A teacher is evaluating the following excerpt from a student's expository writing. [Paragraph 1] I love animals, but did you know that humans make life hard for lots of animals? We keep building more houses and stores, and we take up the food and space animals need to live. There are more endangered animals now than ever before. Humans need to make sure that the things they do help animals and not hurt them. [Paragraph 2] The Amazon rain forest is being destroyed, too. Many loggers earn money to chop down the rain forest. It can't grow back fast enough. Chopping down trees for wood to build houses makes tons of animals out of their homes. Lots of animals need the rain forest to survive.
When evaluating the student's writing, the teacher should highlight which of the following as a strength?
- A. A clear focus in paragraph 1
- B. Coherent development of ideas in paragraph 2
- C. A clear transition between the paragraphs
- D. Effective use of figurative language in both paragraphs
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B
Highlighting the coherent development of ideas in paragraph 2 emphasizes the student's ability to organize and elaborate on their thoughts effectively, which is crucial for persuasive and analytical writing. Option A, while important, only addresses focus in a single paragraph, lacking the depth of development seen in option B. Option C, though valuable, pertains to transitions, which are secondary to the overall idea development. Option D focuses on figurative language, which, while creative, may not contribute as significantly to the clarity and logic of the argument as the coherent development of ideas does.
Highlighting the coherent development of ideas in paragraph 2 emphasizes the student's ability to organize and elaborate on their thoughts effectively, which is crucial for persuasive and analytical writing. Option A, while important, only addresses focus in a single paragraph, lacking the depth of development seen in option B. Option C, though valuable, pertains to transitions, which are secondary to the overall idea development. Option D focuses on figurative language, which, while creative, may not contribute as significantly to the clarity and logic of the argument as the coherent development of ideas does.
Other Related Questions
Which TWO of the following words feature an open syllabication pattern?
- A. Happen
- B. Robot
- C. Sunlight
- D. Artist
- E. Silent
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: B,E
Open syllabication occurs when a syllable ends in a vowel, allowing the vowel to be pronounced with a long sound. Option B, "Robot," has two open syllables: "Ro" and "bot." Each syllable ends with a vowel, making the vowel sounds long. Option E, "Silent," also features an open syllable with "Si" (the first syllable) ending in a vowel, allowing for the long vowel sound. Option A, "Happen," has a closed syllable ("hap") where the vowel is short. Option C, "Sunlight," has a closed first syllable ("sun"). Option D, "Artist," contains a closed syllable ("art"), resulting in a short vowel sound.
Open syllabication occurs when a syllable ends in a vowel, allowing the vowel to be pronounced with a long sound. Option B, "Robot," has two open syllables: "Ro" and "bot." Each syllable ends with a vowel, making the vowel sounds long. Option E, "Silent," also features an open syllable with "Si" (the first syllable) ending in a vowel, allowing for the long vowel sound. Option A, "Happen," has a closed syllable ("hap") where the vowel is short. Option C, "Sunlight," has a closed first syllable ("sun"). Option D, "Artist," contains a closed syllable ("art"), resulting in a short vowel sound.
Active listening skills are best demonstrated by
- A. offering thoughtful feedback on someone's idea
- B. maintaining a neutral facial expression
- C. adding to a point by eagerly interjecting
- D. thinking of what to say next while in a discussion
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A
Active listening skills are best demonstrated by offering thoughtful feedback on someone's idea. This shows engagement and understanding, as it indicates that the listener has processed the information and is contributing meaningfully to the conversation. Maintaining a neutral facial expression (B) does not demonstrate engagement; it may signal disinterest or detachment. Adding to a point by eagerly interjecting (C) disrupts the flow of conversation and indicates a lack of patience for the speaker's full expression. Thinking of what to say next while in a discussion (D) distracts from truly listening, as it shifts focus away from the speaker. Effective active listening requires full attention and interaction.
Active listening skills are best demonstrated by offering thoughtful feedback on someone's idea. This shows engagement and understanding, as it indicates that the listener has processed the information and is contributing meaningfully to the conversation. Maintaining a neutral facial expression (B) does not demonstrate engagement; it may signal disinterest or detachment. Adding to a point by eagerly interjecting (C) disrupts the flow of conversation and indicates a lack of patience for the speaker's full expression. Thinking of what to say next while in a discussion (D) distracts from truly listening, as it shifts focus away from the speaker. Effective active listening requires full attention and interaction.
Which of the following statements best explains the impact of the point of view of the passage?
- A. It gives the reader insight into the narrator's personal thoughts.
- B. It makes the reader feel personally involved in the action of the passage.
- C. It prompts the reader to question the reliability of the narrator.
- D. It provides the reader with direct access to a character's emotions.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D
The chosen option provides direct access to a character's emotions, allowing readers to experience their feelings and motivations intimately. This connection enhances empathy and understanding of the character's journey. Option A suggests insight into the narrator's personal thoughts, which may not fully capture the emotional depth of a character. Option B implies involvement in the action, but emotional connection is more impactful than mere participation. Option C raises questions about reliability, which can detract from the emotional experience rather than enhance it. Thus, option D best encapsulates the emotional engagement offered by the passage.
The chosen option provides direct access to a character's emotions, allowing readers to experience their feelings and motivations intimately. This connection enhances empathy and understanding of the character's journey. Option A suggests insight into the narrator's personal thoughts, which may not fully capture the emotional depth of a character. Option B implies involvement in the action, but emotional connection is more impactful than mere participation. Option C raises questions about reliability, which can detract from the emotional experience rather than enhance it. Thus, option D best encapsulates the emotional engagement offered by the passage.
Which of the following statements best explains the impact of fluency on comprehension?
- A. Students who read at a very fast rate are more likely to comprehend what they read.
- B. Students who decode slowly exhibit better overall comprehension.
- C. Students who fluently reread familiar books repeatedly demonstrate greater comprehension.
- D. Students who attend to punctuation and decode words fluently have increased comprehension.
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D
Fluency significantly enhances comprehension by allowing readers to focus on meaning rather than decoding. Option D highlights that attending to punctuation and decoding words fluently enables students to process text more efficiently, leading to improved understanding. Option A is misleading; while speed can play a role, it doesn't guarantee comprehension. Fast readers may overlook meaning. Option B suggests that slow decoding leads to better comprehension, which is not necessarily true; slow readers may struggle to grasp overall meaning due to cognitive overload. Option C, while true in some contexts, lacks the broader applicability of fluency in diverse texts.
Fluency significantly enhances comprehension by allowing readers to focus on meaning rather than decoding. Option D highlights that attending to punctuation and decoding words fluently enables students to process text more efficiently, leading to improved understanding. Option A is misleading; while speed can play a role, it doesn't guarantee comprehension. Fast readers may overlook meaning. Option B suggests that slow decoding leads to better comprehension, which is not necessarily true; slow readers may struggle to grasp overall meaning due to cognitive overload. Option C, while true in some contexts, lacks the broader applicability of fluency in diverse texts.