English 11A

Read the sentence. The sculptor laboriously carved out the features of the statue of the war hero to make it as lifelike as possible. It took more than a month for him just to complete the soldier's profile. Based on its function in the sentence, what is the most accurate definition of the word laboriously?

with great effort

Read the paragraph from "Peregrine Falcon." "Scientists at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Patuxent Wildlife Research Center near Laurel, Maryland, began investigating the peregrine's decline. They found unusually high concentrations of the pesticide DDT and its breakdown product DDE in peregrine falcons and other birds of prey. The peregrines accumulated DDT in their tissues by feeding on birds that had eaten DDT-contaminated insects or seeds. The toxic chemical interfered with eggshell formation. As a result, falcons laid eggs with shells so thin they often broke during incubation or otherwise failed to hatch. Because too few young were raised to replace adults that died, peregrine populations declined precipitously." Which transition is most helpful in determining the organizational structure of the paragraph?

- as a result of - because

In "Save the Redwoods," how does the organizational structure of Paragraph 3 help to develop Muir's point that redwoods are at great risk?

By specifically describing the small range in which redwoods grow, he emphasizes that redwoods are a rare resource that cannot easily be replaced if destroyed.

Read the excerpt from "Peregrine Falcon." "Although less severe, the decline spread west, where peregrine populations were reduced by 80 to 90 percent by the mid-1970s. At that time, only the populations of Peale's falcons nesting along the north Pacific Coast in Alaska and British Columbia appeared to be stable." Why does the author mention Peale's falcon in the text?

DDT and other pesticides were not used where Peale's falcons lived and their population did not decline; this demonstrates a clear link between the use of DDT and the decline of peregrine falcon populations.

Read the sentence. The pickup truck was indispensable to the landscaping effort because we had to haul dirt, move plants, and transport gravel to complete the project. How does the word indispensable function in the sentence and what does it mean?

Indispensable functions as an adjective and means "completely necessary."

In which sentence is the italicized word used correctly?

NOT: The sloth is a benefactor that primarily feeds on vegetation, insects, and small birds and reptiles.

Which sentence most accurately states a central idea of "Save the Redwoods"?

One reason to save the redwoods is that the measures established to protect the trees will serve as a model for forest conservation in other parts of the country.

Which response most effectively explains how the text structures used in "Peregrine Falcon" develop ideas in the text?

The cause/effect structure explains how the plight of the falcons contributed to the ban of DDT.

Read the sentence. When writing a research paper, it is most important to use __________. Which option most accurately completes the sentence?

a formal tone

Which text structure would be most effective to use to describe the timeline associated with the development of the polio vaccine?

chronological

Read the sentences. People of the town were saddened by the lamentable destruction of their beloved museum, caused by a violent tornado. Happily, the unfortunate incident helped the community grow stronger as people worked together to restore the building. The word unfortunate is a context clue that develops the meaning of lamentable. What type of context clue is unfortunate?

definition

Read the sentence. Damage from the storm was devastating; hundreds of homes were completely destroyed and sections of the main highway were washed away. What kind of context clue is indicated by the words hundreds of homes were completely destroyed and sections of the main highway were washed away?

example

Which transition most likely indicates that an author is using the cause/effect text structure?

leads to

Read the sentences. The enormous house was surrounded by lush gardens and well-manicured lawns. Inside, visitors marveled at the marble fireplaces, rich hardwood floors, and high-tech appliances. Which option most effectively replaces the word house to be more precise?

mansion

Read the paragraph from "Peregrine Falcon." "To release captive-bred peregrines, young birds are placed in specially equipped boxes on top of a manmade tower or cliff ledge. At first, the birds are fed through a chute so they cannot see their human benefactors. When they are old enough, the box is opened and the young peregrines begin testing their wings. Their food is gradually reduced as the young falcons learn to hunt on their own. This process is known as 'hacking.'" The organizational structure used in this paragraph is __________. Which option most accurately completes the sentence?

sequential