when it comes to jellyfish, most people think of the strong and sometimes dangerous stings that jellyfish can deliver. These

people might be surprised, however, to learn about the jellyfish that live on the Pacific island of Palau. The jellyfish that live in

Jellyfish Lake are not harmful to humans. The sting of these jellyfish is so weak that, in most cases, humans do not feel it. Those

who travel to Palau can swim in Jellyfish Lake, which teems with these creatures. Jellyfish Lake gives tourists the opportunity to

observe these amazing creatures without the risk of being harmed.

Which BEST summarizes the paragraph?

a) Not all jellyfish sting people; in fact, some jellyfish don't sting at all

B) When many people think of jellyfish, they think of dangerous creatures

C) Although the sting of most jellyfish is painful to humans, the jellyfish that

live on the Island of Palau have an extremely weak sting

D) Many people wish to have the opportunity to observe a lot of sea creatures,

especially jellyfish

The people are demoralized; most of the States have been compelled to isolate the voters at the polling places to prevent

universal intimidation and bribery. The newspapers are largely subsidized or muzzled, public opinion silenced, business prostrated,

homes covered with mortgages, labor impoverished, and the land concentrating in the hands of capitalists. The urban workmen are

denied the right to organize for self-protection, imported pauperized labor beats down their wages, a hireling standing army,

unrecognized by our laws, is established to shoot them down, and they are rapidly degenerating into European conditions. The

fruits of the toil of millions are badly stolen to build up colossal fortunes for a few, unprecedented in the history of mankind; and

the possessors of these, in turn, despise the Republic and endanger liberty. From the same prolific womb of governmental injustice

we breed the two great classestramps and millionaires. The national power to create money is appropriated to enrich bond[1]holders; a vast public debt payable in legal-tender currency has been funded into gold-bearing bonds, thereby adding millions to

the burdens of the people.

Which general statement of principle can be summarized from this paragraph?

A) People have nothing to worry about

B) There is a growing disparity between the haves and the have-nots

C) A violent revolution may be necessary Eliminate

D) The rich will always mistreat the poor

What does this mean for juniors starting the college admission process? Simply put, don't worry. There are many postsecondary institutions looking for intelligent, hardworking high school graduates who make positive contributions to their communities.

While these colleges may not have the same reputations as illustrious institutions such as Harvard, they are well-respected places

of higher education. These schools can offer a meaningful educational experience and exceptional preparation for the professional

world.

The tone of this passage is BEST described as --

A) Annoyed

B) Excited

C) Overwhelmed

D) Reassuring

Excerpt from Ain't I A Woman?

Sojourner Truth (1797-1883)

That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place

everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mud-puddles, or gives me any best place! And ain't I a woman?

Look at me! Look at my arm! I have ploughed and planted, and gathered into barns, and no man could head me! And ain't I a

woman? I could work as much and eat as much as a man - when I could get it - and bear the lash as well! And ain't I a

woman? I have borne thirteen children, and seen most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother's grief,

none but Jesus heard me! And ain't I a woman?

which device or technique does the author employ in this paragraph with her repetition of the phrase "Ain't I a Woman?

A) Alliteration

B) Onomatopoeia

C) Personification

D) Rhetorical Question

In this paragraph, Sojourner Truth uses imagery to -

A) illustrate how strong women are

B) to describe how women should be treated

C) To try to take attention away from injustice

D) the emphasize the hardships she has endured

Excerpt from Sea Lullaby

Elinor Wylie

The old moon is tarnished

With smoke of the flood,

The dead leaves are varnished

With color like blood,

A treacherous smiler 5

With teeth white as milk,

A savage beguiler

In sheathings of silk,

The sea creeps to pillage,

She leaps on her prey; 10

A child of the village

Was murdered to-day

She came up to meet him

In a smooth golden cloak,

She choked him and beat him 15

To death, for a joke.

Her bright locks were tangled,

She shouted for joy,

With one hand she strangled

A strong little boy. 20

Now in silence she lingers

Beside him all night

To wash her long fingers

In silvery light.

In this passage, the setting is personified as -

A) An evil woman

B) A helpless child

C) A fighter for justice

D) A victim of injustice

Excerpt from Invictus William Ernest Henley

OUT of the night that covers me,

Black as the Pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.

The speaker in this poem is best described as --

A) Argumentative

B) Confused

C) Determined

D) Indifferent

A) Angry

excerpt from The New Colossus

Emma Lazarus

From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she

With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to be free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

According to the poem, what is the attitude of the Statue of Liberty towards the people of the world?

A) Angry

B) Confused

C) Contemptuous

D) Inviting

Excerpt from Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death

Patrick Henry

It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peacebut there is no peace. The war is actually begun!

The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the

field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to

be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for

me, give me liberty or give me death!

Which sentence restates the message of this paragraph

A) Slavery should be abolished in order to keep the peace

B) I am ready to fight for my freedom, even if it means I might die

C) Peace marches are the best way to convince the public that

war is bad

D) Peace is so sweet and life is so dear that we should never risk

either

I sat on the bench and smiled at Luc. I was nervous, almost spellbound; suddenly this great impractical hulk was the

gateway to a territory from which I had been absent for too long. Something said "Yes!" before I even touched the keyboard. I

trusted Luc but I realized, too, that I wanted to love this piano, I wanted to invite music back into my life. I tried a few scales,

then some harmonic progressions, and finally, with more certainty, some arpeggios.1 A thrill

that I had not expected ran through me as the notes resounded. The Stingl had a good, clean

action, but it took some work to move the keys. None of the vaunted silkiness of the Steinway

or the velvet touch of other famous makes; no, this was a profoundly physical undertaking,

almost athletic in its requirements. And yet the tone it produced was very sweet and full, a

strange and wonderful combination of the robust and the delicate.

2 "It's a nice one, no?" Luc was beaming at my very apparent pleasure.

3 "It's a nice one, yes! It takes some work, but what a beautiful sound."

4 "You're a big guy, you can play a piano like this properly. Not everyone could." I wasn't sure

if this was flattery or a dispassionate estimation of my capabilities. A bit of both, no doubt.

5 This was not just any old piano, Luc assured me. It had been made in Vienna in the thirties

at a time when Vienna still had a craftsman's tradition worthy of the name (only Bsendorfer

remains today), and its clear tone and solid feel suggested a solid pedigree. Never mind its

pluck, this had all the marks of a rare find, a fine piano disguised as something simple and

dependable. I could imagine it surviving the assaults of my young children, to say nothing of

my own.

6 I laughed inwardly at all these musings; the combination of my vanity and artistic longings,

together with the ungainly beauty of the piano itself, struck me as funny and vaguely absurd. I

imagined myself flawlessly playing Chopin's Heroic Polonaise in A-flat at the keyboard of this

unassuming instrument, an impossibility that nonetheless appealed to my sense of fantasy.

One of the most difficult compositions for the piano, it would never be within my grasp, but the

daydream itself was strangely satisfying. What would a visitor from another century think of

this notion of personal fulfillment that sought a pedigree in the past? My expression must have

reflected the deep sense of irony I was feeling because Luc asked me why I was looking

puzzled. 7 "It's just occurred to me how much of ourselves we project onto a piano when we

consider what we're going to buy."

8 "Ah, but of course, that's the beauty of a piano. It's not just another instrument like a flute or

a violin that you put away in the closet. You live with it and it with you. It's big and impossible

to ignore, like a member of the family. It's got to be the right one!"

9 "And if one were interested, how much would this piano cost?"

10 "Fifteen thousand francs," was his unhurried response. "Of course, that includes delivery

and tuning."

11 I made noises about having to measure my apartment to be sure, but I think that we both

knew I was going to buy it. Actually, I think he knew well before I and it puzzles me still to

consider how he made that assessment after our brief encounters. But then, we reveal far

more of ourselves than we suspect when we enter the bedizened world of our passions and

our longings.

12 I returned two days later, having measured my apartment carefully.

13 My wife, Simo, was surprised to hear that all my practical arguments in favor of an upright

the cost, the size, the childrenhad vanished virtually overnight. "What happened to the

idea of a small piano?"

14 I listed all my points in favor of a grand, babbling with enthusiasm as I recited the litany.

15 She listened silently, gave me a long look that mixed skepticism and understanding, then

responded to my fervor with the practical point: "Well, we'd better figure out where your new

baby is going to live."

16 Together we found a corner between the window and the bookcase that formed an acute

angle where the Stingl could be wedged in our apartment's main room. We adjusted our

budget for the price Luc quoted. It was a lot of money, particularly since I was just setting out

on a new career path as a freelance writer, but my wife encouraged me to indulge my

newfound sense of freedom: "Think of it as an investment in personal expression."

17 This time at the atelier I did bring sheet music, and Luc nodded approvingly when he saw

me set it on the music stand. I've never been comfortable playing in front of others, but

somehow this was different; his presence seemed encouraging as we listened together to the

particular voice of this instrument among so many other pianos. I played for perhaps ten

minutes, pieces I knew reasonably well and could listen to while I sight-read: some Beethoven

bagatelles, a few of Schumann's pieces for children, an early Mozart fantasy. I was not

disappointed. The Stingl's resonance filled the room with tones at once clear and robust, and a

sharp sense of pride welled up at the prospect of owning this distinctive piano, of seeing and

playing it daily, of living with it. Good God, I thought, this is a kind of love; and, as in love, my

senses amplified and enhanced the love object, all with an insouciance and willing

enthusiasm.

18 I finished playing and turned to Luc with what must have been a delighted look on my face.

19 "I would say that you have found your piano." His eyes sparkled, the successful

matchmaker rejoicing in his skill.

20 "And I would say that you were right."

Why does the narrator use a metaphor to describe his response to playing the piano?

A) To explain how he is able to remember a piece of music

B) To show how sharing music increases enjoyment

C) To suggest that owning a piano can spark enthusiasm

D) To reveal the depth of his feelings towards the piano

In paragraph 8 of the excerpt from The Piano Shop on the Left Bank, Luc suggest that the narrator -

A) Trust his ability to make decisions

B) Reflect on the commitment of buying a piano

C) Be willing to consider buying other pianos

D) think about playing different instruments

Read this quotation from paragraph 16 of the excerpt The Piano Shop on the Left Bank.

"Think of it as an investment in personal expression."

What can the reader infer about the narrator's wife based on her words?

A) The wife believes it's important to invest in the arts than in

other things

B) The wife does not believe people should deny themselves what

they want

C) The wife views the piano as an attractive addition to their living

D) The wife sees music as a necessary outlet for her husband's

In paragraph 17 of the excerpt from The Piano Shop on the Left Bank, how does the narrator feel about playing the Stingl piano in

the shop?

A) He needs Luc to help him build confidence in his musical ability

B) He hopes Luc will believe that he is worthy of the Stingl

C) He feels oddly comfortable playing in front of Luc

D) He enjoys showing Luc that he can play different types of

Music

Read this quotation from paragraph 1 of the excerpt from The Piano Shop on the Left Bank.

"I was nervous, almost spellbound; suddenly this great impractical

hulk was the gateway to a territory from which I had been absent for

too long. Something said "Yes!" before I even touched the keyboard."

What is the narrator's purpose for including this description?

A) To explain where he is shopping for a piano

B) To highlight his doubts about wanting a piano

C) To show how he exaggerates when describing events

D) To reveal the strenghth of his desire to play the piano again

the conflict of the excerpt from The Piano Shop on the Left Bank can best be described as -

A) The narrator needs to convince his wife to let him buy the Stingl

B) The narrator needs to find the money to by the Stingl

C) The narrator needs to re-discover his passion for music

D) The narrator needs to learn to cope with an inexpensive piano

The use of the word "Francs" is a clue to readers that the excerpt is set in

A) Great Britain

B) The United States

C) Italy

D) France

For much of the 20th century, most every self-respecting home in America had a piano. It was the home entertainment System long before the era of electronics; families would play and sing together, or listen to their children's recitals. The peak year for piano sales was 1909, when Americans bought 364,500 new models. Sales stayed high until the Depression and World War II years, but once the late '40s arrived, piano sales grew strong and steady again for the next 30 years.

2 Then a slow, downward sales arpeggio1 started. In the late 1970s, "baby boomers began to stop buying new pianos," says

Larry Fine, publisher of Acoustic & Digital Piano Buyer. "Every year, a sales decline. People are doing other things." In 2016,

sales of new acoustic pianos hit a low note of 30,000 units.

3 And as more families like ours downsize or move, used pianos have flooded the market. We discovered that no one wanted

our Steinway for any price, including free. We started with music stores that advertised "top dollar" for used pianos. After

sending photos and details, we received only declines; one came with a form letter that rang with bitterness. "Pianos often

have a substantial amount of emotional value to their owners, so it can be difficult to accept that many pianos do not have

meaningful value on the open market," it told us. Reasons include a "tremendous oversupply" of pianos, less interest in them

as a home furnishing, and the availability of "inexpensive, realistic" digital pianos.

4 The song had gone from major to minor, but we pressed on. None of our friends or relatives

wanted it; neither did local churches, schools or charities. Then the song shifted to the saddest

of blues. We discovered that the growth area in the business is paying someone to dispose of

your old piano. "I've seen a boom in the last five years" of people getting rid of their pianos,

says Bob Zahtilla at A Thru Z Piano, a company in Cleveland that sells and maintains, but also

removes, pianos. He says he handles roughly five piano removals a month. "We tear them

down, recycle the metals."

5 "We get lots of calls from schools and institutions looking to get rid of their pianos," adds

Mike Ripatti at Beethoven Pianos in New York, another business that sells, services and

disposes. They gather old pianos in their warehouse and, once they've accumulated a dozen

or so, bring them to the dump. Disposal prices vary based on weight of the instrument and

how treacherous its path to the truck is. Typical, though, is about $300 for an upright.

6 But like many a blues song, this piano riff ends with hope. We finally did find a friend who

wants our piano, so his young son can learn to play. And while the day of the home piano is

passing, "there's no decline in piano lessons," says Natalia Huang, who has piano studios in

New York, Los Angeles and Connecticut. "Younger students are brought in to promote a love

of music and personal development," Huang says. "Adult students come in for personal

growth and stress relief."

7 And to be sure, many older pianos have reached their coda. "Sometimes, they're just ready,"

Zahtilla notes. A piano's life span is typically 50 years; at that point, it needs rebuilding if it is to

be played as it was meant to. So the pruning of a century's worth of neglected home pianos

might not be such a bad thing, if we continue to cherish the music

In the excerpt from the article "Those Old Piano Blues," how does the author mainly organize his

ideas?

A) He lists the benefits of owning a piano by referencing a

magazine article about musical instruments

B) He supports people learning to play the piano with stories from

students who enjoy the instrument

C) He argues against getting rid of old pianos by explaining how

important they once were

D) He discusses the trends in piano ownership by describing his

experience of trying to get rid of an old one

18) What is the purpose of the information in the excerpt from the article "Those Old Piano Blues?"

A) To explain why traditional pianos have greatly declined in value

B) To describe the differences between old pianos and new ones

C) To prove that pianos made in the last century are irreplaceable

D) to inform people about her American trends with musical

Instruments

BOOM 1 DEEP HOLLOW SOUND 2 A RAPID INCREASE IN ACTIVITY 3A LONG POLE FOR HOLDING A MIC 4 A BARRIER TO ABSTRACT NAVIGATION

Which definition most closely matches the meaning of "boom" as it is used in paragraph 4 of the excerpt from the article "Those

Old Piano Blues"?

A) Definition 1

B) Definition 2

C) Definition 3

D) Definition 4

Which word from the excerpt from the article "Those Old Piano Blues" means "an approximate amount?"

A) Peak (paragraph 1)

B) Substantial (paragraph 3)

C) Roughly (paragraph 4)

D) Treacherous (paragraph 5)

A)Many families in America once owned acoustic pianos, but

there are now fewer families who want them. In fact, if you have

an old piano, it can be very hard to sell it or find someone who

wants it. That's why there are companies now offering to pick

up old pianos. It is sad these instruments were once prized but

have little value today, unless someone is willing to restore

them to their original working condition

B)Although acoustic pianos were once a popular item in American

life, many are now being disposed of or recycled for parts.

Changes in American entertainment, as well as the space and

upkeep required to own an acoustic piano, have led people to

pursue other interests or purchase less expensive digital

pianos. However, the number of Americans learning to play the

piano has not changed, which shows that the instrument is still

appreciated.

C)Many families in America still own pianos but many of them are

now digital pianos. People who own old acoustic pianos still

feel sentimental about them and believe they are worth a lot of

money. However, the people who make money from pianos are

the ones that know how to remove or recycle them

D)Today, Americans are learning to play piano as adults, and they

often go to piano studios in cities like Los Angeles and New

York. Piano playing was popular in the 20th century and still is.

Pianos used to be an important part of family entertainment, but

other instruments have taken their place. Today, old acoustic

pianos are stored in warehouses because they take up too

much room in houses

(1) Students, are you having a difficult time completing all the activities in your schedule? (2)

Teachers, are you exhausted from nonstop work? (3) You are not alone. (4) Every day in

schools across the nation, teens have challenging classes, hours of homework, and

extracurricular activities such as sports and music. (5) By Friday, students are waking up

exhausted, but they must drag themselves through one more school day. (6) Likewise,

teachers are spending their weekends grading papers and preparing lessons instead of

relaxing with family and friends.

(7) In this program students spend a little more time in school four days a week. (8) Then they

have Friday off to catch up on their sleep, enjoy time with family and friends, and complete

their many responsibilities. (9) Although some experts fear that reducing the length of the

school week will worsen student learning, recent studies contradict this. (10) In 2015 Dr. Mark

Anderson of Montana State University and Dr. Mary Beth Walker of Georgia State University

reviewed scores for Colorado elementary school students who were placed in a four-day

system.

(11) They found that math scores improved by about 7 percent, and reading scores also

improved. (12) "We thought that especially for the younger elementary school kids, longer

days on a shorter school week would hurt their academic performance because their attention

spans are shorter," Dr. Walker said. (13) Researchers also thought a longer weekend would

give students more of an opportunity to forget what they had learned. (14) Clearly this was not

the case. (15) The study cited shows this hypothesis is incorrect.

(16) Teachers are also noticing other benefits from shorter school weeks. (17) Shana Myers

teaches in a four-day program near Phoenix, Arizona. (18) Myers says that the "Friday slump,"

when students would seem tired through the day, is gone. (19) Absences are also down, as

parents can schedule appointments for kids on Fridays. (20) They are also paying more

attention when in school. (21) They are alert, they answer questions, and they are interested

in what they are learning.

(22) Myers thinks the changes in students' behavior are partly due to the improved lessons

that she and the other teachers are able to create. (23) While some educators and parents

may argue that teachers cannot prepare effective lessons in a shorter school week, many

teachers offer an alternative scenario. (24) Before, they had to work on weekends to plan

lessons. (25) Now, they are using Friday as their planning day. (26) "We're still in school mode

on Fridays, and we've found we're creating far superior lessons," Myers says. (27) High

school English teacher Candyce Matlosz has found that longer days allow students to spend

more time on activities. (28) And as a teacher with over twenty years of experience, Matlosz

knows a lot about teaching English. (29) "For example, the science teachers have enough

time to run labs, have the students write the lab reports, and clean up the labs in one class

period," she says. (30) "In English class, students can write a rough draft, revise, and write a

final draft of essays in one or two days instead of taking a week."

(31) School budgets may benefit from a shortened week as well. (32) Introducing the four-day

school week may provide a way for school districts to save money in areas where budgets are

strained. (33) School budgets are stretched. (34) Districts reduce spending on fuel, bus

drivers' salaries, and maintenance when they decrease the number of days students are

transported to and from school. (35) Expenses to keep facilities open and clean are also

lowered, as are food costs.

(36) The evidence in favor of switching to four-day school weeks is overwhelming. (37) Clearly

it's time for our school system to implement this innovative program in our area. (38) For

teachers, schools, and students, it is a winning solution.

Nancy has not used the most effective word in sentence 4. Which word should replace have to create a more effective sentence?

A) Carry

B) Accept

C) Manage

D) Enroll

Which of these sentences should Nancy add at the beginning of the second paragraph (sentences 7-15) to serve as the most

effective position statement for her essay?

A) I think I would like the four-day school week because I would

enjoy the extra time to rest on the weekend.

B) The four-day school week is a great idea for all students and

parents, and even the school district would likely benefit.

C)

We spend way too much time during the week in school, and it

would be nice to have a three-day weekend for a part-time job

or to just relax.

D) E) The four-day school week provides benefits that would help

the students, teachers, and schools in our district.

WHICH SENTENCE IN THE FOURTH PARAGRAPH SENTENCES 22-30 IS EXTRANEOUS AND SHOULD BE DELETED?

1. Sentence 27

B) Sentence 28

C) Sentence 29

D) Sentence 30

25) Nancy is concerned that she has included a redundant sentence in the fifth paragraph (sentences

31-35). Which sentence should be deleted from the paragraph?

A) Sentence 32

B) Sentence 33

C) Sentence 34

D) Sentence 3

Answer rating: 100% (QA)

Answer 1 The best summary of the paragraph is C Although the sting of most jellyfish is painful to humans the jellyfish that live on the Island of Pal... View the full answer