Unit 1
In which sentence is the word tenacity used correctly?
The homeowner was surprised at the tenacity of his dog, who continued biting the burglar until the police arrived.
If you use a dictionary to look up the word exacerbate, what definition are you most likely to find?
worsen
In which sentence is the word affluence used correctly?
- The CEO wanted to be known for more than her , affluence, , so she started a foundation aimed at cleaning up the world’s beaches.
Read the sentence.
From the moment he announced his candidacy for political office, Santiago knew he wanted his campaign to promote pluralism and tolerance.
Which option most accurately explains what Santiago might do to support this goal if he is elected?
- He might seek input from a variety of community leaders to establish common goals and interests.
If a law is intended to establish an equitable system for taxing citizens, what is it likely to do?
- The law is likely to ensure that everyone pays a fair share of tax.
Read the sentence.
Mr. Sharma was determined to nurture a sense of responsibility and compassion in his students.
Which definition is correct for the word nurture as it is used in the sentence?
Jeremy wrote this sentence in a first draft of his essay on dangerous weather:
When a sandstorm suddenly moved across the highway, the winds blew hard against Ray’s car and he could not see anything ahead of him.
In his final draft, he revised the sentence this way:
The sandstorm that engulfed the highway grabbed Ray’s car and shook it hard, yanking a curtain of dust across his field of vision.
Which options best analyze the effect of the figurative language Jeremy used in the revised sentence?
Select all that apply.
- Jeremy used the metaphor “a curtain of dust” to draw a vivid picture of the storm’s dangerous effect.
-Jeremy personified the storm that “grabbed” and “shook” the car, making it easy to visualize the wind’s effect.
Read the dictionary entries.
gibe n. an insulting or taunting remark
jibe v. to fit, be in accord with, agree
jive n. jazz music; the jargon of jazz musicians or fans
Which sentence uses gibe correctly?
- An unhappy spectator yelled a , gibe, at the goalkeeper.
Which options provide correct details about the word fervently?
Select all that apply.
- An antonym of , fervently, is “casually.”
- A synonym of fervently is “passionately.”
You look up the word anarchy in the dictionary so you can make sure to correctly explain its meaning to your sister.
Which definitions are you most likely to give her as you explain this word?
Select all that apply.
- A place with no laws is experiencing anarchy.
- A society without a government is in anarchy.
Read the sentence.
After seeing a look of panic on his sister’s face, Ken discreetly gave her a thumbs up and an encouraging smile from his seat in the audience.
Which definition is correct for the word discreetly as it is used in the sentence?
Which sentence demonstrates writing in a style and tone that are most appropriate for an audience of professional scientists?
Which sentence uses the word logistical correctly?
- The army’s campaign was hindered by , logistical, problems as supplies failed to reach the front lines and troop ships encountered storms.
Which suffix would you add to the noun satire to create a related adjective?
-ical
Read the sentence.
Players can be disqualified for arguing with the officials, neglecting to obey the rules, or if they act in an unsportsmanlike manner.
Which option best revises the sentence?
- Players can be disqualified for arguing with the officials, neglecting to obey the rules, or acting in an unsportsmanlike manner.
Which type of evidence is not directly stated in a text?
implicit evidence
You have been asked to write a research paper based on this prompt:
Several recent reports indicate that although women are studying engineering in greater and greater numbers, many quit engineering during or after school. Women are leaving the profession in vastly higher numbers than men and are choosing to enter other fields.
Based on the prompt, which research question most effectively demonstrates an appropriate focus and scope for your research paper?
- What could be causing women to drop out of jobs and programs in engineering?
Read the dictionary entry.
forage (noun)
1. vegetable food for domestic animals 2. the act of foraging; a search for provisions
Origin of forage
[14th century] Middle English, from Middle French fourage, forage, from Old French, from forre, fuerre fodder, straw, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German fuotarfood, fodder
From which language does the word forage originate?
- Middle english
Read the passage from a science lesson.
Human respiration is a chemical process that results in the release of energy. In this process, organic compounds transform into different compounds through exergonic reactions.
Which term in the passage would most likely be used only in a scientific context?
- exergonic
Read the sentence.
The Canary Islands are a popular vacation spot for people from Finland, a chain of seven islands off the coast of Africa.
What is the best way to rewrite the sentence?
- The Canary Islands, a chain of seven islands off the coast of Africa, are a popular vacation spot for people from Finland.
Which options describe data and statistics that can be used as evidence in informational text?
Select all that apply.
Which sentence makes use of hyperbole for effect?
- On some Mondays, Bill felt it would be months before the weekend came again.
Read the text that Marcia sent to a friend.
I had to come up with a service project as part of my grade in social studies, so I did a food drive in the spring. Everyone does them at the holidays, right?
Which option shows how Marcia could best revise this information to use in an application for a summer leadership program?
- When I devised my service project for social studies, I chose to conduct a food drive in late March, since food banks often run low on supplies after the winter holidays.
Read the sentence.
Several readers contacted the editor with the _[blank]_ that one of the writers had plagiarized material for a number of articles.
Which word form correctly completes the sentence?
- allegation
Which sentence correctly omits hyphens in a phrase?
- The equipment that the IT department ordered was state of the art.