Passage 26
Schools expect textbooks to be a valuable source of
information for students. My research suggests, however,
that textbooks that address the place of Native Americans
within he history of the United States distort history to suit
a particular cultural value system. In some textbooks, for
example, settlers are pictured as more humane1, complex,
skillful, and wise than Native American. In essence,
textbooks stereotype2 and deprecate the numerous Native
American cultures while reinforcing the attitude that the
European conquest of the New World denotes the superi-
ority of European cultures. Although textbooks evaluete
Native American architecture, political systems, and home-
making. I contend that they do it from an ethnocentric,
European perspective without recognizing that other per-
spectives are possible.
One argument against my contention3 asserts that, by
nature, textbooks are culturally biased4 and that I am simply
underestimating childrens ability to see through these
biases5. Some researchers even claim that by the time
students are in high school, they know they cannot take
textbooks literally6. Yet substantial evidence exists to the
contrary. Two researchers, for example, have conducted
studies that suggest that childrens attitudes about particular
culture are strongly influenced by the textbooks used in
schools. Given this, an ongoing7, careful review of how
school textbooks depict8 Native American is certainly
warranted.
154. Which of the following would most logically be the TOPic of the paragraph immediately following the passage?
Specific ways to evaluate the biases of United States history textbooks
The centrality of the teachers role in United States history courses
Nontraditional methods of teaching United States history
The contributions of European immigrants to the development of the United States
Ways in which parents influence childrens political attitudes
155. The primary purpose of the passage is to
describe in detail one research study regarding the impact of history textbooks on childrens attitudes and beliefs about certain cultures
describe revisions that should be made to United States history textbooks
discuss the difficulty of presenting an accurate history of the United States
argue that textbooks used in schools stereotype Native Americans and influence childrens attitudes
summarize ways in which some textbooks give distorted pictures of the political systems developed by various Native American groups
156. The author mentions two researchers studies most likely in order to
suggest that childrens political attitudes are formed primarily through textbooks
counter the claim that children are able to see through stereotypes9 in textbooks
suggest that younger children tend to interpret the messages in textbooks more literally than do older children
demonstrate that textbooks carry political messages meant to influence their readers
prove that textbooks are not biased in terms of their political presentations
157. The authors attitude toward the content of the history textbooks discussed in the passage is best described as one of
indifference
hesitance
neutrality
amu百度竞价推广ent
disapproval
158. It can be inferred from the passage that the researchers mentioned in line 19 would be most likely to agree with which of the following statements?
Students form attitudes about cultures other than their own primarily inside the school environment.
For the most part, seniors in high school know that textbooks can be biased.
Textbooks play a crucial role in shaping the attitudes and beliefs of students.
Elementary school students are as likely to recognize biases in textbooks as are high school students.
Students are less likely to give credence10 to history textbooks than to mathematics textbooks.
159. The author implies tha5t which of the following will occur if textbooks are not carefully reviewed?
Children will remain ignorant of the European settlers conquest of the New World.
Children will lose their ability to recognize biases in textbooks.
Children will form negative stereotypes of Native Americans.
Children will develop an understanding of ethnocentrism.
Children will sTOP taking textbooks seriously.
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