Layla wants to replace the phrase think of in sentence 2. Which word would be MOST effective to use in this sentence? (TEK 9C)

• Scrutinize

• Divulge

• Contemplate

• Observe

Answer explanation

Option C is correct “Contemplate” can mean “think about” or “consider,” making this word an effective, more sophisticated replacement for “think of” in sentence 2.

Option A is incorrect “Scrutinize” means “to examine,” and Julian is not examining ideas for his English essay, because there is no indication that he has thought of any yet.

Option B is incorrect The word “divulge” is not an effective replacement for “think of” because “divulge” means “to share” or “to make something known,” and at this point in the story, there is no indication that Julian is with anyone else.

Option D is incorrect Because “observe” means “to look at” or “to see,” and it is unclear whether Julian is looking at any topic for his English essay, this word is an ineffective replacement for “think of.”

In the box provided, combine the ideas in sentences 6 and 7 to create one clear and effective sentence. (TEK 9C)

What revision, if any, is needed in sentence 16? (TEK 9C)

• Julian stood over his aunt's stove, staring at the side of a box and struggling to decipher the precise order of operations required to make macaroni and cheese.

• Julian stood over his aunt's stove, staring at the side of a box that struggled to decipher the precise order of operations to make macaroni and cheese and the requirements.

• Julian stood over his aunt's stove, staring and struggling to decipher the precise order of operations that were required to make macaroni and cheese on the side of a box.

• No change is needed.

Answer explanation

Option A is correct The use of “staring” and then “struggling” corrects the lack of parallel structure in sentence 16.

Option B is incorrect A box cannot struggle to decipher something, making this sentence illogical.

Option C is incorrect Because the prepositional phrase “on the side of the box” is placed at the end of this sentence, the sentence makes it seem as though Julian is making macaroni on the side of a box.

Option D is incorrect For sentence 16 to be correct and effective, the verbs “staring” and “had a struggle” must be parallel.

What is the MOST effective revision to make in sentence 20? (TEK 9C)

• Though not fluent in toddler speak, Pedro detailed for Julian and described his latest trip with his mom to pick up his older siblings from school.

• Julian could tell that Pedro was detailing his latest trip with his mom while picking up his older siblings from school, though not fluent in toddler speak.

• Though not fluent in toddler speak, Julian could tell that Pedro was detailing his latest trip with his mom to pick up his older siblings from school.

• Pedro was detailing for Julian his latest trip with his mom, which was to pick up his older siblings from school, though not fluent in toddler speak.

Answer explanation

Option C is correct This sentence correctly places the subject, “Julian,” directly after the modifying phrase “Though not fluent in toddler speak,” making it an effective revision to sentence 20.

Option A is incorrect “Pedro” is incorrectly placed directly after the modifying phrase “Though not fluent in toddler speak,” making it seem as though Pedro does not understand his own words.

Option B is incorrect The syntax of this sentence expresses that Pedro is “not fluent in toddler speak,” which is incorrect.

Option D is incorrect This sentence is awkward and unclear.

Layla has included redundant information in sentence 37. What is the MOST effective way to revise this sentence? (TEK 9C)

• An hour later Julian was wiping off of Pedro, himself, the wall, and the floor the noodles and cheese sauce when his mother called.

• An hour later Julian was wiping noodles and cheese sauce off of Pedro and himself and the wall, and also the floor when his mother called.

• An hour later when his mother called, noodles and cheese sauce were being wiped off by Julian, himself, the wall, and the floor.

• An hour later when his mother called, Julian was wiping noodles and cheese sauce off of Pedro, himself, the wall, and the floor.

Answer explanation

Option D is correct This revision effectively eliminates unnecessary words from sentence 37, such as the repetition of “wiping” and “off,” while remaining clear and concise.

Option A is incorrect This revision would create a confusing sentence. The direct objects, the noodles and cheese sauce, are far away from the subject and verb, making the meaning unclear.

Option B is incorrect The items in the series within this sentence are connected using an “and,” “and,” “and also” structure, when they would be more concise if connected with commas and only one “and.”

Option C is incorrect The passive voice of this sentence changes the meaning of the original sentence 37. For example, this revision indicates that the wall is wiping noodles and cheese sauce, which is incorrect.

Which sentence should replace sentence 44 to bring this story to a more effective and creative closing? (TEK 9Bi)

• "Most likely," answered Julian, who was thinking quietly about his aunt and little cousin.

• "Without a doubt!" Julian replied with a smile as he wiped an errant noodle from the ceiling.

• "Maybe not!" countered Julian, but he noticed his mom was looking at him suspiciously.

• “We'll see,” Julian responded, pondering a host of topic ideas that he could share with his mom.

Answer explanation

Option B is correct In this replacement sentence, the writer refers to the challenge that is featured in her story with the detail “as he wiped an errant noodle from the ceiling,” making it a more effective and creative closing.

Option A is incorrect Julian’s aunt is not a featured part of the “challenge” he is telling his mom that he will write about, so this description is confusing and not effective.

Option C is incorrect Although Julian’s mother calls him, there is no indication presented in the story that she can see him.

Option D is incorrect In sentences 39 and 40, the writer implies that Julian’s experience with Pedro will be the “challenge” he will write about for his English essay. He does not seem to have multiple ideas at this stage.

Use "New Passengers for Old Subway Cars" to answer. Sentence 2 contains a spelling error. Select the response that will correct the error in this sentence. About 6,500 subway cars combine to make up one of the nation's most ​ (a)   train systems.

• efficient
• eficient
• efficent
• effishent

Use "New Passengers for Old Subway Cars" to answer.

What change is needed in sentence 5? (TEK 9Dv)

• Change were sold to was sold

• Change the comma after reused to a semicolon

• Change however to instead

• Change scrapped to scraped

Answer explanation

Option B is correct “However” is a conjunctive adverb, not a conjunction. Therefore, it cannot be used to combine two independent clauses into a compound sentence with only a comma. It requires a semicolon instead.

Option A is incorrect Changing “were sold” to “was sold” would create a subject-verb agreement error.

Option C is incorrect The subway cars that were supposed to be preserved or reused did not get scrapped for metal “instead.” The word “however” better shows the contrast between “some” subways cars and “most.”

Option D is incorrect “Scraped” has a different meaning from the word “scrapped.”

Use "New Passengers for Old Subway Cars" to answer.

What change is needed in sentence 21? (TEK 9Di)

• Change barnacles to Barnacles

• Change could to couldn't

• Insert a comma after floor

• Change is spread to are spread

Use "New Passengers for Old Subway Cars" to answer.

What change needs to be made in sentence 24? (TEK 9Dii)

• Change are benefiting to is benefiting

• Delete the comma after opportunities

• Change helped to helps

• Change economy to Economy

Answer explanation

Option C is correct “Helps” is the present tense form of the verb “to help,” which is needed for tense consistency in the sentence.

Option A is incorrect Changing “are benefiting” to “is benefiting” would create a subjectverb agreement error.

Option B is incorrect “Which in turn helped the overall economy” is a nonrestrictive clause, so it must be set off from the rest of the sentence with a comma for clarity.

Option D is incorrect “Economy” is not a proper noun in this context.