Read the following paragraph. Which text structure is used?

Have you ever made macaroni and cheese? It’s simple! First, boil some water and make some macaroni. Then, make your cheese sauce. After the cheese sauce is ready, mix it with the macaroni. Bake the entire thing in the oven. Finally, it’s time to eat!

Read this paragraph from “Alligator Or Crocodile? You Decide.” Members of the Crocodylia family have been around for approximately 230 million years. This means that not only were they around when the dinosaurs roamed the earth, but they outlived the dinosaurs! During that time they haven’t change much. So, they must have some extremely successful survival strategies and physical traits.

Which statement offers the BEST summary of this paragraph?

Someday we will all have robots that will be our personal servants. They will look and behave much like real humans. We will be able to talk to these mechanical helpers and they will be able to respond in kind! Amazingly, the robots of the future will be able to learn from experience. They will be smart, strong, and untiring workers whose only goal will be to make our lives easier.

What is this selection mainly about?

Streams can become polluted because of storm water runoff. When rain or melted snow runs off, it carries trash from sidewalks and streets with it. These pollutants flow into storm sewers or directly into a lake, stream, or river. Then, bacteria from the trash spread to create health hazards. The trash itself can choke and suffocate ducks, fish, turtles, and birds. Used motor oil, paint, and insecticides can poison fish.

ACCORDING TO THIS PASSAGE, WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING IS CAUSED BY STORM WATER RUNOFF?

Forest fires sometimes begin through natural events. Very little rainfall and dry forests are ideal situations for fires to start. All it takes is a lightning strike, sparking a fire that can destroy the entire forest. Often, forest fires are so large that firefighters can't stop them, and these fires sometimes threaten homes and businesses. Then, people are forced to flee the fire and hope that their property isn't destroyed.

Based on this passage, what is the direct cause of some forest fires?

The Chesapeake Bay faces an uncertain future. Issues such as pesticides, too many nutrients, and habitat loss have all threatened the Bay’s water quality and animal life for several decades. However, scientists are hopeful that the future may be brighter. If everyone in the Chesapeake Bay watershed works together, solutions may be found.

WHAT SIGNAL WORDS HELPED YOU TO IDENTIFY THE ORGANIZATIONAL PATTERN IN THIS PASSAGE?

What is a heading?

Where can you find an index?

Now That's a Big Bird:

A teenager recently discovered the skull of a huge prehistoric1 bird in Argentina, a country in South America. Scientists say the 10-foot-tall bird had a sharp, hooked beak and thin legs. They think that the bird probably ate animals as large as sheep and ran fast. The big bird belonged to a group of birds called "terror birds" that once lived on Earth. "It is an unbelievable creature. This is the largest known bird, with a skull bigger than a horse’s head," says Luis Chiappe, director of the Dinosaur Institute, a part of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, California.

The main idea of this passage is...

Now That's a Big Bird:

A teenager recently discovered the skull of a huge prehistoric1 bird in Argentina, a country in South America. Scientists say the 10-foot-tall bird had a sharp, hooked beak and thin legs. They think that the bird probably ate animals as large as sheep and ran fast. The big bird belonged to a group of birds called "terror birds" that once lived on Earth. "It is an unbelievable creature. This is the largest known bird, with a skull bigger than a horse’s head," says Luis Chiappe, director of the Dinosaur Institute, a part of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, California.

Which of the following is not a detail from this passage?

Now That's a Big Bird:

A teenager recently discovered the skull of a huge prehistoric1 bird in Argentina, a country in South America. Scientists say the 10-foot-tall bird had a sharp, hooked beak and thin legs. They think that the bird probably ate animals as large as sheep and ran fast. The big bird belonged to a group of birds called "terror birds" that once lived on Earth. "It is an unbelievable creature. This is the largest known bird, with a skull bigger than a horse’s head," says Luis Chiappe, director of the Dinosaur Institute, a part of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, California.

It is an opinion that...

The sun was shining on theflowers, and the grass was a pretty shade of green. There weren’t any clouds in the sky, and the butterflies looked beautiful as they fluttered around.

You can infer from the text that it is...

In the seventeenth century, the Incan people of South America had an empire that stretched more than 2,500 miles. They built highways throughout their empire. One of their tunnels extended 750 feet through a mountain cliff. One of their rope suspension bridges is still used today.

From this article you cannot tell......

When the Tacoma Narrows Bridge was built in 1940, it was the world's third-largest suspension bridge. Large suspension bridges had been built before, but the builders didn't count on the winds near Tacoma, Washington. Four months after its opening, the bridge was blown down.

From this article you can conclude that...

Which sentence is not relevant in the following paragraph?

(a)I never know what to do with my hands when I am giving a talk. (b)For instance, when I am making an oral report in history class, I have trouble with my hands. (c)Sometimes I put them behind me. (d)At other times I hide them in my pockets. (e)A good speaker does not pause very much while he is speaking. (f)Often I clasp my hands in front of me to keep them from shaking while I am speaking.

Which sentence is a stereotype in the following paragraph?

(a)Diamonds are the most valuable of the precious stones. (b)They were first discovered in India, probably around 500 B.C. (c)For a long time India was the only source of diamonds. (d)Later large diamond fields were discovered in Africa. (e)Only rich people own diamonds. (f)The largest and most perfect diamonds are so valuable that they are priceless. (g)Most of these stones are now held by museums and governments.

How could you determine if the information in this paragraph is accurate?

(a)Diamonds are the most valuable of the precious stones. (b)They were first discovered in India, probably around 500 B.C. (c)For a long time India was the only source of diamonds. (d)Later large diamond fields were discovered in Africa. (e)Many rubies and other precious stones come from Burma. (f)The largest and most perfect diamonds are so valuable that they are priceless. (g)Most of these stones are now held by museums and governments.

Why is sentence "f" not relevant?

(a)Many of the vegetables we buy when we go to the supermarket are "naturalized Americans." (b)Originally they came from faraway places. (c)Tomatoes and the so-called Irish potatoes came from South America. (d)Cucumbers and eggplant originated in India. (e)Radishes came from China. (f)No one knows where apples and pears were first found, but scientists believe peaches came from China. (g)Peas, carrots, lettuce, and parsnips are also from Asia.

Choose the word that best completes the sentence. Hint: Consider the author's word choice (diction) in the sentence. Which word keeps the same tone?

My friend is very careful about spending money. I admire that, so I call him ______________.

Choose the word that best completes the sentence. Consider the author's word choice (diction) in the sentence. Which word keeps the same tone?

Although the problem was difficult to resolve, Sandra and John were ________________ in searching for an answer. Their teacher was quite proud.

Kevin's interest in model cars has turned into a hobby. If you change the word hobby to obsession, the new word choice makes the sentence...

Determine whether the following statement is a fact or opinion:

Ancient Egyptians believed the heart was the center of emotion and intelligence. During mummification, they removed the brain entirely from bodies.

Friends who have good hearts are better than friends who have clear heads.

About one-fourth of the U.S. population is or has been poor for at least a year.

Because of a newly formed and largely incompetent national weather service, the city of Galveston, Texas was practically destroyed in a horrifying hurricane that left thousands dead.

Which sentence in the passage contains the author's viewpoint?

1 Many Americans regularly eat beef, which is meat that comes from cattle. 2 We ought to replace beef with chicken in our diets. 3 It takes eleven times more water to raise cattle for beef than it does to raise chickens. 4 Cattle also require twenty-eight times more land than chickens do.

Which sentence in the passage contains the author's viewpoint?

1 Most banks offer savings accounts for adults, families, and children. 2 All young people should open their own savings accounts. 3 When you keep money in a savings account, you earn interest. 4 Interest is extra money the bank gives you for just keeping your money with them. 5. Starting a savings account also teaches children about the importance of saving and budgeting money.

The average school day for kindergarteners is getting longer, and it's paying off in improved reading skills. This improvement will continue from elementary school to HS. These children will be able to get better jobs when they are adults.

What is the author’s viewpoint about full day of kindergarten?

Many cities have aquariums that have adopted orphaned dolphins found in the ocean. Many of these dolphins

were wounded and would not have survived alone. Because of the kindness of humans, these animals are alive today.

What is the author’s viewpoint on people’s relationship with dolphins?