Research
A student wants to research how social media affects teenagers. The student realizes the topic is too broad.
Which step would best narrow the focus to create a more manageable research question?
A. Investigate how social media influences emotional, academic, and physical development in all age groups worldwide.
B. Shift the topic to explore how advertising companies use social media analytics to increase profits.
C. Examine how daily use of image-based social media apps affects self-esteem in middle school students.
D. Broaden the topic to include all forms of digital communication such as texting, gaming, and email.
C. Examine how daily use of image-based social media apps affects self-esteem in middle school students.
Which of the following exhibits parallel structure?
A. Carla talked about the difference between the weather in California and how it storms in the Northeast.
B. Carla talked about the difference between the weather in California and the weather in the Northeast.
C. Between the weather in California and the weather in the Northeast, Carla talked about the difference.
D. Between the weather in California and how it storms in the Northeast, Carla talked about the difference.
B. Carla talked about the difference between the weather in California and the weather in the Northeast.
Read the sentence: She had the Midas touch; therefore, the acquisition of material things came easily to her.
What is the meaning of the word acquisition as it is used in the sentence?
A) construction
B) expenditure
C) deterioration
D) attainment
D) attainment
The sentence below contains an error. Which revision corrects the punctuation?
The museum was crowded today, however many visitors still enjoyed the new exhibit.
A. The museum was crowded today; however, many visitors still enjoyed the new exhibit.
B. The museum was crowded today however; many visitors still enjoyed the new exhibit.
C. The museum was crowded today however many visitors still enjoyed; the new exhibit.
D. The museum was crowded today, however, many visitors still enjoyed the new exhibit.
A. The museum was crowded today; however, many visitors still enjoyed the new exhibit.
Which revision corrects the pronoun-antecedent agreement error?
Each of the students must turn in their permission slip before the trip.
A. Each of the students must turn in his or her permission slip before the trip.
B. Each of the students must turn in their permission slip before the trip.
C. Each of the students must turn in its permission slip before the trip.
D. Each of the students must turn in they permission slip before the trip.
A. Each of the students must turn in his or her permission slip before the trip.
A student is planning a research project about the effects of technology on education. The student initially wants to explore the various aspects of technology.
Which step would best refine the scope of the inquiry to make it more relevant to the purpose of the research project?
A. Focus on the impact of technology (smartboards, online learning, AI, apps, etc.) on K-12 and higher education worldwide.
B. Shift the focus entirely to how technology has affected social media trends among young adults.
C. Expand the topic to include the impact of technology on various industries beyond education.
D. Narrow the topic to examine how online learning platforms influence high school students' academic performance in the student's city.
D. Narrow the topic to examine how online learning platforms influence high school students' academic performance in the student's city.
Which of the following sentences exhibits parallel structure?
A. Jared drove to the mall, walked to the grocery store, and ran through the park.
B. Jared drove to the mall, the grocery store, and ran through the park.
C. Jared walked to the mall, the grocery store, and through the park.
D. At the park, the grocery store, and the mall, Jared walked through.
A. Jared drove to the mall, walked to the grocery store, and ran through the park.
Read the sentence: The miserly businessman resembled Scrooge because of his tendency toward avarice.
What does the word avarice mean as it is used in the sentence?
A) creativity
B) greediness
C) irritability
D) generosity
B) greediness
Read the sentence: Maria had one main goal she wanted to finish her college applications before winter break.
Which revision uses the colon correctly?
A. Maria had one main goal: she wanted to finish her college applications before winter break.
B. Maria had one main goal she wanted to finish: her college applications before winter break.
C. Maria had one main goal she wanted to finish her college applications: before winter break.
D. Maria had one: main goal she wanted to finish her college applications before winter break.
A. Maria had one main goal: she wanted to finish her college applications before winter break.
Which revision uses the most precise and effective word choice?
The speaker’s message had a big effect on the audience.
A. The speaker’s message had a big effect on the audience.
B. The speaker’s message had a noticeable effect on the audience.
C. The speaker’s message had a major effect on the audience.
D. The speaker’s message had a significant effect on the audience.
D. The speaker’s message had a significant effect on the audience.
A student wants to research how plastic straws affect the environment at their school. The teacher says the topic is too narrow and needs more context.
Which revision would best broaden the inquiry to create a more meaningful research project?
A. Investigate how all single-use plastics—including straws, utensils, and food wrappers—contribute to waste in the student’s school.
B. Narrow the topic to focus only on plastic straw use in the school cafeteria on Mondays.
C. Shift the focus to how paper is recycled in schools across the state.
D. Broaden the topic to all global climate issues, including deforestation and ocean warming.
D. Broaden the topic to all global climate issues, including deforestation and ocean warming.
Read the sentence: My neighbor’s favorite activities are walking, swimming, and she likes to visit museums.
What is the BEST way to rewrite the underlined part of the sentence using parallel structure?
A) visiting museums
B) liking to visit museums
C) museums
D) to visit museums
A) visiting museums
Read the sentence: A marble column, broken and fallen in the sand, was the only visible vestige of a once-great city.
Read the dictionary entry.
vestige n 1. a footprint 2. the smallest quantity 3. a trace of something left behind 4. a nonfunctioning remnant of an organ
Which definition of vestige BEST fits the sentence?
A) Definition 1
B) Definition 2
C) Definition 3
D) Definition 4
C) Definition 3
Which sentence correctly uses a dash to emphasize the final idea?
A. The team had practiced for months—and finally—they won the championship.
B. The team had practiced for months and finally—they won the championship.
C. The team had practiced for months—finally, they won the championship.
D. The team—had practiced for months—finally, they won the championship.
C. The team had practiced for months—finally, they won the championship.
Which sentence maintains correct verb-tense consistency?
A. When the show started, the lights go down and the audience got quiet.
B. When the show starts, the lights went down and the audience gets quiet.
C. When the show started, the lights went down and the audience got quiet.
D. When the show starts, the lights go down and the audience got quiet.
C. When the show started, the lights went down and the audience got quiet.
A student wants to research how one local animal shelter helps the community. The teacher explains the topic may be too limited.
Which step would best broaden the scope for a stronger research investigation?
A. Examine how multiple types of community service organizations—such as shelters, food banks, and tutoring programs—support families in the student’s city.
B. Focus only on volunteer dog-walking at the shelter.
C. Expand the topic to include the history of shelters across the country since the 1800s.
D. Shift the topic to how national parks care for wildlife.
C. Expand the topic to include the history of shelters across the country since the 1800s.
Which sentence, if placed before Sentence 6 at the beginning of the third paragraph, would create the BEST transition between Paragraphs 2 and 3?
A) The benefits of these classes do not stop there, however.
B) There are several possibilities for finding these classes.
C) Parents profit from enrichment classes, too.
D) Enrichment classes are not difficult to schedule.
A) The benefits of these classes do not stop there, however.
No matter where you go, the Internet is following you. Almost every portable device is being made with an Internet connection. Most new TVs and many other appliances come with Internet connections as well. The Internet is truly ubiquitous.
If something is ubiquitous, __________.
a. it is fuzzy and will bite you
b. it is everywhere
c. it costs too much money
d. it causes rashes
b. it is everywhere
The sentence below is punctuated incorrectly. Which option fixes the error?
The students finished their presentations but, the bell rang before they could get feedback.
A. The students finished their presentations, but the bell rang before they could get feedback.
B. The students finished their presentations but the bell rang, before they could get feedback.
C. The students finished their presentations; but the bell rang before they could get feedback.
D. The students finished their presentations—but the bell rang before they could get feedback.
A. The students finished their presentations, but the bell rang before they could get feedback.
Which revision maintains a formal tone appropriate for an academic essay?
Many people think pollution is a huge problem that really messes things up for the environment.
A. a huge problem that really messes things up
B. a serious issue that negatively affects the environment
C. a big thing that causes a lot of trouble
D. something that totally ruins nature
B. a serious issue that negatively affects the environment
A student begins a research project on artificial intelligence in schools. The teacher suggests the topic is too broad.
Which revision offers the best narrowed and relevant focus?
A. Analyze how AI affects personal life, entertainment, transportation, business, and healthcare.
B. Examine how AI-powered tutoring programs influence math achievement for ninth-grade students.
C. Shift the topic to robotics in automobile manufacturing.
D. Expand the topic to all smart technologies, including GPS and virtual assistants.
B. Examine how AI-powered tutoring programs influence math achievement for ninth-grade students.
Read the sentence from the letter: (2) This news is upsetting to our school community and both students and parents benefit from their programming.
Which word BEST replaces the word in the sentence to create the most logical transition?
A) since
B) but
C) yet
D) that
A) since
Speaking rudely to the judges was rash behavior. You really hurt your chances of winning!
In the above context, what does “rash” mean?
a. an itchy skin condition
b. funny
c. trying to hide or disguise a piece of cheese
d. with little thought or consideration
d. with little thought or consideration
Which revision correctly fixes the punctuation error in the sentence below?
The science fair was exciting students from all grades came to see the experiments.
A. The science fair was exciting and students from all grades came to see the experiments.
B. The science fair was exciting, students from all grades came to see the experiments.
C. The science fair was exciting: students from all grades came to see the experiments.
D. The science fair was exciting; students from all grades came to see the experiments.
D. The science fair was exciting; students from all grades came to see the experiments.
Which option corrects the sentence fragment?
Because the roads were icy and visibility was low. The team decided to delay the trip.
A. Because the roads were icy and visibility was low. The team decided to delay the trip.
B. The team decided to delay the trip. Because the roads were icy and visibility was low.
C. Because the roads were icy and visibility was low, the team decided to delay the trip.
D. The team decided to delay the trip because. The roads were icy and visibility was low.
C. Because the roads were icy and visibility was low, the team decided to delay the trip.