Fears and Phobias

Read this sentence from paragraph 3.

Fear helps protect us.

Which statement from the article supports the idea in this sentence?

• Like all emotions, fear can be mild, medium, or intense, depending on the situation and the person. (paragraph 4)

• Fear is the word we use to describe our emotional reaction to something that seems dangerous. (paragraph 8)

• A fear can be healthy if it cautions a person to stay safe around something that could be dangerous. (paragraph 10)

• Young kids often have fears of the dark, being alone, strangers, and monsters or other scary imaginary creatures. (paragraph 15)

Which two statements are the most likely reasons the author wrote this selection?

• To tell readers about how fears and phobias work

• To persuade readers to get help if they have fears

• To explain how fears and phobias can be overcome

• To entertain readers with stories of how people overcame their fears

• To provide evidence that the amygdala keeps track of all strong emotions

The section “How Fear Works” is organized to show the —

• benefits of having fears

• various reasons why we have fears

• different types of fear that we have

•  way the brain and body respond to fear

The purpose of paragraph 13 in the selection is to —

• give hope to people who suffer from fears

• explain how overcoming fear is possible

• describe different ways to be calm and relax

• tell why people are afraid of flying in planes

Read this sentence from paragraph 6 of the selection.

This response is known as “fight or flight” because that is exactly what the body is preparing itself to do: fight off the danger or run fast to get away.

Which idea does the sentence help explain?

•  Why the brain reacts instantly when it senses danger

•     Why the brain cannot understand scary situations

•  Why people have different responses to fear

• Why people learn to face their fears

Which subheading indicates that its subsection will focus on a specific population?

• Fears During Childhood

• Fears People Have

• How Fear Works

• What is Fear?

Reorder the following: Paragraphs 26–32 of “Fears and Phobias” describe how to overcome phobias. Label the ideas in the order in which they appear in the passage. The first idea will be labeled 1, and the last will be labeled 4.

• The brain adjusts to how it responds to fears in order to manage them.

• People try to control situations involving the different fears they have.

• People make a list of their fears from least to greatest.

• People get control of their fears by gradually facing them..

What is the purpose of the boxed feature after paragraph 7?

• To list different types of frightening activities

• To describe why some people cannot feel fear

• To explain how phobias are not the same as fear

• To point out that some people react positively to fear

Read the following sentence about the selection.

I am afraid of two things—storms—and loud noises.

Which phrase correctly punctuates the underlined section in the sentence?

• two things storms—and loud noises

• two things storms—and—loud noises

• two things—storms and loud noises

• correct as is

Read this sentence from paragraph 9 of the selection.

People fear things or situations that make them feel unsafe or unsure.

What does the word unsafe mean as used in this sentence?

• Not certain

• In danger

• Guarded

• Misunderstood