Diagnostic PreTest Answers

1 verified answers1 views
1
Free Preview

Read the sentence taken from an argumentative essay on space exploration.Space exploration would cost a ton of money, but I would probably learn a lot of new things, so it’s probably worth it.Which of the following is the best revision of this sentence?

A
Space exploration might not be the best use of money, but I think it would be really cool.
B
Space exploration probably isn’t worth the high price, but who knows what we’ll find out there.
C
Space exploration is quite pricey and dangerous, but it is also very interesting.
D
Space exploration is extremely expensive, but the knowledge gained is worth the price.
2
Free Preview

In the conclusion of an argumentative essay, the author should

A
include a “hook” to capture the reader’s attention.
B
add details, facts, examples, and statistics.
C
restate main ideas and summarize how they support the claim.
D
present counter arguments and explain how they are flawed.
3

Read the excerpt from part 2 of Zeitoun.Only birds would survive this sort of apocalypse. Birds, some snakes, any beast that could find higher ground ahead of the rising tide. He looked for fish. If he was floating atop water shared with the lake, surely fish had been swept into the city. And, on cue, he saw a murky form darting between submerged tree branches.What is happening in the excerpt?

A
Zeitoun is considering the religious nature of the flood.
B
Zeitoun rejoices at the sight of birds in the trees.
C
Zeitoun spots fish swimming in the flood waters.
D
Zeitoun is contemplating the survival of domestic pets.
4

Read the paragraph.Louis __________ the cookbook in frustration. He just wanted to make dinner for this friends. Why did recipes always have to be so complicated?

A
closed
B
put down
C
slammed shut
D
set aside
5

Read the sentence from Samuel Johnson's preface to A Dictionary of the English Language.Wherever I turned my view, there was perplexity to be disentangled, and confusion to be regulated; choice was to be made out of boundless variety.

A
wherever
B
view
C
disentangled
D
variety
6

Read the sentence from Samuel Johnson's preface to A Dictionary of the English Language.I have studiously endeavoured to collect examples and authorities from the writers before the restoration, whose works I regard as the wells of English undefiled, as the pure sources of genuine diction.

A
studiously, endeavoured
B
examples, authorities
C
writers, restoration
D
pure, genuine
7

Read the introduction to Lena’s personal narrative, “My First Solo.”The first time I ______ a solo, my stomach was in knots. I could barely breathe, and I wasn’t sure a sound would come out when I opened my mouth to sing. Despite my nerves, I was able to do it. My part certainly wasn’t perfect and may have been a little screechy, but I was proud of myself nonetheless. Which word correctly fills in the blank?

A
perform
B
performed
C
am performing
D
had performed
8

Which sentence is capitalized correctly?

A
“Coach wants me to organize the team dinner,” said Derrick.
B
“Coach wants me to organize the team dinner,” Said Derrick.
C
“Coach wants me to organize the team dinner,” said derrick.
D
“coach wants me to organize the team dinner,” said Derrick.
9

Read the excerpts from “Take the Tortillas Out of Your Poetry” and “Speaking Arabic.”My friend had concluded that if he took his language and culture out of his poetry, he stood a better chance of receiving a fellowship. He took out his native language, the poetic patois of our reality, the rich mixture of Spanish, English, pachuco and street talk which we know so well. In other words, he took the tortillas out of his poetry, which is to say he took the soul out of his poetry. At a neighborhood fair in Texas, somewhere between the German Oom-pah Sausage Stand and the Mexican Gorditas booth, I overheard a young man say to his friend, “I wish I had a heritage. Sometimes I feel—so lonely for one.” And the tall American trees were dangling their thick branches right down over his head.Which best states how the structure of each excerpt supports a different tone?

A
Anaya structures his text as an anecdote, which gives it a humorous tone, while Nye structures her text as a counterclaim, which gives it a defensive tone.
B
Anaya structures his text as an explanation, which gives it an authoritative tone, while Nye structures her text as an impression, which gives it a soothing tone.
C
Anaya structures his text as a theory, which gives it an academic tone, while Nye structures her text as a list, which gives it an unemotional tone.
D
Anaya structures his text as a news report, which gives it a neutral tone, while Nye structures her text as a critique, which gives it a judgmental tone.
10

Read the quotation from "Song of Myself."I too am not a bit tamed, I too am untranslatable, I sound my barbaric yawp over the roofs of the world.Which statement best describes how these lines reflect the general structure of the poem?

A
Just as the poem has a loose, open structure, these lines display personal freedom.
B
The lines reflect the difficult and impenetrable nature of certain parts of the poem.
C
The lines evoke the aggressive tones expressed elsewhere in the poem.
D
The lines indicate an attention to urban settings expressed elsewhere in the poem.
11

Read the quotation from "Song of Myself."It is not far, it is within reach,Perhaps you have been on it since you were born and did not know,Perhaps it is everywhere on water and on land.Shoulder your duds dear son, and I will mine, and let us hasten forth,Wonderful cities and free nations we shall fetch as we go.In this quotation, the first stanza has a different style from the second section. What does this suggest about Whitman’s overall style in the poem?

A
that Whitman does not have a distinctive style as a poet
B
that Whitman’s style allows for various kinds of language
C
that Whitman is comfortable using traditional styles of poetry
D
that Whitman’s style conforms to age-old rules of poetry
12

Read the excerpt from part 2 of Zeitoun.He coasted away from his home, passing over bicycles and cars, their antennae scraping the bottom of his canoe. Every vehicle, old and new, was gone, unsalvageable. The numbers filled his head: there were a hundred thousand cars lost in the flood. Maybe more. What would happen to them? Who would take them once the waters receded? In what hole could they all be buried?Zeitoun is pondering

A
the fate of flooded cars.
B
the number of flood victims.
C
the need for religious burials.
D
the location of his lost belongings.
13

Fill in the blank.The rider tugged on the _______ of her horse to make him slow down.

A
reins
B
ranes
C
rains
D
reigns
14

Which sentence contains an element of bias?

A
According to researchers, children who watch less television are more likely to lead an active lifestyle and participate in sports.
B
Reliable research and a handful of well-regarded studies show that watching too much television can negatively impact children’s academic progress and development.
C
Researchers report that violent television can have a negative impact on children, but they likely aren’t taking into account the available programs that are enriching.
D
Children in the United States watch an average of three to four hours of television each day, according to reliable studies.
15

Read the excerpt from "An Indian's View of Indian Affairs." My father was chief before me. When a young man, he was called Joseph by Mr. Spaulding, a missionary. He died a few years ago. He left a good name on earth. He advised me well for my people.Based on the idea that Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt (Chief Joseph) highly values what his father has taught him, how does he most likely feel about his tribe’s cultural traditions?

A
He feels strongly about sharing them with others in the world.
B
He feels strongly about remembering them for years to come.
C
He feels strongly about revising them to be more relevant.
D
He feels strongly about preserving and maintaining them.
16

Read the excerpt from Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby.My own house was an eyesore, but it was a small eyesore, and it had been overlooked, so I had a view of the water, a partial view of my neighbor's lawn, and the consoling proximity of millionaires—all for eighty dollars a month.Across the courtesy bay the white palaces of fashionable East Egg glittered along the water, and the history of the summer really begins on the evening I drove over there.The contrast created between East Egg and West Egg suggests that

A
the main character feels comfortable in all social situations.
B
Nick will experience a series of financial pitfalls as the story unfolds.
C
the story’s conflict will be based on wealth and appearances.
D
the story will be presented from a number of differing perspectives.
17

Read this excerpt from "The Intelligent Planet."Hawthorne . . . marveled that this mysterious substance called electricity could transmit signals across thousands of miles and make inert machines spring suddenly to life. What is the meaning of the underlined term?

A
useless
B
modern
C
innovative
D
inactive
18

Read the excerpt from "Poetry." When they become so derivative as to become unintelligible, the same thing may be said for all of us, that we do not admire what we cannot understandBased on context, what is the most likely definition for “derivative”?

A
unique
B
inventive
C
unusual
D
unoriginal
19

Read the excerpt from Dispatches.I remembered the way a Phantom pilot had talked about how beautiful the surface-to-air missiles looked as they drifted up toward his plane to kill him, and remembered myself how lovely .50-caliber tracers could be, coming at you as you flew at night in a helicopter, how slow and graceful, arching up easily, a dream, so remote from anything that could harm you.Based on the sensory details, what can be inferred about the narrator’s feelings toward the airstrikes he witnessed?

A
He was fascinated by the way they looked.
B
He became drowsy from their slowness.
C
He despised them because they were destructive.
D
He feared them for their unpredictability.
20

Which sentence from "The World on Turtle's Back" best illustrates why the story is considered a creation myth?

A
The woman created a home for herself on this new earth and soon her daughter was born.
B
She told them that if they could find some soil, she could plant the roots from the Great Tree that were still tangled in her hands.
C
The woman placed the dirt on Turtle’s back and performed a ritual to create the earth.
D
She is called “our mother” and the people dance and sing to her to make the plants grow.

Did you find these answers helpful?