English
Examination
Lesson 1: Essays and Paragraph Development
Examination Number: 050412
Whichever methods you use in submitting your exam answers to the school, you must use the number above.
When you feel confidents that you have mastered the material in Lesson 1, go to http:/ / www.takeexamsonline.com and submit your answer online. If you don’t have access to the Internet, you can phone in or mail in your exam. Submit your answers for this examination as soon as you complete it. Do not wait until another examination is ready.
Questions 1-10: Select the one best answer to each question.
1. In “Words that Wound,” which of the following does Vail argue is one result of bullying?
A. Increased toughness and self-esteem
B. Decreased ability to learn
C. An increase in diseases such as asthma
D. A decrease in child obesity
2. In “An Amazing Journey: 100 Years in America,” what do Simon and Cannon say was one of the most difficult events of Striecher’s time?
A. A flue epidemic
B. A series of bank failures
C. An animal-disease epidemic
D. A heat wave
3. How does Zuger Learn a lot immediately about her two interns in “Defining a Doctor, with a Tear, a Shrug, and a Schedule”?
A. By reading their resumes
B. By comparing what they have in their pockets
C. By interviewing them
D. By comparing their recommendations
4. What solution does Simon offers in “Would You Buy a Car That Looked Like This?”
A. He wants to apply large warning labels to SUVs telling consumers about their environmental hazards and other dangers.
B. He wants Congress to impose a flue tax.
C. He wants Congress to pass a series of laws preventing the industry from making more SUVs.
d. He wants mayors to ban SUVs in city centers.
5. What kinds of things does White recommended in “Bringing Out Your Child’s Gifts”
that a parent provide for “visual-spatial” children?
A. Chess, checkers and other games
B. Books, records and tapes
C. Musical instruments and music lessons
D. Diagrams, maps and construction kits
6. According to White, how do “intrapersonal children” learn best?
A. In large groups
B. On their own
C. With a tutor
D. As part of a team
7. Which of the following is a negative effect Steinberg attributes to part-time work in “Part-Time Employment Undermines Students’ Commitment to School”?
A. High drug and alcohol use
B. Petty crime and vandalism
C. Gang-related activities
D. Work-related injuries
8. In Steirer’s “When Volunteerism Isn’t Noble,” what things did the school official quoted ask her to choose between?
A. Her education and her reputation
B. Her values and her diploma
C. Her friends and her parents
D. Her career and her volunteer work
9. Which of the following best expresses how Meilander thinks we should feel towards the dead in his essay “Strip Mining’ the Dead: When Human Organs Are for Sale”?
A. Matter-of-fact
B. Respectful and fearful
C. Curious
D. Loving and caring
10 According to Jones in “Not White, Just Right,” why do many African American youths rejects Standard English?
A. They see it as “talking white.”
B. They don’t have good role models.
C. They don’t want to lose their heritage.
D. They don’t enjoy reading or writing.
Questions 11-15: Choose the sentence that does not provide effective support for the thesis statement given.
11. My first summer job, as an assistant to Dr. Barto the Magician, was one of the strangest yet most rewarding experiences in my young life.
A. By the end of the summer, I had stuffed miles of colorful scarves into false sleeves and perfected my baritone introduction to Dr. Barton’s act.
B. I learned how to overcome my fear of large audiences and in fact, how to charm them
C. The food we eat before the shows left a lot to be desired, but it was free.
D. I have Dr. Barton to thank, at least in part, for my current career in public speaking.
12. Seema finds that reconciling the competing desires of her traditional immigrant parents and her modern American friends is the most difficult part of being a second-generation American.
A. With a wry smile, Seema mentions that her father hopes to arrange a marriage for her with a young man from a suitable family from his hometown.
B. Her mother, a pediatrician at the local hospital, “Is kind of my role model,” Seema points out.
C. Seema’s best friend, Liz has asked Seema to accompany her on a “girl-only” drive from San Francisco to Alaska, “ a place I’m dying to see for myself,” she ways a little wistfully.
D. Seema explains that she would like to rent a room in her friends Mark’s off-campus apartment next semester, but she may decide to save money and avoid family arguments by continuing to live at home with her parents.
13. The rising number of suburbs encounters with bears in parts of the eastern United States is a result of a greater human presence in areas that were once sparsely populated.
A. The growth of the suburb has pushed developments into wooden areas where few people once lived.
B. Bears in the wild live on barriers, smaller animals, and other food they find or kill, but they quickly develop a taste for fast food and human garbage if it’s available.
C. If food is plentiful, bears may stop hibernating and remain on the prowl year-round.
D. Bears that survive by raiding garbage cans and restaurant dumpsters have been known to become obese, according to wildlife biologists.
14. A few simple steps can help most households lower their energy bills.
A. Compact fluorescent light bulbs can replace standard incandescent bulbs, using a fraction of the energy.
B. Caulking around windows, door and outlets can stop drafts that increase home heating and cooling costs.
C. Research into alternative fuel sources should eventually allow the United States to reduce or eliminate its dependency on foreign energy.
D. When it’s time to replace an old appliance, homeowners should look for a new one with the government‘s “energy star’ rating, which will cost less to run.
15. Visits to my grandparents’ farm taught me to entertain myself
A My grandfather built little wooden boats that I sailed along the irrigation ditches.
B. The cellar door, which sloped down from the side of the house, made an excellent slide when I sat on a sheet of waxed paper.
C. Grandma would bring me breakfast in bed, over my mother’s objections.
D. I loved to play with the kittens in the hayloft of the barn.
Questions 16-19: Read the following passage and then choose the best answer for each question.
The record companies tend to blame file-sharing. College students who download music from their computers don’t go out and buy CD’s or so the theory goes. Some music companies are so convinced of this idea that they’re suing student file-sharers for billions of dollars. Many consumers, on the other hand, argue that the problem in flat music sales lies with the products. Fans charge that the music industry simply tries to sign bands of songs and creating little enthusiasm among potential buyers. Hollywood blockbusters have suffered from a similar lack of imagination. Music lovers also argue that too much of the music promoted heavily by the recording industry is aimed at teenagers. Therefore, they say, older buyer – who usually have more money-have little interest in purchasing new music. Although record companies and consumers may disagree with each other about the music industry slump, perhaps there is some truth in both groups’ theories.
16. Which of the following would be the best topic sentence for the paragraph?
A. The music industry has a legitimate complaint against Napster and other file-sharing companies
B. Various groups offer different reasons for the decline in popular music sales over recent years
C. Why is today’s music so terrible?
D. Hollywood and the recording industry have a great deal in common.
17. Which of the following sentence provides primary support for the topic sentence?
A. College students who download music from their computers don’t go out and buy CD’s or so the theory goes.
B. Many consumers on the other hand, argue that the problem in flat music sales lies with the product.
C. Hollywood blockbusters have suffered from a similar lack of imagination.
D. Therefore, they say, older buyers-who usually have more money-have little interest in purchasing new music.
18. Which of he following sentence is a supporting detail?
A. The record companies tend to blame file-sharing
B. Many consumers on the other hand, argue that the problem in flat music sales les with the products.
C. Fans charge that the music industry simply tries to sign bands that resemble other popular bands, resulting in boring repeats of the same kinds of songs and creating little enthusiasm among potential buyers.
D. Hollywood blockbusters have suffered from a similar lack of imagination.
19. Which sentence from the paragraph above does not provide primary or secondary support for the main point?
A. The record companies tend to blame file-sharing.
B. Some music companies are so convinced of this idea that they’re suing student file-sharers for billions of dollars.
C. Fans charge that the music industry simply tries to sign bands that resemble other popular bands, resulting in boring repeats of the same kinds of songs and creating little enthusiasm among potential buyers.
D. Hollywood blockbusters have suffered from a similar lack of imagination.
Question 20-24: Read the following passage, and then choose the best answer for each question.
Several factors may prevent many people from trying to cook Indian food at home. Indian dishes almost always contain many different spices. The spices should be freshly ground and sometimes toasted to bring out the flavor. Many recipes involve several different steps, for example, a recipe calling for paneer – a kind of cheese – will probably require a cook to make the cheese as well as a sauce in which to cook it. Some chefs consider tofu an adequate substitute for paneer. In addition a proper Indian meal consists of many different dishes, and busy working people seldom have the time to cook more than one or two things for a meal. These factors certainly make cooking Indian food time-consuming, but most people who try find that it is well worth the effort.
20. Which of the sentences is the topic sentence?
A. Indian dishes almost always contain many different spices.
B. Some chefs consider tofu an adequate substitute for paneer.
C. In addition, a proper Indian meal consists of many people from trying to cook Indian food at home.
21. Which of the following sentences provides primary support for the topic sentence?
A. The spices should be freshly ground and sometimes toasted to bring out the best flavor.
B. Many recipes involve several different steps.
C. Some chefs consider tofu an adequate substitute for paneer.
D. Several factors may prevent many people from trying to cook Indian food at home
22. Which of the following sentences is a supporting detail?
A. For example, a recipe calling for paneer- a kin of cheese-will probably requires cook to make the cheese as well as a sauce in which to cook it.
B. Indian dishes almost always contain many different spices.
C. In addition, a proper Indian meal consists of many different dishes and busy working people seldom have the time to cook more than one or two things for a meal.
D. Several factors many may prevent many people from trying to cook Indian food at home.
23. Which of the following sentences does not provide primary or secondary support?
A. The spices should be freshly ground and sometimes toasted to bring out the best flavor.
B. Many recipes involve several different steps.
C. Some chefs consider tofu an adequate substitute for paneer
D. In addition, a proper Indian meal consists of many different dished and busy working people seldom have the time to cook more than one or two things for a meal.
24. Which of the following sentences would be a good alternative topic sentence for this paragraph?
A. For a variety of reasons, many cooks are intimidated by the idea of preparing Indian food from scratch.
B. Indian food is not especially difficult to prepare well.
C. Making homemade paneer is well worth the extra trouble.
D. Buying fresh product every day is essential to proper Indian cooking.
Questions 25-29: Read the following passage, and than choose the best answer for each question.
If you have getting spam – unwanted e-mail message from strange-you can take steps to decrease your chances of becoming a spammer’s target. Spam messages may tell you to “click here” to be removed from the spammer’s address book, but you shouldn’t. Spammer’s use those links to find out if e-mail addresses are genuine. Clicking on the lint tells the sender that you received and read the message. Your actions will cause you to get more spam, not less. Spam is more than a mere annoyance-it can cause your mail program to run out of memory space. You should also avoid buying anything from a spam message. If you want a prescription drug or a lower mortgage rate, get it from a source that doesn’t use spam. Although these steps may not complete eliminate spam from your mailbox, they should provide some relief from the problem.
25. Which of the sentences is the top sentence?
A. If you have getting spam-unwanted e-mail messages from strangers-you can take steps to decrease your chance of becoming a spammer’s target.
B. Spam messages may tell you to “click here” to be removed from the spammer’s address book, but you shouldn’t.
C. If you want a prescription drug or lower mortgage rate, get it from a source that doesn’t use spam.
D. Buying from spammers only encourages them to keep up their annoying tactics.
26. Which of the following sentences provides primary support for the topic sentence?
A. If you hate getting spam-unwanted e-mail messages from strangers-you can take steps to decrease your chances of becoming a spammer’s target.
B. Spammer’s use those links to find out if e-mail addresses are genuine.
C. You should also avoid buying from a spam message.
D. If you want a prescription drug or a lower mortgage rate, get it from a source that doesn’t use spam.
27. Which of the following sentences is a supporting detail?
A. Spam messages may tell you to “click here” to be removed from the spammer’s address book, but you shouldn’t.
B. Clicking on the link tells the sender that you have received and read the message.
C. Spam is more than a mere annoyance-it can cause your mail program to run out of memory space.
D. You should also avoid buying anything from a spam message.
28. Which of the following sentences does not provide primary or secondary support?
A. Spam messages may tell you to “click here” to be removed from the spammer’s address book, but you shouldn’t.
B. Spammers use those links to find out if e-mail addresses are genuine.
C. Your actions will cause you to get more spam, not less.
D. Spam is more than a mere annoyance-it can cause your mail program to run out of memory space.
29. Which of the following sentences would be a good alternative topic sentence for this paragraph?
A. A few simple actions can help you avoid receiving unwanted e-mail messages from strangers or spam.
B. Return addresses on messages are frequently unreliable.
C. A long-standing e-mail address may become nearly useless if spammers target t.
D. The main rule of avoiding spam is to refuse to make purchases from any company that advertises through spam.
30. The denotative meaning of words acquires through use.
A. Its figurative meaning
B. The shade of meaning that the word acquires through use.
C. Easily determined by consulting a thesaurus.
D. The literal meaning of the word.
Examination
Lesson 2: Revising and Editing
Examination Number: 050413
Whichever methods you use in submitting your exam answers to the school, you must use the number above.
When you feel confident that you have mastered the material in Lesson 1, go to http./ /www.takeexamsonline.com and submit your answers online. If you don’t have access to the Internet, you can phone in or mail in your exam. Submit your answers for this examination as soon as you complete it. Do not wait until another examination is ready.
Questions 1-4: Read the following passages and then choose the best answer for each question.
(1) While most people think of space as the next frontier, there is another frontier close to home. (2) It is the underground frontier and the pioneers probing it are amateur cave explorers, or cavers. (3) Many of their discoveries come by accident, when they are looking for one thing and find another. Just such an accident occurred recently when cavers exploring a cavern in Croatia found the world’s deepest hole. (4) Its depth is 1,693 feet, which is 217 feet deeper than the previous record holder in Austria.
(5) ………………, the Empire State Building is 1,454 feet high. (6) In fact, climbing the Empire State Building would probably be just as difficult as descending into this Croatian hole. (7) The Croatian discovery is not the deepest cave on Earth, however. (8) According to cavers, a “hole” is a straight vertical drop that is too steep to walk down; …………….. a “cave” descends more gradually without such a steep drop.
1. Which sentence is off the point of the paragraph?
A. Sentence 1
B. Sentence 2
C. Sentence 4
D. Sentence 6
2. Which transitional word or phrase inserted into Sentence 5 would aid coherence?
A. To put that measurement in perspective
B. Regardless
C. For your information
D. An important fact to keep in mind
3. Which sentence would provide the best support for Sentence 7?
A. It takes a special type of person, careful training and superb equipment to go down safely into an extremely deep hole.
B. Nobody earns a living at caving; all cavers support themselves with separate fulltime jobs.
C. The deepest cave is the 5,130-foot-deep Krubera Cave in the Asian country of Georgia.
D. Croatia is in Southern Central Europe, and its capital is Zagreb.
4. Which transitional word or phrase inserted into Sentence 8 would aid coherence?
A. And
B. Whereas
C. Wherefore
D. More to the point.
Questions 5-8: Read the following passage, and then choose the best answer for each question.
(1) Mosquitoes have always been an annoyance to humans. (2) However, with the presence in the United States of West Nile virus and fierce Asia tiger mosquitoes, any way of avoiding these pests has become increasingly important. (3) ………………, many homeowners may be interested to know about a recently patented birdbath that kills mosquito’s eggs. (4) A birdbath is essentially pool of standing water. (5) Mosquitoes have in common with most insects the ability to lay many eggs at one time. (6) Operating on batteries, solar power or electricity, the birdbath is equipped with a small computer chip. (7) ………………, this chip instructs a pump to flush out the birdbath’s water. (8) Then, the water is forced through a fine-mesh filter. (9) Any mosquito eggs in the water are crushed as they go through the filter.
5. Which sentence is off the point of the paragraph?
A. Sentence 2
B. Sentence 4
C. Sentence 5
D. Sentence 8
6. Which transitional word or phrase inserted into Sentence 3 would aid coherence?
A. Therefore
B. Also
C. But
D. Meanwhile
7. Which transitional word or phrase inserted into Sentence 7 would aid coherence?
A. At the bottom
B. Every few days
C. Nevertheless
D. On the other hand
8. Which sentence would provide the best support for Sentence 4?
A. Standing water is precisely where mosquitoes prefer to lay their eggs.
B. This is why birds find birdbaths to be nonthreatening and excellent sources of water.
C. Although mosquitoes prefer mud puddles or water in ditches, they will use birdbaths if no other water is available.
D. Birdbaths, however, come in all shapes, sizes and colors.
Questions 9-10: Choose the least clichéd, most appropriate figure of speech to fill in the blank.
9. Many people thought women would die like …………. if they were too physically active
A. A. A butterfly in a whirlwind
B. B. Dogs in a fight
C. C. Flies on flypaper
D. D. An old tree
10. 10. During World War II, a women’s baseball league drew spectators like …………. when a shortage of male players depleted men’s teams.
A. A. Months to a flame
B. B. A snake in the grass
C. C. Bears to honey
D. D. Bees to a field of poppies.
Question 11-23: Read each sentence or phrase. If its construction and word usage is correct, choose “No change.” If there’s an error, choose the revision that best is represents the traits of good writing.
11. Living with gusto. That’s what many people yearn for.
A. To live with gusto are what many citizens yearn for.
B. To live with gusto. That’s what many of us yearn to do.
C. Living with gusto is what many American yearn to do.
D. No change
12. I was sitting on a long bridge, while the sun sinks low in the sky.
A. A. I was sitting on a long bridge over Campbell’s Creek while the sun sinks low in the western sky, almost gone from view.
B. B. As I was sitting on the rotten long bridge over Campbell’s Creek, the sun sank low in the sky.
C. C. The sun sank low in sky, when I sit on the rotten long bridge over the creek.
D. D. No change
13. 13. The region has dry, sandy soil. Always blown about by the ever-present wind.
A. A. Dry, sandy soil. It is blown into strange formations by the ever-present wind.
B. B. The ever-present wind blows the region’s dry, sandy soil into strange formations.
C. C. The region has dry, sandy soil always being blown into strange formation by the ever-[resent wind.
D. D. No change
14. 14. The climbers had choices. To go over a cliff or to turn back, they decided to try it.
A. A. The climbers had two choices: to go over a four-hundred-foot cliff or to turn back. They decided to make the attempt.
B. B. The climbers had two choices. To go over a four-hundred-foot cliff or to turn back. They decided to try it.
C. C. The climbers had two choices. To go over a four-hundred-foot cliff or to turn back. They decided to try it.
D. D. No change.
15. 15. E. B White died in 1985 even though his work continued to inspire readers.
A. A. Although E. B. White died in 1985, his work continued to inspire readers.
B. B. E. B. White died in 1985 and his work continued to inspire readers.
C. C. Until E. B. White died in 1985, his work continued to inspire readers.
D. D. No change
16. 16. Juggling a portfolio, art box, illustration boards and drawing pads; I ask Jane if I looked ridiculous.
A. A. As I juggle a portfolio, art box, illustration boards and drawing pads, I ask Jane if I looked ridiculous.
B. B. Because I can hardly balance a portfolio, art box, illustration board and drawing pads, I have looked ridiculous to Jane.
C. C. Carrying a portfolio, art box, illustration board and drawing pads, Jane tole me I looked ridiculous.
D. D. No change
17. 17. Organized crime has been able to attract graduates just as big business has; with good pay and the best equipment money can buy.
A. A. Organized crime has been able to attract graduates just as big business has: with good pay and the best equipment money can buy.
B. B. Just like big business, organized crime has been able to attract graduates with good pay and the best equipment money can buy.
C. C. Organized crime had been able to attract graduates just as big business has with good pay and the best equipment money can buy.
D. D. No change
18. 18. Joan Didion investigated politics. Also extremely intriguing to the great writer has been the exploration of human emotions.
A. A. Both politics and the exploration of human emotions have intrigued the great writer Joan Didion.
B. B. Joan Didion has investigated politics, while exploring human emotions has also extremely intrigued this great writer.
C. C.The great writer Joan Didion investigated politics. Exploring human emotions has also intrigued the writer to a great extent.
D. D. No change
19. 19. Weather reports often give both the air temperature and the wind chill.
A. A. In weather reports both the air temperature and the wind chill are often gave.
B. B. In weather reports they often give both the air temperature and also the wind chill.
C. C. Both the air temperature and the wind chill were often in weather reports.
D. No D. No change
20. 20. Weaving around the barrels with speed and precision, the audience applauded very loudly.
A. &nbs
