Students can increase the value of homework time by learning some practical methods. In addition to study skills themselves, several techniques can help students to make good use of time. To lay the foundation for efficient studying, start by organizing. Before doing anything else,
divide homework assignments into two groups; homework that needs to be completed right away, and homework that is not due for a while.
Next, set aside a regular time for homework. Estimate the amount of time each assignment will take and make sure to budget time for each
one. When sitting down to study, focus on each task until it is completed. Taking breaks now and then is fine, but it is important to return to the task
at hand.
Once they have begun to study, students might want to use some helpful techniques. First, preview the text book and other materials to see
the major headings and pictures associated with the topic. Next, think of some questions that might exist about the topic being studied. Continue
by reading the assigned material and trying to answer those questions. Finally, summarize what was read using outlines, diagrams, or other tools.
When finished, students can test themselves by looking back at the original questions they had and seeing if all of those questions have now been
answered.
If remembering the information is sometimes a problem, there are strategies that can help. Try to memorize using repetition. Saying
something over and over can help students recall Information. Another strategy is using association to remember facts. If students can connect new
Information with something they already know, they are more likely to remember it. Creating a visual often helps as well. Students should draw
pictures or idea maps to help remember new facts.
Which of the sentences Sharla wants to add will maintain the style of her essay?
1. My older sister Sara learned most of these techniques and used them successfully during all four years of college.
2. These all are teacher-recommended study tools, and their value has been proven by successful students of all levels.
3. I suggest you try some of these techniques out and see if they don't improve your grades soon-1 know they helped me.
4. Students who struggle with schoolwork should try some of these techniques to turn poor grades into awesome grades now!

Read the passage. excerpt from "why equal pay is worth fighting for" by senator elizabeth warren, april 17, 2014 i honestly can't believe that we're still arguing over equal pay in 2014. when i started teaching elementary school after college, the public school district didn't hide the fact that it had two pay scales: one for men and one for women. women have made incredible strides since then. but 40 years later, we're still debating equal pay for equal work. women today still earn only 77 cents for every dollar a man earns, and they're taking a hit in nearly every occupation. bloomberg analyzed census data and found that median earnings for women were lower than those for men in 264 of 265 major occupation categories. in 99.6 percent of occupations, men get paid more than women. that's not an accident; that's discrimination. the effects of this discrimination are real, and they are long lasting. today, more young women go to college than men, but unequal pay makes it harder for them to pay back student loans. pay inequality also means a tougher retirement for women. . for middle-class families today, it usually takes two incomes to get by, and many families depend as much on mom's salary as they do on dad's, if not more. women are the main breadwinners, or joint breadwinners, in two-thirds of the families across the country, and pay discrimination makes it that much harder for these families to stay afloat. women are ready to fight back against pay discrimination, but it's not easy. today, a woman can get fired for asking the guy across the hall how much money he makes. here in the senate, sen. barbara mikulski (d-md.) introduced the paycheck fairness act to give women the tools to combat wage discrimination. it would ensure that salary differences have something to do with the actual job that they are doing, and not just because they are women. senator warren states that the effects of pay discrimination are long-lasting. is this a valid argument supported by accurate evidence? no; warren weakens her point by claiming that the paycheck fairness act would "give women the tools to combat wage discrimination." yes; warren supports her point by noting, "for middle-class families today, it usually takes two incomes to get by." yes; warren supports her point by noting, "pay inequality also means a tougher retirement for women." no; warren weakens her point by noting, "today, a woman can get fired for asking the guy across the hall how much money he makes."