Language Arts Cumulative Exam 76%

Which sentence best reflects the author's claim in "Children of the Drug Wars" that children are leaving Central America to reach safety?

"By sending these children away, 'you are handing them a death sentence,' says José Arnulfo Ochoa."

Which sentences contain dependent clauses? Select two options.

*Incorrect* A and C

Study the editorial cartoon How Fungal Bands Eliminate Asian Longhorned Beetles . . . by Don Landgren Jr. What is the cartoonist's purpose in this cartoon?

D. To make people believe that longhorn beetles hate fungi

Read the excerpt from "A Genetics of Justice" by Julia Alvarez. Passage A: Given this mandate of silence, I was a real thorn in my mother's side. Passage B: Unfortunately for my mother, I grew up to be a writer publishing under my maiden name. . . . When I published a first novel with a strong autobiographical base, she did not talk to me for months. Passage C: When the [second] novel came out, I decided to go ahead and risk her anger. I inscribed a copy to both Mami and Papi with a note: "Thank you for having instilled in me through your sufferings a desire for freedom and justice." . . . . Days later, my mother called me up to tell me she had just finished the novel. "You put me back in those days. It was like I was reliving it all," she said sobbing. "I don't care what happens to us! I'm so proud of you for writing this book." I stood in my kitchen in Vermont, stunned, relishing her praise and listening to her cry. It was one of the few times since l had learned to talk that I did not try to answer my mother back. If there is such a thing as genetic justice that courses through the generations and finally manifests itself full-blown in a family moment, there it was. How does the author develop the central idea across these passages?

*Incorrect* A. Alvarez describes how she and her mother were emotionally distant, but once she moved to Vermont, her mother was finally able to bestow praise.

Read the excerpt from "The Storyteller." "Were there any sheep in the park?" demanded Cyril. "No;" said the bachelor, "there were no sheep." "Why weren't there any sheep?" came the inevitable question arising out of that answer. The aunt permitted herself a smile, which might almost have been described as a grin. "There were no sheep in the park," said the bachelor, "because the Prince's mother had once had a dream that her son would either be killed by a sheep or else by a clock falling on him. For that reason the Prince never kept a sheep in his park or a clock in his palace." Which statement best explains the situational irony in the passage?

*Incorrect* C. The prince's mother fears that her son will be killed by a sheep, but he is not.

Read the excerpt from "How the Whale Got His Throat." In the sea, once upon a time, O my Best Beloved, there was a Whale, and he ate fishes. He ate the starfish and the garfish, and the crab and the dab, and the plaice and the dace, and the skate and his mate, and the mackereel and the pickereel, and the really truly twirly-whirly eel. All the fishes he could find in all the sea he ate with his mouth—so! Till at last there was only one small fish left in all the sea, and he was a small 'Stute Fish, and he swam a little behind the Whale's right ear, so as to be out of harm's way. Then the Whale stood up on his tail and said, "I'm hungry." And the small 'Stute Fish said in a small 'stute voice, "Noble and generous Cetacean, have you ever tasted Man?" 'No,' said the Whale. 'What is it like?' 'Nice,' said the small 'Stute Fish. 'Nice but nubbly.' 'Then fetch me some,' said the Whale, and he made the sea froth up with his tail. 'One at a time is enough,' said the 'Stute Fish. 'If you swim to latitude Fifty North, longitude Forty West (that is magic), you will find, sitting on a raft, in the middle of the sea, with nothing on but a pair of blue canvas breeches, a pair of suspenders (you must not forget the suspenders, Best Beloved), and a jack-knife, one ship-wrecked Mariner, who, it is only fair to tell you, is a man of infinite-resource-and-sagacity.' Which part of the excerpt best demonstrates that the author's purpose is to entertain children with a humorous story?

A. "In the sea, once upon a time, O my Best Beloved, there was a Whale, and he ate fishes. He ate the starfish and the garfish, and the crab and the dab, and the plaice and the dace, and the skate and his mate, and the mackereel and the pickereel, and the really truly twirly-whirly eel. All the fishes he could find in all the sea he ate with his mouth—so!"

What are effective ways to revise a research paper for readability? Select three options.

A. Avoid too many sentences that are overly short or long. B. Remove information that is unnecessary and excessive. C. Make sure that the vocabulary used is appropriate for the audience.

Read the passage from chapter 1 of Animal Farm. "And remember, comrades, your resolution must never falter. No argument must lead you astray. Never listen when they tell you that Man and the animals have a common interest, that the prosperity of the one is the prosperity of the others. It is all lies. Man serves the interests of no creature except himself. And among us animals let there be perfect unity, perfect comradeship in the struggle. All men are enemies. All animals are comrades." At this moment there was a tremendous uproar. What does the passage reveal about Old Major's character? Select three options.

A. He is decisive. C. He is a persuasive speaker. D. He is firm in his beliefs.

Read the passage from chapter 5 of Animal Farm. On the third Sunday after Snowball's expulsion, the animals were somewhat surprised to hear Napoleon announce that the windmill was to be built after all. He did not give any reason for having changed his mind, but merely warned the animals that this extra task would mean very hard work, it might even be necessary to reduce their rations. The plans, however, had all been prepared, down to the last detail. A special committee of pigs had been at work upon them for the past three weeks. The building of the windmill, with various other improvements, was expected to take two years. That evening Squealer explained privately to the other animals that Napoleon had never in reality been opposed to the windmill. On the contrary, it was he who had advocated it in the beginning, and the plan which Snowball had drawn on the floor of the incubator shed had actually been stolen from among Napoleon's papers. The windmill was, in fact, Napoleon's own creation. Why, then, asked somebody, had he spoken so strongly against it? Here Squealer looked very sly. That, he said, was Comrade Napoleon's cunning. He had seemed to oppose the windmill, simply as a maneuver to get rid of Snowball, who was a dangerous character and a bad influence. Now that Snowball was out of the way, the plan could go forward without his interference. This, said Squealer, was something called tactics. He repeated a number of times, "Tactics, comrades, tactics!" skipping round and whisking his tail with a merry laugh. The animals were not certain what the word meant, but Squealer spoke so persuasively, and the three dogs who happened to be with him growled so threateningly, that they accepted his explanation without further questions. How does Orwell use satire to achieve his purpose in this passage? Select two options.

A. He uses parody to show how dictators deflect blame to others. C. He uses reversal to show that dictators do not abide by their principles.

Read Shakespeare's "Sonnet 100." Where art thou, Muse, that thou forget'st so long To speak of that which gives thee all thy might? Spend'st thou thy fury on some worthless song, Darkening thy power to lend base subjects light? Return, forgetful Muse, and straight redeem In gentle numbers time so idly spent; Sing to the ear that doth thy lays esteem And gives thy pen both skill and argument .Rise, resty Muse, my love's sweet face survey, If Time have any wrinkle graven there; If any, be a satire to decay, And make Time's spoils despised every where. Give my love fame faster than Time wastes life; So thou prevent'st his scythe and crooked knife. What is the central idea of the third quatrain?

A. If you see my love aging, work against it.

Read the passage from Sugar Changed the World. As sugar planters fled from the revolution in Haiti, some moved to Cuba's Oriente Province, others to North America—to Louisiana. By the time the Haitian plantation owners and overseers reached New Orleans, abolitionists were pressing to end the African slave trade. The tragedy is that this movement to end slavery did nothing to improve conditions in Louisiana. In fact, the state that slaves called Lousy Anna was the very worst place for an African in America; it was the Caribbean all over again—a death sentence. In every single American slave state, the population of enslaved people kept rising even after the slave trade was abolished. That was because enough enslaved children were born, lived, and grew to become adults. There was just one exception to this rule: Louisiana, where the native-born enslaved population kept dropping. Sugar was a killer. Unlike the Caribbean, Louisiana has cold snaps. That put an additional pressure on the sugar harvest. Not only did the slaves need to harvest the cane in perfect rhythm with the grinding mills, but the entire crop had to be cut down between mid-October and December. This pace only increased when growers installed improved, steam-powered mills. People needed to work faster than the weather and to keep pace with machines. Which details do the authors include to support the claim in this passage? Select two options.

A. Information on enslaved populations in different American states B. information on weather conditions in Louisiana and the Caribbean

Read the passage from Animal Farm. On the third Sunday after Snowball's expulsion, the animals were somewhat surprised to hear Napoleon announce that the windmill was to be built after all. He did not give any reason for having changed his mind, but merely warned the animals that this extra task would mean very hard work, it might even be necessary to reduce their rations. The plans, however, had all been prepared, down to the last detail. A special committee of pigs had been at work upon them for the past three weeks. The building of the windmill, with various other improvements, was expected to take two years. That evening Squealer explained privately to the other animals that Napoleon had never in reality been opposed to the windmill. On the contrary, it was he who had advocated it in the beginning, and the plan which Snowball had drawn on the floor of the incubator shed had actually been stolen from among Napoleon's papers. The windmill was, in fact, Napoleon's own creation. Why, then, asked somebody, had he spoken so strongly against it? Here Squealer looked very sly. That, he said, was Comrade Napoleon's cunning. He had seemed to oppose the windmill, simply as a maneuver to get rid of Snowball, who was a dangerous character and a bad influence. Now that Snowball was out of the way, the plan could go forward without his interference. This, said Squealer, was something called tactics. He repeated a number of times, "Tactics, comrades, tactics!" skipping round and whisking his tail with a merry laugh. The animals were not certain what the word meant, but Squealer spoke so persuasively, and the three dogs who happened to be with him growled so threateningly, that they accepted his explanation without further questions. Which examples of propaganda are found in this passage? Select two options.

A. Snowball is used as a scapegoat. B. Napoleon talks to the animals through Squealer.

Read the passage from Animal Farm. That evening Squealer explained privately to the other animals that Napoleon had never in reality been opposed to the windmill. On the contrary, it was he who had advocated it in the beginning, and the plan which Snowball had drawn on the floor of the incubator shed had actually been stolen from among Napoleon's papers. The windmill was, in fact, Napoleon's own creation. Why, then, asked somebody, had he spoken so strongly against it? Here Squealer looked very sly. That, he said, was Comrade Napoleon's cunning. He had seemed to oppose the windmill, simply as a maneuver to get rid of Snowball, who was a dangerous character and a bad influence. Now that Snowball was out of the way, the plan could go forward without his interference. This, said Squealer, was something called tactics. He repeated a number of times, "Tactics, comrades, tactics!" skipping round and whisking his tail with a merry laugh. The animals were not certain what the word meant, but Squealer spoke so persuasively, and the three dogs who happened to be with him growled so threateningly, that they accepted his explanation without further questions. How does Orwell use Squealer's explanation to support his purpose?

A. Squealer's explanation of Napoleon's tactics is representative of a dictator who reverses policies and lies about his reasons.

Read the excerpt from Does My Head Look Big in This? by Randa Abdel-Fattah. I froze. The priest would declare me a heretic, my parents would call me a traitor, and Mrs. Piogarni would give me detention. I had no idea what to say. I mean, what does a Muslim confess to a priest? I could only think of one thing. That every time Chris Barkley called me a darkie, or teased me about my mom's towel-head, I made a silent prayer asking God to drop a tree on his stupid head. The priest asked me again: "What is your confession, my child?" "I'm Muslim," I whispered. "Five Hail Marys and five of the Lord's Prayer." That was my first and last participation in a church service. Which sentence best explains how the tone reveals the narrator's perspective?

A. The narrator is frightened because she is a Muslim making a Catholic confession.

How does the rhythm of iambic pentameter contribute to the meaning of Shakespeare's "Sonnet 100"? Select two options.

A. The stresses highlight important words and concepts. D. The regular rhythm intensifies the emotional impact.

What must be true for a research question to be considered effective?

A. What must be true for a research question to be considered effective?

Which of Cyril's actions does Saki exaggerate in "The Storyteller" to create satire? Select three options.

A. disobeying his aunt B. asking questions about everything E. commenting on the two stories he is told

Read the sentence. The Tower of London dates back to the year 1066, is from the same era as Buckingham Palace, is older than Westminster Abbey, and is one of the oldest historical sites in England. Which noun is modified by the underlined phrase?

A. the Tower of London

Manus has the following information about a quotation in his essay: the author, the chapter title, the book title, the publisher, the date of publication, and the page number. Which information should he include in the MLA in-text citation? Select two options.

A. the author F. the page number

Read the passage. Amit's thoughts were a river rushing over boulders, waves crashing into each other as they all came tumbling downstream. He wished that Tamar had never told him her secret. What is the most likely meaning of the metaphor in this sentence?

B. Amit's thoughts are confused and contradictory.

Read the excerpt from "How the Whale Got His Throat." For the Mariner he was also an Hi-ber-ni-an. And he stepped out on the shingle, and went home to his mother, who had given him leave to trail his toes in the water; and he married and lived happily ever afterward. So did the Whale. But from that day on, the grating in his throat, which he could neither cough up nor swallow down, prevented him eating anything except very, very small fish; and that is the reason why whales nowadays never eat men or boys or little girls. What is the central idea of this passage?

B. Because of one man's actions, whales never eat human beings.

Read the passage from chapter 5 of Animal Farm. That evening Squealer explained privately to the other animals that Napoleon had never in reality been opposed to the windmill. On the contrary, it was he who had advocated it in the beginning, and the plan which Snowball had drawn on the floor of the incubator shed had actually been stolen from among Napoleon's papers. The windmill was, in fact, Napoleon's own creation. Why, then, asked somebody, had he spoken so strongly against it? Here Squealer looked very sly. That, he said, was Comrade Napoleon's cunning. He had seemed to oppose the windmill, simply as a maneuver to get rid of Snowball, who was a dangerous character and a bad influence. Now that Snowball was out of the way, the plan could go forward without his interference. This, said Squealer, was something called tactics. He repeated a number of times, "Tactics, comrades, tactics!" skipping round and whisking his tail with a merry laugh. The animals were not certain what the word meant, but Squealer spoke so persuasively, and the three dogs who happened to be with him growled so threateningly, that they accepted his explanation without further questions. What is Orwell ridiculing in this passage?

B. He is making fun of leaders who tell lies to their people.

Read the excerpt from Sunil's personal narrative. When I first came to the United States from India, I was frustrated by the assumptions people made about me and my culture. People often think that because I'm from India, I am a Hindu. I'm actually Malayali, from Kerala, and I'm Muslim. And the day that a girl at school asked me if it felt weird not living in a longhouse anymore really took the cake. India is known for a lot of different architectural styles, and a longhouse isn't one of them! But the misunderstandings about who I am and where I am from are only the tip of the iceberg. As a person of color, I've been called a lot of names here by people on the street, in the grocery store, in school—practically everywhere—and their underlying message is this: You have no right to feel safe here. What function does this paragraph serve in the narrative?

B. It is an exposition of Sunil's background and the introduction to a conflict.

Read the excerpt from Adam's personal narrative. I stepped into the tidal pool carefully, wishing I had brought my water shoes. "What's the matter, afraid of a few crabs?" Laura smiled. "It doesn't hurt that much when they pinch. They're only little," she said. Laura wasn't afraid of anything, or at least I'd never seen her get scared. She was the type to dive off a cliff and not even think about what was in the water below. "But there are so many of them!" I winced. "I know, it's so cool!" she replied, scooping a crab into her hand to look at it more closely. I nearly screamed. How does this paragraph develop the characters in the dialogue?

B. It shows that Adam is afraid of what is in the water, but Laura is fearless and likes to tease him.

Read the excerpt from Julio's essay about folk tales. When people think of the Grimms' fairy tales, they think of well-loved children's stories. The cleaned-up adaptations we read now have a reputation for being childhood favorites. However, the stories did not start out that way. The Grimm brothers actually collected tales that were passed on from person to person about terrible living conditions and challenges that people faced. These stories are dark and often tragic. But Germany is not the only source of folklore that, rather than serving as bedtime stories, might keep kids up at night or give them nightmares. Tales of monsters, evil witches, and other horrors can be found in other cultures as well. For example, the Baba Yaga stories from Russia and other Slavic countries portray a scary-looking witch who flies around in a mortar, carries a pestle, and might help or harm, depending on her mood. She is not exactly a calming character for sleepy children. Which thesis does Julio present effectively?

B. Many folk tales are not happy children's stories but dark, realistic tales.

Read the passage from Animal Farm. On the third Sunday after Snowball's expulsion, the animals were somewhat surprised to hear Napoleon announce that the windmill was to be built after all. He did not give any reason for having changed his mind, but merely warned the animals that this extra task would mean very hard work, it might even be necessary to reduce their rations. What is the central idea of this passage?

B. Napoleon expects the animals to work harder and eat less.

Read the excerpt from "The Story of a Warrior Queen." Queen Boadicea looked so beautiful and fierce as she stood there, with her blue eyes flashing, and her golden hair blowing round her in the wind, that the hearts of her people were filled with love for her, and anger against the Romans. As she spoke, fierce desires for revenge grew in them. They had hated their Roman conquerors before, now the hatred became a madness. So, when Boadicea had finished speaking, a cry of rage rose from the Britons. They beat upon their shields with their swords, and swore to avenge their Queen, to fight and die for her and for their country. Then Boadicea, leaning with one hand upon her spear, and lifting the other to heaven—prayed. She prayed to the goddess of war, and her prayer was as fierce as her speech, for she had never heard of a God who taught men to forgive their enemies. Which detail in this excerpt reveals heroic qualities and supports the universal theme of loyalty to one's country?

B. Queen Boadicea's people are filled with love for her.

Read the sentences. The Mississippi River flows from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. Its source is a peaceful lake in Minnesota. It flows south. It flows past 10 states. Its mouth is in Louisia Which sentence best combines these ideas into a compound-complex sentence?

B. The Mississippi River flows south from a peaceful lake in Minnesota past 10 states to empty into the Gulf of Mexico at its mouth in Louisiana.

Read the excerpt from "A Genetics of Justice" by Julia Alvarez. During my early teen years in this country, I knew very little about what was actually going on in the Dominican Republic. Whenever Ia situación on the island came up, my parents spoke in hushed voices. In December 1960, four months after our arrival, Time magazine reported the murder of the three Mirabal sisters, who along with their husbands had started the national underground Dominican Republic. My parents confiscated the magazine. To our many questions about what was going on, my mother always had the ready answer, "En boca cerrada no entran moscas." No flies fly into a closed mouth. Later, I found out that this very saying had been scratched on the lintel of the entrance of the SIM's torture center at La Cuarenta. What is the central idea of this paragraph?

B. The author's parents were afraid to discuss murders or events in the Dominican Republic.

Read the passage from Sugar Changed the World. But there is another story as well. Information about sugar spread as human knowledge expanded, as great civilizations and cultures exchanged ideas. In fact, while sugar was the direct cause of the expansion of slavery, the global connections that sugar brought about also fostered the most powerful ideas of human freedom. How do the details in this passage support the authors' purpose?

B. The details about human knowledge inform readers about how humans learned about sugar.

Read the excerpt from Animal Farm. That evening Squealer explained privately to the other animals that Napoleon had never in reality been opposed to the windmill. On the contrary, it was he who had advocated it in the beginning, and the plan which Snowball had drawn on the floor of the incubator shed had actually been stolen from among Napoleon's papers. The windmill was, in fact, Napoleon's own creation. Why, then, asked somebody, had he spoken so strongly against it? Here Squealer looked very sly. That, he said, was Comrade Napoleon's cunning. He had seemed to oppose the windmill, simply as a maneuver to get rid of Snowball, who was a dangerous character and a bad influence. Now that Snowball was out of the way, the plan could go forward without his interference. This, said Squealer, was something called tactics. He repeated a number of times, "Tactics, comrades, tactics!" skipping round and whisking his tail with a merry laugh. The animals were not certain what the word meant, but Squealer spoke so persuasively, and the three dogs who happened to be with him growled so threateningly, that they accepted his explanation without further questions. Squealer explains to the other animals that Napoleon was never opposed to the windmill. How does this conflict propel the plot forward?

B. The other animals realize that Napoleon can be trusted.

What is falling action in a story?

B. a series of occurrences that unfold after the climax

Read the passage. When she realized that she had missed the bus, Jia became distraught. She paced back and forth, wringing her hands and trying not to cry. There was no doubt about it—she would be late for her meeting and might lose her job as a result of her tardiness. Based on context clues in the passage, what is the most likely meaning of distraught?

B. agitated

Read the excerpt from "The Royal House of Thebes." In Thebes, Creon was in control and he proclaimed that none of those who had fought against the city should be given burial. Eteocles should be honored with every rite that the noblest received at death, but Polyneices should be left for beasts and birds to tear and devour. This was to carry vengeance beyond the ordinance of the gods, beyond the law of right; it was to punish the dead. The souls of the unburied might not pass the river that encircles the kingdom of death, but must wander in desolation, with no abiding-place, no rest ever for their weariness. To bury the dead was a most sacred duty, not only to bury one's own, but any stranger one might come upon. But this duty, Creon's proclamation said, was changed in the cause of Polyneices to a crime. He who buried him would be put to death. Which action most makes Creon a villain in this story?

B. placing revenge above sacred duty

Read the passage from Sugar Changed the World. As sugar planters fled from the revolution in Haiti, some moved to Cuba's Oriente Province, others to North America—to Louisiana. By the time the Haitian plantation owners and overseers reached New Orleans, abolitionists were pressing to end the African slave trade. The tragedy is that this movement to end slavery did nothing to improve conditions in Louisiana. In fact, the state that slaves called Lousy Anna was the very worst place for an African in America; it was the Caribbean all over again—a death sentence. In every single American slave state, the population of enslaved people kept rising even after the slave trade was abolished. That was because enough enslaved children were born, lived, and grew to become adults. There was just one exception to this rule: Louisiana, where the native-born enslaved population kept dropping. Sugar was a killer. Which words from the passage best support the authors' purpose?

B. tragedy, death, and killer

Which claims are best supported by reasons and relevant evidence? Select two options.

C. Exercising regularly will improve many aspects of one's life. Not only will you sleep better at night, but you will also learn better during the day and feel better in general. Many studies have shown the many benefits of regular exercise, and my doctor agrees with them. D. Parents should teach their children financial responsibility early in life. Not only do children have expenses such as meals, snacks, and transportation, but they also need to learn how to realistically budget for their needs according to their income. This is an economic lesson that will prove invaluable when they grow up.

Read the excerpt from chapter 5 of Animal Farm. On the third Sunday after Snowball's expulsion, the animals were somewhat surprised to hear Napoleon announce that the windmill was to be built after all. He did not give any reason for having changed his mind, but merely warned the animals that this extra task would mean very hard work, it might even be necessary to reduce their rations. The plans, however, had all been prepared, down to the last detail. A special committee of pigs had been at work upon them for the past three weeks. The building of the windmill, with various other improvements, was expected to take two years. The passage suggests that Napoleon is motivated by a desire for control over the farm. Which details from the text support this inference? Select three options.

C. Napoleon steals Snowball's plans and claims them as his own. D. Napoleon claims to have been an advocate of the windmill. E. Napoleon plans to modernize the farm to be more efficient.

Read the passage from chapter 5 of Animal Farm. That evening Squealer explained privately to the other animals that Napoleon had never in reality been opposed to the windmill. On the contrary, it was he who had advocated it in the beginning, and the plan which Snowball had drawn on the floor of the incubator shed had actually been stolen from among Napoleon's papers. The windmill was, in fact, Napoleon's own creation. Why, then, asked somebody, had he spoken so strongly against it? Here Squealer looked very sly. That, he said, was Comrade Napoleon's cunning. He had seemed to oppose the windmill, simply as a maneuver to get rid of Snowball, who was a dangerous character and a bad influence. Now that Snowball was out of the way, the plan could go forward without his interference. This, said Squealer, was something called tactics. He repeated a number of times, "Tactics, comrades, tactics!" skipping round and whisking his tail with a merry laugh. The animals were not certain what the word meant, but Squealer spoke so persuasively, and the three dogs who happened to be with him growled so threateningly, that they accepted his explanation without further questions. Which figure from Russian history does Napoleon most likely represent?

C. Stalin, who built a dictatorship under the guise of communism

Read the excerpt from chapter 8 of The Travels of Marco Polo. Dhofar is a fine city of great size and splendour lying about 500 miles north-west of Shihir. Here again the people are Saracens and worship Mahomet, and are subject to a count who is likewise subject to the sultan of Aden. You must understand that this city is still within the province of Aden. The city stands on the sea and has a very good port, frequented by many merchant ships that import and export great quantities of merchandise. Many good Arab steeds, and horses from other lands as well, are brought here, and the merchants make a handsome profit on them. The city has many other cities and towns under its sway. Here again good incense grows in profusion—I will tell you how. It is produced by trees of no great size, like little fir trees. They are gashed with knives in various places, and out of these gashes oozes the incense. Some of it even oozes from the tree itself without any gashing, in consequence of the great heat that prevails. As for the Arab steeds that are brought here, the merchants afterwards export them to India, making a good profit on the deal. How does the author's language in this passage reveal his opinion of Dhofar? Select two options.

C. The author describes Dhofar's busy port as "very good." D. The author uses the words "fine" and "splendour" to describe Dhofar.

Study the cartoon by Signe Wilkinson. How does the symbol of the coal miner work to create meaning?

C. The coal miner symbolizes the fossil fuel energy used to create electricity to power devices.

Read the passage and study the map from Sugar Changed the World. When the Haitians defeated the French armies, Napoleon lost control of the world's most productive sugar islands and with it his dream of great sugar profits. As a result, Napoleon had no use for the land in North America he had so recently obtained from Spain. Napoleon did, though, need money to pay for his wars. That is why he sold the vast Louisiana Territory to Jefferson for the bargain price of just fifteen million dollars. What textbooks call the Louisiana Purchase should really be named the Sugar Purchase. Americans obtained the middle part of what would become their nation because the Haitians achieved their freedom. But, paradoxically, that gave Haitian slave owners a new home. As sugar planters fled from the revolution in Haiti, some moved to Cuba's Oriente Province, others to North America—to Louisiana. How does the map help develop the central idea that the Louisiana Purchase had profound effects on sugar and the United States?

C. The map illustrates the size of the Louisiana Purchase and suggests its economic potential.

Read the excerpt from Animal Farm. In the long pasture, not far from the farm buildings, there was a small knoll which was the highest point on the farm. After surveying the ground, Snowball declared that this was just the place for a windmill, which could be made to operate a dynamo and supply the farm with electrical power. This would light the stalls and warm them in winter, and would also run a circular saw, a chaff-cutter, a mangel-slicer, and an electric milking machine. The animals had never heard of anything of this kind before (for the farm was an old-fashioned one and had only the most primitive machinery), and they listened in astonishment while Snowball conjured up pictures of fantastic machines which would do their work for them while they grazed at their ease in the fields or improved their minds with reading and conversation. According to this passage, how would the electricity produced by the windmill most affect the animals? Select two options.

C. They would have machines laboring for them. E. They would have more leisure time to themselves.

Read Horus's evaluation of an argument that claims that everyone should remain on daylight saving time all year long. In her editorial today, Smith returns to the perennial issue of setting our clocks back as we return to standard time. Her reasons are compelling. Not only would it be more convenient if we didn't have to change our clocks twice a year, but it would prevent the confusion that results from states and countries in different time zones changing their clocks on different dates. Smith's evidence is drawn from amusing commonplace experiences, such as arriving at church as the service is ending, and from pragmatic—sometimes serious—concerns about global business and communication, such as statistics on the economic impact of time mix-ups. What should Horus add to his evaluation to make it more effective? Select two options.

C. an evaluation of Smith's reasoning and evidence E. a conclusion summarizing the claim and evaluation

Ximena is writing an essay comparing the genres of editorial and biography. What is the most effective way for her to structure her essay?

C. hook, thesis statement, analysis of editorials, analysis of biographies, side-by-side comparison of editorials and biographies, summary of the main ideas

Read the passage from "How the Whale Got His Throat." In the sea, once upon a time, O my Best Beloved, there was a Whale, and he ate fishes. He ate the starfish and the garfish, and the crab and the dab, and the plaice and the dace, and the skate and his mate, and the mackereel and the pickereel, and the really truly twirly-whirly eel. All the fishes he could find in all the sea he ate with his mouth—so! Till at last there was only one small fish left in all the sea, and he was a small 'Stute Fish, and he swam a little behind the Whale's right ear, so as to be out of harm's way. Then the Whale stood up on his tail and said, "I'm hungry." And the small 'Stute Fish said in a small 'stute voice, "Noble and generous Cetacean, have you ever tasted Man?" What is the 'Stute Fish's motivation?

C. to escape being eaten by the whale

Read the passage from chapter 2 of Animal Farm. Three nights later old Major died peacefully in his sleep. His body was buried at the foot of the orchard. This was early in March. During the next three months there was much secret activity. Major's speech had given to the more intelligent animals on the farm a completely new outlook on life. They did not know when the Rebellion predicted by Major would take place, they had no reason for thinking that it would be within their own lifetime, but they saw clearly that it was their duty to prepare for it. The work of teaching and organizing the others fell naturally upon the pigs, who were generally recognized as being the cleverest of the animals. Pre-eminent among the pigs were two young boars named Snowball and Napoleon, whom Mr. Jones was breeding up for sale. Which detail from the passage best supports the idea that the farm is a symbol for Russia and the events surrounding the Russian Revolution?

D. "Pre-eminent among the pigs were two young boars named Snowball and Napoleon, whom Mr. Jones was breeding up for sale."

Read the excerpt from chapter 8 of The Travels of Marco Polo. They have plenty of ambergris, because whales abound in these seas, and also cachalots. And since they catch great numbers of both, they are never short of ambergris; for you know it is the whale that produces ambergris. They have leopards and lynxes and lions also in great numbers. Other beasts, such as harts, stags, and roebuck and such-like game animals, are also abundant, besides game-birds of many kinds. There are also many ostriches of huge size. The great diversity of birds, quite different from ours, is truly marvelous. Which quotation from the excerpt best reflects the author's subjective perspective about the fauna of Madagascar?

D. "The great diversity of birds, quite different from ours, is truly marvelous."

Read the excerpt from Enrique's Journey. Today, Enrique is terrified of another beating. Every time someone new jumps onto his car, he tenses. Fear, he realizes, helps to keep him awake, so he decides to induce it. He climbs to the top of the tank car and takes a running leap. With arms spread, as if he were flying, he jumps to one swaying boxcar, then to another. Some have four- to five-foot gaps. Others are nine feet apart. How does the narrative technique of characterization support the author's purpose in this excerpt?

D. It demonstrates that Enrique takes drastic measures to survive.

Read the sentence. Going to the game at night was always fun, but sometimes Cooper's spirit for his team was not enough for a win. What type of phrase is the underlined phrase in the sentence?

D. an adjectival phrase

Read the passage from Sugar Changed the World. In every single American slave state, the population of enslaved people kept rising even after the slave trade was abolished. That was because enough enslaved children were born, lived, and grew to become adults. There was just one exception to this rule: Louisiana, where the native-born enslaved population kept dropping. Sugar was a killer. Unlike the Caribbean, Louisiana has cold snaps. That put an additional pressure on the sugar harvest. Not only did the slaves need to harvest the cane in perfect rhythm with the grinding mills, but the entire crop had to be cut down between mid-October and December. This pace only increased when growers installed improved, steam-powered mills. People needed to work faster than the weather and to keep pace with machines. What is the authors' purpose in this passage?

D. to inform the reader that Louisiana's short harvest season meant that enslaved people were cruelly overworked