Development of Ideas Practice

Read the passage below and answer the question that follows:

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I always try to do what I have promised to do. If I say I will arive at 5:15, I try to be there at 5:15. I don't lie or deliberately withold information. I don't try to trick or confuse others. My friends trust me with their secrets, and I don't tell them to anyone else. I understand that you are looking for a trustworthy employee.

Question: Select the concluding sentence that most completely summarizes the argument in the passage.

• If you are looking for an employee who doesn't lie, then you should hire me.

• If you are looking for an employee who needs to be at work at 5:15, the you should hire me.

• If you are looking for a trustworthy person, you should hire me.

• I believe I would make a very good employee and would love to be considered for a position at your company.

Answer explanation

The best choice summarizes the entre passage and is not too specific and focussing on only a single part of the passage.

Read the passage below and answer the question that follows:

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If I am chosen to be class president, I will represent you on the Student Council. I will listen to your requests and be sure that they are heard. I will show up for meetings. I will try to make our school a better place.

Question: Select the concluding sentence that most completely summarizes the argument in the passage.

• If you vote for me, I will be a good class president.

• I am a good leader.

• I will work towards scrapping exams.

• The food in the cafeteria is awful

Answer explanation

The only answer that is a concluding sentences the answer choice mentioning the class president, which is the main point of the article. The other choices are specific details and do not sum up the passage.

Read the passage below and answer the question that follows:

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Cats do not require as much attention as dogs. Dogs love you, and they want you to love them back. Cats are independent creatures. They don't need to be petted all the time. If you go on vacation for a few days, your dog may get lonely and refuse to eat, but your cat won't care.

Question: Select the concluding sentence that most completely summarizes the argument in the passage.

• If you really want a pet, it would be a good idea to get a cat and a dog.

• If you don't have a lot of time to care for a pet, a dog is a better choice for you than a cat.

• Vacations are a good idea if you have a cat as a pet.

• If you don't have a lot of time to care for a pet, a cat is a better choice for you than a dog.

Choose the best possible supporting detail to most accurately complete the statement.

1. The beach is a perfect place to take a vacation.

2. I love to laze around on the sands.

3. _______________________

4. That is why I love to take a vacation at the beach.

• I love the smell of sea water.

• I hate the smell of sea water.

• Starfish are so cool.

• I like to see aircraft fly.

Answer explanation

Loving the smell of sea water supports loving the beach a fas a vacation trip. Although there are starfish in the ocean and sometimes aircraft fly by, neither of those details support the main idea of the paragraph The author would not like vacationing at the beach if he/she hated the smell of sea water.

Choose the best possible supporting detail to most accurately complete the statements.

1. Christmas is everybody's favorite holiday.

2. One gets to do a lot of shopping.

3. _______________________

4. That is why everybody loves Christmas.

• Christmas break is boring because you don't get to see your school friends every day.

• The school gives a lot of homework to do over the holidays.

• Decoritating the Christmas tree is a lot of work.

• There's a spirit of giving.

Answer explanation

All of the statements about Christmas are positive, so the correct answer will include a detail that is positive too.

Read the passage below and answer the question that follows:

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One evening, long after most people had gone to bed, a friend and I were making our way merrily back home through the silent and almost deserted streets. We had been to a musical show and were talking about the actor we had seen and heard in it.

"That show made him a star overnight," said my friend about one of the actors. "He was completely unkown before, and now thousands of teenagers send him chocolates and love letter through the mail."

"I thought he was quite good," I said, "but not worth thousands of love letters daily. As a matter of fact, one of his songs gave me pain."

"What was that?" my friend asked. "Sing to me." I burst into a parody of the song.

"Be quiet for heaven's sake!" My friend gave me an astonished look. "You'll give everybody a fright and wake people up for miles around."

"Never mind," I said, intoxicated with the sound of my own voice. "I don't care. How does it matter?"

And I went on singing the latest tunes at the top of my voice.

Presently there came behind up the sound of heavy footsteps, and before I could say "Jack Robinson," a policeman was standing in front of me, his notebook open, and a determined look on his face.

"Excuse me, sir," he said. "You have a remarkable voice if I may say so. Who taught you to sing! I'd very much like to find someone who can give my daughter singing lessons. Would you be kind enough ot tell me your name and address? Then my wife or I can drop you a line and discuss the matter."

Question: Choose the best title for the above passage.

• The Singer

• A Pleasant Surprise

• The Musical Show

• The Policeman

Answer explanation

While allthe titles make sense, the best title would be "A Pleasant Surprise." The charactre in the story was very pleasantly surprised that he was not in trouble with the policeman.

Read the passage below and answer the question that follows:

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The sky was dark and overcast. It had been raining all night long, and there was no sign of it stopping. I thought that my Sunday would be ruined. As it poured outside, I settled down by the window to watch the rain. The park opposite my house looked even more green and fresh than usual. The branches of the tall trees swayed so hard in the strong wind that I thought they would break. A few children were splashing about in the mud puddles and having a wonderful time. I wished I could join them too! There were very few people out on the road and those who were, hurried on their way, wrapped in raincoats and carrying umbrellas.

My mother announced that lunch was ready. It was piping hot and very welcoming in the damp weather. We spent the afternoon listening to music and to the downpour outside.

In the evening, we chatter and made paper boats that we meant to sail in the stream of water outside. It was not a bad day, after all!

Question: What detail in the above passage tells us that it was a cloudy day? Mention in the box below.

Evaluate responses using AI:

OFF

Answer explanation

The detail from the passage that indicates that it was a cloudy day is, "The sky was dark and overcast."

The girls went to the park to play on the swing as they did each day. Their mothers always told them never to talk to strangers and always stick together. No one should walk home alone.

Question: What messages did the girls get from their mothers?

Select all that apply.

• Stick together

• Stay away from strangers.

• Be friendly to anyone you meet.

• Enjoy the park and the people.

Read the passage below and answer the question that follows:

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Suzanned and her brother always helped out at the shelter. They gave out food to people who would otherwise be hungry. They also gave out blankets, clothes, and jackets. Suzanne and her brother did this twice a month. When they gave these people food, blankets, clothes, and jackets, their faces lit up and they couldn't say thank you enough times.

Question: Which statement indicates the primary message?

• It is always nice and rewarding to help others.

• Giving others blankets, clothes, and food can change their lives.

• Giving people food will allow them to not go hungry.

• Helping others always involves giving blankets.

Answer explanation

The primary message of the passage is that it is rewarding to help others. Although giving people food helps them not to go hungry,it is only one detail of the passage. There is no evidence to show recieving items changes people's lives, and helping others does not always mean giving blankets.

Read the passage below and answer the question that follows:

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Allison went to swim practice and worked very hard to try and perfect her flip turn. A flip turn is a turn where you flip underwater and turn to go back in the direction that you came from. Allison practiced 1 hour before school and 3 hours after school each day. On the weekends she practiced 5 hours a day! Allison thought she would never get the flip turn down right, but she practiced and practiced. Finally, after two weeks straight of practicing, she nailed it.

Question: Which statement indicates the primary message?

• If you practice less than two weeks, you won't accomplish your goal.

• Only practice on the weekends.

• Keep trying and don't give up.

• Keep trying, but give up if you get too tired.

Answer explanation

Allison worked very hard and did not give up, and she eventually accomplishd her goal.