Practice Exam 2: MCQs 2020

2020 Practice Exam 2 MCQ Which of the following best describes the author's purpose in the passage? To convince aspiring writers of the importance of hard work Which of the following statements best represents the thesis of the passage? The key to success as a writer is consistent effort, not inherent ability. In the first paragraph, the author supports her claim that writers should "go to writers' workshops" (sentence 1) by explaining how workshops can help writers learn unpleasant but valuable lessons In the first paragraph, the author uses the phrase "rented readers" define writers' workshops in terms of their value to aspiring writers (sentence 6) in order to In the fifth sentence of the second paragraph ("Perhaps . . . lunch underlines the variety of opportunities for those who are dedicated hour"), the author strategically arranges clauses in a way that to improving their craft In the last sentence of the second paragraph ("Journal writing . . . projects"), the author connects two independent clauses with the emphasize that keeping a journal has multiple benefits for writers conjunction "and" primarily to Based on her discussion of the publication process (paragraph 4, sentences 1-11), the author most likely believes which of the following about her audience? They have limited familiarity with publication and need a variety of advice. The author's shift in tone between the fourth and fifth paragraphs marks a transition between offering practical advice and advocating broader principles The author's decision to repeat the word "forget" in the sixth and seventh paragraphs primarily serves to suggest a parallel between two distinct ideas that the author challenges The seventh paragraph as a whole implicitly challenges which of the following ideas? Successful writers must be very talented. In the seventh sentence of the seventh paragraph, the author uses a dash primarily to elaborate on a general claim by providing specific examples The author's contrast between "persistence" and "stubbornness" (paragraph 7, sentences 7-8) advances her argument in which of the following ways? It underscores the need for writers to continually improve their craft. Which of the following best describes the author's exigence in the The uncritical acceptance of an opinion that he finds problematic passage? In the passage, the author makes which of the following assumptions about his audience? They are familiar with mainstream rhetoric about globalization. In the second sentence of the passage ("Ancient . . . history"), the series of short, simple clauses and the word play on "history" convey the author's sense that the claims of flat-world proponents sound a little too superficial to be true Which of the following best describes the relationship between the Paragraph 3 presents evidence that addresses questions raised second paragraph and the third paragraph? in paragraph 2. In the sixth sentence of the third paragraph ("The near-global diffusion . . . opposite effect"), the author mentions the diffusion of English primarily to acknowledge the validity of one element of an argument he generally opposes Which of the following does the author represent as an effect of "congregat[ing] in places of high environmental risk" (paragraph 3, sentence 8) ? Dangers that disproportionately affect certain communities In the eighth sentence of the third paragraph, the author mentions "the absence of coordinated warning systems" to amplify his point about the the hazards of inhabiting certain geographical areas The quotation marks around the phrase "international community" signal a skeptical tone that reflects the author's doubts about the (paragraph 3, sentence 9) serve primarily to existence of such a community In the final sentence of the third paragraph ("The power of place . . . thrall"), which of the following best describes the effect of removing the words "the vast majority of"? The author's claim would be broadened by the removal of a qualification. At what point in his development of the passage's line of reasoning The first four sentences of the third paragraph ("Not yet . . . even does the author arrive at his thesis? setbacks") 1/4 In the fifth sentence of the fourth paragraph ("And in certain . . . an area of agreement between himself and another author whose true"), the author italicizes the verb "is" primarily to emphasize views he has challenged In the fourth paragraph, the author cites Thomas Friedman primarily to acknowledge that the arguments of flat-world proponents are more complex than he has previously suggested Which of the following sentences, if added after sentence 1, would effectively engage the audience to want to know what prompted the writer's change of heart regarding mayflies? I was one of those people. The writer is considering deleting the underlined portion of sentence 4 (reproduced below). Throughout a couple of weeks each summer, the nymphs (juvenile Keep it, because it explains a term that may be unfamiliar to some mayflies), which have developed underwater for the past few readers. months, hatch into millions of mature mayflies with non-functioning mouths. Should the writer keep or delete the underlined text? After sentence 6, the writer wants to provide additional evidence to Furthermore, mayflies regularly disrupt activities held on or near support the claim that mayflies are a nuisance to humans. Which the river, causing humans to constantly swat at their bodies to rid of the following sentences would best achieve this purpose? themselves of the expiring insects. In sentence 7 (reproduced below), the writer is considering adding the parenthetical phrase "(another hazard to humans in cars)" after the word "off." Yes, because it connects the evidence offered in the sentence to In fact, often street lights are shut off in order to decrease the the paragraph's main claim. number of mayflies congregating near them. Should the writer make this addition? Which of the following sentences should be deleted from the second paragraph because it does not provide evidence that supports the main claim of the paragraph? Sentence 9 The writer wants sentence 10 (reproduced below) to convey the reluctant appreciation of mayflies she describes in the third paragraph. Despite these nuisances, I have come to value these somewhat unsightly creatures. Which version of the underlined portion of sentence 10 most effectively accomplishes this goal? (as it is now) Which of the following words should be placed at the beginning of sentence 16 (reproduced below) in order to demonstrate a connection to the previous sentence? Mayflies impact the economies of humans who live near healthy rivers and lakes—both tourists and locals spend money to enjoy activities in and near the water. Thus, Which of the following sentences, if added after sentence 16, would provide the best concluding sentence for the passage? Clearly there are both negative and positive aspects to coexisting with mayflies, but the long-lasting positives outweigh the temporary negatives. In sentence 3 (reproduced below), the writer wants to provide statistical information that helps contextualize the argument of the passage for the audience. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (USBLS), the the number of teens working summer jobs has dropped from 60 state with the highest employment rate for teens is Mississippi at percent to 30 percent since the 1980s 77 percent, and the lowest is North Dakota at 51 percent. Which of the following versions of the underlined portion of sentence 3 most effectively accomplishes this goal? The writer is considering adding the following sentence after sentence 5. Many people view teenagers as lazy, preferring to spend their summers playing video games and hanging out with friends instead of working hard to make money. Should the writer add this sentence after sentence 5 ? The writer is considering adding the following sentence after sentence 5. Many people view teenagers as lazy, preferring to spend their summers playing video games and hanging out with friends instead of working hard to make money. Should the writer add this sentence after sentence 5 ? The writer wants to add information to the beginning of sentence 6 (reproduced below), adjusting the capitalization as needed, to 2/4 help establish the credibility of the source of the information in the sentence. Middle- and upper-class teens are choosing not to work, while lower-income teens have less access to jobs. Which of the following choices most effectively accomplishes this goal? According to Paul Harrington, a Drexel University professor of labor markets, The writer is considering deleting the underlined portion of sentence 7 (reproduced below). Teens with access to part-time jobs often select what they perKeep it, because it exemplifies what these potentially better alterceive as better alternatives (e.g., community service, volunteer natives might be. work, unpaid internships, and academics) that have nonfinancial benefits. Should the writer keep or delete the underlined text? The writer is considering deleting sentence 9 (reproduced below) from the passage. Teenagers in my neighborhood, meanwhile, must need some Delete it, because the anecdote about local teenagers weakens extra money because I see numerous signs at the local grocery the reasoning of the argument at this point of the passage. store advertising personal lawn-mowing and babysitting services. Should the writer keep or delete this sentence? The writer wants to add a sentence after sentence 12 to qualify However, while it is true that these traits can be acquired through the claim made by the Center for Work Ethic Development that part-time jobs, not all work environments are conducive for this part-time jobs result in teens developing beneficial soft skills. development. Which of the following sentences best accomplishes this goal? However, while it is true that these traits can be acquired through part-time jobs, not all work environments are conducive for this development. desirable The writer is considering deleting sentence 16 (reproduced below) from the passage. Thus, it is very important for teenagers to get back into the Delete it, because its conclusion does not logically follow from the workforce so they can develop the work ethic they need to be line of reasoning in the passage. successful. Should the writer keep or delete sentence 16 ? The writer wants to add language to the end of sentence 1 (reproduced below), adjusting the punctuation as needed, to help communities that use the latest digital technology, particularly clarify the central concept of the essay. computer systems that respond to input from networks of sensors, From Toronto, Canada, to Songdo, South Korea, cities around the to deliver city services efficiently and improve urban life world are promoting themselves as "smart cities." Which of the following choices would best accomplish this goal? The writer wants to avoid revealing any potential bias in sentence 3 (reproduced below). Many people are excited about these new technologies, and, as civil engineering professor and infrastructure expert Shoshanna Saxe explains, they are intended to improve infrastructure by collecting data and responding automatically. Which of the following versions of the underlined portion of sentence 3 would best accomplish this goal? (as it is now) The writer wants to add a sentence after sentence 5 (reproduced below) to elaborate on that sentence's description of the contrast between infrastructure with and without sensors for data collection. Water pipes, roads, and other elements of conventional infrastrucAdding sensors for data collection to public services such as water ture last for decades precisely because they are not "smart": they and electricity distribution introduces new vulnerability to urban are structures with relatively simple, easy-to-replace parts. infrastructure. Which of the following sentences would best accomplish this goal? The writer is considering adding the clause "devices that work optimally only for a few years before bugs in their programming introduce glitches and errors" to the end of sentence 6 (reproduced below), adjusting the punctuation as needed. 3/4 Saxe and other experienced city planners worry that networked Yes, because the additional information clarifies a comparison to digital infrastructure would be more akin to a smartphone or a more familiar technology that also breaks or becomes obsolete computer. relatively quickly. Should the writer add this clause to the end of sentence 6 ? The writer wants to add evidence to exemplify the main argument A narrative about a city in which smart city technology designed of the second paragraph. Which of the following pieces of evito determine the best routes for garbage collection required costly dence would best accomplish this goal? repairs after three years 4/4