Unit 1 & 2 Progress Check: MCQ

11. Which of the following versions of the underlined text best accomplishes this goal? A. (as it is now) B. officials from the National Park Service enacted a plan to relocate goats C. steps were taken to ensure the safety of visitors to Olympic National Park D. there was a small but noteworthy addition to the animal population of North Cascades National Park E. the first phase of the Mountain Goat Management Plan began

A. (as it is now)

12. The writer wants to add a sentence at the end of the first paragraph to express the thesis of the passage in more detail. Which of the following choices best accomplishes this goal? A. It will ultimately benefit the well-being of the goats, the safety of human visitors, and the park's ecosystem. B. There are simply too few sources of salt in the Olympics for the goat population to thrive. C. Such steps may be necessary until park visitors can learn to interact with goats responsibly. D. It is important to remove invasive species such as the mountain goats from our national parks to ensure that other species can thrive. E. Although the Olympics and the North Cascades are separated by only a few hundred miles, their environments are different in significant ways.

A. It will ultimately benefit the well-being of the goats, the safety of human visitors, and the park's ecosystem.

8. In sentence 7 (reproduced below), the writer wants to add the phrase "According to the country's president," to the beginning of the sentence, adjusting capitalization as needed. New islands will have to be built to ensure a safe future for its citizens, because science indicates that Kiribati will go underwater within the century. Should the writer make this addition? A. Yes, because it acknowledges the source of the information conveyed in the sentence. B. Yes, because it provides an additional perspective to set up a counterargument. C. Yes, because it introduces a key figure in the development of the passage's narrative. D. No, because it introduces new evidence that requires an adjustment to the paragraph's line of reasoning. E. No, because it fails to consider the rhetorical situation set up in the first paragraph.

A. Yes, because it acknowledges the source of the information conveyed in the sentence.

7. In the third sentence of the fourth paragraph, the author mentions the number of swimmers treated by the Spanish Red Cross primarily to A. amplify her point about the dangers posed by jellyfish to humans B. argue that jellyfish along the Costa Brava are more toxic than those in the Philippines C. suggest that humans have become more susceptible to jellyfish toxin in recent years D. persuade her audience to avoid swimming in areas that are prone to jellyfish invasions E. urge her audience to seek medical attention if they are stung by jellyfish

A. amplify her point about the dangers posed by jellyfish to humans

2. In the fourth paragraph, the author includes a quotation by Einstein primarily to A. appeal to the authority of a figure whom her audience is likely to respect B. suggest that Einstein developed his intelligence mainly through playing games C. imply that Einstein's theories were vital to the development of certain digital games D. surprise her audience by making a connection between Einstein and computer games E. voice a possible objection to her argument to a noted historical figure

A. appeal to the authority of a figure whom her audience is likely to respect

4. In the fourth and fifth paragraphs, the author defends her decision to marry George Bush by elaborating on A. the need to pursue a sense of personal bliss B. the importance of prioritizing family over career C. her willingness to overlook her husband's dark humor D. the similarities between her husband and a fictional character E. her husband's commitment to public service

A. the need to pursue a sense of personal bliss

17. In sentence 19 (reproduced below), the writer is considering deleting the underlined phrase. Resettled in the remote parts of the park, where salt licks are plentiful and hikers are scarce, the goats will likely regain their natural wariness of people. Should the writer keep or delete the underlined phrase? A. Keep it, because it adds descriptive language that helps readers visualize the area in the North Cascades where the goats were relocated. B. Keep it, because it draws on evidence from the third paragraph to make a more persuasive case for why the North Cascades are a good place to resettle the goats. C. Keep it, because it creates an emotionally resonant image of an environment in which the goats would be happy. D. Delete it, because it undermines the passage's argument by emphasizing the fact that the goats will no longer be seen by park visitors. E. Delete it, because it introduces details that are irrelevant to the passage's argument about the need to remove mountain goats from Olympic National Park.

B. Keep it, because it draws on evidence from the third paragraph to make a more persuasive case for why the North Cascades are a good place to resettle the goats.

9. Throughout the passage, the author advances her main point by employing which of the following methods? A. Analyzing the underlying causes of unusual jellyfish behavior in recent decades B. Recounting multiple incidents that demonstrate the threat represented by jellyfish C. Commenting on the impact of increasing jellyfish populations on international relations D. Enumerating human actions that are endangering jellyfish populations E. Relating personal anecdotes that reveal her lifelong aversion to jellyfish

B. Recounting multiple incidents that demonstrate the threat represented by jellyfish

1. In the first sentence of the passage, the author refers to "antisocial gamers" primarily to A. suggest that gamers could benefit from instruction in interpersonal communication B. acknowledge a belief that is likely to be held by some of her audience C. characterize her audience as thoughtful people who would be unlikely to stereotype others D. argue that too much engagement with computers can erode social skills E. encourage her audience to reconsider the connection between creativity and sociability

B. acknowledge a belief that is likely to be held by some of her audience

6. The first paragraph is organized to heighten interest in the subject by A. first defining jellyfish as largely harmless, then describing a dramatic change in their behavior B. first suggesting political causes of an infrastructure failure, then revealing jellyfish as a surprising agent of this event C. first highlighting the dangers posed by jellyfish in the past, then enumerating new problems they might cause in future D. first establishing the setting of her story, then explaining why the appearance of jellyfish in this setting was unexpected E. first alluding to political strife in Manila, then explaining how the strife made the city's infrastructure vulnerable to jellyfish

B. first suggesting political causes of an infrastructure failure, then revealing jellyfish as a surprising agent of this event

13. The writer wants to clarify the point made in the first part of sentence 8 (reproduced below). First, goats are not indigenous to the region; the area began to be advertised as a vacation destination in the early twentieth century. Which of the following versions of the underlined text best accomplishes this goal? A. (as it is now) B. hunters introduced goats to the Olympics in the 1920s C. the completion of the Olympic loop highway in 1931 significantly expanded public access to the Olympics D. in the 1930s, the Olympic Peninsula was described as "the last wilderness of the United States" in Argus magazine E. Olympic National Park was established in 1938

B. hunters introduced goats to the Olympics in the 1920s

3. In the last sentence of the fifth paragraph, the author refers to "wikis and forums" in order to A. distinguish online gaming from other forms of online interaction B. illustrate a point about the ease of collaboration enabled by the Internet C. suggest that multiauthored documents tend to be less reliable than single-authored ones D. argue that certain Internet environments are better than others for creating new games E. imply that these two means of online interaction promote antisocial behavior

B. illustrate a point about the ease of collaboration enabled by the Internet

5. In the second-to-last paragraph, the anecdote about the complaining husband serves primarily to A. provide an example of how women should motivate their partners to take on more childcare responsibilities B. illustrate the author's claim regarding the value of devoting oneself to one's children C. reinforce the author's recommendation that women develop friendships outside the family D. encourage her audience to choose partners who will support their ambitions E. establish a contrast between the friend's dedication to her family and her husband's focus on his career

B. illustrate the author's claim regarding the value of devoting oneself to one's children

8. Which of the following best summarizes the author's thesis in the passage? A. The heat produced by power plants often attracts congregations of marine life such as jellyfish. B. Many disruptions that are attributed to human activity are actually triggered by natural causes. C. Expanding populations of jellyfish are causing increasing problems in many parts of the world. D. Predation by jellyfish poses a significant threat to commercial fisheries worldwide. E. Jellyfish have recently developed adaptations that enable them to live in a wider variety of ocean environments.

C. Expanding populations of jellyfish are causing increasing problems in many parts of the world.

9. The writer wants to provide relevant support for the claim made in sentences 12 and 13. Which of the following sentences, if added after sentence 13, would most effectively accomplish this goal? A. According to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology's National Tidal Centre, there has been an average sea level rise of 7.3 millimeters a year around low-lying islands like Kiribati in the past few decades. B. A professor of biology at Old Dominion University, Kent Carpenter, notes that poaching of giant clams does more damage to marine ecosystems than island building does. C. Marine biologists contend that the urban sprawl spreading into the oceans inevitably causes havoc for marine organisms and their habitats. D. The government of South Korea expected to have 300,000 residents in the utopian smart city built on the artificial island of Songdo. E. Environmental scientists at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, have noted that those building artificial islands can use techniques like silt curtains to help minimize the environmental impact of these projects.

C. Marine biologists contend that the urban sprawl spreading into the oceans inevitably causes havoc for marine organisms and their habitats.

10. Which of the following sentences first expresses the main claim of the passage? A. Sentence 4 B. Sentence 5 C. Sentence 6 D. Sentence 9 E. Sentence 10

C. Sentence 6

3. In the second paragraph, the author makes which of the following claims regarding the Class of 1990 ? A. They will lead more balanced lives after leaving Wellesley. B. They will lead successful lives because of the quality of their education. C. They are unlikely to follow conventional paths in life. D. They are unlikely to change their opinions. E. They are unlikely to pursue careers in the visual arts.

C. They are unlikely to follow conventional paths in life.

1. In the passage, the author is primarily concerned with A. cautioning her audience against repeating past mistakes B. enumerating the most pressing social issues facing women today C. offering her audience advice for the future D. garnering political support for her husband E. identifying the most important skills for adapting in uncertain times

C. offering her audience advice for the future

16. The writer is considering deleting the underlined text in sentence 14 (reproduced below). Salt in human sweat is a goat magnet; worse still, some thoughtless and irresponsible people feed the goats directly. Should the writer keep or delete the underlined text? A. Keep it, because it makes the argument more persuasive by including language that increases the emotional engagement of the audience. B.Keep it, because it clarifies the point the writer is making by explaining which people are at the greatest risk of being hurt by the goats. C. Keep it, because it encourages the audience to identify with the park officials who work to solve the problem rather than the park visitors who make the problem worse. D. Delete it, because it distracts from the writer's purpose of emphasizing human safety concerns by using language that focuses blame on human visitors to the park. E. Delete it, because it contradicts the writer's claim in sentence 15 that goats behave differently after they are accustomed to human contact.

D. Delete it, because it distracts from the writer's purpose of emphasizing human safety concerns by using language that focuses blame on human visitors to the park.

15. The writer wants to add a sentence after sentence 12 to provide needed background information for readers who may not be familiar with mountain goats. Which of the following choices best accomplishes this goal? A. Adult male mountain goats can reach weights of as much as 180 pounds. B. Mountain goats eat a wide variety of plants, including grasses, lichens, and even twigs. C. People are advised to stay at least 50 yards away from mountain goats. D. Mountain goats find salt irresistible. E. Mountain goats are managed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

D. Mountain goats find salt irresistible.

4. Taken as a whole, the reasoning and evidence in the passage primarily defend a claim regarding A. the origin of stereotypes applied to video gamers B. a theory explaining the appeal of video gaming C. the popularity of violent video games D. a beneficial aspect of video gaming E. the influence of parents and educators on video gamers

D. a beneficial aspect of video gaming

2. In the opening sentences of the passage ("Now I know . . . color of my hair!"), the author refers to Alice Walker primarily to A. impress her audience with the breadth of her literary knowledge B. flaunt her access to privileged information about the planning of the commencement ceremony C. congratulate her audience for inviting her instead of a lesser-known speaker D. acknowledge the potentially embarrassing circumstances under which she is delivering her speech E. suggest that she pays more attention to her personal appearance than do other celebrities

D. acknowledge the potentially embarrassing circumstances under which she is delivering her speech

7. Should the writer add this sentence after sentence 6 ? A. Yes, because it describes the writer's exigence for writing the passage. B. Yes, because it expresses the main claim of the paragraph. C. Yes, because it defines a potentially unfamiliar term used in sentence 6. D. No, because it fails to clarify the writer's purpose in creating the text. E. No, because it makes an ineffective claim that does not require a defense.

E. No, because it makes an ineffective claim that does not require a defense.

18. The writer wants to conclude the passage by reiterating the main claim. Which of the following sentences best accomplishes this goal? A. With the Mountain Goat Management Plan, visitors to Olympic National Park should once again be able to hike safely. B. Perhaps wildlife relocation programs would be more successful if they were all as dramatic as the helicopter flights of the goats from Olympic National Park. C. The success of the goat relocation program is a testament to the hard work and knowledge of Washington's wildlife officials. D. Although restricting the number of people in Olympic National Park could also address safety concerns associated with the mountain goats, doing so would not be fair to the park's visitors. E. The Olympics, the North Cascades, the mountain goats, and human park visitors all stand to benefit from the goat relocation program.

E. The Olympics, the North Cascades, the mountain goats, and human park visitors all stand to benefit from the goat relocation program.

6. Which of the following best describes the author's exigence in the passage? A. The tension between the author's worldview and the worldview developed by Alice Walker in The Color Purple (paragraph 1, sentence 1) B. The pressure on the author to "get involved in some of the big ideas of our time" (paragraph 3, sentence 1) C. Growing indifference toward "the problems that plague our nation and our society" (paragraph 3, sentence 2) D. The fact that the audience "clapped more for Ferris" than they did at the mention of President Bush (paragraph 6, sentence 1) E. The question of how to lead a meaningful life "in a transitional period" (paragraph 9, sentence 1)

E. The question of how to lead a meaningful life "in a transitional period" (paragraph 9, sentence 1)

5. Which of the following best summarizes the author's thesis? A. Video gaming principally attracts people who are interested in collaborating with others. B. A background in video gaming will become essential to anyone hoping to solve the complex problems of the future. C. Pierre Lévy's concept of "collective intelligence" is the best way to interpret the culture of video gaming. D. Because the problems posed by video games are strategic, they can be solved only with collaborative effort. E. Video gaming helps develop collaborative problem-solving skills that can be useful in the real world.

E. Video gaming helps develop collaborative problem-solving skills that can be useful in the real world.

14. The writer wants sentence 11 (reproduced below) to serve as evidence that reinforces the argument of the passage. In the 1980s, a brief attempt to relocate the goats was met with public outcry. Which of the following versions of the underlined portion of sentence 11 best accomplishes this goal? A. (as it is now) B. had no impact on the amount of erosion in the region C. resulted in observable effects D. proved difficult as the goats retreated to areas that were challenging for humans to access E. resulted in noticeable improvements in the park's environment

E. resulted in noticeable improvements in the park's environment