Which sentence expresses the main idea most precisely and clearly?

The architect was hired by the school to create a plan for a new gymnasium for our school.

• The architect designed the plans for our school's new gymnasium.

• The guy who designs buildings made a sketch of our new gym at school.

• The architect was hired by the school to create a plan for a new gymnasium for our school.

• The architect that was secured to design the gym has finished his preliminary plans for a school gym to be constructed on our campus.

Which of the following sentences could be easily combined?

Hint: They could easily be joined with a conjunction!

(1) George Washington Carver was born in Missouri in about 1864.

(2) As a boy he was known for his ability to care for plants.

(3) He majored in art and music in college, but changed his major to agriculture at the urging of one of his teachers.

(4) Carver excelled in school and became well-known for his work with plants.

(5) Later, he taught students how to care for plants.

(6) He also taught them how to use science in farming.

(7) Carver received countless awards during his lifetime and is still considered one of most important agriculturalists in American history.

• sentences 5 and 6

• B)

  sentences 2 and 3

• C)

  sentences 3 and 4

• D)

  sentences 6 and 7

This question is also about sentence combining.

If your teacher suggested that you combine sentences 4 and 5, which of the answer choices would best stick to the original meaning of the sentences?

(1) I truly admire my older sister Janelle. (2) She was very sick as a child. (3) Janelle often had to go to the doctor.

(4) The doctors finally realized that Janelle has a disease called diabetes.

(5) This disease affects the body’s blood sugar.

(6) While this disease does limit Janelle from taking part in some activities, she doesn’t let it stop her from enjoying her life.

• Finally, the doctors, who realized that Janelle has a disease that affects the body’s blood sugar, said it was diabetes.

• The doctors finally realized that Janelle has a disease called diabetes.

• The doctors finally realized that Janelle has diabetes, a disease that affects the body’s blood sugar.

• Janelle has a disease called diabetes, that affects the body’s blood sugar, the doctors finally realized.

Paragraph 2:

Closing the pool would hurt the community in a number of ways. Young people swim at the pool every day in the summer, which gives them great exercise. Furthermore, these kids are using their time constructively, rather than getting into trouble. Keeping children productive helps the community because it keeps young people off the streets and out of trouble.

Julia wrote this persuasive letter (see above) to her town's mayor to keep the community swimming pool open, despite the need for budget cuts.

Which of these supporting details BEST fits into paragraph 2?

• The community can save money by ending programs that people dislike.

• Keeping the swimming pool open should be a high priority to this town.

• The kids in our town do not have enough safe places where they can spend time.

• The pool is also beneficial because it offers classes that teach kids how to swim.

At Pick Elementary, teachers tell us that there will be no field trips this year due to budget cuts. I think that not allowing field trips this year is a big mistake for our school. Field trips are valuable experiences for many reasons. First of all, field trips educate students far more than time in a classroom because they give us experience with the real world. Second of all, field trips help renew students' energy and enthusiasm about learning. Last year we went on a field trip to DeSoto Caverns. Students return to the classroom with a new spirit. Third of all, field trips are just fun. When did it become required that school never be fun at all. I hope that our principal will look more closely at field trips and see their value before canceling all of them.

Which sentence should be deleted from the paragraph to give it a stronger focus?

Mrs. Lewis's Hint: Which sentence is the most random or not connected to the argument?

• Last year we went on a field trip to DeSoto Caverns.

• Field trips are valuable experiences for many reasons.

• I think that not allowing field trips this year is a big mistake for our school.

• Second of all, field trips help allow students energy and enthusiasm for learning.

These sentences need to be arranged into one, effective sentence. Which option best accomplishes this task without changing the writer's original meaning?

People can find fashionable clothes at consignment shops. These stores sell lightly used clothes. The cost is one half to one third of the cost of new clothes. You can find designer labels.

• Consignment shops sell items at discount prices.

• Be careful when you shop in consignment shops because some of the clothes might be worn out and dirty.

• Everyone should go to a consignment shop.

• You can find really cool clothes at cheap prices.

• Consignment shops are great places to find fashionable designer clothes at one half to one third of the new prices.

All kids should learn math. Most people use some math every day. People often use math when they go to the store. Math helps them know how much they spend. People also use math when they travel far away in a car. It lets them know how long their trip will take. Even cooks use math to measure foods for meals.

Which sentence BEST supports the main argument?

• Some people think math is hard.

• Many people use math at their jobs.

• Most math problems are very simple.

• Some math takes a long time to learn.

What is the BEST way to revise this sentence so that it conveys clear, concise ideas and does not change the meaning?

Mona told me that I had won an award for my poem that to pick it up on Saturday.

• Mona told me that I had won a very prestigious award for my poem.

• My award will be ready to be picked up on Saturday. Mona told me this.

• I won an award for my poem. Mona said I should pick it up on Saturday.

• Mona told me that I had won an award for my poem and that I should pick it up on Saturday

A season is a subdivision of the year, marked by changes in weather, ecology, and hours of daylight. Seasons result from the yearly revolution of the Earth around the Sun and the tilt of the Earth's axis relative to the plane of revolution. In temperate and polar regions, the seasons are marked by changes in the intensity of sunlight that reaches the Earth's surface. These variations may cause animals to go into hibernation or to migrate, and plants to be dormant. It is scientifically fascinating how bears and other animals instinctively know when to hibernate. During May, June and July, the northern hemisphere is exposed to more direct sunlight because the hemisphere faces the sun. The same is true of the southern hemisphere in November, December and January. It is the tilt of the Earth that causes the Sun to be higher in the sky during the summer months which increases the solar flux.

(Adapted from Wikipedia)

Which sentence is unnecessary and could be eliminated without disturbing the flow and information of the paragraph?

• These variations may cause animals to go into hibernation or to migrate, and plants to be dormant.

• It is scientifically fascinating how bears and other animals instinctively know when to hibernate.

• It is the tilt of the Earth that causes the Sun to be higher in the sky during the summer months which increases the solar flux.

• Seasons result from the yearly revolution of the Earth around the Sun and the tilt of the Earth's axis relative to the plane of revolution.

Everyone needs to read for school or work, but reading is also a great and fun way to spend free time. A good book can take the reader to another time and place. Readers often feel like they are on exciting adventures with the characters in a story. Reading also lets people use their imaginations to picture the world of the story in their minds. Even when the story is over, readers can enjoy talking about the book with friends.

How does the author support the argument?

• by giving examples of how reading can be fun.

• by explaining the many reasons why people refuse to read

• by giving examples of the things people who don't read enjoy

• by explaining what sort of characters are found in books