Vocabulary
If you use a dictionary to look up the word exacerbate, what definition are you most likely to find?
A.) nourish
B.) worsen
C.) distract
D.) strengthen
B.) worsen
In which excerpt from “President Kennedy’s Moon Speech” does Kennedy appeal to the audience’s sense of ethos to justify America’s involvement in space exploration?
A.) William Bradford, speaking in 1630 of the founding of the Plymouth Bay Colony, said that all great and honorable actions are accompanied with great difficulties, and both must be enterprised and overcome with answerable courage.
B.) We have felt the ground shake and the air shattered by the testing of a Saturn C-1 booster rocket, many times as powerful as the Atlas. …
C.) Yet the vows of this Nation can only be fulfilled if we in this Nation are first, and, therefore, we intend to be first.
D.) But this city of Houston, this State of Texas, this country of the United States was not built by those who waited and rested and wished to look behind them. This country was conquered by those who moved forward—and so will space.
A.) William Bradford, speaking in 1630 of the founding of the Plymouth Bay Colony, said that all great and honorable actions are accompanied with great difficulties, and both must be enterprised and overcome with answerable courage.
If your friend told you that “starfish” is a misnomer, what question would you most likely ask your friend?
A.) Why is the creature’s name incorrect?
B.) What animal is not related to a starfish?
C.) Where does a starfish live?
D.) Why does a starfish have that shape?
A.) Why is the creature’s name incorrect?
Your teacher requires that you write an argumentative essay on the subject of privacy. You have narrowed the topic and created your claim:
Personal lives of celebrities and politicians should be kept private.
Which evidence would provide the most relevant support for your claim?
A.) Factual references regarding what other countries do to protect their citizens.
B.) Statistics on how many individuals have been publicly scrutinized.
C.) Testimony from legal experts containing their observations about how rights of others might be violated.
D.) Anecdotes from victims explaining how public attention has negatively impacted their mental health.
D.) Anecdotes from victims explaining how public attention has negatively impacted their mental health.
When you analyze an audience, what does “understanding an audience’s biases” mean?
A.) knowing their preconceived notions and addressing them objectively
B.) knowing what topics might upset them and avoiding those topics in the essay you are writing
C.) knowing what level of vocabulary they will be able to comprehend without having to use a dictionary
D.) knowing their values and beliefs and using those to convince them to agree with you
A.) knowing their preconceived notions and addressing them objectively
Which statements about the roots of the word subservient are incorrect?
Select all that apply.
A.) The word subservient contains the root “servus,” which means “eat.”
B.) The words submarine and subservient share a root.
C.) The word subservient contains the root “sub-,” which means “beneath.”
D.) The words servant and subservient do not share a root.
A.) The word subservient contains the root “servus,” which means “eat.”
D.) The words servant and subservient do not share a root.
A central idea in the “Learning Not to Drive” section of “I Rode 500 Miles in a Self-Driving Car” is “although the interior appears to be completely standard, some aspects of the interior make it special.”
Which sentence best states how this central idea is developed in the article?
A.) This idea is developed by an image of the basic interior and the steering wheel of the autonomous A7.
B.) This idea is developed by an explanation of why the expert designers of the autonomous A7 included audio and visual alerts.
C.) This idea is developed by a description of features that are found on the dashboard of the autonomous A7.
D.) This idea is developed by the inclusion of information about the number of people and countries that have tested the autonomous A7.
C.) This idea is developed by a description of features that are found on the dashboard of the autonomous A7.
Which type of evidence is not directly stated in a text?
A.) relevant evidence
B.) valid evidence
C.) implicit evidence
D.) sufficient evidence
C.) implicit evidence
Which option best explains how the author’s use of his native language, Tagalog, contributes to the power of the text?
A.) It conveys that after many years, the author is still connected to his family in the Philippines.
B.) It conveys that after having many jobs, the author is keeping his family heritage alive.
C.) It shows that, because the author is from another country, he feels the need to continue using his first language.
D.) It shows that even though the author is trying to become a US citizen, he is still proud of his heritage.
D.) It shows that even though the author is trying to become a US citizen, he is still proud of his heritage.
Read the sentence.
The realization that the sun rises and sets, the moon waxes and wanes, and the ebbing and flowing of the tides can inspire belief in an orderly universe.
Which option shows the best way to rewrite the sentence?
A.) The realization that the sun rises and sets, the moon waxes and wanes, and the tides are ebbing and flowing can inspire belief in an orderly universe.
B.) The realization that the sun rises and sets, the moon waxes and wanes, and the tidal ebb and flow can inspire belief in an orderly universe.
C.) The realization that the sun rises and sets, the moon waxes and wanes, and the tides ebb and flow can inspire belief in an orderly universe.
D.) The realization that the sun rises and sets, the moon waxes and wanes, and the ebb and flow of the tides can inspire belief in an orderly universe.
C.) The realization that the sun rises and sets, the moon waxes and wanes, and the tides ebb and flow can inspire belief in an orderly universe.
If you look in the dictionary, what word will you not find as a synonym for the word retaliation?
A.) vengeance
B.) payback
C.) revenge
D.) reproof
D.) reproof
Which sentence demonstrates writing in a style and tone that are most appropriate for an audience of professional scientists?
A.) The oxygen levels went way down beyond what was expected.
B.) The results of the experiment showed a quantifiable decrease in oxygen levels.
C.) We couldn’t wait to see the results of our experiment!
D.) An experiment is a test to see whether or not evidence will support a scientist’s hypothesis.
B.) The results of the experiment showed a quantifiable decrease in oxygen levels.
Read the paragraph.
1) At first, Stirling thought it might be an altar. 2) In 1938, archaeologist Matthew Stirling and his team found a stone buried under the forest floor. 3) The stone carving was a magnificent head almost nine feet tall. 4) But as his workers cleared away soil, they discovered it was a sculpture.
What is the best order for the sentences in this paragraph?
A.) 2, 4, 1, 3
B.) 4, 3, 2, 1
C.) 1, 2, 3, 4
D.) 2, 1, 4, 3
D.) 2, 1, 4, 3
Which is the most accurate description of a country that follows principles of pluralism?
A.) a country founded on principles of hard work, determination, and freedom
B.) a country that explores its options for addressing climate change
C.) a country that promotes diversity and participation by many groups
D.) a country that elects representatives to stand in for them in government bodies
C.) a country that promotes diversity and participation by many groups
You are writing an argumentative essay based on your claim that the use of cell phones while driving should be banned because it seriously endangers other drivers and their passengers on the road.
Which options present a viable counterclaim?
Select all that apply.
A.) Eating in the car is not outlawed even though it takes the driver’s attention away from the road.
B.) Talking on a cell phone is not as bad as texting while driving.
C.) Cell phone use is as dangerous as driving drunk, but it shouldn’t be a criminal act.
D.) Arguing with a friend or spouse in the car is extremely distracting, but it is not against the law.
A.) Eating in the car is not outlawed even though it takes the driver’s attention away from the road.
D.) Arguing with a friend or spouse in the car is extremely distracting, but it is not against the law.
If you look in a thesaurus to find synonyms for the word anarchy, which words are you most likely to find?
Select all that apply.
A.) monarchy
B.) disorder
C.) chaos
D.) sympathy
B.) disorder
C.) chaos
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?
A.) What other fields are women choosing to enter once they leave engineering?
B.) Where is engineering as a profession headed?
C.) Why are women studying engineering in greater numbers?
D.) What could be causing women to drop out of jobs and programs in engineering?
D.) What could be causing women to drop out of jobs and programs in engineering?
Which type of evidence includes information that is not connected to an idea or point?
A.) explicit evidence
B.) insufficient evidence
C.) invalid evidence
D.) irrelevant evidence
D.) irrelevant evidence
Read the claim.
Year-round schooling should be instituted nationwide.
Which option provides an irrelevant counterclaim?
A.) Whether on a long summer break or a shorter vacation break, students forget information, and review is necessary.
B.) Quality teachers are important to student success in school.
C.) Costs involved in building upkeep outweigh any benefits.
D.) Summer youth programs, which are important for academic enrichment, would cease to exist.
B.) Quality teachers are important to student success in school.
Which options describe data and statistics that can be used as evidence in informational text?
Select all that apply.
A.) numbers or facts that accurately represent proof of concepts or ideas
B.) the results of a credible research study presented to support a claim
C.) historical examples that provide analogies to help prove a claim
D.) direct quotations from expert, unbiased sources presented to support a main idea
A.) numbers or facts that accurately represent proof of concepts or ideas
B.) the results of a credible research study presented to support a claim
Read the sentence.
As the weather turned to pouring rain, we yelled, “Carpe diem!” and decided to play outside in the little streams that were collecting on the sidewalk.
The words carpe diem are a Latin phrase that means “seize the day.” In the context of the sentence, which is the best definition of carpe diem?
A.) enjoy the present
B.) let it rain
C.) forget the past
D.) today’s the day
A.) enjoy the present
Read the excerpt from the concluding paragraph of an argumentative speech.
By calling and writing our representatives in Congress, we can make our voices heard.
Which option correctly identifies the element being used in the excerpt?
A.) summary of key claims and reasons
B.) call to action
C.) explanation of topic’s importance
D.) restatement of thesis
B.) call to action
How can writers vary syntax in their writing?
Select all that apply.
A.) by using modifiers to open several sentences in succession
B.) by using a combination of simple and complex sentences
C.) by including specific headings and subheadings
D.) by including descriptive phrases and clauses
B.) by using a combination of simple and complex sentences
D.) by including descriptive phrases and clauses
Read the sentences.
Carolyn forgot to set her alarm. She arrived at the theater in time for the performance.
Which option best combines these sentences?
A.) Carolyn forgot to set her alarm, and she arrived at the theater in time for the performance.
B.) Because Carolyn forgot to set her alarm, she arrived at the theater in time for the performance.
C.) Although Carolyn forgot to set her alarm, she arrived at the theater in time for the performance.
D.) Carolyn forgot to set her alarm, whereas she arrived at the theater in time for the performance.
C.) Although Carolyn forgot to set her alarm, she arrived at the theater in time for the performance.
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.
A.) Jeremy used the metaphor “a curtain of dust” to draw a vivid picture of the storm’s dangerous effect.
B.) Jeremy personified the storm that “grabbed” and “shook” the car, making it easy to visualize the wind’s effect.
C.) Jeremy applied hyperbole in the phrase “shook it hard” to exaggerate the danger of Ray’s situation.
D.) Jeremy used the paradox “engulfed the highway” to emphasize the chaotic nature of Ray’s situation.
A.) Jeremy used the metaphor “a curtain of dust” to draw a vivid picture of the storm’s dangerous effect.
B.) Jeremy personified the storm that “grabbed” and “shook” the car, making it easy to visualize the wind’s effect.