants of man must be built without c) It's difficult to enumerate and describe them.
a roof — it must be open to the sky.
What does man want? Life! A more abundant 2. "One man's meat is sometimes another man's
life! Bread and beauty, if you please, Our cynic as poison" means that the wants of man are
well as our artist must agree to this. What a) numerous.
constitutes a more abundant life? b) relative.
More bread, more beauty. And we cannot permit c) confusing.
cynics and artists to argue that this does not include
certain unchanging classifications of wants which 3. The third sentence of paragraph 1 implies that the
the facts as to man's place in nature render definition of the wants of man should NOT be
imperative. Thus, everyone must eat - and he must a) complete.
eat certain combinations of protein, fats, b) wordy.
carbohydrates, together with the accessory vitamins, c) limited.
or he sickens and dies, and his aesthetic wants
become a matter of very secondary consideration. 4. This in paragraph 2 refers to
He must, in certain climates, have clothes to wear to
a) Man wants bread and beauty.
keep him from cold or heat, and in nearly all
b) Everyone must eat and drink.
climates, he must have a house or shelter of some
c) Man has a place in nature.
sort in which to live, and particularly to protect his
children.
5. Imperative, as used in the fourth sentence of
Food, shelter, and clothing comprise the most
paragraph 2 means
elementary wants of man. After them follow other
classifications, almost equally essential to mankind a) encouraging.
in civilized communities. The development of b) objective.
communication between people - channels without c) necessary.
which human society is impossible - an alphabet, a
language, books, and education are all imperative 6. The primary wants of man are
wants of man. Religion of some sort, he wants. Art a) life, liberty, and happiness.
he demands - music, painting, architecture and b) food, clothing, and shelter.
design, poetry, literature, and the theatre. Recreation c) art, communication, and education.
and play he wants - dancing, running, swimming,
mountain climbing, games. The latter is a very 7. The writer says that recreation and play are
fundamental want, for the body declines rapidly if it fundamental wants because
is not satisfied. Health he wants, and the services of a) they help the body remain healthy.
doctors, nurses, hospitals, and sanitary measures. b) they provide pleasure and relaxation.
Love he wants - not only sexual, but all the pleasant c) they improve people's social life.
relationships of family and friends. Some men just
want to know. They are moved by a divine 8. Latter in paragraph 3 refers to
curiosity. We call what they do pure science, and it a)art and literature.
is one of the most precious of man's wants. b) play and recreation.
c) language and education.
9. What wants of man take secondary consideration
according to the essay?
a) aesthetic wants.
b) art and literature.
c) sports and recreation.
10. Why is pure science the most precious of man's
wants according to the text?
a) It brings progress to civilization.
b) It improves relationship among people.
Reading Comprehension #4
c) It satisfies man's curiosity.