1) Excerpt from Norse Mythology Part B Kate McConnaughey The pleasure of all living things in Baldur’s presence means the happiness that the sunlight brings. The sorrow of all living things at his death means the gloom of northern countries when winter comes.

Which, if any, is the BEST way to improve these sentences from the passage?
A) Leave as is.
B) The pleasure of all living things in Baldur’s presence means the happiness that the sunlight brings; The sorrow of all living things at his death means the gloom of northern countries when winter comes.
C) The pleasure of all living things in Baldur’s presence means the happiness that the sunlight brings, the sorrow of all living things at his death means the gloom of northern countries when winter comes.
D) The pleasure of all living things in Baldur’s presence, means the happiness that the sunlight brings. The sorrow of all living things at his death means the gloom of northern countries when winter comes.

2) In my class, we go to the library once a week. The librarian's name is Mrs. Bigham, and she's really nice. She reads us stories, and she also points out the different areas of the library. Some shelves are filled with picture books, and others are either storybooks or information books. We learned the rules of the library, and next week we get to check out a book for the first time.

Which sentence provides the BEST conclusion to the paragraph?
A) Some of my friends don't really like to read, but I certainly do.
B) I've never really liked reading books that are filled with science facts.
C) I sometimes also go to the public library after school to check out books.
D) I can't wait to pick out a new book to read when we visit the library again!

3) Which detail would be the MOST helpful in supporting a report on how eating out at restaurants too often can be unhealthy?
A) Some restaurants make most of their money off selling over-priced drinks to customers.
B) The location of a restaurant is often the most important part of its success or failure.
C) Most restaurants use a lot of sugar in their food which can lead to later weight issues.
D) Some of the most popular restaurants in the United States are Burger King, McDonald's, and Wendy's.

4) As I finished my dance, the audience jumped to their feet and began to clap. “That was great, Marcie!” a freshman yelled. ”You’re amazing!” screamed another. My face beamed and I took a bow before I floated off the stage.

Which sentence provides the BEST conclusion to this narrative paragraph?
A) "What time is practice tomorrow?" I asked my dance coach.
B) "I can't wait until next year's talent show!" I told Caroline.
C) "I hope I didn't leave anything on stage!" I exclaimed to my teacher.
D) "I wonder how many people were in the audience." I whispered to Mr. Evans.

5) In an essay on effective methods of stress relief that uses this chart for support, which sentence would be the best concluding statement?
A) Men typically experience more stress than women.
B) Neither men nor women experience an inordinate amount of stress.
C) Women, on average, are able to manage their stress better than men.
D) Both men and women should seek activities that help them lower their stress levels.

6) Excerpt from I Have A Dream Martin Luther King, Jr.

3 But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we have come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.

In paragraph 3, which rhetorical technique is being used to add emphasis?
A) overstatement
B) understatement
C) parallel structure
D) rhetorical question