Style and Tone

Which choice maintains the ordered pattern of the character’s description established earlier in the paragraph?

Augustus Carrington’s appearance could best be described as eccentric from head to toe. He sported a mane of frizzy red hair and a pair of ancient spectacles his great-grandfather had gifted to him 30 years ago. A silk scarf with a red bandana pattern was perpetually tied around his neck, and he always wore a pair of yellow rain boots, a white laboratory coat over an argyle sweater vest, and a gold watch whose chain looped outside a pair of tweed hunting trousers.

• no change

• a gold watch whose chain looped outside a pair of tweed hunting trousers, a white laboratory coat over an argyle sweater vest, and a pair of yellow rain boots.

• a white laboratory coat over an argyle sweater vest, a gold watch whose chain looped outside a pair of tweed hunting trousers, and a pair of yellow rain boots.

• a white laboratory coat over an argyle sweater vest, a pair of yellow rain boots, and a gold watch whose chain looped outside a pair of tweed hunting trousers.

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

CCSS.RI.9-10.5

In order to achieve irony, the author wants to juxtapose two terms which are typically contradictory. Which choice best accomplishes this goal?

Inside the busy hum of the Kitchen section at Crockery Den, Robin stood on tiptoe to reach a casserole dish on the fourth shelf. She had just shifted the box toward her and was poised to catch it when she lost her balance and the cookware toppled to the floor with a massive crash. The ensuing silence in the store was such that you could hear a pin drop.

• no change

• The ensuing silence in the store was deafening.

• The ensuing silence in the store was overwhelming.

• It got so quiet that Robin could hear her heart beating.

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.10

CCSS.RI.8.10

CCSS.RI.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.11-12.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

Which choice maintains the rhetorical pattern established in the earlier two sentences?

Is it possible to judge others’ choices while your own decisions may be suspect? Yes, but you may face criticism. In that case, should you refrain from passing judgment? The saying goes, “people who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.” But if you can offer an insight to a friend that might benefit them, despite your shortcomings, by all means, give it.

• no change

• But if you can offer an insight to a friend that might benefit them, despite your shortcomings, should you give it?

• But if you can offer an insight to a friend that might benefit them, despite your shortcomings? By all means, give it.

• But if you can offer an insight to a friend that might benefit them, despite your shortcomings? Should you give it?

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.4

Which choice maintains the tone of a traditional campaign speech established in the rest of this paragraph?

I stand before you today with a pledge: to make our state better. For the last four years, I served as Mayor of the city of Geyser Falls. I connected my work in the public sector to small businesses and communities that form the backbone of Geyser Falls. I listened to what was most important to residents. Based on their concerns, I decided to increase police patrols at schools, shopping malls, and community centers, which led to a 50% decrease in property crime over the last year. Now comes the moment for me to listen to all you guys who live in this great state. As your Governor, I will listen to your concerns and work with our law makers to bring relevant, positive legislation to fruition. I want to get our students’ test scores up and make this state a national leader for education, where it belongs. I want to make our homes and businesses safer, and make it easier for small business owners to pay their employees a living wage. A vote for me is a vote for yourselves and for a stronger state!

• no change

• Now comes the moment for me to listen to those of you who call this great state home.

• Now I’ll be forced to listen to those of you who call this great state home.

• Now comes the moment for me to listen to the population currently residing in this state.

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

Which choice maintains the rhetorical pattern established in the first two sentences?

To create a more equal society, we must be ready not only to talk, but also to listen. We must foster not only tolerance, but also acceptance. And finally, there must be a call to action, not just an open dialogue.

• no change

• And finally, there must be a call to action in addition to an open dialogue.

• And finally, there must be not only an open dialogue, but also a call to action.

• And finally, there must be not only an open dialogue; there must be a call to action.

Tags

CCSS.RF.3.3B

CCSS.RF.3.3C

CCSS.RF.3.3D

CCSS.RF.4.3A

CCSS.RF.5.3A

The author wants to reinvent the commonplace of an orange by comparing its skin to a familiar object in a surprising way. Which choice best accomplishes this goal?

I have an orange. It is cold, compact, firm to the touch. Its skin curls around the fruit so tightly that it is difficult to peel away. A keen scent leaks from the pores, staining the air wild and sharp and citrus-sweet. It is a mammoth of its breed: if I stare just long enough, it looks like a tiny sumo wrestler who has neither hands nor legs nor appendages of any kind, only a tiny flame-tufted head perched on his titanic body. But I digress. I only meant to say that I have an orange, and I am content.

• no change

• reminds me of a grapefruit skin, which has a similar texture.

• is speckled with small indentations that can barely be felt.

• is inversely pimpled like sandpaper turned inside out.

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

CCSS.RI.9-10.5

In the last sentence, the writer wants to emphasize the complex character of Mr. Jones by juxtaposing contrasting ideas in a repeated parallel structure. Which choice best accomplishes this goal?

Mr. Jones was a singular man, generously endowed in wit and weight. From across the desk, he bore a strange resemblance to a beached whale, large and wet and unexpectedly white. His chair, although mounting an admirable resistance, could barely hold his heavy frame off the floor. Any man with less self-confidence would be self-conscious in such a skin, but Mr. Jones seemed to draw energy from his very mass. Pale, supremely poised, and although large, he could be fearless and quick even when he was covered in sweat.

• no change

• Although he was sweaty, he was also pale; although he was quick, he was also fearless; although he was supremely poised, he was also large.

• Though large, he was quick; though sweaty, he was supremely poised; though pale, he was fearless.

• He was a large man, sweaty and pale, but he was also quick, supremely poised, and fearless in spite of his other qualities.

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

CCSS.RI.9-10.5

Which choice best maintains the rhetorical wordplay of the first phrase?

He found that the fastest way to inner peace was a piece of pie; on particularly stressful days, he didn’t just leave a hole in the pie, but ate the entire pie.

• no change

• whole

• complete

• total

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.6

CCSS.RL.8.3

It’s difficult to describe the character of Mrs. Maheswaran if you have not met her yourself. She was rather like a flower which expected the sun to stand still, because turning from east to west in a single day would be entirely too much effort. Some people care about world peace or nuclear war, but the most important thing in Mrs. Maheswaran's life was her hair; she did not waste energy worrying about any of the things which mattered to less sensible human beings. Humidity was a greater catastrophe than a tsunami.

• no change

• Mrs. Maheswaran cared about her hair, not about world peace or nuclear war, which are the sorts of things which less sensible people worry about.

• Some people, whom Mrs. Maheswaran deemed of the less sensible variety, cared about world peace or nuclear war, but she only cared about her hair.

• Mrs. Maheswaran, instead of caring about things like world peace or nuclear war, which were things only less sensible people worried about, cared about her hair.

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

CCSS.RI.9-10.5

Which choice maintains the tone of an emotional (but still reasonable) appeal for donations consistent with the rest of the paragraph?

As you have heard repeatedly from other educators in our school district tonight, the arts in our schools are in trouble. These programs are not just slowly disappearing; they are being dismantled overnight in an effort to cut costs. But study after study has shown us that the arts are just one part of learning for students. In light of this serious issue facing our children, we ask tonight that you please consider donating to the Parent Teacher Association’s arts education fund to help us purchase instruments and hire teachers for the arts.

• no chnage

• pretty important for students.

• a matter of life or death for students.

• the critical piece of the puzzle for students.

Tags

CCSS.RI.8.4