TEXAS SUCCESS INITIATIVE ASSESSMENT 2.0 English Language Arts and Reading Sample Questions

TEXAS SUCCESS INITIATIVE ASSESSMENT 2.0

English

Language Arts

and Reading

Sample Questions

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Texas Success Initiative Assessment 2.0

(TSIA2) English Language Arts

and Reading Sample Questions

The TSIA2 English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR) test covers four main categories:

two reading focused and two writing focused.

Reading-focused test questions cover the following two categories:



Literary text analysis (explicit information, inferences, author’s craft, vocabulary)



Informational text analysis and synthesis (main ideas and supporting details,

inferences [single-passage], author’s craft, vocabulary, synthesis [paired

argumentative passages])

Writing-focused test questions cover the following two categories:



Essay revision and editing (development, organization, eective language use,

Standard English conventions)



Sentence revision, editing, and completion (conventions of grammar, conventions of

usage, and conventions of punctuation)

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01689-107

Sample Questions

Directions for questions 1–15

Read the passage(s) below and then choose the best

answer to each question. Answer the question on the

basis of what is stated or implied in the passage(s).

In this passage from a novel, two young women visit

a bookshop in the ctional town of Brahmpur, India.

(1) e Imperial Book Depot was one of the

two best bookshops in town, and was located on

Nabiganj, the fashionable street that was the last

bulwark of modernity before the labyrinthine

alleys and ancient, cluttered neighbourhoods of

Old Brahmpur. (2) ough it was a couple of miles

away from the university proper it had a greater

following among students and teachers than the

University and Allied Bookshop, which was just a

few minutes away from campus. (3) e Imperial

Book Depot was run by two brothers, Yashwant

and Balwant, both almost illiterate in English,

but both (despite their prosperous roundness) so

energetic and entrepreneurial that it apparently

made no dierence. (4) ey had the best stock

in town, and were extremely helpful to their

customers. (5) If a book was not available in the

shop, they asked the customer himself to write

down its name on the appropriate order form.

(6) Twice a week an impoverished university

student was paid to sort new arrivals onto the

designated shelves. (7) And since the bookshop

prided itself on its academic as well as general

stock, the proprietors unashamedly collared

university teachers who wandered in to browse,

sat them down with a cup of tea and a couple of

publishers’ lists, and made them tick o titles

that they thought the bookshop should consider

ordering. (8) ese teachers were happy to ensure

that books they needed for their courses would

be readily available to their students. (9) Many of

them resented the University and Allied Bookshop

for its entrenched, lethargic, unresponsive and

high-handed ways.

(10) Aer classes, Lata and Malati, both dressed

casually in their usual salwaar-kameez

, went to

Nabiganj to wander around and have a cup of

coee at the Blue Danube coee house. (11) is

activity, known to university students as “ganjing,”

they could aord to indulge in about once a week.

(12) As they passed the Imperial Book Depot, they

were drawn magnetically in. (13) Each wandered

o to her favourite shelves and subjects. (14) Malati

headed straight for the novels, Lata went for

poetry. (15) On the way, however, she paused

by the science shelves, not because she understood

much science, but, rather, because she did not.

(16) Whenever she opened a scientic book and

saw whole paragraphs of incomprehensible words

and symbols, she felt a sense of wonder at the great

territories of learning that lay beyond her—the

sum of so many noble and purposive attempts

to make objective sense of the world. (17) She

enjoyed the feeling; it suited her serious moods;

and this aernoon she was feeling serious.

¹A salwaar-kameez is a traditional Indian garment.

Adapted from Vikram Seth, A Suitable Boy.

1. e rst paragraph (sentences 1–5) suggests which of

the following about the relationship between university

students and teachers and the Imperial Book Depot?

A. University people avoid Yashwant and Balwant

because the two do not speak English well.

B. Students will soon start buying their books from a

newer and more modern bookshop.

C. Both students and teachers prefer the Imperial

Book Depot to the bookshop closer to campus.

D. Teachers dislike using complicated handwritten

forms to order books for their classes.

2. In the second paragraph (sentences 6–9), the narrator

indicates which of the following about Imperial Book

Depot business practices?

A. e sta acquire only those books that are most in

demand.

B. e clerks prefer to help people nd nonacademic

books and magazines.

C. e owners employ students and rely on teachers

for information.

D. Sta members are generally lazy and take too many

breaks for tea.

3. As used in sentence 8, “readily” most nearly means

A. easily

B. gladly

C. willingly

D. voluntarily

4. e third paragraph (sentences 10–17) suggests that

Lata regards science as

A. a topic that is less engaging than ction

B. an interest that is not worth pursuing

C. a simple but appealing eld of study

D. an unfamiliar but intriguing subject

Passage 1

As computer programs and online services

continue to advance, paperless oces are growing

in popularity. Going paperless is certainly a

more environmentally friendly option than using

reams of paper. A paperless oce may also save

on various overhead expenses. However, it may

be expensive in the long run to go paperless,

depending on the size and needs of your company.

Another option might be using less paper instead

of attempting a completely paperless oce. is

way, your company can enjoy some advantages

of a paperless system while avoiding some of the

disadvantages.

Passage 2

Many companies today are choosing not to go

paperless because of the high costs of doing so.

Despite the “green” advantages, going paperless

requires companies to maintain up-to-date

hardware and soware, and upgrades oen come

at a steep cost. Businesses may need to hire an IT

person to monitor their systems, train new users,

and perform regular backups of information.

Ensuring online security is also vital, and the more

people a company has using a system, the closer

the system must be monitored for privacy issues

and viruses. It takes a lot of time and money to go

paperless, and for many small businesses, it’s just

not worth the expense.

5. e author of Passage 1 would most likely criticize the

author of Passage 2 for

A. overemphasizing the signicance of a company’s size

B. overlooking the environmental benets of

going paperless

C. failing to consider an alternative to eliminating

all paper

D. underestimating the consequences of

technological issues

Passage 1

Are people who work from home slackers? Recent

research suggests just the opposite. One study

examined the habits and concerns of both in-oce

and o-site employees over the course of two years.

e researchers learned that those who worked

at home were 13% more productive and worked

longer hours on average than those who worked

in the oce. Interestingly, the telecommuters took

far less time o than their in-oce counterparts.

e researchers also found that the rate of at-home

workers who quit their jobs was far lower than

it was for employees who worked in the oce.

Without stressful commutes, worries about having

to take sick days, and various distractions in the

oce, the telecommuters reported being much

happier with their positions.

Passage 2

Aer working from home for the past year, I

was relieved to get back into the oce. e oce

environment has provided me with a much-needed,

set schedule—I work for eight hours, and then I

go home to a relaxed and work-free environment.

When I worked at home, my “oce” was always

accessible, and my work hours bled into my leisure

time so that I was never fully free of my job. Even

when spending time with my family aer dinner,

I’d be checking emails and thinking about projects.

Today, my former home oce is a family room,

and when I spend time relaxing there, work never

crosses my mind. Well, almost never.

6. e authors of both passages probably would

characterize telecommuters as being generally

A. unproductive

B. stressed

C. hardworking

D. satised

e rst known dentures, worn as early as 700 BCE

by the Etruscans of central Italy, were composed

mainly of animal teeth held together by gold

bands. Later, in the 16th century, a denture made

of wooden teeth held in place by suctions became

popular in Japan. A “natural” look emerged with

the dentures of the 18th and 19th centuries, which

featured teeth made of ivory or porcelain and

mounted on plates of gold or vulcanite, a type of

rubber. While some modern dentures still feature

porcelain teeth, most dentures today contain teeth

made from plastic and mounted on a metal base.

7. e author uses the term “natural” to indicate that the

dentures of the 18th and 19th centuries

A. resembled real human teeth

B. included some real human teeth

C. contained animal teeth rather than articial

substances

D. were made of materials found in nature

American copyright laws, laws that prohibit

the use, distribution, or adaptation of another’s

product without permission, rst applied only to

the copying of books, but now cover such diverse

products as sound recordings, motion pictures,

and computer programs. e federal Copyright Act

of 1790 allowed copyright protection for 14 years

with one 14-year extension allowed (if the author

survived the rst 14-year term). e Copyright Act

of 1909 extended copyright protection to 28 years

with a 28-year renewal, and the Copyright Act of

1976 extended it further, to 75 years.

8. What is the main purpose of this passage?

A. To explain the need for copyright laws

B. To show how copyright laws have been applied

C. To indicate how copyright laws have changed

D. To argue that copyright laws need to be expanded

If you are committed to healthy, green living and

want to reduce your environmental footprint,

you might consider expanding your daily diet

to include bugs. Supporters of the edible insect

initiative rightfully argue that farming insects has

a much lower environmental impact than does

raising livestock since bugs are easier to harvest

and require a fraction of the water and land space

that cattle need. Indeed, the high-protein, low-

fat health benets of bug-eating have long been

known. For hundreds of years, crickets, silkworms

and even tarantulas have been served roasted,

stewed, and fried at the dinner tables of many

cultures.

9. In the rst sentence, “expanding” most nearly means

A. intensifying

B. broadening

C. developing

D. exaggerating

e 1922 German Expressionist lm Nosferatu,

directed by F. W. Murnau, is considered one of the

most inuential lms in cinematic history—while

also being a classic vampire movie. e lm is

closely based on Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel, Dracula;

however, the villain in the lm is called “Count

Orlok” rather than “Count Dracula.” e reason is

that the small studio that produced the lm, Prana

Film, was unable to secure the rights to Stoker’s

novel. In fact, shortly aer nishing Nosferatu, its

one and only lm, Prana went bankrupt in order to

dodge copyright lawsuits from Stoker’s widow.

10. In context, “secure” (sentence 3) most nearly means

A. shelter

B. fasten

C. obtain

D. guarantee

Polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, is used in most water-

carrying pipes in the United States. Known for

their resistance to the corrosion that can be caused

by water, PVC pipes are more durable than the

metal pipes of old. As useful as PVC is, it may be

surprising that it was accidentally discovered in

1835 by Henri Victor Regnault, who observed a

mysterious white solid plastic forming inside some

test tubes that were le exposed to sunlight in

his lab.

11. It can be inferred from the passage that metal pipes

A. are used more than PVC pipes outside of the

United States

B. are more expensive than PVC pipes

C. are more likely to corrode than PVC pipes

D. are no longer used in the United States

e rst coin-operated vending machines in

the United States were installed on the elevated

platforms of the New York City railway system in

1888. ese machines sold a chewing gum called

“Tutti-Frutti,” which was manufactured by the

omas Adams Gum Company. e machines were

eventually updated to feature animated gures that

would dance each time a gum purchase was made.

12. All of the following statements about the vending

machines discussed in the passage are true EXCEPT

A. they dispensed chewing gum in exchange for coins

B. they were the rst of their kind in the country

C. they were utilized by train passengers

D. they were originally designed to entertain

customers

e main authors of e Declaration of

Independence and the Constitution are usually

thought of as America’s founders. Other, less

known personages also deserve that designation,

however, and Noah Webster was one of these.

rough his writings, which include the still-

inuential dictionary that bears his name, Webster

sought to legitimize an “American English”

that was independent of British spelling and

pronunciation. For instance, Webster removed the

“u” from “colour,” creating the distinct American

version of the word.

13. According to the passage, Noah Webster

A. helped write the Constitution

B. was a poor speller

C. authored a new dictionary

D. was unknown in his lifetime

Swarms of locusts causing deadly plagues are

usually thought of as the stu of myths. However,

the desert locust Schistocerca gregaria has been

responsible for damage to populations across three

continents. e desert locust does its damage

by consuming its body weight in food each day,

devouring virtually any type of vegetation it

encounters. When millions of locusts swarm into

an area, their eect on the food supply in that

area and surrounding areas can be catastrophic.

Fortunately, it takes a big, sustained rainstorm (a

rare event in desert areas) to create the conditions

in which desert locusts thrive.

14. e passage is primarily about

A. the damage done by swarms of desert locusts

B. the consumption behavior of the desert locust

C. comparing real plagues to mythical ones

D. protecting vulnerable areas from desert locusts

Some historians attribute the origins of the front

porches so common in American houses to the

covered porticos of classical Rome. Indeed, our word

“porch” derives from the Latin portico. However,

these colonnaded spaces were almost always

connected

to public or religious structures rather

than to private homes. e loggias of Renaissance

Venice, recessed front entryways built into the

ground oor of Venetian canal houses, perhaps

provide a better starting point for the evolution of

the American-style porch. is architectural feature

later became popularized throughout Europe by the

17th-century Venetian architect Andrea Palladio.

Eventually, English colonists would spread the loggia

to the American colonies.

15. Does the author agree with the “historians” who

attribute the origins of the American front porch to the

classical Roman portico?

A. Yes, because the word “porch” derives from the

Latin word portico

B. Yes, because the buildings of ancient Rome have

inuenced many American architects

C. No, because Roman porticos had public uses rather

than domestic ones

D. No, because Italian architecture was popular in

Europe but not in America

Directions for questions 16–19

Read the following early dra of an essay and then

choose the best answer to the question or the best

completion of the statement.

(1) What happens in our brains when we read?

(2) As one would expect, the parts of the brain

associated with language development and

processing play a central role. (3) But recent

research by neuroscientists suggests that the

words and phrases we encounter when reading

stories activate many other parts of our brains as

well, including those responsible for smell, touch,

motion, and even empathy.

(4) In one study, researchers asked participants

to read words and have them scanned by a brain

imaging machine. (5) Brain imaging machines

are also used to detect the eects of tumors,

stroke, head and brain injury, or diseases such as

Alzheimer’s. (6) When subjects looked at words

such as “perfume,” their primary olfactory cortex,

the region used for smells, lit up; when they

saw words such as “chair,” this region remained

dark. (7) In another study, metaphors involving

texture, such as “e singer had a velvet voice,”

roused the sensory cortex, while phrases such as

“e singer had a pleasing voice” did not. (8) e

sensory cortex is the part of the brain responsible

for perceiving texture through touch. (9) In a

third study, sentences like “Pablo kicked the ball”

caused brain activity in the motor cortex, which

coordinates the body’s movements. (10) is

activity was concentrated in dierent parts of the

motor cortex depending on whether the movement

was arm-related or leg-related.

(11) e idea that reading activates parts of

the brain associated with “real life” functions

goes beyond simple words and phrases: there

is evidence that the brain treats the detailed

interactions among characters in a book as

something like real-life social encounters. (12) One

scientist has proposed a reason: reading produces

a vivid simulation of reality, one that “runs on

minds of readers just as computer simulations run

on computers.” (13) e brain, it seems, does not

make much of a distinction between reading about

an experience and encountering it in real life.

16. In context, which phrase should replace the vague

pronoun “them” in sentence 4 (reproduced below)?

In one study, researchers asked participants to read

words and have them scanned by a brain imaging

machine.

A. the researchers

B. the participants

C. the words

D. their brains

17. Which sentence provides unnecessary information

and should be deleted from the second paragraph

(sentences 4–10)?

A. Sentence 4

B. Sentence 5

C. Sentence 6

D. Sentence 9

18. In context, which of the following is the best way to

revise and combine sentences 7 and 8 (reproduced

below)?

In another study, metaphors involving texture, such

as “e singer had a velvet voice,” roused the sensory

cortex, while phrases such as “e singer had a pleasing

voice” did not. e sensory cortex is the part of the brain

responsible for perceiving texture through touch.

A. Since the sensory cortex is the part of the brain

responsible for perceiving texture through touch,

in another study, metaphors involving texture, such

as “e singer had a velvet voice,” roused it, while

phrases such as “e singer had a pleasing voice”

did not.

B. In another study, metaphors involving texture,

such as “e singer had a velvet voice,” roused the

sensory cortex, the part of the brain responsible for

perceiving texture through touch, while phrases

such as “e singer had a pleasing voice” did not.

C. In another study, metaphors involving texture, such

as “e singer had a velvet voice,” roused the sensory

cortex, while phrases such as “e singer had a

pleasing voice” did not and it is the part of the brain

responsible for perceiving texture through touch.

D. In another study, metaphors involving texture,

such as “e singer had a velvet voice,” roused the

sensory cortex, while phrases such as “e singer

had a pleasing voice” did not; however, the sensory

cortex is the part of the brain responsible for

perceiving texture through touch.

19. Which piece of evidence, if added to the third

paragraph (sentences 11–13), would best support the

writer’s argument?

A. Information about a study that showed substantial

overlap in the parts of the brain used to understand

stories and those used to navigate interactions with

other people

B. A discussion of how the nature of reading has

changed due to people choosing to read books,

magazines, and newspapers on computers and

mobile devices rather than in print

C. A quote from a neuroscientist about the connection

between watching television and decreased

brain activity

D. A statement from a teacher about how reading great

literature enhances students’ minds and improves

students as human beings

Directions for questions 20–30

Select the best version of the underlined part of the

sentence. If you think the original sentence is best,

choose the rst answer.

20. Indiana is the smallest state in the Midwest although

they have one of the largest populations of any state in

that region.

A. although they have

B. although with

C. but has

D. but they have

21. e fans in the audience expressed one’s appreciation

for the performance by giving the lead actor a

standing ovation.

A. one’s

B. their

C. its

D. your

22. Charleston, South Carolina, is a popular city for

tourists, with their historical sites and beautiful weather.

A. with their historical sites and beautiful weather

B. with its historical sites and beautiful weather

C. it has historical sites and beautiful weather

D. because of their historical sites and beautiful

weather

23. If I see the man who works at that store, he is wearing a

green baseball cap.

A. If

B. Until

C. Whenever

D. Even though

24. Walking on a leash and barking on command, the

judges were impressed by the dog.

A. judges were impressed by the dog

B. dog impressed the judges

C. judges were being impressed by the dog

D. dog having impressed the judges

25. Nothing grows as well in Kentucky as burley tobacco,

being the state’s chief agricultural crop.

A. tobacco, being the

B. tobacco, the

C. tobacco and the

D. tobacco, it is the

26. Some children are taught by precept rather than by

example, they do not tend to adopt their parents’ values.

A. Some children are taught by precept rather than by

example, they

B. Teaching children by precept rather than by

example, the result is they

C. Because some children are taught by precept rather

than by example and

D. Children who are taught by precept rather than

by example

27. With the increase in fuel prices, and some truck drivers

being in very dicult circumstances.

A. With the increase in fuel prices, and some truck

drivers being

B. With the increase in fuel prices, some truck

drivers are

C. With fuel prices being what they are, some truck

drivers being

D. Fuel prices being what they are, thus some truck

drivers are

28. Because Jean Rhys grew up in the West Indies island

of Dominica and was educated there; this served as

excellent background material for her most successful

novel, Wide Sargasso Sea, which is set in the West Indies.

A. there; this served as

B. there; thus giving her

C. there, she had

D. there, and therefore she had

29. Stamp collecting being a hobby sometimes used in

schools to teach economics and social studies.

A. collecting being a hobby

B. collecting, a hobby,

C. collecting, which is a hobby

D. collecting is a hobby

30. e committee members took a long lunch break to

tour the city, the committee members reconvened.

A. e committee members took

B. Aer taking

C. While the committee members took

D. Although taking

Answer Key

1. C

2. C

3. A

4. D

5. C

6. C

7. A

8. C

9. B

10. C

11. C

12. D

13. C

14. A

15. C

16. D

17. B

18. B

19. A

20. C

21. B

22. B

23. C

24. B

25. B

26. D

27. B

28. C

29. D

30. B

Rationales

1. Choice C is the best answer. In sentence 2, the narrator tells us that “[t]hough it

was a couple of miles away from the university proper” the Imperial Book Depot

“had a greater following among students and teachers than the University and

Allied Bookshop, which was just a few minutes away from campus.” This information

suggests that the university community has reasons for preferring the Imperial

Book Depot to its closer-to-campus rival. Choice A is incorrect because rather

than avoiding Yashwant and Balwant, university people seek them out. Choice B is

incorrect because students seem content with the Imperial and there is no indication

that they are on the verge of seeking out a newer bookshop. Choice D is incorrect

because university teachers seem more than willing to ll out the order forms that

Yashwant and Balwant urge on them.

2. Choice C is the best answer. In the second paragraph (sentences 6–9), the narrator

says that “an impoverished university student was paid to sort new arrivals onto the

designated shelves”; the narrator then says that Yashwant and Balwant prevailed

upon university teachers to “tick o titles that they thought the bookshop should

consider ordering.” In short, the proprietors of the Imperial Book Depot employ

students and rely on teachers for information. Choice A is incorrect because there

is no indication in the passage that sta members acquire only those books that are

most in demand. Choice B is incorrect because while the store does have “general

stock” as well as academic material, there is no indication that sta prefer to help

customers nd nonacademic materials. Choice D is incorrect because no sta

members are described as lazy—far from it, in fact—and the tea drunk in the passage

is drunk by the faculty members from whom the proprietors are acquiring information.

3. Choice A is the best answer. In sentence 8, the narrator states that “teachers

were happy to ensure that books they needed for their courses would be readily

available to their students.” In this context, “readily” most nearly means “easily.” The

teachers were happy that the books students needed could be obtained without

diculty. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because the books are inanimate and

not personied in the passage; therefore, they cannot be “gladly,” “willingly,” or

“voluntarily” available.

4. Choice D is the best answer. In the third paragraph (sentences 10–17), the narrator

tells us that Lata habitually headed for the poetry section of the bookshop, but that

“[o]n the way . . . she paused by the science shelves, not because she understood

much science, but, rather, because she did not.” In science books she sees “whole

paragraphs of incomprehensible words and symbols” that ll her with “a sense of

wonder at the great territories of learning that lay beyond her.” She is mystied by

science texts, but she senses in them “the sum of so many noble and purposive

attempts to make objective sense of the world.” Science is somewhat baing and

unfamiliar to her, but “[s]he enjoyed the feeling”—it intrigues and interests her.

Choice A is incorrect because while science may be less engaging to her than

her beloved poetry, there is no mention of Lata’s attraction to ction. Choice B is

incorrect because she clearly does not consider science to be unworthy of pursuit; in

her own way, she pursues it regularly. Choice C is incorrect because she clearly does

not consider science to be “simple.”

5. Choice C is the best answer. The author of Passage 2 discusses the high costs of

“going paperless” and concludes that “for many small businesses, it’s just not worth

the expense.” The author of Passage 1 acknowledges the costs of going paperless

(“it may be expensive in the long run”) but proposes another option: using less

paper. The author of Passage 1 would most likely criticize the author of Passage 2

for failing to consider the option of reducing, but not completely eliminating, paper

in an oce. Choice A is incorrect because the author of Passage 2 does not place

much emphasis on the size of a company. Choice B is incorrect because the author

of Passage 2 does note “the ‘green’ advantages” of going paperless. Choice D is

incorrect because the author of Passage 2 speaks of technological considerations

throughout the passage.

6. Choice C is the best answer. The author of Passage 1 refers to a study that shows

that telecommuters “worked longer hours on average” and “took far less time o”

than those who worked in an oce. The author of Passage 2 indicates that when

working from home, the author “was never fully free” from work, “checking emails and

thinking about projects” while spending time with family. Therefore, it is very likely

that both authors would characterize telecommuters as hardworking. Choice A is

incorrect because both authors suggest that telecommuters are productive. Choice B

is incorrect because the author of Passage 1 cites research ndings that show that

people actually are “happier with their positions” when they telecommute. Choice D

is incorrect because it is clear that the author of Passage 2 was not satised when

working from home.

7. Choice A is the best answer. The author states that the dentures of the 18th and

19th centuries, which were made of ivory and porcelain, had a more “natural” look

than the previous dentures, which had been made of wood and animal teeth. Teeth

made of ivory or porcelain would likely look more “natural”—that is, more like human

teeth—than animal teeth or wooden teeth would. Choices B and C are incorrect

because the passage does not indicate that the dentures of the 18th and 19th

centuries contained real human teeth or animal teeth. Choice D is incorrect because

the author uses the word “natural” to describe the appearance of the dentures, not

the materials used to make the dentures.

8. Choice C is the best answer. The main purpose of the passage is to indicate how

the length of the protection. The author of the passage indicates that these laws “rst

applied only to the copying of books, but now cover . . . diverse products” and that the

term of copyright protection has been extended from 14 years to 75 years. Choices A,

B, and D are incorrect because the author is not focused on explaining the need for

that copyright laws need to be further expanded.

9. Choice B is the best answer. In the rst sentence, the author states that “If you

are committed to healthy, green living . . . you might consider expanding your daily

diet to include bugs.” In this context, “expanding” most nearly means “broadening.”

The author is indicating that people who want to be healthy and environmentally

conscious should consider a broader, more extensive diet—one that includes

bugs. Choice A is incorrect because the author is not suggesting “intensifying,” or

strengthening, one’s diet. Choice C is incorrect because in this context, “developing”

would mean beginning or creating; it is somewhat illogical to suggest that people

could create their daily diet, as humans already must consume food on a daily basis.

Choice D is incorrect because it is not clear what it would mean to exaggerate, or

overstate, one’s diet “to include bugs.”

10. Choice C is the best answer. The author of the passage explains that “the small studio

that produced” Nosferatu “was unable to secure the rights to” Bram Stoker’s novel

Dracula. In this context, “secure” most nearly means “obtain,” or get; the author is

indicating that the lm studio was unable to get the rights to the novel Dracula. Choice A

is incorrect because it is not clear how a lm studio would “shelter,” or protect, a novel.

Choice B is incorrect because the author is not indicating that the studio physically

attached, or fastened, the novel to anything. Choice D is incorrect because it is clear

that the studio did not have the rights to Dracula; therefore, the studio would not be

able to “guarantee” those rights, or promise or pledge them to anyone else.

11. Choice C is the best answer. The author states that PVC pipes are “Known for their

resistance to the corrosion that can be caused by water” and “are more durable than . . .

metal pipes.” The author is implying, but not directly stating, that metal water-carrying

pipes are more likely to corrode than PVC pipes. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect. The

author notes that metal pipes were more common in the past (“metal pipes of old”), and

that PVC is used in most pipes in the United States today, but there is no indication that

metal pipes are used more than PVC pipes outside of the United States, that they are

more expensive than PVC pipes, or that they are no longer used in the United States.

12. Choice D is the best answer. The vending machines were NOT originally designed

to entertain customers. The author of the passage states that the vending machines

were “eventually updated to feature animated gures that would dance,” presumably

to entertain customers, but the passage does not state that the machines were

originally designed for entertainment purposes. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect

because according to the passage they are all true.

13. Choice C is the best answer. According to the author of the passage, Noah

Webster’s writings “include the still-inuential dictionary that bears his name.”

Choice A is incorrect because the author indicates that Noah Webster was a “less

known personage” than the “main authors of the Declaration of Independence and

the Constitution,” not that he helped write the Constitution. Choice B is incorrect

because the author indicates that Webster created “distinct American version[s]”

of words, not that he was a poor speller. Choice D is incorrect because although

the author refers to Webster as being “less known” than other so-called “Founding

Fathers,” the author does not indicate that Webster was unknown in his lifetime.

14. Choice A is the best answer. The author of the passage primarily focuses on

the damage done by swarms of desert locusts, discussing where (“across three

continents”), how (by “consuming its body weight in food each day”), and under what

conditions (“a big, sustained rainstorm”) the locusts cause this damage. Choice B

is incorrect because while the author mentions the consumption behavior of the

locust (“consuming its body weight in food each day”), this is not the main topic of the

passage. Choice C is incorrect because while the author acknowledges that some

people think of “deadly plagues” caused by locusts as “the stu of myths,” the author

makes no comparison between real and mythical plagues. Choice D is incorrect

because the author does not mention protecting vulnerable areas from locusts.

15. Choice C is the best answer. The author of the passage does not agree with the

“historians” who attribute the origins of the American front porch to the classical

Roman portico. The author points out that “these colonnaded spaces were almost

always connected to public or religious structures rather than to private homes”—

that is, Roman porticos had public uses rather than domestic ones—and suggests

that “loggias of Renaissance Venice . . . perhaps provide a better starting point.”

Choices A and B are incorrect because the author does not agree with the historians.

Choice D is incorrect because although the author disagrees with the historians, the

author indicates that Italian architecture was popular in America (“English colonists . . .

spread the loggia to the American colonies”), not unpopular.

16. Choice D is the best answer. In context, the only logical choice is “their [the

participants’] brains.” Only brains would be “scanned by a brain imaging machine.”

Choices A and C are incorrect because the machine would not have scanned the

researchers or the words. Choice B is incorrect. Indirectly, the participants were being

scanned, but “their brains” is a more precise t in this context than “the participants.”

17. Choice B is the best answer. Sentence 5 indicates other uses of brain imaging

machines (“machines are also used to detect the eects of tumors . . . ”). If the

passage were to go on to discuss these other uses, sentence 5 might prove to be

important. But in the context of this paragraph, which is about three studies of the

relationship between words and sentences read by readers and activity in dierent

parts of the brain, further information about brain imaging machines is unnecessary.

Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because each sentence presents necessary

information in the context of the paragraph.

18. Choice B is the best answer. All that the original sentence 8 adds to sentence 7 is

background information about the sensory cortex. Therefore, it is best to incorporate

the information in sentence 8 into the existing structure of sentence 7, as is done

in choice B. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because they create confusion by

introducing vagueness or relationships that are not supported by the passage.

19. Choice A is the best answer. The third paragraph (sentences 11–13) continues the

passage’s discussion of the links between reading and brain activity, highlighting

the fact that the brain does not distinguish very much “between reading about

an experience and encountering it in real life.” Only choice A provides detailed

supporting evidence for the connections between reading and “real life” functions,

with a focus on those social encounters described in the third paragraph. Choices B,

C, and D are incorrect because they oer information unrelated to the central

concerns of the passage.

20. Choice C is the best answer. It provides the singular verb “has” to agree with the

singular subject “Indiana.” Choice A is incorrect because it results in an agreement

error; the plural pronoun “they” does not agree with the singular noun to which it

refers, “Indiana.” Choice B is incorrect because it results in unidiomatic phrasing: the

dependent clause “although with . . . region” is not idiomatic. Choice D is incorrect

because, like choice A, it results in an agreement error; again, the plural pronoun

“they” does not agree with the singular noun “Indiana.”

21. Choice B is the best answer. It provides the plural possessive pronoun “their” to agree

with the plural noun “fans,” to which the pronoun refers. Choices A and C are incorrect

because the singular possessive pronouns “one’s” and “its” do not agree with the plural

noun “fans.” Choice D is incorrect because it does not make sense in this context.

22. Choice B is the best answer. It provides the singular possessive pronoun “its” to

agree with the singular noun phrase that precedes it, “Charleston, South Carolina.”

Choice A is incorrect because the plural possessive pronoun “their” does not agree

with the singular noun phrase “Charleston, South Carolina.” Choice C is incorrect

because while it provides a singular pronoun, “it,” this choice results in a comma

splice: two independent clauses are improperly joined with only a comma. Choice D is

incorrect because it results in the same pronoun agreement error as choice A as well

as the incorrect placement of the comma after “tourists.”

23. Choice C is the best answer. It avoids the illogical phrasing of the other choices by

providing the conjunction “Whenever” to indicate that one thing is true (“he is wearing

a green baseball cap”) every time another thing occurs (“I see the man”). Choices A, B,

and D are incorrect because they all result in illogical phrasing that does not indicate

the relationship specied by the information in the sentence.

24. Choice B is the best answer. It appropriately places the noun “dog” directly after the

phrase that modies it (“Walking on a leash and barking on command”). Choices A and

C are incorrect because they improperly imply that the “judges” were “Walking on a

leash and barking on command.” Choice D is incorrect because while it also places

the noun “dog” after the modifying phrase, this choice results in a sentence fragment;

there is no main verb to carry out the action of the sentence, only the phrase “having

impressed the judges.”

25. Choice B is the best answer. It places the modifying phrase “the state’s chief

agricultural crop” directly after “burley tobacco,” the noun phrase it modies. Choice A

is incorrect because by using the present participle “being” to introduce the

modifying phrase, the choice illogically suggests causality—being the state’s chief

agricultural crop (in other words, because it is the state’s chief agricultural crop),

nothing grows as well in Kentucky as burley tobacco. Choice C is incorrect because

it presents the modifying phrase “the state’s chief agricultural crop” as a noun

phrase, treating it as an entirely separate entity from “burley tobacco.” This illogically

suggests that both “burley tobacco” and “the state’s chief agricultural crop” grow

better than anything else in Kentucky. Choice D is incorrect because it results in a

comma splice: two independent clauses are improperly joined with only a comma.

26. Choice D is the best answer. It places a relative clause, “who are taught by precept

rather than by example,” between the subject of the sentence, “Children,” and

the main verb, “do . . . tend.” Choice A is incorrect because it results in a comma

splice: two independent clauses are improperly joined by only a comma. Choice B

is incorrect because it results in a modication error, implying that “the result” is

what taught the children. Choice C is incorrect because it results in faulty sentence

structure: a dependent clause (“Because . . . example”) is used instead of an

independent clause before the conjunction “and.”

27. Choice B is the best answer. It provides the main verb “are” to carry out the action

of the sentence. Choices A and C are incorrect because there is no main verb to

carry out the action of the sentence, only instances of the present participle “being.”

Choice D is incorrect because it results in faulty sentence structure, with no main verb

in what is intended to be the rst independent clause before “thus.”

28. Choice C is the best answer. It appropriately joins the dependent clause “Because

Jean Rhys grew up . . . and was educated there” to the independent clause “she had . . .

the West Indies” with only a comma. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because

each joins two clauses inappropriately. Choice A is incorrect because it uses a

semicolon to join a dependent and an independent clause (semicolons should be

used to join two independent clauses) and introduces the vague pronoun “this.”

Choice B is incorrect because it uses a semicolon to join two dependent clauses

(and lacks an independent clause). Choice D is incorrect because it unnecessarily

places the conjunction “and” and the adverb “therefore” between a dependent and an

independent clause.

29. Choice D is the best answer. It provides the verb “is” to carry out the action of the

sentence. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because they do not provide a main verb

and thus result in sentence fragment errors.

30. Choice B is the best answer. It provides the adverbial clause “After taking a long

lunch break to tour the city” to modify the main verb of the sentence, “reconvened.”

Choice A is incorrect because it results in a comma splice: two independent clauses

are improperly joined with only a comma. Choices C and D are incorrect because

while they provide adverbial clauses, neither clause logically modies the verb

“reconvened.”