Question 1

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and answer the question(s) that follow. (1) Last September, I watched my ten-year-old grandson act like an adult in an emergency. (2) While cleaning the living room carpet, I tripped and fell over the vacuum cleaner hose. (3) At first, I was dazed. (4) Soon, I realized that my left arm hurt terribly. (5) I called to my grandson Joel, who was the only other person at home. (6) When Joel saw me on the floor, his face went pale. (7) Then he calmly took charge of the situation. (8) He went to the phone and dialed for emergency help. (9) I heard him give our address, exact details of what had happened, and a description of the position I was lying in. (10) I could tell that he was carefully listening to the instructions he was given. (11) Returning to the living room, Joel covered me with a wool blanket and told me that an ambulance was on its way. (12) He sat by my side in the ambulance and stayed with me while the doctor treated me. (13) My sprained arm bothered me for only three weeks, but I will always feel proud of what my grandson did on that day. Which of the following sentences does NOT contain a transitional expression that indicates time?
A) Sentence 4
B) Sentence 5
C) Sentence 6
D) Sentence 7

Accepted Answer

The answer of Instructions: Read the paragraph below and answer...

Question 2

Instructions: Each general statement below is followed by several examples. Select the letter of the example that does not clearly illustrate the generalization. Throughout history, people have built huge walls to separate two populations.
A) The most famous example is the 4,000-mile-long Great Wall of China, built in 200 B.C. by the Ming Dynasty to protect against raids by Mongol and Turkic tribes.
B) The Roman Empire built Hadrian s Wall across the width of Britain to protect its territory against Scottish tribes.
C) The Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., is known as The Wall.
D) Before Germany s Berlin Wall was demolished in 1989, it had divided West Berlin from East Berlin for twenty-eight years.

Accepted Answer

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., while referred to as "The Wall," does not clearly illustrate the generalization as it was not built to separate two populations but rather to honor veterans who lost their lives in the Vietnam War.

Question 3

Instructions: Each general statement below is followed by several examples. Select the letter of the example that does not clearly illustrate the generalization. Many conveniences of modern life that we take for granted are less than seventy years old.
A) It was not until 1969 that the Sony Corporation brought out a video recorder with tape in a cassette, causing a revolution in home viewing.
B) Aluminum foil, introduced by Richard S. Reynolds in 1947, can now be found in almost every home in America.
C) Hair coloring was first used by the ancient Egyptians.

Accepted Answer

While the statement is discussing modern conveniences that are less than seventy years old, the example of hair coloring being used by the ancient Egyptians is not relevant to the generalization.

Question 4

Instructions: Each question below is a plan for a narrative paragraph. The events in the plan(s) are not in the correct chronological order. Select the letter of the answer that numbers the events in the proper time sequence. In 1897, Lena Jordan performed the first triple somersault on the flying trapeze, but for years she did not get credit. ____ For the next sixty-six years, all the record books listed Clarke as the record holder, not Jordan. ____ When a second person, a man named Ernest Clarke, managed a triple somersault in 1909, he received national attention. ____ Only recently did the Guinness Book of World Records give Jordan sole credit for the first triple somersault in circus history. ____ In 1975, the Guinness Book of World Records finally listed Lena Jordan s achievement, but only in addition to Clarke s.
A) 4, 1, 3, 2
B) 3, 4, 2, 1
C) 2, 1, 4, 3

Accepted Answer

The correct sequence starts with Lena Jordan's achievement in 1897, followed by Ernest Clarke's in 1909, then the 1975 acknowledgment by the Guinness Book of World Records, and finally, the recent correction giving Jordan sole credit.

Question 5

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and answer the question(s) that follow. (1) Walt Disney might be the only filmmaker who claimed to owe his success to a rodent. (2) At first, Disney was an animator who produced a cartoon series called Oswald the Rabbit. (3) Then he decided to launch out on his own. (4) Realizing that he needed a new animated character, he remembered a friendly mouse from a studio he had once worked in. (5) He decided to name his new character after this old friend, whom he fondly called Mortimer Mouse. (6) Later, he changed the name to Mickey. (7) After only a few cartoons appeared, Mickey Mouse fever swept the nation. (8) Soon, he became an international figure. (9) The French called him Michel Souris, while the Italians dubbed him Topolo. (10) During World War II, Mickey Mouse became a secret password in the Allied Command. (11) Disney created many other lovable characters, but none achieved the popularity of that cute little mouse with the white gloves. Which of the following sentences does NOT contain a transitional expression that indicates time?
A) Sentence 5
B) Sentence 6
C) Sentence 8
D) Sentence 10

Accepted Answer

The other sentences contain transitional expressions such as "At first," "Then," "After only a few," and "During World War II," which indicate time. Sentence 5 does not contain any such transitional expression.

Question 6

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and answer the question(s) that follow. (1) The solution to an important AIDS puzzle came from an unlikely source, video gamers. (2) For fifteen years, researchers at the University of Washington have been trying to understand the structure of the AIDS virus, knowing that this discovery would lead to better treatments, maybe even a cure. (3) In 2010, Seth Cooper, a computer scientist at the same university, created a video game called Foldit, the purpose of which was to encourage gamers to work on real scientific problems. (4) Hearing about Foldit, the frustrated scientists decided to ask gamers for help. (5) In three short weeks, the gamers came up with such good models that the scientists found their answer. (6) The scientists are thrilled, and the gamers loved using their skills for such a worthwhile project. Which of the following sentences does NOT contain a transitional expression that indicates time?
A) Sentence 2
B) Sentence 3
C) Sentence 4
D) Sentence 5

Accepted Answer

Sentence 3 does not contain a transitional expression that indicates time. It introduces the creation of the game Foldit without referencing a specific time progression from the previous events.

Question 7

Instructions: Each question below is a plan for a narrative paragraph. The events in the plan(s) are not in the correct chronological order. Select the letter of the answer that numbers the events in the proper time sequence. Through talent and fortunate timing, Vera Wang has become one of the world s top designers of women s clothing. ____ Today, upscale retailers such as Neiman Marcus sell her elegant but modern wedding and evening dresses, and Kohl s department stores carry her less expensive line of daily wear. ____ In 1971, after college, Wang became a fashion editor at Vogue , a job she held for fifteen years. ____ Soon afterward, Hollywood stars like Halle Berry, Uma Thurman, and Meg Ryan began wearing Vera Wang gowns, and Wang s reputation soared. ____ In 1990, Wang made her dream a reality, opening a high-style bridal and evening gown business. ____ The world took note when Wang designed elegant costumes for skater Nancy Kerrigan during the much-watched 1994 Winter Olympics.
A) 5, 1, 3, 2, 4
B) 2, 3, 4, 1, 5
C) 4, 3, 5, 2, 1

Accepted Answer

The answer of Instructions: Each question below is a plan...

Question 8

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 sentence containing a transitional expression that introduces an illustration.
A) Sentence 2
B) Sentence 3
C) Sentence 6

Accepted Answer

Sentence 2 uses the transitional phrase "for example" to introduce an illustration.

Question 9

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and answer the question(s) that follow. (1) An unlikely friendship formed in 2005 at the Mutsugoro Okoku Zoo near Tokyo, Japan. (2) In October of that year, a snake named Aochan refused to eat the frozen mice zookeepers gave him for his dinner. (3) Then, the zookeepers presented a live hamster named Gohan, which means meal. (4) Instead of eating the hamster, however, Aochan made friends with it. (5) Three months later, when newspapers began to print the story, predator and prey were still sharing a box. (6) Gohan was even taking naps on top of the snake, who eventually developed a taste for frozen rodents. (7) Even then, Aochan showed no sign of wanting to gobble up his new companion. Which of the following sentences does NOT contain a transitional expression that indicates time?
A) Sentence 2
B) Sentence 3
C) Sentence 4
D) Sentence 5

Accepted Answer

The answer of Instructions: Read the paragraph below and answer...

Question 10

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and answer the question(s) that follow. (1) An unlikely friendship formed in 2005 at the Mutsugoro Okoku Zoo near Tokyo, Japan. (2) In October of that year, a snake named Aochan refused to eat the frozen mice zookeepers gave him for his dinner. (3) Then, the zookeepers presented a live hamster named Gohan, which means meal. (4) Instead of eating the hamster, however, Aochan made friends with it. (5) Three months later, when newspapers began to print the story, predator and prey were still sharing a box. (6) Gohan was even taking naps on top of the snake, who eventually developed a taste for frozen rodents. (7) Even then, Aochan showed no sign of wanting to gobble up his new companion. Select the number of the topic sentence that tells the point of the story.
A) Sentence 1
B) Sentence 2
C) Sentence 3

Accepted Answer

The first sentence introduces the main idea of the story, which is the unlikely friendship formed between a snake and a hamster at a zoo in Japan.

Question 11

Instructions: Each question below is a plan for a narrative paragraph. The events in the plan(s) are not in the correct chronological order. Select the letter of the answer that numbers the events in the proper time sequence. The Civil War battle between two iron-covered ships, on March 9, 1862, changed sea warfare forever. ____ Two hours into the battle, the Monitor ran out of ammunition and moved into shallow water to reload. ____ After four hours, the Merrimack , her hull leaking and her smokestack broken, escaped from the scene of battle. ____ When the Monitor returned with guns loaded, the Merrimack lured her into deep water and then suddenly swung around and rammed her, leaving barely a dent. ____ At the end of the conflict, neither ironclad ship had really won, but the wooden fighting ship was a thing of the past. ____ At first, the two ships the North s Monitor and the South s Merrimack just circled each other like prehistoric monsters, firing at close range but causing no damage.
A) 2, 4, 3, 5, 1
B) 5, 2, 3, 1, 4
C) 3, 5, 4, 2, 1

Accepted Answer

The paragraph begins by introducing the battle between the two iron-covered ships, but then goes on to describe the sequence of events out of order. The correct order is as follows: 
1 - At first, the two ships circled each other, firing but causing no damage.
2 - Two hours into the battle, the Monitor ran out of ammunition and moved into shallow water to reload. 
4 - When the Monitor returned with guns loaded, the Merrimack lured her into deep water and then suddenly rammed her. 
3 - After four hours, the Merrimack retreated from the battle with a damaged hull and broken smokestack. 
5 - At the end of the conflict, neither ship had truly won, but the battle demonstrated the superiority of ironclad ships over wooden fighting ships.

Question 12

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and answer the question(s) that follow. (1) Walt Disney might be the only filmmaker who claimed to owe his success to a rodent. (2) At first, Disney was an animator who produced a cartoon series called Oswald the Rabbit. (3) Then he decided to launch out on his own. (4) Realizing that he needed a new animated character, he remembered a friendly mouse from a studio he had once worked in. (5) He decided to name his new character after this old friend, whom he fondly called Mortimer Mouse. (6) Later, he changed the name to Mickey. (7) After only a few cartoons appeared, Mickey Mouse fever swept the nation. (8) Soon, he became an international figure. (9) The French called him Michel Souris, while the Italians dubbed him Topolo. (10) During World War II, Mickey Mouse became a secret password in the Allied Command. (11) Disney created many other lovable characters, but none achieved the popularity of that cute little mouse with the white gloves. Select the number of the topic sentence that tells the point of the story.
A) Sentence 1
B) Sentence 2
C) Sentence 3

Accepted Answer

The topic sentence is the main idea of the paragraph and typically appears at the beginning. Sentence 1 serves as the topic sentence, as it introduces Walt Disney and his connection to a rodent, setting up the rest of the paragraph to discuss how he created Mickey Mouse and his subsequent success.

Question 13

Instructions: Each general statement below is followed by several examples. Select the letter of the example that does not clearly illustrate the generalization. The United States offers many unusual tourist attractions for those who venture off the beaten path.
A) Visitors to Mitchell, South Dakota, can stop at the Mitchell Corn Palace, a castle covered with murals made of corn, grass, and grain.
B) One of the most popular tourist stops in the country is the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.
C) Hard-core Elvis fans can visit the Elvis Museum in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, to see Elvis s razor, hair dryer, and nasal spray applicator.
D) On Route 115 in Colorado, drivers can gawk at the World s Largest Hercules Beetle, a giant bug made of plaster.

Accepted Answer

The example of the Washington Monument is a well-known and popular tourist attraction, not an unusual one, which does not clearly illustrate the generalization that the U.S. offers many unusual tourist attractions off the beaten path.

Question 14

Instructions: Each question below is a plan for a narrative paragraph. The events in the plan(s) are not in the correct chronological order. Select the letter of the answer that numbers the events in the proper time sequence. The debut of our singing group at the college talent show last Saturday was a total disaster. ____ Halfway through our act, our lead singer s microphone went dead for three minutes. ____ Calvin arrived so hoarse that he could hardly sing at all. ____ The announcer introduced us as the Huge Notes instead of the High Tones. ____ All the lights in the theater flashed on and off throughout our last song. ____ Starting our first song a half-beat too late, Dina threw the rhythm off for the rest of us.
A) 1, 3, 4, 2, 5
B) 2, 5, 4, 3, 1
C) 4, 1, 2, 5, 3

Accepted Answer

The logical order of events is: First, the announcer introduces the group as the "Huge Notes" instead of the "High Tones" (4). Then, halfway through the act, the lead singer's microphone goes dead for three minutes (1). Next, Calvin arrives hoarse and can hardly sing (2). After that, all the lights in the theater flash on and off throughout their last song (5). Finally, Dina starts their first song a half-beat too late, throwing off the rhythm for the rest of the act (3). Therefore, the correct order is 4, 1, 2, 5, 3 or choice letter C.

Question 15

Instructions: Each question below is a plan for a narrative paragraph. The events in the plan(s) are not in the correct chronological order. Select the letter of the answer that numbers the events in the proper time sequence. Some say that the Greek myth of Icarus teaches the importance of moderation and self-control. ____ As he strapped on their wings, Daedalus warned his boy not to fly too near the sun, or the heat would melt the wax. ____ To escape from a prison tower in the Mediterranean Sea, the inventor Daedalus made wings for himself and his son Icarus out of feathers, thread, and wax. ____ Just as his father feared, the blazing sun melted the wax, the wings fell apart, and Icarus plummeted to his death. ____ Daedalus and Icarus leapt from the tower and began flying over the sea. ____ Soaring higher and delighting in his ability to fly toward the sun, Icarus ignored his father s advice.
A) 1, 5, 4, 3, 2
B) 2, 1, 5, 3, 4
C) 4, 3, 2, 5, 1

Accepted Answer

The events should be in the following chronological order:
1. To escape from a prison tower in the Mediterranean Sea, the inventor Daedalus made wings for himself and his son Icarus out of feathers, thread, and wax.
2. As he strapped on their wings, Daedalus warned his boy not to fly too near the sun, or the heat would melt the wax.
3. Daedalus and Icarus leapt from the tower and began flying over the sea.
4. Soaring higher and delighting in his ability to fly toward the sun, Icarus ignored his father's advice.
5. Just as his father feared, the blazing sun melted the wax, the wings fell apart, and Icarus plummeted to his death.

Question 16

Instructions: Each question below is a plan for a narrative paragraph. The events in the plan(s) are not in the correct chronological order. Select the letter of the answer that numbers the events in the proper time sequence. Aesop s fable about a dog and his reflection teaches a lesson about greed. ____ In the reflection, he thought he saw another dog with another piece of meat in his mouth, so he decided to get that one, too. ____ Now the dog had nothing at all to eat. ____ A dog was happily carrying a piece of meat in his mouth and came to a bridge he had to cross. ____ While crossing the bridge, he saw his reflection in the water of a running brook. ____ When he snapped at the reflection, the meat dropped from his mouth into the water and sank.
A) 2, 1, 5, 4, 3
B) 3, 5, 1, 2, 4
C) 4, 2, 3, 1, 5

Accepted Answer

The events should be in chronological order. First, the dog is carrying a piece of meat (3) and comes to a bridge where he sees his reflection (5). Next, he snaps at his reflection and drops the meat in the water (1). Then, he tries to get the meat from the reflection (2). Finally, he is left with nothing to eat (4). Therefore, the correct sequence is B: 3, 5, 1, 2, 4.

Question 17

Instructions: Each general statement below is followed by several examples. Select the letter of the example that does not clearly illustrate the generalization. State troopers report that many people do outrageous and dangerous things while driving.
A) One woman applied mascara, pressing her face into the rearview mirror as she drove 65 miles an hour.
B) An elderly man was eating scrambled eggs with a fork from a plate on the dashboard.
C) Another man glanced up and down as he changed lanes, writing in a spiral notebook propped against the steering wheel.
D) A woman shopped in a Detroit supermarket, wearing a Queen Elizabeth mask and a crown.

Accepted Answer

This example does not relate to the general statement about dangerous driving behaviors, as it is describing a person wearing a mask and crown while shopping in a supermarket.

Question 18

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and answer the question(s) that follow. (1) The solution to an important AIDS puzzle came from an unlikely source, video gamers. (2) For fifteen years, researchers at the University of Washington have been trying to understand the structure of the AIDS virus, knowing that this discovery would lead to better treatments, maybe even a cure. (3) In 2010, Seth Cooper, a computer scientist at the same university, created a video game called Foldit, the purpose of which was to encourage gamers to work on real scientific problems. (4) Hearing about Foldit, the frustrated scientists decided to ask gamers for help. (5) In three short weeks, the gamers came up with such good models that the scientists found their answer. (6) The scientists are thrilled, and the gamers loved using their skills for such a worthwhile project. Select the number of the topic sentence that tells the point of the story.
A) Sentence 1
B) Sentence 2
C) Sentence 3

Accepted Answer

The topic sentence is the sentence that tells the main point or message of the story. In this paragraph, the first sentence states that the solution to an important AIDS puzzle came from an unlikely source, video gamers. This sentence sets the stage for the rest of the paragraph, making it the topic sentence.

Question 19

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and answer the question(s) that follow. (1) Last September, I watched my ten-year-old grandson act like an adult in an emergency. (2) While cleaning the living room carpet, I tripped and fell over the vacuum cleaner hose. (3) At first, I was dazed. (4) Soon, I realized that my left arm hurt terribly. (5) I called to my grandson Joel, who was the only other person at home. (6) When Joel saw me on the floor, his face went pale. (7) Then he calmly took charge of the situation. (8) He went to the phone and dialed for emergency help. (9) I heard him give our address, exact details of what had happened, and a description of the position I was lying in. (10) I could tell that he was carefully listening to the instructions he was given. (11) Returning to the living room, Joel covered me with a wool blanket and told me that an ambulance was on its way. (12) He sat by my side in the ambulance and stayed with me while the doctor treated me. (13) My sprained arm bothered me for only three weeks, but I will always feel proud of what my grandson did on that day. Select the number of the topic sentence that tells the point of the story in the paragraph above.
A) Sentence 1
B) Sentence 2
C) Sentence 3

Accepted Answer

Sentence 1 introduces the topic of the paragraph, which is the author's experience of watching their grandson act like an adult in an emergency.

Question 20

Instructions: Each question below is a plan for a narrative paragraph. The events in the plan(s) are not in the correct chronological order. Select the letter of the answer that numbers the events in the proper time sequence. In a lifetime of many successes, Dr. Daniel Hale Williams pioneered open-heart surgery the day he operated on James Cornish. ____ According to eyewitnesses, Williams first made a six-inch incision and removed Cornish s fifth rib. ____ Cornish s frightened friends brought him to Provident Hospital, the first interracial hospital in the United States. ____ Then he repaired a torn artery and stitched up the punctured sac surrounding the heart. ____ On July 9, 1893, James Cornish received a deep knife gash near his heart during a fight. ____ Dr. Williams examined Cornish and immediately decided to operate. ____ Fifty-one days later, Cornish left the hospital, recovered and deeply grateful to Dr. Williams for his life.
A) 5, 3, 4, 1, 6, 2
B) 4, 2, 5, 1, 3, 6
C) 6, 1, 2, 4, 3, 5

Accepted Answer

The events should be in chronological order starting from when Cornish received the knife gash and ending with Cornish leaving the hospital. Therefore, the correct sequence is 4, 2, 5, 1, 3, 6.

Quiz 1: Writing Effective Paragraphs

Instructions: Each general statement below is followed by several examples. Select the letter of the example that does not clearly illustrate the generalization. Throughout history, people have built huge walls to separate two populations.

Instructions: Each general statement below is followed by several examples. Select the letter of the example that does not clearly illustrate the generalization. Many conveniences of modern life that we take for granted are less than seventy years old.

Instructions: Each general statement below is followed by several examples. Select the letter of the example that does not clearly illustrate the generalization. The United States offers many unusual tourist attractions for those who venture off the beaten path.

Instructions: Each general statement below is followed by several examples. Select the letter of the example that does not clearly illustrate the generalization. State troopers report that many people do outrageous and dangerous things while driving.