Expository Analysis quiz

No paladin, or knight, of the olden times, ever exhibited more wild, romantic daring, than that which formed a part of the ranger's daily action. Danger, in a thousand forms, beset him at every step—he defied mutilation, death by fire and lingering torture. The number of his enemies, he never counted, until after he had conquered them—the power of the tribe, or the prowess of the warrior, was no element in his calculations. Where he could strike first and most effectually, was his only inquiry. Securing an avenue for retreat was no part of his strategy—for he had never an intention or thought of returning, except as a victor.

The last sentence of this passage serves to:

a. observe that the country would be a different place without a ranger.

b. emphasize the fact that a ranger never considered defeat an option.

c. clarify the difference between "ranger" and "pioneer."

d. explain why certain types of pioneers were less adventurous than others.

b. emphasize the fact that a ranger never considered defeat an option.

(1) The Yucatán Peninsula is a northeastern projection of Central America lying between the Gulf of Campeche, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea. Its area is approximately 143,500 square kilometers and it has a coastline of about 1,100 kilometers.

(2) Topographically, the peninsula is a low-level plain that rises gradually inland to the south. The coast on the north and west is low, sandy, and semi-barren; openings through the outer coastal strand lead to narrow brackish lagoons surrounded by mangroves, which can handle the salty water. The eastern coast consists of bluffs, indented with bays and bordered by several islands, the largest being Cozumel. The extreme southerly portion of the peninsula is moderately hilly and is covered with tropical rain forest.

(3) The peninsula is mostly coraline and porous limestone covered with a layer of thin, dry soil formed from the slow weathering of the bedrock. The humus is rarely more than a few centimeters deep, and consequently the milpas must be moved every two or three years. With each move, a new area of the land is cleared and burned. This agricultural practice has been routine with the Mayan people for centuries and apparently has had a profound effect on the vegetation, severely limiting the height of trees in favor of the cornfields.

This passage is primarily concerned with:

a. instructing farmers how best to grow food in the area.

b. explaining the characteristics of the peninsula land formation.

c. providing an overview of the geography of the Yucatan.

d. describing the beauty of the Yucatan in order to attract visitors.

c. providing an overview of the geography of the Yucatan.

(1) The Yucatán Peninsula is a northeastern projection of Central America lying between the Gulf of Campeche, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea. Its area is approximately 143,500 square kilometers and it has a coastline of about 1,100 kilometers.

(2) Topographically, the peninsula is a low-level plain that rises gradually inland to the south. The coast on the north and west is low, sandy, and semi-barren; openings through the outer coastal strand lead to narrow brackish lagoons surrounded by mangroves, which can handle the salty water. The eastern coast consists of bluffs, indented with bays and bordered by several islands, the largest being Cozumel. The extreme southerly portion of the peninsula is moderately hilly and is covered with tropical rain forest.

(3) The peninsula is mostly coraline and porous limestone covered with a layer of thin, dry soil formed from the slow weathering of the bedrock. The humus is rarely more than a few centimeters deep, and consequently the milpas must be moved every two or three years. With each move, a new area of the land is cleared and burned. This agricultural practice has been routine with the Mayan people for centuries and apparently has had a profound effect on the vegetation, severely limiting the height of trees in favor of the cornfields.

According to paragraph 3 of the excerpt, how do they prepare the land for farming?

a. harvest the crops that are currently on the land

b. restrict the height of surrounding trees

c. increase the amount of topsoil

d. burn vegetation in the desired area

d. burn vegetation in the desired area

Almost everyone seems to think that we retain in the mind only those things that we can voluntarily recall; that memory, in other words, is limited to the power of voluntary reproduction. This is a profound error. It is an inexcusable error. The daily papers are constantly reporting cases of the lapse and restoration of memory that contain all the elements of underlying truth on this subject. It is plain enough that the memory seems decidedly limited in its scope. This is because our power of voluntary recall is decidedly limited. But it does not follow simply because we are without the power to deliberately recall certain experiences that all mental trace of those experiences is lost to us. With research we could learn more about how and why people have restored memory that was previously lost.

Which of the following details most supports the author's view that our human brains are able to store more information than the memories we can voluntarily recall?

a. most people can only remember limited portions of their lives

b. reports of memory lapses that are later restored

c. we retain more than we are able to recall

d. memory is limited to voluntary reproduction

b. reports of memory lapses that are later restored

It is a great characteristic of fungi in general that they are very rapid in growth, and rapid in decay. In a night a puffball will grow prodigiously, and in the same short period a mass of paste may be covered with mould. In a few hours a gelatinous mass of Reticularia will pass into a bladder of dust, or a Coprinus will be dripping into decay. Remembering this, mycophagists will take note that a fleshy fungus which may be good eating at noon may undergo such changes in a few hours as to be anything but good eating at night. Many instances have been recorded of the rapidity of growth in fungi; it may also be accepted as an axiom that they are, in many instances, equally as rapid in decay.

According to this passage, a fungi – Reticularia – will decay in what amount of time?

a. A few hours

b. A few minutes

c. A few days

d. Overnight

a. A few hours

No animal is more fond and attentive of their young than the cat. Newly born kittens nestle around their mother, amid her soft, warm fluffy fur, cosseted with parental tenderness, caressed, nurtured, and, with low, sweet tones and fondlings, they are soothed again and again to sleep. She is the most tender and gentle of nurses, watching closely every movement of her young. She generously brings the choicest morsels of her own food, which she lays before them, softly purring, full of pleasure and delight, at their eager but futile attempts to eat and enjoy the dainty morsel. After giving them every encouragement, she shows them what they should do by slowly making a meal of it herself, frequently stopping and licking them in the hope they will yet make another effort.

Which of the following, if true, supports the conclusion of the passage?

a. Kittens will be more social and physically healthy if they remain with their mother for at least 12 weeks.

b. Mother cats will leave their kittens for periods of time and may be hesitant to return if people are near them.

c. Cats are easily trained to either use a litter box or go to the bathroom outside.

d. Cats can be affectionate and playful companions to people but it varies based on the individual animal's temperament.

a. Kittens will be more social and physically healthy if they remain with their mother for at least 12 weeks.

Students are conducting research before drafting a research paper. The teacher demonstrates how to use the online search features to find a source. Which step should the teacher model next to ensure students are locating credible sources?

a. how to review a chosen source's bibliography information

b. how to complete the works cited entry for the source

c. how to locate biographical information about the author

d. how to pull evidence from the text without plagiarising

a. how to review a chosen source's bibliography information

(1) A panic terror of the end of the world seized the good people of Leeds and its neighbourhood in the year 1806. It arose from the following circumstances. A hen, in a village close by, laid eggs, on which were inscribed the words, "Christ is coming." Great numbers visited the spot, and examined these wondrous eggs, convinced that the day of judgment was near at hand. Like sailors in a storm, expecting every instant to go to the bottom, the believers suddenly became religious, prayed violently, and flattered themselves that they repented them of their evil courses.

(2) But a plain tale soon put them down, and quenched their religion entirely. Some gentlemen, hearing of the matter, went one fine morning, and caught the poor hen in the act of laying one of her miraculous eggs. They soon ascertained beyond doubt that the egg had been inscribed with some corrosive ink, and cruelly forced up again into the bird's body. At this explanation, those who had prayed, now laughed, and the world wagged as merrily as of yore.

What is the main idea of this passage?

a. People act foolishly during the Apocalypse.

b. The simplest of creatures often reveal the future.

c. Those who repent too quickly will show their foolishness.

d. You should always investigate the unbelievable.

c. Those who repent too quickly will show their foolishness.

Which conclusion about the peak number of butterflies is best supported by the data in the graph?

a. The least number of butterflies counted was recorded in 2005-06.

b. During the winters of 2001-02, more butterflies were counted than in the winters of 2005-06.

c. The second largest number of butterflies counted occurred during the winters of 2006-07.

d. The number of butterflies in 2007-08 was less than the number counted in 2002-03.

c. The second largest number of butterflies counted occurred during the winters of 2006-07.

Everyone knows that the city of Pittsburgh is associated with industry. Pittsburgh has an interesting history that involves more than just steel mills. George Washington scouted the location of the city when he was a young man. Native Americans decisively defeated the British Army (including the young George Washington) near the site of the future city of Pittsburgh. The French Fort Duquesne guarded the confluence of three rivers where Pittsburgh would be founded. Fort Duquesne was replaced by Fort Pitt after the British won the French and Indian War. The young city of Pittsburgh was an early Western outpost of the British in North America, and then of the United States. Settlers often left the comfort of their home countries and the coastal cities of the United States to travel through Pittsburgh on their way to colonize the West.

Which of the following sentences is the thesis statement of the passage that describes the main idea of the passage?

a. "Everyone knows that the city of Pittsburgh is associated with industry."

b. "Native Americans decisively defeated the British Army (including the young George Washington) near the site of the future city of Pittsburgh."

c. "The young city of Pittsburgh was an early Western outpost of the British in North America, and then of the United States."

d. "Pittsburgh has an interesting history that involves more than just steel mills."

d. "Pittsburgh has an interesting history that involves more than just steel mills."