- Read the following sentence: "The new manager's brusque emails, often just one curt line, left her staff feeling slighted." As used in this sentence, the word "brusque" most nearly means:
- Abruptly blunt
- Warmly friendly
- Carefully detailed
- Cheerfully long
Correct answer: Abruptly blunt
The intended meaning is abruptly blunt. The clue that the emails were "just one curt line" and "left her staff feeling slighted" shows a short, rude manner. "Warmly friendly" and "cheerfully long" contradict the staff's hurt feelings, and "carefully detailed" conflicts with the one-line description.
- In the sentence "The professor's verbose lectures wandered for an hour before reaching a single clear point," the word "verbose" most nearly means:
- Silent
- Carefully organized
- Highly amusing
- Using too many words
Correct answer: Using too many words
The best meaning is using too many words. The clue that the lectures "wandered for an hour before reaching a single clear point" shows wordiness and excess. "Silent" is the opposite, "carefully organized" contradicts the wandering, and "highly amusing" addresses tone rather than length.
- Read the following sentence: "During the storm the tiny boat was tossed about, but its tenacious crew refused to abandon their effort to reach shore." As used in this sentence, the word "tenacious" most nearly means:
- Persistent
- Frightened
- Exhausted
- Careless
Correct answer: Persistent
The intended meaning is persistent. The clue that the crew "refused to abandon their effort" shows a stubborn determination to hold on. "Frightened" and "exhausted" describe states that would lead to giving up, and "careless" contradicts their continued effort.
- A writer wants to describe a leader who makes decisions quickly in a way that sounds critical rather than admiring. Which word carries the more negative connotation while keeping a similar literal meaning?
- Decisive
- Prompt
- Rash
- Efficient
Correct answer: Rash
The word with the negative connotation is rash, which suggests acting too hastily without thinking. "Decisive," "prompt," and "efficient" share the literal sense of acting quickly but carry approving or neutral connotations.
- Read the following sentence: "The aroma of fresh bread drifted from the bakery and danced through the open window." The figurative language in this sentence is an example of:
- A simile
- Hyperbole
- Personification
- An idiom
Correct answer: Personification
The device is personification, because the aroma is given the human ability to "dance," something a smell cannot literally do. It is not a simile, which would use "like" or "as," and it is neither an exaggeration for effect nor a fixed nonliteral expression.
- In the sentence "After the long winter, finally seeing the sun felt like winning the lottery," the figurative phrase "like winning the lottery" is an example of which device, and what does it convey?
- A metaphor conveying disappointment
- Personification conveying fear
- An idiom conveying confusion
- A simile conveying great joy
Correct answer: A simile conveying great joy
The phrase is a simile conveying great joy, because it uses "like" to compare seeing the sun to a thrilling stroke of luck. It is not a metaphor, which omits "like" or "as," and the meanings of disappointment, fear, and confusion all contradict the happy comparison.
- Read the following sentence: "The intern was thrown into the deep end on her first day, handed three major projects with no training at all." In this sentence, the idiom "thrown into the deep end" most nearly means:
- Given an easy starting task
- Allowed extra time to learn
- Sent to work near water
- Forced to handle a hard situation unprepared
Correct answer: Forced to handle a hard situation unprepared
The idiom "thrown into the deep end" most nearly means forced to handle a hard situation unprepared, as the clue "three major projects with no training at all" shows. The readings about an easy task or extra time contradict that difficulty, and the literal reference to water misses the figurative sense.
- Which word is most nearly a synonym for "sluggish"?
Correct answer: Slow
The synonym is slow, because "sluggish" describes a lack of speed or energy. "Alert" is its opposite, and "cheerful" and "honest" name traits unrelated to speed.
- Read the following sentence: "Rather than stating his opinion outright, the columnist made an oblique reference to the scandal, leaving readers to infer his meaning." As used in this sentence, the word "oblique" most nearly means:
- Loud and direct
- Completely false
- Highly detailed
- Indirect
Correct answer: Indirect
The intended meaning is indirect. The contrast "Rather than stating his opinion outright" and the clue that readers had to "infer his meaning" show the reference was roundabout. "Loud and direct" is the opposite, while "completely false" and "highly detailed" are unsupported by the sentence.
- In the sentence "The mountain of paperwork on the new clerk's desk seemed to grow taller every hour," the figurative phrase "mountain of paperwork" is an example of:
- A simile
- A metaphor
- An idiom
- Alliteration
Correct answer: A metaphor
The phrase is a metaphor, because it directly calls the large stack of paperwork a "mountain" without using "like" or "as." A simile would include "like" or "as," an idiom is a fixed nonliteral expression, and alliteration refers to repeated initial sounds, none of which apply here.
- Read the following sentence: "The witness gave a candid account, admitting even the details that made him look foolish." As used in this sentence, the word "candid" most nearly means:
- Carefully rehearsed
- Angry
- Honest and open
- Brief
Correct answer: Honest and open
The intended meaning is honest and open. The clue that the witness admitted "even the details that made him look foolish" shows complete frankness. "Carefully rehearsed" contradicts the unguarded honesty, and "angry" and "brief" describe tone and length rather than truthfulness.
- In the sentence "The committee's lethargic response to the crisis frustrated residents who expected swift action," the word "lethargic" most nearly means:
- Energetic
- Angry
- Generous
- Sluggish
Correct answer: Sluggish
The intended meaning is sluggish. The contrast with residents who "expected swift action" shows the response was slow and lacking in energy. "Energetic" is the opposite, while "angry" and "generous" name unrelated qualities.
- Which pair of words are synonyms?
- Expand and shrink
- Praise and criticize
- Conceal and hide
- Ascend and descend
Correct answer: Conceal and hide
The synonym pair is conceal and hide, which both mean to keep something out of sight. The other pairs - expand/shrink, praise/criticize, and ascend/descend - are sets of opposites rather than words with the same meaning.
- Read the following sentence: "The volunteers worked at a glacial pace, and by sundown they had cleared only a fraction of the field." In this sentence, the figurative phrase "glacial pace" most nearly means:
- A freezing temperature
- An extremely slow speed
- A smooth, gliding motion
- A sudden burst of effort
Correct answer: An extremely slow speed
The phrase "glacial pace" most nearly means an extremely slow speed, comparing the work to the barely perceptible movement of a glacier; the clue that they cleared "only a fraction of the field" by sundown confirms this. The literal reading about temperature and the ideas of smooth gliding or a sudden burst all miss the figurative sense of slowness.
- In the sentence "His explanation was so nebulous that no one in the room could say what he actually proposed," the word "nebulous" most nearly means:
Correct answer: Vague
The intended meaning is vague. The result clue, that "no one in the room could say what he actually proposed," shows the explanation was unclear and ill-defined. "Detailed" is the opposite, and "loud" and "brief" address volume and length rather than clarity.
- Read the following sentence: "The coach gave a terse reply, just two words, before turning back to the game." As used in this sentence, the word "terse" most nearly means:
- Warm and chatty
- Briefly to the point
- Confused
- Loud
Correct answer: Briefly to the point
The intended meaning is briefly to the point. The clue that the reply was "just two words" shows it was short and economical. "Warm and chatty" contradicts that brevity, and "confused" and "loud" describe qualities the sentence does not support.
- A writer wants to describe a person who is sure of his own abilities, choosing a word that sounds complimentary rather than critical. Which word best fits that positive purpose?
- Arrogant
- Confident
- Conceited
- Smug
Correct answer: Confident
The word with the positive connotation is confident, which approvingly describes healthy self-assurance. "Arrogant," "conceited," and "smug" share the literal idea of believing in oneself but carry critical, unflattering connotations.
- On the MTEL Writing subtest, the "revise sentences containing errors" short-answer items ask the test-taker to do what with each provided sentence?
- Rewrite the sentence so that it corrects two errors while preserving the original meaning
- Identify the single best word from four answer choices
- Combine two sentences into a single compound-complex sentence
- Explain in a paragraph why the sentence is poorly written
Correct answer: Rewrite the sentence so that it corrects two errors while preserving the original meaning
The correct task is to rewrite the sentence so that it corrects two errors while preserving the original meaning. Each MTEL sentence-correction item contains exactly two errors, and the test-taker writes a revised version that fixes both without changing what the sentence says. The item is not multiple choice, does not require combining sentences, and does not call for a paragraph of explanation.
- Read the sentence to be revised: "Each of the new teachers were asked to submit they're lesson plans by Friday." Which revision corrects both errors in the sentence?
- Each of the new teachers was asked to submit their lesson plans by Friday.
- Each of the new teachers were asked to submit their lesson plans by Friday.
- Each of the new teachers was asked to submit they're lesson plans by Friday.
- Each of the new teacher was asked to submit there lesson plans by Friday.
Correct answer: Each of the new teachers was asked to submit their lesson plans by Friday.
The fully corrected sentence reads "Each of the new teachers was asked to submit their lesson plans by Friday." The first error is subject-verb agreement, since the singular subject "each" needs "was," not "were"; the second is the homophone "they're" (they are), which must become the possessive "their." The other versions fix only one error or introduce a new one.
- Read the sentence to be revised: "After finishing the experiment, the data was recorded careful in the lab notebook." Which revision corrects both errors?
- After finishing the experiment, the data was recorded careful in the lab notebook.
- After finishing the experiment, the students recorded the data carefully in the lab notebook.
- After finishing the experiment, the data were recorded careful in the lab notebook.
- After finishing the experiment carefully, the data was recorded in the lab notebook.
Correct answer: After finishing the experiment, the students recorded the data carefully in the lab notebook.
The best revision is "After finishing the experiment, the students recorded the data carefully in the lab notebook." One error is the dangling modifier, since data cannot finish an experiment, so a logical subject ("the students") must follow the opening phrase; the other is the adjective "careful" used where the adverb "carefully" is needed to modify the verb. The remaining choices leave the dangling phrase or the adjective uncorrected.
- Read the sentence to be revised: "Their going to the conference in Boston, but they havent booked a hotel yet." Which revision corrects both errors?
- Their going to the conference in Boston, but they haven't booked a hotel yet.
- They're going to the conference in Boston, but they havent booked a hotel yet.
- There going to the conference in Boston, but they haven't booked a hotel yet.
- They're going to the conference in Boston, but they haven't booked a hotel yet.
Correct answer: They're going to the conference in Boston, but they haven't booked a hotel yet.
The corrected sentence is "They're going to the conference in Boston, but they haven't booked a hotel yet." The first error is the homophone "Their," which should be the contraction "They're" (they are); the second is the missing apostrophe in "havent," which must be "haven't." The other options correct only one of the two problems.
- Read the sentence to be revised: "The principle reason for the delay were the unexpected storms last week." Which revision corrects both errors?
- The principle reason for the delay was the unexpected storms last week.
- The principal reason for the delay were the unexpected storms last week.
- The principle reason for the delay are the unexpected storms last week.
- The principal reason for the delay was the unexpected storms last week.
Correct answer: The principal reason for the delay was the unexpected storms last week.
The correct revision is "The principal reason for the delay was the unexpected storms last week." One error is the commonly confused word "principle," which here means "main" and should be "principal"; the other is subject-verb agreement, since the singular subject "reason" requires "was," not "were." The other choices fix only one of the two errors.
- Read the sentence to be revised: "Walking through the museum, the paintings was admired by the entire class." Which revision corrects both errors?
- Walking through the museum, the paintings were admired by the entire class.
- Walking through the museum, the class admired the paintings.
- Walking through the museum, the paintings was admired by the entire class.
- Walking through the museum carefully, the paintings was admired by the class.
Correct answer: Walking through the museum, the class admired the paintings.
The best revision is "Walking through the museum, the class admired the paintings." The first error is the dangling modifier, since paintings cannot walk, so the doer ("the class") must follow the opening phrase; the second is subject-verb agreement in the original passive construction. Recasting the sentence in the active voice fixes both at once, while the other options leave at least one error in place.
- Read the sentence to be revised: "My brother and me went to the store, and we buyed too much candy." Which revision corrects both errors?
- My brother and me went to the store, and we bought too much candy.
- My brother and I went to the store, and we buyed too much candy.
- Me and my brother went to the store, and we bought too much candy.
- My brother and I went to the store, and we bought too much candy.
Correct answer: My brother and I went to the store, and we bought too much candy.
The corrected sentence is "My brother and I went to the store, and we bought too much candy." The first error is the pronoun case, since the subject form "I" is required rather than the object form "me"; the second is the nonstandard verb form "buyed," which must be the past tense "bought." The other choices fix only one of the two errors.
- Read the sentence to be revised: "The report was thorough, however it did not include any recommendations." Which revision corrects both punctuation errors?
- The report was thorough, however, it did not include any recommendations.
- The report was thorough; however, it did not include any recommendations.
- The report was thorough however it did not include any recommendations.
- The report was thorough: however it did not include any recommendations.
Correct answer: The report was thorough; however, it did not include any recommendations.
The correct revision is "The report was thorough; however, it did not include any recommendations." The original is a comma splice that joins two independent clauses with only a comma, so a semicolon is needed before the conjunctive adverb "however," and a comma must follow it. The other options leave the splice intact or omit the comma after "however."
- Read the sentence to be revised: "Neither the coach or the players was happy with the referees decision." Which revision corrects both errors?
- Neither the coach or the players were happy with the referee's decision.
- Neither the coach nor the players were happy with the referee's decision.
- Neither the coach nor the players was happy with the referees decision.
- Neither the coach nor the players were happy with the referees decision.
Correct answer: Neither the coach nor the players were happy with the referee's decision.
The corrected sentence is "Neither the coach nor the players were happy with the referee's decision." One error is the correlative conjunction, since "neither" pairs with "nor," not "or," and the verb must agree with the nearer plural subject "players," giving "were"; the other is the missing possessive apostrophe in "referee's." Other choices fix only one issue.
- Read the sentence to be revised: "She enjoys hiking, swimming, and to ride her bike on the weekend's." Which revision corrects both errors?
- She enjoys hiking, swimming, and to ride her bike on the weekends.
- She enjoys hiking, swimming, and riding her bike on the weekend's.
- She enjoys hiking, swimming, and riding her bike on the weekends.
- She enjoys to hike, to swim, and to ride her bike on the weekend's.
Correct answer: She enjoys hiking, swimming, and riding her bike on the weekends.
The correct revision is "She enjoys hiking, swimming, and riding her bike on the weekends." The first error is faulty parallelism, since the series should keep the -ing form throughout ("riding," not "to ride"); the second is the incorrect apostrophe in "weekend's," which is a simple plural and should be "weekends." The other choices repair only one of the two errors.
- Read the sentence to be revised: "By the time we arrived, the movie already started and the theater was packed." Which revision corrects the verb tense and best fixes the sentence?
- By the time we arrived, the movie already starts and the theater was packed.
- By the time we arrived, the movie had already started and the theater was packed.
- By the time we arrive, the movie already started and the theater was packed.
- By the time we arrived, the movie already started and the theater is packed.
Correct answer: By the time we arrived, the movie had already started and the theater was packed.
The correct revision is "By the time we arrived, the movie had already started and the theater was packed." The action of the movie starting happened before the past-tense "arrived," so it requires the past perfect "had already started." The original mixes simple past with an action that must be earlier, and the other choices either shift other verbs out of the past or fail to use the past perfect.
- Read the sentence to be revised: "The teacher gave the assignment to the students that was due on monday." Which revision corrects both errors?
- The teacher gave the students the assignment that was due on Monday.
- The teacher gave the assignment to the students that was due on monday.
- The teacher gave the students the assignment that was due on monday.
- The teacher gave the assignment to the students that was due on Monday.
Correct answer: The teacher gave the students the assignment that was due on Monday.
The best revision is "The teacher gave the students the assignment that was due on Monday." One error is the misplaced modifier, since the clause "that was due" should describe the assignment, not the students; the other is the missing capital on the proper noun "Monday." Rearranging the sentence so the modifier sits next to "assignment" and capitalizing the day name corrects both problems.
- Read the sentence to be revised: "Its important to proofread you're work before submitting it." Which revision corrects both errors?
- It's important to proofread you're work before submitting it.
- Its important to proofread your work before submitting it.
- Its' important to proofread your work before submitting it.
- It's important to proofread your work before submitting it.
Correct answer: It's important to proofread your work before submitting it.
The corrected sentence is "It's important to proofread your work before submitting it." The first error is "Its," which needs the contraction "It's" (it is); the second is the homophone "you're," which should be the possessive "your." The other options fix only one of the two errors or add a nonstandard form.
- Read the sentence to be revised: "The students completed they're projects, than they presented them to the class." Which revision corrects both errors?
- The students completed their projects, than they presented them to the class.
- The students completed they're projects, then they presented them to the class.
- The students completed their projects; then they presented them to the class.
- The students completed their projects, then they presented them to the class.
Correct answer: The students completed their projects; then they presented them to the class.
The correct revision is "The students completed their projects; then they presented them to the class." One error is the homophone "they're," which must be the possessive "their"; the other is the comma splice combined with the wrong word "than" (a comparison word) where the time word "then" is needed, fixed by using a semicolon before "then." The other choices leave a splice or a misused homophone.
- Read the sentence to be revised: "Running down the street, the bus pulled away before he could catch it." Which revision corrects the dangling modifier most clearly?
- Running down the street, the bus pulled away before he could catch it.
- Running down the street, he watched the bus pull away before he could catch it.
- Running down the street the bus pulled away before he could catch it.
- The bus, running down the street, pulled away before he could catch it.
Correct answer: Running down the street, he watched the bus pull away before he could catch it.
The correct revision is "Running down the street, he watched the bus pull away before he could catch it." The opening phrase "Running down the street" must modify a person who can run, not the bus. Supplying the logical subject "he" right after the phrase fixes the dangling modifier, while the other choices either keep the bus running or remove needed punctuation.
- Read the sentence to be revised: "The amount of students who attended the workshop were higher then expected." Which revision corrects both errors?
- The number of students who attended the workshop was higher than expected.
- The amount of students who attended the workshop was higher then expected.
- The number of students who attended the workshop were higher than expected.
- The amount of students who attended the workshop were higher than expected.
Correct answer: The number of students who attended the workshop was higher than expected.
The corrected sentence is "The number of students who attended the workshop was higher than expected." One error is the use of "amount," which describes uncountable quantities, where "number" is required for countable students (and the singular subject "number" takes "was"); the other is the homophone "then," which must be the comparison word "than." The other choices fix only one issue.
- Read the sentence to be revised: "The librarys hours are posted online, customers can check them anytime." Which revision corrects both errors?
- The library's hours are posted online, customers can check them anytime.
- The librarys hours are posted online; customers can check them anytime.
- The library's hours are posted online customers can check them anytime.
- The library's hours are posted online; customers can check them anytime.
Correct answer: The library's hours are posted online; customers can check them anytime.
The correct revision is "The library's hours are posted online; customers can check them anytime." One error is the missing possessive apostrophe in "librarys," which should be "library's"; the other is the comma splice joining two independent clauses, corrected with a semicolon. The other options repair only one of the two problems.
- Read the sentence to be revised: "Everyone on the team must bring their own equipment to practice on saturday." Which revision corrects both errors while keeping a singular antecedent?
- Everyone on the team must bring their own equipment to practice on Saturday.
- Everyone on the team must bring his or her own equipment to practice on saturday.
- Everyone on the team must bring his or her own equipment to practice on Saturday.
- Everyone on the team must brings his or her own equipment to practice on Saturday.
Correct answer: Everyone on the team must bring his or her own equipment to practice on Saturday.
The corrected sentence is "Everyone on the team must bring his or her own equipment to practice on Saturday." One error is the pronoun-antecedent agreement, since the singular "everyone" requires a singular pronoun ("his or her"); the other is the missing capital on the proper noun "Saturday." The other choices fix only one error or add a verb-form error.
- Read the sentence to be revised: "Although the recipe called for fresh herbs, but we used dried ones instead." Which revision corrects the faulty construction?
- Although the recipe called for fresh herbs, but we used dried ones instead.
- Although the recipe called for fresh herbs, we used dried ones instead.
- Although the recipe called for fresh herbs but we used dried ones instead.
- The recipe called for fresh herbs, although but we used dried ones instead.
Correct answer: Although the recipe called for fresh herbs, we used dried ones instead.
The correct revision is "Although the recipe called for fresh herbs, we used dried ones instead." The subordinating word "Although" already establishes the contrast, so the coordinating conjunction "but" is redundant and must be removed. The other choices keep the doubled conjunction or drop the comma needed after the introductory clause.
- Read the sentence to be revised: "The committee will meet on wednesday to discuss the affects of the new policy." Which revision corrects both errors?
- The committee will meet on Wednesday to discuss the affects of the new policy.
- The committee will meet on wednesday to discuss the effects of the new policy.
- The committee will meet on Wednesday to discuss the affect of the new policy.
- The committee will meet on Wednesday to discuss the effects of the new policy.
Correct answer: The committee will meet on Wednesday to discuss the effects of the new policy.
The corrected sentence is "The committee will meet on Wednesday to discuss the effects of the new policy." One error is the missing capital on the proper noun "Wednesday"; the other is the commonly confused word "affects," which here needs the noun "effects" meaning results. The other choices repair only one of the two errors.
- Read the sentence to be revised: "He don't know weather the meeting was canceled or rescheduled." Which revision corrects both errors?
- He don't know whether the meeting was canceled or rescheduled.
- He doesn't know weather the meeting was canceled or rescheduled.
- He doesn't know whether the meeting was canceled or rescheduled.
- He didn't know weather the meeting was canceled or rescheduled.
Correct answer: He doesn't know whether the meeting was canceled or rescheduled.
The correct revision is "He doesn't know whether the meeting was canceled or rescheduled." One error is the subject-verb agreement, since the singular subject "He" requires "doesn't," not "don't"; the other is the homophone "weather," which should be "whether" to introduce the choice. The other options fix only one of the two errors.
- Read the sentence to be revised: "To improve his grades, more time was spent studying by the student each night." Which revision corrects the dangling modifier and the awkward passive voice?
- To improve his grades, more time was spent studying by the student each night.
- To improve his grades, the student spent more time studying each night.
- To improve his grades, studying more time was spent by the student each night.
- More time was spent studying each night to improve his grades by the student.
Correct answer: To improve his grades, the student spent more time studying each night.
The best revision is "To improve his grades, the student spent more time studying each night." The infinitive phrase "To improve his grades" must modify the person doing the improving, but the passive original leaves "more time" as the apparent subject. Recasting in the active voice with "the student" as the subject fixes the dangling modifier and the awkward passive at once.
- Read the sentence to be revised: "The towns new park, which opened last spring, have already become a popular gathering place." Which revision corrects both errors?
- The town's new park, which opened last spring, has already become a popular gathering place.
- The towns new park, which opened last spring, has already become a popular gathering place.
- The town's new park, which opened last spring, have already become a popular gathering place.
- The town's new park which opened last spring have already become a popular gathering place.
Correct answer: The town's new park, which opened last spring, has already become a popular gathering place.
The corrected sentence is "The town's new park, which opened last spring, has already become a popular gathering place." One error is the missing possessive apostrophe in "towns," which should be "town's"; the other is subject-verb agreement, since the singular subject "park" requires "has," not "have." The other choices repair only one of the two errors.
- Read the sentence to be revised: "Me and her are planning a fundraiser, we hope to raise enough money for new uniforms." Which revision corrects both errors?
- Me and her are planning a fundraiser; we hope to raise enough money for new uniforms.
- She and I are planning a fundraiser, we hope to raise enough money for new uniforms.
- She and I are planning a fundraiser; we hope to raise enough money for new uniforms.
- Her and I are planning a fundraiser; we hope to raise enough money for new uniforms.
Correct answer: She and I are planning a fundraiser; we hope to raise enough money for new uniforms.
The correct revision is "She and I are planning a fundraiser; we hope to raise enough money for new uniforms." One error is the pronoun case, since the subjects must be "She and I," not the object forms "Me and her"; the other is the comma splice between two independent clauses, fixed with a semicolon. The other choices leave a splice or keep an object pronoun in the subject position.
- Read the sentence to be revised: "The scientist conducted the experiment careful, and recorded every result in her journal." Which revision corrects both errors?
- The scientist conducted the experiment careful and recorded every result in her journal.
- The scientist conducted the experiment carefully, and recorded every result in her journal.
- The scientist conducted the experiment carefully and recorded every result in her journal.
- The scientist conducted the experiment careful, recorded every result in her journal.
Correct answer: The scientist conducted the experiment carefully and recorded every result in her journal.
The corrected sentence is "The scientist conducted the experiment carefully and recorded every result in her journal." One error is the adjective "careful" used where the adverb "carefully" is needed to modify the verb "conducted"; the other is the unnecessary comma before "and," which joins only a compound predicate, not two independent clauses. The other choices fix only one of the two problems.
- Read the sentence to be revised: "Whom is responsible for organizing the event, and where will it be held." Which revision corrects both errors?
- Whom is responsible for organizing the event, and where will it be held?
- Who is responsible for organizing the event, and where will it be held.
- Who is responsible for organizing the event, and where will it be held?
- Whom is responsible for organizing the event and where will it be held?
Correct answer: Who is responsible for organizing the event, and where will it be held?
The correct revision is "Who is responsible for organizing the event, and where will it be held?" One error is the pronoun case, since the subject form "Who" is needed rather than the object form "Whom"; the other is the end punctuation, since this is a question and requires a question mark, not a period. The other choices fix only one of the two errors.
- Read the sentence to be revised: "The companys profits has risen steady over the past three years." Which revision corrects both errors?
- The company's profits have risen steadily over the past three years.
- The company's profits has risen steady over the past three years.
- The companys profits have risen steadily over the past three years.
- The company's profits have rose steadily over the past three years.
Correct answer: The company's profits have risen steadily over the past three years.
The corrected sentence is "The company's profits have risen steadily over the past three years." One error is the missing possessive apostrophe in "companys," which should be "company's"; the other is the adjective "steady" used where the adverb "steadily" is needed to modify the verb "have risen" (and the plural subject "profits" takes "have"). The other choices fix only one of the two errors.
- On the MTEL Communication and Literacy Writing subtest, the Summary Exercise directs the test taker to read a passage and then write a response that does which of the following?
- Restate the passage's main idea and key supporting points in the test taker's own words, without adding personal opinion
- Argue whether the author of the passage is correct and provide outside evidence to support that judgment
- Copy the passage's most important sentences word for word so the original wording is preserved
- Develop a five-paragraph essay that takes a clear position on the passage's topic
Correct answer: Restate the passage's main idea and key supporting points in the test taker's own words, without adding personal opinion
Restating the passage's main idea and key supporting points in one's own words without adding opinion is correct. The MTEL Summary Exercise asks the writer to demonstrate reading comprehension by accurately condensing a source passage and paraphrasing it, not by evaluating it. Arguing whether the author is right and adding outside evidence describes a persuasive or composition task, not a summary. Copying important sentences verbatim fails the requirement to paraphrase in one's own words. Developing a five-paragraph position essay describes the separate Composition Exercise, not the Summary Exercise.
- A test taker drafting a response to the MTEL Summary Exercise writes, "While the passage makes some good points, I personally disagree with the author's claim that standardized testing helps students." Why would a scorer most likely view this sentence as inappropriate for the summary?
- It is too short to count as a complete paragraph in the response
- It introduces the writer's own opinion and judgment, which a summary should exclude
- It uses the word "passage," which is not allowed in a formal summary
- It correctly paraphrases the author and therefore needs no revision
Correct answer: It introduces the writer's own opinion and judgment, which a summary should exclude
Introducing the writer's own opinion and judgment is the problem. The MTEL Summary Exercise is scored on how faithfully and clearly the response captures the source passage's ideas; expressing personal agreement or disagreement shifts the response from summarizing to evaluating, which is outside the task. The sentence's length is not the issue, since even a long opinionated sentence would still be off-task. Using the word "passage" is perfectly acceptable. The sentence does not paraphrase the author at all; it states the writer's stance, so it is not a correct paraphrase that needs no revision.
- Which revision best paraphrases the source sentence "The city council voted to extend library hours because residents repeatedly requested more evening access" for use in an MTEL summary response?
- The city council voted to extend library hours because residents repeatedly requested more evening access.
- Library hours were extended due to residents repeatedly requesting more evening access from the council.
- In my view, extending library hours was a smart and overdue decision by the council.
- Responding to residents' ongoing requests for evening availability, the council decided to lengthen the library's operating hours.
Correct answer: Responding to residents' ongoing requests for evening availability, the council decided to lengthen the library's operating hours.
The version beginning "Responding to residents' ongoing requests" is the strongest paraphrase because it restates the original meaning using different wording and sentence structure while preserving the cause-and-effect relationship the source conveys. Repeating the source sentence exactly is copying, not paraphrasing, which the Summary Exercise prohibits. The option that merely reshuffles a few words but keeps the phrases "extend library hours," "residents," and "requested" stays too close to the original wording to count as genuine paraphrase. The option beginning "In my view" inserts the writer's opinion and omits the council's reasoning, so it neither summarizes nor paraphrases the source accurately.
- On the MTEL Communication and Literacy Writing subtest, the Composition Exercise asks the test taker to do which of the following?
- Condense a provided reading passage into a shorter paraphrase without adding personal views
- Correct two errors hidden in each of several individual sentences
- Write an original multi-paragraph essay that takes and defends a clear position on a given topic
- Label the parts of speech in a set of sample sentences
Correct answer: Write an original multi-paragraph essay that takes and defends a clear position on a given topic
Writing an original multi-paragraph essay that takes and defends a clear position on a given topic is correct. The Composition Exercise requires the test taker to generate extended, organized prose that states a central purpose and develops it with reasons and examples for a general adult audience. Condensing a passage into a paraphrase describes the separate Summary Exercise, not the composition. Correcting two errors per sentence describes the short-answer sentence-revision items, and labeling parts of speech is not a task on this subtest at all.
- A test taker is planning a response to an MTEL Composition Exercise prompt that asks whether a community should build a new public pool. Which approach best fits what the composition is designed to demonstrate?
- Choose one position, state it clearly, and develop it with specific reasons and examples organized into focused paragraphs
- List every possible argument on both sides without ever indicating which view the writer holds
- Copy memorable sentences from the prompt and arrange them into paragraphs
- Describe personal feelings about pools in a single long paragraph without a stated main point
Correct answer: Choose one position, state it clearly, and develop it with specific reasons and examples organized into focused paragraphs
Choosing one position, stating it clearly, and developing it with specific reasons and examples in focused paragraphs is the best approach because the Composition Exercise is scored on a controlling purpose, logical development, and clear organization. Listing arguments on both sides without ever taking a stand fails to establish the required central position. Copying sentences from the prompt produces no original development, and writing one unfocused paragraph of feelings with no stated main point lacks both the purpose and the organization the scoring criteria reward.
- A test taker structures an MTEL composition as an introduction with a thesis, three body paragraphs that each develop one supporting reason, and a conclusion. How does this five-paragraph structure most help the response on the scored criteria?
- It guarantees a passing score regardless of how the ideas are developed
- It removes the need to use correct grammar and punctuation in the essay
- It allows the writer to leave the position unstated until the final paragraph
- It gives the essay a clear, unified organization in which each paragraph advances the central purpose
Correct answer: It gives the essay a clear, unified organization in which each paragraph advances the central purpose
Giving the essay a clear, unified organization in which each paragraph advances the central purpose is how the five-paragraph structure helps, because organization and a sustained main idea are among the qualities scorers evaluate. The structure does not guarantee a passing score, since development, sentence skills, and mechanics still matter. It does not excuse grammar and punctuation errors, which are also scored, and a strong composition states its position early rather than withholding it until the end.
- Read the following paragraph: "Many people assume that bats are blind, but this belief is mistaken. Most bat species actually have functional eyes and can see reasonably well in low light. What sets bats apart is that they also use echolocation, bouncing sound waves off objects to navigate in total darkness. This combination of vision and sound makes them remarkably adept hunters at night." Which statement best expresses the main idea of the paragraph?
- Bats can both see and use echolocation to navigate.
- Bats are completely blind and rely only on sound.
- Echolocation is a process that uses sound waves.
- Bats hunt insects more efficiently than birds do.
Correct answer: Bats can both see and use echolocation to navigate.
The main idea is that bats can both see and use echolocation to navigate. The paragraph corrects the myth of blindness, states that bats have functional eyes, and adds that they also use echolocation, so the controlling point joins the two abilities. The claim that bats are completely blind is the very belief the paragraph refutes, the statement about echolocation using sound waves is only a supporting detail, and comparing bats to birds introduces information the paragraph never mentions.
- Read the following paragraph: "The city council approved the new bike-lane program last spring. Since then, three major streets have been fitted with protected lanes, and two more are scheduled for next year. Local bicycle shops report a noticeable rise in sales, and the police department has recorded fewer collisions involving cyclists. Residents who once felt unsafe biking downtown now describe the commute as relaxing." Which sentence states the central point the paragraph develops?
- The new bike-lane program has produced positive results.
- Bicycle shops have reported higher sales recently.
- The police department tracks collisions involving cyclists.
- Two more streets will receive bike lanes next year.
Correct answer: The new bike-lane program has produced positive results.
The central point is that the new bike-lane program has produced positive results. Every following sentence reports a favorable outcome of the program, so they all support that broad claim. The sales increase, the future street plans, and the collision tracking are individual supporting details, each too narrow to cover the whole paragraph.
- Read the following paragraph: "When Maria opened the door, the kitchen was filled with the smell of cinnamon. Flour dusted the counter, a mixing bowl sat in the sink, and a tray of muffins cooled on the rack. Her grandmother, humming softly, wiped her hands on a checkered apron and smiled." Although the paragraph never states it directly, what is its implicit main idea?
- Maria dislikes the smell of cinnamon.
- Maria's grandmother has been baking in the kitchen.
- The kitchen needs to be cleaned immediately.
- Maria's grandmother lives far away from the city.
Correct answer: Maria's grandmother has been baking in the kitchen.
The implicit main idea is that Maria's grandmother has been baking in the kitchen. The smell of cinnamon, the spilled flour, the used mixing bowl, and the cooling muffins are clues that together point to recent baking, even though no sentence says so outright. Disliking cinnamon contradicts the welcoming tone, the need to clean is never suggested, and where the grandmother lives is information the paragraph does not provide.
- A paragraph argues that regular exercise improves mental health. Which of the following sentences would function as a supporting detail rather than the main idea?
- Exercise offers important benefits for mental health.
- Mental health is improved in several ways by physical activity.
- Studies show that thirty minutes of walking can reduce symptoms of anxiety.
- Being active regularly is good for the mind.
Correct answer: Studies show that thirty minutes of walking can reduce symptoms of anxiety.
The supporting detail is the statement that studies show thirty minutes of walking can reduce symptoms of anxiety. A supporting detail provides specific evidence or examples for a broader claim, and this sentence offers a concrete research finding. The other three options each restate the general controlling idea that exercise benefits mental health, so they are versions of the main idea rather than details.
- Read the following paragraph: "Coral reefs are sometimes called the rainforests of the sea. They cover less than one percent of the ocean floor, yet they shelter roughly a quarter of all marine species. Thousands of fish, crustaceans, and mollusks depend on reefs for food and protection. Many coastal communities, in turn, depend on those fish for their livelihoods." Which choice best captures the main idea?
- Coral reefs cover less than one percent of the ocean floor.
- Crustaceans and mollusks live among coral reefs.
- Coastal communities catch fish for a living.
- Coral reefs support an enormous amount of marine and human life.
Correct answer: Coral reefs support an enormous amount of marine and human life.
The main idea is that coral reefs support an enormous amount of marine and human life. The paragraph emphasizes that reefs shelter a quarter of marine species and that fish and the communities who catch them depend on reefs, so the unifying point is their wide-reaching support of life. The figure about ocean coverage, the mention of crustaceans and mollusks, and the note about coastal fishing are details that illustrate that larger point.
- Read the following paragraph: "Some readers believe that a topic and a main idea are the same thing, but they serve different roles. A topic is simply the subject a passage discusses, such as 'volcanoes.' A main idea, by contrast, is the complete point the writer makes about that subject, such as 'volcanoes shape the landscape long after they stop erupting.' Recognizing this difference helps readers identify what an author is truly arguing." What is the main idea of this paragraph?
- A topic and a main idea are distinct from each other.
- Volcanoes continue to shape the landscape after eruptions.
- Many readers struggle with reading comprehension.
- Identifying the subject of a passage is usually easy.
Correct answer: A topic and a main idea are distinct from each other.
The main idea is that a topic and a main idea are distinct from each other. The paragraph defines each term and contrasts them to correct the assumption that they are the same, making the distinction its controlling point. The volcano sentence is only an example used to illustrate that distinction, while the claims about readers struggling and topics being easy to identify are not the paragraph's focus.
- Read the following paragraph: "The interview lasted nearly an hour. The candidate answered every question thoughtfully, asked several of her own, and described projects that matched the company's goals. As she left, the hiring manager turned to a colleague and said, 'Let's not waste any time scheduling a second round.'" What is the implicit main idea of the paragraph?
- The candidate was late to the interview.
- The candidate impressed the hiring manager.
- The interview went poorly for the candidate.
- The company rarely conducts second-round interviews.
Correct answer: The candidate impressed the hiring manager.
The implicit main idea is that the candidate impressed the hiring manager. The thoughtful answers, the relevant projects, and the manager's eagerness to schedule a second round all imply a strong impression without stating it directly. A poor interview contradicts those clues, the candidate's punctuality is never mentioned, and how often the company holds second rounds is not addressed.
- In a well-organized informational paragraph, which sentence most often states the main idea directly?
- Any sentence that contains a specific statistic.
- The final example given in the paragraph.
- The longest sentence in the paragraph.
- The topic sentence, usually at the beginning of the paragraph.
Correct answer: The topic sentence, usually at the beginning of the paragraph.
The sentence that most often states the main idea is the topic sentence, usually placed at the beginning of the paragraph. The topic sentence presents the controlling idea that the remaining sentences support. A sentence containing a statistic or a closing example typically supplies a supporting detail, and a sentence's length has no bearing on whether it carries the main idea.
- Read the following paragraph: "Public libraries have changed dramatically over the past two decades. Many now lend out laptops, host coding workshops, and offer recording studios for local musicians. Some provide free access to job-search software and resume coaching. A few even circulate seeds, tools, and musical instruments. The quiet room full of books has become a busy community hub." Which statement best expresses the main idea?
- Libraries lend laptops and host coding workshops.
- Some libraries help patrons search for jobs.
- Musicians can record songs at certain libraries.
- Public libraries have expanded far beyond lending books.
Correct answer: Public libraries have expanded far beyond lending books.
The main idea is that public libraries have expanded far beyond lending books. The paragraph opens by noting libraries have changed dramatically and then lists many new services, closing with the image of a busy community hub, so the unifying point is their expanded role. Lending laptops, helping with job searches, and recording music are individual examples that support that broader claim.
- Read the following paragraph about a single writer: "For three weeks the novelist rose before dawn, brewed a pot of coffee, and wrote until noon without checking her phone. She skipped social invitations and turned down freelance work. By the end of the month, the manuscript she had struggled with for years was finally complete." Which detail from the paragraph most directly supports the implied idea that she was deeply committed to finishing her book?
- She brewed a pot of coffee each morning.
- She turned down freelance work to keep writing.
- She owned a phone that she sometimes checked.
- She had struggled with the manuscript for years.
Correct answer: She turned down freelance work to keep writing.
The detail that most directly supports her commitment is that she turned down freelance work to keep writing. Sacrificing paid opportunities shows she prioritized the book above other obligations, which backs the implied idea of deep dedication. Brewing coffee is a routine action, owning a phone is incidental, and her years of struggle describes the book's history rather than evidence of her commitment to finishing it.
- Read the following paragraph: "Honeybees do far more than make honey. As they move from flower to flower gathering nectar, they transfer pollen that allows plants to produce fruit and seeds. Roughly a third of the food humans eat depends on this pollination. Without bees, grocery shelves would hold far fewer apples, almonds, and berries." What is the main idea of the paragraph?
- Honeybees move from flower to flower gathering nectar.
- Honeybees are essential pollinators for much of our food supply.
- Apples and almonds are popular foods around the world.
- Honeybees produce honey that people enjoy eating.
Correct answer: Honeybees are essential pollinators for much of our food supply.
The main idea is that honeybees are essential pollinators for much of our food supply. The paragraph states bees do more than make honey, explains how their pollination lets plants reproduce, and notes a third of human food depends on it, making their pollination role the controlling point. Gathering nectar and the examples of apples and almonds are supporting details, and honey production is the limited view the paragraph deliberately moves beyond.
- A student reads a paragraph and identifies its main idea as "The school's recycling program reduced waste." Which of the following sentences from the paragraph would NOT serve as a supporting detail for that main idea?
- The cafeteria's trash output dropped by half within two months.
- Students set up clearly labeled bins in every hallway.
- The school was built more than fifty years ago.
- The program's success encouraged a nearby school to start its own.
Correct answer: The school was built more than fifty years ago.
The sentence that would not serve as a supporting detail is that the school was built more than fifty years ago. A supporting detail must relate to and develop the main idea about the recycling program reducing waste, and the building's age is irrelevant to that point. The drop in cafeteria trash, the labeled bins, and the program inspiring another school all provide evidence or examples connected to the program's success.
- Read the following paragraph: "The trail was steeper than the map had suggested. By the second mile, the group had stopped joking and walked in silence. One hiker sat on a rock to catch his breath, while another quietly poured the last of her water and stared at the summit still far above." What is the implicit main idea of the paragraph?
- The hikers were enjoying a relaxing afternoon walk.
- The hike turned out to be exhausting and difficult.
- The map was printed with incorrect distances.
- The group reached the summit ahead of schedule.
Correct answer: The hike turned out to be exhausting and difficult.
The implicit main idea is that the hike turned out to be exhausting and difficult. The steeper-than-expected trail, the fall into silence, the hiker catching his breath, and the dwindling water all imply growing strain even though the paragraph never says the hike was hard. A relaxing walk contradicts those signs, the map's distances are not the focus, and reaching the summit early is contradicted by the summit being described as still far above.
- Read the following paragraph: "Recycling a single aluminum can saves enough energy to power a television for about three hours. Aluminum can be melted and reshaped endlessly without losing quality, so a recycled can may return to a store shelf within sixty days. Producing new aluminum from raw ore, by contrast, requires up to twenty times more energy." Which sentence best states the main idea?
- Aluminum cans can be recycled within sixty days.
- A recycled can may return to a store shelf quickly.
- Televisions use a measurable amount of electricity.
- Recycling aluminum is far more energy-efficient than making it new.
Correct answer: Recycling aluminum is far more energy-efficient than making it new.
The main idea is that recycling aluminum is far more energy-efficient than making it new. Each sentence compares the low energy of recycling against the high energy of producing aluminum from ore, so that efficiency contrast is the controlling point. The sixty-day turnaround and the quick return to shelves are supporting examples, and the television comparison is simply a way to illustrate the energy saved.
- Read the following paragraph: "At first the volunteers worried that no one would show up to the park cleanup. By nine o'clock, however, the parking lot was full. Families arrived with gloves and trash bags, a local bakery dropped off free coffee, and a news crew set up to film the turnout. By noon, the volunteers had run out of supplies for everyone who wanted to help." What is the implicit main idea?
- The park cleanup drew a much larger turnout than expected.
- The bakery's coffee was the main reason people attended.
- Park cleanups are usually poorly attended events.
- The news crew failed to film the cleanup.
Correct answer: The park cleanup drew a much larger turnout than expected.
The implicit main idea is that the park cleanup drew a much larger turnout than expected. The full parking lot, the arriving families, the news coverage, and the supplies running out all imply an overwhelming response that exceeded the volunteers' low expectations. Crediting the coffee overstates one detail, claiming cleanups are poorly attended contradicts the scene, and the news crew filming is described as happening, not failing.
- Read the following paragraph: "The new highway bypass was meant to ease traffic, and in some ways it has. Downtown streets are quieter, and the average commute has shortened by ten minutes. Yet businesses along the old route report fewer customers, and several have closed. The bypass solved one problem while creating another." Which statement best expresses the main idea?
- The bypass shortened the average commute by ten minutes.
- Several downtown businesses have recently closed.
- The bypass brought both benefits and drawbacks.
- Downtown streets are now much quieter than before.
Correct answer: The bypass brought both benefits and drawbacks.
The main idea is that the bypass brought both benefits and drawbacks. The paragraph balances improvements such as quieter streets and shorter commutes against harms such as lost customers and closed businesses, concluding that it solved one problem while creating another. The shorter commute, the quieter streets, and the business closings are individual details that each show only one side of that combined point.
- When a passage's main idea is implied rather than stated, how should a reader best determine it?
- By selecting the first sentence of the passage automatically.
- By choosing the most surprising detail in the passage.
- By combining the supporting details to infer the point they share.
- By counting which idea is mentioned in the most words.
Correct answer: By combining the supporting details to infer the point they share.
A reader should determine an implied main idea by combining the supporting details to infer the point they share. When no sentence states the idea outright, the details collectively point toward a conclusion the reader must draw. Automatically taking the first sentence fails when the main idea is unstated, picking the most surprising detail elevates one point over the whole, and counting words does not reveal the unifying meaning behind the details.
- Read the following passage: "Before you board, double-check that your seatbelt buckle clicks firmly into place, locate the two nearest exits, and review the safety card in the seat pocket. These few seconds of preparation could matter enormously in an emergency." The author's primary purpose in this passage is to:
- Persuade readers to buy travel insurance
- Entertain readers with a travel story
- Analyze the causes of airplane accidents
- Instruct readers on safety steps to take
Correct answer: Instruct readers on safety steps to take
The author's primary purpose is to instruct readers on safety steps to take. The passage is built around direct commands such as "double-check," "locate," and "review," which guide the reader through a procedure. There is no sales pitch for insurance, no narrated story, and no examination of accident causes.
- Read the following passage: "The mayor's so-called 'budget reform' is nothing more than a thinly disguised tax hike. Every family in this city will pay the price for her reckless spending, and we cannot afford to stay silent any longer. Call your council member today and demand a vote against this proposal." What is the author's main purpose?
- To describe the city's budget process
- To persuade readers to oppose the proposal
- To entertain readers with political humor
- To explain how council members vote
Correct answer: To persuade readers to oppose the proposal
The author's main purpose is to persuade readers to oppose the proposal. The loaded language such as "reckless spending" and the closing call to "demand a vote against this proposal" reveal an effort to move readers to action. The passage does not neutrally describe the budget process, tell a humorous story, or explain the mechanics of voting.
- An author writes a passage that begins, "Imagine a substance so versatile it can be molded into a bottle, woven into fabric, or stretched into film thinner than paper. That substance is plastic, and understanding how it is made begins with a process called polymerization." The author's primary purpose is most likely to:
- Inform readers about how plastic is made
- Convince readers to stop using plastic
- Tell a personal story about plastic
- Compare plastic with other materials
Correct answer: Inform readers about how plastic is made
The author's primary purpose is most likely to inform readers about how plastic is made. The passage introduces plastic's uses and then signals an explanation of "a process called polymerization," which points toward teaching the reader. It takes no stance against plastic use, recounts no personal story, and does not set up a comparison with other materials.
- Read the following passage: "The old lighthouse keeper had watched a thousand storms roll across the bay, but none had ever frightened him the way this one did. He gripped the rail as the wind howled, and for the first time in forty years, he wondered whether the tower would hold." The author's primary purpose in this passage is to:
- Instruct readers on lighthouse operation
- Persuade readers to visit the coast
- Entertain readers with a dramatic narrative
- Argue that lighthouses are obsolete
Correct answer: Entertain readers with a dramatic narrative
The author's primary purpose is to entertain readers with a dramatic narrative. The vivid storytelling, suspenseful tone, and focus on a character's fear are hallmarks of writing meant to engage and entertain. There are no instructions, no appeal to visit anywhere, and no argument about lighthouses being outdated.
- A textbook author writes, "In this chapter, we will examine the three branches of the federal government, define the powers granted to each, and trace how the system of checks and balances limits any single branch from dominating the others." The author's purpose is best described as:
- To explain how the federal government is structured
- To persuade readers to support a political party
- To tell a story about a historical leader
- To criticize the current government
Correct answer: To explain how the federal government is structured
The author's purpose is best described as to explain how the federal government is structured. The neutral, organized preview of examining branches, defining powers, and tracing checks and balances signals an intent to teach rather than to argue. The passage promotes no party, narrates no story, and voices no criticism of the government.
- Read the following passage from a product review: "Don't waste your money on this blender. It leaked all over my counter, the motor burned out within a month, and the company refused to honor the warranty. Spend a few dollars more and buy a model that actually works." The author's primary purpose is to:
- Explain how blenders are manufactured
- Entertain readers with a funny anecdote
- Describe the features of a kitchen appliance
- Persuade readers not to buy the product
Correct answer: Persuade readers not to buy the product
The author's primary purpose is to persuade readers not to buy the product. The string of complaints and the direct advice to "buy a model that actually works" are designed to influence the reader's purchasing decision. The passage does not explain manufacturing, aim for humor, or neutrally describe the appliance's features.
- Which of the following best describes what an author's "purpose" refers to in a piece of writing?
- The reason the author wrote the text, such as to inform, persuade, or entertain
- The number of paragraphs the author chose to include
- The difficulty level of the vocabulary the author used
- The place where the author published the work
Correct answer: The reason the author wrote the text, such as to inform, persuade, or entertain
An author's purpose refers to the reason the author wrote the text, such as to inform, persuade, or entertain. Purpose names the writer's underlying goal in producing the passage. The paragraph count, vocabulary difficulty, and place of publication are features of the text but are not what "purpose" means.
- Read the following passage: "For decades, we have treated rivers as little more than convenient drains for our waste. It is time we recognized them as the living arteries of our communities. We must demand stronger protections before another waterway is lost." Which statement best identifies the writer's point of view?
- The writer believes rivers should be protected as vital community resources.
- The writer believes rivers are best used for disposing of waste.
- The writer is indifferent to the condition of local rivers.
- The writer believes river protection laws are already strong enough.
Correct answer: The writer believes rivers should be protected as vital community resources.
The writer's point of view is that rivers should be protected as vital community resources. The phrase "living arteries of our communities" and the demand for "stronger protections" reveal a clear pro-protection stance. The other choices either reverse that stance, claim indifference the passage contradicts, or assert that protections are already sufficient, which the call for stronger ones denies.
- Read the following passage: "Critics complain that standardized testing narrows the curriculum, but they overlook the alternative. Without common assessments, parents would have no objective way to compare schools, and struggling students could slip through the cracks unnoticed. Tests, for all their flaws, give us a shared measure of progress." The writer's point of view can best be described as:
- Strongly opposed to all forms of testing
- Supportive of standardized testing despite acknowledging its drawbacks
- Uncertain whether testing has any value
- Focused only on the complaints of critics
Correct answer: Supportive of standardized testing despite acknowledging its drawbacks
The writer's point of view is best described as supportive of standardized testing despite acknowledging its drawbacks. The phrase "for all their flaws" admits weaknesses yet still defends tests as a "shared measure of progress." The writer is not opposed to testing, is not uncertain about its value, and mentions critics only to rebut them rather than to side with them.
- Read the following passage: "Some argue that working from home erodes company culture, but I have found the opposite to be true. Freed from the daily commute, my colleagues and I are more rested, more focused, and more willing to collaborate across departments. The office walls were never what held us together." What is the writer's point of view on working from home?
- The writer is neutral about whether remote work succeeds.
- The writer believes remote work harms collaboration.
- The writer believes remote work has improved the team's experience.
- The writer believes everyone should return to the office full-time.
Correct answer: The writer believes remote work has improved the team's experience.
The writer's point of view is that remote work has improved the team's experience. By reporting that colleagues are "more rested, more focused, and more willing to collaborate," the writer presents remote work positively. The passage is not neutral, does not claim remote work harms collaboration, and argues against, not for, returning to the office.
- In reading, the term "writer's point of view" most precisely refers to:
- The attitude or position a writer holds toward the subject
- The physical location from which a story is narrated
- The total length of the writer's argument
- The grammatical person, such as first or third, used in a sentence
Correct answer: The attitude or position a writer holds toward the subject
The writer's point of view most precisely refers to the attitude or position a writer holds toward the subject. It captures how the writer feels about or judges the topic. A narration's physical vantage point, the length of an argument, and the grammatical person are separate matters that do not define this reading concept.
- Read the following passage: "This guide assumes you have already installed the software and created an account. We will skip the basics and move directly to configuring advanced reporting filters, customizing dashboard widgets, and automating data exports for your team." Who is the intended audience for this passage?
- Readers who have never used a computer before
- Children learning to read for the first time
- Scientists studying software development
- Experienced users already familiar with the software
Correct answer: Experienced users already familiar with the software
The intended audience is experienced users already familiar with the software. The passage states it will "skip the basics" and addresses readers who have already installed the program, signaling familiarity. It is not aimed at computer novices, beginning readers, or researchers studying software development.
- Read the following passage: "Brushing your teeth keeps your smile bright and healthy! Move the brush in tiny circles, count slowly to twenty for the top teeth and twenty for the bottom, and don't forget to swish water when you're all done. Great job!" The intended audience for this passage is most likely:
- Dental surgeons
- Young children
- Hospital administrators
- College chemistry students
Correct answer: Young children
The intended audience is most likely young children. The simple instructions, cheerful tone, encouragement to "count slowly," and praise such as "Great job!" are tailored to a young reader learning a routine. Dental surgeons, hospital administrators, and chemistry students would require far more technical and formal content.
- Read the following passage: "As fellow shareholders, you deserve a frank accounting of this quarter's losses. The board has authorized a restructuring plan, detailed in the following pages, that we believe will restore the dividends you have come to expect from your investment." The intended audience for this passage is:
- First-time job applicants
- The general reading public
- Elementary school teachers
- The company's investors
Correct answer: The company's investors
The intended audience is the company's investors. The direct address "As fellow shareholders" and the references to "your investment" and "dividends you have come to expect" identify readers who own stock in the company. The passage is not written for job applicants, the general public, or teachers, who would not be addressed as shareholders.
- Read the following passage: "It would be easy to mock the early bicycle, with its enormous front wheel and bone-rattling ride. Yet that ungainly machine gave ordinary people their first taste of independent travel, and in doing so it quietly reshaped how we think about distance and freedom." The author's primary purpose is best described as:
- To instruct readers on how to ride a bicycle
- To entertain readers with a comedy sketch
- To highlight the historical importance of the early bicycle
- To persuade readers to purchase a vintage bicycle
Correct answer: To highlight the historical importance of the early bicycle
The author's primary purpose is best described as to highlight the historical importance of the early bicycle. After acknowledging the machine's awkwardness, the author stresses that it "reshaped how we think about distance and freedom," emphasizing its lasting significance. The passage offers no riding instructions, is not a comedy sketch, and does not urge readers to buy anything.
- Read the following passage: "I used to roll my eyes whenever someone praised farmers' markets. Then I spent a summer talking with the growers, tasting produce picked that morning, and learning where my food truly comes from. Now I rarely shop anywhere else." Which statement best captures the change in the writer's point of view?
- The writer remained skeptical of farmers' markets throughout.
- The writer moved from dismissive to enthusiastic about farmers' markets.
- The writer has never had an opinion about farmers' markets.
- The writer prefers large grocery chains over farmers' markets.
Correct answer: The writer moved from dismissive to enthusiastic about farmers' markets.
The change in the writer's point of view is best captured by moving from dismissive to enthusiastic about farmers' markets. The writer admits to once rolling their eyes but now "rarely shop[s] anywhere else," showing a clear shift to enthusiasm. The other choices ignore that transformation by claiming continued skepticism, no opinion, or a preference for grocery chains.
- A pamphlet opens, "Now that your little one has arrived, you may be wondering when to schedule that first checkup, how often to feed a newborn, and what those middle-of-the-night cries really mean." The intended audience for this pamphlet is most clearly:
- New parents
- Pediatric researchers
- Expectant grandparents living abroad
- Retired nurses
Correct answer: New parents
The intended audience is most clearly new parents. The phrases "your little one has arrived" and the questions about feeding a newborn and interpreting cries directly address someone caring for a new baby. Pediatric researchers, distant grandparents, and retired nurses are not the readers the passage speaks to with these personal, practical concerns.
- When a writer uses a transition word such as "however," "on the other hand," or "in contrast," the writer is most likely signaling that the next idea will:
- Add another example that supports the previous point
- Oppose or differ from the idea just stated
- Explain the result produced by an earlier cause
- Restate the previous idea in simpler words
Correct answer: Oppose or differ from the idea just stated
The answer is that the next idea will oppose or differ from the idea just stated. Words like "however," "on the other hand," and "in contrast" are contrast signals that prepare the reader for an opposing point. Adding a supporting example calls for words like "furthermore," showing a result calls for "therefore," and restating an idea calls for "in other words."
- Read the following sentence: "The store had advertised the sale for weeks; ___, only a handful of shoppers showed up on opening day." Which transition best signals the contrast the writer intends between expectation and outcome?
- Consequently
- Similarly
- In addition
- Nevertheless
Correct answer: Nevertheless
The transition that best signals the contrast is "nevertheless." The sentence sets up an expectation through heavy advertising and then reveals a disappointing turnout, so a contrast signal is needed. "Consequently" would mark a result, "similarly" would point to a likeness, and "in addition" would simply add another point.
- Read the following sentence: "Daily practice strengthens a musician's technical skill. ___, regular rehearsal builds the confidence a performer needs on stage." Which transition best fits the blank to signal that the writer is adding a related supporting point?
- Instead
- On the contrary
- Furthermore
- In conclusion
Correct answer: Furthermore
The transition that best fits is "Furthermore." The second sentence adds another benefit of practice to the one already given, so an addition signal is needed. "Instead" and "On the contrary" would signal opposition, and "In conclusion" would mark the end of a discussion rather than an added point.
- Read the following sentence: "Many wildflowers thrive in poor, rocky soil. ___, the wild lupine flourishes on sandy slopes where few other plants survive." Which transition best fits the blank to signal that an example is about to follow?
- Nonetheless
- For instance
- As a result
- Earlier
Correct answer: For instance
The transition that best fits is "For instance." The lupine is offered as a specific case of the general statement about wildflowers thriving in poor soil, so an example signal is needed. "Nonetheless" would signal contrast, "As a result" would mark a consequence, and "Earlier" would indicate a point in time.
- Read the following sentence: "The committee reviewed the budget for hours. ___, they agreed to postpone the final vote until the next meeting." Which transition best signals that the second clause states the result of the first?
- In contrast
- For example
- Meanwhile
- Therefore
Correct answer: Therefore
The transition that best signals a result is "Therefore." The lengthy review leads to the decision to postpone, so a cause-and-effect signal is needed. "In contrast" would mark opposition, "For example" would introduce an illustration, and "Meanwhile" would indicate something happening at the same time rather than a consequence.
- Read the following sentence: "The bridge was clearly unsafe, with cracked supports and a sagging deck. ___, the city kept it open to traffic for another year." Which transition best fits the blank to signal that the result is surprising or contrary to what one would expect?
Correct answer: Still
The transition that best fits is "Still." Keeping an unsafe bridge open runs against the expectation that danger would lead to a closing, so a concession or contrast signal is needed. "Likewise" would point to a similarity, "Thus" would mark an expected result, and "Finally" would signal the last item in a sequence.
- Read the following passage: "Plastic waste is choking the world's oceans. To address this, several coastal nations have banned single-use plastic bags, funded large-scale beach cleanups, and invested in recyclable packaging." Which relationship among ideas does this passage primarily develop?
- A comparison of two equally serious environmental threats
- A chronological account of one nation's history
- A contrast between two opposing opinions
- A problem followed by proposed solutions
Correct answer: A problem followed by proposed solutions
The passage primarily develops a problem followed by proposed solutions. It first names the problem of plastic waste in the oceans and then lists actions, the bans, cleanups, and packaging changes, meant to solve it. It does not compare two threats, narrate one nation's history in order, or set two opinions against each other.
- Read the following sentence: "Drought had left the reservoir at its lowest level in decades. As a consequence, the city imposed strict limits on lawn watering and car washing." What relationship does the phrase "As a consequence" establish between the two sentences?
- It shows that the second idea contrasts with the first.
- It shows that the second idea is an example of the first.
- It shows that the second idea is the effect of the first.
- It shows that the second idea happened before the first.
Correct answer: It shows that the second idea is the effect of the first.
The phrase establishes that the second idea is the effect of the first. "As a consequence" signals that the city's water limits resulted from the low reservoir caused by drought. It is not a contrast signal, the watering limits are not an example of the drought, and the consequence clearly follows the cause rather than coming before it.
- Read the following passage: "When the old textile mill shut down, the town's troubles multiplied. Hundreds of workers lost their jobs, the shops on Main Street saw sales plunge, and within a year the local school faced budget cuts as tax revenue fell." Which statement best describes the relationship among the ideas in this passage?
- A single cause produces a chain of related effects.
- Two similar situations are compared point by point.
- A series of unrelated events is listed at random.
- An opinion is supported by expert testimony.
Correct answer: A single cause produces a chain of related effects.
The passage shows a single cause producing a chain of related effects. The mill's closing leads to job losses, then falling shop sales, then school budget cuts, each consequence flowing from the original shutdown. The passage does not compare two situations, list unrelated events, or back an opinion with expert testimony.
- Read the following sentence: "Because the directions were printed in tiny, faded type, many volunteers assembled the shelving incorrectly." In this sentence, the faulty assembly is best understood as:
- The cause of the faded type
- An effect of the hard-to-read directions
- A comparison with the printed instructions
- A step that came before the directions were printed
Correct answer: An effect of the hard-to-read directions
The faulty assembly is best understood as an effect of the hard-to-read directions. The word "Because" marks the tiny, faded type as the cause, so the incorrect assembly is the result that followed. The assembly did not cause the type to fade, it is not a comparison, and it occurred after, not before, the directions were printed.
- Read the following passage: "The rooster crowed at dawn, and moments later the sun rose over the hills. A careless observer might think the rooster's call brought the sunrise. In truth, the bird simply senses the first gray light and responds to it." What point about cause and effect does the passage make?
- Two events occurring close in time are not necessarily cause and effect.
- The rooster's crowing is the true cause of the sunrise.
- The sunrise and the crowing are completely unrelated in every way.
- The sunrise causes the rooster to stop crowing.
Correct answer: Two events occurring close in time are not necessarily cause and effect.
The passage makes the point that two events occurring close in time are not necessarily cause and effect. It warns against assuming the crow causes the sunrise simply because one follows the other, noting the rooster merely reacts to early light. The passage explicitly denies that the crowing causes the sunrise and shows the two are connected through the light, not unrelated.
- Read the following sentence: "Sales of umbrellas rise sharply whenever the forecast predicts a week of rain." The relationship between the rainy forecast and the rise in umbrella sales is best described as:
- A contrast between two opposite trends
- A sequence of unrelated steps
- A restatement of a single idea
- A cause that leads to an effect
Correct answer: A cause that leads to an effect
The relationship is best described as a cause that leads to an effect. The forecast of rain prompts people to buy umbrellas, so the predicted rain is the cause and the rise in sales is the effect. The two trends move together rather than opposing each other, the events are clearly related rather than random, and the sentence states a connection rather than restating one idea.
- Read the following passage: "The committee considered raising the bridge toll to fund repairs. Higher tolls, however, might push drivers onto side streets, worsening traffic in the neighborhoods. Lower revenue from a toll cut, on the other hand, would leave the repair fund short." Which relationship among ideas does the passage primarily use to organize its discussion?
- It narrates events in strict time order
- It lists examples of a single general rule
- It weighs the contrasting drawbacks of two options
- It traces one cause through several effects
Correct answer: It weighs the contrasting drawbacks of two options
The passage primarily weighs the contrasting drawbacks of two options. Signaled by "however" and "on the other hand," it sets the downside of raising the toll against the downside of cutting it. It does not tell events in time order, give examples of one rule, or follow a single cause through its effects.
- Read the following sentence: "The medicine relieved the patient's pain within minutes; ___, it caused a drowsiness that lasted the rest of the day." Which transition best signals that the writer is balancing a benefit against a drawback?
- Therefore
- For example
- First
- However
Correct answer: However
The transition that best signals the balance is "however." The sentence pairs a benefit, fast pain relief, with a drawback, lingering drowsiness, so a contrast signal is needed. "Therefore" would mark a result, "for example" would introduce an illustration, and "first" would mark the opening step in a sequence.
- Read the following passage: "Sleep does far more than rest the body. During deep sleep, the brain consolidates the day's memories. It also clears away waste proteins, and it releases hormones that repair muscle and tissue." Which relationship among ideas best describes how the passage develops its point?
- It contrasts sleep with wakefulness
- It arranges several events in the order they occurred
- It presents a general claim followed by supporting details that extend it
- It argues that one cause has a single effect
Correct answer: It presents a general claim followed by supporting details that extend it
The passage presents a general claim followed by supporting details that extend it. It opens by stating sleep does more than rest the body and then adds memory consolidation, waste clearing, and hormone release as elaborating points. It does not contrast sleep with wakefulness, list events in time order, or limit itself to one cause and a single effect.
- Read the following sentence: "Heavy rains saturated the hillside for days. ___, a section of the slope gave way and buried the road below." Which transition best fits the blank to signal the cause-and-effect link between the rain and the landslide?
- In contrast
- Eventually
- Conversely
- For example
Correct answer: Eventually
The transition that best fits is "Eventually." The prolonged rain weakens the slope until it collapses, so a signal showing a result that develops over time is needed. "In contrast" and "Conversely" would mark opposition, and "For example" would introduce an illustration rather than the outcome of the rain.
- Read the following passage: "The author first describes the symptoms of the disease, then explains how it spreads from person to person, and concludes by outlining the steps doctors take to treat it." The phrases "first," "then," and "concludes by" in this description signal that the original passage is organized chiefly by:
- Comparison and contrast
- Problem and solution
- Fact versus opinion
- Order or sequence
Correct answer: Order or sequence
The phrases signal that the passage is organized chiefly by order or sequence. Words like "first," "then," and "concludes by" mark a deliberate progression from one part to the next. They do not point to comparison, which weighs likenesses and differences, nor to a problem-and-solution structure, nor to a distinction between fact and opinion.
- In critical reading, a statement of fact differs from a statement of opinion in that a fact:
- Always appears at the beginning of a paragraph
- Is whatever the majority of readers believe
- Expresses how the writer feels about a subject
- Can be verified as true or false through evidence
Correct answer: Can be verified as true or false through evidence
The correct distinction is that a fact can be verified as true or false through evidence. Facts can be checked against objective sources, while an opinion expresses a personal judgment or belief. A fact's position in a paragraph is irrelevant, popularity does not make something a fact, and expressing how a writer feels describes an opinion rather than a fact.
- Which of the following sentences states an opinion rather than a fact?
- The library is open until nine o'clock on weekdays.
- Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius at sea level.
- The new library is the most beautiful building in town.
- The library contains more than fifty thousand books.
Correct answer: The new library is the most beautiful building in town.
The statement of opinion is that the new library is the most beautiful building in town. The word "most beautiful" expresses a personal judgment that cannot be objectively verified. The library's hours, the boiling point of water, and the count of books are all facts that can be checked against evidence.
- Read the following sentence from an editorial: "Voter turnout last year reached sixty-two percent, the highest figure in two decades, and every citizen has a moral duty to keep that number climbing." Which part of the sentence expresses an opinion?
- That voter turnout reached sixty-two percent
- That the figure was the highest in two decades
- That turnout was measured last year
- That every citizen has a moral duty to keep the number climbing
Correct answer: That every citizen has a moral duty to keep the number climbing
The opinion is the claim that every citizen has a moral duty to keep the number climbing. A "moral duty" is a value judgment that cannot be proven true or false. The turnout percentage, the comparison to the past two decades, and the timing of the measurement are all verifiable facts.
- A logical fallacy is best defined as:
- A fact that supports the writer's main point
- An opinion shared by most experts in a field
- A transition that connects two paragraphs
- A flaw in reasoning that weakens the logic of an argument
Correct answer: A flaw in reasoning that weakens the logic of an argument
A logical fallacy is best defined as a flaw in reasoning that weakens the logic of an argument. Such errors make an argument unsound even when it may sound convincing. A supporting fact strengthens rather than weakens an argument, an expert opinion is not by itself a reasoning error, and a transition is an organizational device, not a flaw in logic.
- Read the following argument: "You should not trust anything Dr. Lewis says about the new highway plan. After all, she drives an expensive car and clearly thinks she is better than the rest of us." Which logical fallacy does this argument commit?
- A hasty generalization based on too few examples
- An attack on the person instead of her argument
- A false claim that only two choices exist
- An appeal to the opinion of the majority
Correct answer: An attack on the person instead of her argument
The argument commits an attack on the person instead of her argument, often called an ad hominem fallacy. Rather than addressing Dr. Lewis's points about the highway, the speaker dismisses her by criticizing her car and attitude. There is no generalization from few examples, no claim of only two choices, and no appeal to what most people think.
- Read the following argument: "Either we cut the entire arts budget, or the school will go bankrupt. There is simply no other option." Which logical fallacy is at work in this statement?
- A circular argument that assumes its own conclusion
- A slippery-slope claim about a chain of events
- A false dilemma that ignores other possibilities
- An appeal to pity meant to stir emotion
Correct answer: A false dilemma that ignores other possibilities
The statement relies on a false dilemma that ignores other possibilities. By insisting there are only two choices, cutting all arts funding or going bankrupt, the argument overlooks alternatives such as partial cuts or new revenue. It does not assume its own conclusion, predict a chain of escalating events, or appeal to the reader's pity.
- Read the following argument: "Thousands of shoppers can't be wrong, so this must be the best smartphone you can buy." Which logical fallacy does the speaker rely on?
- An appeal to the popularity of a belief
- An attack on an opponent's character
- A generalization drawn from a single case
- A confusion of sequence with causation
Correct answer: An appeal to the popularity of a belief
The speaker relies on an appeal to the popularity of a belief, known as a bandwagon fallacy. The argument treats wide acceptance as proof of quality, but many people choosing something does not make it the best. It does not attack anyone's character, generalize from one example, or confuse the order of events with cause.
- Read the following argument: "After the city installed the new streetlights, crime in the neighborhood dropped, so clearly the streetlights eliminated crime." Which reasoning error does this argument make?
- Assuming one event caused another simply because it came first
- Appealing to an authority who is not qualified
- Attacking the person rather than the issue
- Presenting only two options when more exist
Correct answer: Assuming one event caused another simply because it came first
The argument assumes one event caused another simply because it came first, a fallacy sometimes called post hoc reasoning. The fact that crime fell after the lights were installed does not prove the lights were the cause, since other factors could be responsible. The statement involves no unqualified authority, no personal attack, and no claim of only two options.
- Read the following argument: "If we allow students to retake one failed quiz, soon they will demand to retake every test, then every final exam, and before long no grade will mean anything at all." Which logical fallacy appears here?
- A circular restatement of the conclusion
- A slippery-slope claim of inevitable escalation
- An appeal to the reader's emotions
- A hasty generalization from one student
Correct answer: A slippery-slope claim of inevitable escalation
The argument presents a slippery-slope claim of inevitable escalation. It assumes that one small allowance will unavoidably lead to extreme consequences without showing why each step must follow. The statement does not merely restate its conclusion, play on emotions, or generalize from a single student's behavior.
- Read the following argument: "My neighbor's teenage son drives recklessly, which just proves that teenagers should not be allowed to have licenses." Which logical fallacy does this argument commit?
- A hasty generalization from a single example
- A false dilemma between two extremes
- An appeal to a popular belief
- A circular argument
Correct answer: A hasty generalization from a single example
The argument commits a hasty generalization from a single example. It draws a sweeping conclusion about all teenagers from the behavior of one neighbor's son, which is far too small a basis for such a claim. The statement does not force a choice between two extremes, cite popularity, or assume its own conclusion.
- Read the following passage: "The author dismisses every objection to the factory as 'whining from people who don't understand progress,' praises the company's owners as visionaries, and never once mentions the residents who lost their homes." Which conclusion about the author is best supported by these features?
- The author presents a balanced view of the factory.
- The author is biased in favor of the factory.
- The author opposes building the factory.
- The author has no clear position on the factory.
Correct answer: The author is biased in favor of the factory.
The best-supported conclusion is that the author is biased in favor of the factory. Dismissing critics with a loaded label, praising the owners, and omitting the displaced residents all reveal one-sided partiality. A balanced view would fairly present objections, opposing the factory contradicts the praise, and the strong favorable language rules out having no clear position.
- In critical reading, identifying an author's bias means recognizing:
- The total number of sources the writer cites
- The grammatical errors a writer makes
- The length of the writer's sentences
- The writer's leaning toward one side that shapes how the topic is presented
Correct answer: The writer's leaning toward one side that shapes how the topic is presented
Identifying an author's bias means recognizing the writer's leaning toward one side that shapes how the topic is presented. Bias is a partiality that influences which facts are emphasized or omitted and how they are framed. The number of sources, grammatical mistakes, and sentence length describe other features of a text but are not what bias means.
- Read the following passage: "A reviewer writes that a restaurant uses only locally grown vegetables and that its dining room seats forty guests. She then adds that the chef is, without question, the most gifted cook in the entire state." Which statement from the passage is an opinion rather than a fact?
- The restaurant uses only locally grown vegetables.
- The dining room seats forty guests.
- The chef is the most gifted cook in the entire state.
- The reviewer wrote about the restaurant.
Correct answer: The chef is the most gifted cook in the entire state.
The opinion is the claim that the chef is the most gifted cook in the entire state. The phrase "most gifted" is a subjective judgment that cannot be objectively confirmed. The use of local vegetables, the seating capacity, and the fact that the reviewer wrote the piece can all be verified.
- Read the following passage: "The new park will open in May. Construction crews have already finished the playground and the walking trails. Honestly, it will be the finest park anyone in this region has ever seen." A reader evaluating this passage critically should recognize that the final sentence:
- Provides the strongest evidence in the passage
- Is a factual claim that can easily be verified
- Is an unsupported opinion presented as if it were certain
- Contradicts the rest of the passage
Correct answer: Is an unsupported opinion presented as if it were certain
A critical reader should recognize that the final sentence is an unsupported opinion presented as if it were certain. Calling it "the finest park anyone has ever seen" is a value judgment with no evidence behind it, despite the confident tone. It offers no real evidence, cannot be verified like the opening facts, and does not contradict the earlier statements.
- Read the following passage: "The report notes that the medicine reduced symptoms in eight of ten patients during the trial. The lead researcher concludes that, in her judgment, this drug represents the most promising treatment developed in a generation." Which part of the passage is an inference or judgment rather than a directly stated fact?
- The medicine was tested in a trial.
- Eight of ten patients had reduced symptoms.
- The drug is the most promising treatment in a generation.
- A report was written about the medicine.
Correct answer: The drug is the most promising treatment in a generation.
The judgment is the claim that the drug is the most promising treatment in a generation. This is the researcher's evaluative conclusion, signaled by "in her judgment," rather than an established fact. That a trial occurred, that eight of ten patients improved, and that a report exists are all directly stated facts.
- Read the following passage: "When Jordan returned home, the front door stood open, muddy footprints crossed the hallway, and the drawer where she kept her jewelry hung empty." Which inference is best supported by the details in the passage?
- Jordan forgot to lock her door that morning.
- Someone broke into Jordan's home and stole her jewelry.
- Jordan's family was redecorating the hallway.
- Jordan decided to sell her jewelry.
Correct answer: Someone broke into Jordan's home and stole her jewelry.
The best-supported inference is that someone broke into Jordan's home and stole her jewelry. The open door, the muddy footprints, and the empty jewelry drawer together point to an intruder and a theft. Forgetting to lock the door does not explain the footprints or missing jewelry, redecorating does not fit the empty drawer, and nothing suggests Jordan chose to sell her jewelry.
- Read the following passage: "Every window in the office was dark, the parking lot held only one lonely car, and a handwritten note on the glass door read, 'Back Monday.'" Which inference about the office is most reasonable based on these details?
- The office is permanently closed for good.
- The office is closed temporarily, likely for the weekend.
- The office is extremely busy at the moment.
- The office has just hired many new employees.
Correct answer: The office is closed temporarily, likely for the weekend.
The most reasonable inference is that the office is closed temporarily, likely for the weekend. The dark windows, the near-empty lot, and the note saying "Back Monday" together suggest a short, planned closure rather than a permanent one. A permanent closing contradicts the promise to return, and the quiet scene rules out the office being busy or newly staffed.
- When a reader summarizes a passage, the goal is to:
- Copy the passage's most colorful sentences word for word
- Add the reader's personal opinions about the topic
- List every detail the passage contains in order
- Restate the passage's main points briefly in the reader's own words
Correct answer: Restate the passage's main points briefly in the reader's own words
The goal of a summary is to restate the passage's main points briefly in the reader's own words. A good summary condenses the central ideas while leaving out minor details and personal commentary. Copying colorful sentences is quoting rather than summarizing, adding personal opinions changes the author's meaning, and listing every detail defeats the purpose of condensing.
- In a topic outline, the relationship between a main heading and the points listed beneath it should be that:
- Each subpoint introduces a topic unrelated to the heading
- The subpoints repeat the heading in different words
- The subpoints support or develop the broader idea in the heading
- The heading is narrower than the points beneath it
Correct answer: The subpoints support or develop the broader idea in the heading
In a sound outline, the subpoints support or develop the broader idea in the heading. A main heading names a general category, and the points beneath it provide the supporting parts of that category. Subpoints that introduce unrelated topics break the outline's logic, merely repeating the heading adds nothing, and a heading should be broader, not narrower, than the items it covers.
- Read the following paragraph: "Community gardens offer cities surprising benefits. They provide fresh produce to neighborhoods that lack nearby grocery stores. They also give residents a shared green space where neighbors meet and form friendships. In addition, the plants help cool the surrounding blocks during hot summer months." Which of the following is the best one-sentence summary of the paragraph?
- Community gardens grow vegetables that residents can pick and eat.
- Community gardens benefit cities by supplying food, building community, and cooling neighborhoods.
- Some neighborhoods do not have grocery stores located nearby.
- Plants in a garden can lower the temperature on hot summer days.
Correct answer: Community gardens benefit cities by supplying food, building community, and cooling neighborhoods.
The best summary states that community gardens benefit cities by supplying food, building community, and cooling neighborhoods. A strong summary captures the controlling idea and the main supporting points without dwelling on any single one. The other choices each restate only one detail from the paragraph and therefore leave out the paragraph's full meaning.
- A bar graph shows the number of books checked out from a library each month: January 400, February 350, March 500, and April 650. Based on the graph, which month had the highest number of checkouts?
- January
- February
- March
- April
Correct answer: April
The month with the highest number of checkouts is April, with 650. Reading the values shows April's bar is the tallest, exceeding January's 400, February's 350, and March's 500. The other months all represent smaller totals than April.
- Read the following paragraph: "The first printing presses were operated entirely by hand, allowing a skilled worker to produce only a few hundred pages a day. Steam-powered presses in the 1800s raised that figure into the thousands. Today, digital presses can print tens of thousands of pages in an hour. Each advance has dramatically increased how quickly text can reach readers." Which summary best captures the paragraph?
- Hand-operated presses could produce only a few hundred pages each day.
- Successive advances in printing technology have greatly increased printing speed over time.
- Steam-powered presses became common during the 1800s.
- Digital presses are used widely in the printing industry today.
Correct answer: Successive advances in printing technology have greatly increased printing speed over time.
The best summary is that successive advances in printing technology have greatly increased printing speed over time. The paragraph traces hand presses, steam presses, and digital presses to show speed rising at each stage, and the summary captures that overall progression. The other options each report only one stage and miss the paragraph's larger point about increasing speed.
- A reader is preparing an outline of an article about renewable energy and has written the main heading "Solar Power." Which of the following would be the most appropriate subpoint to place under that heading?
- How wind turbines generate electricity
- The cost of building a hydroelectric dam
- Advantages and limitations of rooftop solar panels
- A history of coal mining in the region
Correct answer: Advantages and limitations of rooftop solar panels
The most appropriate subpoint is the advantages and limitations of rooftop solar panels, because it directly develops the heading "Solar Power." A subpoint must fall within the category named by its heading. Wind turbines, hydroelectric dams, and coal mining belong under different energy headings, not under solar power.
- A pie chart of a household's monthly budget shows that housing makes up 40 percent, food 20 percent, transportation 15 percent, savings 15 percent, and entertainment 10 percent. According to the chart, which category accounts for the largest share of the budget?
- Housing
- Food
- Transportation
- Entertainment
Correct answer: Housing
The category accounting for the largest share is housing, at 40 percent. In a pie chart, the largest slice represents the greatest portion, and housing's 40 percent exceeds food's 20 percent, transportation's and savings' 15 percent each, and entertainment's 10 percent. No other category occupies a larger part of the circle.
- In an outline, items marked with the same level of indentation and notation (for example, two points both labeled with capital letters under the same heading) are meant to signal that those items are:
- Of roughly equal importance within that section
- Listed in order of decreasing importance
- Examples that contradict one another
- Unrelated to the surrounding material
Correct answer: Of roughly equal importance within that section
Items sharing the same indentation and notation are meant to signal that they are of roughly equal importance within that section. Parallel placement in an outline shows that points belong to the same logical level. Equal levels do not imply a ranking of importance, do not mean the items contradict each other, and do not indicate that the items are unrelated to the section.
- A line graph tracks a city's average temperature from January through June, showing a steady climb from 30 degrees in January to 75 degrees in June with no dips along the way. Which statement best describes the trend shown in the graph?
- The temperature stayed about the same throughout the period.
- The temperature rose steadily from January to June.
- The temperature fell sharply in the middle of the period.
- The temperature rose and then fell back to its starting point.
Correct answer: The temperature rose steadily from January to June.
The best description is that the temperature rose steadily from January to June. The line moves continuously upward from 30 to 75 degrees with no dips, indicating a consistent increase. The graph shows neither a flat trend, a sharp middle decline, nor a rise followed by a return to the starting value.
- Read the following passage: "A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes directly between the sun and the earth. As the moon's shadow falls across part of the earth, the sky darkens for a few minutes in the middle of the day. Although eclipses happen somewhere on the planet roughly twice a year, any single location may wait decades to witness one." Which of the following best summarizes the passage?
- A solar eclipse, caused by the moon blocking the sun, briefly darkens the sky and is rare at any one place.
- The moon passes between the sun and the earth during a solar eclipse.
- Some locations on earth must wait many decades to see an eclipse.
- The sky grows dark for a few minutes during the middle of the day.
Correct answer: A solar eclipse, caused by the moon blocking the sun, briefly darkens the sky and is rare at any one place.
The best summary explains that a solar eclipse, caused by the moon blocking the sun, briefly darkens the sky and is rare at any one place. This captures the cause, the effect, and the rarity that the passage develops together. The other options each state just one element of the passage and therefore omit the rest of its meaning.
- Which of the following statements about a good summary is accurate?
- A summary should be roughly the same length as the original passage.
- A summary should preserve the original wording sentence by sentence.
- A summary should focus on the most interesting minor detail in the passage.
- A summary should be significantly shorter than the original and capture only the main points.
Correct answer: A summary should be significantly shorter than the original and capture only the main points.
The accurate statement is that a summary should be significantly shorter than the original and capture only the main points. Condensing the text while preserving its central ideas is the defining feature of summarizing. Matching the original length, copying its wording sentence by sentence, and spotlighting a minor detail all conflict with the purpose of a summary.
- A table reports the rainfall recorded in four towns last year: Ashford 28 inches, Brookline 41 inches, Carver 35 inches, and Dunmore 22 inches. According to the table, which town recorded the least rainfall?
- Ashford
- Brookline
- Carver
- Dunmore
Correct answer: Dunmore
The town that recorded the least rainfall is Dunmore, with 22 inches. Comparing the values in the table shows 22 inches is lower than Ashford's 28, Carver's 35, and Brookline's 41. No town in the table received less rainfall than Dunmore.
- A student outlining a passage places "Causes of the Drought" and "Effects of the Drought" as two main headings. Under which heading does the detail "Reservoir water levels dropped to record lows" most logically belong?
- Under "Causes of the Drought," because reservoirs supply water
- Under "Effects of the Drought," because falling water levels resulted from the drought
- Under neither heading, because reservoirs are unrelated to drought
- Under both headings equally, because it could fit either one
Correct answer: Under "Effects of the Drought," because falling water levels resulted from the drought
The detail belongs under "Effects of the Drought," because falling water levels resulted from the drought. Dropping reservoir levels are a consequence of the dry conditions, so they fit the effects category. Placing the detail under causes reverses the relationship, calling reservoirs unrelated ignores the clear connection, and assigning it to both headings blurs the distinction the outline is meant to maintain.
- A double-bar graph compares two stores' sales in spring and fall. Store A sold 200 units in spring and 300 in fall, while Store B sold 350 in spring and 250 in fall. Based on the graph, which statement is accurate?
- Store A's sales increased from spring to fall, while Store B's decreased.
- Both stores increased their sales from spring to fall.
- Store A outsold Store B in both seasons.
- Store B's sales increased from spring to fall.
Correct answer: Store A's sales increased from spring to fall, while Store B's decreased.
The accurate statement is that Store A's sales increased from spring to fall, while Store B's decreased. Store A rose from 200 to 300 units, and Store B fell from 350 to 250 units, so the two stores moved in opposite directions. It is not true that both increased, that Store A outsold Store B in both seasons, or that Store B's sales rose.
- Read the following passage: "The volunteer firefighters trained for months before the wildfire season began. When the first blaze broke out, they worked around the clock, clearing brush and digging firebreaks. Their efforts saved dozens of homes that might otherwise have burned. Afterward, the grateful town held a ceremony to honor them." Which summary best represents the passage as a whole?
- The town held a ceremony to honor the firefighters afterward.
- Trained volunteer firefighters battled a wildfire, saved many homes, and were later honored by the town.
- The firefighters spent months training before the wildfire season started.
- The volunteers cleared brush and dug firebreaks during the blaze.
Correct answer: Trained volunteer firefighters battled a wildfire, saved many homes, and were later honored by the town.
The best summary states that trained volunteer firefighters battled a wildfire, saved many homes, and were later honored by the town. This brings together the training, the effort, the result, and the recognition that the passage presents in sequence. The other options each capture only one moment from the passage and leave out the rest of the story.
- When using the information in a graph or chart to answer a question, a careful reader should first:
- Ignore the title and labels and focus only on the colors
- Read the title, axis or category labels, and any legend to understand what the data represent
- Assume the largest value is always the correct answer
- Memorize every number before looking at the question
Correct answer: Read the title, axis or category labels, and any legend to understand what the data represent
A careful reader should first read the title, axis or category labels, and any legend to understand what the data represent. These elements explain what is being measured and how the figure is organized, which is essential before drawing conclusions. Ignoring the labels invites misreading, assuming the largest value is the answer is not always correct, and memorizing every number is unnecessary and inefficient.
- A pictograph uses one book symbol to represent 10 books donated, and a class's row shows 4 and a half book symbols. According to the pictograph, how many books did the class donate?
- 14 books
- 40 books
- 45 books
- 450 books
Correct answer: 45 books
The class donated 45 books. Because each whole symbol stands for 10 books, four symbols represent 40 and the half symbol represents 5, for a total of 45. The figure of 14 ignores the symbol's value, 40 leaves out the half symbol, and 450 misreads the scale as 100 per symbol.
- In a piece of writing, a thesis statement is best defined as:
- A single sentence that states the central claim or main point the whole piece will develop
- The opening sentence that grabs the reader's attention with a surprising fact
- A closing sentence that restates everything the writer has already said
- A list of the sources the writer consulted before writing
Correct answer: A single sentence that states the central claim or main point the whole piece will develop
A thesis statement is a single sentence that states the central claim or main point the entire piece will develop. It announces the writer's controlling idea so that every paragraph can be tied back to it. An attention-grabbing hook, a restatement in a conclusion, and a list of sources each serve other functions and do not establish the main idea.
- A topic sentence functions within a paragraph to:
- Provide a vivid example that proves the writer's point
- Signal the transition to the next paragraph
- Cite the source of the information presented
- State the main idea that the rest of the paragraph develops
Correct answer: State the main idea that the rest of the paragraph develops
A topic sentence states the main idea that the rest of the paragraph develops, giving the reader a clear sense of the paragraph's focus before the supporting details arrive. Examples, transitions, and citations all support or connect ideas, but none of them performs the controlling job that a topic sentence does.
- Transition words and phrases such as 'however,' 'in addition,' and 'as a result' are used primarily to:
- Show the logical relationship between ideas and improve coherence
- Correct spelling errors within a sentence
- Increase the formal vocabulary level of the writing
- Mark where a new paragraph must begin
Correct answer: Show the logical relationship between ideas and improve coherence
Transition words and phrases show the logical relationship between ideas and improve coherence, signaling contrast, addition, cause, sequence, and similar connections so readers can follow the writer's reasoning. They do not fix spelling, and while they may appear in formal prose, raising vocabulary level or forcing paragraph breaks is not their purpose.
- Read the following draft thesis: 'There are many interesting things about renewable energy.' Why is this a weak thesis statement?
- It is too long to fit at the end of an introduction
- It uses the word 'energy,' which is too technical for general readers
- It is vague and announces no specific, arguable claim about the topic
- It mentions the topic in the very first sentence
Correct answer: It is vague and announces no specific, arguable claim about the topic
The thesis is weak because it is vague and announces no specific, arguable claim about renewable energy. A strong thesis commits to a focused point the writer will defend, such as why a particular renewable source should be expanded. The sentence is not too long, the word 'energy' is widely understood, and stating a topic early is not itself a flaw.
- Read the following paragraph: 'They can be folded flat for storage. They roll easily across smooth floors. Their lightweight frames make them simple to lift into a car trunk. Clearly, these collapsible carts are designed above all for convenience.' Which sentence functions as the topic sentence?
- They can be folded flat for storage
- They roll easily across smooth floors
- Their lightweight frames make them simple to lift into a car trunk
- Clearly, these collapsible carts are designed above all for convenience
Correct answer: Clearly, these collapsible carts are designed above all for convenience
The sentence stating that the carts are designed above all for convenience is the topic sentence because it expresses the general idea that the other sentences support. Folding flat, rolling easily, and lifting into a trunk are specific details illustrating that convenience. Here the topic sentence appears at the end, where it pulls the supporting details together.
- Read the sentence: 'The new bridge cut the average commute by twenty minutes. _____, many drivers say their mornings are far less stressful.' Which transition best fits the blank to signal a result?
- Nevertheless
- On the other hand
- In contrast
- As a result
Correct answer: As a result
The phrase signaling that one event produced another, 'As a result,' best fits because the reduced commute caused the less stressful mornings. The other choices each signal contrast or contradiction, which does not match a cause-and-effect connection between the shorter commute and the calmer mornings.
- A writer drafting an essay wants to maintain a single main idea throughout the body paragraphs. Which strategy best supports that goal?
- Making sure every body paragraph clearly relates back to the thesis statement
- Introducing a new, unrelated argument in each paragraph to keep the reader interested
- Repeating the introduction word for word in every paragraph
- Saving the main point for the final sentence of the essay
Correct answer: Making sure every body paragraph clearly relates back to the thesis statement
Maintaining a main idea is best supported by making sure every body paragraph clearly relates back to the thesis statement, so the essay stays unified. Introducing unrelated arguments fragments the focus, repeating the introduction adds no development, and withholding the main point until the very end leaves earlier paragraphs without direction.
- Read the following paragraph: 'A balanced breakfast steadies energy through the morning. It can include protein such as eggs to keep hunger away. Whole grains add lasting fuel. A piece of fruit supplies vitamins and a little natural sweetness.' What is the role of the first sentence?
- It is a supporting detail about protein
- It is a transition into the next paragraph
- It is a concluding restatement
- It is the topic sentence that states the paragraph's main idea
Correct answer: It is the topic sentence that states the paragraph's main idea
The opening sentence about a balanced breakfast steadying morning energy is the topic sentence that states the paragraph's main idea. The mentions of protein, whole grains, and fruit are supporting details that explain how breakfast does this. The sentence neither bridges to a new paragraph nor restates an earlier point.
- Read the sentence: 'The proposal would raise costs for small businesses. _____, it would create dozens of jobs in the warehouse district.' Which transition best signals that the writer is adding a contrasting point?
- Therefore
- Likewise
- However
- For example
Correct answer: However
The word that signals a contrasting point, 'However,' best fits because raising costs and creating jobs pull in opposite directions. 'Therefore' signals a result, 'Likewise' signals similarity, and 'For example' introduces an illustration, none of which conveys the contrast between a drawback and a benefit.
- When a paragraph is well organized, the supporting sentences should be arranged so that they:
- Appear in random order to surprise the reader
- Each introduce a brand-new main idea
- Follow a logical order that develops the topic sentence
- Repeat the topic sentence in slightly different words
Correct answer: Follow a logical order that develops the topic sentence
In a well-organized paragraph the supporting sentences follow a logical order that develops the topic sentence, whether by order of importance, time, or another sensible pattern. Random order confuses readers, multiple competing main ideas break unity, and mere repetition of the topic sentence adds no real development.
- Read the following paragraph: 'Volunteers arrived at dawn to set up tables. By midmorning, neighbors were dropping off donations of food and clothing. Throughout the afternoon, families carried away boxes of supplies. By the time the sun set, the entire shelf had been emptied and refilled twice.' How is this paragraph primarily organized?
- By order of importance, from least to most significant
- By comparison and contrast of two situations
- By listing reasons to support a claim
- By chronological order, following events through the day
Correct answer: By chronological order, following events through the day
The paragraph is organized by chronological order, following events through the day from dawn to midmorning to afternoon to sunset. Time markers guide the reader step by step. It does not rank ideas by importance, set two things side by side, or list reasons for an argument.
- Read the following sentence that opens an essay's introduction: 'Although smartphones connect us instantly, schools should ban them from classrooms because they fragment attention, invite cheating, and widen the gap between focused and distracted students.' This sentence is best identified as the essay's:
- Concluding statement
- Thesis statement
- Supporting detail
- Transition sentence
Correct answer: Thesis statement
The sentence is the essay's thesis statement because it presents a single arguable claim, that schools should ban smartphones, and previews the reasons the essay will develop. A concluding statement would close the essay, a supporting detail would back up one point, and a transition would merely link ideas rather than state the controlling argument.
- Read the following paragraph and choose the sentence that does NOT belong: 'Regular sleep improves memory. People who sleep well recall information more accurately. Studies link consistent rest to stronger test performance. My cousin recently bought a new mattress on sale.' Which sentence should be removed to maintain the paragraph's main idea?
- Regular sleep improves memory
- People who sleep well recall information more accurately
- Studies link consistent rest to stronger test performance
- My cousin recently bought a new mattress on sale
Correct answer: My cousin recently bought a new mattress on sale
The sentence about the cousin buying a mattress on sale should be removed because it strays from the paragraph's main idea that sleep improves memory. The other three sentences all develop that idea directly. Removing the off-topic sentence keeps the paragraph unified around a single controlling point.
- Read the sentence: 'The team practiced every morning for months. _____, they advanced to the regional finals for the first time in school history.' Which transition best signals the time sequence the writer intends?
- Eventually
- In contrast
- For instance
- Otherwise
Correct answer: Eventually
The word marking the passage of time toward an outcome, 'Eventually,' best fits because months of practice led, over time, to reaching the finals. 'In contrast' signals opposition, 'For instance' introduces an example, and 'Otherwise' presents an alternative, none of which conveys the sequence the writer intends.
- A strong topic sentence for a paragraph differs from a thesis statement in that the topic sentence:
- Controls the main idea of an entire essay
- Controls the main idea of a single paragraph
- Always appears at the very end of the essay
- Never states an opinion of any kind
Correct answer: Controls the main idea of a single paragraph
A topic sentence controls the main idea of a single paragraph, while a thesis controls the main idea of the whole essay. The two work at different levels of scope. A topic sentence is not limited to the essay's end, and it may state an opinion just as a thesis often does.
- Read the following sentences: '(1) The garden produces more vegetables than the family can eat. (2) They give baskets of tomatoes to neighbors. (3) They donate the extra zucchini to a local food bank.' Which transition would best open sentence 2 to show it continues the same idea?
- Nonetheless
- For example
- On the contrary
- Until then
Correct answer: For example
The phrase introducing an illustration, 'For example,' best opens sentence 2 because giving tomatoes to neighbors is a specific instance of having more vegetables than the family can eat. The other options signal contrast or a time limit, which would not show that the sentence continues and illustrates the same idea.
- Read the following thesis statement: 'City parks deserve more funding because they improve public health, raise nearby property values, and strengthen community ties.' What does this thesis accomplish that a vague thesis would not?
- It avoids stating any opinion the writer must defend
- It previews the specific points the essay will develop
- It eliminates the need for body paragraphs
- It guarantees the essay will be exactly five paragraphs long
Correct answer: It previews the specific points the essay will develop
This thesis previews the specific points the essay will develop, naming health, property values, and community ties so the reader knows what is coming. A useful thesis takes an arguable position rather than avoiding opinion, and it does not remove the need for body paragraphs or fix the essay at any set length.
- Read the following paragraph: 'There are several reasons to recycle. Most importantly, recycling conserves limited natural resources. It also reduces the waste sent to landfills. Finally, it can lower a city's disposal costs.' How is this paragraph organized?
- By order of importance, beginning with the most significant reason
- By chronological order of events
- By spatial order from near to far
- By contrasting two opposing views
Correct answer: By order of importance, beginning with the most significant reason
The paragraph is organized by order of importance, beginning with the most significant reason, signaled by 'Most importantly,' and then adding further reasons with 'also' and 'Finally.' It does not trace events in time, describe a physical layout, or set two opposing views against each other.
- Which revision turns the weak topic sentence 'This paragraph is about exercise' into an effective topic sentence?
- I will now talk about exercise in this part of my essay
- Exercise is a word that has many definitions
- Daily exercise strengthens the heart and lifts a person's mood
- Read on to learn some facts about exercise
Correct answer: Daily exercise strengthens the heart and lifts a person's mood
The sentence stating that daily exercise strengthens the heart and lifts a person's mood is the effective topic sentence because it makes a clear, specific claim the paragraph can develop. The other options merely announce the topic or describe the essay's structure without expressing a controlling idea.
- Read the sentence: 'The novel received glowing reviews and sold millions of copies. _____, the author chose never to publish another book.' Which transition best signals the surprising contrast?
- Consequently
- Surprisingly
- In addition
- Meanwhile
Correct answer: Surprisingly
The word that flags an unexpected turn, 'Surprisingly,' best fits because choosing not to publish again contradicts the success just described. 'Consequently' implies a logical result, 'In addition' signals continuation, and 'Meanwhile' marks simultaneous events, none of which captures the contrast between success and the author's choice.
- A writer notices that a paragraph drifts from explaining how to plant a tree into a story about a childhood vacation. The best way to restore unity is to:
- Add more vivid details to the vacation story
- Delete or relocate the sentences that stray from the paragraph's main idea
- Move the topic sentence to the end of the paragraph
- Replace every period with a semicolon
Correct answer: Delete or relocate the sentences that stray from the paragraph's main idea
Unity is best restored by deleting or relocating the sentences that stray from the paragraph's main idea about planting a tree. Expanding the off-topic story worsens the drift, repositioning the topic sentence does not fix irrelevance, and changing punctuation has nothing to do with keeping the paragraph focused.
- Read the following essay introduction: 'Public libraries are quietly disappearing from small towns. Some see this as harmless progress in a digital age. They are wrong: libraries remain essential, providing internet access, literacy programs, and a gathering place no website can replace.' Which sentence is the thesis statement?
- Public libraries are quietly disappearing from small towns
- Some see this as harmless progress in a digital age
- They are wrong: libraries remain essential, providing internet access, literacy programs, and a gathering place no website can replace
- Public libraries are quietly disappearing from small towns and some see this as progress
Correct answer: They are wrong: libraries remain essential, providing internet access, literacy programs, and a gathering place no website can replace
The sentence declaring that libraries remain essential and listing what they provide is the thesis statement, because it states the writer's arguable position and previews the supporting points. The earlier sentences set up the topic and an opposing view, but they do not announce the controlling claim the essay will defend.
- Read the following paragraph: 'A good cover letter follows a clear plan. It opens by naming the position and the writer's interest. The middle highlights two or three relevant skills. It closes by requesting an interview and thanking the reader.' How is this paragraph organized?
- By the order in which the parts of a cover letter appear
- By comparing strong and weak letters
- By ranking the parts from least to most important
- By describing causes and their effects
Correct answer: By the order in which the parts of a cover letter appear
The paragraph is organized by the order in which the parts of a cover letter appear, moving from the opening to the middle to the closing. This sequential plan mirrors the document's structure. It does not compare two kinds of letters, rank parts by importance, or trace causes and effects.
- Read the following sentence: 'Some critics claim the policy is too costly. _____, supporters argue that the long-term savings far outweigh the initial expense.' Which transition most clearly signals the shift to an opposing viewpoint?
- Furthermore
- In conclusion
- By contrast
- As a result
Correct answer: By contrast
The phrase that signals opposition, 'By contrast,' best fits because the supporters' argument stands against the critics' claim. 'Furthermore' adds a similar point, 'In conclusion' signals a closing, and 'As a result' shows a consequence, none of which marks the shift to an opposing viewpoint.
- Read the following draft paragraph: 'Many students benefit from study groups. Working together can also be fun and social. Group members can quiz one another. Hearing peers explain a concept can clarify confusing material. A few students prefer to study alone, and that is fine too.' Which sentence weakens the paragraph's unity?
- Many students benefit from study groups
- Group members can quiz one another
- Hearing peers explain a concept can clarify confusing material
- A few students prefer to study alone, and that is fine too
Correct answer: A few students prefer to study alone, and that is fine too
The sentence noting that a few students prefer to study alone weakens unity because it shifts away from the paragraph's main idea that study groups benefit students. The remaining sentences all support the benefits of group study, so the focus stays clear once the off-topic sentence is set aside.
- Read the following sentence pair from a body paragraph: 'The first survey reached only a few hundred people. The second survey, _____, gathered responses from more than ten thousand readers.' Which transition best signals the contrast between the two surveys?
- In other words
- On the other hand
- For this reason
- At the same time
Correct answer: On the other hand
The phrase that introduces a contrast, 'on the other hand,' best fits because the second survey's large reach stands opposed to the first survey's small one. 'In other words' restates an idea, 'for this reason' shows cause, and 'at the same time' marks simultaneity, none of which highlights the difference between the two surveys.
- Which of the following is a sentence fragment rather than a complete sentence?
- The committee voted to approve the new schedule.
- She finished the report and submitted it early.
- The results surprised everyone in the office.
- Because the deadline had already passed.
Correct answer: Because the deadline had already passed.
"Because the deadline had already passed" is a fragment because it is a dependent clause that begins with the subordinating conjunction "because" and never completes its thought with an independent clause. A complete sentence needs a subject and verb that express a finished idea, which the other three choices all do.
- Read the following: "The hikers reached the summit at noon, they ate lunch overlooking the valley." This sentence is an example of which construction error?
- Sentence fragment
- Dangling modifier
- Comma splice
- Faulty parallelism
Correct answer: Comma splice
This is a comma splice because two independent clauses, "The hikers reached the summit at noon" and "they ate lunch overlooking the valley," are joined with only a comma. Each clause could stand alone as a sentence, so they must be separated by a period, joined by a semicolon, or linked with a comma plus a coordinating conjunction.
- Read the following: "The store opened at dawn the eager customers had been waiting outside for hours." Which revision best corrects the run-on sentence?
- The store opened at dawn, the eager customers had been waiting outside for hours.
- The store opened at dawn; the eager customers had been waiting outside for hours.
- The store opened at dawn the eager customers, had been waiting outside for hours.
- The store, opened at dawn the eager customers had been waiting outside for hours.
Correct answer: The store opened at dawn; the eager customers had been waiting outside for hours.
Joining the two independent clauses with a semicolon correctly fixes the run-on, because a semicolon can link two complete, closely related sentences. Inserting only a comma would create a comma splice, and the other choices simply move punctuation without separating the two clauses.
- Which sentence contains an error in subject-verb agreement?
- The list of approved vendors is posted on the bulletin board.
- Each of the students has submitted a final draft.
- The box of old photographs were stored in the attic.
- Neither the coach nor the players were satisfied with the call.
Correct answer: The box of old photographs were stored in the attic.
The error appears in the sentence about the box of photographs, where the singular subject "box" requires the singular verb "was," not "were." The plural noun "photographs" is part of a prepositional phrase and does not control the verb, so the correct version reads "The box of old photographs was stored in the attic."
- Read the following sentence: "Every employee must submit their timesheet by Friday." Which revision corrects the pronoun-antecedent agreement error while keeping a singular antecedent?
- Every employee must submit his or her timesheet by Friday.
- Every employees must submit their timesheet by Friday.
- Every employee must submit they timesheet by Friday.
- Every employee must submitting their timesheet by Friday.
Correct answer: Every employee must submit his or her timesheet by Friday.
Changing "their" to "his or her" corrects the agreement because the singular antecedent "employee" requires a singular pronoun. The plural pronoun "their" does not match the singular noun, and the remaining options introduce new errors in number or verb form rather than fixing the mismatch.
- Which sentence correctly uses parallel structure?
- The workshop taught us to budget, to negotiate, and managing risk.
- The workshop taught us budgeting, negotiating, and to manage risk.
- The workshop taught us to budget, negotiate, and manage risk.
- The workshop taught us budgeting, to negotiate, and managing risk.
Correct answer: The workshop taught us to budget, negotiate, and manage risk.
The correct sentence keeps all three items in the same grammatical form, listing the infinitive verbs "budget," "negotiate," and "manage" in parallel. The other versions mix infinitives with -ing forms, breaking the parallel pattern that items in a series must share.
- Read the following sentence: "Walking to school, the heavy rain soaked the children's backpacks." What kind of error does this sentence contain?
- Subject-verb agreement error
- Dangling modifier
- Comma splice
- Verb tense shift
Correct answer: Dangling modifier
This sentence contains a dangling modifier because the opening phrase "Walking to school" has no logical subject to modify; as written, it illogically suggests the rain was walking to school. The sentence needs a subject the phrase can describe, such as "Walking to school, the children had their backpacks soaked by the heavy rain."
- Read the following sentence: "The waiter served a steak to the customer that was cooked medium-rare." Which revision best corrects the misplaced modifier?
- The waiter served a steak that was cooked medium-rare to the customer.
- The waiter that was cooked medium-rare served a steak to the customer.
- The waiter served a steak to the customer cooked medium-rare.
- The medium-rare waiter served a steak to the customer.
Correct answer: The waiter served a steak that was cooked medium-rare to the customer.
Placing the modifier "that was cooked medium-rare" directly after "steak" corrects the sentence, because the phrase should describe the steak rather than the customer. In the original, the modifier sits next to "customer," creating the absurd suggestion that the customer was cooked medium-rare.
- Read the following sentence: "Maria walked into the bakery and orders a dozen muffins." What is the grammatical problem with this sentence?
- It contains a sentence fragment.
- It shifts inconsistently between past and present tense.
- It lacks subject-verb agreement.
- It contains a dangling modifier.
Correct answer: It shifts inconsistently between past and present tense.
The sentence shifts verb tense, moving from the past-tense "walked" to the present-tense "orders" within a single related action. To stay consistent, both verbs should share the same tense, as in "Maria walked into the bakery and ordered a dozen muffins."
- Which of the following is a complete sentence rather than a fragment?
- Running quickly down the crowded hallway toward the exit.
- Which the teacher explained during yesterday's review session.
- The volunteers cleaned the entire park before noon.
- Although the storm had finally cleared by early evening.
Correct answer: The volunteers cleaned the entire park before noon.
"The volunteers cleaned the entire park before noon" is complete because it has a subject, "volunteers," a verb, "cleaned," and expresses a finished thought. The other choices are fragments: two are dependent clauses and one is only a phrase, none of which can stand alone.
- Read the following sentence: "The new policy was popular with parents it reduced homework on weekends." Which choice correctly identifies and fixes the error?
- It is a comma splice; add a comma after "parents."
- It is a fused (run-on) sentence; separate the two clauses with a period or semicolon.
- It is a fragment; add a subject before "reduced."
- It is a dangling modifier; move "on weekends" to the front.
Correct answer: It is a fused (run-on) sentence; separate the two clauses with a period or semicolon.
The sentence is a fused, or run-on, sentence because two independent clauses are jammed together with no punctuation between "parents" and "it." The fix is to separate them with a period or semicolon, as in "The new policy was popular with parents; it reduced homework on weekends." Simply adding a comma would create a comma splice.
- Which sentence uses subject-verb agreement correctly?
- There is several reasons to delay the launch.
- The team of researchers were divided on the issue.
- A number of volunteers have already signed up.
- Mathematics are my favorite subject in school.
Correct answer: A number of volunteers have already signed up.
"A number of volunteers have already signed up" is correct because the phrase "a number of" is treated as plural and takes the plural verb "have." The other sentences misuse "is" with a plural subject, treat a singular collective noun as plural, or pair the singular subject "mathematics" with a plural verb.
- Read the following sentence: "After studying all night, the exam seemed surprisingly easy to Jordan." Why is this sentence grammatically faulty?
- The introductory phrase dangles because it does not logically modify "the exam."
- The subject and verb do not agree in number.
- The sentence is a comma splice joining two clauses.
- The verb tense shifts from past to present.
Correct answer: The introductory phrase dangles because it does not logically modify "the exam."
The opening phrase "After studying all night" is a dangling modifier because the word it appears to modify, "the exam," did not do the studying. The phrase should attach to the person who studied, as in "After studying all night, Jordan found the exam surprisingly easy."
- Which revision corrects the faulty parallelism in the sentence "She is intelligent, hardworking, and has ambition"?
- She is intelligent, a hard worker, and ambitious.
- She is intelligent, hardworking, and ambitious.
- She is intelligence, hardworking, and ambitious.
- She has intelligence, hardworking, and ambition.
Correct answer: She is intelligent, hardworking, and ambitious.
Making all three items adjectives, "intelligent, hardworking, and ambitious," restores parallel structure after the linking verb "is." In the original, the verb phrase "has ambition" breaks the pattern set by the two adjectives, so converting it to the adjective "ambitious" keeps the series consistent.
- Read the following sentence: "Neither the manager nor the assistants ___ aware of the schedule change." Which verb correctly completes the sentence?
Correct answer: Are
"Are" is correct because when subjects are joined by "neither...nor," the verb agrees with the nearer subject, which here is the plural noun "assistants." Since the closest subject is plural, the plural verb "are" is required rather than the singular options.
- Read the following sentence: "The students turned in their projects, and they presented to the class, the teacher recorded each grade." Which best describes the error?
- It is a sentence fragment lacking a main verb.
- It is a comma splice, joining independent clauses with only a comma.
- It is a misplaced modifier next to the wrong noun.
- It contains an error in pronoun agreement.
Correct answer: It is a comma splice, joining independent clauses with only a comma.
The sentence is a comma splice because the independent clause "the teacher recorded each grade" is joined to the rest of the sentence with only a comma after "class." To fix it, the comma should become a period or semicolon, or a coordinating conjunction should be added.
- Read the following sentence: "By the time the guests arrived, the host already prepares the appetizers." Which revision corrects the verb tense inconsistency?
- By the time the guests arrive, the host already prepares the appetizers.
- By the time the guests arrived, the host had already prepared the appetizers.
- By the time the guests arrived, the host already preparing the appetizers.
- By the time the guests arriving, the host already prepares the appetizers.
Correct answer: By the time the guests arrived, the host had already prepared the appetizers.
Changing "prepares" to the past perfect "had already prepared" corrects the tense, because an action completed before the past-tense "arrived" should be in the past perfect. The original mixes past tense with present tense, and the other choices fail to place both actions consistently in the past.
- Read the following sentence: "Covered in mud and exhausted, the soccer field finally cleared as the players left." Which revision best corrects the misplaced or dangling modifier?
- Covered in mud and exhausted, the players finally left the soccer field.
- The soccer field, covered in mud and exhausted, finally cleared as the players left.
- Covered in mud and exhausted finally, the soccer field cleared as the players left.
- The soccer field finally cleared, covered in mud and exhausted, as the players left.
Correct answer: Covered in mud and exhausted, the players finally left the soccer field.
Placing "the players" right after the modifier corrects the sentence, because people, not a field, can be "covered in mud and exhausted." In the original, the descriptive phrase wrongly attaches to "soccer field," so the revision must give the phrase a logical subject it can describe.
- Which sentence is correct because its pronoun agrees with its antecedent?
- Each of the girls brought their own lunch to the field trip.
- The jury announced their verdict after three hours.
- Somebody left their umbrella in the conference room.
- The company expanded its operations into three new states.
Correct answer: The company expanded its operations into three new states.
"The company expanded its operations" is correct because the singular collective noun "company" agrees with the singular pronoun "its." The other sentences pair singular antecedents such as "each," "jury," and "somebody" with the plural pronoun "their," creating agreement errors.
- Which sentence uses the correct homophone in every blank: "___ going to leave ___ coats over ___?"
- They're, their, there
- Their, there, they're
- There, they're, their
- They're, there, their
Correct answer: They're, their, there
"They're, their, there" is correct because "they're" is the contraction for "they are," "their" shows possession of the coats, and "there" indicates a place. The other choices misuse at least one of these three commonly confused homophones.
- Read the sentence: "The committee will ___ whether the new rule will ___ student behavior." Which pair of words correctly completes the sentence?
- Affect, effect
- Effect, affect
- Effect, effect
- Affect, affect
Correct answer: Affect, affect
"Affect, affect" is correct because in both blanks the word functions as a verb meaning "to influence": the committee will influence whether (verb) and the rule will influence (verb) behavior. "Effect" as a noun meaning a result does not fit either verb slot here.
- Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly?
- The store closed early; because of the snowstorm.
- She packed her bag; and then she left for the airport.
- The train was delayed; nevertheless, we arrived on time.
- We toured three cities; Boston, Albany, and Hartford.
Correct answer: The train was delayed; nevertheless, we arrived on time.
"The train was delayed; nevertheless, we arrived on time." is correct because a semicolon properly joins two independent clauses, and a conjunctive adverb such as "nevertheless" is correctly preceded by the semicolon and followed by a comma. The other options place a semicolon before a dependent clause, before a coordinating conjunction, or before a list.
- Which sentence applies the rule for capitalizing proper nouns and directions correctly?
- We visited the pacific ocean during our trip to the West.
- We visited the Pacific ocean during our trip to the West
- We visited the Pacific Ocean during our trip to the west.
- We visited the Pacific Ocean during our trip to the West.
Correct answer: We visited the Pacific Ocean during our trip to the West.
"We visited the Pacific Ocean during our trip to the West." is correct because "Pacific Ocean" is a proper noun and must be capitalized, and "the West" here refers to a specific recognized geographic region (not a compass direction), so it is also capitalized. Both Chicago Manual of Style and AP Style capitalize "the West" when it denotes a geographic region rather than a direction of travel. The other options either fail to capitalize the proper noun or incorrectly lowercase a regional proper noun.
- Which sentence uses commas correctly to set off a nonrestrictive clause?
- My oldest brother who lives in Denver, is visiting next week.
- My oldest brother, who lives in Denver, is visiting next week.
- My oldest brother, who lives in Denver is visiting next week.
- My oldest brother who lives in Denver is visiting next week.
Correct answer: My oldest brother, who lives in Denver, is visiting next week.
"My oldest brother, who lives in Denver, is visiting next week." is correct because the clause "who lives in Denver" adds nonessential information and must be enclosed by a pair of commas. The other options omit one or both commas, leaving the nonrestrictive clause improperly punctuated.
- Which of the following words is spelled correctly?
- Accomodate
- Acommodate
- Acomodate
- Accommodate
Correct answer: Accommodate
"Accommodate" is the correct spelling because it contains a double "c" and a double "m." The other spellings drop one of those doubled consonants, which is the most common error with this word.
- Read the sentence: "The dog wagged ___ tail because ___ been waiting for its owner all day." Which choice correctly fills both blanks?
- It's, its
- Its, it's
- Its, its
- It's, it's
Correct answer: Its, it's
"Its, it's" is correct because the first blank needs the possessive "its" to show the tail belongs to the dog, while the second blank needs the contraction "it's" standing for "it has" been waiting. Reversing or repeating either form confuses the possessive with the contraction.
- Which sentence correctly uses an apostrophe to show plural possession?
- The childrens' toys were scattered across the room.
- The children's toys were scattered across the room.
- The childrens toys were scattered across the room.
- The childrens's toys were scattered across the room.
Correct answer: The children's toys were scattered across the room.
"The children's toys were scattered across the room." is correct because "children" is already an irregular plural, so possession is formed by adding apostrophe-s. The other options add an apostrophe after an incorrect plural form or omit the apostrophe entirely.
- Which sentence uses a colon correctly?
- The recipe requires: flour, sugar, and butter.
- She needed three supplies: a notebook, a pen, and a ruler.
- My favorite subjects are: math and science.
- He wanted to: travel, read, and relax.
Correct answer: She needed three supplies: a notebook, a pen, and a ruler.
"She needed three supplies: a notebook, a pen, and a ruler." is correct because a colon should follow a complete independent clause before introducing a list. The other options place the colon directly after a verb or preposition, which incorrectly interrupts the grammatical flow.
- Which sentence correctly applies capitalization rules for seasons, titles, and proper adjectives?
- Last Spring, professor Lin taught a course on american history.
- Last spring, professor lin taught a course on American History.
- Last Spring, Professor Lin taught a course on American history.
- Last spring, Professor Lin taught a course on American history.
Correct answer: Last spring, Professor Lin taught a course on American history.
"Last spring, Professor Lin taught a course on American history." is correct because seasons such as "spring" are lowercase, a title used directly before a name ("Professor Lin") is capitalized, and "American" is a proper adjective while the general subject "history" stays lowercase. The other options misapply at least one of these capitalization rules.
- Read the sentence: "The weather was perfect ___ we decided to hike the longer trail." Which punctuation correctly joins these two independent clauses?
- Perfect, we
- Perfect; we
- Perfect we
- Perfect: we
Correct answer: Perfect; we
"Perfect; we" is correct because two closely related independent clauses with no coordinating conjunction should be joined by a semicolon. Using only a comma would create a comma splice, no punctuation would create a run-on, and a colon is not appropriate for joining two equal independent clauses here.
- Which sentence places commas correctly in a series?
- She bought apples, oranges and, bananas at the market.
- She bought apples oranges, and bananas at the market.
- She bought apples, oranges, and bananas at the market.
- She bought, apples, oranges, and bananas at the market.
Correct answer: She bought apples, oranges, and bananas at the market.
"She bought apples, oranges, and bananas at the market." is correct because items in a series are separated by commas, including before the conjunction in the standard serial-comma form. The other options misplace a comma or omit a needed one within the list.
- Which spelling of the following word is correct?
- Definately
- Definitly
- Defenitely
- Definitely
Correct answer: Definitely
"Definitely" is the correct spelling because it is built from the root "finite" and keeps the "i" after the "n." The misspellings substitute an "a" or drop a letter, which are the most frequent errors with this word.
- Read the sentence: "After the long meeting, the manager thanked everyone for ___ patience and said ___ free to leave." Which choice correctly completes both blanks?
- Your, you're
- You're, your
- Your, your
- You're, you're
Correct answer: Your, you're
"Your, you're" is correct because the first blank needs the possessive "your" to describe whose patience, and the second blank needs the contraction "you're" meaning "you are" free to leave. Reversing or repeating either form misuses these homophones.
- A student writes: "Its been a long time since we visited there favorite museum, the children's wing was'nt open." Which choice correctly identifies the punctuation and spelling problems in this sentence?
- "Its" should be "It's," "there" should be "their," and "was'nt" should be "wasn't."
- "Its" is correct, but "there" should be "they're" and "children's" should be "childrens'."
- Only "was'nt" is wrong; it should be "wasnt."
- "Its" should be "Its'," and "there" is correct as written.
Correct answer: "Its" should be "It's," "there" should be "their," and "was'nt" should be "wasn't."
The correct analysis is that "Its" should be "It's" (the contraction for "it has"), "there" should be the possessive homophone "their," and "was'nt" should be "wasn't" with the apostrophe replacing the missing "o." The other options keep at least one error uncorrected or introduce a new error such as removing a needed apostrophe.
- Which sentence correctly uses quotation marks and end punctuation together?
- The teacher asked, "Have you finished the assignment?"
- The teacher asked, "Have you finished the assignment"?
- The teacher asked "Have you finished the assignment?"
- The teacher asked, "have you finished the assignment."
Correct answer: The teacher asked, "Have you finished the assignment?"
"The teacher asked, 'Have you finished the assignment?'" is correct because a comma introduces the direct quotation, the quoted sentence begins with a capital letter, and the question mark belonging to the quoted question is placed inside the closing quotation marks per American English convention. The other options misplace the question mark outside the closing quotation marks, omit the introductory comma, or fail to capitalize the first word of the quotation.
- Read the sentence: "We invited two guests: Senator Ruiz, who chairs the committee; Dr. Adams, the lead researcher; and Mr. Cole, the volunteer coordinator." Why are semicolons used instead of commas to separate the listed people?
- Because the list contains exactly three items
- Because each item in the list already contains internal commas
- Because semicolons always replace commas after a colon
- Because the names include professional titles
Correct answer: Because each item in the list already contains internal commas
The semicolons are used because each item in the list already contains internal commas (such as "Senator Ruiz, who chairs the committee"), and semicolons keep the major list items clearly separated. The number of items, the presence of titles, and the preceding colon do not by themselves require semicolons.
- Which sentence shows the correct capitalization of a family relationship word and a holiday?
- My Aunt said that we should celebrate thanksgiving at her house.
- My aunt said that we should celebrate thanksgiving at her House.
- My Aunt said that we should celebrate Thanksgiving at her house.
- My aunt said that we should celebrate Thanksgiving at her house.
Correct answer: My aunt said that we should celebrate Thanksgiving at her house.
"My aunt said that we should celebrate Thanksgiving at her house." is correct because "aunt" is a common noun here (not used as a name or directly before one) and stays lowercase, while "Thanksgiving" is a specific holiday and must be capitalized. The other options wrongly capitalize "aunt" or "house" or fail to capitalize the holiday.
- Read the sentence: "Although the report was thorough, but the conclusion seemed rushed, and unsupported." Which revision corrects the punctuation and conjunction errors?
- Although the report was thorough, the conclusion seemed rushed and unsupported.
- Although the report was thorough but the conclusion seemed rushed, and unsupported.
- Although the report was thorough; the conclusion seemed rushed and unsupported.
- Although the report was thorough, the conclusion seemed rushed, and unsupported.
Correct answer: Although the report was thorough, the conclusion seemed rushed and unsupported.
"Although the report was thorough, the conclusion seemed rushed and unsupported." removes the redundant "but" (already implied by "although") and correctly omits the comma before "and" when only two adjectives are joined. The other options retain the redundant conjunction, drop the needed comma after the introductory clause, or insert an unnecessary comma before "and."
