Deck 1: Writing Effective Paragraphs

Question 1

Instructions: For the following question(s), select the letter of the answer that correctly identifies each type of prewriting. The prewriting below is an example of Physical Fitness Who? Kids, adults, teenagers, senior citizens What? Working out at home or at a gym, jogging, running, walking, taking classes, personal trainer, buy videos Where? Home, gym, outdoors running, team sports When? After work, on weekends, during school (P.E. classes), at work during breaks and lunch hour Why? Health, stress relief, mental sharpness, improve appearance How? Commitment, get an exercise buddy, join a gym

A) focused freewriting.
B) brainstorming.
C) clustering.
D) asking questions.
E) keeping a journal.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Instructions: Select the letter of the writing process step in which the task is completed. Brainstorming

A) Prewriting
B) Writing
C) Revising

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Instructions: Select the letter of the answer that puts the steps of the writing process in order from 1 through 4. ____ Proofreading ____ Revising ____ Prewriting ____ Writing the first draft

A) 1, 2, 4, 3
B) 4, 3, 1, 2
C) 3, 2, 4, 1

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Instructions: For the following question(s), select the letter of the answer that correctly identifies each type of prewriting. The prewriting below is an example of Aug. 21. Classes started today, and I m taking four difficult ones. I m not worried about my English class because I like the instructor. Math is always hard for me, though, so my algebra class is sure to be a lot of work. I ll have to put in a lot of study time. My weight training P.E. class will be great, help me get into better shape. I ve also got an Introduction to Computers class. I m looking forward to that one because I enjoy learning more about computers. Aug. 23. Today, I heard on the news that many young people are getting in over their heads when it comes to credit-card debt. Some of them charge thousands of dollars and then can t pay it off. Credit-card companies aren t going to stop giving cards to teenagers and college students, so maybe high schools and colleges should offer financial management courses to help young people learn how to stick to a budget and avoid getting into debt.

A) focused freewriting.
B) brainstorming.
C) clustering.
D) asking questions.
E) keeping a journal.

Question 5

Instructions: Select the letter of the writing process step in which the task is completed. Writing a first draft

A) Prewriting
B) Writing
C) Revising

Question 6

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and then answer the question(s) that follow(s) by choosing the letter of the correct response. Students who do not have the money to pay for some or all of their college expenses can apply for various forms of financial aid. Obtaining the funds for tuition, books, and even living expenses begins with filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The fastest way to fill out this form is to complete it online at www.fafsa.gov , but students can also fill out and mail in a paper version of the form. This form asks for information about students financial situation and requires them to answer questions about their taxable and untaxed income and their assets, such as savings account balances and investments. If students are considered dependent on their parents, their parents financial information is also required. After students submit their FAFSA forms, those forms are processed, and students receive a Student Aid Report. A report is also sent to the colleges the student identified on the FAFSA. Each college uses the information it receives to calculate the amount of aid the student can receive; then, the college generates an award letter for the student. This application process must be completed every year a student is enrolled in school and needs financial aid. The purpose of this paragraph is to

A) convince people to attend college.
B) persuade students to apply for financial aid.
C) explain how to apply for financial aid.

Question 7

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and then answer the question(s) that follow(s) by choosing the letter of the correct response. Students who do not have the money to pay for some or all of their college expenses can apply for various forms of financial aid. Obtaining the funds for tuition, books, and even living expenses begins with filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The fastest way to fill out this form is to complete it online at www.fafsa.gov , but students can also fill out and mail in a paper version of the form. This form asks for information about students financial situation and requires them to answer questions about their taxable and untaxed income and their assets, such as savings account balances and investments. If students are considered dependent on their parents, their parents financial information is also required. After students submit their FAFSA forms, those forms are processed, and students receive a Student Aid Report. A report is also sent to the colleges the student identified on the FAFSA. Each college uses the information it receives to calculate the amount of aid the student can receive; then, the college generates an award letter for the student. This application process must be completed every year a student is enrolled in school and needs financial aid. The subject of this paragraph is

A) applying for financial aid.
B) the high cost of attending college.
C) types of financial aid.

Question 8

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and then answer the question(s) that follow(s) by choosing the letter of the correct response. Students who do not have the money to pay for some or all of their college expenses can apply for various forms of financial aid. Obtaining the funds for tuition, books, and even living expenses begins with filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The fastest way to fill out this form is to complete it online at www.fafsa.gov , but students can also fill out and mail in a paper version of the form. This form asks for information about students financial situation and requires them to answer questions about their taxable and untaxed income and their assets, such as savings account balances and investments. If students are considered dependent on their parents, their parents financial information is also required. After students submit their FAFSA forms, those forms are processed, and students receive a Student Aid Report. A report is also sent to the colleges the student identified on the FAFSA. Each college uses the information it receives to calculate the amount of aid the student can receive; then, the college generates an award letter for the student. This application process must be completed every year a student is enrolled in school and needs financial aid. This paragraph was written for an audience of

A) students who need money for college.
B) financial aid officers at colleges.
C) people who have decided not to attend college.

Question 9

Instructions: For the following question(s), select the letter of the answer that correctly identifies each type of prewriting. The prewriting below is an example of My Best Friend My best friend Robin. We met junior year, Sherman High School. A very caring person, has many friends because she s sympathetic to other people s problems. A really good listener. She s smart makes good grades. Got a scholarship. Nursing student, I know she ll be a good one nurses have to be good at helping people, and Robin is great at that. Cares about animals, would be a good veterinarian if she doesn t become a nurse.

A) focused freewriting.
B) brainstorming.
C) clustering.
D) asking questions.
E) keeping a journal.

Question 10

Instructions: Select the letter of the correct answer. Which prewriting technique involves writing down associations that branch out from a topic in the center?

A) brainstorming
B) writing in a journal
C) freewriting
D) clustering
E) asking questions

Question 11

Instructions: Select the letter of the correct answer. Which prewriting technique involves writing without stopping or worry about grammar and spelling?

A) brainstorming
B) writing in a journal
C) freewriting
D) clustering
E) asking questions

Question 12

Instructions: For the following question(s), select the letter of the answer that correctly identifies each type of prewriting. The prewriting below is an example of Living in a big city traffic jams crowds, waiting in line art galleries, museums, concerts, theaters, performances restaurants and food carts sounds of horns, sirens, police whistles park people sitting on grass, throwing a Frisbee, eating lunch skyscrapers subway

A) focused freewriting.
B) brainstorming.
C) clustering.
D) asking questions.
E) keeping a journal.

Question 13

Instructions: Select the letter of the correct answer. Which prewriting technique involves writing in a notebook every day or several times a week about your thoughts and experiences?

A) brainstorming
B) writing in a journal
C) freewriting
D) clustering
E) asking questions

Question 14

Instructions: Select the letter of the writing process step in which the task is completed. Arranging ideas in a plan or outline

A) Prewriting
B) Writing
C) Revising

Question 15

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and then answer the following question(s) by selecting the letter of the correct response. Coffee drinkers should seriously consider switching to tea. According to the latest research, the ingredients in tea may help people stay slim. When Taiwanese researchers studied 1,000 people, they found that the people who drank two cups of any kind of tea every week for ten years had 20 percent less body fat than people who didn t drink tea. But there s an even better reason to switch. As it turns out, tea lowers the risk of serious disease, such as some cancers, heart attack, and stroke. In 2003, scientists found out that after just three weeks of drinking five cups of black tea per day, fifteen people cut their cholesterol by 7 percent and their bad LDL cholesterol by 11 percent. Australian researchers studying 218 women found that tea reduced blood pressure; in fact, the more tea a person drank, the more blood pressure dropped. Coffee does not offer any of these health benefits, so tea is clearly the better beverage choice. The purpose of this paragraph is to

A) explain the differences between coffee and tea.
B) persuade coffee drinkers to drink tea instead.
C) convince people to drink healthy beverages.

Question 16

Instructions: Select the letter of the correct answer. Which prewriting technique involves exploring a topic by asking who, what, when, where, why, and how?

A) brainstorming
B) writing in a journal
C) freewriting
D) clustering
E) asking questions

Question 17

Instructions: Select the letter of the correct answer. Which prewriting technique involves jotting down a list of words and phrases?

A) brainstorming
B) writing in a journal
C) freewriting
D) clustering
E) asking questions

Question 18

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and then answer the following question(s) by selecting the letter of the correct response. Coffee drinkers should seriously consider switching to tea. According to the latest research, the ingredients in tea may help people stay slim. When Taiwanese researchers studied 1,000 people, they found that the people who drank two cups of any kind of tea every week for ten years had 20 percent less body fat than people who didn t drink tea. But there s an even better reason to switch. As it turns out, tea lowers the risk of serious disease, such as some cancers, heart attack, and stroke. In 2003, scientists found out that after just three weeks of drinking five cups of black tea per day, fifteen people cut their cholesterol by 7 percent and their bad LDL cholesterol by 11 percent. Australian researchers studying 218 women found that tea reduced blood pressure; in fact, the more tea a person drank, the more blood pressure dropped. Coffee does not offer any of these health benefits, so tea is clearly the better beverage choice. The subject of this paragraph is

A) the benefits of drinking tea.
B) healthy beverages.
C) coffee drinkers.

Question 19

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and then answer the following question(s) by selecting the letter of the correct response. Coffee drinkers should seriously consider switching to tea. According to the latest research, the ingredients in tea may help people stay slim. When Taiwanese researchers studied 1,000 people, they found that the people who drank two cups of any kind of tea every week for ten years had 20 percent less body fat than people who didn t drink tea. But there s an even better reason to switch. As it turns out, tea lowers the risk of serious disease, such as some cancers, heart attack, and stroke. In 2003, scientists found out that after just three weeks of drinking five cups of black tea per day, fifteen people cut their cholesterol by 7 percent and their bad LDL cholesterol by 11 percent. Australian researchers studying 218 women found that tea reduced blood pressure; in fact, the more tea a person drank, the more blood pressure dropped. Coffee does not offer any of these health benefits, so tea is clearly the better beverage choice. This paragraph was written for an audience of

A) tea drinkers.
B) coffee drinkers.
C) researchers.

Question 20

Instructions: Select the letter of the writing process step in which the task is completed. Proofreading for grammar and spelling errors

A) Prewriting
B) Writing
C) Revising

Question 21

Instructions: Each group of sentences below could be unscrambled and written as a paragraph. Read each group, and select the letter of the topic sentence for each. Select the topic sentence.

A) Using marijuana can cause problems with concentration, memory, thinking, and problem-solving.
B) Particularly for young people, marijuana can lead to increased anxiety, panic attacks, depression, and other mental health problems.
C) Smoking marijuana contributes to auto crashes that injure or kill.
D) Marijuana use harms people in a number of different ways.
E) Long-term use of marijuana can lead to respiratory and cardiac diseases, as well as cancer.

Question 22

Instructions: Check the following paragraph(s) for unity. Select the number of the sentence that does not belong in the paragraph. Identify the sentence that does not belong. (1) Bottled water is not necessarily any purer or healthier than the water you can get from your sink. (2) In fact, in many cities and towns, the testing requirements for tap water are much stricter than those for bottled water, and the bottled water may actually contain contaminants that the tap water is not allowed to have. (3) Plus, bottled water usually lacks fluoride, an important mineral that is added to tap water. (4) Another reason to drink tap water is the waste generated by consumption of bottled water. (5) While all of those empty plastic bottles can be recycled, most people just toss them into the trash, and they end up in landfills already overflowing with garbage. (6) Recycling glass, newspaper, and aluminum will also help to minimize America s waste problem. (7) Finally, bottled water costs a lot more than tap water. (8) In fact, it s often about 300 times more expensive.

A) Sentence 3
B) Sentence 6
C) Sentence 7

Question 23

Instructions: Check the following paragraph(s) for unity. Select the number of the sentence that does not belong in the paragraph. Identify the sentence that does not belong. (1) In nineteenth-century America, chocolate was a rare, expensive treat. (2) It was Milton Hershey, founder of Hershey Foods, who made chocolate affordable and widely available. (3) He had built a successful caramel-making company before chocolate-making first fascinated him in 1893. (4) For years, he worked at perfecting a recipe for making milk chocolate, a process which up until then had been the secret of Swiss chocolate makers. (5) Hershey experimented with different combinations of milk, sugar, and cocoa until he found the right one. (6) Then, using mass-production techniques, he was able to make and sell large quantities of individually wrapped, affordably priced chocolate. (7) For decades after Hershey began manufacturing his Hershey bars in 1904, the candy cost only a nickel. (8) In the early 1900s, a nickel also bought a ride on the New York subway.

A) Sentence 6
B) Sentence 7
C) Sentence 8

Question 24

Instructions: Study the body of each of the following paragraphs. Then, select the letter of the topic sentence that is most accurate. Select the best topic sentence for the paragraph. A study conducted by George Washington University and the National Endowment for the Arts showed that senior citizens who sing in a choir are physically healthier than senior citizens who aren t involved in an arts program. Plus, the singers are less likely to suffer from depression and mental deterioration. Dr. Graham Welch of the University of Surrey, who has spent over thirty years researching the effects of singing, claims that singing requires breathing deeply, so it s good aerobic exercise for the lungs, abdominal muscles, and circulatory system. Physician Eric Roter, who reviews the connection between music and health on his web site ermusic.org , agrees. He says that when people sing, the body responds as though it was getting a physical workout. Plus, singing just makes people feel good. Research from Manchester University suggests that singing stimulates a small organ in the inner ear called the saccule, which produces pleasure. Also, endorphins released during singing relax the body and lift the singer s spirits.

A) Singing in a choir is a lot of fun.
B) Singing appears to benefit physical and mental health.
C) Music is a very important part of life.

Question 25

Instructions: For each group of sentences below, select the letter of the sentence that is limited enough to be the topic sentence of a good paragraph. Select the good topic sentence.

A) Body language can often reveal whether someone is lying.
B) In this paragraph, I will discuss the topic of teenage pregnancy.
C) Illiteracy is something we should all think about.

Question 26

Instructions: Study the body of each of the following paragraphs. Then, select the letter of the topic sentence that is most accurate. Select the best topic sentence for the paragraph. One parent in Oklahoma, fed up with her daughter s poor grades and chronic tardiness, forced her daughter to stand at a busy intersection and hold a sign that read I don t do my homework and I act up in school. My parents are preparing me for my future. Will work for food. After her son was suspended from school for the seventh time, a Kansas City mom required her son to wear a sandwich board declaring that he was the class clown and pace for hours outside her workplace. In California, two parents were charged with abuse after they sent their son to school with dog excrement in his backpack to punish him for failing to clean up after his pet.

A) Some frustrated parents are using public punishments to try to correct their children for bad behavior.
B) When it comes to punishing kids for undesirable behaviors, some discipline techniques work better than others.
C) Public punishments are cruel and abusive.

Question 27

Instructions: Each group of sentences below could be unscrambled and written as a paragraph. Read each group, and select the letter of the topic sentence for each. Choose the topic sentence.

A) Most important, office e-mail is not private, so never disclose information that you wouldn t want your boss or co-workers to see.
B) To avoid information overload, send e-mails only to those who must see them.
C) All employees who use e-mail at work should follow certain professional guidelines.
D) The subject line should be business-like, not casual: PowerPoint Training, not Yo, Boris!

Question 28

Instructions: For each paragraph below, select the number of the topic sentence. Identify the topic sentence of the paragraph below. (1) Volunteering doesn t just benefit those who receive help; it significantly improves the health and happiness of the volunteer, too. (2) According to several studies, elderly people who volunteer are less depressed and more physically healthy than elderly people who don t volunteer. (3) Plus, those same studies found that the volunteers lived longer. (4) However, it s not just senior citizens who benefit from volunteering. (5) The connection between volunteering and good health is so strong, as a matter of fact, that the Public Health Center at Harvard University created a media campaign to encourage new retirees to sign up to volunteer. (6) Child psychologists say that volunteer work helps adolescents and teenagers, too, by building their self-esteem and socialization skills.

A) Sentence 1
B) Sentence 2
C) Sentence 4

Question 29

Instructions: Check the following paragraph(s) for unity. Select the number of the sentence that does not belong in the paragraph. Identify the sentence that does not belong. (1) Some very odd things have been sold on eBay, the online auction site. (2) One man recently sold his forehead for advertising space. (3) The winning bid was $37,000. (4) When pop singer Justin Beiber cut off his long, famous hair, the locks sold for over $40,668, and several sellers have offered buyers a chance to own singer Britney Spears s used chewing gum. (5) A cheese sandwich said to bear an image of the Virgin Mary went for $28,000. (6) A cinnamon bun that supposedly looked like Mother Teresa was stolen from a coffeehouse in Nashville, Tennessee. (7) One eBay shopper paid $4,550 for a vampire-killing kit, and another bought a serial killer s fingernails for $9.99. (8) The meaning of life sold for a mere $3.26, and another buyer got Nothing! Absolutely Nothing! for $1.03.

A) Sentence 4
B) Sentence 6
C) Sentence 7

Question 30

Instructions: For each paragraph, select the number of the topic sentence. Identify the topic sentence of the paragraph below. (1) A well-written resume is a critical component for a successful job search. (2) To write a resume that gets results, always include action verbs that clearly reveal your skills and abilities. (3) Specific action verbs help potential employers understand how your experiences match their needs, so these action words should always begin your descriptions of duties you performed at previous jobs. (4) As you are listing these duties, use verbs such as analyzed, calculated, delivered, wrote, monitored, and purchased to describe the actions you have performed in the past. (5) In addition, make sure that, as much as possible, the verbs in your resume match the employer s description of the position. (6) If the position description states that good organizational skills are required, make sure to use the verb organized to describe at least one duty that you ve performed in past jobs. If the position description asks for a supervisor, and you have supervisory experience, use the word supervised to describe one of your previous responsibilities.

A) Sentence 1
B) Sentence 2
C) Sentence 3

Question 31

Instructions: Each group of sentences below could be unscrambled and written as a paragraph. Read each group, and select the letter of the topic sentence for each. Select the topic sentence.

A) Muslims say a brief ritualistic prayer five times a day while facing the direction of Mecca, kneeling, and bowing their heads to the ground.
B) Jews pray three times a day and even more often on holy days.
C) Hindus sing or recite a prayer called the Gayatri mantra on a daily basis.
D) All of the world s major religions include some form of prayer.
E) Followers of the Christian faith usually pray during worship services, before meals, and before going to sleep at night.

Question 32

Instructions: For each group of sentences below, select the letter of the sentence that is limited enough to be the topic sentence of a good paragraph. Select the good topic sentence.

A) This paper will be about college.
B) Pollution is a really big problem in the world today.
C) Loud noise may be harmful to our physical health.

Question 33

Instructions: For each group of sentences below, select the letter of the sentence that is limited enough to be the topic sentence of a good paragraph. Select the good topic sentence.

A) This paragraph will be about the Internet.
B) Psychology is a very interesting topic to explore.
C) The federal minimum wage should be increased to at least $9.00 per hour.

Question 34

Instructions: For each paragraph below, select the number of the topic sentence. Identify the topic sentence of the paragraph below. (1) Statistics show that the average American generates about 4 pounds of trash every day. (2) When you multiply that by the number of people living in the United States, you realize we throw away about 210 million tons of stuff each year. (3) That s a lot of trash. (4) However, we can all combat this problem by taking three steps: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. (5) Reduce refers to lessening the amount of trash you generate. Buy only the amount you need. (6) Persuade manufacturers to reduce the amount of packaging they use. (7) Mow your lawn with a mulching mower and leave the clippings on the grass. (8) Reuse means finding other locations for items besides the garbage can. (9) Figure out other ways you can use things like cans or plastic bags. (10) Share unused portions with neighbors or charities. (11) Donate unwanted items to others rather than throwing them away. (12) If you can t reuse, recycle . (13) The recycling process can be applied to glass, paper, plastics, steel, and cardboard, which can be made into useful products rather than thrown into an overflowing landfill.

A) Sentence 1
B) Sentence 4
C) Sentence 13

Question 35

Instructions: For each paragraph, select the number of the topic sentence. Identify the topic sentence of the paragraph below. (1) Playing video games may give doctors an advantage in the operating room, helping them save lives. (2) A 2004 study at New York s Beth Israel Medical Center tested thirty-three doctors on video game tasks that measured their motor skills, reaction time, and hand-eye coordination. (3) These are the same skills that are essential to performing laparoscopic surgery, which involves using a joystick to maneuver a tiny video camera inserted into a patient s body. (4) Researchers found that doctors who used to play video games for more than three hours a week were 37 percent less likely than nongamers to make mistakes. (5) They also finished procedures 27 percent faster than nongamers.

A) Sentence 1
B) Sentence 2
C) Sentence 3

Question 36

Instructions: Each group of sentences below could be unscrambled and written as a paragraph. Read each group, and select the letter of the topic sentence for each. Choose the topic sentence.

A) In about 25 percent of people, sunlight triggers sneezing because of a link between the eye s optic nerve and nerves associated with the sneeze response.
B) Light, or the lack of it, affects some people in interesting ways.
C) People who wear contact lenses or take certain medications are often more sensitive to sunlight.
D) During winter months, some people suffer from seasonal affective disorder, or feelings of depression due to reduced amounts of light.

Question 37

Instructions: Check the following paragraph(s) for unity. Select the number of the sentence that does not belong in the paragraph. Identify the sentence that does not belong. (1) Many cities have adopted or toughened their laws that protect trees because trees benefit cities and their inhabitants in several ways. (2) They clean air by filtering out carbon monoxide, ozone, and other pollutants and then producing oxygen. (3) They also prevent rain from washing oil, vehicle coolant fluid, pesticides, and other chemicals into rivers and lakes. (4) Therefore, they reduce the need for cities to install huge, multibillion-dollar storm-water systems to handle the runoff that occurs in areas with fewer trees. (5) Trees also provide cooling shade, thus reducing the need for air conditioning in homes and businesses. (6) If it weren t for air conditioning, many cities in Florida, such as Miami and Orlando, would never have grown so large. (7) Because trees save money on energy costs, many cities encourage their residents to protect the trees surrounding their homes and businesses.

A) Sentence 4
B) Sentence 5
C) Sentence 6

Question 38

Instructions: Study the body of each of the following paragraphs. Then, select the letter of the topic sentence that is most accurate. Select the best topic sentence for the paragraph. It dates back to ancient Egypt, when players tried to knock down pins by rolling a ball made of stone or wood at them. One historian claims that Germans were playing the game by 300 A.D. By the Middle Ages, bowling had become so popular that in 1366, England s King Edward III banned the sport because it was distracting his soldiers from archery practice. English, Dutch, and German settlers all imported different variations of the game when they immigrated to America. Today, almost 70 million Americans go bowling every year, making it the most popular participatory sport in the United States.

A) Bowling has long been a popular game all over the world.
B) Bowling is a lot of fun.
C) Bowling balls have changed a lot over the years.

Question 39

Instructions: For each group of sentences below, select the letter of the sentence that is limited enough to be the topic sentence of a good paragraph. Select the good topic sentence.

A) This paragraph will be about teenage pregnancy.
B) People who want to lose weight should seriously consider joining a gym.
C) I want to write about television.

Question 40

Instructions: Study the body of each of the following paragraphs. Then, select the letter of the topic sentence that is most accurate. Select the best topic sentence for the paragraph. For example, a substance in chocolate is a cardiac stimulant that can increase a dog s heart rate and cause it to beat irregularly. Dogs that eat large quantities of chocolate may even die. Onions and garlic, too, contain an ingredient that is toxic to dogs. Onion poisoning causes the dog s red blood cells to burst while they circulate in its body. Vomiting and diarrhea will be followed by breathlessness as the dog s blood loses its ability to carry oxygen. Another toxic food is macadamia nuts, which can cause muscle weakness and pain in a dog s limbs. Other potential hazards for dogs include broccoli, raisins, grapes, potato peelings, and yeast dough.

A) Several common foods are actually quite poisonous.
B) Certain foods are toxic to dogs.
C) Pets have serious reactions to people foods.

Question 41

Instructions: Select the letter of the answer that arranges the ideas that develop each topic sentence below in their order of importance. Begin with the most important (or largest, most severe, most surprising) and continue to the least important. Louis Pasteur is revered as a great scientist for his three major discoveries. ____ Almost as important was Pasteur s development of pasteurization, the process that keeps beverages from spoiling, after he realized that tiny living beings, not chemical reactions, were spoiling beverages like milk, wine, vinegar, and beer. ____ Most important, after this Frenchman discovered that weakened forms of a disease could help a person or animal build up immunity to that disease, he created vaccines that have saved millions of lives. ____ Finally, Pasteur found ways to stop a silkworm disease that threatened to ruin France s profitable silk industry.

A) 2, 1, 3
B) 3, 2, 1
C) 1, 3, 2

Question 42

Instructions: Each topic sentence below is followed by supporting details. Select the letter of the answer that arranges each group of details according to space order. Describe a person. ____ intense brown eyes ____ narrow hips ____ broad shoulders ____ two-inch scar on right cheek ____ big feet ____ rumpled sandy-colored hair

A) 2, 5, 4, 3, 6, 1
B) 3, 2, 5, 4, 1, 6
C) 6, 3, 1, 5, 3, 2

Question 43

Instructions: In each pair of sentences below, carefully determine the exact relationship between the sentences. Then select the transitional expression that clearly expresses this relationship. One symptom of the flu is a high fever. ____, the disease causes chills, body aches, coughing, and fatigue.

A) Thus
B) In contrast
C) In addition

Question 44

Instructions: In each pair of sentences below, carefully determine the exact relationship between the sentences. Then select the transitional expression that clearly expresses this relationship. He posted his r sum on a job search web site. ____, he waited for employers to contact him for a job interview.

A) Then
B) Therefore
C) Similarly

Question 45

Instructions: Select the letter of the answer that arranges the ideas that develop each of the topic sentences below in their order of importance. Begin with the most important (or largest, most severe, most surprising) and continue to the least important. For three reasons, motorists should not exceed the posted speed limit. ____ At highway speeds, driving too fast can lower gas mileage by as much as 33 percent, resulting in higher gasoline bills. ____ People who drive the speed limit are less likely to cause or be involved in traffic accidents that injure and kill. ____ Driving the speed limit will eliminate the worry of getting a speeding ticket and having to pay hundreds of dollars in fines and court costs.

A) 1, 3, 2
B) 3, 1, 2
C) 3, 2, 1

Question 46

Instructions: For the following question(s), select the letter of the answer that arranges each set of sentences in logical time order. The first sentence is the topic sentence in each set. Long before the English permanently colonized Virginia in 1607, both the French and Spanish had set up colonies in the New World. ____ The first permanent Spanish settlement was finally established in St. Augustine, Florida, in 1565, forty-two years before the English arrived in Jamestown. ____ Long before Jamestown, in 1526, the Spanish created, in what is now Georgia, the colony of San Miguel de Guadalupe. ____ The French colonized Fort Caroline, near present-day Jacksonville, Florida, in 1564, but it was destroyed by the Spanish a year later. ____ In 1562, the French established a colony at Port Royal, in what is now South Carolina.

A) 1, 2, 3, 4
B) 2, 3, 1, 4
C) 4, 1, 3, 2

Question 47

Instructions: For the following question(s), select the letter of the answer that arranges each set of sentences in logical time order. The first sentence is the topic sentence in each set. Ham the Chimp was the United States first higher primate astronaut. ____ His training complete, Ham was strapped into a capsule atop a Mercury rocket and launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, into outer space on January 31, 1961. ____ Following his successful flight, the astronaut chimp lived in zoos for 17 years until he died at age 27 and was buried at New Mexico s International Space Hall of Fame. ____ After spending a day in orbit proving that astronauts could indeed function in space, Ham splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean and was picked up by a rescue ship. ____ In December 1960, the chimpanzee was trained to perform simple tasks in response to lights and sounds.

A) 4, 3, 1, 2
B) 2, 4, 3, 1
C) 1, 2, 4, 3

Question 48

Instructions: In each pair of sentences below, carefully determine the exact relationship between the sentences. Then select the transitional expression that clearly expresses this relationship. A blizzard hit the airport. ____, all flights were cancelled.

A) Nevertheless
B) Consequently
C) For example

Question 49

Instructions: Each topic sentence below is followed by supporting details. Select the letter of the answer that arranges each group of details according to space order. Describe a science classroom. ____ rows of chairs and counters where students are writing ____ back wall of shelves with jars containing small animals, a human brain ____ on front counter, large plastic model of an eyeball ____ human skeleton hanging on a pole in front of the jars ____ professor in white lab coat explaining the parts of the eye

A) 3, 5, 1, 4, 2
B) 2, 1, 4, 5, 3
C) 4, 3, 5, 1, 2

Question 50

Instructions: Select the letter of the answer that arranges the ideas that develop each of the topic sentences below in their order of importance. Begin with the most important (or largest, most severe, most surprising) and continue to the least important. On January 2, the Waltons returned to find that their home had been robbed. ____ The DVD player was gone. ____ A jar with about $20 in change was nowhere to be found. ____ A video game worth $40 had been taken. ____ Mrs. Walton s diamond ring was missing. ____ Two cans of noodle soup had been filched.

A) 5, 3, 1, 4, 2
B) 2, 4, 3, 1, 5
C) 3, 2, 1, 4, 5

Question 51

Instructions: Each topic sentence below is followed by supporting details. Select the letter of the answer that arranges each group of details according to space order. Describe a gift. ____ white rectangular box ____ big blue bow ____ flannel nightgown with Minnie Mouse design ____ white tissue paper, the innermost wrapping ____ flowered wrapping paper

A) 2, 5, 4, 1, 3
B) 3, 1, 5, 4, 2
C) 4, 2, 1, 5, 3

Question 52

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and answer the questions that follow by selecting the letter of the correct response. When Lewis and Clark made their way through what is now North Dakota, the Shoshone Indian woman named Sacajawea joined the team of explorers. Because the expedition was traveling with a Native American, other tribes did not attack the group. In fact, one tribe even supplied horses to help the explorers and their interpreter cross the Rocky Mountains. This invaluable team member taught the men how to find medicine and food in the wilderness and once even saved the records of the journey when a canoe overturned during a storm. She reached the Pacific Ocean with Lewis and Clark in 1805. Her fame eventually spread; one of the best-known monuments to her is a statue in Portland, Oregon. Which of the following is a synonym used to refer to the subject of the paragraph?

A) this invaluable team member
B) the men
C) the wilderness

Question 53

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and answer the questions that follow by selecting the letter of the correct response. When Lewis and Clark made their way through what is now North Dakota, the Shoshone Indian woman named Sacajawea joined the team of explorers. Because the expedition was traveling with a Native American, other tribes did not attack the group. In fact, one tribe even supplied horses to help the explorers and their interpreter cross the Rocky Mountains. This invaluable team member taught the men how to find medicine and food in the wilderness and once even saved the records of the journey when a canoe overturned during a storm. She reached the Pacific Ocean with Lewis and Clark in 1805. Her fame eventually spread; one of the best-known monuments to her is a statue in Portland, Oregon. Which of the following is a pronoun used to refer to the subject of the paragraph?

A) with
B) her
C) one

Question 54

Instructions: Each topic sentence below is followed by supporting details. Select the letter of the answer that arranges each group of details according to space order. Describe a skyscraper. ____ 150 hotel rooms take up the fifteenth through thirtieth floors ____ offices on floors 2-14 ____ on the ground floor, shops and restaurants ____ condominiums occupying the top eighteen floors ____ at the very top, rooftop penthouses

A) 1, 3, 4, 5, 2
B) 2, 4, 5, 3, 1
C) 3, 2, 1, 4, 5

Question 55

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and answer the questions that follow by selecting the letter of the correct response. The cross is, of course, most often associated with Christianity. However, it was also used by the Assyrians to represent their sky god, Anu, and by the Chinese to represent the earth. The symbol appears in Egyptian paintings, too; gods are often shown holding the ankh, a cross topped with a loop, which symbolized immortality. When Hernan Cort s and his Spanish troops invaded Mexico in 1519, they found the cross in native temples there, but the image represented the gods Tlaloc and Quetzalcoatl. The Celtic cross, which predates Christianity, symbolized fertility. Which of the following is a synonym used to refer to the subject of the paragraph?

A) the Chinese
B) the earth
C) the symbol

Question 56

Instructions: For the following question(s), select the letter of the answer that arranges each set of sentences in logical time order. The first sentence is the topic sentence in each set. The demolition of a building occurs in four main stages. ____ Based on the information they gather, the blasters then carefully plan what type of explosives to use, where to position them in the building, and how to time their detonation. ____ Finally, the team clears the area, begins a countdown, detonates the explosions, and watches as the building collapses in a cloud of dust in just a few seconds. ____ First, the demolition crew studies the building s architectural blueprints to find out exactly how the building is put together. ____ After the demolition team figures out how to set up the blast, it prepares the building by knocking out walls, weakening its support columns, and loading those columns with dynamite.

A) 1, 3, 4, 2
B) 4, 2, 3, 1
C) 2, 4, 1, 3

Question 57

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and answer the questions that follow by selecting the letter of the correct response. When Lewis and Clark made their way through what is now North Dakota, the Shoshone Indian woman named Sacajawea joined the team of explorers. Because the expedition was traveling with a Native American, other tribes did not attack the group. In fact, one tribe even supplied horses to help the explorers and their interpreter cross the Rocky Mountains. This invaluable team member taught the men how to find medicine and food in the wilderness and once even saved the records of the journey when a canoe overturned during a storm. She reached the Pacific Ocean with Lewis and Clark in 1805. Her fame eventually spread; one of the best-known monuments to her is a statue in Portland, Oregon. Which of the following is a pronoun used to refer to the subject of the paragraph?

A) their
B) in
C) she

Question 58

Instructions: Select the letter of the answer that arranges the ideas that develop each topic sentence below in their order of importance. Begin with the most important (or largest, most severe, most surprising) and continue to the least important. According to financial experts, the ideal budget allots certain amounts of money for different types of expenses. ____ Taxes, including federal and state income taxes and property taxes, should amount to 25 percent or less of one s total income. ____ Living expenses, including the cost of electricity, food, clothing, and entertainment, should not exceed 26 percent of one s income. ____ Four percent of one s budget should go for insurance, including life, health, and auto insurance. ____ Housing (either rent or mortgage payments) plus other debts, including auto loans and credit-card payments, should not exceed 30 percent of income. ____ Everyone should set aside 15 percent of his or her income for saving or investing.

A) 4, 2, 1, 3, 5
B) 3, 2, 5, 1, 4
C) 1, 5, 2, 4, 3

Question 59

Instructions: For the following question(s), select the letter of the answer that arranges each set of sentences in logical time order. The first sentence is the topic sentence in each set. Creating a blog, or personal online journal, is relatively easy. ____ Once your blog is created, post new material every day, but wait until you have posted a month s worth of entries before you begin telling people about it. ____ First of all, choose the type of blog you want to create by picking a focus, such as one of your areas of expertise or some type of current event that fascinates you. ____ After selecting a topic on which to focus, go to a simple blog creation site, such as Blogger.com, and follow the directions there to create your blog. ____ When you have a month s worth of postings, tell your friends to visit your site and begin leaving links to your blog at other blogs you enjoy reading.

A) 1, 4, 3, 2
B) 2, 3, 4, 1
C) 3, 1, 2, 4

Question 60

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and answer the questions that follow by selecting the letter of the correct response. When Lewis and Clark made their way through what is now North Dakota, the Shoshone Indian woman named Sacajawea joined the team of explorers. Because the expedition was traveling with a Native American, other tribes did not attack the group. In fact, one tribe even supplied horses to help the explorers and their interpreter cross the Rocky Mountains. This invaluable team member taught the men how to find medicine and food in the wilderness and once even saved the records of the journey when a canoe overturned during a storm. She reached the Pacific Ocean with Lewis and Clark in 1805. Her fame eventually spread; one of the best-known monuments to her is a statue in Portland, Oregon. Which of the following is a synonym used to refer to the subject of the paragraph?

A) the team of explorers
B) the expedition
C) a Native American

Question 61

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and answer the questions that follow by selecting the letter of the correct response. The cross is, of course, most often associated with Christianity. However, it was also used by the Assyrians to represent their sky god, Anu, and by the Chinese to represent the earth. The symbol appears in Egyptian paintings, too; gods are often shown holding the ankh, a cross topped with a loop, which symbolized immortality. When Hernan Cort s and his Spanish troops invaded Mexico in 1519, they found the cross in native temples there, but the image represented the gods Tlaloc and Quetzalcoatl. The Celtic cross, which predates Christianity, symbolized fertility. Which of the following is a pronoun used to refer to the subject of the paragraph?

A) it
B) is
C) in

Question 62

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and answer the question(s) that follow. (1) Some mixed-breed dogs that would once have been referred to as mutts are now enjoying a new status as popular and expensive designer dogs. (2) For instance, the labradoodle, a cross between a Labrador and a poodle that can cost up to $4,000, is one sought-after combination. (3) Other popular doodle dogs include the schnoodle (a schnauzer-poodle mix) and the goldendoodle (a golden retriever-poodle mix). (4) Many dog lovers are willing to plunk down large sums for a cockapoo (a cocker spaniel-poodle mix) or a yorkipoo (a combination of a Yorkshire terrier and a poodle). (5) Even England s Queen Elizabeth is fond of a specialty mixed-breed known as the dorgi, a cross between a dachshund and a corgi. Select the number of the sentence containing a transitional expression that introduces an illustration.

A) Sentence 2
B) Sentence 4
C) Sentence 5

Question 63

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and answer the question(s) that follow. (1) We rarely get tired when we are doing something interesting and exciting. (2) For example, I recently took a vacation in the Canadian Rockies up around Lake Louise. (3) I spent several days trout fishing along Coral Creek, fighting my way through brush higher than my head, stumbling over logs, struggling through fallen timber yet after eight hours of this, I was not exhausted. (4) Why? (5) Because I was excited, exhilarated. (6) I had a sense of high achievement: six cutthroat trout. Dale Carnegie, Banishing Boredom on the Job How many examples does the writer use to develop the topic sentence?

A) one
B) two
C) three

Question 64

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and answer the question(s) that follow. (1) The United States is dealing with many invasive species, which are non-native plants, animals, and insects that are harmful to the area they invade. (2) For example, the fast-growing kudzu vine is known as the vine that ate the South because it covers trees and other vegetation, blocking their access to sunlight and killing them. (3) Formosan termites from East Asia are now responsible for millions of dollars in damage to homes and properties in Louisiana and other parts of the southeastern United States. (4) African honey bees, which spread from South America and Central America into America s Southwest, have been known to chase down and kill people and animals. (5) In the Great Lakes, Asian carp, imported in the 1970s to clean up algae, are now pushing out other kinds of fish and disrupting the lakes ecosystem. (6) In Florida s Everglades, huge pythons descended from abandoned pets are threatening everything from crocodiles to livestock to children. Select the number of the topic sentence in the paragraph above.

A) Sentence 1
B) Sentence 2
C) Sentence 8

Question 65

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and answer the question(s) that follow. (1) We rarely get tired when we are doing something interesting and exciting. (2) For example, I recently took a vacation in the Canadian Rockies up around Lake Louise. (3) I spent several days trout fishing along Coral Creek, fighting my way through brush higher than my head, stumbling over logs, struggling through fallen timber yet after eight hours of this, I was not exhausted. (4) Why? (5) Because I was excited, exhilarated. (6) I had a sense of high achievement: six cutthroat trout. Dale Carnegie, Banishing Boredom on the Job Select the number of the sentence containing a transitional expression that introduces an illustration.

A) Sentence 2
B) Sentence 3
C) Sentence 5

Question 66

Instructions: In each pair of sentences below, carefully determine the exact relationship between the sentences. Then select the transitional expression that clearly expresses this relationship. Some fashions are a health hazard. High heels, ____, can cause back pain and foot injuries.

A) for instance
B) on the other hand
C) meanwhile

Question 67

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and answer the question(s) that follow. (1) People who are interested in developing an artistic talent can now use their smart phones or computer tablets to tap into their creative potential. (2) For example, a budding artist can download sketchbook apps that turn a mobile device s screen into a canvas for sketching, drawing, or painting with either fingers or a stylus. (3) A musician who wants to practice or learn to play can get apps that turn a phone or tablet into a virtual piano, guitar, flute, or other instrument. (4) A poet will find apps that help with discovering ideas, finding the right words and rhymes, and composing stanzas. (5) A dancer can turn a mobile device into a tool for learning new steps or moves. Select the number of the sentence containing a transitional expression that introduces an illustration.

A) Sentence 1
B) Sentence 2
C) Sentence 3

Question 68

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and answer the questions that follow by selecting the letter of the correct response. The cross is, of course, most often associated with Christianity. However, it was also used by the Assyrians to represent their sky god, Anu, and by the Chinese to represent the earth. The symbol appears in Egyptian paintings, too; gods are often shown holding the ankh, a cross topped with a loop, which symbolized immortality. When Hernan Cort s and his Spanish troops invaded Mexico in 1519, they found the cross in native temples there, but the image represented the gods Tlaloc and Quetzalcoatl. The Celtic cross, which predates Christianity, symbolized fertility. Which of the following is a synonym used to refer to the subject of the paragraph?

A) the image
B) the gods Tlaloc and Quetzalcoatl
C) fertility

Question 69

Instructions: In each pair of sentences below, carefully determine the exact relationship between the sentences. Then select the transitional expression that clearly expresses this relationship. The star quarterback s arm was bruised. ____, it wasn t broken.

A) Finally
B) However
C) Soon

Question 70

Instructions: Each general statement below is followed by several examples. Select the letter of the example that does not clearly illustrate the generalization. Communication tools designed to make us more productive often distract us and actually reduce our efficiency.

A) Throughout the day, we allow incoming tweets and e-mail messages to constantly interrupt us by reading them immediately.
B) Television takes up much of our free time; the average person now watches more than four hours per day.
C) Ringing cell phones often interrupt us and pull our attention away from the task at hand.
D) The ding of a text message usually causes us to drop what we re doing to respond.

Question 71

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and answer the question(s) that follow. (1) The United States is dealing with many invasive species, which are non-native plants, animals, and insects that are harmful to the area they invade. (2) For example, the fast-growing kudzu vine is known as the vine that ate the South because it covers trees and other vegetation, blocking their access to sunlight and killing them. (3) Formosan termites from East Asia are now responsible for millions of dollars in damage to homes and properties in Louisiana and other parts of the southeastern United States. (4) African honey bees, which spread from South America and Central America into America s Southwest, have been known to chase down and kill people and animals. (5) In the Great Lakes, Asian carp, imported in the 1970s to clean up algae, are now pushing out other kinds of fish and disrupting the lakes ecosystem. (6) In Florida s Everglades, huge pythons descended from abandoned pets are threatening everything from crocodiles to livestock to children. How many examples does the writer use to develop the topic sentence?

A) one
B) three
C) five

Question 72

Instructions: Each general statement below is followed by several examples. Select the letter of the example that does not clearly illustrate the generalization. Radio and television personalities sometimes make amusing slips of the tongue when they are on the air.

A) One radio announcer promoted a cosmetic surgery clinic this way: If you want to change the way you look, just visit one of the plastered surgeons.
B) A talk-show host broke for a commercial with We ll be right back after these words from General Fools.
C) A slip of the tongue that seems to reveal the speaker s hidden feelings or thoughts is called a Freudian slip.
D) A radio psychologist told listeners, The happiest people are always those who wake up every morning with a porpoise.

Question 73

Instructions: Each general statement below is followed by several examples. Select the letter of the example that does not clearly illustrate the generalization. Amelia Earhart dared to act beyond the limits of what society thought a woman could or should do.

A) She saw her first plane at the Iowa State Fair.
B) She became a pilot and mechanic, entering the all-male world of aviation.
C) She presented her new husband with a marriage contract that gave both partners considerable freedom.

Question 74

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and answer the question(s) that follow. (1) People who are interested in developing an artistic talent can now use their smart phones or computer tablets to tap into their creative potential. (2) For example, a budding artist can download sketchbook apps that turn a mobile device s screen into a canvas for sketching, drawing, or painting with either fingers or a stylus. (3) A musician who wants to practice or learn to play can get apps that turn a phone or tablet into a virtual piano, guitar, flute, or other instrument. (4) A poet will find apps that help with discovering ideas, finding the right words and rhymes, and composing stanzas. (5) A dancer can turn a mobile device into a tool for learning new steps or moves. Select the number of the topic sentence in the paragraph above.

A) Sentence 1
B) Sentence 2
C) Sentence 3

Question 75

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and answer the question(s) that follow. (1) Some mixed-breed dogs that would once have been referred to as mutts are now enjoying a new status as popular and expensive designer dogs. (2) For instance, the labradoodle, a cross between a Labrador and a poodle that can cost up to $4,000, is one sought-after combination. (3) Other popular doodle dogs include the schnoodle (a schnauzer-poodle mix) and the goldendoodle (a golden retriever-poodle mix). (4) Many dog lovers are willing to plunk down large sums for a cockapoo (a cocker spaniel-poodle mix) or a yorkipoo (a combination of a Yorkshire terrier and a poodle). (5) Even England s Queen Elizabeth is fond of a specialty mixed-breed known as the dorgi, a cross between a dachshund and a corgi. How many examples does the writer use to develop the topic sentence?

A) three
B) four
C) six

Question 76

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and answer the question(s) that follow. (1) Some mixed-breed dogs that would once have been referred to as mutts are now enjoying a new status as popular and expensive designer dogs. (2) For instance, the labradoodle, a cross between a Labrador and a poodle that can cost up to $4,000, is one sought-after combination. (3) Other popular doodle dogs include the schnoodle (a schnauzer-poodle mix) and the goldendoodle (a golden retriever-poodle mix). (4) Many dog lovers are willing to plunk down large sums for a cockapoo (a cocker spaniel-poodle mix) or a yorkipoo (a combination of a Yorkshire terrier and a poodle). (5) Even England s Queen Elizabeth is fond of a specialty mixed-breed known as the dorgi, a cross between a dachshund and a corgi. Select the number of the topic sentence in the paragraph above.

A) Sentence 1
B) Sentence 2
C) Sentence 3

Question 77

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and answer the question(s) that follow. (1) People who are interested in developing an artistic talent can now use their smart phones or computer tablets to tap into their creative potential. (2) For example, a budding artist can download sketchbook apps that turn a mobile device s screen into a canvas for sketching, drawing, or painting with either fingers or a stylus. (3) A musician who wants to practice or learn to play can get apps that turn a phone or tablet into a virtual piano, guitar, flute, or other instrument. (4) A poet will find apps that help with discovering ideas, finding the right words and rhymes, and composing stanzas. (5) A dancer can turn a mobile device into a tool for learning new steps or moves. How many examples does the writer use to develop the topic sentence?

A) two
B) three
C) four

Question 78

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and answer the question(s) that follow. (1) We rarely get tired when we are doing something interesting and exciting. (2) For example, I recently took a vacation in the Canadian Rockies up around Lake Louise. (3) I spent several days trout fishing along Coral Creek, fighting my way through brush higher than my head, stumbling over logs, struggling through fallen timber yet after eight hours of this, I was not exhausted. (4) Why? (5) Because I was excited, exhilarated. (6) I had a sense of high achievement: six cutthroat trout. Dale Carnegie, Banishing Boredom on the Job Select the number of the topic sentence in the paragraph above.

A) Sentence 1
B) Sentence 2
C) Sentence 3

Question 79

Instructions: Each general statement below is followed by several examples. Select the letter of the example that does not clearly illustrate the generalization. Many people are lively and creative in old age.

A) Eighty-seven-year-old Mary Baker Eddy founded The Christian Science Monitor , one of the world s great newspapers.
B) Pablo Picasso was engraving and drawing at ninety.
C) When she was 100 years of age, Grandma Moses was still painting.
D) Michelle Obama became First Lady of the United States when she was 45 years old.

Question 80

Instructions: In each pair of sentences below, carefully determine the exact relationship between the sentences. Then select the transitional expression that clearly expresses this relationship. The hurricane s high winds uprooted trees and knocked over utility poles. ____, flooding damaged the city s businesses and homes.

A) In contrast
B) As a result
C) Furthermore