English 10 MCAP Test Prep Boxes 13 - 18

English 10

MCAP Test Prep

Boxes 13 - 18

By Cynthia Phillips

​Box 13

​Foundational U.S. Documents

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This is a very short activity highlighting speeches from former presidents. The questions will deal with such topics as ​how repetition helps the speaker develop the message....

​Box 14

​Chronology and Sequencing -- putting things in order

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Writing a resume can be a daunting task if you’ve never done it before, but it need not be. The first thing to do is to decide what job you’ll be using this resume to apply for, so it will be tailored for that job’s requirements. You’ll then want to write a clear objective of what your goal in this job will be. But before you do that, you might want to make a list of keywords for your resume, such as “management,” “graphics,” and “programming.” When you’ve done this, it will be time to start the truly daunting part of writing your resume, the summary of qualifications. Good luck! 

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The chronological structure of this text:​

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argues in simple terms why it is important to write your own resume. 

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gives clear and vivid details of what a good resume should look like. 

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explains each step of the task very exactly and precisely. 

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provides a set of instructions for resume writing in the order they should be done. ​

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​Another chronology question. . .

​All insects go through a cycle called metamorphosis. In this cycle, the female lays eggs, which hatch into young insects. About 12 percent of insects, including cicadas, grasshoppers, and cockroaches, experience what is known as gradual metamorphosis. These insects are born with the appearance of small adults, though they usually do not have wings. As they eat, grow, and change, these young insects molt, or shed, their exoskeletons, or outer shells. They continue to do this until they have reached the size of adult insects and have grown wings.

Which of the following events happens last, ​according to the chronological order of the paragraph?

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Insects eat in order to fuel their growth.  

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Insects go through a process known as metamorphosis.  

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Young insects grow wings. 

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Insects have the appearance of small adults. 

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​ “Come on now! We don’t have all day!” Alberto taunted Jillian and me sarcastically. He was darting up the steep incline, whereas we were lagging behind. I was nearly out of breath by the time I reached the top of that hill, only to see that we were a good distance from arriving at the peak’s summit.     I wasn’t always such a poor hiker. Only the summer before, I could have not only scaled a peak like this, but could have rode a bike all the way to the top as well! The previous June, I celebrated my birthday with a hike on Crowder’s Mountain. Back then, when I stood at the top, I could feel my blood pulsing through my veins, but I didn’t feel the slightest bit tired.     That wasn’t the story when we finally reached the top of Mount Cherokee, though. “Does anyone have any more water?” I asked as I emptied mine. Jillian gave me one of her extra bottles, which I gulped ravenously. Sweat ran down my forehead into my eyes as I surveyed the hills and trees below. In a few minutes I’d have to make the trip down as well! The difficult semester at school, which gave me no time for exercise, had taken its toll indeed.  

​The author begins the story in the middle in order to:

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create a sense of suspense and tension. 

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give the reader an account of the hiker’s past. 

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immediately introduce action in the story. 

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make the ending a greater surprise for the reader. 

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​Box 15

​Cause and Effect

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Flashback and Framing​

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​Cause and Effect Question. . .

​Julia used to beat Maria at soccer. But that was a long time ago. Now Maria is faster, taller, stronger. Hours and hours in the backyard. Days and days behind the school. Now it is Julia who follows in Maria's footsteps. Maria is the new captain, the star. She has never been happier. 

Which statement best explains ​how a cause- and- effect relationship

affects the characters of the story?​

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A love of soccer causes Maria to excel, showing that she is a passionate person. 

The characters' rivalry causes Maria to practice hard, showing that she is a competitive person. 

The characters' friendship causes Julia to follow Maria, showing that she is an unoriginal person. 

Raw talent causes Julia to take her skills for granted, showing that she is a lazy person. ​

​Box 16

Sentence Structure

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Parallelism and Verb Tense​

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Which sentence is best structured to ​emphasize the importance of one idea over another?

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Some people think that NASA should focus on exploring the universe, but others believe that building a colony on the moon is the most important goal, even though it will be difficult. 

Since NASA was founded, it has sent more than 250 astronauts into space. 

The mission of NASA is to explore outer space. 

NASA is known for sending humans to the moon, but the famous space program has also sent an unmanned spaceship to Mars. ​

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Which of these is an inappropriate shift in verb tense?​

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Our school will begin taking orders for sweatshirts next week. Any interested students will have to complete an order form and attach a check. You have chosen navy or gray, with the school logo in gold. They'll be available in sizes XS to XXL.​

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Which of these is an incorrect use of parallel structure?​

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David can whip up a dinner competently, creatively, and it tastes delicious. 

It's fun to watch an experienced chef chopping, stirring, and cooking a great meal. 

Once you've cooked the meat, you can eat it, freeze it, or keep it in the refrigerator for up to three days. 

My family enjoys going out to restaurants, barbecuing in the yard, and cooking in the kitchen. 

I like to play soccer.

I do not enjoy running.

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Which is the best way to combine these sentences?​

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​I like to play soccer, and I do not enjoy running. 

I like to play soccer and, I do not enjoy running. 

Even though I do not enjoy running, I like to play soccer. 

Since I do not enjoy running, I like to play soccer. 

Only the president has the power to​ grant a federal pardon or giving a reprieve to someone convicted of a crime.

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​Which revision corrects an error in the sentence?

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change "convicted" to "convict" 

change "giving" to "to give" 

change "has" to "having" 

Leave as is. ​

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​Which sentence uses parallel structure correctly?

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When the men arrived on the island, they noticed the extreme heat, the cool breeze, and they were impressed with the palm trees. 

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The box of tissue was flattened, and it is empty. 

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The sea is full of a variety of sea creatures, fish, and you can also find buried treasure. 

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The sailors were surprised when they saw the whale, when it used its spout, and when it waved its tail. 

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Motorboating and to climb ropes are​ sports that were once included in the Olympics, but that have been discontinued.

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Which revision uses parallel structure?​

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change "are" to "have been" 

Leave as is. 

change "have been discontinued" to "are being discontinued" 

change "to climb ropes" to "rope climbing" 

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​Box 17

​Clauses -- a group of words that has a subject and a predicate. May or

may not stand as a sentence.

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Restrictive and Non Restrictive Clauses​

Restrictive clauses are necessary... normally begin with ​that, who,

whom or whose.

Children who eat vegetables are likely to be healthy.​

Non restrictive clauses are not really necessary... the sentence

will work without the information.​

Kaylee, who just graduated from high school, is an .

accomplished figure skater. ​

His grandfather's cabin had no internet or cable. It was 70 miles from town. ​

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Which of the following words ​would best join the two sentences in order to show how they are related?

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if 

so 

even though 

because 

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Lavender has a distinctively sweet fragrance​ and it is a common ingredient in soaps and perfumes.

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Which is the best revision ​of the sentence​

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It has a distinctively sweet fragrance, and lavender is a common ingredient in soaps and perfumes. 

Lavender that has a distinctively sweet fragrance is a common ingredient in soaps and perfumes. 

Lavender, which has a distinctively sweet fragrance, is a common ingredient in soaps and perfumes. 

A distinctively sweet fragrance of lavender is also a common ingredient in soaps and perfumes. 

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Which version of the sentence is correctly punctuated?​

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Kayaks, which, were first used as hunting boats in the Arctic Ocean differ from canoes in many ways. 

Kayaks which, were first used as hunting boats in the Arctic Ocean differ from canoes in many ways. 

Kayaks which were first used as hunting boats in the Arctic Ocean, differ from canoes in many ways. 

Kayaks, which were first used as hunting boats in the Arctic Ocean, differ from canoes in many ways. 

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​Box 18

Prepositional and Infinitive Phrases-- prepositional phrase-- over the moon, with my cousin, to the store, in my room, after the Prom, about that raise.

infinitive phrase-- ​An infinitive is a verb form that begins with the preposition to. When you add more words to it, it becomes an infinitive phrase.

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Gerund and Participial Phrases-- Gerunds are -ing verbs that act as a noun. Add more words to it to make a gerund phrase. walking in the rain, losing twice in a row.

Participial phrase --​A participle is a verb form that can act as an adjective that describes something. Participles can be words ending in –ing or any past tense form of a verb. Add more words to it to make a phrase.

Howling with pain.......​exhausted from the workout

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​Appositive and Absolute phrases-- appositive - An appositive is a noun that clarifies another noun that comes before it.

The intruder, Kimmy, tried on my sister's makeup.​

When you use more than one word to modify an earlier noun, you're using an appositive phrase.​

His favorite activity, running slowly in place, would bore most people immediately.

Absolute phrase- An absolute phrase is a phrase that does not directly modify any single part of the sentence but adds information to the sentence as a whole.​

The long work day completed, the factory workers shut down their equipment.​

Mia held up her record-setting pumpkin, her smile growing with pride.​

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