Read the text carefully, then answer the question located beneath: Time to "Bee" Wary, by Gordon Winters

Africanized honey bees were created in Brazil in 1957. Scientists mixed local bees with African ones to create a bee that would make more honey. They ended up with something much different. The new bees evolved in unexpected ways. They multiplied and migrated north. These Africanized honeybees are now known as killer bees for several scary but legitimate reasons.

Killer bees are far more aggressive than their relatives. They have been known to attack in great numbers, even when there has been no direct threat on their hives. They have swarmed because of loud noises, dark clothing, bright jewelry, and even strong perfume. They will chase a person for more than a quarter of a mile and remain angered for up to 24 hours.

Killer bees are also dangerous because of their sting. While most bees take up to 30 seconds to attack, killer bees sting in just 3 seconds. Their venom is no stronger than a regular bee's, but when one killer bee stings, others follow. With up to 80,000 members in a colony, victims are quickly overwhelmed. So many stings in such a short time can cause allergic reactions. Victims enter a state of shock, lose blood pressure, and in many cases, die.

A final reason why "killer" has been added to their name is the unfortunate number of deaths they have caused. Experts estimate that the Africanized honeybee moves at a rate of about 200 miles each year. As the bees claim new territory, they claim new victims as well. More than 1000 people have been stung to death in South and Central America. There have been rising numbers of attacks in Mexico and a handful in the United States. Once a swarm sets sights on a victim, it is very difficult for the victim to escape. Once attacked, it is very difficult to survive.

Thankfully, there has been no killer bee invasion as some once predicted. Although there is no need for panic, the threat of the killer bee is real and should be taken seriously. It is good practice to call a professional to remove beehives in your area. If you are stung multiple times by any insect, you should always seek medical attention. You may not be expert enough to tell the difference between a killer bee and a less dangerous one, so be smart. It is better to be safe than sorry.

Which sentence from the conclusion paragraph best rephrases the author's thesis? (5 points)

Thankfully, there has been no killer bee invasion as some once predicted.
Although there is no need for panic, the threat of the killer bee is real and should be taken seriously.
You may not be expert enough to tell the difference between a killer bee and a less dangerous one, so be smart.
It is better to be safe than sorry.

How does the oxymoron "predictable coincidence" affect the meaning of this sentence? alana made sure that bill overheard her plans for jogging that afternoon, inviting the predictable coincidence of his meeting her on the track. a) the oxymoron shows that alana was not really sure whether bill would meet her. b) the oxymoron explains why alana was attracted to bill. c) the oxymoron readers understand bill's point of view. d) the oxymoron the reader understand that the meeting was really not a coincidence.

Choose the letter of the word that most clearly expresses the tone in each passage. if you are unfamiliar with any of the words, look them up before you select the correct answer. we have come together this afternoon to mourn the deaths of sixteen miners—our friends and neighbors—who were trapped by fire yesterday, deep below the earth. they lived bravely and they died too soon, leaving behind grieving wives and bewildered children. we bid them a final farewell. question 1 options: forgiving sorrowful angry amused

Each state in america has a different seal, or symbol, that represents the traditional culture of that state. the state seal of georgia is rich in meaning, history, and patriotism. when was the seal adopted? 2georgia’s state constitution established the state seal in 1798. however, as georgia’s political circumstances changed, so too did the state’s seal. between 1863 and 1865, georgia used a different state seal to represent its separation from the rest of the country during the civil war. then, from 1868 to1871, georgia’s secretary of state nathan c. barnett hid the original seal when the capital was occupied by the north’s victorious enemy forces. he readopted the original seal in 1872. 4georgia’s state seal remained unchanged for 42 years. then, a law was passed that required the state to alter the date on the seal. the year 1799 had originally appeared on the seal to represent the year that the seal was officially adopted. the new law changed the date on the seal to 1776, the year that america’s founding fathers signed the declaration of independence. what does the seal look like? 5just as coins each have a “heads” side and a “tails” side, state seals also each have a front and a back. the front of the seal shows three tall columns, or pillars. perched atop these pillars is an arch that displays the word “constitution.” the two end pillars are each adorned with a ribbon-like banner that reads “wisdom” and “moderation.” a third banner, reading “justice,” hangs in front of the middle pillar. when read together, the banners make up the official state motto of georgia: “wisdom, justice, and moderation.” the seal also exhibits a picture of a soldier holding a sword. the words “state of georgia” appear along the top. the year 1776 is printed at the bottom. 6the back of the seal portrays a rural shoreline scene featuring a large ship and small boat. also included in the picture are bundles of tobacco plants and cotton and a farmer working in a field. across the top of the seal are the words “agriculture and commerce.” the bottom of the seal is also marked with the year 1776. what do the symbols on the seal represent? 7each item on the seal is symbolic of georgia’s history and the history of america as a united country. the pillars on the front stand for the three branches of government—legislative, executive, and judicial—and how they all work together to support the country and its constitution. the man holding the sword represents soldiers who defend the country and its laws. 8the boats on the back of the seal symbolize the agricultural commerce of georgia. similarly, the farmer and crop bundles represent georgia’s dependence on agriculture for survival. during the mid to late 1800s, over 700,000 cotton bales were produced each year. cotton is still a “king” crop in georgia. the state currently produces almost three million bales per year. this is only one reason why the state is an important asset to its country. read the passage on the left to answer the following questions: 13) the author's main purpose in writing this article is a) to inform. b) to create. c) to persuade. d) to entertain. 14) in paragraph eight, the word asset means a) benefit. b) debt. c) element. d) expense. 15) in paragraph six, the word portrays means a) condescends. b) deceives. c) honors. d) reveals.