1. Which of the following phrases from the passage added humor to an otherwise fearful mood?
A. Because she didâ€"or she would, once she finished paying her mortgage in 30 years. Correct
B. She'd gotten no sleep, convinced the ghost was going to break through the door and do something horrible.
C. But what made her keep the door shut and locked was the abrupt end of the concrete floor halfway across the room.
D. All of the floors and doors were original; the doors even had skeleton key locks.
Explanation
<h2>The phrase "Because she did—or she would, once she finished paying her mortgage in 30 years" from the passage introduces humor to an otherwise fearful mood.</h2>
The humor lies in the juxtaposition of a mundane, relatable struggle (paying a mortgage) with the eerie, suspenseful atmosphere that pervades the rest of the passage. It serves as a moment of comic relief that lightens the overall tone.
<b>A) Because she did—or she would, once she finished paying her mortgage in 30 years.</b>
This phrase is humorous because it addresses a common, real-life situation: the long-term commitment of paying off a mortgage. The presentation of this everyday struggle within a ghostly, suspenseful context creates an unexpected contrast, resulting in humor.
<b>B) She'd gotten no sleep, convinced the ghost was going to break through the door and do something horrible.</b>
This sentence does not contribute humor. Instead, it contributes to the fearful atmosphere by highlighting the character's fear and anticipation of a terrifying event.
<b>C) But what made her keep the door shut and locked was the abrupt end of the concrete floor halfway across the room.</b>
This sentence enhances the eerie mood rather than providing humor. It describes an unsettling feature of the house that contributes to the character's fear.
<b>D) All of the floors and doors were original; the doors even had skeleton key locks.</b>
This sentence contributes to the mysterious, old-fashioned setting but does not provide humor. The mention of 'skeleton key locks' might even heighten the suspenseful atmosphere by suggesting a connection to the supernatural.
<b>Conclusion</b>
In an otherwise fearful mood, the phrase "Because she did—or she would, once she finished paying her mortgage in 30 years" provides a moment of humor. Its light-hearted tone and relatability offer a stark contrast to the suspenseful, ghostly atmosphere of the passage. The other choices either contribute to the eerie mood or create a sense of anticipation, lacking the unexpected contrast necessary to generate humor.
2. Which one of the following is misleading information that Alice uses to support her argument that the house is "terrifying"?
A. The basement has a dirt floor Correct
B. There are glass jars on the shelves in the basement
C. The doors and floors are original to the home
D. The doors and floors are original to the home
Explanation
<h2>The basement having a dirt floor is misleading information that Alice uses to support her argument that the house is "terrifying".</h2>
The presence of a dirt floor in the basement does not inherently make a house terrifying. While it may be considered outdated or possibly unhygienic, it does not necessarily contribute to a sense of fear or terror.
<b>A) The basement has a dirt floor</b>
While a dirt floor could be a sign of an older or poorly maintained house, it doesn't necessarily make the house "terrifying". It may contribute to a sense of discomfort or dissatisfaction, but it is misleading to use this as evidence of terror.
<b>B) There are glass jars on the shelves in the basement</b>
The presence of glass jars on shelves in the basement is not inherently terrifying. These could simply be used for storage or preservation purposes, which is a common practice in many households. Using this as an argument to support the house being terrifying is not misleading.
<b>C) The doors and floors are original to the home</b>
The originality of the doors and floors could suggest that the house is old, but this doesn't make it terrifying. In fact, many people value and appreciate the original features of a home as they can add character and historical value. Therefore, this is not misleading information to support the claim that the house is terrifying.
<b>D) The doors and floors are original to the home</b>
As stated above, having original doors and floors doesn't make a house terrifying. This point is identical to option C and provides the same reasoning – it cannot be classified as misleading information that supports the claim of the house being terrifying.
<b>Conclusion</b>
Misleading information in an argument is information that is used to support a claim but does not logically or inherently prove the claim. In this case, Alice's claim that the house is "terrifying" is not supported by the fact that the basement has a dirt floor. This point, while perhaps indicating the house's age or lack of modern updates, does not directly correlate to a sense of terror. Therefore, it is misleading information in the context of her argument.
3. What of the following explains the effect that word choice has on the meaning of the passage?
A. The author selects negative words like "trap" and "escape" to demonstrate that sleeping is a challenge
B. The author selects threatening words like "tempted" and "undrape" to inform on the dangers present.
C. The author selects contrasting words like "peaceful" and "dodge" to compare two unlike activities Correct
D. The author selects rhyming words like "pile" and "awhile" to create a lyrical moment in an informative writing
Explanation
<h2>The author selects contrasting words like "peaceful" and "dodge" to compare two unlike activities.</h2>
In the passage, the author's choice of words indeed plays a crucial role in conveying the intended meaning. By choosing contrasting words such as "peaceful" and "dodge", the author effectively creates a comparison between two activities that are inherently different.
<b>A) The author selects negative words like "trap" and "escape" to demonstrate that sleeping is a challenge</b>
The words "trap" and "escape" may suggest a negative connotation or indicate a challenge. However, they do not form the basis of the author's word choice in this passage. The use of contrasting words "peaceful" and "dodge" is more relevant to the context.
<b>B) The author selects threatening words like "tempted" and "undrape" to inform on the dangers present.</b>
The words "tempted" and "undrape" could suggest potential threats or dangers. However, these words do not align with the intended purpose of the author's word choice in the passage. The author rather uses contrasting words to compare two unlike activities.
<b>D) The author selects rhyming words like "pile" and "awhile" to create a lyrical moment in an informative writing</b>
Although the words "pile" and "awhile" rhyme, this does not necessarily add to the meaning of the passage. The author's choice of contrasting words like "peaceful" and "dodge" is more directly related to the meaning.
<b>Conclusion</b>
The author's word choice plays a significant role in shaping the meaning of the passage. In this specific context, the use of contrasting words such as "peaceful" and "dodge" helps to establish a comparison between two unlike activities. This comparison, facilitated by the author's word choice, thereby effectively conveys the intended meaning of the passage.
4. According to the passage, which of the following phrases clarifies the order of the steps in basic breadmaking?
A. as little as an hour
B. until a crispy golden crust forms
C. once-fermented dough is then cut Correct
D. To create a smooth, springy dough
Explanation
<h2>The phrase "once-fermented dough is then cut" clarifies the order of the steps in basic breadmaking.</h2>
This statement indicates a clear sequence in the breadmaking process. After the dough has been fermented (a step in the bread-making process), it is then cut, providing a clear chronological order of steps.
<b>A) as little as an hour</b>
This phrase does not provide information about the order of the steps in breadmaking. It merely indicates a potential duration for one of the steps, but it does not specify which step or where it fits in the overall process.
<b>B) until a crispy golden crust forms</b>
While this phrase describes an outcome of a baking process, it does not specify the order of the steps involved in breadmaking. It provides a condition to be met (a crispy golden crust), but not how or when in the process this condition is achieved.
<b>C) once-fermented dough is then cut</b>
This phrase clearly outlines a sequence in the breadmaking process. The use of the word "once" implies that fermentation is a step that precedes the cutting of the dough, giving a clear order to these steps in the process.
<b>D) To create a smooth, springy dough</b>
While this phrase describes a goal of one of the breadmaking steps, it does not clarify the order of the steps. Creating a smooth, springy dough could be a result of several steps, and without further context, we cannot determine where this falls in the sequence of breadmaking.
<b>Conclusion</b>
In the context of outlining a sequence of events or steps, the phrase "once-fermented dough is then cut" is the only choice that provides clear chronological order. The other options either describe a condition or goal (a crispy golden crust, a smooth springy dough) or a duration (as little as an hour), but do not provide clear indications of the order of steps involved in breadmaking.
5. Which of the following statements correctly identifies the sequence of events in the reading?
A. After life as a sharecropper, Bessie Coleman raised money as a stunt pilot to attend flight school in France.
B. Bessie Coleman's parents were sharecroppers who sent her to France to become a pilot, after which she returned and opened a flight school.
C. Bessie Coleman was a pilot, then a sharecropper, who lived in France, where she was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame.
D. Born to a sharecropper, Bessie Coleman moved to France to take flight training and then returned to the United States as a stunt pilot. Correct
Explanation
<h2>Born to a sharecropper, Bessie Coleman moved to France to take flight training and then returned to the United States as a stunt pilot.</h2>
The sequence of events for Bessie Coleman's life path is correctly outlined in this answer. She was born to sharecropper parents, then moved to France for flight training, and subsequently returned to the United States where she worked as a stunt pilot.
<b>A) After life as a sharecropper, Bessie Coleman raised money as a stunt pilot to attend flight school in France.</b>
This statement inaccurately suggests that Bessie Coleman was a sharecropper herself and then became a stunt pilot to raise money for flight school. In reality, her parents were the sharecroppers, and she became a stunt pilot after her flight training in France, not before.
<b>B) Bessie Coleman's parents were sharecroppers who sent her to France to become a pilot, after which she returned and opened a flight school.</b>
While it is true that Bessie Coleman's parents were sharecroppers, they did not send her to France. She went there on her own initiative. Also, the reading does not mention her opening a flight school upon her return to the United States.
<b>C) Bessie Coleman was a pilot, then a sharecropper, who lived in France, where she was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame.</b>
This choice is incorrect because it confuses the sequence of events and misrepresents Bessie Coleman's biography. She was never a sharecropper herself, and she did not live in France. She moved there for flight training and then returned to the United States. The reading does not mention her induction into the National Aviation Hall of Fame.
<b>Conclusion</b>
The correct sequence of events for Bessie Coleman's life is that she was born to sharecropper parents, moved to France for flight training, and then returned to the United States to work as a stunt pilot. Other choices incorrectly depicted her career path, parental support for her education, or misrepresented her biography.