Text Deletion

There have been many people who have made significant contrigbutions to the field of aviation. These pioneers helped give birth to modern aviation; out of this group, one stands out above all the others. Charles Lindbergh, at the age of twenty-five, piloted the first nonstop flight from New York to Paris in over thirty-three hours [1].

The writer is thinking of revising the preceding sentences to read:

Charles Lindbergh piloted the first nonstop flight from New York to Parks.

If this revision was made, the sentence would primarily lose:

• unnecessary details that disrupt the flow of the narrative.

• specific details that enrich the narrative.

• additional detials that make the paragraph confusing.

• repetitive information that is given earlier in the narrative.

Stuart considered himself a man of mystery and was greatly amused by his own talent as a performer. He looked at his whole life as an act carried out for the benefit of the world around him. He regularly assumed the names of legendary illusionists, registering at hotels as Harry Houdidn or Mandrake the Magician.

The writer is considering deleting the phrase "registering at hotels as Harry Houdini or Mandrake the Magician" (adjusting the punctuation as needed). If the writer were to make this deletion, the sentence would primarily lose:

• an explanation of why Stuart chose to assume these particular names.

• an indication of the many different places where Stuart used these names.

• details about the way hotel guests react to Stuart's use of pseudonyms.

• examples of illusionists who Stuart considered woth of emulation.

Someone tapped me on the shoulder as I waited in line for ski equipment in Vail, Colorado. "You're going to need warmer clothing that what you have on," said a woman I had never met. She got the attention of an assistant. "He needs an insulated jacket and snow pants if he's going to hit the slopes," she told him. "His luggage tag says 'Hawaii.'"

If the writer deletes the phrase "in Vail, Colorado" from the first sentence and also deletes the final sentence of this paragraph, the essay would lose details that are:

• illogical because of the great geographical distance between the two locales.

• vivid but unnecessry to understanding the interaction described in the paragraph.

• helpful to understanding the stranger's behavior, which would otherwise be unclear.

• amusing and thought-provoking, since they indicate the narrator's probable preference for light clothing.

My grandparent's estate has been in our family for generations. When we arrive, the sun was beginning to set, adding an ephemeral quality tot he landsape. At the entrance to the home, the last of the daylight bounced off the smooth surface of the front door's dark brown, mahogany frame.

If the writer were to delete the words smooth, dark brown, and mahogany from the preceding sentence, the paragraph would lose descriptive details that primarily:

• reveal the narrator's emotions upon approaching the estate.

• support the narrator's case for keeping family heirlooms intact.

• help depict what the narrator saw when arriving at the estate.

• describe the craftsmanship required to build such a home.

Francis couldn't wait for P.E. because he got to play dodgeball. His strategy was to stay on the fringe for the first half of the game, appearing to be unfocused while quietly observing the players' movements. [5] In the second half of the game, Francis would catch his opponents off guard and lead his team to victory.

If the writer were to delete the preceding sentence, the paragraph would primarily lose a statement that:

• describes a specific instance in which Francis outwitted his opponents.

• adds an amusing tone to an otherwise formal paragraph.

• sets up the reader for the contrast described in the next sentence.

• helps explain a point about Francis's technique that is made earlier in the paragraph.

There is some upsetting news about deer in our area: their habitats are being destroyed for other uses. For example, fields on which deer graze are being cleared for the construction of shopping centers and condominiums. [6] As a result, the deer population is diminishing every year.

The writer is considering deleting the preceding sentence from the paragraph. If the writer makes this deletion, the paragraph would primarily lose:

• an example of ways residents can help stop the destruction of deer habitats.

• information that strays from the main idea about the endangered deer population.

• an example that supports the claim that deer habitats are destroyed.

• scientific evidence that proves the deer population is being diminished.