Sample Exam Questions Part 2
The writer wants to add a phrase at the beginning of sentence 5, adjusting the capitalization as needed, to set up a comparison with the idea discussed in sentence 4. "The imperial measerments system used in the United States assigns values haphazardly: one mile is 5,280 feet long, while one pound is 16 ounces". Which os the following choices best accomplishes this goal?
By contrast
In sentence 2, the writer wants an effective transition from the introductory paragraph to the main idea of the passage. " The culprit was a discrepancy in the software that controlled the spacecraft's thrusters: one team of engineers had calculated the force needed from the thrusters in pounds, an imperial unit, while another team calculated the force in newton's , a metric unit"
(as it is now)
In the fourth paragraph (sentences 10-11), the writer wants to provide further evidence to rebut the claim that converting to the metric system might be difficult. Which of the following pieces of evidence would best achieve this purpose?
A description of the successful adoption of the metric system by Great Britain, which had previously used the imperial system
The writer wants to add the following sentence to the third paragraph (sentence 6-9) to provide additional explanation. "This means that the United States must convert to metric units whenever it is dealing with the rest of the world". Where should it be placed?
After sentence 6
In sentence 3 which of the following versions of the underlined text best establishes the writers position on the main argument of the passage? "The Orbiter mission failure is just one reason, albeit an extremely expensive one, that the United States needs to abandon future Mars survey missions".
Needs to adopt the metric system
The writer wants to add more information to the third paragraph (sentence 6-9) to support the main argument of the paragraph. All of the following pieces of evidence help achieve this purpose EXCEPT which one?
A quote from Thomas Jeffersons eighteenth century proposal for a new decimal system to standardize weights and measures
In sentence 9, the writer wants to provide a convincing explanation for why switching to the metric system would benefit United States industries. "Switching to the metric system would also benefit United States industries; the European Union for example, has been requiring its member states tp standardize their metric systems since 1971". Which version of the underlined text best accomplishes this goal?
Industries:those with products in both domestic and international markets would no longer need to design in and produce to two different measurement systems, reducing both product overlap and manufacturing inefficiencies
In the fourth paragraph (sentences 10-11) the writer wants to expand on the concession that converting to the metric system may seem difficult. Which of the following claims would best achieve this purpose?
It would be extremely costly as well as confusing for the United States to manage the overwhelming task of converting everything from road signs to measuring cups to the metric system
Which of the following sentences, if placed before sentence 1, would both capture the audiences interest and provide the most effective introduction to the topic of the paragraph
On September 23,1999, NASA officials were aghast when the $125 million Mars Climate Orbiter vanished as it prepared to enter the red planets orbit.
