TASC Reading Exam 3

1.

The tone of a text is __________ if the words say the opposite of what they really mean.

A.

Ironic
B.

Earnest
C.

Confused
D.

Unambiguous

Correct Answer
A. Ironic

Explanation
A. Words that say the opposite of what they really mean are ironic. Irony can be confusing to the reader at times, but it is not confused (which would imply that the writer does not know what he or she means). See Lesson: Tone and Mood, Transition Words.

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2.

Fill in the blank with the correct active or passive verb. Too many books _____ about World War II.

A.

Are writing
B.

Are written
C.

Have written
D.

Have been written

Correct Answer
D. Have been written

Explanation
D. Have been written. The sentence is passive because the books are receiving the action and needs to include a “to be” verb.See Lesson: Active and Passive Voice.

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3.

How would you change the following sentence to passive voice? After the movie, she met her friend for dinner.

A.

She met her friend for dinner after the movie.
B.

After the movie, Sarah was met for dinner by her friend.
C.

She joined Sarah for dinner after the movie.
D.

It is already in passive voice.

Correct Answer
B. After the movie, Sarah was met for dinner by her friend.

Explanation
B. After the movie, Sarah was met for dinner by her friend. This sentence is passive because the subject is receiving the action of the verb. There is a “to be” verb (was) and the words “by the” indicates that the sentence is passive.See Lesson: Active and Passive Voice.

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4.

In which of the following situations would you use formal language?

A.

At a party.
B.

Talking to your child.
C.

Talking to a neighbor.
D.

Meeting a new co-worker.

Correct Answer
D. Meeting a new co-worker.

Explanation
D. Meeting a new co-worker. It is best to use formal language when meeting someone for the first time, especially a work colleague. See Lesson: Formal and Informal Language.

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5.

Which of the following sentences uses the MOST informal language?

A.

My puppy isn’t potty trained yet.
B.

The heat in the summer is unbearable.
C.

I want to take a vacation to the beach.
D.

The dramatic TV show was extremely suspenseful.

Correct Answer
A. My puppy isn’t potty trained yet.

Explanation
A. My puppy isn’t potty trained yet. The sentence has contractions and words that are informal and less polite. See Lesson: Formal and Informal Language.

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6.

Read the following text and then answer the question. In the late morning, Cynthia met Max at the state park where he had been waiting. They went on a hike. They followed a path that first led them through the deep, lush woods. The path then took them past a beautiful, serene lake. They were beginning to get thirsty, so they stopped to sit on a large rock to drink some water. Next, they continued hiking and came upon a clearing, Cynthia was astonished to see a picnic blanket all set up with plates and a picnic basket. “Max!” she exclaimed. Max had set up the picnic to surprise Cynthia. Question: According to the paragraph, which event happened first?

A.

Cynthia met Max at a state park in the late morning
B.

Max set up the picnic for him and Cynthia
C.

Cynthia and Max walked past a lake
D.

Cynthia and Max stopped to drink water on a rock

Correct Answer
B. Max set up the picnic for him and Cynthia

Explanation
B. Even though the detail about Max setting up the picnic came at the end, it was the event that happened first since he had to have set up before Cynthia came to the park because it was there before they arrived. See Lesson: Summarizing Text and Using Text Features

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7.

Read the following text and then answer the question. In the late morning, Cynthia met Max at the state park where he had been waiting. They went on a hike. They followed a path that first led them through the deep, lush woods. The path then took them past a beautiful, serene lake. They were beginning to get thirsty, so they stopped to sit on a large rock to drink some water. Next, they continued hiking and came upon a clearing, Cynthia was astonished to see a picnic blanket all set up with plates and a picnic basket. “Max!” she exclaimed. Max had set up the picnic to surprise Cynthia. Question: Which word clues help you understand that this event happened first?

A.

“had set up”
B.

“first went”
C.

“beginning to get”
D.

“in the late morning”

Correct Answer
A. “had set up”

Explanation
A. The word clues “had set up” indicates that Max set up the picnic earlier so that it would be a surprise for Cynthia when they got to the clearing. See Lesson: Summarizing Text and Using Text Features

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8.

Read the following text and then answer the question. In the late morning, Cynthia met Max at the state park where he had been waiting. They went on a hike. They followed a path that first led them through the deep, lush woods. The path then took them past a beautiful, serene lake. They were beginning to get thirsty, so they stopped to sit on a large rock to drink some water. Next, they continued hiking and came upon a clearing, Cynthia was astonished to see a picnic blanket all set up with plates and a picnic basket. “Max!” she exclaimed. Max had set up the picnic to surprise Cynthia. Question: Which of the following words from the passage is not a sequence word?

A.

First
B.

Then
C.

Next
D.

Beginning

Correct Answer
D. Beginning

Explanation
D. Even though the word “beginning” seems like a sequence word indicating something that comes first, in the context of the passage it means they “started to” get thirsty. The other words are sequence words, which indicate the order of events. See Lesson: Summarizing Text and Using Text Features

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9.

Please read the text below and answer the question. In the past 10-15 years, koalas have been repeatedly harmed or killed in traffic accidents. When the animals cross busy roads, highways, and intersections to get to their food source, the eucalyptus tree, many of them meet a terrible fate. Australian developers have been taking over koala habitats to keep up with the country’s booming population. This has resulted in the endangerment of the country’s most beloved animal. Concerned individuals have taken action by creating koala “pathways,” routes traveling over roads, highways, and intersections to ensure koalas keep safe. In addition, koala hospitals have been established in these areas to rehabilitate the injured animals. Question: Which phrase best describes the topic of the group of sentences above?

A.

An analysis of animal behavior in the wild
B.

An account of human impact on an animal species
C.

A description of a building development plan
D.

An examination of the ways humans help animals

Correct Answer
B. An account of human impact on an animal species

Explanation
B. All of the above sentences are related in some way to the text, but the topic is specifically about an account of human impact on an animal species. See Lesson: Main Ideas, Topic Sentences, and Supporting Details.

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10.

Please read the text below and answer the question. In the past 10-15 years, koalas have been repeatedly harmed or killed in traffic accidents. When the animals cross busy roads, highways, and intersections to get to their food source, the eucalyptus tree, many of them meet a terrible fate. Australian developers have been taking over koala habitats to keep up with the country’s booming population. This has resulted in the endangerment of the country’s most beloved animal. Concerned individuals have taken action by creating koala “pathways,” routes traveling over roads, highways, and intersections to ensure koalas keep safe. In addition, koala hospitals have been established in these areas to rehabilitate the injured animals. Question: Which of the following sentences would best function as a topic sentence to unite the information above?

A.

Over 4,000 koalas are hurt or injured each year by automobiles.
B.

Koalas spend most of their time in trees but need to occasionally travel across roads to move around.
C.

Human encroachment on natural habitats has negatively impacted the koala population.
D.

Australia’s building development projects have tripled over the past decade.

Correct Answer
C. Human encroachment on natural habitats has negatively impacted the koala population.

Explanation
C. The best topic sentence to unite the above information would be the one about human encroachment negatively impacting the koala population. The others would be additional supporting details. See Lesson: Main Ideas, Topic Sentences, and Supporting Details.

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11.

Please read the text below and answer the question. In the past 10-15 years, koalas have been repeatedly harmed or killed in traffic accidents. When the animals cross busy roads, highways, and intersections to get to their food source, the eucalyptus tree, many of them meet a terrible fate. Australian developers have been taking over koala habitats to keep up with the country’s booming population. This has resulted in the endangerment of the country’s most beloved animal. Concerned individuals have taken action by creating koala “pathways,” routes traveling over roads, highways, and intersections to ensure koalas keep safe. In addition, koala hospitals have been established in these areas to rehabilitate the injured animals. Question: Which sentence provides another supporting detail to address the topic of the sentences above?

A.

Kangaroos, emus, and wombats are other popular animals in Australia.
B.

Australia has a diverse population of citizens from various countries throughout the world.
C.

Koalas are not bears but marsupials, mammals that carry their young in a pouch.
D.

Australia has erected over 500 koala pathways over the past two years.

Correct Answer
D. Australia has erected over 500 koala pathways over the past two years.

Explanation
D. Each of the above sentences is related in some way to the passage, but the detail about the number of koala pathways that have been built is the best fit for the topic of the text. See Lesson: Main Ideas, Topic Sentences, and Supporting Details.

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12.

Read the following draft essay and answer the question. As a child, I loved to chase butterflies in my grandmother’s garden. (1) Now that I have children, I’m saddened there are so few butterflies left. Keeping butterfly populations healthy enriches lives and sustains ecosystems. (2) For this reason, I feel the Kingfield County Commission should support the effort to create habitat for butterflies and other pollinators along our highways. (3) Kingfield’s two major highways, Highway 65 and Highway 18, are both lined by grassy strips of unused land that the county maintains at taxpayer expense. (4) Currently, maintenance on these strips involves periodic mowing and pesticide spraying to keep back weeds. (5) This practice harms butterflies and prevents the growth of plants that can sustain them. (6) To create pollinator habitat, we would need to change the way we manage our highways. (7) Instead of mowing and spraying, we could plant wildflowers such as white milkweed and transform the green strips into meadows that would support a wide variety of butterfly and other pollinator species. (8) This project would cost surprisingly little. (9) State and federal organizations have grant programs in place to support set-up costs such as the purchase of wildflower seed for pollinator habitat creation. Long-term maintenance would demand only occasional maintenance to keep wildflowers away from roadways and reduce wildfire risk. Costs could be minimized by tapping local environmental and gardening groups for volunteer help. (10) “The members of our horticultural society are extremely generous with their time when it comes to promoting conservation efforts.” (11) Some gardeners might balk at the idea of intentionally planting milkweed and other wildflowers that are sometimes considered undesirable. It is true that wildflowers spread into fields and gardens whose owners do not want them. But those gardens need butterflies and other pollinators to remain healthy. A low-cost effort to save butterflies could enrich our lives for many years to come and make gardens healthier. (12) With a little effort, we can make sure there are butterflies for our grandchildren to chase someday. (13) Question: Which sentence is the thesis statement?

A.

Sentence 1
B.

Sentence 2
C.

Sentence 3
D.

Sentence 6

Correct Answer
C. Sentence 3

Explanation
C. The thesis is the point the author defends throughout the essay. In this case, it is the proposal to create butterfly habitat along the highways. See Lesson: The Writing Process.

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13.

Read the following draft essay and answer the question. As a child, I loved to chase butterflies in my grandmother’s garden. (1) Now that I have children, I’m saddened there are so few butterflies left. Keeping butterfly populations healthy enriches lives and sustains ecosystems. (2) For this reason, I feel the Kingfield County Commission should support the effort to create habitat for butterflies and other pollinators along our highways. (3) Kingfield’s two major highways, Highway 65 and Highway 18, are both lined by grassy strips of unused land that the county maintains at taxpayer expense. (4) Currently, maintenance on these strips involves periodic mowing and pesticide spraying to keep back weeds. (5) This practice harms butterflies and prevents the growth of plants that can sustain them. (6) To create pollinator habitat, we would need to change the way we manage our highways. (7) Instead of mowing and spraying, we could plant wildflowers such as white milkweed and transform the green strips into meadows that would support a wide variety of butterfly and other pollinator species. (8) This project would cost surprisingly little. (9) State and federal organizations have grant programs in place to support set-up costs such as the purchase of wildflower seed for pollinator habitat creation. Long-term maintenance would demand only occasional maintenance to keep wildflowers away from roadways and reduce wildfire risk. Costs could be minimized by tapping local environmental and gardening groups for volunteer help. (10) “The members of our horticultural society are extremely generous with their time when it comes to promoting conservation efforts.” (11) Some gardeners might balk at the idea of intentionally planting milkweed and other wildflowers that are sometimes considered undesirable. It is true that wildflowers spread into fields and gardens whose owners do not want them. But those gardens need butterflies and other pollinators to remain healthy. A low-cost effort to save butterflies could enrich our lives for many years to come and make gardens healthier. (12) With a little effort, we can make sure there are butterflies for our grandchildren to chase someday. (13) Question: In this draft, the flow of ideas from the introduction to the first body paragraph is a little unclear. Which sentence, if it appeared at the beginning of the first body paragraph, would make a clearer link back to the thesis?

A.

Sentence 5
B.

Sentence 6
C.

Sentence 7
D.

Sentence 8

Correct Answer
C. Sentence 7

Explanation
C. Sentence 7 proposes changing the way highways are managed. Placing this sentence at the beginning of the paragraph would help link back to the thesis and show why the writer is sharing information about highway maintenance. See Lesson: The Writing Process.

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14.

Read the following draft essay and answer the question. As a child, I loved to chase butterflies in my grandmother’s garden. (1) Now that I have children, I’m saddened there are so few butterflies left. Keeping butterfly populations healthy enriches lives and sustains ecosystems. (2) For this reason, I feel the Kingfield County Commission should support the effort to create habitat for butterflies and other pollinators along our highways. (3) Kingfield’s two major highways, Highway 65 and Highway 18, are both lined by grassy strips of unused land that the county maintains at taxpayer expense. (4) Currently, maintenance on these strips involves periodic mowing and pesticide spraying to keep back weeds. (5) This practice harms butterflies and prevents the growth of plants that can sustain them. (6) To create pollinator habitat, we would need to change the way we manage our highways. (7) Instead of mowing and spraying, we could plant wildflowers such as white milkweed and transform the green strips into meadows that would support a wide variety of butterfly and other pollinator species. (8) This project would cost surprisingly little. (9) State and federal organizations have grant programs in place to support set-up costs such as the purchase of wildflower seed for pollinator habitat creation. Long-term maintenance would demand only occasional maintenance to keep wildflowers away from roadways and reduce wildfire risk. Costs could be minimized by tapping local environmental and gardening groups for volunteer help. (10) “The members of our horticultural society are extremely generous with their time when it comes to promoting conservation efforts.” (11) Some gardeners might balk at the idea of intentionally planting milkweed and other wildflowers that are sometimes considered undesirable. It is true that wildflowers spread into fields and gardens whose owners do not want them. But those gardens need butterflies and other pollinators to remain healthy. A low-cost effort to save butterflies could enrich our lives for many years to come and make gardens healthier. (12) With a little effort, we can make sure there are butterflies for our grandchildren to chase someday. (13) Question: Which revision of sentence 9 links more clearly back to the main idea?

A.

This type of pollinator habitat creation costs surprisingly little.
B.

Some might object that this project would cost surprisingly little.
C.

The cost of this project would come in county jobs, not money.
D.

The low cost of this project could create an opportunity to lower taxes.

Correct Answer
A. This type of pollinator habitat creation costs surprisingly little.

Explanation
A. The writer of this essay could highlight the link back to the main idea by mentioning pollinators or butterflies again in the opening sentence of the second body paragraph. See Lesson: The Writing Process.

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15.

Read the following draft essay and answer the question. As a child, I loved to chase butterflies in my grandmother’s garden. (1) Now that I have children, I’m saddened there are so few butterflies left. Keeping butterfly populations healthy enriches lives and sustains ecosystems. (2) For this reason, I feel the Kingfield County Commission should support the effort to create habitat for butterflies and other pollinators along our highways. (3) Kingfield’s two major highways, Highway 65 and Highway 18, are both lined by grassy strips of unused land that the county maintains at taxpayer expense. (4) Currently, maintenance on these strips involves periodic mowing and pesticide spraying to keep back weeds. (5) This practice harms butterflies and prevents the growth of plants that can sustain them. (6) To create pollinator habitat, we would need to change the way we manage our highways. (7) Instead of mowing and spraying, we could plant wildflowers such as white milkweed and transform the green strips into meadows that would support a wide variety of butterfly and other pollinator species. (8) This project would cost surprisingly little. (9) State and federal organizations have grant programs in place to support set-up costs such as the purchase of wildflower seed for pollinator habitat creation. Long-term maintenance would demand only occasional maintenance to keep wildflowers away from roadways and reduce wildfire risk. Costs could be minimized by tapping local environmental and gardening groups for volunteer help. (10) “The members of our horticultural society are extremely generous with their time when it comes to promoting conservation efforts.” (11) Some gardeners might balk at the idea of intentionally planting milkweed and other wildflowers that are sometimes considered undesirable. It is true that wildflowers spread into fields and gardens whose owners do not want them. But those gardens need butterflies and other pollinators to remain healthy. A low-cost effort to save butterflies could enrich our lives for many years to come and make gardens healthier. (12) With a little effort, we can make sure there are butterflies for our grandchildren to chase someday. (13) Question: Which evidence would strengthen the argument outlined in Sentence 9?

A.

Statistics showing a 35-year decline in the monarch butterfly population
B.

Scientific evidence connecting pesticide use to butterfly population decline
C.

A breakdown of the costs of a similar project completed in a nearby county
D.

Surveys of schoolchildren showing that most of them love to chase butterflies

Correct Answer
C. A breakdown of the costs of a similar project completed in a nearby county

Explanation
C. Sentence 9 focuses on cost, so evidence to support it should also focus on costs. See Lesson: The Writing Process.

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16.

Read the following draft essay and answer the question. As a child, I loved to chase butterflies in my grandmother’s garden. (1) Now that I have children, I’m saddened there are so few butterflies left. Keeping butterfly populations healthy enriches lives and sustains ecosystems. (2) For this reason, I feel the Kingfield County Commission should support the effort to create habitat for butterflies and other pollinators along our highways. (3) Kingfield’s two major highways, Highway 65 and Highway 18, are both lined by grassy strips of unused land that the county maintains at taxpayer expense. (4) Currently, maintenance on these strips involves periodic mowing and pesticide spraying to keep back weeds. (5) This practice harms butterflies and prevents the growth of plants that can sustain them. (6) To create pollinator habitat, we would need to change the way we manage our highways. (7) Instead of mowing and spraying, we could plant wildflowers such as white milkweed and transform the green strips into meadows that would support a wide variety of butterfly and other pollinator species. (8) This project would cost surprisingly little. (9) State and federal organizations have grant programs in place to support set-up costs such as the purchase of wildflower seed for pollinator habitat creation. Long-term maintenance would demand only occasional maintenance to keep wildflowers away from roadways and reduce wildfire risk. Costs could be minimized by tapping local environmental and gardening groups for volunteer help. (10) “The members of our horticultural society are extremely generous with their time when it comes to promoting conservation efforts.” (11) Some gardeners might balk at the idea of intentionally planting milkweed and other wildflowers that are sometimes considered undesirable. It is true that wildflowers spread into fields and gardens whose owners do not want them. But those gardens need butterflies and other pollinators to remain healthy. A low-cost effort to save butterflies could enrich our lives for many years to come and make gardens healthier. (12) With a little effort, we can make sure there are butterflies for our grandchildren to chase someday. (13) Question: What should the writer do to improve sentence 11?

A.

Identify the speaker
B.

Restate the idea in different words
C.

Define horticultural
D.

Place the sentence elsewhere

Correct Answer
A. Identify the speaker

Explanation
A. The quotation in sentence 11 is problematic in this draft because the speaker is not identified. See Lesson: The Writing Process.

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17.

Read the following draft essay and answer the question. As a child, I loved to chase butterflies in my grandmother’s garden. (1) Now that I have children, I’m saddened there are so few butterflies left. Keeping butterfly populations healthy enriches lives and sustains ecosystems. (2) For this reason, I feel the Kingfield County Commission should support the effort to create habitat for butterflies and other pollinators along our highways. (3) Kingfield’s two major highways, Highway 65 and Highway 18, are both lined by grassy strips of unused land that the county maintains at taxpayer expense. (4) Currently, maintenance on these strips involves periodic mowing and pesticide spraying to keep back weeds. (5) This practice harms butterflies and prevents the growth of plants that can sustain them. (6) To create pollinator habitat, we would need to change the way we manage our highways. (7) Instead of mowing and spraying, we could plant wildflowers such as white milkweed and transform the green strips into meadows that would support a wide variety of butterfly and other pollinator species. (8) This project would cost surprisingly little. (9) State and federal organizations have grant programs in place to support set-up costs such as the purchase of wildflower seed for pollinator habitat creation. Long-term maintenance would demand only occasional maintenance to keep wildflowers away from roadways and reduce wildfire risk. Costs could be minimized by tapping local environmental and gardening groups for volunteer help. (10) “The members of our horticultural society are extremely generous with their time when it comes to promoting conservation efforts.” (11) Some gardeners might balk at the idea of intentionally planting milkweed and other wildflowers that are sometimes considered undesirable. It is true that wildflowers spread into fields and gardens whose owners do not want them. But those gardens need butterflies and other pollinators to remain healthy. A low-cost effort to save butterflies could enrich our lives for many years to come and make gardens healthier. (12) With a little effort, we can make sure there are butterflies for our grandchildren to chase someday. (13) Reread the third body paragraph: Some gardeners might balk at the idea of intentionally planting milkweed and other wildflowers that are sometimes considered undesirable. It is true that wildflowers spread into fields and gardens whose owners do not want them. But those gardens need butterflies and other pollinators to remain healthy. Question: What should the writer do to strengthen this paragraph?

A.

Outline beneficial properties of milkweed and other wildflowers, such as medicinal uses
B.

Offer evidence to support the point that butterflies and other pollinators keep gardens healthy
C.

Claim that wildflowers will not spread from highway habitat strips into local fields and gardens
D.

Eliminate the suggestion that some people might not like the idea of creating pollinator habitat

Correct Answer
B. Offer evidence to support the point that butterflies and other pollinators keep gardens healthy

Explanation
B. Body paragraph 3 states that gardens need butterflies and other pollinators but does not develop the point or offer evidence to back it up. See Lesson: The Writing Process.

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18.

Read the following draft essay and answer the question. As a child, I loved to chase butterflies in my grandmother’s garden. (1) Now that I have children, I’m saddened there are so few butterflies left. Keeping butterfly populations healthy enriches lives and sustains ecosystems. (2) For this reason, I feel the Kingfield County Commission should support the effort to create habitat for butterflies and other pollinators along our highways. (3) Kingfield’s two major highways, Highway 65 and Highway 18, are both lined by grassy strips of unused land that the county maintains at taxpayer expense. (4) Currently, maintenance on these strips involves periodic mowing and pesticide spraying to keep back weeds. (5) This practice harms butterflies and prevents the growth of plants that can sustain them. (6) To create pollinator habitat, we would need to change the way we manage our highways. (7) Instead of mowing and spraying, we could plant wildflowers such as white milkweed and transform the green strips into meadows that would support a wide variety of butterfly and other pollinator species. (8) This project would cost surprisingly little. (9) State and federal organizations have grant programs in place to support set-up costs such as the purchase of wildflower seed for pollinator habitat creation. Long-term maintenance would demand only occasional maintenance to keep wildflowers away from roadways and reduce wildfire risk. Costs could be minimized by tapping local environmental and gardening groups for volunteer help. (10) “The members of our horticultural society are extremely generous with their time when it comes to promoting conservation efforts.” (11) Some gardeners might balk at the idea of intentionally planting milkweed and other wildflowers that are sometimes considered undesirable. It is true that wildflowers spread into fields and gardens whose owners do not want them. But those gardens need butterflies and other pollinators to remain healthy. A low-cost effort to save butterflies could enrich our lives for many years to come and make gardens healthier. (12) With a little effort, we can make sure there are butterflies for our grandchildren to chase someday. (13) Question: Which sentence most clearly improves sentence 12 in the context of the essay?

A.

By creating habitat on public land near highways, it can save the butterflies and other pollinators that enrich our lives and keep our gardens healthy.
B.

By creating habitat on public land near highways, we can save the butterflies and other pollinators that enrich our lives and keep our gardens healthy.
C.

Saving the butterflies and other pollinators that enrich our lives and keep our gardens healthy is the right thing to do because otherwise they will go extinct.
D.

Saving the butterflies and other pollinators that enrich our lives and keep our gardens healthy is the right thing to do because extinction is the clear alternative.

Correct Answer
B. By creating habitat on public land near highways, we can save the butterflies and other pollinators that enrich our lives and keep our gardens healthy.

Explanation
B. The conclusion should refer clearly back to the main point of the essay, which has not mentioned extinction. See Lesson: The Writing Process.

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19.

Read the following draft essay and answer the question. As a child, I loved to chase butterflies in my grandmother’s garden. (1) Now that I have children, I’m saddened there are so few butterflies left. Keeping butterfly populations healthy enriches lives and sustains ecosystems. (2) For this reason, I feel the Kingfield County Commission should support the effort to create habitat for butterflies and other pollinators along our highways. (3) Kingfield’s two major highways, Highway 65 and Highway 18, are both lined by grassy strips of unused land that the county maintains at taxpayer expense. (4) Currently, maintenance on these strips involves periodic mowing and pesticide spraying to keep back weeds. (5) This practice harms butterflies and prevents the growth of plants that can sustain them. (6) To create pollinator habitat, we would need to change the way we manage our highways. (7) Instead of mowing and spraying, we could plant wildflowers such as white milkweed and transform the green strips into meadows that would support a wide variety of butterfly and other pollinator species. (8) This project would cost surprisingly little. (9) State and federal organizations have grant programs in place to support set-up costs such as the purchase of wildflower seed for pollinator habitat creation. Long-term maintenance would demand only occasional maintenance to keep wildflowers away from roadways and reduce wildfire risk. Costs could be minimized by tapping local environmental and gardening groups for volunteer help. (10) “The members of our horticultural society are extremely generous with their time when it comes to promoting conservation efforts.” (11) Some gardeners might balk at the idea of intentionally planting milkweed and other wildflowers that are sometimes considered undesirable. It is true that wildflowers spread into fields and gardens whose owners do not want them. But those gardens need butterflies and other pollinators to remain healthy. A low-cost effort to save butterflies could enrich our lives for many years to come and make gardens healthier. (12) With a little effort, we can make sure there are butterflies for our grandchildren to chase someday. (13) Question: Which type of ending would likely be a more effective ending than sentence 13?

A.

A quotation from a textbook describing the anatomical parts of a monarch butterfly
B.

An implicit suggestion that it would be selfish deny support to the pollinator habitat proposal
C.

A request that the reader take a specific action to support the proposal to create pollinator habitat
D.

A reference to a study suggesting that many species on earth may soon die out if we do not take action

Correct Answer
C. A request that the reader take a specific action to support the proposal to create pollinator habitat

Explanation
C. A call to action could make an effective ending to this essay because it would focus the reader on a specific, immediate plan rather than ending on an emotional point about an uncertain future. See Lesson: The Writing Process.

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20.

Read the passage below and answer the question. Wizard WiFi is a digital application that allows you to manage your home WiFi network and connected devices. Wizard WiFi is easy to install and set up! Once installed Wizard WiFi enables you to find your WiFi password, know who is online, troubleshoot issues and manage family members’ online experiences. You will be a tech-savvy genius in no time! Concerned about creating healthy tech-usage habits? Wizard WiFi allows you to create individualized WiFi usage limits and alert family members when they are nearing their daily quota, set a “Bedtime Mode” to create an optimal “tech-free” nighttime environment, and ensure age-appropriate, safe Web surging with features like Pause and Parental Controls. It is the best technology management system on the market! If you are a Wizard Internet subscriber with a SuperWiz Gateway, you can access the Wizard WiFi experience at no additional cost through a mobile app, website or an app on the SuperWiz TV Box. New Wizard Internet subscribers can access Wizard WiFi once their SuperWiz Gateway is activated. Existing subscribers with eligible SuperWiz Gateways can log into the Wizard WiFi portal immediately. Top-level high-tech executives, like Pear Technology CEO Rusty Bartlett, rely on Wizard WiFi to manage the safety and security of their home WiFi network systems. Shouldn’t you do the same? Question: The purpose of this passage is to:

A.

decide.
B.

inform.
C.

persuade.
D.

entertain.

Correct Answer
C. persuade.

Explanation
C. This is an advertisement. Although it includes some information its primary purpose is to convince you to buy something. This makes it a persuasive text. See Lesson: Understanding the Author’s Purpose, Point of View, and Rhetorical Strategy.

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21.

Read the passage below and answer the question. Wizard WiFi is a digital application that allows you to manage your home WiFi network and connected devices. Wizard WiFi is easy to install and set up! Once installed Wizard WiFi enables you to find your WiFi password, know who is online, troubleshoot issues and manage family members’ online experiences. You will be a tech-savvy genius in no time! Concerned about creating healthy tech-usage habits? Wizard WiFi allows you to create individualized WiFi usage limits and alert family members when they are nearing their daily quota, set a “Bedtime Mode” to create an optimal “tech-free” nighttime environment, and ensure age-appropriate, safe Web surging with features like Pause and Parental Controls. It is the best technology management system on the market! If you are a Wizard Internet subscriber with a SuperWiz Gateway, you can access the Wizard WiFi experience at no additional cost through a mobile app, website or an app on the SuperWiz TV Box. New Wizard Internet subscribers can access Wizard WiFi once their SuperWiz Gateway is activated. Existing subscribers with eligible SuperWiz Gateways can log into the Wizard WiFi portal immediately. Top-level high-tech executives, like Pear Technology CEO Rusty Bartlett, rely on Wizard WiFi to manage the safety and security of their home WiFi network systems. Shouldn’t you do the same? Question: With which statement would the author of this passage most likely agree?

A.

People who have home WiFi networks use excessive technology and do not value spending quality time with family members.
B.

Parents who do not buy WiFi monitoring devices are unable to have confidence in the security of their household network.
C.

The best way to achieve a healthy tech environment is to create family rules for technology usage and avoid monitoring apps.
D.

Consumers want help managing their home technology systems to create healthy habits and ensure a secure and safe online environment for family members.

Correct Answer
D. Consumers want help managing their home technology systems to create healthy habits and ensure a secure and safe online environment for family members.

Explanation
D. Writers of advertisements are tasked with selling a product, therefore, It is difficult to know much about the true feelings. However, it is a fair bet that advertising writers believe people will pay money for products presented the way they describe. See Lesson: Understanding the Author’s Purpose, Point of View, and Rhetorical Strategy.

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22.

Read the passage below and answer the question. Wizard WiFi is a digital application that allows you to manage your home WiFi network and connected devices. Wizard WiFi is easy to install and set up! Once installed Wizard WiFi enables you to find your WiFi password, know who is online, troubleshoot issues and manage family members’ online experiences. You will be a tech-savvy genius in no time! Concerned about creating healthy tech-usage habits? Wizard WiFi allows you to create individualized WiFi usage limits and alert family members when they are nearing their daily quota, set a “Bedtime Mode” to create an optimal “tech-free” nighttime environment, and ensure age-appropriate, safe Web surging with features like Pause and Parental Controls. It is the best technology management system on the market! If you are a Wizard Internet subscriber with a SuperWiz Gateway, you can access the Wizard WiFi experience at no additional cost through a mobile app, website or an app on the SuperWiz TV Box. New Wizard Internet subscribers can access Wizard WiFi once their SuperWiz Gateway is activated. Existing subscribers with eligible SuperWiz Gateways can log into the Wizard WiFi portal immediately. Top-level high-tech executives, like Pear Technology CEO Rusty Bartlett, rely on Wizard WiFi to manage the safety and security of their home WiFi network systems. Shouldn’t you do the same? Question: Which detail from the passage, if true, is factual?

A.

Wizard WiFi transforms the user into a tech-savvy genius.
B.

Wizard WiFi is the best technology-management system on the market.
C.

Wizard WiFi products contain functions that set and track individual user’s technology usage.
D.

Wizard WiFi users will improve the way their family spends their technology-free quality time.

Correct Answer
C. Wizard WiFi products contain functions that set and track individual user’s technology usage.

Explanation
C. Much of the information in this advertisement is not verifiable, but the fact that the Wizard WiFi contains functions to set and track family usage is verifiable. See Lesson: Understanding the Author’s Purpose, Point of View, and Rhetorical Strategy.

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23.

Read the passage below and answer the question. Wizard WiFi is a digital application that allows you to manage your home WiFi network and connected devices. Wizard WiFi is easy to install and set up! Once installed Wizard WiFi enables you to find your WiFi password, know who is online, troubleshoot issues and manage family members’ online experiences. You will be a tech-savvy genius in no time! Concerned about creating healthy tech-usage habits? Wizard WiFi allows you to create individualized WiFi usage limits and alert family members when they are nearing their daily quota, set a “Bedtime Mode” to create an optimal “tech-free” nighttime environment, and ensure age-appropriate, safe Web surging with features like Pause and Parental Controls. It is the best technology management system on the market! If you are a Wizard Internet subscriber with a SuperWiz Gateway, you can access the Wizard WiFi experience at no additional cost through a mobile app, website or an app on the SuperWiz TV Box. New Wizard Internet subscribers can access Wizard WiFi once their SuperWiz Gateway is activated. Existing subscribers with eligible SuperWiz Gateways can log into the Wizard WiFi portal immediately. Top-level high-tech executives, like Pear Technology CEO Rusty Bartlett, rely on Wizard WiFi to manage the safety and security of their home WiFi network systems. Shouldn’t you do the same? Question: The author of the passage includes details about Wizard WiFi’s ease of use in order to appeal to the reader’s:

A.

trust.
B.

reason.
C.

feelings.
D.

knowledge.

Correct Answer
C. feelings.

Explanation
C. The advertisement highlights several aspects of Wizard WiFi’s functionality, such as ease of use, that suggest the potential customer will feel good using the products. These details appeal to the emotions. See Lesson: Understanding the Author’s Purpose, Point of View, and Rhetorical Strategy.

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24.

Read the passage below and answer the question. Wizard WiFi is a digital application that allows you to manage your home WiFi network and connected devices. Wizard WiFi is easy to install and set up! Once installed Wizard WiFi enables you to find your WiFi password, know who is online, troubleshoot issues and manage family members’ online experiences. You will be a tech-savvy genius in no time! Concerned about creating healthy tech-usage habits? Wizard WiFi allows you to create individualized WiFi usage limits and alert family members when they are nearing their daily quota, set a “Bedtime Mode” to create an optimal “tech-free” nighttime environment, and ensure age-appropriate, safe Web surging with features like Pause and Parental Controls. It is the best technology management system on the market! If you are a Wizard Internet subscriber with a SuperWiz Gateway, you can access the Wizard WiFi experience at no additional cost through a mobile app, website or an app on the SuperWiz TV Box. New Wizard Internet subscribers can access Wizard WiFi once their SuperWiz Gateway is activated. Existing subscribers with eligible SuperWiz Gateways can log into the Wizard WiFi portal immediately. Top-level high-tech executives, like Pear Technology CEO Rusty Bartlett, rely on Wizard WiFi to manage the safety and security of their home WiFi network systems. Shouldn’t you do the same? Question: The author most likely includes the detail about famous high-tech executive CEO in order to make readers:

A.

understand that Wizard WiFi is factually the best on the market.
B.

take a weak position when they attempt to argue against the point.
C.

trust that Information Technology professionals have really studied Wizard WiFi and proven it worthy.
D.

feel an association between Wizard WiFi products and a person they admire.

Correct Answer
D. feel an association between Wizard WiFi products and a person they admire.

Explanation
D. Celebrity endorsements in advertisements appeal to the emotions by associating a product for sale with a person who is widely admired. See Lesson: Understanding the Author’s Purpose, Point of View, and Rhetorical Strategy.

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25.

Study the following label and answer the question. Question: How many calories are in one serving of this product?

A.

5
B.

20
C.

150
D.

3750

Correct Answer
C. 150

Explanation
C. The label shows the number of calories per serving: 150. See Lesson: Evaluating and Integrating Data.

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26.

Study the following label and answer the question. Question: Germain ate 60 crackers out of this box. How many servings did he consume?

A.

1
B.

3
C.

5
D.

10

Correct Answer
B. 3

Explanation
B. The label shows that there are 20 calories per serving. 60 crackers would be three servings. See Lesson: Evaluating and Integrating Data.

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27.

Study the following label and answer the question. Question: The product in this package is considered high in:

A.

Sodium.
B.

Trans fat.
C.

Cholesterol.
D.

Saturated fat.

Correct Answer
D. Saturated fat.

Explanation
D. Although the sodium content is not low, only the saturated fat value is considered particularly high. See Lesson: Evaluating and Integrating Data.

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28.

Study the following label and answer the question. Question: Fatima is attempting to confine her diet to products low in sodium. How much of this product should she eat?

A.

None; the product is not low in sodium.
B.

One serving; the amount of sodium is reasonable.
C.

The whole package; the contents are appropriate for a low-sodium diet.
D.

Less than three servings; she needs to keep her sodium intake below 20%.

Correct Answer
A. None; the product is not low in sodium.

Explanation
A. Products are considered low in a nutrient if the Daily Value is below 5%. This product does not meet that criterion. See Lesson: Evaluating and Integrating Data.

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29.

Study the following label and answer the question. Question: The product in this package is a good source of:

A.

Iron.
B.

Fiber.
C.

Calcium.
D.

Vitamin D.

Correct Answer
A. Iron.

Explanation
A. Although this product would not be considered healthy by most standards, it is a good source of iron. See Lesson: Evaluating and Integrating Data.

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30.

Read the following text and answer the questions. When my mother was a teenager, most kids didn’t have cell phones. If she wanted to talk to her friends after school, she had to call their landline. Sometimes a friend’s mom or dad answered, and she had to ask to talk to their kid. She says that was awkward. Also, if she and a friend talked on the phone for a long time, the whole family’s phone line was busy, so nobody else could get calls. Parents got mad at kids for tying up the phone too long. Today, every kid I know has a smartphone. We talk and text whenever we want, and none of us ever have awkward conversations with our friends’ parents. But in some ways, parents today have more control. A lot of parents check kids’ phone records and read their texts, so they can tell if their kids are up to no good. Families don’t all rely on one phone line, so when kids talk for a long time, we don’t prevent anyone else in the family from communicating with their friends. But parents today still get mad—mainly because kids’ phone habits cost too much money. Question: What category of writing is this?

A.

Narrative
B.

Technical
C.

Expository
D.

Persuasive

Correct Answer
C. Expository

Explanation
C. This passage is an explanation of phone habits in two eras. Although it uses a few time words, it does not describe narrative scenes. It is an expository piece. See Lesson: Types of Passages, Text Structures, Genre and Theme.

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31.

Read the following text and answer the questions. When my mother was a teenager, most kids didn’t have cell phones. If she wanted to talk to her friends after school, she had to call their landline. Sometimes a friend’s mom or dad answered, and she had to ask to talk to their kid. She says that was awkward. Also, if she and a friend talked on the phone for a long time, the whole family’s phone line was busy, so nobody else could get calls. Parents got mad at kids for tying up the phone too long. Today, every kid I know has a smartphone. We talk and text whenever we want, and none of us ever have awkward conversations with our friends’ parents. But in some ways, parents today have more control. A lot of parents check kids’ phone records and read their texts, so they can tell if their kids are up to no good. Families don’t all rely on one phone line, so when kids talk for a long time, we don’t prevent anyone else in the family from communicating with their friends. But parents today still get mad—mainly because kids’ phone habits cost too much money. Question: The structure of the passage is:

A.

Description.
B.

Cause/effect.
C.

Problem-solution.
D.

Compare/contrast.

Correct Answer
D. Compare/contrast.

Explanation
D. The passage describes phone use in two eras, highlighting similarities and differences. This makes it a compare/contrast piece. See Lesson: Types of Passages, Text Structures, Genre and Theme.

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32.

Read the following text and answer the questions. When my mother was a teenager, most kids didn’t have cell phones. If she wanted to talk to her friends after school, she had to call their landline. Sometimes a friend’s mom or dad answered, and she had to ask to talk to their kid. She says that was awkward. Also, if she and a friend talked on the phone for a long time, the whole family’s phone line was busy, so nobody else could get calls. Parents got mad at kids for tying up the phone too long. Today, every kid I know has a smartphone. We talk and text whenever we want, and none of us ever have awkward conversations with our friends’ parents. But in some ways, parents today have more control. A lot of parents check kids’ phone records and read their texts, so they can tell if their kids are up to no good. Families don’t all rely on one phone line, so when kids talk for a long time, we don’t prevent anyone else in the family from communicating with their friends. But parents today still get mad—mainly because kids’ phone habits cost too much money. Question: What is the genre of the passage?

A.

Essay
B.

Criticism
C.

Biography
D.

Autobiography

Correct Answer
A. Essay

Explanation
A. This piece describes parts of both the author’s life and another person’s life, but it is not an autobiography or biography because it is not telling a story of either one. Rather, it is an essay—short description of a subject from the author’s point of view. See Lesson: Types of Passages, Text Structures, Genre and Theme.

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33.

Read the following paragraph and answer the question. The idea of raising children in prison is controversial, but well-run prison nursery programs can actually be beneficial. A study of preschool age children showed that anxiety and depression are common among young children who are separated from their mothers at birth and reunited later. In contrast, babies who spent brief sentences of two years or less behind bars with their mothers showed greater resilience and stronger attachments. According to a nationwide analysis of women who participated in prison nursery programs, the benefits for mothers are even clearer than the benefits to children. Women who were allowed to remain with their infants during prison sentences were less likely to be convicted of another crime and less likely to use drugs in the five years after release. They were more likely to continue their education in prison and more likely to find employment on the outside. Mothers involved in prison nursery programs also reported better mental health and greater confidence in their own parenting skills. Question: Which statement expresses an opinion?

A.

A study of preschool age children showed that anxiety and depression are common among young children who are separated from their mothers at birth and reunited later.
B.

The idea of raising children in prison is controversial, but well-run prison nursery programs can actually be beneficial.
C.

Mothers involved in prison nursery programs also reported better mental health and greater confidence in their own parenting skills.
D.

Women who were allowed to remain with their infants during prison sentences were less likely to be convicted of another crime and less likely to use drugs after release.

Correct Answer
B. The idea of raising children in prison is controversial, but well-run prison nursery programs can actually be beneficial.

Explanation
B. The argument that prison nursery programs can be beneficial is an opinion statement because it makes a judgment. See Lesson: Facts Opinions and Evaluating an Argument.

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34.

Read the following paragraph and answer the question. The idea of raising children in prison is controversial, but well-run prison nursery programs can actually be beneficial. A study of preschool age children showed that anxiety and depression are common among young children who are separated from their mothers at birth and reunited later. In contrast, babies who spent brief sentences of two years or less behind bars with their mothers showed greater resilience and stronger attachments. According to a nationwide analysis of women who participated in prison nursery programs, the benefits for mothers are even clearer than the benefits to children. Women who were allowed to remain with their infants during prison sentences were less likely to be convicted of another crime and less likely to use drugs in the five years after release. They were more likely to continue their education in prison and more likely to find employment on the outside. Mothers involved in prison nursery programs also reported better mental health and greater confidence in their own parenting skills. Question: Consider the following sentence from the passage: Mothers involved in prison nursery programs also reported better mental health and greater confidence in their own parenting skills. Is this statement a fact or an opinion? Why?

A.

An opinion because it shares information about confidence, which is an emotion.
B.

A fact because it states verifiable information about how women reported they felt.
C.

A fact because it focuses on information from medical records rather than faulty memories.
D.

An opinion because it relies on human input rather than objective sources like computer records.

Correct Answer
B. A fact because it states verifiable information about how women reported they felt.

Explanation
B. The statement makes a factual statement about how people said they felt. This makes it a fact even though it contains opinion information.

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35.

Read the following paragraph and answer the question. The idea of raising children in prison is controversial, but well-run prison nursery programs can actually be beneficial. A study of preschool age children showed that anxiety and depression are common among young children who are separated from their mothers at birth and reunited later. In contrast, babies who spent brief sentences of two years or less behind bars with their mothers showed greater resilience and stronger attachments. According to a nationwide analysis of women who participated in prison nursery programs, the benefits for mothers are even clearer than the benefits to children. Women who were allowed to remain with their infants during prison sentences were less likely to be convicted of another crime and less likely to use drugs in the five years after release. They were more likely to continue their education in prison and more likely to find employment on the outside. Mothers involved in prison nursery programs also reported better mental health and greater confidence in their own parenting skills. Question: What is the primary argument of the passage?

A.

Young children should not be forced to live in prisons.
B.

Society must promote the health and safety of children.
C.

Letting imprisoned mothers keep their babies can be helpful.
D.

It is bad for children but good for mothers if children live in prison.

Correct Answer
C. Letting imprisoned mothers keep their babies can be helpful.

Explanation
C. The main argument in this passage is that it may be beneficial to both mothers and babies if women who give birth in prison are allowed to keep their children with them. One assumption behind the passage is that society must promote the health and safety of children, but this is not the main argument. See Lesson: Facts Opinions and Evaluating an Argument.

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36.

Read the following paragraph and answer the question. The idea of raising children in prison is controversial, but well-run prison nursery programs can actually be beneficial. A study of preschool age children showed that anxiety and depression are common among young children who are separated from their mothers at birth and reunited later. In contrast, babies who spent brief sentences of two years or less behind bars with their mothers showed greater resilience and stronger attachments. According to a nationwide analysis of women who participated in prison nursery programs, the benefits for mothers are even clearer than the benefits to children. Women who were allowed to remain with their infants during prison sentences were less likely to be convicted of another crime and less likely to use drugs in the five years after release. They were more likely to continue their education in prison and more likely to find employment on the outside. Mothers involved in prison nursery programs also reported better mental health and greater confidence in their own parenting skills. Question: What is one assumption behind the passage?

A.

Imprisoned mothers should take parenting classes to learn how to raise children.
B.

Some people disagree with the idea of allowing mothers to raise children in prison.
C.

The needs of incarcerated mothers are more important than the needs of their babies.
D.

Society should protect the health and well-being of children born to incarcerated mothers.

Correct Answer
D. Society should protect the health and well-being of children born to incarcerated mothers.

Explanation
D. The passage states explicitly that the idea of raising children in prison is controversial, so this is not an assumption. It does assume that our society should attempt to help children born to mothers in prison. See Lesson: Facts Opinions and Evaluating an Argument.

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37.

Read the following paragraph and answer the question. The idea of raising children in prison is controversial, but well-run prison nursery programs can actually be beneficial. A study of preschool age children showed that anxiety and depression are common among young children who are separated from their mothers at birth and reunited later. In contrast, babies who spent brief sentences of two years or less behind bars with their mothers showed greater resilience and stronger attachments. According to a nationwide analysis of women who participated in prison nursery programs, the benefits for mothers are even clearer than the benefits to children. Women who were allowed to remain with their infants during prison sentences were less likely to be convicted of another crime and less likely to use drugs in the five years after release. They were more likely to continue their education in prison and more likely to find employment on the outside. Mothers involved in prison nursery programs also reported better mental health and greater confidence in their own parenting skills. Question: Which sentence responding to the passage displays faulty reasoning?

A.

Although prison nursery programs have benefits, they do not justify the costs.
B.

Putting babies in jail is wrong because people that young do not belong in prison.
C.

Further research is necessary before it becomes a common practice to incarcerate babies.
D.

Society needs to find a better solution than prison for babies with incarcerated mothers.

Correct Answer
B. Putting babies in jail is wrong because people that young do not belong in prison.

Explanation
B. The sentence about putting babies in jail uses its own reason to defend its argument. It needs to provide evidence instead. See Lesson: Facts Opinions and Evaluating an Argument.

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38.

Read the following paragraph and answer the question. The idea of raising children in prison is controversial, but well-run prison nursery programs can actually be beneficial. A study of preschool age children showed that anxiety and depression are common among young children who are separated from their mothers at birth and reunited later. In contrast, babies who spent brief sentences of two years or less behind bars with their mothers showed greater resilience and stronger attachments. According to a nationwide analysis of women who participated in prison nursery programs, the benefits for mothers are even clearer than the benefits to children. Women who were allowed to remain with their infants during prison sentences were less likely to be convicted of another crime and less likely to use drugs in the five years after release. They were more likely to continue their education in prison and more likely to find employment on the outside. Mothers involved in prison nursery programs also reported better mental health and greater confidence in their own parenting skills. Question: The paragraph in the passage about benefits to mothers contains faulty reasoning because it:

A.

Suggests a cause-and-effect relationship without proving it.
B.

Causes readers to question the mothers’ mental health outcomes.
C.

Does not prove factually that women in the program are better mothers.
D.

Fails to show that it is beneficial to participate in prison education programs.

Correct Answer
A. Suggests a cause-and-effect relationship without proving it.

Explanation
A. The paragraph about benefits to mothers shows that mothers who participate in the prison nursery program have better outcomes. It suggests but does not prove that their participation in the program is the cause of these outcomes. See Lesson: Facts Opinions and Evaluating an Argument.

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39.

Read the following paragraph and answer the question. The idea of raising children in prison is controversial, but well-run prison nursery programs can actually be beneficial. A study of preschool age children showed that anxiety and depression are common among young children who are separated from their mothers at birth and reunited later. In contrast, babies who spent brief sentences of two years or less behind bars with their mothers showed greater resilience and stronger attachments. According to a nationwide analysis of women who participated in prison nursery programs, the benefits for mothers are even clearer than the benefits to children. Women who were allowed to remain with their infants during prison sentences were less likely to be convicted of another crime and less likely to use drugs in the five years after release. They were more likely to continue their education in prison and more likely to find employment on the outside. Mothers involved in prison nursery programs also reported better mental health and greater confidence in their own parenting skills. Question: Read the following sentences: We must provide funding to expand prison nursery programs to serve all women who give birth in prison. To do otherwise would cause babies to suffer needlessly. This would be an ineffective conclusion to the passage above because:

A.

It uses circular reasoning.
B.

It uses either/or reasoning.
C.

Its language includes insults.
D.

Its language displays gender bias.

Correct Answer
B. It uses either/or reasoning.

Explanation
B. The sentences above use a form of faulty reasoning called either/or reasoning. They suggest that there are only two possible ways for society to respond to the issue of babies being born in prison when in fact there are many. See Lesson: Facts Opinions and Evaluating an Argument.

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40.

Read the following passage and answer the question. It is perhaps unsurprising that school dress codes are becoming more common in American public schools. In our high-status-driven society, students feel the pressure to keep up with the most current fashion trends. The additional anxiety of wanting to “fit in” with peers can distract students from performing their best academically. In addition, some fashion trends are downright inappropriate and can be distracting to other students! Enforcing a dress code can allow schools to offer guidelines for clothing options that are suitable for school. Some school administrators are in favor of requiring students to wear a specific school uniform. Others suggest this may not be the most advantageous option as cost could still be a factor for some students, resulting in the same level of anxiety. Instead, they argue, offering simple guidelines that afford students the ability to meet their school’s dress code requirements with maximum flexibility. Question: The topic of this paragraph is:

A.

Fashion trends.
B.

Dress codes.
C.

School uniforms.
D.

Academic excellence.

Correct Answer
B. Dress codes.

Explanation
B. The topic of this paragraph is dress codes. Enforcing a specific school uniform is related to this topic, but is not covered in detail in this passage. See Lesson: Main Ideas, Topic Sentences, and Supporting Ideas.

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41.

Read the following passage and answer the question. It is perhaps unsurprising that school dress codes are becoming more common in American public schools. In our high-status-driven society, students feel the pressure to keep up with the most current fashion trends. The additional anxiety of wanting to “fit in” with peers can distract students from performing their best academically. In addition, some fashion trends are downright inappropriate and can be distracting to other students! Enforcing a dress code can allow schools to offer guidelines for clothing options that are suitable for school. Some school administrators are in favor of requiring students to wear a specific school uniform. Others suggest this may not be the most advantageous option as cost could still be a factor for some students, resulting in the same level of anxiety. Instead, they argue, offering simple guidelines that afford students the ability to meet their school’s dress code requirements with maximum flexibility. Question: The topic sentence of this paragraph is:

A.

In our high-status-driven society, students feel the pressure to keep up with the most current fashion trends.
B.

Enforcing a dress code can allow schools to offer guidelines for clothing options that are suitable for school
C.

Some school administrators are in favor of requiring students to wear specific a school uniform.
D.

Others suggest this may not be the most advantageous option as cost could still be a factor for some students, resulting in the same level of anxiety.

Correct Answer
A. In our high-status-driven society, students feel the pressure to keep up with the most current fashion trends.

Explanation
A. The first sentence of this paragraph leads the reader toward the main idea, which is expressed next in a topic sentence about the benefits of school dress codes. See Lesson: Main Ideas, Topic Sentences, and Supporting Ideas.

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42.

Read the following passage and answer the question. It is perhaps unsurprising that school dress codes are becoming more common in American public schools. In our high-status-driven society, students feel the pressure to keep up with the most current fashion trends. The additional anxiety of wanting to “fit in” with peers can distract students from performing their best academically. In addition, some fashion trends are downright inappropriate and can be distracting to other students! Enforcing a dress code can allow schools to offer guidelines for clothing options that are suitable for school. Some school administrators are in favor of requiring students to wear a specific school uniform. Others suggest this may not be the most advantageous option as cost could still be a factor for some students, resulting in the same level of anxiety. Instead, they argue, offering simple guidelines that afford students the ability to meet their school’s dress code requirements with maximum flexibility. Question: If the author added a description of a student who wore inappropriate outfits to school and ended up distracting other students, what type of information would this be?

A.

A main idea
B.

A topic sentence
C.

A supporting detail
D.

An off-topic sentence

Correct Answer
C. A supporting detail

Explanation
C. A description of a student wearing clothing that does not meet dress code requirements would function as a supporting detail in this paragraph about the school dress codes. See Lesson: Main Ideas, Topic Sentences, and Supporting Ideas.

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43.

Which word, if inserted into the space below, would clearly establish a positive tone? The __________ of her perfume lingered in the air long after she left.

A.

Reek
B.

Smell
C.

Stench
D.

Fragrance

Correct Answer
D. Fragrance

Explanation
D. The word fragrance has a positive connotation and would help show the author's positive attitude toward the woman and her perfume. See Lesson: Essay Revision and Transitions.

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44.

Which word if inserted into the space below, would clearly establish a negative tone? The __________ of her perfume lingered in the air long after she left.

A.

Smell
B.

Stench
C.

Aroma
D.

Fragrance

Correct Answer
B. Stench

Explanation
B. The word stench has a negative connotation and would help show the author's negative attitude toward the woman and her perfume. See Lesson: Essay Revision and Transitions.

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45.

Read the following passage and answer the question. Are you tired of your children not listening to you? Do they seem distracted every time you ask them to do something? Are you met with a glossy-eyed stare every time you say something to them? Part of the problem is too much screen time. Technology has its benefits, but it does a lot to ruin our children’s focus. There are too many flashes of light, too many colors, too many hyperlinks to navigate – it’s a wonder our children can even focus at all! Limiting your children’s screen time would do wonders for them. Make more time to have face-to-face conversations. This will allow your children to actually practice good listening and communication skills. Hand them a book! This will help them sit still and focus on one thing for a period of time. Technology won’t be going away anytime soon, but you can set limits for your children to help them focus, listen, and better engage with you. Question: This article is written for:

A.

Parents
B.

Children
C.

Teachers
D.

Policymakers

Correct Answer
A. Parents

Explanation
A. From phrases like “your children,” you can infer that the intended audience of this passage is parents. See Lesson: Understanding Primary Sources, Making Inferences, and Drawing Conclusions.

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46.

Read the following passage and answer the question. Are you tired of your children not listening to you? Do they seem distracted every time you ask them to do something? Are you met with a glossy-eyed stare every time you say something to them? Part of the problem is too much screen time. Technology has its benefits, but it does a lot to ruin our children’s focus. There are too many flashes of light, too many colors, too many hyperlinks to navigate – it’s a wonder our children can even focus at all! Limiting your children’s screen time would do wonders for them. Make more time to have face-to-face conversations. This will allow your children to actually practice good listening and communication skills. Hand them a book! This will help them sit still and focus on one thing for a period of time. Technology won’t be going away anytime soon, but you can set limits for your children to help them focus, listen, and better engage with you. Question: The author of this article assumes that:

A.

Parents are frustrated by their children not listening to them.
B.

Parents are on screens more than their children are.
C.

Children do not like to be told what to do by their parents.
D.

Children would rather talk and read books than be on screens.

Correct Answer
A. Parents are frustrated by their children not listening to them.

Explanation
A. The author assumes that many parents have the problem of their children not listening to them or being able to focus well. See Lesson: Understanding Primary Sources, Making Inferences, and Drawing Conclusions.

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47.

Read the following passage and answer the question. Are you tired of your children not listening to you? Do they seem distracted every time you ask them to do something? Are you met with a glossy-eyed stare every time you say something to them? Part of the problem is too much screen time. Technology has its benefits, but it does a lot to ruin our children’s focus. There are too many flashes of light, too many colors, too many hyperlinks to navigate – it’s a wonder our children can even focus at all! Limiting your children’s screen time would do wonders for them. Make more time to have face-to-face conversations. This will allow your children to actually practice good listening and communication skills. Hand them a book! This will help them sit still and focus on one thing for a period of time. Technology won’t be going away anytime soon, but you can set limits for your children to help them focus, listen, and better engage with you. Question: Which conclusion is not supported by the article?

A.

The author thinks kids are on their screens too much.
B.

The author thinks technology is negatively impacting children.
C.

The author thinks parents do not know how to discipline their children.
D.

The author thinks parents need to do more to help draw kids away from technology.

Correct Answer
C. The author thinks parents do not know how to discipline their children.

Explanation
C. The author does not suggest parents do not know how to discipline their children. This article is about setting limits on technology. It is not about disciplining children. See Lesson: Understanding Primary Sources, Making Inferences, and Drawing Conclusions.

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48.

Narrative writing:

A.

Tells a story.
B.

Explains an idea.
C.

Describes a process.
D.

Makes an argument.

Correct Answer
A. Tells a story.

Explanation
A. Narrative writing may be fiction or nonfiction as long as it tells a story. See Lesson: Types of Passages, Text Structures, Genre and Theme.

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49.

What are the two basic genres that encompass all of literature?

A.

Fable and myth
B.

Fiction and nonfiction
C.

Technical and expository
D.

Sequence and description

Correct Answer
B. Fiction and nonfiction

Explanation
B. All of literature can be arranged into two basic categories, or genres: fiction and nonfiction. See Lesson: Types of Passages, Text Structures, Genre and Theme.

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50.

Which aspects of the text are most important in establishing mood?

A.

Setting and theme
B.

Parallelism and syntax
C.

Organization and structure
D.

Transitions and conjunctions

Correct Answer
A. Setting and theme

Explanation
A. Setting details and details that suggest theme are some of the most important tools for establishing mood. See Lesson: Tone and Mood, Transition Words.

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Tasc Reading Exam 3

The tone of a text is __________ if the words say the opposite of what they really mean.

Fill in the blank with the correct active or passive verb. Too many books _____ about World War II.

How would you change the following sentence to passive voice? After the movie, she met her friend for dinner.

In which of the following situations would you use formal language?

Which of the following sentences uses the MOST informal language?

Study the following label and answer the question. Question: How many calories are in one serving of this product?

Study the following label and answer the question. Question: Germain ate 60 crackers out of this box. How many servings did he consume?

Study the following label and answer the question. Question: The product in this package is considered high in:

Study the following label and answer the question. Question: Fatima is attempting to confine her diet to products low in sodium. How much of this product should she eat?

Study the following label and answer the question. Question: The product in this package is a good source of:

Which word, if inserted into the space below, would clearly establish a positive tone? The __________ of her perfume lingered in the air long after she left.

Which word if inserted into the space below, would clearly establish a negative tone? The __________ of her perfume lingered in the air long after she left.

Narrative writing:

What are the two basic genres that encompass all of literature?

Which aspects of the text are most important in establishing mood?