ELA 11 Q3 Interim Test 25-26

In 1776, American colonists declared independence from Britain. The Declaration of Independence begins with the statement: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal…" This claim set the foundation for a government based on equal rights.

Question: Which best evaluates the reasoning in the passage?

• The reasoning depends entirely on emotional language rather than factual support.

• The reasoning is flawed because it does not discuss Britain's political position.

• The reasoning is weak because it focuses mainly on economic grievances.

• The reasoning appeals to shared democratic values to justify independence.

In 1863, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address. He stated that "government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth," linking democracy to the survival of the nation.

Question: Which best evaluates the reasoning in the passage?

• The reasoning is ineffective since it uses no statistics or measurable data.

• The reasoning emphasizes that democracy is worth preserving as a national principle.

• The reasoning is invalid because it does not mention the opposing army's viewpoint.

• The reasoning is limited because it focuses on local concerns instead of national ones.

In 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed Americans during the Great Depression. He reassured the public by saying, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself," urging people not to let panic worsen the crisis.

Question: Which best evaluates the reasoning in the passage?

• The reasoning is flawed because it ignores deeper economic causes of the crisis.

• The reasoning is weak since it avoids presenting detailed policy proposals.

• The reasoning relies only on traditional rhetoric rather than logical evidence.

• The reasoning is persuasive because it shows that fear itself worsens national problems.

In 1987, President Ronald Reagan spoke near the Berlin Wall, a barrier separating East and West Berlin. He directly challenged the Soviet leader with the words, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" to encourage freedom and unity.

Question: Which best evaluates the reasoning in the passage?

• The reasoning is flawed because it fails to explain how the wall would be removed.

• The reasoning is limited because it does not address existing global tensions.

• The reasoning appeals to democratic ideals of freedom and unity.

• The reasoning is unconvincing because it lacks historical comparison or context.

Passage: In 1849, writer Henry David Thoreau argued that government should interfere as little as possible in people's lives. He wrote, "That government is best which governs least," emphasizing individual freedom.

Question:Which best evaluates the reasoning in the passage?

• The reasoning is flawed since it does not provide concrete historical examples.

• The reasoning is weak because it ignores the practical benefits of government action.

• The reasoning is effective because it uses a principle of limited government to defend liberty.

• The reasoning is unconvincing because it depends mainly on emotional language.

A political commentary discusses how governments have sometimes limited free speech during wartime, using examples from past conflicts to show both benefits and dangers of these limits. Which best evaluates the reasoning in the passage?

Question: Which best evaluates the reasoning in the passage?

• The reasoning is strong because it uses historical evidence to weigh opposing perspectives.

• The reasoning is flawed since it assumes all wartime situations are essentially alike.

• The reasoning is weak because it presents broad conclusions without detailed support.

• The reasoning is unconvincing because it avoids key examples from United States history.

A historian reviews the long-term effects of Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 Emancipation Proclamation, which declared enslaved people in Confederate states free, and argues that it reshaped both the war and civil rights.

Question: Which best evaluates the reasoning in the passage?

• The reasoning is weak since it overlooks important events that occurred before 1863.

• The reasoning is effective because it connects a legal document to its historical impact.

• The reasoning is unconvincing because it relies primarily on personal interpretation.

• The reasoning is flawed because it avoids considering possible international consequences.

A student writes: According to Shakespeare, “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves.” (William Shakespeare, 1599)

Which is the correct MLA-style citation?

• “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves.” Shakespeare, 1599 edition.

• “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves” (Shakespeare 22).

• “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves” (William Shakespeare, 1599).

• “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves” (Shakespeare, Act 1 scene 2).

A paper says: The Civil Rights Act passed in 1964 “changed the relationship between government and equality.” (Taylor Branch).

Which correction is needed?

• Use only Branch’s last name with a page number: (Branch 45).

• Replace the parentheses with quotation marks around the author’s name.

• Put Taylor’s first name only with a page number: (Taylor 45).

• Remove Branch’s name completely from the citation.

A science essay reads: Darwin wrote, “Species adapt to survive.” (Darwin, 1859).

Which is correct in MLA style?

• A. “Species adapt to survive.” Darwin, p. 45 in the text.

• B. “Species adapt to survive” (Darwin, 1859 edition).

• C. “Species adapt to survive” (Darwin 45).

• D. “Species adapt to survive” (Charles Darwin, 45).