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Read the passage from Anne Frank's diary. In it, Anne describes a series of events that took place in July 1943, while she and her family were hiding in the SecretAnnex.
Yesterday was a very tumultuous day, and we're still all wound up. Actually, you may wonder if there's ever a day that passes without some kind of excitement.The first warning siren went off in the morning while we were at breakfast, but we paid no attention, because it only meant that the planes were crossing the coast. I had a terrible headache, so I lay down for an hour after breakfast and then went to the office at around two. At two-thirty Margot had finished her office work and was just gathering her things together when the sirens began wailing again. So she and I trooped back upstairs. None too soon, it seems, for less than five minutes later the guns were booming so loudly that we went and stood in the hall. The house shook and the bombs kept falling. I was clutching my "escape bag," more because I wanted to have something to hold on to than because I wanted to run away. I know we can't leave here, but if we had to, being seen on the streets would be just as dangerous as getting caught in an air raid. After half an hour the drone of engines faded and the house began to hum with activity again. [ . . . ] Those of us on the landing spread out to watch the columns of smoke rising from the harbor. Before long the smell of fire was everywhere, and outside it looked as if the city were enveloped in a thick fog.A big fire like that is not a pleasant sight, but fortunately for us it was all over, and we went back to our various chores. Just as we were starting dinner: another air-raid alarm. The food was good, but I lost my appetite the moment I heard the siren. Nothing happened, however, and forty-five minutes later the all clear was sounded. After the dishes had been washed: another air-raid warning, gunfire and swarms of planes. [ . . . ] The planes dived and climbed, the air was abuzz with the drone of engines. It was very scary, and the whole time I kept thinking, "Here it comes, this is it."I can assure you that when I went to bed at nine, my legs were still shaking. At the stroke of midnight I woke up again: more planes! [ . . . ] I finally fell asleep at half past two.Seven o'clock. I awoke with a start and sat up in bed. Mr. van Daan was with Father. My first thought was: burglars. "Everything," I heard Mr. van Daan say, and I thought everything had been stolen. But no, this time it was wonderful news, the best we've had in months, maybe even since the war began. Mussolini has resigned and the King of Italy has taken over the government.We jumped for joy. After the awful events of yesterday, finally something good happens and brings us . . . hope! Hope for an end to the war, hope for peace.
What is this passage mainly about?
A. It is about a frightening day of air raids that ended with some positive news.
Read the text.
In the United States in 1964 and 1965, twenty thousand babies were born with Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS). Some eleven thousand babies were born deaf, 3,500 with impaired vision, and countless others with other health concerns. These babies' mothers had contracted the rubella virus during their pregnancies. Medical researchers set to work to formulate a vaccine against rubella and prevent a repeat of this calamity. The first rubella vaccine was licensed in 1969. By 2004, with the help of the vaccine, rubella was eliminated in the United States.
Which organizational structure does this text primarily use?
B. proble-solution
Diving In
It was a hot day at the beach, so why did the ocean feel like ice? Carol wanted to cool off, but she had only managed to wade in up to her ankles. Her feet were nearly numb from the cold water."Wow, it's freezing today," said her sister, Pauline. They stood side by side, half-shivering in the water and half-baking in the sun.Carol noticed the windsurfers in the distance. Of course, she thought. They're wearing wetsuits. But then she saw an old man swimming nearby, wearing only his trunks and a swim cap. A few more courageous heads bobbed up and down in the chilly sea."Okay, that's it," Pauline said. "I'm doing it." She took a deep breath, ran into the surf, and dived into a large, breaking wave. She emerged farther out, a big grin on her face.Carol inched forward. As she did, her shins, then her knees, and then her thighs stung from the cold. She noticed that her feet felt okay now, but when the water touched her stomach, she shrieked. The breakers now splashed water across her back and shoulders."It's too cold!" Carol shouted. "I'm going back!"Then she froze. She saw a big wave approaching. There was no time to turn back; she was in too deep. She watched with dread as the crest swelled above her head. She closed her eyes and dunked beneath the wave.A freezing sensation enveloped her for an instant, but then she felt fine. Refreshed, even.Finally, she swam out to her sister.
Which of the following best describes the main theme or lesson of the story?
B. Sometimes it's better when unpleasant experiences happen quickly.
Click to correct the two capitalization errors.
In 1966, maulana Karenga created the holiday of kwazaa, a weeklong celebration that honors African values and traditions.
Maulana, Kwazaa
Writing a story
Narrative Writing
I was clutching my "escape bag," more because I wanted to have something to hold on to than because I wanted to run away. I know we can't leave here, but if we had to, being seen on the streets would be just as dangerous as getting caught in an air raid.
What does it show?
C. It shows that there was no escape from danger for Anne and the others hiding in the Annex.
Read the text.
In October 2012, Hurricane Sandy swept onto the East Coast of the United States with peak winds hitting one hundred miles per hour. In addition to the strong winds, the storm generated heavy rain and flooding and resulted in more than one hundred deaths. Sandy also contributed to storm surges and rising water levels all along the coast, from Florida to Maine. Parts of New York experienced tides more than twelve feet above normal. More than eight million people lost their electricity. Dunes, boardwalks, and homes were destroyed. Overall, the storm produced more than fifty billion dollars in property damage and other losses.
Which organizational structure does this text primarily use?
B. cause-effect
Read the following story.
The Pedal Boat
Rachel walked up and down the aisles at Costello's Watercraft. She wanted something she and her husband, Arnel, could enjoy during their summer at the family lake house.The clerk pointed to a brand-new canoe. "This is our top seller. Dependable, good reviews, comes with a ten-year warranty."But while Rachel was inspecting the canoe, another customer approached her."Are you sure you want to spend all that money on a canoe? I've got an old pedal boat I could sell you for a quarter of the price," he offered.Later that day, Rachel and Arnel went to the man's house to check out the pedal boat. It had a lot of dents, and the man admitted that he hadn't taken it out on the water in three years. But the price was too good to beat."The boat would be sold in the condition it's in," the man warned. "All sales final."But Rachel and Arnel were already talking about the fishing gear they could buy with the money they would be saving. They bought the pedal boat immediately.When summer arrived, Arnel took the boat for a test run on the lake, while Rachel watched from the shoreline. The boat hardly went fifty feet before the front started sinking. Rachel's summer fantasy sunk along with it. She remembered the brand-new canoe she'd passed up and felt foolish. The pedals stuck as the boat sunk deeper, and Arnel had to swim back to shore.At least the fishing rods worked. Rachel and Arnel spent the summer catching perch and shaking their heads over their mistake.
Which of the following best describes the main theme or lesson of the story?
Select the quotation from the story that most strongly supports the theme.
A. Trying too hard to save money can cost you.
Click to correct the one capitalization error.
Last Wednesday my boss flew to europe for a technology conference on parallel programming.
Europe
nonfiction writing, written with the intention of informing the reader about a specific topic.
Author's Purpose
Review the passage.
Yesterday was a very tumultuous day, and we're still all wound up. Actually, you may wonder if there's ever a day that passes without some kind of excitement.The first warning siren went off in the morning while we were at breakfast, but we paid no attention, because it only meant that the planes were crossing the coast. I had a terrible headache, so I lay down for an hour after breakfast and then went to the office at around two. At two-thirty Margot had finished her office work and was just gathering her things together when the sirens began wailing again. So she and I trooped back upstairs. None too soon, it seems, for less than five minutes later the guns were booming so loudly that we went and stood in the hall. The house shook and the bombs kept falling. I was clutching my "escape bag," more because I wanted to have something to hold on to than because I wanted to run away. I know we can't leave here, but if we had to, being seen on the streets would be just as dangerous as getting caught in an air raid. After half an hour the drone of engines faded and the house began to hum with activity again. [ . . . ] Those of us on the landing spread out to watch the columns of smoke rising from the harbor. Before long the smell of fire was everywhere, and outside it looked as if the city were enveloped in a thick fog.A big fire like that is not a pleasant sight, but fortunately for us it was all over, and we went back to our various chores. Just as we were starting dinner: another air-raid alarm. The food was good, but I lost my appetite the moment I heard the siren. Nothing happened, however, and forty-five minutes later the all clear was sounded. After the dishes had been washed: another air-raid warning, gunfire and swarms of planes. [ . . . ] The planes dived and climbed, the air was abuzz with the drone of engines. It was very scary, and the whole time I kept thinking, "Here it comes, this is it."I can assure you that when I went to bed at nine, my legs were still shaking. At the stroke of midnight I woke up again: more planes! [ . . . ] I finally fell asleep at half past two.Seven o'clock. I awoke with a start and sat up in bed. Mr. van Daan was with Father. My first thought was: burglars. "Everything," I heard Mr. van Daan say, and I thought everything had been stolen. But no, this time it was wonderful news, the best we've had in months, maybe even since the war began. Mussolini has resigned and the King of Italy has taken over the government.We jumped for joy. After the awful events of yesterday, finally something good happens and brings us . . . hope! Hope for an end to the war, hope for peace.
What is the most likely reason why Anne's first thought was "burglars" when she woke up and heard her father and Mr. Van Daan talking?
B. So much bad happened the previous day and night that she was inclined to assume the worst.
Select the best evidence to support the statement that it's not always easy to tell when a flood will occur.
Floods are one of the most common hazards in the United States. Flood effects can be local, impacting a neighborhood or community, or very large, affecting entire river basins and multiple states.
However, all floods are not alike. Some floods develop slowly, sometimes over a period of days. But flash floods can develop quickly, sometimes in just a few minutes and without any visible signs of rain. Flash floods often have a dangerous wall of roaring water that carries rocks, mud, and other debris and can sweep away most things in its path.
But flash floods can develop quickly, sometimes in just a few minutes and without any visible signs of rain.
Read the following story.If the Shoes FitTaylor made a quick decision shortly before the game against Readville. After putting on her uniform and lacing up her worn sneakers, it hit her how badly she wanted new basketball shoes."The game starts in less than an hour," Taylor's dad said, looking at his watch."But look at these old things!" Taylor said, lifting a foot. "I'll just run in and out of the mall. I'll be so fast!"In the car, Taylor fidgeted at each red light, a month's worth of babysitting money in her pocket. She knew that, soon, each jump shot she took would hit nothing but net. Every leap would be higher in her brand-new shoes.Her father waited in the car as Taylor sprinted into the mall. A beautiful, shiny pair of red basketball shoes were displayed at the front of the shoe store. She nearly ran right into them."Uh, size six, please!"The clerk returned with the box and asked Taylor if she wanted to try them on. Taylor glanced at the time."No need!"With those fancy sneakers under her arm, she ran back to the idling car in the parking lot. She was pumped.Just in time, Taylor was on the bench with her teammates as their coach drew up the game plan. She opened the box and tried sliding her feet into the shoes she'd rushed to purchase, and her heart sank. Her toes were cramped. But the buzzer sounded, and Taylor ran awkwardly onto the court for the whistle.Taylor's face showed pain as she jogged up and down the court. She played poorly. When the coach substituted her for another player, she pulled out her old shoes from beneath the bench.
Which of the following best describes the main theme or lesson of the story?
B. Don't hurry important choices.
Click to correct the two capitalization errors.
Due to the success of her popular children's books, J. K. rowling is now one of the most well-known and best-selling British Authors of all time.
Rowling, authors
an argument about the work that expresses a writer's personal perspective, interpretation, judgment, or critical evaluation of the work. The elements to be analyzed are plot, setting, characters, point of view, figurative language, and style.
Literary Analysis Writing
If you were to read all my letters in one sitting, you'd be struck by the fact that they were written in a variety of moods. It annoys me to be so dependent on the moods here in the Annex, but I'm not the only one: we're all subject to them. If I'm engrossed in a book, I have to rearrange my thoughts before I can mingle with other people, because otherwise they might think I was strange. As you can see, I'm currently in the middle of a depression. I couldn't really tell you what set it off, but I think it stems from my cowardice, which confronts me at every turn. This evening, when Bep was still here, the doorbell rang long and loud. I instantly turned white, my stomach churned, and my heart beat wildly—and all because I was afraid.
At night in bed I see myself alone in a dungeon, without Father and Mother. Or I'm roaming the streets, or the Annex is on fire, or they come in the middle of the night to take us away and I crawl under my bed in desperation. I see everything as if it were actually taking place. And to think it might all happen soon!
Miep often says she envies us because we have such peace and quiet here. That may be true, but she's obviously not thinking about our fear.
I simply can't imagine the world will ever be normal again for us. I do talk about "after the war," but it's as if I were talking about a castle in the air, something that can never come true.
I see the eight of us in the Annex as if we were a patch of blue sky surrounded by menacing black clouds. The perfectly round spot on which we're standing is still safe, but the clouds are moving in on us, and the ring between us and the approaching danger is being pulled tighter and tighter. We're surrounded by darkness and danger, and in our desperate search for a way out we keep bumping into each other. We look at the fighting down below and the peace and beauty up above. In the meantime, we've been cut off by the dark mass of clouds, so that we can go neither up nor down. It looms before us like an impenetrable wall, trying to crush us, but not yet able to. I can only cry out and implore, "Oh, ring, ring, open wide and let us out!"
What is this passage mainly about?
Read the passage.
AC vs. DC
In the 1880s, the War of the Currents began. Thomas Edison developed direct current, or DC, a type of electricity that flows in one direction. By 1887, DC was in use around the United States. It had some drawbacks, though. Converting it to lower or higher voltages was difficult; that is, the current's force couldn't be changed easily. Transmitted at the low voltage needed for use in homes and businesses, it lost power after traveling only a mile. Meanwhile, Nikola Tesla was working with alternating current, or AC. AC reverses direction many times per second and can be changed to different voltages. At high voltage, it can be transmitted efficiently, traveling hundreds of miles with little energy loss. Because of its advantages, AC triumphed by the end of the nineteenth century.
What is the main idea of the passage?
Read the text.Of all my hobbies, puttering around in my vegetable garden is my favorite. My friends joke that I treat my plants like they are my children. So, when I won a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Switzerland, I was hesitant to leave my beloved baby veggies at home alone. Who would sing lullabies to the carrots? Who would know that the tomatoes needed exactly seven minutes of watering, not a second more or less?I needn't have worried; the folks from Petunia's Garden Keepers treated my plants like they were their own. When I returned, my green beans were flourishing and there wasn't a single squash bug to be found on my zucchini. I daresay my plants actually missed the attentive and affectionate crew from Petunia's when I returned. Now I finally feel comfortable traveling and am already looking into a trip to Mexico next spring.
Which sentence best summarizes the author's point of view about Petunia's Garden Keepers?
B. The garden service features a team that carefully tends to plants in their care, making it easy to feel confident in their level of service.
Click to capitalize the movie's title correctly.
one fine day
One Fine Day
Yesterday was a very tumultuous day, and we're still all wound up. Actually, you may wonder if there's ever a day that passes without some kind of excitement.
What is the meaning of tumultuous as it is used in the passage?
C. full of commotion
I think it stems from my cowardice, which confronts me at every turn. This evening, when Bep was still here, the doorbell rang long and loud. I instantly turned white, my stomach churned, and my heart beat wildly—and all because I was afraid.
What does this descriptive language reveal about Anne's feelings?
Read the passage.
Supporting Biliteracy
There are many good reasons to learn a second language. A second language can improve your understanding of your native language, open the door to new job opportunities, and help you learn about other cultures. Yet American students are less likely than European students to study foreign languages in school. To address this gap, several states have begun doing more to encourage biliteracy—the ability to read and write in two languages. California, New York, and Illinois are among the states that have passed laws establishing a state "Seal of Biliteracy." A Seal of Biliteracy shows that a student has achieved proficiency in a second language. Supporters of the seals say that they honor the importance of second-language learning. The seals also provide colleges and future employers with evidence of students' abilities.
What is the main idea of the passage?
Read the text.
Everyone who knows me is fully aware that I have always been a huge fan of Jupiter's Rings; the band's logo is on almost every shirt I own. I've waited years to finally see them in person, so imagine my irritation when I left their concert wishing I could get three hours of my life back.While the members are still incredibly talented, the songs they played were (dare I say it?) awful. Casting off his trademark guitar, the bassist strolled onstage with a cello and announced that they were going to try "something different." Then, instead of their classic hits, the band proceeded to play an unfamiliar and odd combination of bluegrass and rap music.I've heard rumors that the lead singer is planning on going solo. As sad as I am to say it, I think breaking up the band might be the best thing that could happen to Jupiter's Rings.
Which sentence best summarizes the author's point of view about Jupiter's Rings?
A. The band is no longer what it once was.
Click to capitalize the book's title correctly.
the one and only ivan
The One and Only Ivan