PSAT Writing and Language Practice Question 646

Question: 646

Read to Succeed
Reading is an enriching activity that is well worth making part of 1 ones regular habits. Starting from an early age, children who read for pleasure encounter many new words and concepts that expand their minds. 2 Although images are frequently used in society today, words, unlike images, require using one's mind to understand them, ponder their meaning, and 3 to considering whether they are communicating something true or false. Studies have shown that reading more correlates with greater comprehension, cognitive development, and writing abilities. Those who read for fun more often have higher writing scores—in fact, those who read almost daily for fun outperform those who never or hardly ever read by approximately 4 10 points on national writing tests. This translates into higher levels of academic achievement, such as higher test scores in math, science, civics, and history.
Note: Writing scores range from 0–300, and students surveyed nationwide. 
Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics
In addition to improving one's intellectual abilities, the habit of reading has an occupational and financial payoff. 5 Sixty-three percent ofemployers rate reading comprehension as beingvery important. There is a strong correlation between poor reading skills and unemployment, lower wages, and fewer opportunities for advancement. Those who can effectively read lengthy, complex, abstract texts, synthesize information, and make complex inferences 6 are more than three times as likely to find reading to be an enjoyable pastime. Among those who have jobs in management or in business, financial, professional, and related sectors, more than 60 percent have a high reading ability, whereas only 18 percent read at a basic level.
Beyond developing one's intellectual abilities and being financially rewarding, consider how reading opens whole new worlds! It enables one to learn from the experiences of literally thousands of other people—to benefit from their insights and to avoid their mistakes. It gives access to some of the greatest minds and ideas throughout history. Reading also stimulates the 7 imagination toidentify with a hero in a story, consider what it would have been like to be at some historical event, or to form a picture of what one could accomplish in life.
Given how reading can benefit an individual, it is not surprising, then, that readers have positive effects on society. 8 Them who read literature are more than twice as likely to volunteer or do charity work and more than three times as likely to go to museums, attend plays or concerts, and create art as those who do not. Good readers are even more likely to play sports, attend sporting events, or do outdoor activities. 9 On the other hand, prisoners tend to have significantly worse reading skills than others.
10 More or less, when one considers both the nature of the activity itself as well as the statistics, reading makes a big difference in life. 11 Enriching one's life, and community iswell worth regularly delving into great books.

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