ELA Database 5

Which of the following is not  a form of prewriting?

Why is it not recommended to edit while you write your first draft?

Which structure would most likely fit a paragraph describing the 2008 financial crisis and its consequences in the job market?

If an essay includes a quotation to back up a point, the writer does not need to:

Study the outline below and answer the following question.

I. Introduction – We need more racial and gender diversity in our superheroes.

II. The lack of diversity in comics means kids get the message that only white males can be heroic.
A. Quote from Sid Markell (pg. 213): “When I was a kid, imagining myself saving the world meant imagining I was white.”
B. Quote from Lydia Green (kenswicktimes.com): “I remember people seeing my comments and saying, ‘You like reading that?’ I heard, ‘You think you can be important?’”
C. Markell and Green aren’t just interacting with superhero comics as fiction; they’re seeing them as messages from a real world that excludes them.

III. Conclusion
A. Recap main points.
B. Let’s create a world where all kids are invited to imagine they can be heroes.

Which statement from the outline will be the main idea of the essay?

Study the outline below and answer the following question.

I. Introduction – We need more racial and gender diversity in our superheroes.

II. The lack of diversity in comics means kids get the message that only white males can be heroic.
A. Quote from Sid Markell (pg. 213): “When I was a kid, imagining myself saving the world meant imagining I was white.”
B. Quote from Lydia Green (kenswicktimes.com): “I remember people seeing my comments and saying, ‘You like reading that?’ I heard, ‘You think you can be important?’”
C. Markell and Green aren’t just interacting with superhero comics as fiction; they’re seeing them as messages from a real world that excludes them.

III. Conclusion
A. Recap main points.
B. Let’s create a world where all kids are invited to imagine they can be heroes.

What does the writer of this outline still need to do?

Study the outline below and answer the following question.

I. Introduction – We need more racial and gender diversity in our superheroes.

II. The lack of diversity in comics means kids get the message that only white males can be heroic.
A. Quote from Sid Markell (pg. 213): “When I was a kid, imagining myself saving the world meant imagining I was white.”
B. Quote from Lydia Green (kenswicktimes.com): “I remember people seeing my comments and saying, ‘You like reading that?’ I heard, ‘You think you can be important?’”
C. Markell and Green aren’t just interacting with superhero comics as fiction; they’re seeing them as messages from a real world that excludes them.

III. Conclusion
A. Recap main points.
B. Let’s create a world where all kids are invited to imagine they can be heroes.

The writer of this outline wants to add this sentence: This world needs all the heroes it can get.

Where would it fit best?

Study the outline below and answer the following question.

I. Introduction – We need more racial and gender diversity in our superheroes.

II. The lack of diversity in comics means kids get the message that only white males can be heroic.
A. Quote from Sid Markell (pg. 213): “When I was a kid, imagining myself saving the world meant imagining I was white.”
B. Quote from Lydia Green (kenswicktimes.com): “I remember people seeing my comments and saying, ‘You like reading that?’ I heard, ‘You think you can be important?’”
C. Markell and Green aren’t just interacting with superhero comics as fiction; they’re seeing them as messages from a real world that excludes them.

III. Conclusion
A. Recap main points.
B. Let’s create a world where all kids are invited to imagine they can be heroes.

The writer of this outline wants to add a second body paragraph. Which statement could function as a topic sentence that clearly adds new information to support the main idea?

Study the outline below and answer the following question.

I. Introduction – We need more racial and gender diversity in our superheroes.

II. The lack of diversity in comics means kids get the message that only white males can be heroic.
A. Quote from Sid Markell (pg. 213): “When I was a kid, imagining myself saving the world meant imagining I was white.”
B. Quote from Lydia Green (kenswicktimes.com): “I remember people seeing my comments and saying, ‘You like reading that?’ I heard, ‘You think you can be important?’”
C. Markell and Green aren’t just interacting with superhero comics as fiction; they’re seeing them as messages from a real world that excludes them.

III. Conclusion
A. Recap main points.
B. Let’s create a world where all kids are invited to imagine they can be heroes.

The information in parentheses under II.A. and II.B. is most likely:

Read the draft essay below and answer the following question.

As a child, I loved to chase butterflies in my grandmother’s garden. (1) Now that I have children, I’m saddened there are so few butterflies left. Keeping butterfly populations healthy enriches lives and sustains ecosystems. (2) For this reason, I feel the Kingfield County Commission should support the effort to create habitat for butterflies and other pollinators along our highways. (3)

Kingfield’s two major highways, Highway 65 and Highway 18, are both lined by grassy strips of unused land that the county maintains at taxpayer expense. (4) Currently, maintenance on these strips involves periodic mowing and pesticide spraying to keep back weeds. (5) This practice harms butterflies and prevents the growth of plants that can sustain them. (6) To create pollinator habitat, we would need to change the way we manage our highways. (7) Instead of mowing and spraying, we could plant wildflowers such as white milkweed and transform the green strips into meadows that would support a wide variety of butterfly and other pollinator species. (8)

This project would cost surprisingly little. (9) State and federal organizations have grant programs in place to support set-up costs such as the purchase of wildflower seed for pollinator habitat creation. Long-term maintenance would demand only occasional maintenance to keep wildflowers away from roadways and reduce wildfire risk. Costs could be minimized by tapping local environmental and gardening groups for volunteer help. (10) “The members of our horticultural society are extremely generous with their time when it comes to promoting conservation efforts.” (11)

Some gardeners might balk at the idea of intentionally planting milkweed and other wildflowers that are sometimes considered undesirable. It is true that wildflowers spread into fields and gardens whose owners do not want them. But those gardens need butterflies and other pollinators to remain healthy.
A low-cost effort to save butterflies could enrich our lives for many years to come and make gardens healthier. (12) With a little effort, we can make sure there are butterflies for our grandchildren to chase someday. (13)

Which sentence is the thesis statement?

Read the draft essay below and answer the following question.

As a child, I loved to chase butterflies in my grandmother’s garden. (1) Now that I have children, I’m saddened there are so few butterflies left. Keeping butterfly populations healthy enriches lives and sustains ecosystems. (2) For this reason, I feel the Kingfield County Commission should support the effort to create habitat for butterflies and other pollinators along our highways. (3)

Kingfield’s two major highways, Highway 65 and Highway 18, are both lined by grassy strips of unused land that the county maintains at taxpayer expense. (4) Currently, maintenance on these strips involves periodic mowing and pesticide spraying to keep back weeds. (5) This practice harms butterflies and prevents the growth of plants that can sustain them. (6) To create pollinator habitat, we would need to change the way we manage our highways. (7) Instead of mowing and spraying, we could plant wildflowers such as white milkweed and transform the green strips into meadows that would support a wide variety of butterfly and other pollinator species. (8)

This project would cost surprisingly little. (9) State and federal organizations have grant programs in place to support set-up costs such as the purchase of wildflower seed for pollinator habitat creation. Long-term maintenance would demand only occasional maintenance to keep wildflowers away from roadways and reduce wildfire risk. Costs could be minimized by tapping local environmental and gardening groups for volunteer help. (10) “The members of our horticultural society are extremely generous with their time when it comes to promoting conservation efforts.” (11)

Some gardeners might balk at the idea of intentionally planting milkweed and other wildflowers that are sometimes considered undesirable. It is true that wildflowers spread into fields and gardens whose owners do not want them. But those gardens need butterflies and other pollinators to remain healthy.
A low-cost effort to save butterflies could enrich our lives for many years to come and make gardens healthier. (12) With a little effort, we can make sure there are butterflies for our grandchildren to chase someday. (13)

In this draft, the flow of ideas from the introduction to the first body paragraph is a little unclear. Which sentence, if it appeared at the beginning of the first body paragraph, would make a clearer link back to the thesis?

Read the draft essay below and answer the following question.

As a child, I loved to chase butterflies in my grandmother’s garden. (1) Now that I have children, I’m saddened there are so few butterflies left. Keeping butterfly populations healthy enriches lives and sustains ecosystems. (2) For this reason, I feel the Kingfield County Commission should support the effort to create habitat for butterflies and other pollinators along our highways. (3)

Kingfield’s two major highways, Highway 65 and Highway 18, are both lined by grassy strips of unused land that the county maintains at taxpayer expense. (4) Currently, maintenance on these strips involves periodic mowing and pesticide spraying to keep back weeds. (5) This practice harms butterflies and prevents the growth of plants that can sustain them. (6) To create pollinator habitat, we would need to change the way we manage our highways. (7) Instead of mowing and spraying, we could plant wildflowers such as white milkweed and transform the green strips into meadows that would support a wide variety of butterfly and other pollinator species. (8)

This project would cost surprisingly little. (9) State and federal organizations have grant programs in place to support set-up costs such as the purchase of wildflower seed for pollinator habitat creation. Long-term maintenance would demand only occasional maintenance to keep wildflowers away from roadways and reduce wildfire risk. Costs could be minimized by tapping local environmental and gardening groups for volunteer help. (10) “The members of our horticultural society are extremely generous with their time when it comes to promoting conservation efforts.” (11)

Some gardeners might balk at the idea of intentionally planting milkweed and other wildflowers that are sometimes considered undesirable. It is true that wildflowers spread into fields and gardens whose owners do not want them. But those gardens need butterflies and other pollinators to remain healthy.
A low-cost effort to save butterflies could enrich our lives for many years to come and make gardens healthier. (12) With a little effort, we can make sure there are butterflies for our grandchildren to chase someday. (13)

Which revision of sentence 9 links more clearly back to the main idea?

Read the draft essay below and answer the following question.

As a child, I loved to chase butterflies in my grandmother’s garden. (1) Now that I have children, I’m saddened there are so few butterflies left. Keeping butterfly populations healthy enriches lives and sustains ecosystems. (2) For this reason, I feel the Kingfield County Commission should support the effort to create habitat for butterflies and other pollinators along our highways. (3)

Kingfield’s two major highways, Highway 65 and Highway 18, are both lined by grassy strips of unused land that the county maintains at taxpayer expense. (4) Currently, maintenance on these strips involves periodic mowing and pesticide spraying to keep back weeds. (5) This practice harms butterflies and prevents the growth of plants that can sustain them. (6) To create pollinator habitat, we would need to change the way we manage our highways. (7) Instead of mowing and spraying, we could plant wildflowers such as white milkweed and transform the green strips into meadows that would support a wide variety of butterfly and other pollinator species. (8)

This project would cost surprisingly little. (9) State and federal organizations have grant programs in place to support set-up costs such as the purchase of wildflower seed for pollinator habitat creation. Long-term maintenance would demand only occasional maintenance to keep wildflowers away from roadways and reduce wildfire risk. Costs could be minimized by tapping local environmental and gardening groups for volunteer help. (10) “The members of our horticultural society are extremely generous with their time when it comes to promoting conservation efforts.” (11)

Some gardeners might balk at the idea of intentionally planting milkweed and other wildflowers that are sometimes considered undesirable. It is true that wildflowers spread into fields and gardens whose owners do not want them. But those gardens need butterflies and other pollinators to remain healthy.
A low-cost effort to save butterflies could enrich our lives for many years to come and make gardens healthier. (12) With a little effort, we can make sure there are butterflies for our grandchildren to chase someday. (13)

Which evidence would strengthen the argument outlined in Sentence 9?

Read the draft essay below and answer the following question.

As a child, I loved to chase butterflies in my grandmother’s garden. (1) Now that I have children, I’m saddened there are so few butterflies left. Keeping butterfly populations healthy enriches lives and sustains ecosystems. (2) For this reason, I feel the Kingfield County Commission should support the effort to create habitat for butterflies and other pollinators along our highways. (3)

Kingfield’s two major highways, Highway 65 and Highway 18, are both lined by grassy strips of unused land that the county maintains at taxpayer expense. (4) Currently, maintenance on these strips involves periodic mowing and pesticide spraying to keep back weeds. (5) This practice harms butterflies and prevents the growth of plants that can sustain them. (6) To create pollinator habitat, we would need to change the way we manage our highways. (7) Instead of mowing and spraying, we could plant wildflowers such as white milkweed and transform the green strips into meadows that would support a wide variety of butterfly and other pollinator species. (8)

This project would cost surprisingly little. (9) State and federal organizations have grant programs in place to support set-up costs such as the purchase of wildflower seed for pollinator habitat creation. Long-term maintenance would demand only occasional maintenance to keep wildflowers away from roadways and reduce wildfire risk. Costs could be minimized by tapping local environmental and gardening groups for volunteer help. (10) “The members of our horticultural society are extremely generous with their time when it comes to promoting conservation efforts.” (11)

Some gardeners might balk at the idea of intentionally planting milkweed and other wildflowers that are sometimes considered undesirable. It is true that wildflowers spread into fields and gardens whose owners do not want them. But those gardens need butterflies and other pollinators to remain healthy.
A low-cost effort to save butterflies could enrich our lives for many years to come and make gardens healthier. (12) With a little effort, we can make sure there are butterflies for our grandchildren to chase someday. (13)

What should the writer do to improve sentence 11?

Read the draft essay below and answer the following question.

As a child, I loved to chase butterflies in my grandmother’s garden. (1) Now that I have children, I’m saddened there are so few butterflies left. Keeping butterfly populations healthy enriches lives and sustains ecosystems. (2) For this reason, I feel the Kingfield County Commission should support the effort to create habitat for butterflies and other pollinators along our highways. (3)

Kingfield’s two major highways, Highway 65 and Highway 18, are both lined by grassy strips of unused land that the county maintains at taxpayer expense. (4) Currently, maintenance on these strips involves periodic mowing and pesticide spraying to keep back weeds. (5) This practice harms butterflies and prevents the growth of plants that can sustain them. (6) To create pollinator habitat, we would need to change the way we manage our highways. (7) Instead of mowing and spraying, we could plant wildflowers such as white milkweed and transform the green strips into meadows that would support a wide variety of butterfly and other pollinator species. (8)

This project would cost surprisingly little. (9) State and federal organizations have grant programs in place to support set-up costs such as the purchase of wildflower seed for pollinator habitat creation. Long-term maintenance would demand only occasional maintenance to keep wildflowers away from roadways and reduce wildfire risk. Costs could be minimized by tapping local environmental and gardening groups for volunteer help. (10) “The members of our horticultural society are extremely generous with their time when it comes to promoting conservation efforts.” (11)

Some gardeners might balk at the idea of intentionally planting milkweed and other wildflowers that are sometimes considered undesirable. It is true that wildflowers spread into fields and gardens whose owners do not want them. But those gardens need butterflies and other pollinators to remain healthy.
A low-cost effort to save butterflies could enrich our lives for many years to come and make gardens healthier. (12) With a little effort, we can make sure there are butterflies for our grandchildren to chase someday. (13)

Which sentence most clearly improves sentence 12 in the context of the essay?

Read the draft essay below and answer the following question.

As a child, I loved to chase butterflies in my grandmother’s garden. (1) Now that I have children, I’m saddened there are so few butterflies left. Keeping butterfly populations healthy enriches lives and sustains ecosystems. (2) For this reason, I feel the Kingfield County Commission should support the effort to create habitat for butterflies and other pollinators along our highways. (3)

Kingfield’s two major highways, Highway 65 and Highway 18, are both lined by grassy strips of unused land that the county maintains at taxpayer expense. (4) Currently, maintenance on these strips involves periodic mowing and pesticide spraying to keep back weeds. (5) This practice harms butterflies and prevents the growth of plants that can sustain them. (6) To create pollinator habitat, we would need to change the way we manage our highways. (7) Instead of mowing and spraying, we could plant wildflowers such as white milkweed and transform the green strips into meadows that would support a wide variety of butterfly and other pollinator species. (8)

This project would cost surprisingly little. (9) State and federal organizations have grant programs in place to support set-up costs such as the purchase of wildflower seed for pollinator habitat creation. Long-term maintenance would demand only occasional maintenance to keep wildflowers away from roadways and reduce wildfire risk. Costs could be minimized by tapping local environmental and gardening groups for volunteer help. (10) “The members of our horticultural society are extremely generous with their time when it comes to promoting conservation efforts.” (11)

Some gardeners might balk at the idea of intentionally planting milkweed and other wildflowers that are sometimes considered undesirable. It is true that wildflowers spread into fields and gardens whose owners do not want them. But those gardens need butterflies and other pollinators to remain healthy.
A low-cost effort to save butterflies could enrich our lives for many years to come and make gardens healthier. (12) With a little effort, we can make sure there are butterflies for our grandchildren to chase someday. (13)

Reread the third body paragraph:

Some gardeners might balk at the idea of intentionally planting milkweed and other wildflowers that are sometimes considered undesirable. It is true that wildflowers spread into fields and gardens whose owners do not want them. But those gardens need butterflies and other pollinators to remain healthy.

What should the writer do to strengthen this paragraph?

Read the draft essay below and answer the following question.

As a child, I loved to chase butterflies in my grandmother’s garden. (1) Now that I have children, I’m saddened there are so few butterflies left. Keeping butterfly populations healthy enriches lives and sustains ecosystems. (2) For this reason, I feel the Kingfield County Commission should support the effort to create habitat for butterflies and other pollinators along our highways. (3)

Kingfield’s two major highways, Highway 65 and Highway 18, are both lined by grassy strips of unused land that the county maintains at taxpayer expense. (4) Currently, maintenance on these strips involves periodic mowing and pesticide spraying to keep back weeds. (5) This practice harms butterflies and prevents the growth of plants that can sustain them. (6) To create pollinator habitat, we would need to change the way we manage our highways. (7) Instead of mowing and spraying, we could plant wildflowers such as white milkweed and transform the green strips into meadows that would support a wide variety of butterfly and other pollinator species. (8)

This project would cost surprisingly little. (9) State and federal organizations have grant programs in place to support set-up costs such as the purchase of wildflower seed for pollinator habitat creation. Long-term maintenance would demand only occasional maintenance to keep wildflowers away from roadways and reduce wildfire risk. Costs could be minimized by tapping local environmental and gardening groups for volunteer help. (10) “The members of our horticultural society are extremely generous with their time when it comes to promoting conservation efforts.” (11)

Some gardeners might balk at the idea of intentionally planting milkweed and other wildflowers that are sometimes considered undesirable. It is true that wildflowers spread into fields and gardens whose owners do not want them. But those gardens need butterflies and other pollinators to remain healthy.
A low-cost effort to save butterflies could enrich our lives for many years to come and make gardens healthier. (12) With a little effort, we can make sure there are butterflies for our grandchildren to chase someday. (13)

Which type of ending would likely be a more effective ending than sentence 13?

The tone of a text is __________ if the words say the opposite of what they really mean.

Read the sentences below.

However you look at the problem, it’s a thorny one. It’s also going to be a pleasure to solve.

Which word functions as a transition?

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

Dear Dr. Rodriguez,

I am writing to request that you change my daughter Amelia’s chemistry grade. Amelia is a brilliant and capable girl who does not deserve an F in your class. Incidentally, I am sure you recall our family’s substantial donation to your school district last year. I was led to believe we would no longer be troubled by petty grade issues or incompetent teachers after I wrote that check. In fact, I feel compelled to forward this message to your superiors to make certain the issue is dealt with promptly, and to ensure that we have no future misunderstandings.

Sincerely,
Violetta D. Johannsen

Which adjective best describes the tone of this passage?

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

Dear Dr. Rodriguez,

I am writing to request that you change my daughter Amelia’s chemistry grade. Amelia is a brilliant and capable girl who does not deserve an F in your class. Incidentally, I am sure you recall our family’s substantial donation to your school district last year. I was led to believe we would no longer be troubled by petty grade issues or incompetent teachers after I wrote that check. In fact, I feel compelled to forward this message to your superiors to make certain the issue is dealt with promptly, and to ensure that we have no future misunderstandings.

Sincerely,
Violetta D. Johannsen

Which phrase from the passage has an openly hostile and superior tone?

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

Dear Dr. Rodriguez,

I am writing to request that you change my daughter Amelia’s chemistry grade. Amelia is a brilliant and capable girl who does not deserve an F in your class. Incidentally, I am sure you recall our family’s substantial donation to your school district last year. I was led to believe we would no longer be troubled by petty grade issues or incompetent teachers after I wrote that check. In fact, I feel compelled to forward this message to your superiors to make certain the issue is dealt with promptly, and to ensure that we have no future misunderstandings.

Sincerely,
Violetta D. Johannsen

What mood would this passage most likely evoke in the chemistry teacher, Dr. Rodriguez?

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

Dear Dr. Rodriguez,

I am writing to request that you change my daughter Amelia’s chemistry grade. Amelia is a brilliant and capable girl who does not deserve an F in your class. Incidentally, I am sure you recall our family’s substantial donation to your school district last year. I was led to believe we would no longer be troubled by petty grade issues or incompetent teachers after I wrote that check. In fact, I feel compelled to forward this message to your superiors to make certain the issue is dealt with promptly, and to ensure that we have no future misunderstandings.

Sincerely,
Violetta D. Johannsen

Which transition word or phrase from the passage adds emphasis to the writer’s point?

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

The train was the most amazing thing ever even though it didn’t go “choo choo.” The toddler pounded on the railing of the bridge and supplied the sound herself. “Choo choo! Choo choooooo!” she shouted as the train cars whizzed along below.

In the excitement, she dropped her favorite binky.

Later, when she noticed the binky missing, all the joy went out of the world. The wailing could be heard three houses down. The toddler’s usual favorite activities were garbage—even waving to Hank the garbage man, which she refused to do, so that Hank went away looking mildly hurt. It was clear the little girl would never, ever, ever recover from her loss.

Afterward, she played at the park.

The author of the passage first establishes the ironic tone by:

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

The train was the most amazing thing ever even though it didn’t go “choo choo.” The toddler pounded on the railing of the bridge and supplied the sound herself. “Choo choo! Choo choooooo!” she shouted as the train cars whizzed along below.

In the excitement, she dropped her favorite binky.

Later, when she noticed the binky missing, all the joy went out of the world. The wailing could be heard three houses down. The toddler’s usual favorite activities were garbage—even waving to Hank the garbage man, which she refused to do, so that Hank went away looking mildly hurt. It was clear the little girl would never, ever, ever recover from her loss.

Afterward, she played at the park.

Which word or phrase does not function as a transition in the passage?

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

The train was the most amazing thing ever even though it didn’t go “choo choo.” The toddler pounded on the railing of the bridge and supplied the sound herself. “Choo choo! Choo choooooo!” she shouted as the train cars whizzed along below.

In the excitement, she dropped her favorite binky.

Later, when she noticed the binky missing, all the joy went out of the world. The wailing could be heard three houses down. The toddler’s usual favorite activities were garbage—even waving to Hank the garbage man, which she refused to do, so that Hank went away looking mildly hurt. It was clear the little girl would never, ever, ever recover from her loss.

Afterward, she played at the park.

The transitions “later” and “afterward” link ideas in the passage by showing:

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

When Dr. Kingston Hussein saw an announcement for a conference titled Ethics of Human Embryonic Research, he booked his tickets six months in advance.

“We need to stop and reflect on the ramifications of every new development in our research,” said Dr. Hussein, the lead researcher in embryology at the Dampson Crockett Institute in Lewiston, Maine. “Every researcher in our field feels the weight of responsibility here. It’s what we talk about when we go out for drinks after work.”

Attitudes like Dr. Hussein’s stand in stark contrast to common public perceptions of embryonic research. “These guys think they’re gods,” said Liz Goode, chairwoman of The Center for Ethical and Dignified Humanity, an organization that opposes all research on human embryos. “They want to get rich selling designer babies to billionaires. It’s a nightmare.”

An outside observer might expect a researcher like Dr. Hussein to avoid all contact with an activist like Goode. On the contrary, Dr. Hussein wrote to the organizers of the conference and requested that they invite Goode to host a panel. “We need dialogue,” he said. “We need to hear what makes the public uncomfortable.” He chuckled. “We also need to inform them about what we’re actually doing.”

And what are embryonic researchers doing? “Not building designer babies,” he said. Dr. Hussein uses words like “run-of-the-mill medical” to describe his research goals. For instance, he is seeking causes and treatments for a variety of neurological disorders.

Which adjective most accurately describes the author’s tone?

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

When Dr. Kingston Hussein saw an announcement for a conference titled Ethics of Human Embryonic Research, he booked his tickets six months in advance.

“We need to stop and reflect on the ramifications of every new development in our research,” said Dr. Hussein, the lead researcher in embryology at the Dampson Crockett Institute in Lewiston, Maine. “Every researcher in our field feels the weight of responsibility here. It’s what we talk about when we go out for drinks after work.”

Attitudes like Dr. Hussein’s stand in stark contrast to common public perceptions of embryonic research. “These guys think they’re gods,” said Liz Goode, chairwoman of The Center for Ethical and Dignified Humanity, an organization that opposes all research on human embryos. “They want to get rich selling designer babies to billionaires. It’s a nightmare.”

An outside observer might expect a researcher like Dr. Hussein to avoid all contact with an activist like Goode. On the contrary, Dr. Hussein wrote to the organizers of the conference and requested that they invite Goode to host a panel. “We need dialogue,” he said. “We need to hear what makes the public uncomfortable.” He chuckled. “We also need to inform them about what we’re actually doing.”

And what are embryonic researchers doing? “Not building designer babies,” he said. Dr. Hussein uses words like “run-of-the-mill medical” to describe his research goals. For instance, he is seeking causes and treatments for a variety of neurological disorders.

Reread the following quotation from the passage:

“Every researcher in our field feels the weight of responsibility here. It’s what we talk about when we go out for drinks after work.”

Which adjective most accurately describes Dr. Hussein’s tone?

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

When Dr. Kingston Hussein saw an announcement for a conference titled Ethics of Human Embryonic Research, he booked his tickets six months in advance.

“We need to stop and reflect on the ramifications of every new development in our research,” said Dr. Hussein, the lead researcher in embryology at the Dampson Crockett Institute in Lewiston, Maine. “Every researcher in our field feels the weight of responsibility here. It’s what we talk about when we go out for drinks after work.”

Attitudes like Dr. Hussein’s stand in stark contrast to common public perceptions of embryonic research. “These guys think they’re gods,” said Liz Goode, chairwoman of The Center for Ethical and Dignified Humanity, an organization that opposes all research on human embryos. “They want to get rich selling designer babies to billionaires. It’s a nightmare.”

An outside observer might expect a researcher like Dr. Hussein to avoid all contact with an activist like Goode. On the contrary, Dr. Hussein wrote to the organizers of the conference and requested that they invite Goode to host a panel. “We need dialogue,” he said. “We need to hear what makes the public uncomfortable.” He chuckled. “We also need to inform them about what we’re actually doing.”

And what are embryonic researchers doing? “Not building designer babies,” he said. Dr. Hussein uses words like “run-of-the-mill medical” to describe his research goals. For instance, he is seeking causes and treatments for a variety of neurological disorders.

Reread the following quotation from the passage:

“These guys think they’re gods…They want to get rich selling designer babies to billionaires. It’s a nightmare.”

Which adjective most accurately describes Liz Goode’s tone?

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

When Dr. Kingston Hussein saw an announcement for a conference titled Ethics of Human Embryonic Research, he booked his tickets six months in advance.

“We need to stop and reflect on the ramifications of every new development in our research,” said Dr. Hussein, the lead researcher in embryology at the Dampson Crockett Institute in Lewiston, Maine. “Every researcher in our field feels the weight of responsibility here. It’s what we talk about when we go out for drinks after work.”

Attitudes like Dr. Hussein’s stand in stark contrast to common public perceptions of embryonic research. “These guys think they’re gods,” said Liz Goode, chairwoman of The Center for Ethical and Dignified Humanity, an organization that opposes all research on human embryos. “They want to get rich selling designer babies to billionaires. It’s a nightmare.”

An outside observer might expect a researcher like Dr. Hussein to avoid all contact with an activist like Goode. On the contrary, Dr. Hussein wrote to the organizers of the conference and requested that they invite Goode to host a panel. “We need dialogue,” he said. “We need to hear what makes the public uncomfortable.” He chuckled. “We also need to inform them about what we’re actually doing.”

And what are embryonic researchers doing? “Not building designer babies,” he said. Dr. Hussein uses words like “run-of-the-mill medical” to describe his research goals. For instance, he is seeking causes and treatments for a variety of neurological disorders.

Which phrase functions as a transition to juxtapose dissimilar ideas in the passage?

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

When Dr. Kingston Hussein saw an announcement for a conference titled Ethics of Human Embryonic Research, he booked his tickets six months in advance.

“We need to stop and reflect on the ramifications of every new development in our research,” said Dr. Hussein, the lead researcher in embryology at the Dampson Crockett Institute in Lewiston, Maine. “Every researcher in our field feels the weight of responsibility here. It’s what we talk about when we go out for drinks after work.”

Attitudes like Dr. Hussein’s stand in stark contrast to common public perceptions of embryonic research. “These guys think they’re gods,” said Liz Goode, chairwoman of The Center for Ethical and Dignified Humanity, an organization that opposes all research on human embryos. “They want to get rich selling designer babies to billionaires. It’s a nightmare.”

An outside observer might expect a researcher like Dr. Hussein to avoid all contact with an activist like Goode. On the contrary, Dr. Hussein wrote to the organizers of the conference and requested that they invite Goode to host a panel. “We need dialogue,” he said. “We need to hear what makes the public uncomfortable.” He chuckled. “We also need to inform them about what we’re actually doing.”

And what are embryonic researchers doing? “Not building designer babies,” he said. Dr. Hussein uses words like “run-of-the-mill medical” to describe his research goals. For instance, he is seeking causes and treatments for a variety of neurological disorders.

Which phrase functions as a transition to introduce an example in the passage?

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

When Dr. Kingston Hussein saw an announcement for a conference titled Ethics of Human Embryonic Research, he booked his tickets six months in advance.

“We need to stop and reflect on the ramifications of every new development in our research,” said Dr. Hussein, the lead researcher in embryology at the Dampson Crockett Institute in Lewiston, Maine. “Every researcher in our field feels the weight of responsibility here. It’s what we talk about when we go out for drinks after work.”

Attitudes like Dr. Hussein’s stand in stark contrast to common public perceptions of embryonic research. “These guys think they’re gods,” said Liz Goode, chairwoman of The Center for Ethical and Dignified Humanity, an organization that opposes all research on human embryos. “They want to get rich selling designer babies to billionaires. It’s a nightmare.”

An outside observer might expect a researcher like Dr. Hussein to avoid all contact with an activist like Goode. On the contrary, Dr. Hussein wrote to the organizers of the conference and requested that they invite Goode to host a panel. “We need dialogue,” he said. “We need to hear what makes the public uncomfortable.” He chuckled. “We also need to inform them about what we’re actually doing.”

And what are embryonic researchers doing? “Not building designer babies,” he said. Dr. Hussein uses words like “run-of-the-mill medical” to describe his research goals. For instance, he is seeking causes and treatments for a variety of neurological disorders.

Reread the following sentences from the passage:

“We need dialogue,” he said. “We need to hear what makes the public uncomfortable.” He chuckled. “We also need to inform them about what we’re actually doing.”

Which word or phrase functions as a transition in these sentences?

Read the sentences below.

Meredith shows clearly that she is driven to succeed as a gymnast. ________ I have often noticed her waiting outside the gym before it opens at 7:00 a.m. _________ her coaches report that she frequently asks for help with her tumbling skills.

Which words or phrases should be inserted into the blanks to provide clear transitions between these ideas?

Read the sentences below.

My pet boa constrictor is not a danger to humans. Despite his size and alarming appearance, he is basically a big, cuddly garden snake.

What is the function of the underlined transition word in sentence two?

Read the sentences below.

There are so many entries for the County Chili Cookoff, it is going to be a challenge to choose just one winner. It’s also going to be a pleasure to taste them.

Which word functions as a transition?

Read the sentences below.

Simon decided to play football all day instead of study for his math test. He received a poor grade.

Which word or phrase, if inserted at the beginning of sentence two, would effectively transition between these two ideas?

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

When my 13-year-old daughter entered the house, the door slammed open with a celebratory “bang!” I was instantly dismayed to see that my first-born stomped right by me as I held my arms open for a warm hug.

“How was your day, honey?” I asked as she gave me her quintessential eye roll.
I sat across from her ready to hear how marvelous her day was. However, I only got an earful of all the drama that had ensued at school: “So-and-so said this,” “gym was a drag,” “Mr. Fletcher doesn’t like me because I am not a math genius.”

My head ached from nodding so much, so I got up quickly to bring her something.
“Mom! How could you get up when I’m in the middle of telling you about my life?” she barked.
Despite her protest, her eyes could not help but light up when I brought her a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie on a plate.

I guess life isn’t all that bad, is it?

Which word or phrase does not function as a transition in the passage?

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

When my 13-year-old daughter entered the house, the door slammed open with a celebratory “bang!” I was instantly dismayed to see that my first-born stomped right by me as I held my arms open for a warm hug.

“How was your day, honey?” I asked as she gave me her quintessential eye roll.
I sat across from her ready to hear how marvelous her day was. However, I only got an earful of all the drama that had ensued at school: “So-and-so said this,” “gym was a drag,” “Mr. Fletcher doesn’t like me because I am not a math genius.”

My head ached from nodding so much, so I got up quickly to bring her something.
“Mom! How could you get up when I’m in the middle of telling you about my life?” she barked.
Despite her protest, her eyes could not help but light up when I brought her a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie on a plate.

I guess life isn’t all that bad, is it?

The transitions “however” and “despite” link ideas in the passage by showing:

Read the paragraph below and answer the following question.

Faith sighed as the old lady cooed at the baby and blabbed about her own children’s early days. Four kids! They all walked and talked early! They were little geniuses! Blah blah blah! Faith spent twenty-four hours a day caring for a drooling, incontinent little person, and as a reward she had to hear constant stories about other drooling, incontinent little people. Maybe she should take a tip from the baby and erupt into a random fit of screaming.

The tone of the passage is:

Read the paragraph below and answer the following question.

Faith sighed as the old lady cooed at the baby and blabbed about her own children’s early days. Four kids! They all walked and talked early! They were little geniuses! Blah blah blah! Faith spent twenty-four hours a day caring for a drooling, incontinent little person, and as a reward she had to hear constant stories about other drooling, incontinent little people. Maybe she should take a tip from the baby and erupt into a random fit of screaming.

Select the correct order of the events.

Read the paragraph below and answer the following question.

Faith sighed as the old lady cooed at the baby and blabbed about her own children’s early days. Four kids! They all walked and talked early! They were little geniuses! Blah blah blah! Faith spent twenty-four hours a day caring for a drooling, incontinent little person, and as a reward she had to hear constant stories about other drooling, incontinent little people. Maybe she should take a tip from the baby and erupt into a random fit of screaming.

Imagine that the author ends the passage with this additional sentence:

“Instead, as the lady continued to coo and asked for permission to hold her, the baby burped up the undigested contents of nutritious slosh onto the woman’s shoulder.”

How does this change affect the overall story?

Read the paragraph below and answer the following question.

The theater was packed. The audience watched with rapt attention as the characters lost their homes, their jobs, their sense of security, even their most basic beliefs. A few characters managed to save a family member. Most kept small keepsakes in their pockets. But by the end, they had almost nothing left of the world before disaster struck. When the show was over, the audience filed out smiling. After all, there’s nothing more fun than the end of the world—as long as it’s fictional.

What is the tone of the passage?

Fill in the blank with the correct subordinating conjunction.

We will throw a pizza party ____ you win the game.

Fill in the blank with the correct coordinating conjunction.

Desert climates are hot and dry, ____ many plants grow there.

Identify the independent clause in the following sentence.

Although most people understand the benefits of exercise, people do not exercise as much as they should.

Fill in the blank with the correct subordinating conjunction.

I had a bad stomach flu but started to regain my appetite, ____ is good news.

Fill in the blank with the correct coordinating conjunction.

Julia wanted the new iPhone, ____ she could not afford it.

How would you connect the following clauses?

The trial must begin. She shows up or not.

How would you connect the following clauses?

It is cloudy today. It will probably rain.

How would you connect the following clauses?

She gave her dog a long walk. He slept well that night.

Fill in the blank with the correct coordinating conjunction.

My daughter is in the school play, ____ I want to go to every performance.

Identify the independent clause in the following sentence.

You need to call your mother as soon as you get home.

Identify the type of clause.

Since he left his job.

Identify the type of clause.

The reporter stumbled over his words.

Fill in the blank with the correct coordinating conjunction.

My friend and I went to dinner, ____ we both ordered pasta.

Identify the dependent clause in the following sentence.

When I lived in New York City, I took the subway to work every day.

Fill in the blank with the correct subordinating conjunction.

____ the class was difficult, Allison passed with flying colors.

Identify the independent clause in the following sentence.

I began swimming every day, because it is healthy to exercise.

Fill in the blank with the correct coordinating conjunction.

Would you like the soup ___ would you like the salad?

Identify the independent clause in the following sentence.

After eating dinner, the couple went on a stroll through the park.

Identify the type of clause.

I ate, and he drank.

Identify the dependent clause in the following sentence.

While her kids swam in the pool, Nicole read a book.

Identify the type of clause.

When she went to the movie.

How would you connect the following clauses?

He ate a lot on vacation He did not gain any weight.

Fill in the blank with the correct subordinating conjunction.

_____ he loves music so much, his friend got him tickets to see his favorite band.

Identify the type of clause.

She ate her lunch late.

Fill in the blank with the correct subordinating conjunction.

You cannot go to the movies with your friends ____ you finish your homework.

Identify the independent clause in the following sentence.

The mother could not take her kids to school because it snowed all night.

What are the two basic genres that encompass all of literature?

The theme of a text is:

Which of the following is an example of persuasive writing?

Which term describes the most likely structure of an essay about the similarities and differences between World War I and World War II?

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

Fly Lake is the heart and soul of our town, and it needs our help. The environmental problems are obvious everywhere. The parking lot and path to the lake are strewn with beer cans and other litter. A half-dead grove of oaks bears the scars of a careless visitor’s untended fire. Other trees are tagged with spray-painted graffiti. Any visitor who bothers to walk past this depressing scene all the way to the edge of the lake will notice piles of discarded fishing gear—but the fishing is terrible these days. Beneath the surface, hardly anything is still swimming. The lake has long been a source of recreation, tourist revenue, and food for the people of our town, but if current trends continue, it will no longer be able to fulfill any of these roles. For the greater good, we need funding and workers to clean up Fly Lake.

If this text were to continue for a few more paragraphs, which genre label would best apply to it?

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

Fly Lake is the heart and soul of our town, and it needs our help. The environmental problems are obvious everywhere. The parking lot and path to the lake are strewn with beer cans and other litter. A half-dead grove of oaks bears the scars of a careless visitor’s untended fire. Other trees are tagged with spray-painted graffiti. Any visitor who bothers to walk past this depressing scene all the way to the edge of the lake will notice piles of discarded fishing gear—but the fishing is terrible these days. Beneath the surface, hardly anything is still swimming. The lake has long been a source of recreation, tourist revenue, and food for the people of our town, but if current trends continue, it will no longer be able to fulfill any of these roles. For the greater good, we need funding and workers to clean up Fly Lake.

Which statement best expresses the unstated theme of the passage?

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

When my mother was a teenager, most kids didn’t have cell phones. If she wanted to talk to her friends after school, she had to call their landline. Sometimes a friend’s mom or dad answered, and she had to ask to talk to their kid. She says that was awkward. Also, if she and a friend talked on the phone for a long time, the whole family’s phone line was busy, so nobody else could get calls. Parents got mad at kids for tying up the phone too long.

Today, every kid I know has a smartphone. We talk and text whenever we want, and none of us ever have awkward conversations with our friends’ parents. But in some ways, parents today have more control. A lot of parents check kids’ phone records and read their texts, so they can tell if their kids are up to no good. Families don’t all rely on one phone line, so when kids talk for a long time, we don’t prevent anyone else in the family from communicating with their friends. But parents today still get mad—mainly because kids’ phone habits cost too much money.

What is the genre of the passage?

Read the text below and answer the following question.

WiseWear gear provides you with cutting-edge technology to enhance your performance and optimize your training. WiseWear products include sensors to track your heart rate, activity level, and calorie burn during workouts. Information is automatically uploaded to your phone and organized so you can track your improvement over time with just a tap of the screen.

Concerned about comfort? We’ve got you covered. WiseWear clothing is made with high-tech synthetic compression fabrics to promote circulation and wick away sweat while you work out.

Top-level pro athletes, like ultra-marathoner Uri Schmidt, rely on WiseWear for training and competition. Shouldn’t you do the same?

Where would the author best place this passage to serve its purpose?

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

Our survey revealed a broad pattern of unconscious bias against minority students on majority-white college campuses. First, a startlingly high proportion of minority respondents, 83%, reported that they often or sometimes felt marginalized or overlooked by members of their broader campus communities.

In a follow-up telephone interview, Aida Green, an African American sophomore at Standmore University in Iowa, said that students in campus common areas often asked her questions like, “Where are you visiting from?” Although these encounters typically take a friendly tone, Green said the underlying message is clear: her community fails to recognize her as a member. When asked why this matters, Green sounded frustrated. “I see people’s eyes pass over me when they’re forming study groups. White kids get asked; I have to put myself forward.” She sighed. “And that’s if I know an opportunity exists. I’m always wondering what I could be doing to get ahead that I’m not doing because nobody thought to tell me I can.”

Similar patterns existed in other minority students’ survey comments and interviews. The most common type of statement was a sentiment of fatigue; students feel exhausted by the effort to insert themselves into groups that unconsciously exclude them. And many students echoed Green’s worry that they may be missing out on opportunities. Clarity Ferrer, a black Puerto Rican senior at Northeastern College of Vermont, was certain she had been overlooked: “My own sorority sisters started holding informal lunches with alumni to talk about jobs and internships, and they didn’t invite me the whole first quarter. All the other seniors got told about it. But me? They forgot.”

The passage may be best described as:

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

As a parent, I find television and movie rating systems unhelpful. Ratings systems are not human. Their scores are based on numbers: how many bad words, how many gory scenes. To me, that makes no sense. Nobody else knows my kids like I do, so nobody else can say what’s okay for them to watch.

In my experience, the content a government organization rates as PG or PG-13 may or may not be appropriate for my 9-, 14-, and 16-year-olds. My youngest is quite mature for his age, and I’m fine with him hearing a bad word or two as a part of a meaningful story.

Violence concerns me more. I won’t let even my 16-year-old watch frivolous violence or horror. But I don’t shelter him from realistic violence. My little guy still has to stay out of the room for the bloody stuff. But eventually, kids need to know what’s out there.

Based on the context of the passage, what is the author’s suggestive solution to the problem?

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

Until about 1850, few people living in temperate climates had ever had the opportunity to taste a banana. Only after the invention of the steamship could importers and exporters reliably transport this fruit to North America and Europe. Railways and refrigeration were two other vital components in the development of the banana trade. Today, bananas are a major export in several Central and South American countries as well as the Philippines. Around the world, people in climates that cannot support banana production now have access to plentiful inexpensive bananas.

Where would a reader likely have found this passage?

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

What happens when you walk barefoot from the swimming pool onto a section of sun-baked pavement? Ouch! The soles of your feet burn, and you might start to hop up and down and then quickly scamper away to a cooler, shaded spot of ground. What happened?

Thank specialized cells . . . . Networks of connected cells called neurons make up your body’s electrical, or nervous, system. This system works to communicate messages, such as, “”Quick, move off the hot pavement!”” Cells of the nervous system (specifically neurons) possess special features and a unique shape, both of which suit them for their job in communication. Or, as scientists like to put it, structure determines function.

Neurons have long, spindly extensions called axons that carry electrical and chemical messages. These messages convey information to your brain—””The ground is burning hot!””—and responses back from the brain—””Pick up your foot!””

To transmit these messages, charged particles (primarily sodium ions), jet across a nerve cell membrane, creating an electrical impulse that speeds down the axon. When the electrical impulse reaches the end of the axon, it triggers the neuron to release a chemical messenger (called a neurotransmitter) that passes the signal to a neighboring nerve cell. This continues until the message reaches its destination, usually in the brain, spinal cord, or muscle.

Most neurons can convey messages very fast because they are electrically insulated with a fatty covering called myelin. Myelin is formed by Schwann cells—one of the many types of glial cells that supply support and nutrition to nerve cells.

Nerves coated with myelin transmit messages at a speed of about 250 miles per hour, plenty of time for the message to get to your brain to warn you to lift your foot before it burns.

One reason young children are at a higher risk for burning themselves is because the neurons in children’s bodies do not become fully coated with myelin until they are about 10 years old. That means it takes dangerously long for a message like, “”The stove is hot!”” to reach a young children’s brains to tell them to pull their hands away.

Myelin formation (and consequently the conduction of nervous system messages) can be disrupted by certain diseases, such as multiple sclerosis. Symptoms such as numbness, double vision, and muscle paralysis all result from faulty nerve conduction that ultimately impairs muscle cell function.

The text is from the U.S. National Institute of General Medical Sciences.

Where might a reader alternatively find this text?

Study the graphic element and consider the summary below to answer the following question.

A high school student is presenting research on how gender affects participation in her political science class.

Summary: Following a month-long study of the participation levels in Political Science Class 201, the results indicate that males make up the majority of the time spent speaking. Throughout the course of the month, twelve in class lectures of one-hour sessions took place. Approximately half of the class was spent for the professor to lecture. The professor is male, but the total time and subsequent questions taken during his lecture were subtracted out to calculate the data. Only the time dedicated to post lecture discussion was evaluated for the creation of the graphs and conclusion.
As a result of the research, it would be recommended to host formal debate styled conversations. Although, it may be necessary to create some, if not very specific, limitations to prevent a filibuster effect. This would allow for each debate party, whoever it may consist of, to share their opinions and pose questions to the professor and class.

Reread the following sentence from the summary:

“The professor is male, but the total time and subsequent questions taken during his lecture were subtracted out to calculate the data.”

The student is creating a scientific report that must clearly define the problem, data, and solution. How would the student best describe the problem?

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

When Dr. Kingston Hussein saw an announcement for a conference titled Ethics of Human Embryonic Research, he booked his tickets six months in advance.

“We need to stop and reflect on the ramifications of every new development in our research,” said Dr. Hussein, the lead researcher in embryology at the Dampson Crockett Institute in Lewiston, Maine. “Every researcher in our field feels the weight of responsibility here. It’s what we talk about when we go out for drinks after work.”

Attitudes like Dr. Hussein’s stand in stark contrast to common public perceptions of embryonic research. “These guys think they’re gods,” said Liz Goode, chairwoman of The Center for Ethical and Dignified Humanity, an organization that opposes all research on human embryos. “They want to get rich selling designer babies to billionaires. It’s a nightmare.”

An outside observer might expect a researcher like Dr. Hussein to avoid all contact with an activist like Goode. On the contrary, Dr. Hussein wrote to the organizers of the conference and requested that they invite Goode to host a panel. “We need dialogue,” he said. “We need to hear what makes the public uncomfortable.” He chuckled. “We also need to inform them about what we’re actually doing.”

And what are embryonic researchers doing? “Not building designer babies,” he said. Dr. Hussein uses words like “run-of-the-mill medical” to describe his research goals. For instance, he is seeking causes and treatments for a variety of neurological disorders.

The overall structure of this passage is best described as:

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

Adelia stood on the porch in her bathrobe. “Mr. Snuggles?” she called. “Mr. Snuggles! Come on in, you little vermin.”

She peered up and down the street. Sighing, she went back inside and, a moment later, emerged with a metal bowl and a spoon. She rapped on the bowl several times. “Mr. Snuggles? Breakfast!”

When Mr. Snuggles did not appear, Adelia reached inside and grabbed some keys off a low table. Cinching her bathrobe tightly around her waist, she climbed into the car. “It’s not like I have anything better to do than look for you again,” she said.

How would this passage best be described and why?

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

A growing focus on STEM—science, technology, engineering, and math—has brought funding and excitement for these subjects into schools. Meanwhile, the push for standardized testing is requiring teachers to devote a large proportion of class time to reading and math test preparation. One consequence of these dual trends is that schools are skimping on social studies instruction.

Mindful world citizens need, at a minimum, a general awareness of foreign cultures, a passing familiarity with geography, and a basic understanding of history. If you’re not sure your child’s school is instilling these basic foundations of knowledge, you need to support your kids’ learning yourself. Daunting as this may sound, it doesn’t need to take an inordinate amount of time and effort.

A good first step is to keep a globe or world map in a prominent location in your home. Whenever possible, refer to this resource in conversation. For instance, if your child is interested in a particular animal, point out where in the world it lives. If older children ask questions about the news, show them where current events are happening. If your budget allows it, keep a good children’s atlas handy too. This will allow your conversations to go into greater depth if your children show interest.

Children have ever-greater access to high-quality fiction about people and cultures around the world. If you’re reading together about a foreign place or time—or if you see your older child picking up a historical or multicultural book—take a moment to find a children’s nonfiction book on the same subject. If you don’t have time to do this research during a family library trip, most libraries allow patrons to browse and order books online.

If this article is analyzed as a problem/solution text, what solution is the author suggesting?

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

It is perhaps unsurprising that fad diets are so common given the level of obesity in American society. But over the long term, most fad diets are harmful both to the health and to the waistline. Many such diets advocate cutting out one major nutrient, such as fats or carbohydrates. Others suggest fasting over long periods or eating from fixed menu options that may not meet the body’s needs. Most of these diets are highly impractical, and many lead directly or indirectly to binge eating and other unhealthy behaviors.

The author decides to incorporate information about three different adults: two who tried a fad diet and one who followed a diet plan from a dietician.

How might the author use this to shift the text structure to best support the argument?

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

Manny looked out the window.
“Not yet,” he mumbled to himself.
He walked into the kitchen to try to distract himself. He was about to open the cookie jar when he heard a car motor.
“Now?” he ran to the window.
“Ugh,” he sighed, “it is just Mr. Mendez.”
Suddenly he saw it. The small, white truck he was searching for.
He burst through the door and breathlessly greeted Stanley.
Stanley smiled as he handed a stack of envelopes to Manny.
“Is this what you’re looking for, son?” Stanley said with a smile.
Manny looked at the return address. Michigan State University.
“Yes! Thank you!” Manny cried as he bolted into his house.
“Good luck, Manny!” Stanley yelled after him.

Which is the best description of the problem of the text?

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

Manny looked out the window.
“Not yet,” he mumbled to himself.
He walked into the kitchen to try to distract himself. He was about to open the cookie jar when he heard a car motor.
“Now?” he ran to the window.
“Ugh,” he sighed, “it is just Mr. Mendez.”
Suddenly he saw it. The small, white truck he was searching for.
He burst through the door and breathlessly greeted Stanley.
Stanley smiled as he handed a stack of envelopes to Manny.
“Is this what you’re looking for, son?” Stanley said with a smile.
Manny looked at the return address. Michigan State University.
“Yes! Thank you!” Manny cried as he bolted into his house.
“Good luck, Manny!” Stanley yelled after him.

This text is best described as:

Which of the following is an example of a compound sentence?

Which of the following uses a conjunction to combine the sentences below so that the focus is on puppies requiring a lot of work?

Puppies are fun-loving animals. They do require a lot of work.

Which of the following options would give this sentence a parallel structure?

Traveling gives people memorable experiences, exposes them to different cultures, and _________________.

Which of the following is an example of a compound sentence?

Which of the following is an example of a simple sentence?

Which of the following options would complete the sentence below to make it a compound sentence?

Good doctors are _____________________.

Which of the following options would complete the sentence below to make it a simple sentence?

You can see the wonders of our country ________________________

Which of the following options would complete the sentence below to make it a compound sentence?

The class of middle school students _______________________

Which of the following uses a conjunction to combine the sentences below so that the focus is on Tony preparing for his job interview?

Tony prepared well for his job interview. Tony ended up getting an offer.

Which of the following is an example of a complex sentence?

Which of the following options correctly fixes the fragment?

During the movie.

Which of the following options would complete the sentence to make it a simple sentence?

The house at the top of the hill _______________________.

Which of the following uses a conjunction to combine the sentences below so that the focus is on the people relocating to save money?

The cost of living is going up in some regions. Many people are relocating to save money.

Which of the following options would give this sentence a parallel structure?

The room was cleaned, painted and ____________________.

Which of the following options would complete the above sentence to make it a complex sentence?

I enjoy watching the snow fall ________________________.

Which of the following is an example of a simple sentence?

Which of the following is an example of a complex sentence?

Which of the following options correctly fixes the run-on sentence below?

Texting while driving is reckless it could cost you your life.

Which of the following options correctly fixes the run-on sentence below?

Being able to drive cross-country is an incredible opportunity there is so much to experience.

Which of the following is an example of a complex sentence?

Which sentence combines all of the information below using a parallel structure?

Dental care requires brushing. You should also floss. Rinse with a fluoride wash.

Which of the following options would give this sentence a parallel structure?

Timothy has a lot of goals in life like: getting his Masters in Education, volunteering his time to help others, and ________________.

Which of the following options would complete the sentence to make it a simple sentence?

Eating salmon once a week _____________________.

Which of the following is an example of a simple sentence?

Which of the following options correctly fixes the fragment below?

After going to the movies.

Which of the following is an example of a compound sentence?

Which of the following is a secondary source?

What type of source is an online video of a conference presentation by a scientist reporting on the results of her research?

Which source would provide the most credible information to a researcher interested in studying changes in farming technology since the beginning of the millennium?

Which of the following could not be a primary source?

A student finds an online video of a conference presentation related to her scientific research topic and wants to decide if it is credible. Which detail about the video, if true, would not give her more reason to trust the video?

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

You know what I hate? Businesses that rely on contract workers and freelancers instead of regular employees.

Don’t hit me with arguments about grater freedom for workers. Freedom isn’t free if your bleeding out in the street.

Sound the alarm, people! Workers are suffering! No benefits means you’re out of luck if you get sick and can’t do your job. Plus, studies show freelancers don’t make as much money as regular employees.

–From Rod’s Job Blog at rodtalksaboutjobs.com

Which of the following is not a sign that the reader should be skeptical of this source?

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

You know what I hate? Businesses that rely on contract workers and freelancers instead of regular employees.

Don’t hit me with arguments about grater freedom for workers. Freedom isn’t free if your bleeding out in the street.

Sound the alarm, people! Workers are suffering! No benefits means you’re out of luck if you get sick and can’t do your job. Plus, studies show freelancers don’t make as much money as regular employees.

–From Rod’s Job Blog at rodtalksaboutjobs.com

Why should a reader be skeptical of the point about freelancers not making as much money as regular employees?

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

Adelia stood on the porch in her bathrobe. “Mr. Snuggles?” she called. “Mr. Snuggles! Come on in, you little vermin.”

She peered up and down the street. Sighing, she went back inside and, a moment later, emerged with a metal bowl and a spoon. She rapped on the bowl several times. “Mr. Snuggles? Breakfast!”

When Mr. Snuggles did not appear, Adelia reached inside and grabbed some keys off a low table. Cinching her bathrobe tightly around her waist, she climbed into the car. “It’s not like I have anything better to do than look for you again,” she said.

Which sentence of dialogue, if added to the passage, would support the conclusion that Mr. Snuggles actually belongs to someone else?

Which of the following is an example of a primary source?

_____________ provide information that is simplified or highly summarized.

Which of the following is not a primary source on Betty Friedan?

Which source would provide the least credible information to a researcher interested in studying changes in parenting techniques over the past forty years?

An art major finds a video presentation of a group of people commenting on the works of a famous artist she has been studying. She is deciding if it is a credible source. Which detail about the video, if true, would not give her reason to trust the video?

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

Adelia stood on the porch in her bathrobe. “Mr. Snuggles?” she called. “Mr. Snuggles! Come on in, you little vermin.”

She peered up and down the street. Sighing, she went back inside and, a moment later, emerged with a metal bowl and a spoon. She rapped on the bowl several times. “Mr. Snuggles? Breakfast!”

When Mr. Snuggles did not appear, Adelia reached inside and grabbed some keys off a low table. Cinching her bathrobe tightly around her waist, she climbed into the car. “It’s not like I have anything better to do than look for you again,” she said.

Which detail provides evidence that Adelia is an adult?

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

Adelia stood on the porch in her bathrobe. “Mr. Snuggles?” she called. “Mr. Snuggles! Come on in, you little vermin.”

She peered up and down the street. Sighing, she went back inside and, a moment later, emerged with a metal bowl and a spoon. She rapped on the bowl several times. “Mr. Snuggles? Breakfast!”

When Mr. Snuggles did not appear, Adelia reached inside and grabbed some keys off a low table. Cinching her bathrobe tightly around her waist, she climbed into the car. “It’s not like I have anything better to do than look for you again,” she said.

Which clue from the text serves as evidence that Mr. Snuggles has done this before?

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

Dear Mr. O’Hara,

I am writing to let you know how much of a positive impact you have made on our daughter. Before being in your algebra class, Violet was math phobic. She would shut down when new concepts would not come to her easily. As a result, she did not pass many tests. Despite this past struggle, she has blossomed in your class! Your patience and dedication have made all the difference in the world. Above all, your one-on-one sessions with her have truly helped her in ways you cannot imagine. She is a more confident and capable math student, thanks to you. We cannot thank you enough.

Fondly,
Bridgette Foster

The letter contains a description of “our daughter” but it is only signed by one person. Who else does “our” refer to?

An author’s point of view is a(n):

The author’s __________ is the reason for writing.

Which phrase describes the set of techniques an author uses to support an argument or develop a main idea?

Read the text below and answer the following question.

WiseWear gear provides you with cutting-edge technology to enhance your performance and optimize your training. WiseWear products include sensors to track your heart rate, activity level, and calorie burn during workouts. Information is automatically uploaded to your phone and organized so you can track your improvement over time with just a tap of the screen.

Concerned about comfort? We’ve got you covered. WiseWear clothing is made with high-tech synthetic compression fabrics to promote circulation and wick away sweat while you work out.

Top-level pro athletes, like ultra-marathoner Uri Schmidt, rely on WiseWear for training and competition. Shouldn’t you do the same?

The purpose of this passage is to:

Read the text below and answer the following question.

WiseWear gear provides you with cutting-edge technology to enhance your performance and optimize your training. WiseWear products include sensors to track your heart rate, activity level, and calorie burn during workouts. Information is automatically uploaded to your phone and organized so you can track your improvement over time with just a tap of the screen.

Concerned about comfort? We’ve got you covered. WiseWear clothing is made with high-tech synthetic compression fabrics to promote circulation and wick away sweat while you work out.

Top-level pro athletes, like ultra-marathoner Uri Schmidt, rely on WiseWear for training and competition. Shouldn’t you do the same?

With which statement would the author of this passage most likely agree?

Read the text below and answer the following question.

WiseWear gear provides you with cutting-edge technology to enhance your performance and optimize your training. WiseWear products include sensors to track your heart rate, activity level, and calorie burn during workouts. Information is automatically uploaded to your phone and organized so you can track your improvement over time with just a tap of the screen.

Concerned about comfort? We’ve got you covered. WiseWear clothing is made with high-tech synthetic compression fabrics to promote circulation and wick away sweat while you work out.

Top-level pro athletes, like ultra-marathoner Uri Schmidt, rely on WiseWear for training and competition. Shouldn’t you do the same?

Which detail from the passage, if true, is factual?

Read the text below and answer the following question.

WiseWear gear provides you with cutting-edge technology to enhance your performance and optimize your training. WiseWear products include sensors to track your heart rate, activity level, and calorie burn during workouts. Information is automatically uploaded to your phone and organized so you can track your improvement over time with just a tap of the screen.

Concerned about comfort? We’ve got you covered. WiseWear clothing is made with high-tech synthetic compression fabrics to promote circulation and wick away sweat while you work out.

Top-level pro athletes, like ultra-marathoner Uri Schmidt, rely on WiseWear for training and competition. Shouldn’t you do the same?

The author of the passage includes details about WiseWear’s comfort and ease of use in order to appeal to the readers:

Read the text below and answer the following question.

WiseWear gear provides you with cutting-edge technology to enhance your performance and optimize your training. WiseWear products include sensors to track your heart rate, activity level, and calorie burn during workouts. Information is automatically uploaded to your phone and organized so you can track your improvement over time with just a tap of the screen.

Concerned about comfort? We’ve got you covered. WiseWear clothing is made with high-tech synthetic compression fabrics to promote circulation and wick away sweat while you work out.

Top-level pro athletes, like ultra-marathoner Uri Schmidt, rely on WiseWear for training and competition. Shouldn’t you do the same?

The author most likely includes the detail about a famous ultra-marathoner in order to make readers:

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

Our survey revealed a broad pattern of unconscious bias against minority students on majority-white college campuses. First, a startlingly high proportion of minority respondents, 83%, reported that they often or sometimes felt marginalized or overlooked by members of their broader campus communities.

In a follow-up telephone interview, Aida Green, an African American sophomore at Standmore University in Iowa, said that students in campus common areas often asked her questions like, “Where are you visiting from?” Although these encounters typically take a friendly tone, Green said the underlying message is clear: her community fails to recognize her as a member. When asked why this matters, Green sounded frustrated. “I see people’s eyes pass over me when they’re forming study groups. White kids get asked; I have to put myself forward.” She sighed. “And that’s if I know an opportunity exists. I’m always wondering what I could be doing to get ahead that I’m not doing because nobody thought to tell me I can.”

Similar patterns existed in other minority students’ survey comments and interviews. The most common type of statement was a sentiment of fatigue; students feel exhausted by the effort to insert themselves into groups that unconsciously exclude them. And many students echoed Green’s worry that they may be missing out on opportunities. Clarity Ferrer, a Black Puerto Rican senior at Northeastern College of Vermont, was certain she had been overlooked: “My own sorority sisters started holding informal lunches with alumni to talk about jobs and internships, and they didn’t invite me the whole first quarter. All the other seniors got told about it. But me? They forgot.”

What is the primary purpose of the passage?

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

Our survey revealed a broad pattern of unconscious bias against minority students on majority-white college campuses. First, a startlingly high proportion of minority respondents, 83%, reported that they often or sometimes felt marginalized or overlooked by members of their broader campus communities.

In a follow-up telephone interview, Aida Green, an African American sophomore at Standmore University in Iowa, said that students in campus common areas often asked her questions like, “Where are you visiting from?” Although these encounters typically take a friendly tone, Green said the underlying message is clear: her community fails to recognize her as a member. When asked why this matters, Green sounded frustrated. “I see people’s eyes pass over me when they’re forming study groups. White kids get asked; I have to put myself forward.” She sighed. “And that’s if I know an opportunity exists. I’m always wondering what I could be doing to get ahead that I’m not doing because nobody thought to tell me I can.”

Similar patterns existed in other minority students’ survey comments and interviews. The most common type of statement was a sentiment of fatigue; students feel exhausted by the effort to insert themselves into groups that unconsciously exclude them. And many students echoed Green’s worry that they may be missing out on opportunities. Clarity Ferrer, a black Puerto Rican senior at Northeastern College of Vermont, was certain she had been overlooked: “My own sorority sisters started holding informal lunches with alumni to talk about jobs and internships, and they didn’t invite me the whole first quarter. All the other seniors got told about it. But me? They forgot.”

With which statement would the authors of the passage most likely agree?

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

Our survey revealed a broad pattern of unconscious bias against minority students on majority-white college campuses. First, a startlingly high proportion of minority respondents, 83%, reported that they often or sometimes felt marginalized or overlooked by members of their broader campus communities.

In a follow-up telephone interview, Aida Green, an African American sophomore at Standmore University in Iowa, said that students in campus common areas often asked her questions like, “Where are you visiting from?” Although these encounters typically take a friendly tone, Green said the underlying message is clear: her community fails to recognize her as a member. When asked why this matters, Green sounded frustrated. “I see people’s eyes pass over me when they’re forming study groups. White kids get asked; I have to put myself forward.” She sighed. “And that’s if I know an opportunity exists. I’m always wondering what I could be doing to get ahead that I’m not doing because nobody thought to tell me I can.”

Similar patterns existed in other minority students’ survey comments and interviews. The most common type of statement was a sentiment of fatigue; students feel exhausted by the effort to insert themselves into groups that unconsciously exclude them. And many students echoed Green’s worry that they may be missing out on opportunities. Clarity Ferrer, a black Puerto Rican senior at Northeastern College of Vermont, was certain she had been overlooked: “My own sorority sisters started holding informal lunches with alumni to talk about jobs and internships, and they didn’t invite me the whole first quarter. All the other seniors got told about it. But me? They forgot.”

Which sentence expresses an argument supported by the evidence in the passage?

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

Our survey revealed a broad pattern of unconscious bias against minority students on majority-white college campuses. First, a startlingly high proportion of minority respondents, 83%, reported that they often or sometimes felt marginalized or overlooked by members of their broader campus communities.

In a follow-up telephone interview, Aida Green, an African American sophomore at Standmore University in Iowa, said that students in campus common areas often asked her questions like, “Where are you visiting from?” Although these encounters typically take a friendly tone, Green said the underlying message is clear: her community fails to recognize her as a member. When asked why this matters, Green sounded frustrated. “I see people’s eyes pass over me when they’re forming study groups. White kids get asked; I have to put myself forward.” She sighed. “And that’s if I know an opportunity exists. I’m always wondering what I could be doing to get ahead that I’m not doing because nobody thought to tell me I can.”

Similar patterns existed in other minority students’ survey comments and interviews. The most common type of statement was a sentiment of fatigue; students feel exhausted by the effort to insert themselves into groups that unconsciously exclude them. And many students echoed Green’s worry that they may be missing out on opportunities. Clarity Ferrer, a black Puerto Rican senior at Northeastern College of Vermont, was certain she had been overlooked: “My own sorority sisters started holding informal lunches with alumni to talk about jobs and internships, and they didn’t invite me the whole first quarter. All the other seniors got told about it. But me? They forgot.”

The authors most likely included Aida Green’s comments in order to:

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

Our survey revealed a broad pattern of unconscious bias against minority students on majority-white college campuses. First, a startlingly high proportion of minority respondents, 83%, reported that they often or sometimes felt marginalized or overlooked by members of their broader campus communities.

In a follow-up telephone interview, Aida Green, an African American sophomore at Standmore University in Iowa, said that students in campus common areas often asked her questions like, “Where are you visiting from?” Although these encounters typically take a friendly tone, Green said the underlying message is clear: her community fails to recognize her as a member. When asked why this matters, Green sounded frustrated. “I see people’s eyes pass over me when they’re forming study groups. White kids get asked; I have to put myself forward.” She sighed. “And that’s if I know an opportunity exists. I’m always wondering what I could be doing to get ahead that I’m not doing because nobody thought to tell me I can.”

Similar patterns existed in other minority students’ survey comments and interviews. The most common type of statement was a sentiment of fatigue; students feel exhausted by the effort to insert themselves into groups that unconsciously exclude them. And many students echoed Green’s worry that they may be missing out on opportunities. Clarity Ferrer, a black Puerto Rican senior at Northeastern College of Vermont, was certain she had been overlooked: “My own sorority sisters started holding informal lunches with alumni to talk about jobs and internships, and they didn’t invite me the whole first quarter. All the other seniors got told about it. But me? They forgot.”

The authors most likely include the statistic about the percentage of minority students who feel marginalized in order to:

Read the passages below and answer the following question.

Many people find termites to be destructive little pests, but they are actually ingenious little creatures. If you were to look at a termite mound, you would see first hand how incredible these insects are.
These masters of construction work together to erect high-functioning, green-energy skyscrapers out of nothing but soil, saliva, and dung. The largest one documented is in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This mound, measuring 12.8 meters (41.9 feet) tall, has heat regulation and air conditioning systems. It also contains numerous chambers for food storage, gardens, and babies.
And just think: a termite is only .6 cm long, yet it is still capable of building a sophisticated structure that’s 2,013 times its size!

*

As we hiked along the dusty trail deep within the Congo, our tour guide suddenly stopped and held up his hand.
Panic rose inside me, as I expected to see a ghastly hyena or other vicious predator in our midst. But he slowly pointed toward a large mound off the side of the path.
What on earth?
It rose high above us, a tall, sandy structure, its arms outstretched to the sky.
“This,” he began in a whisper so as not to disturb its inhabitants, “is a termite mound. Inside are thousands of termites. These tiny little insects have worked together to build this massive structure. And not only is it ventilated to keep them cool, but there are tons of little rooms or chambers inside for different purposes.”
WHOA. A termite mound? How on earth did those pesky little bugs do that?

What is the purpose of the first paragraph of Passage 1?

Read the passages below and answer the following question.

Many people find termites to be destructive little pests, but they are actually ingenious little creatures. If you were to look at a termite mound, you would see first hand how incredible these insects are.
These masters of construction work together to erect high-functioning, green-energy skyscrapers out of nothing but soil, saliva, and dung. The largest one documented is in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This mound, measuring 12.8 meters (41.9 feet) tall, has heat regulation and air conditioning systems. It also contains numerous chambers for food storage, gardens, and babies.
And just think: a termite is only .6 cm long, yet it is still capable of building a sophisticated structure that’s 2,013 times its size!

*

As we hiked along the dusty trail deep within the Congo, our tour guide suddenly stopped and held up his hand.
Panic rose inside me, as I expected to see a ghastly hyena or other vicious predator in our midst. But he slowly pointed toward a large mound off the side of the path.
What on earth?
It rose high above us, a tall, sandy structure, its arms outstretched to the sky.
“This,” he began in a whisper so as not to disturb its inhabitants, “is a termite mound. Inside are thousands of termites. These tiny little insects have worked together to build this massive structure. And not only is it ventilated to keep them cool, but there are tons of little rooms or chambers inside for different purposes.”
WHOA. A termite mound? How on earth did those pesky little bugs do that?

With which statement would the author of Passage 1 most likely agree with?

Read the passages below and answer the following question.

Many people find termites to be destructive little pests, but they are actually ingenious little creatures. If you were to look at a termite mound, you would see first hand how incredible these insects are.
These masters of construction work together to erect high-functioning, green-energy skyscrapers out of nothing but soil, saliva, and dung. The largest one documented is in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This mound, measuring 12.8 meters (41.9 feet) tall, has heat regulation and air conditioning systems. It also contains numerous chambers for food storage, gardens, and babies.
And just think: a termite is only .6 cm long, yet it is still capable of building a sophisticated structure that’s 2,013 times its size!

*

As we hiked along the dusty trail deep within the Congo, our tour guide suddenly stopped and held up his hand.
Panic rose inside me, as I expected to see a ghastly hyena or other vicious predator in our midst. But he slowly pointed toward a large mound off the side of the path.
What on earth?
It rose high above us, a tall, sandy structure, its arms outstretched to the sky.
“This,” he began in a whisper so as not to disturb its inhabitants, “is a termite mound. Inside are thousands of termites. These tiny little insects have worked together to build this massive structure. And not only is it ventilated to keep them cool, but there are tons of little rooms or chambers inside for different purposes.”
WHOA. A termite mound? How on earth did those pesky little bugs do that?

The author of Passage 1 supports his/her points primarily by:

Read the passages below and answer the following question.

Many people find termites to be destructive little pests, but they are actually ingenious little creatures. If you were to look at a termite mound, you would see first hand how incredible these insects are.
These masters of construction work together to erect high-functioning, green-energy skyscrapers out of nothing but soil, saliva, and dung. The largest one documented is in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This mound, measuring 12.8 meters (41.9 feet) tall, has heat regulation and air conditioning systems. It also contains numerous chambers for food storage, gardens, and babies.
And just think: a termite is only .6 cm long, yet it is still capable of building a sophisticated structure that’s 2,013 times its size!

*

As we hiked along the dusty trail deep within the Congo, our tour guide suddenly stopped and held up his hand.
Panic rose inside me, as I expected to see a ghastly hyena or other vicious predator in our midst. But he slowly pointed toward a large mound off the side of the path.
What on earth?
It rose high above us, a tall, sandy structure, its arms outstretched to the sky.
“This,” he began in a whisper so as not to disturb its inhabitants, “is a termite mound. Inside are thousands of termites. These tiny little insects have worked together to build this massive structure. And not only is it ventilated to keep them cool, but there are tons of little rooms or chambers inside for different purposes.”
WHOA. A termite mound? How on earth did those pesky little bugs do that?

What is the primary purpose of Passage 2?

The author’s __________ is his or her general outlook or set of opinions about the subject.

What is the most likely purpose of an article explaining why Eastern medicine is better than Western medicine?

What is the most likely purpose of a cookbook full of Mediterranean recipes?

What is the most likely purpose of a realistic fiction book about one family’s experience living in a foreign country?

Read the text below and answer the following question.

As Time Goes On  is a painfully realistic depiction of what life is like for some senior citizens in the twilight of their lives. Tabitha Reynolds artfully captures the harsh reality people face when they grow old. From one’s physical limitations to the emotional toll of letting go of one’s former self, Reynolds pays homage to this fragile yet meaningful time in a person’s life.

The book chronicles the final years of Audrey Lacoste’s life. A former prima ballerina, Audrey is now a prisoner to her rheumatoid arthritis. The disease has limited Audrey’s body in ways she could never have imagined. Her physical ailment coupled with the loss of her beloved husband causes her two self-involved children to move her into Sunshine Cove, an assisted living facility. The facility is anything but sunny, but slowly the light in Audrey’s life begins to flicker once again when she makes an unexpected friend.

A New York Times  best seller for seven consecutive weeks, As Time Goes On  is a must read. The words will make you laugh, cry, gasp and sigh as you travel along the rocky road to the end of Audrey’s life.

The purpose of this passage is to:

Read the text below and answer the following question.

As Time Goes On  is a painfully realistic depiction of what life is like for some senior citizens in the twilight of their lives. Tabitha Reynolds artfully captures the harsh reality people face when they grow old. From one’s physical limitations to the emotional toll of letting go of one’s former self, Reynolds pays homage to this fragile yet meaningful time in a person’s life.

The book chronicles the final years of Audrey Lacoste’s life. A former prima ballerina, Audrey is now a prisoner to her rheumatoid arthritis. The disease has limited Audrey’s body in ways she could never have imagined. Her physical ailment coupled with the loss of her beloved husband causes her two self-involved children to move her into Sunshine Cove, an assisted living facility. The facility is anything but sunny, but slowly the light in Audrey’s life begins to flicker once again when she makes an unexpected friend.

A New York Times  best seller for seven consecutive weeks, As Time Goes On  is a must read. The words will make you laugh, cry, gasp and sigh as you travel along the rocky road to the end of Audrey’s life.

Which detail from the passage is factual?

Read the text below and answer the following question.

As Time Goes On  is a painfully realistic depiction of what life is like for some senior citizens in the twilight of their lives. Tabitha Reynolds artfully captures the harsh reality people face when they grow old. From one’s physical limitations to the emotional toll of letting go of one’s former self, Reynolds pays homage to this fragile yet meaningful time in a person’s life.

The book chronicles the final years of Audrey Lacoste’s life. A former prima ballerina, Audrey is now a prisoner to her rheumatoid arthritis. The disease has limited Audrey’s body in ways she could never have imagined. Her physical ailment coupled with the loss of her beloved husband causes her two self-involved children to move her into Sunshine Cove, an assisted living facility. The facility is anything but sunny, but slowly the light in Audrey’s life begins to flicker once again when she makes an unexpected friend.

A New York Times  best seller for seven consecutive weeks, As Time Goes On  is a must read. The words will make you laugh, cry, gasp and sigh as you travel along the rocky road to the end of Audrey’s life.

The author of the passage includes details about Audrey Lacoste’s life in order to appeal to the reader’s:

Read the text below and answer the following question.

WiseWear gear provides you with cutting-edge technology to enhance your performance and optimize your training. WiseWear products include sensors to track your heart rate, activity level, and calorie burn during workouts. Information is automatically uploaded to your phone and organized so you can track your improvement over time with just a tap of the screen.

Concerned about comfort? We’ve got you covered. WiseWear clothing is made with high-tech synthetic compression fabrics to promote circulation and wick away sweat while you work out.

Top-level pro athletes, like ultra-marathoner Uri Schmidt, rely on WiseWear for training and competition. Shouldn’t you do the same?

Reread the following message from the passage:

“Concerned about comfort? We’ve got you covered.”

Who is the “We” referring to?

Read the passage below and answer the following question.

What happens when you walk barefoot from the swimming pool onto a section of sun-baked pavement? Ouch! The soles of your feet burn, and you might start to hop up and down and then quickly scamper away to a cooler, shaded spot of ground. What happened?

Thank specialized cells . . . . Networks of connected cells called neurons make up your body’s electrical, or nervous, system. This system works to communicate messages, such as, “”Quick, move off the hot pavement!”” Cells of the nervous system (specifically neurons) possess special features and a unique shape, both of which suit them for their job in communication. Or, as scientists like to put it, structure determines function.

Neurons have long, spindly extensions called axons that carry electrical and chemical messages. These messages convey information to your brain—””The ground is burning hot!””—and responses back from the brain—””Pick up your foot!””

To transmit these messages, charged particles (primarily sodium ions), jet across a nerve cell membrane, creating an electrical impulse that speeds down the axon. When the electrical impulse reaches the end of the axon, it triggers the neuron to release a chemical messenger (called a neurotransmitter) that passes the signal to a neighboring nerve cell. This continues until the message reaches its destination, usually in the brain, spinal cord, or muscle.

Most neurons can convey messages very fast because they are electrically insulated with a fatty covering called myelin. Myelin is formed by Schwann cells—one of the many types of glial cells that supply support and nutrition to nerve cells.

Nerves coated with myelin transmit messages at a speed of about 250 miles per hour, plenty of time for the message to get to your brain to warn you to lift your foot before it burns.

One reason young children are at a higher risk for burning themselves is because the neurons in children’s bodies do not become fully coated with myelin until they are about 10 years old. That means it takes dangerously long for a message like, “”The stove is hot!”” to reach a young children’s brains to tell them to pull their hands away.

Myelin formation (and consequently the conduction of nervous system messages) can be disrupted by certain diseases, such as multiple sclerosis. Symptoms such as numbness, double vision, and muscle paralysis all result from faulty nerve conduction that ultimately impairs muscle cell function.

The text is from the U.S. National Institute of General Medical Sciences.

Reread the opening of the passage.

“What happens when you walk barefoot from the swimming pool onto a section of sun-baked pavement? Ouch!”

What is the purpose of this opening?

Select the simple past tense verb form to complete the following sentence.

The farmer’s market ___ strawberries for 99 cents a pound yesterday.

Select the helping verb that completes the following sentence.

Millions of people watched the news story on TV as it ___ unfolding.

What tense are the underlined verbs in the following sentence?

We read a book and wrote a paper about it.

Which exclamation contains a verb?

What verb tense are the underlined words in the following sentence?

I am going out.

How many verbs are in the following sentence?

We read about World War I, World War II, and the Korean War in my history class.

Select the sentence that best describes something that is happening at this moment.

Select the helping verb that correctly completes the following sentence.

After I ___ watched The Godfather, I immediately watched its two sequels.

Select the correct verb to complete the following sentence.

I ___ about it for a long time before I decided to major in criminal justice.

Which word cannot be used to complete the following sentence?

___ Stephanie and her brother take classes at the university?

Which sentence does not have a helping verb?

Select the sentence that best describes something that happens regularly.

Which book title contains a verb?

Select the verb that best completes the following sentence.

Katharina didn’t ___ her job as an accountant, so she decided to change careers.

Select the verb form that would be incorrect to complete the following sentence.

J.K. Rowling ___ books under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith.

Select a verb that correctly completes the following sentence.

___ not worry about it.

Why is the following not a correct sentence?

The clown sad.

Which movie title contains a verb?

How many verbs are in the following sentence?

Emile and Olga traveled up the coast from San Diego to San Francisco.

How many verbs are in the following sentence?

They toured the art museum and saw the conservatory.