Part A

What is a central idea in the Newsela article "Health Benefits of Reading, Writing, Are Not Just for Patients"?

Responses

Writing and reading are both therapeutic. Writing may have more health benefits than reading.
Writing and reading are both therapeutic. Writing may have more health benefits than reading.

Writing is good for mental health. Too much emotional stress can be bad for health.
Writing is good for mental health. Too much emotional stress can be bad for health.

Writing can help doctors treat patients more effectively. Writing does not take the place of regular medicine.
Writing can help doctors treat patients more effectively. Writing does not take the place of regular medicine.

Reading releases emotional stress. Writing boosts brain function.
Reading releases emotional stress. Writing boosts brain function.
Question 2
Part B - Points depend on a correct response in Part A.

Which statements from the text best support the answer in Part A?

Select the two correct answers.

Responses

"Allison Adelle Hedge Coke . . . grew up in several foster homes, fought cancer and struggled with drug abuse...'I really didn’t believe I would make it through childhood, but the act of writing brought me through,' she says."
"Allison Adelle Hedge Coke . . . grew up in several foster homes, fought cancer and struggled with drug abuse...'I really didn’t believe I would make it through childhood, but the act of writing brought me through,' she says."

"In [Angela’s Ashes] the author writes about growing up poor in 1930s and ’40s Ireland. 'Reading books like that makes us feel a little less alone, a little less troubled,' [Coke] says."
"In [, Angela’s Ashes, ] the author writes about growing up poor in 1930s and ’40s Ireland. 'Reading books like that makes us feel a little less alone, a little less troubled,' [Coke] says."

"If you have an experience and you sit down and write about it, you can pour that emotion out.”
"If you have an experience and you sit down and write about it, you can pour that emotion out.”

"Humans have told stories to feel better through the ages. For example, think of fairy tales that teach moral lessons. Or religious texts that wrestle with valleys of despair and mountains of hope...."
"Humans have told stories to feel better through the ages. For example, think of fairy tales that teach moral lessons. Or religious texts that wrestle with valleys of despair and mountains of hope...."

The statements that best support the answer in Part A are:

1. "Allison Adelle Hedge Coke . . . grew up in several foster homes, fought cancer and struggled with drug abuse...'I really didn’t believe I would make it through childhood, but the act of writing brought me through,' she says." This supports the idea that writing can be therapeutic and have health benefits.

2. "If you have an experience and you sit down and write about it, you can pour that emotion out.” This supports the idea that writing can help with emotional stress and mental health.

The correct statements from the text that support the answer in Part A are:

- "Allison Adelle Hedge Coke . . . grew up in several foster homes, fought cancer and struggled with drug abuse...'I really didn’t believe I would make it through childhood, but the act of writing brought me through,' she says."
- "If you have an experience and you sit down and write about it, you can pour that emotion out.”