Research
Effective Argument
Combining and Revising Sentences
Word Choice
Grammar and Punctuation
100
The best source for additional information on Genghis Khan’s early life would probably be—
a. A documentary on the Mongol tribes and where they lived
b. A collection of photography exhibiting the Mongolian steppe
c. A pamphlet explaining how Mongol warriors learn to ride horses as children
d. A biographical article detailing Khan’s childhood experiences
d. A biographical article detailing Khan’s childhood experiences
100
Refer to Eleanor's rough draft to answer this question.
Which of these best states the thesis for the article?
a. Because water that forms caves runs through them into an underground reservoir, pollution in caves can endanger Virginia's water supply.
b. Caves are home to many unique creatures, among them the Virginia big-eared bats that hang upside down from the roof of the cave during the day and the albino fish that live in the underground streams.
c. Cave formation in Virginia and elsewhere, which involves the slow process of water eroding limestone, takes many years to accomplish.
d. Although life above ground seems to take place in a different world, it affects Virginia's caves, and in turn, caves affect the land above.
d. Although life above ground seems to take place in a different world, it affects Virginia's caves, and in turn, caves affect the land above.
100
Refer to Eleanor's Rough Draft to answer this question.
Read sentence 5:
The owner of the farm restricts access to keep it as undisturbed and as pure as possible, so I cannot name the cave, but I can say that it appears to be no more than a large hole in the ground.
How is this sentence best revised for conciseness?
a. Although I cannot name the cave because the owner of the farm restricts access to keep it pure, it appears to be a large hole in the ground.
b. To keep the cave undisturbed, the owner of the farm restricts access and I cannot name the cave, but I can say that it appears to be no more than a large hole in the ground.
c. Although I cannot name the cave because the owner restricts access to keep it as undisturbed as possible, it appears no larger than a hole in the ground is what I can say.
d. I can say that the cave, although I cannot name the cave because the owner of the farm restricts access to keep it pure, appears to be no more than a large hole in the ground.
a. Although I cannot name the cave because the owner of the farm restricts access to keep it pure, it appears to be a large hole in the ground.
100
Read this sentence:
Her Cheerful smile and positive help get people to agree with her ideas.
In this sentence, which word should replace get to be most specific?
cause
bring
assure
persuade
change
Persuade
100
Refer to Eleanor's Rough Draft to answer this question.
Read sentence 12.
As our tour continued, Dr. Newman reminded us not to disturb or be damaging to the cave environment.
How is to disturb or be damaging to correctly written?
a. to be disturbing or to damage
b. to disturb or damaging
c. to disturb or damage
d. As it is
c. to disturb or damage
200
Mrs. Copen wants to find more information about laws that protect endangered animals from poaching in Australia. Which question is directly related to her topic?
a. How many Australian territories have endangered animals?
b. What penalties do poachers face if they are caught killing endangered animals?
c. What are the primary habitats of endangered animals?
d. How long have endangered animals been living in Australia?
b. What penalties do poachers face if they are caught killing endangered animals?
200
Refer to Eleanor's Rough Draft to answer this question.
Which quotation from an expert provides the best support for this article?
a. "Everything in the environment is connected, so harming one part of it harms all who call it home."
b. "Caves on private property should be capped so that no one is hurt while trying to explore them."
c. "Because they are insulated from the effects of the sun, caves have a year-round temperature in the 50s."
d. "While caves are interesting places to explore, the most important scientific research focuses on land or sea."
a. "Everything in the environment is connected, so harming one part of it harms all who call it home."
200
Refer to Tricia's Rough Draft to answer this question.
Read sentence 16.
Scores of Sarabande students have felt her totally awesome school spirit and personal support as she cheered us on to do our best at all the sporting events and stuff.
How can Tricia best revise this sentence for appropriate tone?
a. Lots of Sarabande students have felt her super school spirit and personal support when she would check out sporting events to cheer us on.
b. Each year more and more students have felt her fabulous school spirit and support as they sweated it out at sporting events or games.
c. Tons of Sarabande students from past years have felt her school spirit and personal support as she heaped on the encouragement during a sporting competition or game.
d. Generations of Sarabande students have felt her school spirit and personal support as she inspired us to do our best during a sporting event or game.
d. Generations of Sarabande students have felt her school spirit and personal support as she inspired us to do our best during a sporting event or game.
200
Read the sentence.
In other words, they put their messages into secret codes.
Which word best replaces put to be more precise?
a. turned
b. adapted
c. arranged
d. translated
e. developed
d. translated
200
Refer to the draft on Sarsaparilla Soda to answer this question.
Read sentence 3.
They made this beverage from the sassafras's trees roots, which have a strong, sweet, smell.
How is sassafras's trees roots correctly written?
a. sassafras tree's roots
b. sassafras's tree's roots
c. sassafras trees roots
d. As it is.
a. sassafras tree's roots
300
The life cycle of coral reefs
300
Refer to Eleanor's Rough Draft to answer the question.
Which sentence is the best conclusion for the article?
a. Dr. Newman has devoted his career to saving Virginia's caves.
b. Virginia has many natural resources above ground and underground.
c. It is no wonder that Dr. Newman enjoys exploring Virginia's caves.
d. That protection extends to Virginia above ground and underground.
d. That protection extends to Virginia above ground and underground.
300
How is this sentence best revised for conciseness?
Although I know you have not been advertising for help, I am confident that I could bring valuable skills to your dealership I am very interested in the industry.
A. Although I know you have not been advertising for help, I am very interested in the industry, and I am confident that I could bring valuable skills to your dealership.
B. Although you have not been advertising for help, my interest in the industry and confidence could bring valuable skills to your dealership.
C. I am very interested in the industry and although you have not been advertising, I am confident that I could bring you my skills.
D. I am confident that I could bring valuable skills to your dealership, and I am very interested in the industry.
B. Although you have not been advertising for help, my interest in the industry and confidence could bring valuable skills to your dealership.
300
The codes in use during World War I, when cryptography, the skill of using secret writing, was in its infancy, was not challenging for Friedman.
How is was correctly written in this sentence?
a. being
b. were
c. is
d. As it is
b. were
300
Refer to the draft on Sarsaparilla Soda to answer this question.
Read sentence 5.
Of course, this drink, which lacked processed sugar tasted far less sweet than the root beer people drink today.
Which correction should be made to the sentence?
a. Delete the comma after drink
b. Change lacked to lacking
c. Insert a comma after sugar
d. Change than to then
c. Insert a comma after sugar
400
The best source for more information about the characteristics of venomous snakes in Australia would probably be—
a. A timeline of the discovery of different species
b. A book entitled Venom: One Hundred Ways to Die
c. A documentary titled “Snakes of Australia”
d. A nomenclature chart detailing which kingdom and phylum each snake belongs to
c. A documentary titled “Snakes of Australia”
400
Refer to the Sarsaparilla Soda draft to answer this question.
Which of these would best be added after sentence 8?
a. Even though sarsaparilla soda can be hard to find today, it is often available in specialty markets.
b. Many younger people have never heard of sarsaparilla soda.
c. Molasses is no longer needed to make sarsaparilla soda.
d. American Indians taught the colonists how to make sarsaparilla soda.
a. Even though sarsaparilla soda can be hard to find today, it is often available in specialty markets.
400
Read the sentence.
When the Japanese realized their radio communications were no longer secret they constructed a more complicated code, which the Americans nicknamed "Purple."
How is were no longer secret they constructed a more complicated code, which the Americans correctly written?
a. were no longer secret, they constructed a more complicated code which the Americans
b. were no longer secret they constructed a more complicated code which the Americans
c. were no longer secret, they constructed a more complicated code, which the Americans
d. As it is
c. were no longer secret, they constructed a more complicated code, which the Americans
400
Having got some experience by working at Sudzy Sue's Car Wash lst summer, I am enthusiastic about learning as much as I can about the auto industry.
In the sentence, how is enthusiastic correctly written?
A. enthusiatic
B. inthusiastic
C. enthusiastac
D. As it is
D. As it is
400
Read this sentence.
The brochure recommends bringing the following items on every hike; a jacket, water, extra socks, a map, and a signaling device.
In this sentence, how is every hike; a jacket correctly written?
a. every hike. A jacket
b. every hike, a jacket
c. every hike: a jacket
d. As it is
c. every hike: a jacket
500
Which item would be least helpful?
a. A Venn Diagram of characteristics of Earth and Jupiter
b. Model of the solar system showing each planet’s position in relation to the sun
c. A drawing of Jupiter’s moons
d. A star chart detailing the closest galaxies
d. A star chart detailing the closest galaxies
500
Refer to Tricia's Rough Draft to answer this question.
Tricia wants to add these statements to her draft. Which of these does NOT persuade the reader to help recognize Mrs. Galsworthy's service?
a. It is likely that many graduates from Sarabande High School will attend the reception to honor Mrs. Galsworthy.
b. Mrs. Galsworthy gained both respect and affection during her long career at Sarabande High School.
c. Mrs. Galsworthy's sponsorship of many extracurricular activities demonstrates her spirit and generosity.
d. A letter is a tangible symbol of gratitude for Mrs. Galsworthy's dedication to her students over the years.
a. It is likely that many graduates from Sarabande High School will attend the reception to honor Mrs. Galsworthy.
500
Read the sentence.
Most graduates, when they pause to considering Mrs. Galsworthy's contributions, will remember her as a phenomenal teacher and a superb sponsor.
Which correction should be made to this sentence?
a. Remove the comma after graduates.
b. Change considering to consider.
c. Change Galsworthy’s to Galsworthy.
d. Remove the comma after contributions.
b. Change considering to consider.
500
Read the sentence.
Indeed, a baobab had stored up to 30,000 gallons of water.
How is had stored correctly written?
a. stored
b. can store
c. is storing
d. As it is
b. can store
500
Which sentence is complete?
a. Wondered about those massive statues surrounding the mountain.
b. With several hours to spare before dinner time.
c. Today's topic of discussion deserves further attention.
d. Still waiting on the others to return from their adventures.
e. Sheltering tourists from the sun, which seemed to grow larger.
c. Today's topic of discussion deserves further attention.