Comprehension Passage 1

Plato, the famous Greek philosopher, taught that the things of the world around us are merely copies or “shadows” of greater, eternal realities. He used a metaphor of people living inside a cave to convey his ideas. The people inside the cave could not see the world outside the cave, they could only see shadows of people and animals as they passed by.

Plato was suggesting that the shadows would seem very real and alive to the people inside the cave, because that was all they had ever seen of the outside world. But these shadows were not the real, living creatures of the outside world, hey were merely reflections of them. Plato’s point was that this temporal world is a ______________ of some greater, eternal reality.

Questions

1. The word that would most accurately fit the blank at the end of the second paragraph is
1. picture.
2. contradiction.
3. corruption.
4. reversal.
2. The underlined word convey, as used in this passage, most accurately means
1. give birth to.
2. rationalize.
3. experiment.
4. explain.
3.  What is the main idea of Plato’s cave analogy?
1. This world is not all there is.
2. Mankind cannot hope to see the truth.
3. Humans are stupid.
4. Real things cast shadows.
4.  The author’s purpose in this passage is to
1. refute Plato’s philosophy.
2. explain Plato’s philosophy.
3. convince the reader that life is like a cave.
4. entertain the reader.
5.  Which of the following would be the best title for this passage?
1. Life in a Cave.
2. Making Shadow Puppets.
3. Plato’s Cave Analogy.
4. Is There Life After Death?
6. The underlined word temporal, as used in the passage, most nearly means
1. hot.
2. right-handed.
3. old-fashioned.
4. temporary.

Answers

1. a. Plato’s philosophy taught that the world is a picture or “shadow” of eternity. The other choices would mean the opposite of what the passage is saying.
2. d. The word convey literally means to move or carry. Plato’s metaphor was intended to “carry” an idea to the reader, so “explain” is the best choice.
3. a. Plato’s point was that there is another eternal reality apart from the world as we know it. Real objects do cast shadows, but that is not the main point of the passage, so choice d is not the best answer. Choices b and c are not supported by the passage.
4. b. The author of the passage is merely explaining Plato’s philosophy. He is not trying to convince the reader that Plato was either right or wrong, and he is not attempting to amuse or entertain.
5. c. The passage is describing Plato’s cave analogy, so choice c is the most descriptive title.
6. d. The word temporal means temporary, something that does not last forever.