Introductions/Conclusions
Which topic sentence below would be an appropriate choice for an essay on Henry Wadsworth Longfellow?
A. We know of two reasons why Longfellow's poetry is well known and poignant.
B. One of the best admired American poets is Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
C. Longfellow was one of the first American writers to use native themes.
D. America was new to all things at the beginning of the 19th century, as the country had been recently developed.
B. One of the best admired American poets is Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
The curious thing about southern food is that people everywhere think they know what it is – and they all say the same thing: grits, fried chicken, biscuits. Those were the first foods mentioned when I asked Julia Child, a famous chef, on the subject. Californian Marion Cunningham answered the same but added salty ham. Both declared they love Southern food but were a little vague in elaborating. Child had just completed a segment of her "America’s Master Chefs" cooking show with Leah Chase of Dooky Chase restaurant in New Orleans, which brought to mind sweet potato pie, a venerable Southern staple. As we talked, she recalled a visit to Birmingham, Alabama, years ago and the “great barbecued ribs and greasy Southern greens” she devoured at a local eatery.
Where did Leah Chase go and have great ribs and southern greens?
A. Birmingham
B. New Orleans
C. Los Angeles
D. Atlanta
In order for everyone to be able to concentrate on school and to reduce discipline issues, our school has decided to make students wear uniforms, _________most students don't like the idea.
Choose the most appropriate transition word or phrase for the sentence above.
A. however
B. additionally
C. but
D. because
Libby’s grandmother didn’t have much money, so she couldn’t buy Libby an expensive present for Christmas like her other grandmother could. She didn’t want to buy her some cheap toy that wouldn’t last long, but she just couldn’t afford the things that were on Libby’s wish list. She decided that she would make Libby a quilt. She was afraid her granddaughter wouldn’t like the gift, but it was the best that she could do.
When Christmas day arrived, Grandmother went to Libby’s house. She saw all of the nice gifts that her granddaughter had received. She was worried as Libby began to open her present. Libby squealed with delight when she saw the handmade quilt. She ran and hugged her grandmother and thanked her. She ran and put the new quilt on her bed. The rest of the day she talked about how much she loved the quilt, especially since her grandmother had made it all by hand.
What would be an appropriate heading for the second paragraph?
A. Libby
B. Grandma's Gift
C. Christmas Day
D. Libby's Reaction
The spilled sugar felt unpleasant under my feet.
Replace "unpleasant" with a more precise word.
A. great
B. gritty
C. unlovely
D. unacceptable
Which concluding sentence below would NOT be an appropriate choice for an essay on Henry Wadsworth Longfellow?
A. Van Wyck Brooks called the period between 1815 and 1865 "the flowering of New England," and Longfellow, who was writing during this time, was a big part of it.
B. Longfellow wrote about what he saw in his travels, the Native Americans, as well as new American history and tradition.
C. His poetry is easily understood; those who read them find them to be like a song.
D. Metal smithing was a common American hobby.
D. Metal smithing was a common American hobby.
One of the most beautiful and most visited sights in North America is Niagara Falls. There are three falls that make up the entire Niagara Falls. They are the Horseshoe Falls, the Bridal Veil Falls, and the American Falls. The falls are on the American and Canadian border and are part of the Niagara River. On the American side, where we can see the American Falls, the falls are approximately 100 feet high, but on the Canadian side, the Horseshoe Falls are approximately 170 feet high.
Where is Niagara Falls?
A. on the Niagara River
B. next to Lake Ontario
C. next to Lake Erie
D. in Canada
Our school was so dirty that the principal decided to add additional detention time for students who littered the school grounds. _____________ the campus is now a much cleaner place.
Choose the most appropriate transition word or phrase for the sentence above.
A. consequently
B. however
C. for instance
D. while
Libby’s grandmother didn’t have much money, so she couldn’t buy Libby an expensive present for Christmas like her other grandmother could. She didn’t want to buy her some cheap toy that wouldn’t last long, but she just couldn’t afford the things that were on Libby’s wish list. She decided that she would make Libby a quilt. She was afraid her granddaughter wouldn’t like the gift, but it was the best that she could do.
When Christmas day arrived, Grandmother went to Libby’s house. She saw all of the nice gifts that her granddaughter had received. She was worried as Libby began to open her present. Libby squealed with delight when she saw the handmade quilt. She ran and hugged her grandmother and thanked her. She ran and put the new quilt on her bed. The rest of the day she talked about how much she loved the quilt, especially since her grandmother had made it all by hand.
Which illustration would help you better understand the last paragraph?
A. a picture of grandma making the quilt
B. a picture of Libby's face as she is opening the gift
C. Libby and grandma together
D. the whole family sitting by the Christmas tree
B. a picture of Libby's face as she is opening the gift
The city boy slowly got on the horse.
Replace slowly with a more precise word.
A. quickly
B. gingerly
C. nonchalantly
D. absentmindedly
Choose the sentence that would be a good topic sentence for a story about Aborigine communication.
A. Slowly they stopped listening to that voice so they could pursue their own pleasures, and an eerie silence fell over the land and the ocean.
B. The Aboriginal culture from Australia believed in a myth that their great Ancestor spoke to them every day from a large gum tree in the middle of the village.
C. The air was calm and the tides were still, none of the birds were chirping, and the earth seemed to be sad.
D. The tribe members soon became tired of thinking only of themselves and began to feel uneasy.
B. The Aboriginal culture from Australia believed in a myth that their great Ancestor spoke to them every day from a large gum tree in the middle of the village.
One of the most beautiful and most visited sights in North America is Niagara Falls. There are three falls that make up the entire Niagara Falls. They are the Horseshoe Falls, the Bridal Veil Falls, and the American Falls. The falls are on the American and Canadian border and are part of the Niagara River. On the American side, where we can see the American Falls, the falls are approximately 100 feet high, but on the Canadian side, the Horseshoe Falls are approximately 170 feet high.
How high are the Horseshoe Falls?
A. 167 feet high
B. 150 feet high
C. 170 feet high
D. 60 feet high
My daughter Tessa never gets into trouble at school. My son Beau, _________________, has spent some time in the principal's office.
Choose the most appropriate transition word or phrase for the sentence above.
A. in addition
B. for example
C. on the other hand
D. furthermore
You will need two pieces of bread, peanut butter, jelly, and a butter knife. First, open the jars of peanut butter and jelly. With a butter knife, spread peanut butter on one slice of bread. Spread jelly on the other piece of bread. Then, stack the two pieces of bread together with the peanut butter and jelly inside. Finally, enjoy your snack.
What would be an appropriate title for this passage?
A. Peanut Butter and Jelly
B. Sandwiches
C. How to Make a Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich
D. Healthy Snacks
C. How to Make a Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich
Tigers talk to each other by purring, hissing, growling, and chuffing.
Which phrase is best for replacing "talk to" in the above sentence?
A. say things
B. talk to and say things
C. communicate with
D. tell how they feel
Choose the sentence that would be a good concluding sentence for a story about Aborigine communication.
A. Finally, the voice they were waiting to hear again, that of an Ancestor, spoke to them.
B. They wanted the voice to speak again, so they kept going back to the tree in the village over and over.
C. The Ancestor told them that they wouldn't hear his voice again, and he would give them a sign to let them know it was true.
D. From this moment on, the Aboriginal people have understood that their Ancestor is in everything and communicates with them through nature.
D. From this moment on, the Aboriginal people have understood that their Ancestor is in everything and communicates with them through nature.
What is your favorite season? All of the seasons have many advantages; however, summer is my favorite season. I love going to the beach because I find it very peaceful. I am also able to do outdoor sports. I love the excitement I feel from playing sports outside. At the beach, I love to look out at the Pacific Ocean, constantly looking for dolphins or pelicans. Being part of something larger than myself gives me a sense of admiration and thankfulness. Second, in the summertime, I have the chance to go swimming, paddle boarding, and walking in the tidepools along the shore. The exercise makes me feel great and optimistic.
What does the author say that looking at something larger than him gives him?
A. tranquility
B. a sense of admiration and thankfulness
C. a feeling of optimism
D. exhiliration
Mindy failed her history test. _____________, her mother grounded her for the weekend.
Choose the transition word that shows a cause and effect relationship.
A. On the other hand
B. Consequently
C. As mentioned earlier
D. Further on
Dr. Johnson thinks that everyone should take responsiblility for preserving the toad species. By not mowing certain areas of our lawns and keeping a special area for the toads could possibly help to preserve the species. Dangerous chemicals found in pesticides and fertilizers are reasons why the species is starting to disappear, according to Dr. Johnson. These chemicals have an effect on the food chain and can kill the insects that the toads eat. If we are able to keep a special space in our yards and stop using chemical fertilizers, Dr. Johnson believes that the toads can be saved.
Which illustration might help you understand the paragraph better?
A. a before and after picture of the toad's habitat
B. the chemicals used to fertilize the land
C. a picture of someone mowing their lawn
D. a picture of Dr. Johnson
A. a before and after picture of the toad's habitat
The elderly couple walked slowly across the parking lot.
Choose a more precise word to use instead of walked slowly.
A. sprinted
B. wandered
C. ambled
D. galloped
Choose the correct topic sentence for a paragraph on thunderclouds.
A. The largest thunderclouds can climb at least 10 miles in the air.
B. Thunderclouds are enormous and very powerful.
C. The collision between hot air and cold air loads cloud particles with static electricity.
D. A burst of lightning makes the air so hot that it will expand at great speeds.
B. Thunderclouds are enormous and very powerful.
What is your favorite season? All of the seasons have many advantages; however, summer is my favorite season. I love going to the beach because I find it very peaceful. I am also able to do outdoor sports. I love the excitement I feel from playing sports outside. At the beach, I love to look out at the Pacific Ocean, constantly looking for dolphins or pelicans. Being part of something larger than myself gives me a sense of admiration and thankfulness. Second, in the summertime, I have the chance to go swimming, paddle boarding, and walking in the tidepools along the shore. The exercise makes me feel great and optimistic.
What does summertime provide the author the chance to do?
A. swimming, paddle boarding, and walking in the tidepools along the shore
B. live at the beach
C. swim with the dolphins and pelicans
D. sit all day in the sun
A. swimming, paddle boarding, and walking in the tidepools along the shore
Which statement below contains a transitional phrase?
A. The blue whale is quite an extraordinary creature.
B. The size of its body is amazing.
C. Although they are extremely large animals, they eat small shrimp-like creatures called krill.
D. They can reach speeds up to 31 mph for short periods of time.
C. Although they are extremely large animals, they eat small shrimp-like creatures called krill.
Dr. Johnson thinks that everyone should take a responsiblility for preserving the toad species. By stopping to cut certain areas of our lawns and instead creating wild grown grass to keep a special area for the toad could possibly help to preserve this species. Dangerous chemicals found in pesticides and fertilizers are also reasons why this species is starting to disappear according to Dr. Johnson. These chemicals have an effect on the food chain and can kill the insects that the toads eat. If we are able to keep a special space in our yards and stop using chemical fertilizers, Dr. Johnson believes that the toads can be saved.
What would be an appropriate heading for this paragraph?
A. Chemicals and Pesticides
B. Saving Toads
C. Lawns
D. Reserved Spaces
The bird flew over the top of the trees and back down to the ground.
Choose a more precise word to use instead of flew.
A. soared
B. plummeted
C. rose
D. swooped