Deck 5: Four Bases for Revising Writting

Question 1

The author uses the first-person approach, which relies on her own experiences. Do you feel that she is credible What details does she include in her essay to convince us of her trustworthiness

Answer 1

Urbina uses statistics from a variety of sources some of which include: the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Children's Hopsital Boston, and the National Soft Drink Association. By citing these organizations' research findings Urbina demonstrates her credibility to the reader.

Question 2

When she was a girl, the author swore that she

A) would never forget her mother's harsh words.
B) would never be like her mother.
C) would publicly embarrass her mother by writing about her.
D) would never have children.

Answer 2

A Paragraph 3

Question 3

The children first began to show real interest in the bachelor's story when he

A) referred to Bertha as "horribly good."
B) mentioned the wolf.
C) explained why there were no sheep in the park.
D) told about Bertha's medals.

Answer 3

A Paragraph 29

Question 4

The most frequent complaint the author has heard about movies is that

A) they are too long.
B) they are too expensive.
C) the audiences are too noisy.
D) the audiences arrive too late.

Question 5

How do you think the author feels about America s military involvement in Iraq Find evidence in the selection to support your opinion.

Question 6

What seems to be the authors attitude toward Tyson Baxter at the end of the piece Why do you think they end with Tyson s desire to visit his dead friends graves What would have been the effect of ending with Lynne Pancoast s words in paragraph 94

Question 7

Upon reading their lists for the first time, Sister Helen's students

A) were silent and embarrassed.
B) were disappointed.
C) pretended to think the lists were stupid, although they really liked them.
D) smiled and seemed pleased.

Question 8

Paul Logan titled his selection "Rowing the Bus." Yet very little of the essay actually deals with the incident the title describes. Why do you think Logan chose that title In groups or two or three, come up with alternative titles and discuss why they would or would not be effective.

Question 9

At what point does Salinas stop providing background information and start giving a time-ordered narration of a particular event in her life

Question 10

Johnson tells the story of Joe s shooting briefly, in paragraphs 6-8. She could have chosen to go into much more detail about that part of the story. For instance, she could have described any previous relationship between Joe and the young man who shot him, or what happened to the shooter afterward. Why do you think she chose not to concentrate on those details How would the story have been different if she had focused on them

Question 11

Which sentence best expresses the main idea of the selection

A) The students in Mr. Gery's class experienced difficulties in their lives.
B) Mr. Gery's job was to transform his students into fighters.
C) Mr. Gery's students were the only ones who could make themselves strong.
D) Although Mr. Gery worked his students very hard, he was a kind man.

Question 12

Which sentence best expresses the article's main point

A) Television can and often does destroy family life.
B) More American families are unhappy than ever before.
C) A number of qualities mark the healthy and communicating family.
D) Strong families encourage independent thinking.

Question 13

As a child, Carson began to feel confident about his own abilities when he followed his mother s guidelines. How might Mrs. Carson s methods help adult students build up their own self-confidence and motivation

Question 14

Which of the following would be the best alternative title for this selection

A) A Poor Decision
B) Don't Let Anxiety Stop You
C) Becoming a Writer
D) The Courage to Travel

Question 15

The thesis of this essay can be found in the introduction, which is made up of the first two paragraphs. Find the thesis statement and write it here:
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Question 16

Which sentence best expresses the selection's main point

A) Americans are bombarded by various compliance techniques, the dangers of which can be overcome through understanding and legislation.
B) Fearful of the effects of political attack ads, critics are calling for strict limits on such ads.
C) With more and more messages demanding our attention, we find it harder and harder to consider any one subject really thoughtfully.
D) The persuasion researcher Robert Cialdini spent a three-year sabbatical learning the tricks taught in dozens of sales training programs.

Question 17

Verderber divides the body of his essay into three parts: first about withholding feelings, second about displaying feelings, and finally about describing feelings. He further divides the third part by introducing a list. What is that list about How many items does he include in it

Question 18

True or false _____Today, 1 in 6 children in America qualify as "obese".

Question 19

The first sign that the author's mother had Alzheimer's disease was

A) forgetting where she lived.
B) being able to speak only two or three words at a time.
C) forgetting people's identities.
D) forgetting to lock her door.

Question 20

What are a few words you think the author would probably use to describe the aunt Find evidence in the story to support your opinion.

Question 21

Wine tends to use informal wording and sentence structure. In paragraphs 22-26, for instance, find two examples of his informal wording.
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In the same paragraphs, find an example of his informal sentence structure.
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Question 22

Which of the following did Charles not write in his journal

A) Always be ashamed to cry.
B) It's not fair to judge someone by the color of their skin.
C) Every now and then you get lucky and catch a rainbow.
D) Always pay your respects for the way people lived and what they stood for.

Question 23

The authors imply that the parents of the dead boys felt that

A) Tyson should not be punished.
B) their boys shared no blame for the accident.
C) Tyson should have come to the boys' funerals.
D) Tyson should be allowed to attend graduation.

Question 24

What does the title "All the Good Things" mean Is this a good title for the essay Why or why not

Question 25

When Chris attacked George, George reacted by
a. fighting back hard.
b. shouting for Logan to help him.
c. running away.
d. accepting the beating.

Question 26

Which sentence best expresses the main idea of paragraph 7

A) Marta was shocked and saddened by the conversation she overheard.
B) Marta didn't want her grandmother to know she was crying.
C) Mr. Schmidt didn't see Marta when he rushed out of the room.
D) Marta didn't hear every word of Mr. Schmidt's and Mr. Boone's conversation.

Question 27

Joe Davis quit high school

A) when he was fourteen.
B) when he got a good job at a hospital.
C) when he was in the tenth grade.
D) after he was shot.

Question 28

The author uses dialogue to recount what Mr. Gery told his class about the fist, the clay, and the rock but does not use dialogue to tell his readers what Mr. Gery said about the course (paragraph 17). Why do you think the author chose this narrative strategy

Question 29

What is the thesis of the selection Write here the number of the paragraph in which it is stated:----------

Question 30

Which sentence best expresses the main idea of this selection a. Children who grow up in single-parent homes may spend large amounts of time home alone. b. Because of parental guidance that led to a love of reading, the author was able to go from academic failure to success.
C) Most children do not take school very seriously, and they suffer as a result.
D) Today's young people watch too much television.

Question 31

Collier uses several personal examples in his essay. Find three instances of these examples and explain how each helps Collier develop his main point.

Question 32

Which sentence best expresses the main idea of the selection

A) Excesses such as the prom and competitive sports should be eliminated from school budgets.
B) Major changes are needed to make American schools real centers of learning.
C) Attendance must be voluntary in our schools.
D) The best thinkers of our country must come up with ideas on how to improve our schools.

Question 33

What is the effect of Janny Scott s introduction to the essay (paragraphs 1-2) On the basis of that introduction, why is a reader likely to feel that the selection will be worth his or her time

Question 34

You are most likely to create physical problems for yourself by

A) withholding your feelings.
B) displaying your positive feelings.
C) describing your positive feelings.
D) describing your negative feelings.

Question 35

In paragraph 1, the author recounts her experiences eating school lunches. She could have simply written, "I ate casseroles, canned fruits, and cooked vegetables." Instead she writes, "Half a canned pear in a shaky nest of Jell-O didn t do much to excite our tastebuds. I hid my share of limp green beans under my napkin, the better to escape the eagle eye of lunchroom monitors who encouraged us to eat our soggy, overcooked vegetables." Why do you think she provides such vivid details What is the effect on her readers

Question 36

Tan begins her essay from the point of view of a sixteen-year-old girl but finishes it from the perspective of a woman in her late forties. Where in the essay does Tan make the transition between those two perspectives What words does she use to signal the change

Question 37

As Bertha was hiding in the bushes, she thought

A) of a plan for escaping from the wolf.
B) that the prince should not have allowed a wolf in his park.
C) that if she had not been so good, she would be safe.
D) that the wolf would probably go away and eat a little pig.

Question 38

The author suggests that watching television

A) has affected the behavior of movie audiences.
B) should be done in silence.
C) is more fun than seeing movies in a theater.
D) is a good model for watching movies in theaters

Question 39

Why do the authors call their narrative "a story of the times"

Question 40

In the days after the assignment to write down something nice about one another,

A) students didn't mention the assignment again.
B) students often brought their lists to school.
C) Sister Helen received calls from several parents complaining about the assignment.
D) Sister Helen decided to repeat the assignment in every one of her classes.

Question 41

Give examples of how Logan appeals to our senses in paragraphs 1-4.
Sight---------------------------------------------------
Smell---------------------------------------------------
Hearing-------------------------------------------------

Question 42

In the course of the essay, Salinas rides an emotional roller-coaster. Find and write here three words or phrases she uses to describe her different emotional states:--------------- --------------- ---------------

Question 43

In paragraphs 21-23, Johnson condenses an important year in Joe s life into three paragraphs. Locate and write below three of the many transitions that are used as part of the time order in those paragraphs.
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Question 44

The students in Mr. Gery's twelfth-grade English class wanted to be

A) clay.
B) fi sts.
C) rocks.
D) teachers.

Question 45

True or false _____According to the article, healthy families have no use for television.

Question 46

What is the main order in which the details of this selection are organized-time order or listing order Locate and write below three of the many transitions that are used as part of that time order or listing order.
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Question 47

Which sentence best expresses the main idea of the selection

A) The butterflies-in-the-stomach type of anxiety differs greatly from severe states of anxiety or depression.
B) Taking on a job assignment that required traveling helped the author get over his anxiety.
C) People learn and grow by confronting, not backing away from, situations that make them anxious.
D) Anxiety is a predictable part of life that can be dealt with in positive ways.

Question 48

The first point on Garland s list of reforms is the elimination of mandatory (that is, required) education. Then she goes on to discuss other reforms. Find the transition sentence which signals that she is leaving the discussion about mandatory education and going on to other needed changes. Write that sentence here:
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Question 49

True or false According to the article, most laypeople think they are more susceptible to persuasion than they really are.

Question 50

What devices does the author use to emphasize the organization of his essay

Question 51

The author argues that fast-food restaurant chains should be required to

A) provide nutritional information about their products.
B) reduce the portion sizes of their products.
C) use healthier ingredients in their products.
D) reduce the amount of saturated fats contained in their products.

Question 52

Paragraph 5 describes a sequence of events, and the writer uses several transition words to signal time relationships. Locate three of those transitions and write them here:
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Question 53

As the bachelor s story goes on, how can you tell that the children are becoming increasingly enthusiastic about it What hints does the author give you

Question 54

What did Charles hope to accomplish by writing the journal Do you feel that he was successful What does the author, Charles s fiancée, hope to accomplish by writing her article and publishing it in the New York Times

Question 55

The word fathom in "Compared with our own feelings of guilt, [we] could not begin to fathom this boy's emotions" (paragraph 64) means

A) choose.
B) understand.
C) mistake.
D) protest.

Question 56

Sister Helen is willing to let her readers see her weaknesses as well as her strengths. Find a place in the selection in which the author shows herself as less than perfect.

Question 57

Logan finally found the courage to stand up for abused students when he saw

A) Donald about to throw paper at a younger student.
B) older kids throwing a freshman's clothes into the shower.
C) seniors putting bubble gum in a new student's hair.
D) a gang beating up a sixth-grader whom they disliked.

Question 58

Marta was raised by her grandparents because

A) she wanted to learn to speak Spanish.
B) her father did not earn enough money to feed all his children.
C) she wanted to learn about farming.
D) her parents died when she was six.

Question 59

Joe tried to kill himself by

A) swallowing muscle-relaxant pills.
B) shooting himself.
C) overdosing on heroin.
D) not eating or drinking.

Question 60

Is the author just telling his readers about his twelfth-grade English teacher, or is the author hoping to inspire his readers to do something

Question 61

What purpose is achieved by Curran s introduction (paragraphs 1-2) Why is a reader likely to feel that her article will be reliable and worthwhile

Question 62

Bennie's mother

A) was not a religious person.
B) spoke to Bennie's teacher about Bennie's poor report card.
C) had only a third-grade education.
D) had little contact with educated people.

Question 63

In paragraph 3, Collier describes the aftermath of his decision not to go to Argentina. He could have just written, "I worked that summer." Instead he writes, "I went home to my old summer job, unpacking cartons at the local supermarket." Why do you think he provides that bit of detail about his job What is the effect on the reader

Question 64

Garland believes that mandatory attendance at school

A) gives all students an equal chance at getting an education.
B) allows troublemakers to disrupt learning.
C) is cruel to those who don't really want to be there.
D) helps teachers maintain control of their classes.

Question 65

Which of the following best describes the conclusion of the selection
a. It just stops.
b. It restates the main point of the selection.
c. It focuses on possible future occurrences.
d. It presents a point of view that is the opposite of views in the body of the selection.
Is this conclusion effective Why or why not

Question 66

The author uses the term "describing your feelings" to refer to

A) keeping your feelings inside.
B) giving a nonverbal response to feelings.
C) putting your feelings into words calmly.
D) telling "little" lies.

Question 67

The author uses statistics as well as personal experiences. Find three places in the selection where statistics are cited:
Paragraph ---------
Paragraph ---------
Paragraph ---------
What do statistics accomplish that anecdotes cannot

Question 68

What effect does Tan achieve by using so many direct quotations

Question 69

When Bertha discovered that there were no flowers in the park, she felt

A) relieved, because she would not be tempted to pick them.
B) sad, because she had made a promise that was now useless.
C) angry, because she thought the prince should have provided flowers.
D) happy, because she did not like flowers.

Question 70

The word meticulous in "He was meticulous, even insisting on doing my ironing because he deemed my wrinkle-removing skills deficient" (paragraph 15) means

A) sloppy.
B) careful and precise.
C) generous and warm.
D) careless.

Question 71

Exactly why did four teenagers die in the accident To what extent were their deaths the driver's fault Their own fault Society's fault

Question 72

According to Vicki,

A) Mark was the only student to have saved his list.
B) Vicki and Mark were the only students to have saved their lists.
C) Vicki, Mark, Charlie, Chuck, and Marilyn were the only students to have saved their lists.
D) all the students had saved their lists.

Question 73

What is Logan s attitude toward himself regarding his treatment of George Find three phrases that reveal his attitude and write them on a separate piece of paper.

Question 74

As you read the essay, what impression do you form of Salinas s grandfather What kind of man does he seem to be What details does Salinas provide in order to create that impression

Question 75

In paragraph 12, Johnson describes Joe s poor physical condition. She could I have simply written, "Joe developed a serious bedsore." Instead she writes, "Eventually Joe developed his first bedsore: a deep, rotting wound that ate into his flesh, overwhelming him with its foul odor." Why do you think she provided such graphic detail What is the effect on the reader

Question 76

True or false _____Mr. Gery promised all his students that they would be rocks at the end of the semester.

Question 77

Healthy families

A) never find it hard to communicate.
B) have no conflicts with each other.
C) know how to reveal their feelings.
D) permit one of the parents to make all final decisions.

Question 78

In paragraph 65, Carson states, "Two things happened in the second half of fifth grade that convinced me of the importance of reading books." What two transitions does Carson use in later paragraphs to help readers recognize those two events Write those two transitions here:
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Question 79

When a college friend invited the writer to go with him to Argentina, the writer

A) turned down the invitation.
B) accepted eagerly.
C) was very anxious about the idea but went anyway.
D) did not believe his friend was serious.

Question 80

What are two transitional words that Garland uses to introduce two of the other reforms
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