GED Reasoning Through Language ArtsReading ComprehensionMedium
A student is reading an essay about the causes of the American Civil War. One paragraph discusses the economic differences between the North and the South, focusing on industrialization versus agrarianism. The next paragraph details the differing views on states' rights and federal authority, followed by a paragraph on the moral and economic arguments surrounding slavery.
- AProblem and Solution
- BComparison and Contrast
- CTopical/Categorical
- DChronological
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Topical/Categorical
The essay breaks down the complex topic of the Civil War's causes into distinct categories or topics (economic differences, states' rights, slavery), with each paragraph focusing on one specific aspect. This structure is topical or categorical.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. The text identifies causes, not necessarily a problem and its proposed solution.
- B. While differences are discussed, the primary structure is not explicitly comparing two main subjects throughout.
- D. The paragraphs are not ordered by time sequence but by different causal factors.
Text Structure: Topical/Categorical
A text structure where information is organized by breaking a broad subject into distinct sub-topics or categories, with each section focusing on one aspect.
- Presents different facets or components of a main idea.
- Often uses headings or paragraphs to delineate categories.
- Common in informational texts, reports, and essays.
Memory trick: Structure helps the text stand tall and clear.