What Is Creative Thinking?

A. Comprehension
For each item below, fill in the correct circle.
1. Identifying the Author's Purpose The main purpose of the reading is to_.
A explain how the printing press was invented
® teach readers how to think creatively
© explain why Haydn wrote the "Farewell Symphony"
® criticize teachers and educational systems

my answer/r

2. Identifying the Author's Purpose By giving readers some quick exercises
to do, the author gives them an opportunity to _.
® learn some interesting facts
® argue with his main point
© question the meaning of life
® think something different

my answer/r

3. Finding the Main Idea The main idea of this reading is that_.
A a creative mind can transform one thing into another in an original way
b the key to being creative is to have a lot of knowledge about
different things
© creative people can understand what people are thinking
® creative people sometimes break the rules to explore new ideas

my answer/b

4. Scanning for Details According to the author, people who think creatively
do all of the following except _.
® stay on routine thought"paths
® try to learn everything they can about a wide range of topics
© look at the same thing as everyone else and think something different
® use crazy, foolish, and impractical ideas

my answer/r

5. Making Inferences After reading this article, you can infer that the author
would probably approve of teachers who __ .
@ ask students about their original ideas
® have students guess what they are thinking
© give students more knowledge
® transfer their own attitudes to students

my answers/c

6. Identifying the Author's Purpose The purpose of including the
conversation with Carl Ally is to __ .
® give an example of poor thinking skills
B illustrate how to think creatively
© introduce a definitfon of creative people that the author agrees with
® make an arguement against Ally's definition

my answers/b

7. Understanding Tone The overall tone of the reading is_.
@ serious
® sad
© amusing
® angry

my answers/c

B. Vocabulary
Underline these words in the reading passage on pages 51-53. Then match the
words with their definitions.
I. __ techniques
2. __ perspective
3. __ manipulate
4. consists of
5. commonplace
6. __ postponed

a. particular ways of doing things
b. not very exciting or unusual; ordinary
c. delayed
d. is made up of
e. use or control something with skill
f. the way that you think about something;
your point of view

my answer/1-e

2-d

3-f

4-e

5-c

6-b

A. Choose the best interpretation of each figure of speech in bold. For each
item below, fill it:i the correct circle.
1. Knowledge is the stuff from which new ideas are made.
® the hardware
® the raw material
© the creativity

my answer/r

2. You use crazy, foolish, and impractical ideas as stepping stones to
practical new ideas.
® answers to problems
® keys to happiness
© ways to achieve a goal

my answer/r

3-We are creatures of habit when it comes to the business of living-
everything from doing paperwork to tying our shoes to haggling with

telephone solicitors.
® the profession or occupation
® the process or activity
© the topic or subject

my answer/c

C. Complete each figure of speech with your own idea.
1. It rained so hard yesterday. The sky was like _______ _
2. My mind was ________ after six hours of studying.
3. I finally took a vacation after five years. I felt like ___ .:....._ ___ _
4. I received a huge unexpected bonus from my employer. The big check
was _______ _
5. The movie I saw last night was so boring. It was _______ _
6. The five-year-olds at the birthday party were screaming and laughing
like--------
7. My feet were ________ after the ten-mile hike. It was
exhausting!
8. My friend John writes such long e-mails. Every e-mail from him is
like--------

my answer/1-below

2-tried

3-right

4-good

5-ridiculous

6-beauty

7-bruise

8-superman