"Unlike the other candidates, who stammered and stuttered through their speeches, Lilli was eloquent."

What is the best definition of "eloquent?"

Imperialism flourished in the 19th century, as the British took control of India and Belgium seized the Congo.

What is the best definition of "imperialism?"

Hunter's plan for his group project looks good. It's time to implement it, and see if works.

What is the best definition of "implement?"

Jane got it into her mind that she could get out of studying for any test just by feigning illness the night before the exam.

What is the best definition of "feigning?"

The music teacher had difficulty tolerating the discordant noises produced by her kindergarten class.

What is the best definition of "discordant?"

"The judge issued an injunction that ordered the accused criminal to remain under house arrest."

What is the best synonym for "injunction?"

The weather report doesn't look good! This means we will probably have to cancel our plans to go hiking this weekend.

Which dictionary definition for the word "mean" is being used in the sentence above?

Before you put on that skeleton costume and rove door-to-door pandering for candy, take a minute to reflect on this tradition. Halloween is believed to have come from an ancient Celtic festival dating back some 2,000 years. November 1st was the Celtic New Year and marked the end of summer to the Celts. They celebrated on its eve by wearing costumes made of animal skins and dancing around bon fires. Over the next two millennia, this primitive celebration grew to be the candy fueled costume ball that we know today.

What is the central idea of this paragraph?

You might think that all automobile fuels are the same, but they aren't. Automobiles can run on one of three types of fuel: gasoline, diesel, and biodiesel. All these fuels are burned inside of the engine, which creates the heat and energy that is used to power the car. But there are important differences between these fuels. Gasoline and diesel are more common than biodiesel. But each burns differently. Diesel fuel is heavier and less flammable than gasoline, so it has to be compressed before it will burn. Gasoline may be lighter than diesel, but both fuels are made from crude oil. On the other hand, biodiesel fuel is made from vegetables. Both biodiesel and diesel fuels must be burned in diesel engines, which only use diesel fuel. If gasoline is pumped into a diesel engine, it will have to be pumped out. These fuels may look pretty similar at the gas station, but remember that there are important differences between them or it may cost you.

What is the central idea of this paragraph?

It is estimated that over twenty million pounds of candy corn are sold in the US each year. Brach's, the top manufacturer, sells enough candy corn to circle the earth 4.25 times if each piece were laid end to end. That's a lot of candy corn, but that's nothing compared to the production of Tootsie Rolls. Over 64 million Tootsie Rolls are produced every day! But even Tootsie Rolls have got nothing on the candy industry's staple product: chocolate. Confectioners manufacture over twenty billion pounds of chocolate in the United States each year. Now that's a mouthful!

What is the central idea of this paragraph?

When one hears the term "reality" applied to a show, one might expect that the events portrayed occurred naturally or, at the least, were not scripted. This is not always the case. Many reality shows occur in unreal environments, like rented mansions occupied by film crews. Such living environments do not reflect what most people understand to be "reality." Worse, there have been accusations that events not captured on film were later restaged by producers. Worse still, some involved in the production of "reality" television claim that the participants were urged to act out story lines premeditated by producers. With such accusations floating around, it's no wonder many people take reality TV to be about as real as the sitcom.

What is the central idea of this paragraph?

Written memos and reports document what was said and done and the rea- son for decisions. Carefully written memos and reports enable a company to use its earlier expertise without having to reinvent the wheel every time a new set of people tackles a recurring problem. Written documents also allow individuals and companies to protect themselves. lf there is no written record, chaos and expensive lawsuits may result.

What is the implied central idea for this paragraph?

San Francisco is located on the coast of California in an area often called the Bay Area. The weather is generally very mild, seldom getting really cold or really hot. Its mild climate is one reason many people live there. It seldom snows in San Francisco and generally does not get below freezing during the winter. Even in the middle of summer, temperatures may be in the mid 80s with a cool breeze from the bay keeping the weather very comfortable.

Which answer choice best summarizes the passage?

All Cameron wanted to do with his life was be a singer. He didn't pay attention in school and he spent all of this time at home watching music videos online and impersonating his idols. His mother tried to teach him the value of getting an education and having a backup plan, but Cameron would respond the same way every time, "Mom, I won't need to know any of that boring old stuff when I'm famous, You'll see." But there was one major problem with Cameron's plan; he wasn't any good at singing. Cameron wanted to be a singer so badly, that he didn't notice the pained look on the faces of those who endured his singing. Because he wanted to be a singer to badly, when honest people told him to find something else to do with his life, he accused them of being "jealous haters" and ignored their advice. After Cameron dropped out of high school to focus on his music career, the years passed and the doors never opened.

What is the theme of this story?

Rohan triumphantly lifted the trophy above his head. Despite all the obstacles, he had won. Beneath his cheerful exterior, he felt a twinge of the constant pain he’d learned to live with. Almost unconsciously, Rohan removed one hand from the trophy and rubbed the thin red scar that snaked around his ankle. He thought back to the surgery and the weeks spent lying in his bed, unable to compete. The months of exercises to strengthen his leg. “Rohan!” he heard the crowd scream, as if in slow motion. A smile broke across Rohan’s face, shattering his thoughts. He returned his hand to his trophy, firmly grasping it.

What is the theme of this story?

Alex shut the lid to his laptop with a loud clap. Some of the people sitting at the tables near him looked up from their books and gave him annoyed looks. Alex realized that he had disturbed them and held up his hand apologetically. The librarian turned toward him and shushed him loudly, perhaps louder than the noise that he had made. Alex put the laptop in his bag and began walking toward the door. He held his head down low.

Which of the following choices is evidence that the setting is a library?

Jonathan looked at the homeless dog walking down the street of his neighborhood. He approached the dog, slowly cautiously, with his hands stretched outward. After gaining his trust, Jonathan took the dog home, gave him a warm bath, and big bowl of food.

What does this passage suggest about Jonathan's character?

The green sea turtle and the loggerhead sea turtle nest along the Atlantic and the Pacific shores in the United States. The green sea turtle is on the endangered list while the loggerhead is listed as threatened. The green sea turtle eats grass, algae and other vegetation and is classified as herbivorous. Unlike the green sea turtle, the loggerhead turtle is classified as carnivorous, and eats horseshoe crabs, clams, and mussels. Both sea turtles live in temperate and subtropical waters and tend to stay near the coastline.

What is the main text structure used in this paragraph?

Before editing your writing, the first step should be to revise. Begin by reading each paragraph separately, and then find the topic sentence for each one. Next, make sure all the sentences relate to that topic sentence. Finally, look at how the paragraphs work together. Make sure there are transitional words between each paragraph so your writing flows together smoothly.

What is the main text structure used in this paragraph?

The school hallway carried the smell of wax, varnish, and cleaning supplies. Bright, yellow light glared into the hall through the freshly cleaned windows. This highlighted the deep scrapes in the lockers, the chips in the wall tiles, and the spider webs hanging in the corner.

What is the main text structure used in this paragraph?

This has been the worse summer in years for acorn production in northeastern forests. While some may think this is not a big deal, in fact it is. If there are fewer acorns, it may result in a decrease in populations of squirrels and field mice. Since these animals are often hosts to insects, including ticks, the ticks will be on the move and more likely to bite humans. As a result, scientists expect to see an increase in the number of cases of Lyme Disease, an infection carried by ticks.

What is the main text structure used in this paragraph?

Every year, thousands of car accidents occur because of drivers distracted by their phones. Safe drive Corporation developed a product that will disable cell phones inside a car, and many people feel this product will help save lives.

What is the main text structure used in this paragraph?

Do you want to be an artist? Just enroll in "The Awesome Artists" program. Don't let this opportunity or your talent slip away. We guarantee you will be painting like the masters in two weeks for a low cost of $59.95.

What is the author's purpose?

"Some people are afraid of bees, but without these helpful insects, we would not have many of our favorite flowers and fruits. Bees come to the plant to drink the nectar, and pollen on the plant sticks to the bee's feet. Bees leave some of the pollen on the next plant that they land on. This helps to make new plants."

What is the author's viewpoint about bees?

Many people eat fast food, especially when they are in a hurry. However, fast food is unhealthy. Many restaurants fry their food in grease, and do not offer fresh food on their menu.

What is the author's viewpoint about fast food?

"We have some important news for you Mr. President. We have discovered a terrorist plot against the United States" said the CIA agent. The President closed the book, set it on the desk, and leaned forward, his eyes fixed straight ahead. "Tell me everything you know."

What is the tone of the dialogue?

Many breeds of dogs are used for work. In many cultures dogs are used to herd sheep. The dogs keep the flock from being attacked by animals such as wolves. They also keep sheep from wandering off. Sheepdogs are known for their loyalty and gentleness.

What inferences can the reader make from this passage?

Water from California’s northern mountains is pumped south along a 400-mile canal through the farming communities of the Central Valley. Not only is this canal system a marvel of modern engineering, its water fuels the state’s economic engine. In 2006, these farms produced $31 billion-worth of food and fiber, more than any other state. By contrast, world-wide ticket sales of Hollywood movies, a more famous export of California, totaled $25 billion that year.

What inference can the reader make from this passage?

On a small island, scientists kept track of the number of wolves and moose over time. Which trend did they record?

According to this chart, which country spent the least money on books in 2004?

Saving Water is a Cinch!

Water is the single most important natural resource on Earth. And though 72% of our planet is covered in water, we cannot take it for granted. Instead, we must be careful to use water only when necessary. The less water that we waste, the more clean water we will have in the future.

There are a number of ways to save water. The best place to start is in the bathroom. Why? Because studies show that three-fourths of the water we use indoors is used in the bathroom. Therefore, it is in the bathroom where we should pay close attention to our habits.

For example, what do you do when washing your hands? Many people turn the water on and then lather up with soap while the faucet is running. No big deal, right? After all, washing your hands takes only ten seconds or so.

But then, imagine how many times in your life you will wash your hands. Now imagine how much water you will save by turning off the faucet while you lather up with soap. Talk about an easy way to save a huge quantity of water!

In general, saving water involves changing only a few wasteful habits. Most people find that these habits are actually pretty easy to change. Give it a try yourself and you’ll agree: saving our most important natural resource is easy!

What does the author include to convince the reader that he or she should try saving water in the bathroom?

What sentence from the above passage best supports the author's claim that we cannot take water for granted?

Home, Sweet Home? A zoo can be a fun place to visit, but would it be a fun place to live? Many zoos spend a lot of money to create homes that are like the animals' natural environments. The zoos also make a strong effort to provide good health care for the animals. However, no matter how hard a zoo works to give animals a good home, it can never give them the freedom of roaming in the wild.

Animals such as elephants need wide-open spaces to move around. In the wild, elephants travel more than 20 miles per day on average. When an elephant lacks movement, it can develop health problems like stiff joints.

Another reason why animals do not belong in zoos is that they can develop a condition called zoochosis. Zoochosis is abnormal behavior caused by boredom and frustration. The symptoms of zoochosis include rocking back and forth, pacing, circling, and excessive chewing. The animals often have poor eating habits. Zookeepers give these animals drugs to keep them calm. In conclusion, a zoo is not the best place for animals to live. Animals belong in the wild where they can roam freely.

The author believes that animals should be released from zoos. Which sentence from the passage best supports this statement?