Chapter 1: Critical Thinking (Brain Stimulants and Mental Push Ups)
Part 1: Developing a Thinking Mindset
I. Critical Thinking (Brain Stimulants and Mental Push Ups)
A. Strategies for Developing Your Critical Thinking Skills
Chapter 1
While you work on developing your critical-thinking skills, you need to have a firm grasp and a clear understanding of the content that you read. To help you to develop these skills, it is important that you apply the following strategies provided to aid your retention and comprehension of the readings in this chapter:
Take thorough notes as you read.
Focus on important details presented in the text.
Look for words, phrases and clues that can help you to make sense of what you are reading.
Approach the content you read with an open mind without being afraid to provide a fresh perspective when giving your responses.
Read the text more than once to gain a sense of the author’s purpose, to maximize your clarity of thought and to obtain a thorough understanding of the content, while aiding your retention.
Reading Tasks
The Race of a Lifetime Open matching textbook reading
Read each question carefully. Then, provide clear and thoughtful responses.
Why do you think the author chose this title for the passage?
During the ride to the Sports Centre, describe the athlete’s emotions while on the way to the stadium?
What thoughts do you think ran through the athlete’s mind as he or she stood at the starting line waiting for the race to begin?
How do you think the athlete felt after winning the race?
What are some advantages and disadvantages of being an athlete?
Using Words in Context:
Provide the meaning for the following vocabulary words in the passage. Then, use the words in sentences to demonstrate your understanding of their definition.
A. Embrace
B. Consisted
C. Devoured
D. Eagerly
E. Complex.
F. Darted
G. Elated
H. Jovial
I. Crouched
J. Propelled
K. Pursuit
L. Adrenalin
Five Fingers Open matching textbook reading
Read each question carefully. Then, provide clear and thoughtful responses.
Why do you think the story is called five fingers?
How do you know the author is deeply patriotic?
If you were to name five of your fingers after islands in The Bahamas, what names would you give to each finger and why?
Explain the author’s reasoning for naming both his or her thumbs Nassau and Grand Bahama.
In your own words, explain the phrase “no better fitting tribute for my appreciation.”
Using Words in Context:
Provide the meaning for the following vocabulary words in the passage. Then, use the words in sentences to demonstrate your understanding of their definition.
A. Considering
B. Hometown
C. Fitting
D. Tribute
E. Appreciation
F. Thumbs
G. Patriot
The Bahamian Beggar Open matching textbook reading
Read each question carefully. Then, provide clear and thoughtful responses.
Why do you think the story is called “The Bahamian Beggar?”
List some reasons that you think cause persons to become beggars.
How does the author describe the beggar in the story?
What lessons the author mentions learning from his mother?
Why do you think helping those who are less fortunate is so important?
Using Words in Context:
Provide the meaning for the following vocabulary words in the passage. Then, use the words in sentences to demonstrate your understanding of their definition.
A. Beggar
B. Filthy
C. Unkempt
D. Appearance
E. Homeless
F. Misfortunes
G. Panhandling
H. Lot
I. Gazing
J. Ached
K. Reflect
L. Moved
Spare Change Open matching textbook reading
Read each question carefully. Then, provide clear and thoughtful responses.
Why do you think the author chose this title for the story?
Do you think receiving a tip for running errands is a good or bad thing?
When you receive money for performing a task, How does it make you feel?
Why do you think it is important to learn how to save your money?
How do you think people can benefit from saving?
Using Words in Context:
Provide the meaning for the following vocabulary words in the passage. Then, use the words in sentences to demonstrate your understanding of their definition.
A. Spare
B. Change
C. Sum
D. Excite
E. Neighbourhood
F. Errands
G. Tip
H. Occasions
I. Whopping
J. Piggybank
K. Happy
Footprints in the Snow Open matching textbook reading
Read each question carefully. Then, provide clear and thoughtful responses.
Why is the story called “Footprints in the Snow?”
Where was the author when he experienced snowfall?
In the story, the author used the term “liquid sunshine,” what does it mean in The Bahamas?
What do you think makes it possible for people to leave their footprints in the snow?
Why do you think the author began acting and behaving like the people in snowy New York?
Using Words in Context:
Provide the meaning for the following vocabulary words in the passage. Then, use the words in sentences to demonstrate your understanding of their definition.
A. Snow
B. Traversing
C. Footprints
D. Noticed
E. Humidity
F. Intrigued
G. acinated
H. Moment
I. Desire
J. Norm
K. Acting
L. Behaving
High School Dropouts Open matching textbook reading
Read each question carefully. Then, provide clear and thoughtful responses.
Why do you think the author chose this title for the story?
To what extent do you think the pandemic has contributed to the problem of high school delinquency?
According to the story, what do you think the phrase “reached crisis point” means?
What are some solutions do you think would be effective in helping to address this problem?
Do you think the negative impact of the pandemic on high school students can be reversed?
Using Words in Context:
Provide the meaning for the following vocabulary words in the passage. Then, use the words in sentences to demonstrate your understanding of their definition.
A. Dropouts
B. Pandemic
C. Challenged
D. Prevalent
E. Unmonitored
F. Unsupervised
G. Delinquent
H. Crisis
I. Evidence
J. Observations
K. Address
L. Generation
Burning Bridges Open matching textbook reading
Read each question carefully. Then, provide clear and thoughtful responses.
Why do you think the story is called “Burning Bridges”?
What did Kim do to break John’s trust?
If you were John, how would you feel if you caught a friend who you trust going through your personal items?
Why do you think trust is so important?
Do you think trust can be repaired once broken?
Using Words in Context:
Provide the meaning for the following vocabulary words in the passage. Then, use the words in sentences to demonstrate your understanding of their definition.
A. Bridges
B. Lost
C. Result
D. Misfortunes
E. Pandemic
F. Aid
G. Support
H. Survive
I. Private
J. Volt
K. Violating
L. Trust
Uneaten Breakfast Open matching textbook reading
Read each question carefully. Then, provide clear and thoughtful responses.
1, What is the name of the story, and why do you think the author chose it?
2. What was the problem the author identified in the story?
3. What suggestions would you make that you think could be helpful to solve the problem?
4. Why do you think your suggestions could work?
5. If you had to rewrite the end of the story, how would you bring it to a conclusion?
Using Words in Context:
Provide the meaning for the following vocabulary words in the passage. Then, use the words in sentences to demonstrate your understanding of their definition.
A. Breakfast
B. Haste
C. Inadvertently
D. Realized
E. Disaster
F. Forgetfulness
Bruised and Battered Open matching textbook reading
Read each question carefully. Then, provide clear and thoughtful responses.
Why do you think the story is called “Bruised and Battered?”
What suggestions would you give to abused women that could be useful in solving the problem of abuse?
What do you think are some reasons that cause women to remain in abusive relationships?
What do you think should happen to men who abuse women?
5. What do you think the phrase “my poor heart bleeds with sorrow” means?
Using Words in Context:
Provide the meaning for the following vocabulary words in the passage. Then, use the words in sentences to demonstrate your understanding of their definition.
A. Bruised
B. Battered
C. Blotches
D. Contrary
E. Pounding
F. Verbal Expressions
G. Sorrow
Missing Keys Open matching textbook reading
Read each question carefully. Then, provide clear and thoughtful responses.
If you had to rename the passage, what would you call it and why?
2. What was the problem the author identified in the story?
3. What suggestions would you give that you think could help to solve the problem?
4. If you had to list them in their order of importance, why would you choose to place them in this particular sequence?
5. What do you think the character in the passage could do to prevent himself from having the same future troubles?
Using Words in Context:
Provide the meaning for the following vocabulary words in the passage. Then, use the words in sentences to demonstrate your understanding of their definition.
A. Realizing
B. Hurried
C. Discovered
D. Surroundings
E. Retracing
F. Worry
G. Problem
H. Dawned
I. Crucial
J. Clients
K. Business
Breaking the Rules Open matching textbook reading
Read each question carefully. Then, provide clear and thoughtful responses.
Do you think that the title given by the author is appropriate for the story?
What do you think are the primary causes of the accident?
Do you think that the accident could have been prevented?
How would you describe the scene of the accident after it occurred?
Why do you think it is so important to obey and follow rules?
Using Words in Context:
Provide the meaning for the following vocabulary words in the passage. Then, use the words in sentences to demonstrate your understanding of their definition.
A. Rules
B. Attention
C. Glance
D. Vehicle
E. Confirmation
F. Exceeded
G. Capacity
H. Swerved
I. Emergency
J. Rescue
K. Personnel
L. Extricate
K. Jaws of Life
The Battle Ground Open matching textbook reading
Read each question carefully. Then, provide clear and thoughtful responses.
Why do you think the author chose this title for the story?
What are some of the problems that the author mentioned in the passage?
What do you think has contributed to many of the violence-related issues that so many of our young people now face?
What are some strategies that you think could be used to minimize the problem of gang violence on our streets?
What do you think the words permeate and supremacy mean in the passage?
Using Words in Context:
Provide the meaning for the following vocabulary words in the passage. Then, use the words in sentences to demonstrate your understanding of their definition.
A. Battle
B. Peaceful
C. Environment
D. Assured
E. Prisoners
F. Security
G. Dangling
H. Territory
I. Permeate
J. Supremacy
K. Rages