Deck 4: Improving Your Paragraphs

Question 1

For each pair of sentences, select the letter of the sentence with more exact language

A) At the thrift store, Carmen bought salt and pepper shakers and a blue scarf.
B) Carmen went shopping and bought some things.
For each pair of sentences, select the letter of the sentence with more concise language.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

For each pair of sentences, select the letter of the sentence with more concise language.

A) Typing is a valuable and beneficial skill to take while in school and learn to do.
B) Typing is a beneficial skill to learn.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

For each pair of sentences, select the letter of the sentence with more exact language

A) The police officer yelled in a loud voice for the person who was male to cease moving.
B) The police officer yelled for the man to stop.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Select the letter of the correct order for each set of details or sentences.
You should wear sunscreen to protect your skin. (1) _____ Protecting your skin with sunscreen will help prevent skin cancer.
(2) _____ Blocking the sun's harmful rays will keep your skin from aging and becoming lined and wrinkled.
(3) _____ Sunscreen will keep you from getting freckles.

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

Question 5

For each pair of sentences, select the letter of the sentence with more concise language.

A) Soon, I'll probably buy a used car.
B) Sometime in the near future, I'll probably spend some money on a used car that was preowned by someone else.

Question 6

For each pair of sentences, select the letter of the sentence with more exact language

A) One of the neighbors just got a new pet.
B) My neighbor Rayelle just adopted a white poodle.

Question 7

For each pair of sentences, select the letter of the sentence with more concise language.

A) The company is not hiring now.
B) The company is not hiring any new employees to work for it at the present time.

Question 8

Select the letter of the correct order for each set of details or sentences.
The skiers dressed their bodies in layers to protect themselves against the bitter cold. (1) _____ long, insulating fleece sweater
(2) _____ thermal underwear against their skin
(3) _____ down-filled, waterproof, windproof coats
(4) _____ turtleneck shirt and pants made out of fast-drying synthetic fabric

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

Question 9

Select the letter of the correct order for each set of details or sentences.
Jin's purchase of a new tennis racket illustrates the consumer buying decision process . (1) _____ Then she selected and bought the racket that she thought was best for her.
(2) _____ Next she searched for information about all of the different rackets that are
Available.
(3) _____ The first thing Jin did was recognize that her old tennis racket was worn out and no longer effective.
(4) _____ With all of the information in hand, she began to evaluate the alternatives by comparing her options.
(5) _____ Finally, she used her new racket, evaluated it, and decided that she had made a good choice.

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

Question 10

Select the letter of the correct order for each set of details or sentences.
You can teach a child how to ride a bicycle in as little as fifteen minutes. (1) _____ Position the bike about halfway up the hill with the pedals level, and put the child on the seat with his or her feet on the ground.
(2) _____ Take the bike to a location where there is a slope of about twenty feet, with plenty of level ground at the bottom, and have the child put on a helmet.
(3) _____ Continue to walk the bike back up the hill and have the child roll it down over and over again, gaining more balance and confidence with each trip.
(4) _____ The first thing you should do is make sure the bicycle suits the child's size; in particular, adjust the seat so that the child can put both feet on the ground while standing over the crossbar with an inch to spare.
(5) _____ Have the child lift his or her feet and coast to the bottom of the hill, putting the feet back on the ground as necessary to control speed and balance.

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

Question 11

Select the letter of the correct order for each set of details or sentences.
In the wake of the hurricane, the house was a mess. (1) _____ The basement and the entire first floor flooded and filled with mud.
(2) _____ The glass of the kitchen window broke.
(3) _____ The high winds left debris like broken tree limbs all over the front yard.

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

Question 12

For each pair of sentences, select the letter of the sentence with more exact language

A) Hannah was wearing a cowboy hat, a yellow polka dot dress, and green tights.
B) Her outfit was interesting.

Question 13

Select the letter of the correct order for each set of details or sentences.
We enjoyed walking through the beautiful garden. (1) _____ Just past the rose garden are beds planted with many different herbs.
(2) _____ To enter the garden, visitors pass under an archway covered with climbing
Roses.
(3) _____ The garden ends at the sloping, grassy shore of a quiet lake.
(4) _____ The path leads visitors from the herb garden to a formal garden with clipped
Hedges.

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

Question 14

Select the letter of the correct order for each set of details or sentences.
The state of North Carolina contains a wide range of land forms. (1) _____ In the center of the state is the heartland, which includes the Sandhills area.
(2) _____ At the western end of the state are the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.
(3) _____ Moving eastward, the mountains turn into gentle rolling hills of the Piedmont,
Or foothills.
(4) _____ The very easternmost part of the state is the beautiful Coastal Plain on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean.

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

Question 15

Select the letter of the correct order for each set of details or sentences.
When Kyon moved from the dormitory to her own apartment, she followed several steps. (1) _____ Finally, she hired a moving company to transport her furniture and boxes to her new home.
(2) _____ First, she researched available apartments and went to look at the ones that seemed like good possibilities.
(3) _____ Once she had reserved her new place with a deposit, she began packing herbelongings in preparation for her move.
(4) _____ She selected an apartment that fit her budget and was close to campus.

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

Question 16

For each pair of sentences, select the letter of the sentence with more exact language

A) My friend is nice.
B) My friend Jennifer drives her elderly aunt to the grocery store every Saturday.

Question 17

Select the letter of the correct order for each set of details or sentences.
Making tortillas from scratch is actually a very easy process. (1) _____Scrape the dough out of the bowl, place it on a floured surface, divide it into two equal portions, cover it with plastic wrap, and let it sit at room temperature for twenty minutes.
(2) _____ Using the rolling pin, roll each ball of dough into an eight-inch circle.
(3) _____ Form the dough by mixing together six cups of flour, one teaspoon of baking powder, and half a teaspoon of salt in a bowl and then mixing in two and a half cups of warm water and a half a cup of vegetable shortening.
(4) _____ Divide each half of dough into eight equal portions, and then lightly flour your rolling pin and work surface.
(5) _____ Turn your stove to medium heat, lightly coat your skillet with vegetable oil, and cook each flattened circle of dough for one minute on each side.

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

Question 18

Select the letter of the correct order for each set of details or sentences.
Our solar system can be envisioned as a series of concentric rings. (1) _____ The outer planets are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
(2) _____ The sun is at the center.
(3) _____ The inner planets, those closest to the sun, are Mercury, Venus, Earth, and
Mars.
(4) _____ Pluto, the furthest from the sun, is in a class by itself.

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

Question 19

Select the letter of the correct order for each set of details or sentences.
Refusing to forgive someone who has wronged you can actually be harmful to your health, according to psychologists. (1) _____ Refusing to let go of hurt can interfere with your other relationships; for example, you might bore your remaining friends to death with information about your adversary's flaws or your latest plan for revenge.
(2) _____ Perhaps most important, your anger can end up weakening your immune system, leaving you vulnerable to serious medical conditions like depression, high blood pressure, heart attack, and cancer.
(3) _____ If you continue to hold a grudge, you also give control over your own life and happiness to the person who wronged you.

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

Question 20

Select the letter of the correct order for each set of details or sentences.
Our town's community playground is in desperate need of renovation. (1) _____ Some of the playground equipment is broken, so it can injure small children.
(2) _____ The playground is choked with weeds, and several pieces of equipment are peeling and in need of a coat of paint, making the whole area unattractive.
(3) _____ Several pieces of equipment, such as the squeaky teeter-totter and the rusted swing set, are run down and don't function well any more.

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

Question 21

For each pair of sentences, select the letter of the sentence with more concise language.

A) Eating a nutritious breakfast will boost your energy and brain power.
B) Eating a nutritious breakfast meal in the morning will give your energy level a boost and improve your brain power so that you can think better.

Question 22

For each pair of sentences, select the letter of the sentence with more exact language.

A) I like the food at that restaurant.
B) I eat the crab legs at Sam's Seafood Shack at least once a month.

Question 23

Select the letter of the correct order for each set of details or sentences.
Rice Krispies treats are a quick and easy snack to make. (1) _____ When the margarine or butter has melted, add a 10-ounce package of marshmallows and stir until they are completely melted.
(2) _____ Spread and press the coated cereal into a 13x9x2-inch pan coated with cooking spray, and, after it cools, cut it into two-inch squares.
(3) _____ Begin by melting three tablespoons of margarine or butter in a saucepan over low heat.
(4) _____ Remove the melted margarine/marshmallow mixture from the heat and stir in six cups of Rice Krispies cereal.

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

Question 24

For each pair of sentences, select the letter of the sentence with more exact language.

A) The temperature in Key West, Florida, reached 99 degrees every day during the second week of June.
B) It was hot there.
For each pair of sentences, select the letter of the sentence with more concise language.

Question 25

Select the letter of the correct order for each set of details or sentences.
If someone faints in your presence, you should take several steps to help him or her. (1) _____ If you can feel a pulse, rub the person's arm or hand and call out his or her name; if you don't feel a pulse, call 911 and start CPR.
(2) _____ The first thing you should do is elevate the person's feet to increase blood flow to the head.
(3) _____ Ten minutes after waking up, the person who fainted should be helped to his or her feet slowly.
(4) _____ When the person revives (usually after two or three minutes), keep him or her lying down for five minutes.
(5) _____ Five minutes after waking up, the person who fainted should be helped to a sitting position.
(6) _____ After propping up the person's feet, you should check for a pulse.

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

Question 26

For each pair of sentences, select the letter of the sentence with more concise language.

A) Nurses are people who take care of other people for a living due to the fact that they are caring individuals who are concerned about others.
B) Nurses are drawn to their profession because they care about people.

Question 27

For each pair of sentences, select the letter of the sentence with more exact language.

A) Jim's living room floor was covered with old newspapers, unopened mail, dirty clothes, and take-out food containers.
B) The room was really messy.

Question 28

Select the letter of the correct order for each set of details or sentences.
To enhance the sound of an orchestra, the instruments are positioned in a certain way. (1) _____ woodwinds (clarinets, flutes, oboes, and bassoons) directly behind the strings
(2) _____ stringed instruments in front, with violins to conductor's left, violas in the middle, and cellos to the right
(3) _____ at the very back, the percussion instruments (drums, etc.)
(4) _____ behind woodwinds is the brass section, composed of trumpets, trombones, horns, and tubas

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

Question 29

For each pair of sentences, select the letter of the sentence with more concise language.

A) Everyone needs to put forth an effort, and the reason why is because the whole entire team can't succeed if each and every member doesn't do his or her part to make it happen.
B) If every member does not try, the team can't succeed.

Question 30

Select the letter of the correct order for each set of details or sentences.
The male peacock is perhaps nature's most beautiful and magnificent bird. (1) _____ black-and-white striped face
(2) _____regal, brilliant blue head crowned by a crest
(3) _____ long, sweeping tail feathers of iridescent green and gold ornamented with eye-like marks of blue
(4) _____ long, elegant neck and breast
(5) _____ plump brown body and brown wings

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

Question 31

For each pair of sentences, select the letter of the sentence with more concise language.

A) You should walk the dog while I sweep the floor.
B) I am of the opinion that you should take the dog for a walk during the time that I am using a broom to get the dirt up off the floor.

Question 32

For each pair of sentences, select the letter of the sentence with more exact language.

A) Ricardo won a blue ribbon at the state fair for the squash he grew.
B) Ricardo is very good at what he does.

Question 33

Select the letter of the correct order for each set of details or sentences.
Pedro has recently experienced a run of bad luck. (1) _____ It rained right after he washed his car, which immediately became dirty again.
(2) _____ The company he worked for went bankrupt, so he lost his job.
(3) _____ He forgot an important math test, didn't study, and got a failing grade.

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

Question 34

Select the letter of the correct order for each set of details or sentences.
We will never eat at that restaurant again. (1) _____ The service was slow, we waited too long for our food, and our waitress did not keep our coffee cups refilled.
(2) _____ The walls of the restaurant were painted an ugly green color.
(3) _____ There was a cockroach in my soup.

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