Question 1

Instructions: Read each of the following essay introductions. Select the letter of the method the writer used in each introduction. The essay below begins with a(n) If the entire human species were a single individual, that person would long ago have been declared mad. The insanity would not lie in the anger and darkness of the human mind though it can be a black and raging place indeed. And it certainly wouldn t lie in the transcendent goodness of that mind one so sublime, we fold it into a larger soul. The madness would lie instead in the fact that both of those qualities, the savage and the splendid, can exist in one creature, one person, often in one instant. Adapted from Jeffrey Kluger, What Makes Us Moral, Time, 12.3.07, p 55.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Instructions: Read each of the following essay...

Question 2

Instructions: The paragraphs of the following essay have been scrambled so that they are out of order. Read them and then answer the question(s) that follow. Trading My Brown Shirt for a Backpack _____ Although I was prepared to have less money, one effect I didn t expect from losing my job was the negative feelings I would have. I was embarrassed to tell my family what had happened, worried that my fianc e would think less of me, and angry that events I couldn t control had ruined my life. It was strange and depressing not having the job to go to every day. Maybe some wouldn t consider delivering packages a career, but I liked my work, it paid well, and I was outside driving a truck all day. So it s not just the money I miss; it s the job. _____ The words economic downturn didn t mean much on the front of a newspaper, but then I got laid off. Suddenly, those weren t just words but the beginning of a long chain of events in my life. I liked my job at the United Parcel Service, and I had received many positive performance reviews, so I didn t think the rising unemployment rate was going to touch me. People still have to ship packages, right? Wrong. Getting my pink slip had powerful effects on my lifestyle and plans, but not all the effects have been bad ones. _____ The one positive effect of getting laid off is that it forced me to reconsider college. When I got a good job shortly after high school, in confirmed my decision to head straight into the real world. Now that there are so few full-time jobs with benefits out there, getting more education and training seems like the logical move. A counselor at the unemployment office encouraged me to attend a career fair at San Francisco Community College. I ended up taking placement exams and enrolling that same afternoon. _____ After losing my job, I have had to make major financial changes. My unemployment check is about half what I was making at UPS, so I have to budget very carefully. I used to take my fianc e out to a nice dinner almost every week. Now our dates involve pizza and rented movies. We also had to postpone our wedding until I m back on my feet. The hardest change by far has been moving back in with my dad because I couldn t make the rent on my apartment. _____ So here I am in a freshman writing class, returning to school the spring I expected to be getting married and hunting for a nice apartment. So far I m enjoying college more than I thought. I feel proud to be pursuing my Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certificate. When I m done, I ll be driving around in an ambulance instead of a delivery truck, and I have a feeling I m going to like it. Alex Silvio, Student How many of the effects are positive?

Accepted Answer

The one positive effect mentioned is the opportunity to reconsider college and pursue further education, leading to enrollment in a program for an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certificate.

Question 3

Instructions: The paragraphs of the following essay have been scrambled so that they are out of order. Read them and then answer the question(s) that follow. The Regent Diamond _____ (1) In 1701, the 410-carat gem was discovered in an Indian mine by a slave who risked his life to smuggle it out. (2) Slashing his leg, he stuffed the huge diamond into the wound and headed for the seacoast. (3) A shifty sea captain offered to sail him to freedom for half the value of the jewel. (4) When at sea, the captain stole the stone and threw the slave overboard. (5) He then sold the precious rock to a powerful diamond merchant. _____ (6) Now called the Regent diamond, the fabulous stone was the most valuable French crown jewel. (7) In 1792, during the French Revolution, it disappeared, only to be found in a ditch in the middle of Paris. (8) Upon becoming emperor, Napoleon had the diamond set into the hilt of his ceremonial sword. (9) In 1887, when the last French monarchy fell and the jewel collection was auctioned, the Regent diamond was placed in the Louvre, the famous museum in Paris, where it still glitters today. _____ (10) People have long been fascinated by huge gemstones, such as the Hope diamond, the Ruspoli sapphire, the Rajaratna ruby, and the Gachala emerald. (11) The Regent diamond is one jewel that has long been among the world s most desired. _____ (12) Few people believed Pitt had come by the diamond honestly, so he also had trouble selling it. (13) Pitt was terrified of being robbed and murdered. (14) Whenever he carried the stone, he disguised himself and would not sleep in the same place for more than two nights. (15) If someone recognized him, he would deny that he carried the stone with him. (16) It took years, but he finally sold his diamond in 1717 for an enormous sum to the Duke of Orleans, the Regent of France. _____ (17) The merchant had difficulty unloading the diamond because it was so large and because it was stolen. (18) He finally sold it to Robert Pitt, a young Englishman who had come to India seeking his fortune. (19) By the time this shrewd adventurer returned home, the English had nicknamed him Diamond Pitt and christened the stone the Pitt. Select the number of the sentence that expresses the thesis statement of this essay. a. Sentence 6 b. Sentence 10 c. Sentence 11

Accepted Answer

Sentence 11 explicitly states that the Regent diamond is one of the most desired jewels in the world, making it the thesis statement of the essay. Sentence 11 clearly states that the Regent diamond is one of the world's most desired jewels, and this sets up the main topic and focus of the essay.

Question 4

Instructions: The paragraphs of the following essay have been scrambled so that they are out of order. Read them and then answer the question(s) that follow. Trading My Brown Shirt for a Backpack _____ Although I was prepared to have less money, one effect I didn t expect from losing my job was the negative feelings I would have. I was embarrassed to tell my family what had happened, worried that my fianc e would think less of me, and angry that events I couldn t control had ruined my life. It was strange and depressing not having the job to go to every day. Maybe some wouldn t consider delivering packages a career, but I liked my work, it paid well, and I was outside driving a truck all day. So it s not just the money I miss; it s the job. _____ The words economic downturn didn t mean much on the front of a newspaper, but then I got laid off. Suddenly, those weren t just words but the beginning of a long chain of events in my life. I liked my job at the United Parcel Service, and I had received many positive performance reviews, so I didn t think the rising unemployment rate was going to touch me. People still have to ship packages, right? Wrong. Getting my pink slip had powerful effects on my lifestyle and plans, but not all the effects have been bad ones. _____ The one positive effect of getting laid off is that it forced me to reconsider college. When I got a good job shortly after high school, in confirmed my decision to head straight into the real world. Now that there are so few full-time jobs with benefits out there, getting more education and training seems like the logical move. A counselor at the unemployment office encouraged me to attend a career fair at San Francisco Community College. I ended up taking placement exams and enrolling that same afternoon. _____ After losing my job, I have had to make major financial changes. My unemployment check is about half what I was making at UPS, so I have to budget very carefully. I used to take my fianc e out to a nice dinner almost every week. Now our dates involve pizza and rented movies. We also had to postpone our wedding until I m back on my feet. The hardest change by far has been moving back in with my dad because I couldn t make the rent on my apartment. _____ So here I am in a freshman writing class, returning to school the spring I expected to be getting married and hunting for a nice apartment. So far I m enjoying college more than I thought. I feel proud to be pursuing my Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certificate. When I m done, I ll be driving around in an ambulance instead of a delivery truck, and I have a feeling I m going to like it. Alex Silvio, Student Which of the following sentences expresses the thesis statement of this essay?

Accepted Answer

The thesis statement of this essay is expressed in sentence B, which summarizes the main idea that losing the author's job had both negative and positive effects on his life. The other two options, A and C, are just specific examples of the effects of losing the job and are not presented as the main idea of the essay.

Question 5

Instructions: Read the paragraph below, and answer the question(s) that follow. (1) The Camtrex Corporation should provide day care for the children of its employees. (2) First of all, Camtrex workers need such a program. (3) According to the human resources director, about 850 employees with small children have spouses who also work outside the home; for these workers, day care is a constant problem. (4) Second, the company would undoubtedly benefit from on-site day care since workers could concentrate more fully on their jobs, secure in the knowledge that their children were nearby and well cared for. (5) A program that benefits both employees and management just makes good sense. Select the number of the sentence that supports a reason with a fact.

Accepted Answer

Sentence 3 provides a fact by stating that the human resources director reports 850 employees have small children and spouses who also work outside the home, making day care a constant problem for these workers. Sentence 3 provides a fact, as it cites the number of employees with small children who have working spouses.

Question 6

Instructions: The paragraphs of the following essay have been scrambled so that they are out of order. Read them and then answer the question(s) that follow. Evaluating a Web Site _____ (1) Next, find out more about the person or people who created the web site. (2) Scroll down to the bottom of the page to look for the author s name, or click on links such as About Us, Biography, or Who Am I? (3) These links will usually lead to more information about the individual or organization responsible. (4) Look for details about the author s credentials. (5) Is he or she an expert, with education, training, or experience in the subject matter? (6) If no information about the site s creator is provided or if that person offers no proof of authority, the information may not be reliable. (7) Remember that anyone can create an Internet web site; therefore, researchers should verify that the person who posted the information knows what he or she is talking about. _____ (8) First, begin by examining the URL, or Internet address, of the web site. (9) In particular, examine the last three letters of the address, which reveal the domain of a site as an educational institution, government agency, nonprofit organization, or commercial company. (10) Usually, the first three types of domains, which end in .edu , .gov , .mil , .us , and .org , tend to be reliable sources of information. (11) The primary purpose of sites that end in .com, on the other hand, may be to persuade viewers to buy something rather than provide them with accurate, unbiased information. (12) A .com web site could also be someone s personal web site, which may or may not offer reliable information. _____ (13) Using this procedure helps researchers get their facts straight. (14) Mining the Internet for information will almost always produce gold, but finding that gold often requires sifting through and discarding worthless rocks. _____ (15) Finally, in addition to finding out more about the site s creator, look for a few other indicators of quality information. (16) The date the page was last updated, for example, should be fairly recent. (17) In addition, note whether the author mentions the sources of his or her information. (18) Sources that are documented with footnotes or links, especially if they refer to scholarly or academic journals and books, are usually more reputable. (19) Also, don t forget to notice the overall look of the site. (20) Is the page crowded with advertisements? (21) If so, its main purpose may be selling rather than informing. (22) Is the text filled with grammatical or spelling errors? (23) These kinds of mistakes may indicate untrustworthy information. _____ (24) The Internet offers millions of web sites; however, they re not all created equal. (25) Some of them contain accurate information, and some contain only opinions, inaccurate information, or information that s been manipulated in some way. (26) Therefore, people who use a search engine to look for web sites about a particular topic need to know how to distinguish a credible web site from a dud. (27) To evaluate the trustworthiness of a web site, online researchers can use a three-step procedure. Part A: Select the answer that numbers the paragraphs in the order they should appear in the essay. a. 1, 4, 5, 3, 2 b. 5, 3, 2, 4, 1 c. 3, 2, 5, 4, 1 Part B: In the reordered sequence, select the number of the topic sentence in the second paragraph. a. Sentence 13 b. Sentence 15 c. Sentence 8 Part C: In addition to a transitional expression, what other linking technique does the writer use at the beginning of the fourth paragraph in the reordered sequence? a. He repeats key words or ideas from the thesis statement. b. He refers to a word or idea from the preceding paragraph. c. He uses a transitional sentence.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Instructions: The paragraphs of the following essay...

Question 7

Instructions: Read each of the following essay introductions. Select the letter of the method the writer used in each introduction. The essay below begins with a Music is the speech of angels, wrote Thomas Carlyle over a hundred years ago. Today, growing numbers of scientists might agree. Soothing music has been shown to lower the blood pressure of heart patients, reduce pain after surgery, and help premature babies gain weight. In fact, research studies show that music has the power to heal and to work medical miracles.

Accepted Answer

The introduction begins with a direct quotation from Thomas Carlyle.

Question 8

Instructions: Each of the following sentences tells what you are trying to persuade someone to do. Beneath each sentence are four reasons that attempt to convince this person that he or she should take this particular course of action. Select the letter of the reason that seems irrelevant, illogical, or untrue. If you wanted to persuade someone to join a particular club on campus, you might say that

Accepted Answer

The time of day that meetings are held may not be a determining factor for someone to join a club. It is not a significant reason to persuade someone to join. The meeting time being in the morning does not provide a compelling reason for the person to join the club. It is more important to emphasize the opportunities for personal and intellectual growth, social connections, and resume building that come with membership.

Question 9

Instructions: Read each of the essay conclusions below. Select the letter of the method the writer used for each conclusion. The essay below concludes with a Thus, if race relations in this country are to improve, something must change; we must change. E. M. Forster has written that asking all people to love one another is probably asking too much, but that asking them to tolerate each other just might be achievable. I agree that tolerance is a more realistic goal. Today, if you and I make a sincere effort to tolerate others, the world will be a slightly different, and better, place.

Accepted Answer

The conclusion is a call to action, urging the reader to make a sincere effort to tolerate others in order to improve race relations. The conclusion includes a call to action, asking for change in order to improve race relations.

Question 10

Instructions: The paragraphs of the following essay have been scrambled so that they are out of order. Read them and then answer the question(s) that follow. The Regent Diamond _____ (1) In 1701, the 410-carat gem was discovered in an Indian mine by a slave who risked his life to smuggle it out. (2) Slashing his leg, he stuffed the huge diamond into the wound and headed for the seacoast. (3) A shifty sea captain offered to sail him to freedom for half the value of the jewel. (4) When at sea, the captain stole the stone and threw the slave overboard. (5) He then sold the precious rock to a powerful diamond merchant. _____ (6) Now called the Regent diamond, the fabulous stone was the most valuable French crown jewel. (7) In 1792, during the French Revolution, it disappeared, only to be found in a ditch in the middle of Paris. (8) Upon becoming emperor, Napoleon had the diamond set into the hilt of his ceremonial sword. (9) In 1887, when the last French monarchy fell and the jewel collection was auctioned, the Regent diamond was placed in the Louvre, the famous museum in Paris, where it still glitters today. _____ (10) People have long been fascinated by huge gemstones, such as the Hope diamond, the Ruspoli sapphire, the Rajaratna ruby, and the Gachala emerald. (11) The Regent diamond is one jewel that has long been among the world s most desired. _____ (12) Few people believed Pitt had come by the diamond honestly, so he also had trouble selling it. (13) Pitt was terrified of being robbed and murdered. (14) Whenever he carried the stone, he disguised himself and would not sleep in the same place for more than two nights. (15) If someone recognized him, he would deny that he carried the stone with him. (16) It took years, but he finally sold his diamond in 1717 for an enormous sum to the Duke of Orleans, the Regent of France. _____ (17) The merchant had difficulty unloading the diamond because it was so large and because it was stolen. (18) He finally sold it to Robert Pitt, a young Englishman who had come to India seeking his fortune. (19) By the time this shrewd adventurer returned home, the English had nicknamed him Diamond Pitt and christened the stone the Pitt. Part A: Select the answer that numbers the paragraphs in the order they should appear in the essay. a. 1, 3, 5, 4, 2 b. 2, 5, 1, 4, 3 c. 4, 1, 2, 3, 5 Part B: Which paragraph in the reordered sequence begins with a transitional expression indicating this type of order? a. paragraph 2 b. paragraph 3 c. paragraph 4 Part C: What type of order arranges the information in the body paragraphs? a. time order b. space order c. order of importance

Accepted Answer

The answer of Instructions: The paragraphs of the following essay...

Question 11

Instructions: The paragraphs of the following essay have been scrambled so that they are out of order. Read them and then answer the question(s) that follow. Trading My Brown Shirt for a Backpack _____ Although I was prepared to have less money, one effect I didn t expect from losing my job was the negative feelings I would have. I was embarrassed to tell my family what had happened, worried that my fianc e would think less of me, and angry that events I couldn t control had ruined my life. It was strange and depressing not having the job to go to every day. Maybe some wouldn t consider delivering packages a career, but I liked my work, it paid well, and I was outside driving a truck all day. So it s not just the money I miss; it s the job. _____ The words economic downturn didn t mean much on the front of a newspaper, but then I got laid off. Suddenly, those weren t just words but the beginning of a long chain of events in my life. I liked my job at the United Parcel Service, and I had received many positive performance reviews, so I didn t think the rising unemployment rate was going to touch me. People still have to ship packages, right? Wrong. Getting my pink slip had powerful effects on my lifestyle and plans, but not all the effects have been bad ones. _____ The one positive effect of getting laid off is that it forced me to reconsider college. When I got a good job shortly after high school, in confirmed my decision to head straight into the real world. Now that there are so few full-time jobs with benefits out there, getting more education and training seems like the logical move. A counselor at the unemployment office encouraged me to attend a career fair at San Francisco Community College. I ended up taking placement exams and enrolling that same afternoon. _____ After losing my job, I have had to make major financial changes. My unemployment check is about half what I was making at UPS, so I have to budget very carefully. I used to take my fianc e out to a nice dinner almost every week. Now our dates involve pizza and rented movies. We also had to postpone our wedding until I m back on my feet. The hardest change by far has been moving back in with my dad because I couldn t make the rent on my apartment. _____ So here I am in a freshman writing class, returning to school the spring I expected to be getting married and hunting for a nice apartment. So far I m enjoying college more than I thought. I feel proud to be pursuing my Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certificate. When I m done, I ll be driving around in an ambulance instead of a delivery truck, and I have a feeling I m going to like it. Alex Silvio, Student How many effects are provided to support the thesis statement?

Accepted Answer

There are three effects provided to support the thesis statement: negative feelings about losing the job, reconsidering college, and major financial changes.

Question 12

Instructions: The paragraphs of the following essay have been scrambled so that they are out of order. Read them and then answer the question(s) that follow. Evaluating a Web Site _____ (1) Next, find out more about the person or people who created the web site. (2) Scroll down to the bottom of the page to look for the author s name, or click on links such as About Us, Biography, or Who Am I? (3) These links will usually lead to more information about the individual or organization responsible. (4) Look for details about the author s credentials. (5) Is he or she an expert, with education, training, or experience in the subject matter? (6) If no information about the site s creator is provided or if that person offers no proof of authority, the information may not be reliable. (7) Remember that anyone can create an Internet web site; therefore, researchers should verify that the person who posted the information knows what he or she is talking about. _____ (8) First, begin by examining the URL, or Internet address, of the web site. (9) In particular, examine the last three letters of the address, which reveal the domain of a site as an educational institution, government agency, nonprofit organization, or commercial company. (10) Usually, the first three types of domains, which end in .edu , .gov , .mil , .us , and .org , tend to be reliable sources of information. (11) The primary purpose of sites that end in .com, on the other hand, may be to persuade viewers to buy something rather than provide them with accurate, unbiased information. (12) A .com web site could also be someone s personal web site, which may or may not offer reliable information. _____ (13) Using this procedure helps researchers get their facts straight. (14) Mining the Internet for information will almost always produce gold, but finding that gold often requires sifting through and discarding worthless rocks. _____ (15) Finally, in addition to finding out more about the site s creator, look for a few other indicators of quality information. (16) The date the page was last updated, for example, should be fairly recent. (17) In addition, note whether the author mentions the sources of his or her information. (18) Sources that are documented with footnotes or links, especially if they refer to scholarly or academic journals and books, are usually more reputable. (19) Also, don t forget to notice the overall look of the site. (20) Is the page crowded with advertisements? (21) If so, its main purpose may be selling rather than informing. (22) Is the text filled with grammatical or spelling errors? (23) These kinds of mistakes may indicate untrustworthy information. _____ (24) The Internet offers millions of web sites; however, they re not all created equal. (25) Some of them contain accurate information, and some contain only opinions, inaccurate information, or information that s been manipulated in some way. (26) Therefore, people who use a search engine to look for web sites about a particular topic need to know how to distinguish a credible web site from a dud. (27) To evaluate the trustworthiness of a web site, online researchers can use a three-step procedure. Select the number of the sentence that is the thesis statement of this essay. a. Sentence 27 b. Sentence 24 c. Sentence 8

Accepted Answer

Sentence 27 is the thesis statement of this essay because it states the main argument of the essay, which is that people who use a search engine to look for web sites about a particular topic need to know how to distinguish a credible web site from a dud.

Question 13

Instructions: The paragraphs of the following essay have been scrambled so that they are out of order. Read them and then answer the question(s) that follow. Trading My Brown Shirt for a Backpack _____ Although I was prepared to have less money, one effect I didn t expect from losing my job was the negative feelings I would have. I was embarrassed to tell my family what had happened, worried that my fianc e would think less of me, and angry that events I couldn t control had ruined my life. It was strange and depressing not having the job to go to every day. Maybe some wouldn t consider delivering packages a career, but I liked my work, it paid well, and I was outside driving a truck all day. So it s not just the money I miss; it s the job. _____ The words economic downturn didn t mean much on the front of a newspaper, but then I got laid off. Suddenly, those weren t just words but the beginning of a long chain of events in my life. I liked my job at the United Parcel Service, and I had received many positive performance reviews, so I didn t think the rising unemployment rate was going to touch me. People still have to ship packages, right? Wrong. Getting my pink slip had powerful effects on my lifestyle and plans, but not all the effects have been bad ones. _____ The one positive effect of getting laid off is that it forced me to reconsider college. When I got a good job shortly after high school, in confirmed my decision to head straight into the real world. Now that there are so few full-time jobs with benefits out there, getting more education and training seems like the logical move. A counselor at the unemployment office encouraged me to attend a career fair at San Francisco Community College. I ended up taking placement exams and enrolling that same afternoon. _____ After losing my job, I have had to make major financial changes. My unemployment check is about half what I was making at UPS, so I have to budget very carefully. I used to take my fianc e out to a nice dinner almost every week. Now our dates involve pizza and rented movies. We also had to postpone our wedding until I m back on my feet. The hardest change by far has been moving back in with my dad because I couldn t make the rent on my apartment. _____ So here I am in a freshman writing class, returning to school the spring I expected to be getting married and hunting for a nice apartment. So far I m enjoying college more than I thought. I feel proud to be pursuing my Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certificate. When I m done, I ll be driving around in an ambulance instead of a delivery truck, and I have a feeling I m going to like it. Alex Silvio, Student This essay is a

Accepted Answer

The essay discusses the effects of the author losing their job, including negative feelings, financial changes, and the positive effect of going back to college. The essay analyzes the causes of these effects, making it a cause and effect essay.

Question 14

Instructions: Read each of the essay conclusions below. Select the letter of the method the writer used for each conclusion. The essay below concludes with a When I received my paper back from my instructor, I stuffed it in the back of my notebook. I could not bear to look at the evidence of my crime. The grade of A and the few lines of praise the teacher had written were not for me. They were for the person who had actually put in the time and the effort to write that paper. I simply stole it and pretended it was mine. I have never felt lower or more disappointed in myself, and I vowed then and there that I would stay up all night writing or earn an honest F before I would stoop to cheat again. Beth Brown, Student, The Cheater

Accepted Answer

The conclusion reflects on the writer's feelings and the lesson learned, emphasizing a final point about personal integrity and the decision to never cheat again.

Question 15

Instructions: Each of the following sentences tells what you are trying to persuade someone to do. Beneath each sentence are four reasons that attempt to convince this person that he or she should take this particular course of action. Select the letter of the reason that seems irrelevant, illogical, or untrue. If you wanted to persuade someone to donate money to a certain charity, you might say that

Accepted Answer

The location of the organization's headquarters in a brick building is irrelevant to the persuasiveness of donating money to the charity. The fact that the organization's headquarters are in a brick building is irrelevant to the persuasiveness of donating money to the charity.

Question 16

Instructions: The paragraphs of the following essay have been scrambled so that they are out of order. Read them and then answer the question(s) that follow. The Regent Diamond _____ (1) In 1701, the 410-carat gem was discovered in an Indian mine by a slave who risked his life to smuggle it out. (2) Slashing his leg, he stuffed the huge diamond into the wound and headed for the seacoast. (3) A shifty sea captain offered to sail him to freedom for half the value of the jewel. (4) When at sea, the captain stole the stone and threw the slave overboard. (5) He then sold the precious rock to a powerful diamond merchant. _____ (6) Now called the Regent diamond, the fabulous stone was the most valuable French crown jewel. (7) In 1792, during the French Revolution, it disappeared, only to be found in a ditch in the middle of Paris. (8) Upon becoming emperor, Napoleon had the diamond set into the hilt of his ceremonial sword. (9) In 1887, when the last French monarchy fell and the jewel collection was auctioned, the Regent diamond was placed in the Louvre, the famous museum in Paris, where it still glitters today. _____ (10) People have long been fascinated by huge gemstones, such as the Hope diamond, the Ruspoli sapphire, the Rajaratna ruby, and the Gachala emerald. (11) The Regent diamond is one jewel that has long been among the world s most desired. _____ (12) Few people believed Pitt had come by the diamond honestly, so he also had trouble selling it. (13) Pitt was terrified of being robbed and murdered. (14) Whenever he carried the stone, he disguised himself and would not sleep in the same place for more than two nights. (15) If someone recognized him, he would deny that he carried the stone with him. (16) It took years, but he finally sold his diamond in 1717 for an enormous sum to the Duke of Orleans, the Regent of France. _____ (17) The merchant had difficulty unloading the diamond because it was so large and because it was stolen. (18) He finally sold it to Robert Pitt, a young Englishman who had come to India seeking his fortune. (19) By the time this shrewd adventurer returned home, the English had nicknamed him Diamond Pitt and christened the stone the Pitt. This essay is a(n) a. definition essay. b. narrative essay. c. illustration essay.

Accepted Answer

The essay follows a narrative structure, telling the story of the Regent diamond from its discovery to its current location in the Louvre. There is a clear plot, characters, and conflict, all of which are elements of a narrative essay. The essay is a narrative essay because it tells a story with a chronological sequence of events.

Question 17

Instructions: The paragraphs of the following essay have been scrambled so that they are out of order. Read them and then answer the question(s) that follow. Trading My Brown Shirt for a Backpack _____ Although I was prepared to have less money, one effect I didn t expect from losing my job was the negative feelings I would have. I was embarrassed to tell my family what had happened, worried that my fianc e would think less of me, and angry that events I couldn t control had ruined my life. It was strange and depressing not having the job to go to every day. Maybe some wouldn t consider delivering packages a career, but I liked my work, it paid well, and I was outside driving a truck all day. So it s not just the money I miss; it s the job. _____ The words economic downturn didn t mean much on the front of a newspaper, but then I got laid off. Suddenly, those weren t just words but the beginning of a long chain of events in my life. I liked my job at the United Parcel Service, and I had received many positive performance reviews, so I didn t think the rising unemployment rate was going to touch me. People still have to ship packages, right? Wrong. Getting my pink slip had powerful effects on my lifestyle and plans, but not all the effects have been bad ones. _____ The one positive effect of getting laid off is that it forced me to reconsider college. When I got a good job shortly after high school, in confirmed my decision to head straight into the real world. Now that there are so few full-time jobs with benefits out there, getting more education and training seems like the logical move. A counselor at the unemployment office encouraged me to attend a career fair at San Francisco Community College. I ended up taking placement exams and enrolling that same afternoon. _____ After losing my job, I have had to make major financial changes. My unemployment check is about half what I was making at UPS, so I have to budget very carefully. I used to take my fianc e out to a nice dinner almost every week. Now our dates involve pizza and rented movies. We also had to postpone our wedding until I m back on my feet. The hardest change by far has been moving back in with my dad because I couldn t make the rent on my apartment. _____ So here I am in a freshman writing class, returning to school the spring I expected to be getting married and hunting for a nice apartment. So far I m enjoying college more than I thought. I feel proud to be pursuing my Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certificate. When I m done, I ll be driving around in an ambulance instead of a delivery truck, and I have a feeling I m going to like it. Alex Silvio, Student Select the answer that numbers the paragraphs in the order they should appear in the essay.

Accepted Answer

The first paragraph describes the negative emotions the author experienced after losing their job, which sets the stage for the rest of the essay. The third paragraph discusses how losing the job forced the author to reconsider college, which is a positive outcome. The fourth paragraph explains the major financial changes that the author had to make, which includes moving back in with their dad. The second paragraph provides background information about how the economic downturn led to the author getting laid off from their job. The final paragraph sums up the author's current situation and expresses optimism about their new career path. Therefore, the correct order is 3, 1, 4, 2, 5.

Question 18

Instructions: Read the paragraph below, and answer the question(s) that follow. (1) The Camtrex Corporation should provide day care for the children of its employees. (2) First of all, Camtrex workers need such a program. (3) According to the human resources director, about 850 employees with small children have spouses who also work outside the home; for these workers, day care is a constant problem. (4) Second, the company would undoubtedly benefit from on-site day care since workers could concentrate more fully on their jobs, secure in the knowledge that their children were nearby and well cared for. (5) A program that benefits both employees and management just makes good sense. How many arguments support the topic sentence?

Accepted Answer

The paragraph provides two supporting arguments: the need for day care among employees (sentence 3) and the benefits to the company (sentence 4).

Question 19

Instructions: Read each of the following essay introductions. Select the letter of the method the writer used in each introduction. The essay below begins with a(n) Almost all of us have heard of the Amish, the religious sect that separates itself from the world and rejects modern conveniences and advanced technology. We imagine people wearing hand-sewn clothing and living in homes without refrigerators, dishwashers, televisions, and telephones. However, the Amish have been buying and using cell phones for years. They also use in-line skates, power-operated grass cutters, and gas grills for barbecuing. The Amish employ such conveniences when they do not interfere with family life. Cell phones, for example, are kept outside the home and are used for business purposes only. The Amish people look at every modern-day convenience and accept it only if it works to bring together, not drive apart, members of the family and community. Wired, January 1999, http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/7.01/amish.html

Accepted Answer

The introduction uses a contradiction by presenting the common perception of the Amish rejecting modern technology and then revealing that they do use certain modern conveniences.

Question 20

Instructions: The paragraphs of the following essay have been scrambled so that they are out of order. Read them and then answer the question(s) that follow. Evaluating a Web Site _____ (1) Next, find out more about the person or people who created the web site. (2) Scroll down to the bottom of the page to look for the author s name, or click on links such as About Us, Biography, or Who Am I? (3) These links will usually lead to more information about the individual or organization responsible. (4) Look for details about the author s credentials. (5) Is he or she an expert, with education, training, or experience in the subject matter? (6) If no information about the site s creator is provided or if that person offers no proof of authority, the information may not be reliable. (7) Remember that anyone can create an Internet web site; therefore, researchers should verify that the person who posted the information knows what he or she is talking about. _____ (8) First, begin by examining the URL, or Internet address, of the web site. (9) In particular, examine the last three letters of the address, which reveal the domain of a site as an educational institution, government agency, nonprofit organization, or commercial company. (10) Usually, the first three types of domains, which end in .edu , .gov , .mil , .us , and .org , tend to be reliable sources of information. (11) The primary purpose of sites that end in .com, on the other hand, may be to persuade viewers to buy something rather than provide them with accurate, unbiased information. (12) A .com web site could also be someone s personal web site, which may or may not offer reliable information. _____ (13) Using this procedure helps researchers get their facts straight. (14) Mining the Internet for information will almost always produce gold, but finding that gold often requires sifting through and discarding worthless rocks. _____ (15) Finally, in addition to finding out more about the site s creator, look for a few other indicators of quality information. (16) The date the page was last updated, for example, should be fairly recent. (17) In addition, note whether the author mentions the sources of his or her information. (18) Sources that are documented with footnotes or links, especially if they refer to scholarly or academic journals and books, are usually more reputable. (19) Also, don t forget to notice the overall look of the site. (20) Is the page crowded with advertisements? (21) If so, its main purpose may be selling rather than informing. (22) Is the text filled with grammatical or spelling errors? (23) These kinds of mistakes may indicate untrustworthy information. _____ (24) The Internet offers millions of web sites; however, they re not all created equal. (25) Some of them contain accurate information, and some contain only opinions, inaccurate information, or information that s been manipulated in some way. (26) Therefore, people who use a search engine to look for web sites about a particular topic need to know how to distinguish a credible web site from a dud. (27) To evaluate the trustworthiness of a web site, online researchers can use a three-step procedure. What are the three transitional expressions that help show the relationships between the three body paragraphs? a. therefore, usually, in particular b. first, next, finally c. on the other hand, also, therefore

Accepted Answer

The transitional expressions "first," "next," and "finally" are used to show the order in which the three steps of evaluating a web site should be taken. The transitional expressions "first," "next," and "finally" are used to show the order in which the steps for evaluating a web site should be taken.

Quiz 1: Writing Effective Paragraphs