DIRECTIONS: In the passage below, certain phrases are underlined and numbered <x>. The question will present alternatives for the underlined part. In most cases, you are to choose the one that best expresses the idea, makes the statement appropriate for standard written English, or is worded most consistently with the style and tone of the passage as a whole. If you think the original version is the best, choose "NO CHANGE".The Glass Castle (excerpt)By Jeannette Walls[§1] I never believe <1> in Santa Claus. None of us kids did. Mom and Dad refused to let us. They couldn't afford expensive presents and they didn't want us to think we weren't as good as other kids who, on Christmas morning, <2> found all sorts of fancy toys under the tree that were supposedly left by Santa Claus.[§2] Dad had lost his job at the gypsum, and when Christmas came that year, we had no money at all. On Christmas Eve, Dad took each one of we kids <3> out into the desert night one by one.[§3] "Pick out your favorite star", Dad said. <4>[§4] "I like that one!" I said.[§5] Dad grinned, "That's Venus," he said. He explained to me that planets glowed because reflected light was constant and stars twinkled because their light pulsed.[§6] "I like it anyway" I said. <5>[§7] "What the hell," Dad said. "It's Christmas. You can have a planet if you want."[§8] And he gave me Venus.[§9] Venus didn't have any moons or satellites or even a magnetic field, but it did have an atmosphere sort of similar to Earth's, except it was super-hot about 500 degrees or more. <6> "So," Dad said, "when the sun starts to burn out and earth <7> turns cold, everyone might want to move to Venus to get warm. And they'll have to get permission from your descendants first." <8>[§10] We laughed about all the kids who believed in the Santa myth and got nothing for Christmas but a bunch of cheap plastic toys. <9>[§11] "Years from now, when all the junk they got is broken and long forgotten," Dad said, "you'll still have your stars." <10><6>:
Answer(s): A
A is correct. The sentence is written correctly in the passage.B removes all commas thus making it a run-on. C uses comma splices. D is correct with the exception of "earth's." Since you're talking about the planet, it should be capitalized.
DIRECTIONS: In the passage below, certain phrases are underlined and numbered <x>. The question will present alternatives for the underlined part. In most cases, you are to choose the one that best expresses the idea, makes the statement appropriate for standard written English, or is worded most consistently with the style and tone of the passage as a whole. If you think the original version is the best, choose "NO CHANGE".The Glass Castle (excerpt)By Jeannette Walls[§1] I never believe <1> in Santa Claus. None of us kids did. Mom and Dad refused to let us. They couldn't afford expensive presents and they didn't want us to think we weren't as good as other kids who, on Christmas morning, <2> found all sorts of fancy toys under the tree that were supposedly left by Santa Claus.[§2] Dad had lost his job at the gypsum, and when Christmas came that year, we had no money at all. On Christmas Eve, Dad took each one of we kids <3> out into the desert night one by one.[§3] "Pick out your favorite star", Dad said. <4>[§4] "I like that one!" I said.[§5] Dad grinned, "That's Venus," he said. He explained to me that planets glowed because reflected light was constant and stars twinkled because their light pulsed.[§6] "I like it anyway" I said. <5>[§7] "What the hell," Dad said. "It's Christmas. You can have a planet if you want."[§8] And he gave me Venus.[§9] Venus didn't have any moons or satellites or even a magnetic field, but it did have an atmosphere sort of similar to Earth's, except it was super-hot about 500 degrees or more. <6> "So," Dad said, "when the sun starts to burn out and earth <7> turns cold, everyone might want to move to Venus to get warm. And they'll have to get permission from your descendants first." <8>[§10] We laughed about all the kids who believed in the Santa myth and got nothing for Christmas but a bunch of cheap plastic toys. <9>[§11] "Years from now, when all the junk they got is broken and long forgotten," Dad said, "you'll still have your stars." <10><7>:
Answer(s): C
C is correct. The lower-case "earth" is used when referring to soil/dirt/etc. "God's Creation" isn't what the author said, but it also brings in religion unnecessarily. Considering the writer's passage is talking about Santa as a "myth," it's unlikely she would use this language as a descriptor. Lastly, "the world" doesn't refer to the specific planet Earth, which is clearly the place the writer is referencing.
DIRECTIONS: In the passage below, certain phrases are underlined and numbered <x>. The question will present alternatives for the underlined part. In most cases, you are to choose the one that best expresses the idea, makes the statement appropriate for standard written English, or is worded most consistently with the style and tone of the passage as a whole. If you think the original version is the best, choose "NO CHANGE".The Glass Castle (excerpt)By Jeannette Walls[§1] I never believe <1> in Santa Claus. None of us kids did. Mom and Dad refused to let us. They couldn't afford expensive presents and they didn't want us to think we weren't as good as other kids who, on Christmas morning, <2> found all sorts of fancy toys under the tree that were supposedly left by Santa Claus.[§2] Dad had lost his job at the gypsum, and when Christmas came that year, we had no money at all. On Christmas Eve, Dad took each one of we kids <3> out into the desert night one by one.[§3] "Pick out your favorite star", Dad said. <4>[§4] "I like that one!" I said.[§5] Dad grinned, "That's Venus," he said. He explained to me that planets glowed because reflected light was constant and stars twinkled because their light pulsed.[§6] "I like it anyway" I said. <5>[§7] "What the hell," Dad said. "It's Christmas. You can have a planet if you want."[§8] And he gave me Venus.[§9] Venus didn't have any moons or satellites or even a magnetic field, but it did have an atmosphere sort of similar to Earth's, except it was super-hot about 500 degrees or more. <6> "So," Dad said, "when the sun starts to burn out and earth <7> turns cold, everyone might want to move to Venus to get warm. And they'll have to get permission from your descendants first." <8>[§10] We laughed about all the kids who believed in the Santa myth and got nothing for Christmas but a bunch of cheap plastic toys. <9>[§11] "Years from now, when all the junk they got is broken and long forgotten," Dad said, "you'll still have your stars." <10>Deleting this sentence And they'll have to get permission from your descendants first. <8> would primarily lose details that:
Answer(s): D
D is correct. The author's father, unable to afford "cheap plastic" presents, wants his daughter to feel special and proud of her gift. This sentence best emphasizes the gift's importance both to the giver and the receiver.
DIRECTIONS: In the passage below, certain phrases are underlined and numbered <x>. The question will present alternatives for the underlined part. In most cases, you are to choose the one that best expresses the idea, makes the statement appropriate for standard written English, or is worded most consistently with the style and tone of the passage as a whole. If you think the original version is the best, choose "NO CHANGE".The Glass Castle (excerpt)By Jeannette Walls[§1] I never believe <1> in Santa Claus. None of us kids did. Mom and Dad refused to let us. They couldn't afford expensive presents and they didn't want us to think we weren't as good as other kids who, on Christmas morning, <2> found all sorts of fancy toys under the tree that were supposedly left by Santa Claus.[§2] Dad had lost his job at the gypsum, and when Christmas came that year, we had no money at all. On Christmas Eve, Dad took each one of we kids <3> out into the desert night one by one.[§3] "Pick out your favorite star", Dad said. <4>[§4] "I like that one!" I said.[§5] Dad grinned, "That's Venus," he said. He explained to me that planets glowed because reflected light was constant and stars twinkled because their light pulsed.[§6] "I like it anyway" I said. <5>[§7] "What the hell," Dad said. "It's Christmas. You can have a planet if you want."[§8] And he gave me Venus.[§9] Venus didn't have any moons or satellites or even a magnetic field, but it did have an atmosphere sort of similar to Earth's, except it was super-hot about 500 degrees or more. <6> "So," Dad said, "when the sun starts to burn out and earth <7> turns cold, everyone might want to move to Venus to get warm. And they'll have to get permission from your descendants first." <8>[§10] We laughed about all the kids who believed in the Santa myth and got nothing for Christmas but a bunch of cheap plastic toys. <9>[§11] "Years from now, when all the junk they got is broken and long forgotten," Dad said, "you'll still have your stars." <10><9>:
D is correct. The subordinate phrase ("who believed in the Santa myth and got nothing for Christmas but a bunch of cheap plastic toys") needs to be denoted with a natural pause (hence comma).
DIRECTIONS: In the passage below, certain phrases are underlined and numbered <x>. The question will present alternatives for the underlined part. In most cases, you are to choose the one that best expresses the idea, makes the statement appropriate for standard written English, or is worded most consistently with the style and tone of the passage as a whole. If you think the original version is the best, choose "NO CHANGE".The Glass Castle (excerpt)By Jeannette Walls[§1] I never believe <1> in Santa Claus. None of us kids did. Mom and Dad refused to let us. They couldn't afford expensive presents and they didn't want us to think we weren't as good as other kids who, on Christmas morning, <2> found all sorts of fancy toys under the tree that were supposedly left by Santa Claus.[§2] Dad had lost his job at the gypsum, and when Christmas came that year, we had no money at all. On Christmas Eve, Dad took each one of we kids <3> out into the desert night one by one.[§3] "Pick out your favorite star", Dad said. <4>[§4] "I like that one!" I said.[§5] Dad grinned, "That's Venus," he said. He explained to me that planets glowed because reflected light was constant and stars twinkled because their light pulsed.[§6] "I like it anyway" I said. <5>[§7] "What the hell," Dad said. "It's Christmas. You can have a planet if you want."[§8] And he gave me Venus.[§9] Venus didn't have any moons or satellites or even a magnetic field, but it did have an atmosphere sort of similar to Earth's, except it was super-hot about 500 degrees or more. <6> "So," Dad said, "when the sun starts to burn out and earth <7> turns cold, everyone might want to move to Venus to get warm. And they'll have to get permission from your descendants first." <8>[§10] We laughed about all the kids who believed in the Santa myth and got nothing for Christmas but a bunch of cheap plastic toys. <9>[§11] "Years from now, when all the junk they got is broken and long forgotten," Dad said, "you'll still have your stars." <10>What statement most closely fits the sentiment of what the author's father is telling her in this sentence? <10>
D is correct. The author's father is telling her nothing will change this moment between them. Not death or the fading of memories nothing. What the author's father is saying goes well beyond jealousy for other people or passing judgment on other children and their parents. Therefore, you can strike A and B right away. C may be true to some extent, but it is still pretty surface-level.
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