Theme
Tom sat quietly by the window, watching the rain fall outside. The soft pattering of raindrops against the glass seemed to calm his mind. He loved these quiet moments when the world felt still and peaceful. He could think clearly, and everything around him felt in its place.
What is the theme of this passage?
A) The beauty of nature
B) The power of friendship
C) The value of hard work
A) The beauty of nature
Correct the one error.
Thanks for the beautiful scarf! I got lots of complements on it today!
Thanks for the beautiful scarf! I got lots of compliments on it today!
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?
A) compare-contrast
B) problem-solution
C) cause-effect
B) problem-solution
What is the meaning of ambitious as used in the passage?
To define and trace the history of every single word in the English language—that was the ambitious goal of the Philological Society of London in 1857 when they set out to create what would eventually become the Oxford English Dictionary. In order to make the process of gathering information more efficient, the lead editor, James Murray, used crowdsourcing. He asked, through advertisements and word of mouth, that volunteers around the English-speaking world send in definitions and documented uses of words. Millions of submissions were received.
A) Difficult to achieve
B) Enthusiastic
C) Verbal
A) Difficult to achieve
Which figure of speech is used in this text?
He clasps the crag with crooked hands;
Close to the sun in lonely lands . . .
—Alfred, Lord Tennyson, "The Eagle"
C) simile
Samantha worked tirelessly on her science project for weeks, staying up late into the night, perfecting every detail. When the day of the competition arrived, she was nervous but proud. As she stood before the judges, presenting her work, she realized that no matter the outcome, the effort she had put in made her feel like a winner.
Question:
What is the theme of this passage?
A) The importance of teamwork
B) The rewards of hard work
C) The dangers of competition
D) The impact of failure
B) The rewards of hard work
Correct the one error.
There's more red umbrellas on this beach than I can possibly count!
There are more red umbrellas on this beach than I can possibly count!
Read the text.
The two main types of clouds that form low in the atmosphere, that is, below 6,500 feet, are cumulus and stratus. Stratus clouds develop horizontally, whereas cumulus clouds are formed vertically. Stratus clouds are flat, uniformly gray in appearance, and tend to fill the sky with layers of gloom. White, fluffy cumulus clouds, on the other hand, often float in a bright blue sky and have been called "fair weather clouds." Unlike stratus clouds, cumulus clouds are individual structures. They're flat on the bottom and more puffy toward the top. Given the right conditions in the atmosphere, cumulus clouds may also turn dark with rain, signaling the coming of a thunderstorm.
Which organizational structure does this text primarily use?
A) problem-solution
B) sequential
C) compare-contrast
C) compare-contrast
What is the meaning of viable as used in the passage?
Symbiotic relationships, which occur when one organism is dependent on another organism for survival, are typically categorized into three different types of relationships: parasitism, mutualism, and commensalism. In each of these relationships, the organisms involved are benefited or harmed in different ways.
Parasitic relationships are often the most familiar types of symbiotic relationships. A common example is a flea living on a dog. In cases like these, the parasite gains a viable habitat to support its life cycle, while the host is harmed.
D) Usable
Which figure of speech is used in this text?
In the 1950s, there was great societal pressure on women to stay at home and raise children. Many women enjoyed doing so, but for others home was a prison they yearned to escape.
C) allusion
It was a dark and stormy night, and the old house creaked with every gust of wind. Emily sat on the stairs, her heart pounding. She had always been scared of the dark, but she was determined to face her fear. She knew that if she could be brave tonight, she could be brave in any situation. The sound of the storm made her feel uneasy, but she refused to let it control her emotions.
Question:
What is the theme of this passage?
A) The power of imagination
B) Overcoming fear through courage
C) The dangers of the unknown
D) Facing your problems head-on
B) Overcoming fear through courage
Correct the two errors.
Every since I read that book on etiquette, I can't help but notice peoples' awful manners at the dinner table.
Ever since I read that book on etiquette, I can't help but notice people's awful manners at the dinner table.
Read the text.
At very high altitudes, the air holds less oxygen. Recent research has revealed how people living 13,000 feet above sea level in the mountains of Tibet have adapted to their oxygen-poor environment. The Tibetan population, as a consequence of living at high altitude for thousands of years, has developed several characteristics that allow them to survive and thrive in this type of environment. These characteristics enable Tibetans to tolerate hypoxia, or low oxygen levels. For example, compared to lowland peoples, Tibetans have greater lung capacity, the ability to generate a higher maximum heart rate when exercising, and a higher density of capillaries in their muscles. Scientists have identified many other adaptive traits as well. Some of these adaptations are linked with specific genes, thus allowing the traits to be passed from one generation to the next.
Which organizational structure does this text primarily use?
A) compare-contrast
B) sequential
C) cause-effect
D) problem-solution
C) cause-effect
What is the meaning of adverse as used in the passage?
Published in 1962, Rachel Carson's Silent Spring began a national debate that changed Americans' attitudes toward the environment. Carson, originally a marine biologist, had begun noticing the adverse effects of pesticides on various ecosystems. In her book, she documents the effects of DDT, a pesticide that was then popular for agricultural use. In the environment, Carson noted the collapse of food chains and the decline of bird, fish, and other animal populations; in humans, effects of DDT include a higher risk of cancer and other illnesses.
A) Intended
B) Harmful
C) Subtle
D) Valuable
B) Harmful
Which figure of speech is used in this text?
The moon is a friend for the lonesome to talk with.
—Carl Sandburg, "Moonlight and Maggots"
D) onomatopoeia
The city streets were crowded with people, all rushing to their destinations. Jenna moved along with the flow, feeling like part of the crowd, yet somehow, she felt completely alone. She watched people around her, all buried in their phones or focused on their tasks. Despite being surrounded by so many, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was disconnected from everyone. She longed for a real connection, something deeper than the surface-level interactions she saw every day.
What is the theme of this passage?
A) The importance of community
B) The struggles of childhood
C) The joy of being independent
D) The loneliness that can come with modern life
D) The loneliness that can come with modern life
Correct the two errors.
The beaches around hear is some of the prettiest I've ever seen!
The beaches around here are some of the prettiest I've ever seen!
Read the text.
A group of students in a summer program in India recently put their minds together to propose a new and improved design for prosthetics for patients who have lost their hands. The difficulty is that many prosthetic, or artificial, hands are hard to fit and move, as well as tiring to use. With robotics, the students in the program succeeded in creating a soft, flexible prosthetic hand that uses a hinged aluminum mechanism and is easier to operate. This innovation has the potential to improve thousands of lives around the world.
Which organizational structure does this text primarily use?
A) problem-solution
B) sequential
C) compare-contrast
D) cause-effect
A) problem-solution
What is the meaning of regimen as used in the passage?
The International Space Station (ISS) is a space laboratory and construction site that orbits around the Earth at an altitude of about 390 kilometers. Astronauts usually live on the ISS for six-month periods, although some sojourns last up to a year.
On the ISS, the astronauts' work can be both difficult and diverse: tasks include challenging repair jobs and lengthy spacewalks. Therefore, it is important that the astronauts prepare themselves with specially designed routines before arriving at the space station. Such a regimen might include lifting weights, moving heavy objects, doing push-ups and pull-ups, running, and cycling. This constant variation prepares astronauts for all the stresses and challenges they will encounter in space.
A) A regular course of action
B) A medical procedure
C) A decision to take action
D) A healthy recovery
A) A regular course of action
Which figure of speech is used in this text?
So we beat on . . . borne back ceaselessly into the past.
—F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
B) alliteration
C) allusion
D) metaphor
For years, James had prided himself on being different, on standing out in a crowd. He thought that success and happiness would come from being unique, from pushing boundaries, and rejecting the ordinary. But now, at a crossroads in his life, he found himself feeling lost. Despite his accomplishments, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was missing something. He had spent so much time trying to prove his worth to others, but he realized that what he truly wanted was to feel accepted and understood, to find a place where he truly belonged.
Question:
What is the theme of this passage?
A) The search for identity and belonging
B) The importance of self-confidence
C) The value of conformity
D) The price of fame
A) The search for identity and belonging
Correct any errors.
He dont know where the books is, but he will find it soon.
Read the text.
Eutrophication, part of the natural aging process for bodies of water such as ponds or lakes, occurs due to a buildup of nitrates and phosphates over time. These compounds, often found in fertilizers, are plant nutrients that stimulate the growth of plants and algae in the water. As the amount of plant matter in the pond increases, more plants start to die off. Bacteria that decompose the dead plants also consume the oxygen in the water, so fish and other water animals soon die for lack of oxygen. The pond eventually becomes choked with plant matter and grows shallower. Ultimately, as shrubs grow where water once was, the pond dies.
Which organizational structure does this text primarily use?
A) compare-contrast
B) problem-solution
C) cause-effect
D) sequential
E) narrative
C) cause-effect
What is the meaning of fortuitous as used in the passage?
While most scientific findings are the result of deliberate and carefully designed experiments, occasionally a major discovery happens in a more fortuitous way. One such example is the discovery of penicillin in 1928 by the Scottish bacteriologist Alexander Fleming. After working as a field doctor during World War I and witnessing how many soldiers died needlessly from bacterial infections, Fleming recognized the exigency of finding a chemical that could fight these afflictions. He began to conduct experiments by growing bacteria in Petri dishes and treating them with various chemicals. Unfortunately, none of the chemicals he tested proved effective at stopping the bacteria's growth.
Which figure of speech is used in this text?
You've reached John Barton's voice mail. Please leave a detailed message at the beep, and I will return your call at my earliest convenience.
onomatopoeia