Partial Practice Exam 4 (with explanations)
Read the entire passage carefully, and then answer the questions. (Note: Intentional errors may have been included in this passage.)
(1) _____________________________________________________________________ (2) In Jonesboro, Arkansas, two young boys stole several high-powered rifles as well as a large supply of ammunition. (3) The next day, they committed an act that shocked the nation. (4) They used the stolen rifles to shoot at students and teachers who were leaving the building. (5) Setting off the fire alarm in their school building, the boys raced outside. (6) They wounded several people and killed four young girls along with a teacher. (7) The teacher had been trying to shield her students from the bullets. (8) Although the boys’ actions seem incredible, Dr. Nancy Tuttle, Director of the League for Responsible Media Programming for Children, suggests that this was neither an isolated nor an unusual example of the type of violence being acted out increasingly by children in the United States. (9) “There’s a chilling reason why we may see more youngsters using real weapons against anyone whom they consider an ‘enemy’,” states Dr. Tuttle. (10) “Children these days are exposed via movies, TV, and arcade games to far too many examples of violence connected to thrills and vengeance; ____________, it’s surprising more youngsters don’t take that leap from fantasy to reality in order to serve their desire for excitement or for getting even.” (11) Tuttle warns: “In the United States, we are now facing terrible consequences from years of putting commercial interests above our concern for the mental and physical health of our children.” (12) There is no question that all youngsters nowadays watch entirely too much TV.
1. Which sentence, if inserted in the blank labeled 1, is the best main idea or topic sentence for the passage?
A. Two Arkansas boys recently committed a terrible crime.
B. The Jonesboro, Arkansas, shooting will not be the last act of violence committed by young children.
C. America’s children are being conditioned to violent behavior by the commercial entertainment produced for them.
D. Our children watch too much television.
2. Which of the numbered sentences from the preceding passage is not supported by specific detail?
A. sentence 3
B. sentence 8
C. sentence 9
D. sentence 12
3. Select the arrangement of sentences 4, 5, and 6 that provides the most logical sequence of ideas and supporting details in the paragraph. If no change is needed, select option A.
A. They used the stolen rifles to shoot at students and teachers who were leaving the building. Setting off the fire alarm in their school building, the boys raced outside. They wounded several people and killed four young girls along with a teacher.
B. Setting off the fire alarm in their school building, the boys raced outside. They used the stolen rifles to shoot at students and teachers who were leaving the building. They wounded several people and killed four young girls along with a teacher.
C. Setting off the fire alarm in their school building, the boys raced outside. They wounded several people and killed four young girls along with a teacher. They used the stolen rifles to shoot at students and teachers who were leaving the building.
D. They wounded several people and killed four young girls along with a teacher. Setting off the fire alarm in their school building, the boys raced outside. They used the stolen rifles to shoot at students and teachers who were leaving the building.
4. Which numbered sentence is least relevant to the whole passage?
A. sentence 2
B. sentence 4
C. sentence 7
D. sentence 9
5. Which word or phrase, if inserted in the blank in sentence 10, would make the most logical connection between the ideas in the sentence?
A. consequently
B. on the other hand
C. in spite of this
D. in addition
Read the entire passage carefully, and then answer the questions. (Note: Intentional errors may have been included in this passage.)
(1) _____________________________________________________________________ (2) Several times a day, visitors can enjoy wonderful shows in the amphitheater or outside the international pavilions. (3) In addition, outdoor acts by such performers as Moroccan acrobats or Italian street-singers draw delighted crowds to the various pavilions. (4) For example, there is a free program three of four times a day in the amphitheater, presenting song, dance, and comedy. (5) In some pavilions, visitors can also see breath-taking sights from distant lands. (6) _________________, 360-degree “surround” films make viewers in the Chinese pavilion feel they are flying over the peaks of the Himalayas, and in the Canadian pavilion visitors might almost think they are riding in a precision drill with the famous Royal Canadian Mounted Police. (7) In the Far East Emporium, Epcot visitors can even take a chance on finding a fortune. (8) From a large selection of oysters guaranteed to contain cultured pearls, shoppers choose one; then, the attendant slices it open, polishes the pearl within, and presents it to the buyer. (9) For only a few dollars, one might come away with a precious black pearl worth hundreds! (10) With all its pleasures and wonders, a trip to Disney’s Epcot Center is an experience most visitors long remember and hope to repeat.
6. Which sentence, if inserted in the blank labeled number 1, is the best main idea or topic sentence for the passage?
A. Disney’s Epcot Center, in Orlando, Florida, offers a variety of interesting and entertaining experiences.
B. Disney’s Epcot Center attracts millions of visitors each year.
C. At Disney’s Epcot Center in Orlando, Florida, one can see many international pavilions.
D. There are a lot of educational shows to see at Epcot Center.
7. Select the arrangement of sentences 2, 3, and 4 that provides the most logical sequence of ideas and supporting details in the paragraph. If no change is needed, select option A.
A. Several times a day, visitors can enjoy wonderful shows in the amphitheater or outside the international pavilions. In addition, outdoor acts by such performers as Moroccan acrobats or Italian street-singers draw delighted crowds to the various pavilions. For example, there is a free program three of four times a day in the amphitheater, presenting song, dance, and comedy.
B. For example, there is a free program three of four times a day in the amphitheater, presenting song, dance, and comedy. In addition, outdoor acts by such performers as Moroccan acrobats or Italian street-singers draw delighted crowds to the various pavilions. Several times a day, visitors can enjoy wonderful shows in the amphitheater or outside the international pavilions.
C. Several times a day, visitors can enjoy wonderful shows in the amphitheater or outside the international pavilions. For example, there is a free program three of four times a day in the amphitheater, presenting song, dance, and comedy. In addition, outdoor acts by such performers as Moroccan acrobats or Italian street-singers draw delighted crowds to the various pavilions.
D. In addition, outdoor acts by such performers as Moroccan acrobats or Italian street-singers draw delighted crowds to the various pavilions. Several times a day, visitors can enjoy wonderful shows in the amphitheater or outside the international pavilions. For example, there is a free program three of four times a day in the amphitheater, presenting song, dance, and comedy.
8. Which word or phrase, if inserted in the blank in sentence 6, would make the relationship of the ideas in sentence 5 and 6 clearer?
A. consequently
B. however
C. for instance
D. therefore
Anwers with Explanations (Correct answer is bolded)
1. Which sentence, if inserted in the blank labeled 1, is the best main idea or topic sentence for the passage?
A. Two Arkansas boys recently committed a terrible crime.
B. The Jonesboro, Arkansas, shooting will not be the last act of violence committed by young children.
C. America’s children are being conditioned to violent behavior by the commercial entertainment produced for them.
D. Our children watch too much television.
Recall that a topic sentence is an umbrella statement that indicates the point of the paragraph. It must have two parts: the topic and the author’s points about the topic. Choice A is simply a supporting detail used as example in the paragraph; it is not the author’s point in writing. Choices B and D draw conclusions; they do not state the point of the paragraph. Choice C is the answer. The entire paragraph examines the violence of young people and explains how commercial entertainment contributes to the violence.
2. Which of the numbered sentences from the preceding passage is not supported by specific detail?
A. sentence 3
B. sentence 8
C. sentence 9
D. sentence 12
Choice A
(3) The next day, they committed an act that shocked the nation. (4) They used the stolen rifles to shoot at students and teachers who were leaving the building. Sentence 4 clearly explains the shocking act.
Choice B
(8) Although the boys’ actions seem incredible, Dr. Nancy Tuttle, Director of the League for Responsible Media Programming for Children, suggests that this was neither an isolated nor an unusual example of the type of violence being acted out increasingly by children in the United States. (9) “There’s a chilling reason why we may see more youngsters using real weapons against anyone whom they consider an ‘enemy’,” states Dr. Tuttle. Sentence 9 begins to explain why the actions that seem incredible really are not.
Choice C
(9) “There’s a chilling reason why we may see more youngsters using real weapons against anyone whom they consider an ‘enemy’,” states Dr. Tuttle. (10) “Children these days are exposed via movies, TV, and arcade games to far too many examples of violence connected to thrills and vengeance; ____________, it’s surprising more youngsters don’t take that leap from fantasy to reality in order to serve their desire for excitement or for getting even.” Sentence 10 specifically details the “chilling reason.”
Choice D
(12) There is no question that all youngsters nowadays watch entirely too much TV. There is no sentence following sentence 12, and no other sentence in the passage elaborates on the idea presented here. Sentence 12 is a concluding thought.
3. Select the arrangement of sentences 4, 5, and 6 that provides the most logical sequence of ideas and supporting details in the paragraph. If no change is needed, select option A.
A. They used the stolen rifles to shoot at students and teachers who were leaving the building. Setting off the fire alarm in their school building, the boys raced outside. They wounded several people and killed four young girls along with a teacher.
B. Setting off the fire alarm in their school building, the boys raced outside. They used the stolen rifles to shoot at students and teachers who were leaving the building. They wounded several people and killed four young girls along with a teacher.
C. Setting off the fire alarm in their school building, the boys raced outside. They wounded several people and killed four young girls along with a teacher. They used the stolen rifles to shoot at students and teachers who were leaving the building.
D. They wounded several people and killed four young girls along with a teacher. Setting off the fire alarm in their school building, the boys raced outside. They used the stolen rifles to shoot at students and teachers who were leaving the building.
The key here is to consider the order of the events. In order to empty the school building, the boys would first have to set off the alarm. Once people started to come outside, they would begin shooting with the stolen rifles. Finally, it would make sense to detail who they shot . Choice B is the only one that places the events in that order.
4. Which numbered sentence is least relevant to the whole passage?
A. sentence 2
B. sentence 4
C. sentence 7
D. sentence 9
The word relevant means related. This means if we were to remove this sentence, we would not be lost or confused. That is, we would not lose any meaning in the paragraph. In fact, we probably should get rid of the least relevant sentence. Consider each sentence one at a time.
(2) In Jonesboro, Arkansas, two young boys stole several high-powered rifles as well as a large supply of ammunition. Clearly this is an important example that supports the topic sentence.
(4) They used the stolen rifles to shoot at students and teachers who were leaving the building. This sentence is important too because it supports the topic sentence.
(7) The teacher had been trying to shield her students from the bullets. This sentence does not directly support the topic sentence. It explains, perhaps, why more students were not wounded, but it does not explain violence in America’s youth and how commercial entertainment contributes to it.
(9) “There’s a chilling reason why we may see more youngsters using real weapons against anyone whom they consider an ‘enemy’,” states Dr. Tuttle. This sentence explains the trend of violent behavior in young people, so it is important.
5. Which word or phrase, if inserted in the blank in sentence 10, would make the most logical connection between the ideas in the sentence?
A. consequently
B. on the other hand
C. in spite of this
D. in addition
You must understand the relationship that each word expresses and then test out the relationship between the two ideas in the passage. Consequently means to show an effect. It means that the idea following is an effect of the idea that came before it. On the other hand means contrast, so the idea following will have to be opposing the one before it. In spite of this also means contrast, so if choice B is correct, then choice C would also be correct. In addition shows a relationship of addition. It means that the idea following is equally important additional information.
(10) “Children these days are exposed via movies, TV, and arcade games to far too many examples of violence connected to thrills and vengeance; ____________, it’s surprising more youngsters don’t take that leap from fantasy to reality in order to serve their desire for excitement or for getting even.”
Think of it this way. Because so many kids are exposed to violence in their entertainment, we are surprised more kids aren’t taking that leap of being violent in reality. Our surprise is the effect or the outcome of knowing that so many children are exposed to violent entertainment.
6. Which sentence, if inserted in the blank labeled number 1, is the best main idea or topic sentence for the passage?
A. Disney’s Epcot Center, in Orlando, Florida, offers a variety of interesting and entertaining experiences.
B. Disney’s Epcot Center attracts millions of visitors each year.
C. At Disney’s Epcot Center in Orlando, Florida, one can see many international pavilions.
D. There are a lot of educational shows to see at Epcot Center.
Statement B is a narrow detail. Choice C does not cover the entire paragraph. The paragraph is not just about the international pavilions. Choice D does not cover the whole paragraph either because the paragraph does not just address the educational shows. Only Choice A is broad enough to cover all the supporting points in the paragraph, as the whole paragraph does indeed discuss a variety of interesting and entertaining experiences.
7. Select the arrangement of sentences 2, 3, and 4 that provides the most logical sequence of ideas and supporting details in the paragraph. If no change is needed, select option A.
A. Several times a day, visitors can enjoy wonderful shows in the amphitheater or outside the international pavilions. In addition, outdoor acts by such performers as Moroccan acrobats or Italian street-singers draw delighted crowds to the various pavilions. For example, there is a free program three of four times a day in the amphitheater, presenting song, dance, and comedy.
B. For example, there is a free program three of four times a day in the amphitheater, presenting song, dance, and comedy. In addition, outdoor acts by such performers as Moroccan acrobats or Italian street-singers draw delighted crowds to the various pavilions. Several times a day, visitors can enjoy wonderful shows in the amphitheater or outside the international pavilions.
C. Several times a day, visitors can enjoy wonderful shows in the amphitheater or outside the international pavilions. For example, there is a free program three of four times a day in the amphitheater, presenting song, dance, and comedy. In addition, outdoor acts by such performers as Moroccan acrobats or Italian street-singers draw delighted crowds to the various pavilions.
D. In addition, outdoor acts by such performers as Moroccan acrobats or Italian street-singers draw delighted crowds to the various pavilions. Several times a day, visitors can enjoy wonderful shows in the amphitheater or outside the international pavilions. For example, there is a free program three of four times a day in the amphitheater, presenting song, dance, and comedy.
Begin by eliminating choices B and D. In each case, the opening transition does not make sense. In choice B, the sentence is not a logical example of the sentence before it. In sentence D, the statement is not equally important additional information to the sentence before it. That leaves choices A and C. Only C works because the sentence that begins “For example” is a logical illustration of the sentence that begins “Several times a day.” After the discussion of the shows is finished, we then move onto the outdoor acts.
8. Which word or phrase, if inserted in the blank in sentence 6, would make the relationship of the ideas in sentence 5 and 6 clearer?
A. consequently
B. however
C. for instance
D. therefore
(5) In some pavilions, visitors can also see breath-taking sights from distant lands. (6) _________________, 360-degree “surround” films make viewers in the Chinese pavilion feel they are flying over the peaks of the Himalayas, and in the Canadian pavilion visitors might almost think they are riding in a precision drill with the famous Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Again, you must know what relationship each choice expresses. Choice A shows effect; B shows contrast; C shows example, and D shows effect. Since choices A and D show effect and only one answer can be correct, both must be wrong. Clearly, choice C is an example or illustration of the breath-taking sights mentioned in sentence 5.
