Diagnostic Quiz

Section 1: Literary Analysis

1. Identify the literary element.

A) simile

B) metaphor

C) personification

D) allusion

E) none of the above

2. Identify the literary element.

A) simile

B) metaphor

C) personification

D) allusion

E) none of the above

3. Identify the literary element.

A) simile

B) metaphor

C) personification

D) allusion

E) none of the above

4. Identify the literary element.

A) simile

B) metaphor

C) personification

D) allusion

E) none of the above

5. Define situational irony.

A) irony that occurs when actions taken have an effect exactly opposite from what was intended

B) irony that occurs when a characters perceives control of his or her fate but which in fact is controlled by circumstance, destiny, or a higher power that controls or toys with mortal lives

C) irony that occurs when what is said is the opposite of what is meant

D) irony that occurs when the meaning of a situation is understood by the audience or reader but not by a character in the story or play

E) none of the above

6. Define dramatic irony.

A) irony that occurs when actions taken have an effect exactly opposite from what was intended

B) irony that occurs when a characters perceives control of his or her fate but which in fact is controlled by circumstance, destiny, or a higher power that controls or toys with mortal lives

C) irony that occurs when what is said is the opposite of what is meant

D) irony that occurs when the meaning of a situation is understood by the audience or reader but not by a character in the story or play

E) none of the above

7. Define verbal irony.

A) irony that occurs when actions taken have an effect exactly opposite from what was intended

B) irony that occurs when a characters perceives control of his or her fate but which in fact is controlled by circumstance, destiny, or a higher power that controls or toys with mortal lives

C) irony that occurs when what is said is the opposite of what is meant

D) irony that occurs when the meaning of a situation is understood by the audience or reader but not by a character in the story or play

E) none of the above

8. Define allusion.

A) a comparison, of two unlike things, that does not use the word "like" or "as." Example: This guy is a beast.

B) a comparison, of two unlike things, that uses the word "like" or "as." Example: He dropped his album at the VMAs like a boss.

C) giving human-like qualities to inanimate objects, animals, or ideas. Example: Hey diddle, Diddle, / The cat and the fiddle, / The cow jumped over the moon; / The little dog laughed / To see such sport, / And the dish ran away with the spoon.

D) a brief reference, explicit or indirect, to a person, place or event, or to another literary work or passage. Example: She was no Scrooge, but she seldom purchased anything except the bare necessities.

E) none of the above

9. Define simile.

A) a comparison, of two unlike things, that does not use the word "like" or "as." Example: This guy is a beast.

B) a comparison, of two unlike things, that uses the word "like" or "as." Example: He dropped his album at the VMAs like a boss.

C) giving human-like qualities to inanimate objects, animals, or ideas. Example: Hey diddle, Diddle, / The cat and the fiddle, / The cow jumped over the moon; / The little dog laughed / To see such sport, / And the dish ran away with the spoon.

D) a brief reference, explicit or indirect, to a person, place or event, or to another literary work or passage. Example: She was no Scrooge, but she seldom purchased anything except the bare necessities.

E) none of the above

10. Define metaphor.

A) a comparison, of two unlike things, that does not use the word "like" or "as." Example: This guy is a beast.

B) a comparison, of two unlike things, that uses the word "like" or "as." Example: He dropped his album at the VMAs like a boss.

C) giving human-like qualities to inanimate objects, animals, or ideas. Example: Hey diddle, Diddle, / The cat and the fiddle, / The cow jumped over the moon; / The little dog laughed / To see such sport, / And the dish ran away with the spoon.

D) a brief reference, explicit or indirect, to a person, place or event, or to another literary work or passage. Example: She was no Scrooge, but she seldom purchased anything except the bare necessities.

E) none of the above

11. Define personification.

A) a comparison, of two unlike things, that does not use the word "like" or "as." Example: This guy is a beast.

B) a comparison, of two unlike things, that uses the word "like" or "as." Example: He dropped his album at the VMAs like a boss.

C) giving human-like qualities to inanimate objects, animals, or ideas. Example: Hey diddle, Diddle, / The cat and the fiddle, / The cow jumped over the moon; / The little dog laughed / To see such sport, / And the dish ran away with the spoon.

D) a brief reference, explicit or indirect, to a person, place or event, or to another literary work or passage. Example: She was no Scrooge, but she seldom purchased anything except the bare necessities.

E) none of the above

12. Which statement uses an example of metaphor?

A) After 30 years, Sade retains all of her signature strengths, most significantly in how she balances power and fragility, her voice like a silk thread that can somehow hold the weight of a broken heart.

B) The dinner table is the glue of families.

C) Your Romeo is right in front of you.

D) The pilots had orders from the White House to take out any plane that refused to heed warnings and land.

E) none of the above

13. Which sentence does not contain a pun?

A) The soldier who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran.

B) The dead batteries were given out free of charge.

C) A cardboard belt would be a waist of paper.

D) He says the group was not able to stay together.

E) none of the above

14. Which statement uses an allusion?

A) The American Postal Workers Union, which can be as tough as a two-dollar steak, waded in immediately, insisting that people in remote areas of the country would be hit hard by such a move.

B) When William joined the army he disliked the phrase "Fire at will."

C) When the White House promised to answer citizen petitions on the most pressing problems of the day, it may not have had extraterrestrial life in mind.

D) Today is the first day of October, which for many fans of Sarah Palin means her presidential campaign carriage is set to turn back into a pumpkin.

E) none of the above

15. Which statement uses an example of hyperbole?

A) The sputtering economy could make the difference if you're trying to get a deal on a new set of wheels.

B) The flowers waltzed in the gentle breeze.

C) He had a ton of homework to complete.

D) Root canal surgery can be uncomfortable for the dental patient.

E) none of the above

16. Which sentence does not contain a simile?

A) Curley was flopping like a fish on a line.

B) When he got the tools out, he was as precise and thorough as a surgeon.

C) When Lee Mellon finished the apple he smacked his lips together like a pair of cymbals.

D) The very mist on the Essex marshes was like a gauzy and radiant fabric.

E) none of the above

17. Which statement uses a metaphor?

A) I think that this general idea of what teenagers are like is on the whole a misconceived conception.

B) Elliott said the morning went "just as slick as a whistle."

C) Life is a journey, purposes are destinations, means are routes, difficulties are obstacles, counselors are guides, achievements are landmarks, choices are crossroads.

D) The sun was everywhere on the Twin Forks this week and smiled on the Hampton Classic.

E) none of the above

18. Which statement does not use an example of hyperbole?

A) The package took forever to arrive in the mail.

B) When William joined the army he disliked the phrase "Fire at will."

C) She was so embarrassed, she thought she might die.

D) I am so tired I could sleep for a year.

E) none of the above

19. Which sentence does not contain a simile?

A) The interior of the Earth is rather like an onion, made up of a series of concentric shells or layers.

B) When he got the tools out, he was as precise and thorough as a surgeon.

C) My face looks like a wedding-cake left out in the rain.

D) She dealt with moral problems as a cleaver deals with meat.

E) none of the above

20. Identify the literary element.

I. metaphor

II. pun

III. personification

A. I

B. II

C. III

D. I and II

E. II and III

F. I, II, and III

21. Identify the literary element.

I. symbolism

II. pun

III. allusion

A) I

B) II

C) III

D) I and II

E) II and III

F) I, II, and III

22. Identify the literary element.

A) situational irony

B) verbal irony

C) dramatic irony

D) none of the above

23. Identify the literary element.

A) situational irony

B) verbal irony

C) dramatic irony

D) none of the above

24. Identify the literary element.

A) situational irony

B) verbal irony

C) dramatic irony

D) none of the above

25. Identify the literary element.

A) situational irony

B) verbal irony

C) dramatic irony

D) none of the above

26. Identify the literary element.

A) situational irony

B) verbal irony

C) dramatic irony

D) none of the above

27. Identify the literary element.

A) situational irony

B) verbal irony

C) dramatic irony

D) none of the above

28. Identify the literary element.

I. pun

II. allusion

III. personification

Dough Boy Dies

Veteran Pillsbury spokesman Pop N. Fresh died Wednesday of a severe yeast infection. He was 71.

He was buried Friday in one of the biggest funerals in years. Dozens of celebrities turned out including Mrs. Butterworth, the California Raisins, Hungry Jack, Betty Crocker, and the Hostess Twinkies. The graveside was piled high with flours, as longtime friend Aunt Jemima delivered the eulogy, describing Fresh as a man who "never knew he was kneaded."

Fresh rose quickly in show business, but his later life was filled with turnovers. He was not considered a smart cookie, and wasted much of his dough on half-baked schemes. Still, even as a crusty old man, he was a roll model to millions. Fresh is survived by his second wife. They had two children, and one in the oven.

The funeral was at 3:50 for 20 minutes.

A. I

B. II

C. III

D. I and II

E. II and III

F. I, II, and III

Section 2: Sentence Skills

29. What is the best way to revise the underlined portion of the sentence?

Adam Smith was a professor of philosophy, a commissioner of customs, and founded the field of modern economics.

A) a commissioner of customs, and founded the field of modern economics

B) worked as commissioner of customs, and founded the field of modern economics

C) a commissioner of customs, and the founder of the field of modern economics

D) commissioned customs, and was the founder of the field of modern economics

E) a commissioner of customs, and was the founder of the field of modern economics

30. Which of the following is the best way to write the underlined portion of this sentence? If you think the original is the best way, choose option A.

You might not know his name but you probably know his work, Stan Lee is the creator of some of the best known comic book superheroes.

A) You might not know his name but you probably know his work, Stan Lee

B) Although not a household name himself, Stan Lee

C) You might not know his name and you probably know his work, but Stan Lee

D) Stan Lee, who you might not know but probably you heard of his work,

E) You probably know his work but you might not know his name, Stan Lee

31. Which correction should be made to this sentence?

The Gateway Arch is a masterpiece of engineering, a monument even taller than the Great Pyramid in Egypt, and in it’s own way, at least as majestic.

A) Change it’s to its.

B) Delete the comma after way.

C) Replace at least as with just as much as.

D) Change taller to more tall.

E) No correction is necessary.

32. Which of these is NOT a complete sentence?

A) My grandmother bakes cupcakes.

B) The cat that lives next door.

C) My best friend lives in Texas.

D) The movie was about dinosaurs.

33. What correction should be made to this sentence?

Some families take pictures of they're rooms to help identify possessions.

A) change the spelling of they're to their

B) insert a comma after rooms

C) change to help to which helps

D) change the spelling of possessions to posessions

E) No correction is necessary

34. Which of the following is the best way to write the underlined portion of this sentence? If you think the original is the best way, choose option A.

Its always difficult to get there in the first place.

A) Its always difficult to get

B) It's always difficult for getting

C) It's always difficult to get

D) Its always difficult for getting

E) Its difficult always to get

35. Which of the following is the best way to write the underlined portion of this sentence? If you think the original is the best way, choose option A.

Having inherited great wealth, his pursuit of a literary career would not be hampered by worries about earning a living.

A) his pursuit of a literary career would not be hampered by worries

B) a literary career was open to him without having to worry

C) his desire to pursue a literary career could be satisfied without worrying

D) he was free to pursue a literary career without worrying

E) the opportunity to pursue a literary career would be unimpeded by worries

36. What is the best way to revise the underlined portion of the sentence?

Eventually, a work force of convicts, servants who were indentured, and natives from Africa was brought in.

A) convict, servants who were indentured, and natives who were from Africa

B) a work force of convicts, indentured servants and African natives

C) workers who was convicts, indentured servants, and African natives

D) a work force of men who were convicts, indentured servants, and natives from Africa

E) No correction is necessary

37. Which of the following is the best way to write the underlined portion of this sentence? If you think the original is the best way, choose option A.

At five years old, my father took me to get a haircut for the very first time.

A) At five years old, my father took me to get a haircut for the very first time.

B) At five years old, my father took me to get my first haircut.

C) My father took me at five years old to get a haircut for the very first time.

D) When I was five, my father took me for my first haircut.

E) At age five I was taken by my father to get my first haircut, something I had never had before.

38. Which of the following is the best way to write the underlined portion of this sentence? If you think the original is the best way, choose option A.

The use of radar, as well as the two-way radio, make it possible for state troopers to intercept most speeders.

A) make it possible

B) makes it possible

C) allows the possibility

D) makes possible

E) make it a possibility

39. Which of the following is the best way to write the underlined portion of this sentence? If you think the original is the best way, choose option A.

The chef’s assistant cut the vegetables and laid them on the table, he then started to prepare the meat.

A) The chef’s assistant cut the vegetables and laid them on the table, he

B) The vegetables were cut and laid on the table by the chef’s assistant when he

C) After cutting the vegetables and laying them on the table, the chef’s assistant

D) The chef’s assistant, having cut the vegetables and laying them on the table,

E) Laying on the table, the chef’s assistant who cut the vegetables

40. Which of the following is the best way to write the underlined portion of this sentence? If you think the original is the best way, choose option A.

The strength and appearance of denim fabric account for its popularity among campers, hikers, and other outdoor enthusiasts.

A) account for its popularity

B) accounts for its popularity

C) account for their popularity

D) explains why it is popular

E) are the reasons for their popularity

41. Which of the following is the best way to write the underlined portion of this sentence? If you think the original is the best way, choose option A.

Allan asked Sadie to go to the prom with him, this surprised Sadie because she thought Allan would ask Marnie.

A) him, this surprised Sadie

B) him, therefore Sadie was surprised

C) him, surprising Sadie

D) him, which surprises Sadie

E) him, that was surprising to Sadie

42. Which of the following is the best way to write the underlined portion of this sentence? If you think the original is the best way, choose option A.

The lovely Indian dancer Madhavi Mudgal, a member of a family deeply committed to the classical arts, is the epitome of elegance and grace, her style blends ancient Hindustani traditions with a modern sensibility.

A) is the epitome of elegance and grace, her style blends ancient Hindustani traditions with a modern sensibility.

B) is the epitome of elegance and grace: her style blends ancient Hindustani traditions with a modern sensibility.

C) the epitome of elegance and grace, her style blends ancient Hindustani traditions with a modern sensibility.

D) is the epitome of elegance and grace and her style blends ancient Hindustani traditions with a modern sensibility.

E) who is the epitome of elegance and grace, her style blends ancient Hindustani traditions with a modern sensibility.

43. Which of the following is the best way to write the underlined portion of this sentence? If you think the original is the best way, choose option A.

Claims about harmful effects of the genetic alteration of vegetables is more speculation than documented fact.

A) is more speculation than documented fact

B) are more with speculation than of a documented fact

C) is more of a speculation than a documented fact

D) are more speculation than documented fact

E) are a matter of more speculation than documented fact

44. Which of the following is the best way to write the underlined portion of this sentence? If you think the original is the best way, choose option A.

Billy the Bobcat, like other children’s stories, have elements that can only be fully appreciated by adults.

A) like other children’s stories. have

B) like other children’s stories, has

C) a children’s story, like others, has

D) is like other stories for children in that they have

E) like that of other children’s stories, has also

45. Which of the following is the best way to write the underlined portion of this sentence? If you think the original is the best way, choose option A.

Pilots in all branches of the military must be highly skilled, but Naval aviators are the ones that must complete night carrier landings.

A) that must complete night carrier landings.

B) that must complete their night carrier landings.

C) who must complete night carrier landings.

D) which must complete night carrier landings.

E) that have to complete night carrier landings.

46. Which of the following is the best way to write the underlined portion of this sentence? If you think the original is the best way, choose option A.

Long exploratory trips to the sea floor are not expected in the near future because it is too costly.

A) because it is too costly

B) because they are too costly

C) it is too costly

D) because it costs too much

E) since they are needing too much money

47. Which of the following is the best way to write the underlined portion of this sentence? If you think the original is the best way, choose option A.

Only those that have renewed their memberships in the past six months will be allowed to attend the festivities on opening night.

A) Only those that have renewed their memberships

B) Only you that have renewed your memberships

C) Only if you have renewed your membership

D) Only those who have renewed their memberships

E) Only those who have renewed their membership

48. Which of the following is the best way to write the underlined portion of this sentence? If you think the original is the best way, choose option A.

The more times people hear a story repeated, the more likely we are to believe it is true.

A) the more likely we are to believe it is true

B) the more likely they are to believe it is true

C) the more likely it is believed to be true

D) it is more likely to be believed as true

E) we are more likely to believe it is true

49. Which of the following is the best way to write the underlined portion of this sentence? If you think the original is the best way, choose option A.

Therefore, I admire any organization that speaks up for democratic principles, even when they are for selfish aims.

A) even when they are for selfish aims

B) even if its motive is selfish

C) even if their motive is to be for its own selfish aims

D) whether or not it is for their own selfish aims

E) even whether or not their motive is for their own selfish aims

50. Which of the following is the best way to write the underlined portion of this sentence? If you think the original is the best way, choose option A.

When one buys products online, you should be sure you know the return policy of the company.

A) When one buys products online,

B) When you buy products online,

C) When one is buying products online,

D) If one buys products online,

E) If one wants to buy products online,

51. Walden Pond, ______ was written in the mid-1800s, remains a popular book among romantic and individualistic Americans.

A) who

B) which

C) that

52. She prefers to watch movies ______ make her cry.

A) who

B) which

C) that

53. What correction is necessary?

In fact, there the best in the business.

A) remove the comma after In fact

B) change there to their

C) change there to their are

D) change there to they're

E) no correction is necessary

54. Which of the following is the best way to write the underlined portion of this sentence? If you think the original is the best way, choose option A.

Such of his novels as was humorous were successful.

A) Such of his novels as was humorous were successful.

B) Such of his novels as were humorous were successful.

C) His novels such as were humorous were successful.

D) His novels were successful and humorous.

E) Novels such as his humorous ones were successful.

55. Which of the following is the best way to write the underlined portion of this sentence? If you think the original is the best way, choose option A.

I like to read books I also like to watch movies.

read books I also like to

read books and

read books, I also like to

read books, and also to

read books and also

56. What correction should be made to this sentence?

The old ship was found in 1995 many scientists wanted to know more about it.

A) The old ship was found in 1995 many scientists wanted to know more about it.

B) When the old ship was found in 1995, many scientists wanted to know more about it.

C) The old ship was found in 1995. By scientists who wanted to know more about it.

D) The old ship was found in 1995, many scientists wanted to know more about it.

E) No revision is needed.

57. Which of the following is the best way to write the underlined portion of this sentence? If you think the original is the best way, choose option A.

After getting soaked by the thunderstorm, the skies cleared and we walked for several more hours.

A) After getting soaked by the thunderstorm

B) After the thunderstorm soaked us

C) When we were soaked by the thunderstorm

D) Although we were soaked by the thunderstorm

E) After the soaking of the thunderstorm

58. Which of the following is the best way to write the underlined portion of this sentence? If you think the original is the best way, choose option A.

Dashing madly for the taxi, Seth’s folder full of papers fell from his briefcase.

A) Seth’s folder full of papers fell from his briefcase.

B) Seth’s folder full of papers falling from his briefcase.

C) papers fell from the folder in Seth’s briefcase.

D) Seth dropping a folder full of papers from his briefcase.

E) Seth dropped a folder full of papers from his briefcase.

59. What is the best way to write the underlined words?

I am in good physical condition I exercise every day.

A) condition I exercise

B) condition we exercise

C) condition; I exercise

D) condition, I exercise

E) no error

60. What is the best way to write the underlined words?

This is an official document it contains a baby’s photograph and information.

A) This is an official document. Which contains a baby’s photograph and information.

B) This is an official document, and it contains a baby’s photograph, and it contains

information.

C) This is an official document that contains a baby’s photograph and information.

D) This is an official document, it contains a baby’s photograph and information.

E) No revision is needed.

61. Which of the following is the best way to write the underlined portion of this sentence? If you think the original is the best way, choose option A.

The book Jesse just finished reading, which describes the lives of the Ohlone Indians and relates the history of ancient California.

A) reading, which describes the lives of the Ohlone Indians

B) reading, which through describing the lives of the Ohlone Indians

C) reading, that described the lives of the Ohlone Indians

D) reading describes the lives of the the Ohlone Indians

E) reading, describes the lives of the Ohlone Indians

62. Which of the following is the best way to write the underlined portion of this sentence? If you think the original is the best way, choose option A.

The American novelist Herman Wouk, who is the author of The Caine Mutiny and The Winds of War, and who will receive the lifetime fiction award from the Library of Congress.

A) who is the author of The Caine Mutiny and The Winds of War, and who will receive

B) who is the author of The Caine Mutiny and The Winds of War, and has received

C) is the author of The Caine Mutiny and The Winds of War, and who will receive

D) being the author of The Caine Mutiny and The Winds of War, and who will receive

E) the author of The Caine Mutiny and The Winds of War, will receive

Section 3: Paragraph Skills

63. Which sentence should be removed from this paragraph?

(1) Even though penicillin was first observed by the British over 80 years ago, it is still considered an effective way to kill germs. (2) Most people I know do not get an allergic reaction to this drug. (3) Penicillin acts both by killing bacteria and by slowing their growth. (4) It does not kill organisms in the resting stage but only those that are growing and reproducing. (5) It is effective against a wide range of disease-bearing microorganisms.

A) Sentence 1

B) Sentence 2

C) Sentence 3

D) Sentence 4

E) Sentence 5

(1) Much of Egypt is covered by desert. (2) The desert is irrigated by the Nile River. (3) It is longer than any river in the world. (4) The land along the river has historically been the site of farms and other settlements. (5) For centuries, the river had deposited rich particles of soil for growing crops along its banks. (6) Since building the Aswan High Dam in 1968, the farmers downstream from the dam have been using artificial fertilizer. (7) The banks of the Nile and the river’s delta are among the most productive farming areas in the world. (8) Therefore, Egypt’s people depend on the Nile.

To improve the coherence of his paragraph, which of the following sentences would be best to delete?

A) Sentence 4

B) Sentence 5

C) Sentence 6

D) Sentence 7

E) Sentence 8

70. What is the BEST way to combine these sentences?

Much of Egypt is covered by desert. The desert is irrigated by the Nile River. It is longer than any river in the world.

A) The Nile, the longest river in the world, irrigates the desert that covers much of Egypt.

B) Egypt, which is covered by desert, is irrigated by the Nile, which is longer than any river in the world.

C) The desert, which covers much of Egypt is irrigated by the Nile, which is longer than any river in the world.

D) The longest river in the world, the Nile River, irrigates the Egyptian desert, which means that the river irrigates most of the country.

E) Much of the desert covering much of Egypt lies alongside the Nile, the longest river in the world, and much of it is irrigated by it.

71. Read the following passage and answer the question below.

(1) For thousands of years, philosophers have debated whether humans discover mathematics or it is something that has been invented. (2) Plato believed that perceived mathematical objects like lines were only vague shadows of abstract “ideals” that exist outside of human experience. (3) Circular objects or circles drawn on paper aren’t “really” circles. (4) Rather, they are just a flawed approximation of the perfect circular form. (5) So, in this sense, Plato believed that mathematics was something revealed imperfectly to humans, not invented by them. (6) Many students surely wish that mathematics had not been invented at all. (7) A position that opposes Plato’s idealism is called mathematical intuitionism, which is the belief that all mathematics is the product of human minds.

Which of the following sentences contributes least to the unity of the first paragraph?

A) Sentence 3

B) Sentence 4

C) Sentence 5

D) Sentence 6

E) Sentence 7

72. Which sentence should be the beginning of a second paragraph?

(1) The Monterey Peninsula is called “Steinbeck Country” for good reason. (2) John Steinbeck, one of this country’s foremost authors, lived in and wrote about the Monterey Peninsula and his hometown of Salinas. (3) Cannery Row is a humorous and very detailed view of life in and around Monterey’s sardine-canning factories in the 1940s. (4) Works by other authors have also reflected the everyday lives of people in the authors’ communities. (5) William Faulkner is well known for his stories of southern living in his fictitious Yoknapatawpha County, which he created from his life in Mississippi. (6) Charles Dickens, a famous British novelist, wrote colorful sketches of the people he met in England during the 19th century.

A) Sentence 1

B) Sentence 2

C) Sentence 3

D) Sentence 4

E) Sentence 5

73. Which sentence would BEST support the information in the paragraph?

After the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, President Jefferson sent Lewis and Clark to explore the new land bought by the United States. A Native American woman, Sacagawea, agreed to help them on their journey. Together, they led a group of explorers through the new territory west of the Mississippi River, over the Rocky Mountains, and on to the Pacific Ocean.

A) The travelers drew maps of the land that they explored.

B) Lewis and Clark brought their dog along for the journey.

C) The Rocky Mountains are the great backbone of North America.

D) It is interesting to visit the places that Lewis and Clark explored.

74. Read the topic sentence.

Whales use sound to navigate, hunt, and communicate.

Which detail best supports the topic sentence?

A) Killer whales travel in large groups or pods.

B) How whales determine their location is still a mystery.

C) For instance, humpback whales are found in oceans throughout the world.

D) For example, blue whales have a special song they use to identify each other.

75. Read the paragraph.

(1) In 1960, water power accounted for 40% of America’s electricity. (2) Four decades later, dams provide less than 20% of the nation’s electric power. (3) For now, coal and natural gas rank highest as sources of electric energy. (4) Experts predict that within the next decade, water-produced electricity will make up less than 10% of the nation’s total electrical output.

What statement best describes Sentence 4?

A) It should be written as two sentences.

B) It should be placed after Sentence 1.

C) It should be placed after Sentence 2.

D) It does not belong in the paragraph.

76. Read the paragraph.

(1) You may know that people used to think Earth was flat, but did you know that they also used to think the Sun and the planets revolved around Earth? (2) Nicolaus Copernicus made the controversial assertion that the solar system is heliocentric. (3) In a heliocentric model, the Sun is at the center of the solar system. (4) Copernicus was correct in his assertion. (5) With it, he changed science and developed the field of modern astronomy.

Choose the best detail to add after Sentence 3.

A) Copernicus was not the first person to think that Earth revolves around the Sun.

B) Copernicus was a mathematician, diplomat, physician, and many other things, in addition to a scientist.

C) Copernicus’s study of astronomy was merely a hobby; he never worked professionally as an astronomer.

D) Copernicus developed this assertion in his book, On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres.

77. Read the paragraph.

Research has shown that soy nuts contain heathful cancer-fighting properties; _____, doctors recommend that people should include them in their diets. _____, they are a high-calorie snack, so people should limit their intake to one ounce per day.

Choose the best set of transitions to complete the sentences.

A) accordingly...Thus

B) recently...Indeed

C) additionally...Likewise

D) therefore...However

78. Read the paragraph.

(1) The silk that spiders produce is pretty amazing. (2) Spiders use silk to create webs and to store food. (3) They also use silk to escape from predators. (4) Some spider silk is so strong and elastic that it is used to make fish nets. (5) Although spiders are disliked by some people, their silk is pretty impressive.

Which two sentences could best be combined?

A) Sentences 1 and 2

B) Sentences 2 and 3

C) Sentences 3 and 4

D) Sentences 4 and 5

79. Read the paragraph.

Because polar bears are capable of doing great harm to Churchill’s citizens and tourists, wildlife authorities watch the bears attentive. They want to be sure that both the humans and the polar bears are safe. The authorities try to teach the people of Churchill; how to avoid conflicts with the bears. Schoolchildren learn that one way to avoid attracting bears is to always keep garbage covered since it is a natural attraction for bears. The people of Churchill have a polar bear hot line, a number they can call to report any bears inside a control zone set up by wildlife authorities. The zone is a border around the town, and if any bears pass through it, authorities try to capture the animals in a trap or shoot them with a tranquilizer dart.

Which of these ideas could add support to this paragraph?

A) Bears that are trapped or tranquilized are put in a holding pen and then flown north, where they are released.

B) Some of the bears are caught in the trap, but other bears are tranquilized with a dart gun.

C) I would like to do additional research to learn about how the tranquilizer darts work.

D) Polar bears have a thick layer of fat that allows them to survive without food during the summer months

80. Read the paragraph.

(1) Most submarines in the water today are commanded by the armed forces of one nation or another. (2) There is one small submarine that is owned by an individual, an English inventor named Robert Leeds. (3) His submarine is considered the worlds’ first recreational submarine.

What transition could be added to the beginning of Sentence 2?

A) For example

B) However

C) Furthermore

D) Similarly

E) none of the above

81. Read the paragraph.

(1) While fun is a critical element in the Combine Demolition Derby, great attention is also given to the safety of participants and observers. (2) Every driver must wear a helmet and a safety belt. (3) Dangerous parts of the combines, including the glass and much of the equipment, is removed from the machines. (4) All combine drivers must be at least 18 years old, and an ambulance has to be available throughout the event.

What transition should be added to the beginning of Sentence 4?

A) As a result

B) Furthermore

C) However

D) Previously

E) none of the above

82. Read the paragraph.

(1) First of all, scientists say that Mars is very cold. (2) Even though the planet’s red coloring makes it look warm, temperatures on Mars usually remain significantly below freezing. (3) Temperatures can dip to 225 degrees Fahrenheit below zero and can fluctuate more than 200 degrees in a single day.

What transition word or phrase could be added to the beginning of Sentence 3?

A) Regardless

B) Meanwhile

C) Obviously

D) In fact

E) none of the above

83. Read the paragraph.

(1) Almost everyone knows about incentives and disincentives, even if they never actually heard the words. (2) People choose to do things because they perceive a benefit to doing them, or avoid things for which they perceive they will be punished. (3) That thing that makes them want to do it is called an incentive, and what makes them not want to do them would be a disincentive. (4) Business people are encouraged to make more money for the company through incentives like bonus pay and perks. (5) Students are constantly exposed to incentives like peer pressure, parental guilt and grades. (6) Peers use incentives to persuade others to become part of a group so that the group’s influence can grow. (7) Parents use bribery or guilt to encourage their children to behave in a way that makes them proud. (8) Teachers try to make their students do what they want by holding the gradebook that may determine their future.

Where is the best place to insert the following sentence?

Incentives are used to influence people in many walks of life.

A) after Sentence 2

B) after Sentence 3

C) after Sentence 4

D) after Sentence 5

E) after Sentence 6

84. In a paragraph, what is the best order for the five sentences below?

1. The first bicycle to capture the public's imagination was built by Frenchmen Pierre and Ernest Michaux in 1861.

2. Few people realize that the bicycle is 150 years old.

3. As interest spread, improvements were made, such as the spoked tension wheel (1876) and the air-filled tire (1888).

4. An American-made bicycle, based on the French model, came out in 1866, and it immediately became popular.

5. Kirkpatrick MacMillan, a Scottish blacksmith, invented the first practical bicycle in 1839, but it did not gain wide acceptance.

A) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

B) 2, 5, 1, 4, 3

C) 2, 5, 4, 3, 1

D) 1, 2, 5, 3, 4

85. In a paragraph, what is the best order for the five sentences below?

1. This way the enemy troops were burdened with having to wear gas masks, and the Americans did not have to worry about the wind

blowing the poison gas back to them.

2. During World War I, the U.S. Army used skunk musk to hide the odor of poison gas.

3. When the Americans found out about the enemy's tactics, they decided to use skunk musk alone.

4. Enemy commanders soon discovered this coverup trick and ordered their troops to put on gas masks as soon as they smelled skunk.

5. These gas masks were bulky and reduced the enemy soldiers' ability to fight.

A) 5, 1, 2, 3, 4

B) 4, 3, 2, 5, 1

C) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

D) 2, 4, 5, 3, 1

Section 4: Reading Skills

86. Read the following passage and answer the question below.

Hail is at once the cruelest weapon in Nature’s armory, and the most incalculable. It can destroy one farmer’s prospects of a harvest in a matter of seconds; it can leave his neighbor’s unimpaired. It can slay a flock of sheep (it has killed children before now) in one field, while the sun continues to shine in the next. To the harassed meteorologist its behavior is even more Machiavellian than that of an ice storm. Difficult as it undoubtedly is for him to forecast the onset of an ice storm, he knows pretty well what its course and duration will be once it has started; just about all he can do with a hailstorm is to measure the size of the stones—and they have a habit of melting as soon as he gets his hands on them. He is not even too sure any more about the way in which hail forms—and until he knows this, of course, he isn’t likely to stumble upon any very satisfactory prognostic rules.

The title below that best expresses the ideas of this passage is:

A) Forecasting ice storms

B) The way that hail forms

C) The harassed meteorologist

D) The unpredictability of hailstorms

E) Hail—the killer

87. Read the following passage and answer the question below.

The man who reads well is the man who thinks well, who has a background for opinions and a touchstone for judgment. He may be a Lincoln who derives wisdom from a few books or a Roosevelt who ranges from Icelandic sagas to Penrod. But reading makes him a full man, and out of his fullness he draws that example and precept which stand him in good stead when confronted with problems which beset a chaotic universe. Mere reading, of course, is nothing. It is but the veneer of education. But wise reading is a help to action. American versatility is too frequently dilettantism, but reinforced by knowledge it becomes motive power. “Learning,” as James L. Mursell says, “cashes the blank check of native versatility.” And learning is a process not to be concluded with the formal teaching of schooldays or to be enriched only by the active experience of later years, but to be broadened and deepened by persistent and judicious reading. “The true University of these days is a Collection of Books,” said Carlyle. If that is not the whole of the truth it is enough of it for every young person to hug to this bosom.

The title that best expresses the ideas of this passage is:

A) The veneer of education

B) The wise reader

C) The reading habits of great men

D) The versatility of Americans

E) The motivation of readers

88. Tone is:

A) the way a word is pronounced

B) the techniques a writer uses to persuade readers

C) the meaning of a word or phrase

D) the attitude conveyed by words

E) none of the above

89. Read the following passage and answer the question below.

Once upon a time I taught school in the hills of Tennessee, where the broad dark vale of the Mississippi begins to roll and crumple to greet the Alleghanies. I was a Fisk student then, and all Fisk men thought that Tennessee was theirs alone, and in vacation time they sallied forth in lusty bands to meet the county school-commissioners. Young and happy, I too went, and I shall not soon forget that summer, seventeen years ago.

The author’s attitude toward his school-hunting days is predominantly one of

(A) exasperation

(B) nostalgia

(C) bitterness

(D) self-reproach

(E) amusement

Read the following passage and answer the questions below.

Media is a term that describes a variety of people, structures, technologies, and relationships. Traditional definitions of media focus on messages that originate from some institutional source, travel through some channel, and reach a large, anonymous audience. Although these basic components of media are present today, their nature has changed with the advent of new electronic forms of communication. The current media environment does not always fit this description. Although previously constrained by cost, individuals can now offer messages inexpensively via the internet. Audiences for media messages are sometimes small and on occasion make themselves known to the producers of the messages.

90. The passage suggests that, unlike traditional media, many new forms of media

A) originate from institutions

B) are anonymous

C) focus exclusively on selling products or services

D) are difficult to understand

E) are more accessible to users

91. The tone of this passage is best described as

A) pleading

B) humorous

C) objective

D) skeptical

E) indignant

Read the following passage and answer the questions below.

Next morning I saw for the first time an animal that is rarely encountered face to face. It was a wolverine. Though relatively small, rarely weighing more than 40 pounds, he is, above all animals, the one most hated by the Indians and trappers. He is a fine tree climber and a relentless destroyer. Deer, reindeer, and even moose succumb to his attacks. We sat on a rock and watched him come, a bobbing rascal in blackish-brown. Since the male wolverine occupies a very large hunting area and fights to the death any other male that intrudes on his domain, wolverines are always scarce, and in order to avoid extinction need all the protection that man can give. As a trapper, Henry wanted me to shoot him, but I refused, for this is the most fascinating and little known of all our wonderful predators. His hunchback gait was awkward and ungainly, lopsided yet tireless. He advanced through all types of terrain without change of pace and with a sense of power that seemed indestructible. His course brought him directly to us, and he did not notice our immobile figures until he was ten feet away. Obviously startled, he rose up on his hind legs with paws outstretched and swayed from side to side like a bear undecided whether to charge. Then he tried to make off at top speed and watch us over his shoulder at the same time, running headlong into everything in his path.

92. The author’s chief purpose in writing this passage seems to be to

A) defend the wolverine from further attacks by man

B) point out the fatal weakness of the wolverine

C) show why the wolverine is scarce

D) characterize a rarely seen animal

E) criticize Henry’s action

93. As a whole, this passage suggests that the wolverine

A) is every bit as awesome as his reputation

B) will eventually destroy the deer herds

C) will one day be able to outwit man

D) does not really need the protection of man

E) is too smart for other animals

94. Read the following passage and answer the question below.

Shakespeare wrote four types of plays: histories, comedies, tragedies, and tragicomedies. Some scholars contend that Shakespeare’s choice of three of these types of dramatic forms reflects his various psychological states. As a young man making a name for himself in London, he wrote comedies. Then, saddened by the death of this son, he turned to tragedies. Finally, seasoned by life’s joys and sorrows, he produced tragicomedies. But a look at the theater scene of his day reveals that Shakespeare was not so much writing out of his heart as into his pocketbook. When comedies were the vogue, he wrote comedies; when tragedies were the rage, he wrote tragedies; and when tragicomedies dominated the stage, he produced tragicomedies.

The primary purpose of the passage is to

A) examine Shakespeare’s life in light of his dramatic works.

B) dispute a theory that attempts to explain why Shakespeare wrote the kinds of plays he did.

C) explain the terms “comedy,” “tragedy,” and “tragicomedy” as they are used in discussions of Shakespeare’s plays.

D) compare Shakespeare’s plays with the works of other dramatists of his day.

E) discuss what is known about Shakespeare’s psychological states.

95. Read the following passage and answer the question below.

The physical set-up of most school classrooms lends itself to a kind of communal existence. There is little room for personal privacy; one's free sphere of private operation shrinks remarkably. At home the middle-class child may have at least a private play area, if not a whole room, for his or her personal use. Personal property, while respected and defended by the teacher, is subject to use and intrusion by the group under the mandate of "share." Even one's inner thoughts and family life are subject to group scrutiny, during "show and tell" periods.

What is the topic of this paragraph?

A) The physical set-up of a schoolroom

B) Personal property at school

C) Communal existence

D) The classroom environment

E) none of the above

96. Read the following passage and answer the question below.

Windstorms have recently established a record which meteorologists hope will not be equaled for many years to come. Disastrous tornadoes along with devastating typhoons and hurricanes have cost thousands of lives and left property damage totaling far into the millions. The prominence these storms have held in the news has led many people to ask about the difference between the three. Is a typhoon the same as a hurricane? Is a tornado the same as a typhoon? Basically, there is no difference. All three consist of wind rotating counterclockwise (in the Northern Hemisphere) at a tremendous velocity around a low-pressure center. However, each type does have its own definite characteristics. Of the three the tornado is certainly the most treacherous. The Weather Bureau can, with some degree of accuracy, forecast the typhoon and the hurricane; however, it is impossible to determine where or when the tornado will strike. And out of the three, if one had a choice, perhaps it would be safer to choose to withstand the hurricane.

The title below that best expresses the ideas of this passage is:

A) Recent storms

B) Record-breaking storms

C) Predicting windstorms

D) Treacherous windstorms

E) Wind velocity and direction

97. Read the following passage and answer the question below.

During the holidays, my mother's house glittered with decorations and hummed with preparations. We ate cookies and drank cider while we helped her wrap bright packages and trim the tree. We felt warm and excited, listening to Christmas carols and even singing along sometimes. We would tease each other about our terrible voices and then sing even louder.

How would you describe the tone of this passage?

A) cynical

B) obsequious

C) apathetic

D) content

98. What is the author’s purpose in writing the paragraph below?

Specially trained dogs serve as the eyes, ears and hands of humans with physical or mental disabilities. The dogs may help their human partners in performing daily tasks that would otherwise be difficult or impossible. Dogs may also detect changes in their human partners’ behavior, body language or odor; such changes typically precede seizures. The dogs are trained to alert their human partners so that they may seek help.

A) to express the author’s opinions about specially trained assistance dogs

B) to entertain the readers with stories of amazing dogs that perform heroic acts

C) to persuade the reader to help certify dogs to become trained assistance dogs

D) to inform the reader about the various services that trained assistance dogs provide

99. Read the following passage and answer the question below.

About 17 million children and adults in the United States suffer from asthma, a condition that makes it hard to breathe. Today it is a problem that is treatable with modern medicine. In days gone by, there were many different superstitions about how to cure asthma. Some people thought that eating crickets with a little wine would help. Eating raw cat's meat might be the cure. Another idea was to gather some spiders' webs, roll them into a ball, and then swallow them. People also thought that if you ate a diet of only boiled carrots for two weeks, your asthma might go away. This carrot diet may actually have done some good for asthma patients, since vitamin A in carrots is good for the lungs.

The main purpose of the passage is to:

A) Describe herbal remedies

B) Explain some of the measures for treating asthma from long ago

C) Define superstitions

D) Extol the virtues of modern medicine

E) Explain why asthma came about

100. Read the following passage and answer the question below.

On a dark, secluded street stood three abandoned houses. The first had broken shutters and shattered windows. Next to it stood a dilapidated structure badly in need of paint. Adjacent, amid debris, stood a shack with graffiti scrawled across the door.

Which of the following best describes the organization of this paragraph?

A) chronological order

B) spatial order

C) cause and effect

D) order of importance

E) none of the above

101. Read the following passage and answer the question below.

Weeks before they decided on their destination, the seniors had already begun a massive fundraising project to help finance their class trip. When they were offered the choice between Rome and London, an overwhelming majority chose Rome. Then preparations began in earnest. In the months that followed, the students' enthusiasm escalated until the day the plane finally took off, carrying them toward an experience they would remember forever.

Which of the following best describes the organization of this paragraph?

A) chronological order

B) spatial order

C) cause and effect

D) order of importance

E) none of the above

102. Read the following passage and answer the question below.

Selecting a new car requires each buyer to weigh a number of factors. First to be considered is the car's appearance. Next, and even more critical, are the car's performance and safety ratings. Most significant to any prospective buyer, however, is the car's price.

Which of the following best describes the organization of this paragraph?

A) chronological order

B) spatial order

C) cause and effect

D) order of importance

E) none of the above

1. SIMILE

2. ALLUSION

3. METAPHOR

4. PERSONIFICATION

5. SITUATIONAL IRONY

6. DRAMATIC IRONY

7. VERBAL IRONY

8. ALLUSION

9. SIMILE

10. METAPHOR

11, PERSONIFICATION

12. METAPHOR

13. PUN

14. ALLUSION

15. HYPERBOLE

16. SIMILE

17. METAPHOR

18. HYPERBOLE

19. SIMILE

20. PERSONIFICATION, PUN

21. ALLUSION, PUN

22. DRAMATIC IRONY

23. VERBAL IRONY

24. SITUATIONAL IRONY

25. DRAMATIC IRONY

26. SITUATIONAL IRONY

27. VERBAL IRONY

28. ALLUSION, PUN, PERSONIFICATION

29. PARALLEL STRUCTURE

30. COMMA SPLICE

31. HOMOPHONE CONFUSION

32. FRAGMENT

33. HOMOPHONE CONFUSION

34. HOMOPHONE CONFUSION

35. MISPLACED MODIFIER

36. PARALLEL STRUCTURE

37. MISPLACED MODIFIER

38. SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

39. COMMA SPLICE

40. SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

41. COMMA SPLICE

42. COMMA SPLICE

43. SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

44. SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

45. WHO, WHICH, THAT CONFUSION

46. PRONOUN-ANTECEDENT AGREEMENT

47. WHO, WHICH, THAT CONFUSION

48. PRONOUN-ANTECEDENT AGREEMENT

49. PRONOUN-ANTECEDENT AGREEMENT

50. PRONOUN-ANTECEDENT AGREEMENT

51. WHO, WHICH, THAT CONFUSION

52. WHO, WHICH, THAT CONFUSION

53. HOMOPHONE CONFUSION

54. FRAGMENT

55. RUN-ON

56. RUN-ON

57. MISPLACED MODIFIER

58. MISPLACED MODIFIER

59. RUN-ON

60. RUN-ON

61. FRAGMENT

62. FRAGMENT

63. PARAGRAPH UNITY

64. PARAGRAPH UNITY

65. TOPIC SENTENCE

66. TOPIC SENTENCE

67. SENTENCE COMBINING

68. SENTENCE COMBINING

69. PARAGRAPH UNITY

70. SENTENCE COMBINING

71. PARAGRAPH UNITY

72. PARAGRAPH UNITY

73. PARAGRAPH SUPPORT

74. PARAGRAPH SUPPORT

75. PARAGRAPH ORGANIZATION

76. PARAGRAPH SUPPORT

77. PARAGRAPH COHERENCE

78. SENTENCE COMBINING

79. PARAGRAPH SUPPORT

80. PARAGRAPH COHERENCE

81. PARAGRAPH COHERENCE

82. PARAGRAPH COHERENCE

83. PARAGRAPH ORGANIZATION

84. PARAGRAPH ORGANIZATION

85. PARAGRAPH ORGANIZATION

86. FINDING MAIN IDEA

87. FINDING MAIN IDEA

88. INFERRING TONE

89. INFERRING TONE

90. INFERENCE-MAKING

91. INFERRING TONE

92. IDENTIFYING PURPOSE

93. INFERENCE-MAKING

94. IDENTIFYING PURPOSE

95. FINDING MAIN IDEA

96. FINDING MAIN IDEA

97. INFERRING TONE

98. IDENTIFYING PURPOSE

99. IDENTIFYING PURPOSE

99. IDENTIFYING TEXT STRUCTURE

101. IDENTIFYING TEXT STRUCTURE

102. IDENTIFYING TEXT STRUCTURE