Directions: Read each selection
ESL Transitions/Level 7: Reading Handout
Name: __________________________; Class:
___________________________
Directions: Answer the questions that follow the passages.
Passage 1: Tornadoes
[1] Tornadoes are one of the most severe types of weather
phenomena. While many people fear tornadoes and their destructive
power, few people understand their real causes and effects, nor are
they aware of how to protect themselves from their devastating
force.
[2] Tornadoes, violently rotating columns of air, occur when a
change in wind direction, coupled with an increase in wind speed,
results in a spinning effect in the lower atmosphere. These
whirling movements, which may not be visible to the naked eye, are
exacerbated when the rotating air column shifts from a horizontal
to a vertical position. As the revolving cloud draws in the warm
air that surrounds it at ground level, its spinning motion begins
to accelerate, thereby creating a funnel that extends from the
cloud above it to the ground below. In this way, tornadoes become
pendent from low pressure storm clouds.
[3] When a tornado comes into contact with the ground, it
produces a strong upward draft known as a vortex, a spiraling
column of wind that can reach speeds in excess of 200 miles per
hour. Traveling across the landscape, the tornado wreaks a path of
concentrated destruction. It is not uncommon for these twisters to
lift heavy objects, like cars or large animals, and throw them
several miles. Houses that succumb to the force of the tornado seem
to explode as the low air pressure inside the vortex collides with
the normal air pressure inside the buildings.
[4] Tornadoes can occur at any time of the year, but are
typically most frequent during the summer months. Equally,
tornadoes can happen at any time during the day, but usually occur
between 3:00 in the afternoon and 9:00 in the evening. While these
fierce funnels occur in many parts of the world, they are most
common in the United States. { A * } On average, there are 1,200
tornadoes per year in this vast nation, causing 70 fatalities and
1,500 injuries.
[5] Although taking myriad shapes and sizes, tornadoes are
generally categorized as weak, strong, or violent. The majority of
all tornadoes are classified as weak, meaning that their duration
is less than 10 minutes and they have a speed under 110 miles per
hour. Comprising approximately 10 percent of all twisters, strong
tornadoes may last for more than 20 minutes and reach speeds up to
205 miles per hour. Violent tornadoes are the rarest, occurring
less than one percent of the time. While uncommon, tornadoes in
this classification are the most devastating, lasting more than one
hour and resulting in the greatest loss of life. { B * } Even
though only violent tornadoes can completely destroy a well-built,
solidly-constructed home, weaker ones can also cause great
damage.
[6] Owing to the powerful and destructive nature of these winds,
there are, perhaps not surprisingly, a number of myths and
misconceptions surrounding them. For instance, many people
mistakenly believe that tornadoes never occur over rivers, lakes,
and oceans; yet, waterspouts, tornadoes that form over bodies of
water, often move onshore and cause extensive damage to coastal
areas. In addition, tornadoes can accompany hurricanes and tropical
storms as they move to land. Another common myth about tornadoes is
that damage to built structures, like houses and office buildings,
can be avoided if windows are opened prior to the impact of the
storm. Based on the misunderstanding that open windows might
equalize the pressure inside the structure and minimize the damage
to it, this action can instead result in fatal injury. { C * }
[7] Because of the profound effects that tornadoes have on
communities and their inhabitants, safety measures are of paramount
importance during adverse weather conditions. Drivers often attempt
to outrun tornadoes in their cars, but it is extremely unsafe to do
so. Automobiles offer very little protection when twisters strike,
so drivers should abandon their vehicles and seek safe shelter.
Mobile homes afford little shelter, so residents of these homes
should go to an underground floor of the sturdiest nearby building.
{ D * } In the case of a building having no underground area, a
person should go to the lowest floor of the building and place him
or herself under a piece of heavy furniture. If no building is
available, a person caught in a tornado should lie prostate in a
nearby ditch or other depressed area of land and cover his or her
head.
Question 1: The word whirling in paragraph 2 is closest in
meaning to
invisible rotating extended worsening
Question 2: The word pendent in paragraph 2 is closest in
meaning to
evolving quickening hanging parallel
Question 3: Which of the sentences below is the best paraphrase
of the following sentence from paragraph 3?
Traveling across the landscape, the tornado wreaks a path of
concentrated destruction.
* The tornado causes great damage to landscaped areas, such as
parks and gardens.
* The tornado focuses its damage primarily upon localities that
have been heavily landscaped.
* The tornado only causes damage to open areas, but the damage
is usually very severe.
* As the tornado moves through the countryside, it causes
extensive, geographically centralized damage.
Question 4: The phrase these twisters in paragraph 3 refers
to
tornadoes concentrated destruction landscapes explosions
Question 5: All of the following key facts about tornadoes are
mentioned in paragraph 4 EXCEPT
* the yearly number of deaths from tornadoes
* the time of day when tornadoes usually take place
* the time of year when tornadoes are most common
* the average wind speed of most tornadoes
Question 6: The word myriad in paragraph 5 is closest in meaning
to
limited extreme many average
Question 7: In paragraph 5, what is the authors main
purpose?
* to explain how tornadoes are classified
* to identify the most frequent type of tornadoes
* to emphasize the loss of life and damage to property caused by
tornadoes
* to compare weak tornadoes to strong tornadoes
Question 8: Based on the information contained in paragraph 6,
which of the following best explains the term waterspouts?
* Tornadoes that move away from coastal areas
* Tornadoes that occur over oceans, rivers, and lakes
* Tornadoes that occur onshore
* Tornadoes that accompany tropical storms and hurricanes
Question 9: Look at the four stars { * } that indicate where the
following sentence could be added to the passage.
Indeed, the highest number of deaths and injuries are not caused
by the winds themselves, but by flying debris, such as broken glass
from open windows.
{ A * } { B * } { C * } { D * }
Question 10: According to paragraph 6, what can be inferred
about the publics knowledge about tornadoes?
* A large number of people know how to avoid tornado damage.
* Most people appreciate the risk of death associated with
tornadoes.
* Some members of the public know how to regulate the pressure
inside buildings.
* A number of people are not fully aware of certain key
information about tornadoes, especially about tornado safety.
Passage 2: The Northwest Coast
The Northwest Coast, a complex pattern of islands, coastal
plains, foothills, and mountain ranges, extends from California
north to Alaska, encompassing all the territory west of the Cascade
and Coast Ranges. Its climate is one of even, moderate temperatures
(except in the mountains) and relatively heavy rainfall. This
combination of mild temperatures and abundant rainfall produces a
lush, dense forest vegetation of conifers, deciduous trees, mosses,
and ferns.
To its Native American inhabitants of the 1400s, the long,
slender coastal region presented both a favorable and a forbidding
environment. The sea and the rivers held many resources, but to
exploit them required the development of super craft to navigate
waters that were often stormy and rough. The forests were rich with
game and many edible plant foods, but the vegetation of much of the
area was so dense that land travel was extremely difficult, and
large parts of the heavily forested foothills and rugged mountains
were unsuitable for human settlements. Villages instead were
located along the rivers, on the shores of bays and low-lying
offshore islands, and occasionally even at sheltered locations
fronting on the open ocean.
It is estimated that the Northwest Coast of the 1400's had a
population of about 130,000 and thus was one of the most heavily
populated areas of North America north of Mexico. The people had no
agriculture but, over thousands of years, had developed techniques
and equipment to exploit their environment, basing their economy on
fishing in streams and coastal waters that teemed with salmon,
halibut, and other varieties of fish; gathering abalone, mussels,
clams, and other shellfish from the rocky coastline; hunting land
and sea animals; and collecting wild plant foods. By the end of the
century, they reached a high cultural level usually found only
among agricultural people, enjoying a stability that allowed the
development of a complex social and ceremonial life, an elaborate
technology, and one of the world's great art styles.
1. Which of the following is the main point the author makes
about Native Americans of the Northwest Coast?
a)They raised crops unique to North America.
b)They made good use of the environment to build a successful
society.
c)Their technology helped them survive in the area's harsh
climate.
d)Their culture was heavily influenced by the culture of
Mexico.
2. The climate of the Northwest Coast region is generally
a)warm and dry b)extremely cold
c)neither very hot nor very cold d)constantly changing
3. The word game in the passage is closest in meaning to
a)sport b)tricks
c)wood d)animals
4. According to the passage, what probably discouraged people
from trying to go from one part of the Northwest Coast region to
another?
a)Large areas thick with bushes and trees
b)Vast fields of broken ice
c)Inability to understand other languages
d)Disagreements over hunting areas
5. According to the passage, the Native Americans of the
Northwest Coast region generally did not live
a)in villages b)on offshore islands
c)close to rivers d)in the mountains
6. The phrase teemed with in the passage is closest in meaning
to
a)varied according to b)competed for
c)were combined with d)were full of
7. The author implies that the Native Americans of the Northwest
Coast differed from most other highly developed societies of the
time because
a)they did not depend on agriculture
b)they lacked good means of transportation
c)their society arose in an arctic climate
d)their society was based on ownership of domestic animals.
8. The word they in the passage refers to
a)land and sea mammals b)wild plant foods
c)the people of the Northwest Coast d)agricultural people
9. All of the following are mentioned in the passage as being
important to the people of the Northwest Coast EXCEPT
a)boat-building skills b)forest plants for food
c)wood for building durable homes d)plentiful supplies of
seafood
10. It is clear that the author has a high opinion of the
region's traditional
a)gardens b)art c)architecture d) music
11. The author mentions the area's population in order to
demonstrate that
a)the environment could support many people
b)trade with Mexico was of great importance
c)environmental problems were likely to arise
d)many people had migrated from Mexico to the area
Directions: Identify the author's main idea, tone, purpose, and
degree of bias in each of the following passages.
A. Vaccinations: Pros and Cons
A vaccine is a medication, given either orally or by injection,
that prevents or reduces the risk of contracting a particular
disease. Vaccines are also known as immunizations because they
stimulate the natural disease-fighting abilities of the body. They
work by giving the body practice in fighting off a disease. A
vaccine contains a small amount of bacteria or virus that causes
infection. When that bacteria or virus is introduced into the body,
the immune system recognizes it as an intruder and manufacturers
specific antibodies that will fight infection if the body comes
under attack.
Immunizations for children continue to be the subject of heated
debate because they do have some negative side effects. Mild,
short-term side effects include pain or tenderness at the point of
injection, mild fever, irritability, sleepiness, and decreased
appetite. More serious side effects, though rare, include an
increased risk of seizures. In addition, a very small number of
children have had severe allergic reactions, called anaphylaxis, to
some vaccines. Reactions include hives, difficulty breathing, and a
drop in blood pressure. Such consequences have led some people to
create anti-vaccine groups. Convinced that vaccines can cause
problems, such as autism, diabetes, learning disabilities, and
asthma, members of these groups refuse to immunize their children.
They also fight against laws that require children to be vaccinated
in order to attend public schools.
The positive effects of vaccinations, however, are simply
undeniable. As a matter of fact, vaccines were on the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention's list of the top ten public health
achievements in the twentieth century. Immunizations have
eliminated some diseases that killed or severely disabled thousands
every year. For example, vaccines have completely eliminated polio.
They also wiped out smallpox, which 10 million people used to
contract every year as late as the 1960s. Vaccines have also
significantly reduced the occurrence of many other diseases.
Measles used to infect about 4 million children per year, but in
1997, there were only 138 cases of measles in the United States.
Vaccines have also reduced the number of cases of diphtheria,
meningitis, and pertussis (whooping cough), which used to kill or
cause brain damage in thousands of children each year. It's not
surprising that most health care professionals believe the benefits
of immunization far outweigh their few risks, and they are correct
in their belief.
1. What is the author's overall main idea?
a. Vaccinations have many serious negative side effects.
b. Vaccinations do more harm than good.
c. The benefits of vaccinating children far outweigh the
possible negative consequences.
d. Vaccinations are the 20th century's greatest medical
achievement.
2. How would you describe the author's tone?
a. outraged b. sure and confident c. sad and solemn d.
emotionally neutral
3.How would you describe the author's purpose?
a. She wants to tell readers about the controversies surrounding
children's vaccinations.
b. She wants to convince parents that they should avoid
vaccinating their children.
c. She wants to promote vaccinations for children.
d. She wants to list the pros and cons of vaccinations for
children.
4. With which of the following do you agree?
a. The author is biased in favor of routine vaccinations for
children.
b. The author is biased against routine vaccinations for
children.
c. The author shows no evidence of any bias.
B. Make It Illegal to Be a Bad Samaritan*
On May 25, 1997, twenty-two-year-old Jeremy Strohmeyer chased
seven-year-old Sherrice Iverson into the stall of a public
bathroom, where he molested and then strangled her. At one point,
his friend David Cash looked over the door of the stall and saw
Strohmeyer struggling with the little girl. Cash, however, didn't
intervene to help Sherrice. Instead, he told his friend they had to
get going and left the little girl alone with her killer.
Although Jeremy Strohmeyer is now serving a life sentence
without parole, David Cash remains a free man to this day. And
given his comments after Sherrice's death, it's doubtful that he is
guilt-stricken: "I'm not going to get upset over somebody else's
life. I just worry about myself first."
In Las Vegas, where the crime was committed, there's no law
saying a bystander has to come to the aid of a crime victim, even
if the victim is in danger of being murdered. Yet as the case of
Sherrice Iverson suggests, we need a Good Samaritan law that says
bystanders can't simply watch or walk away while someone is being
brutally attacked. They don't have to intervene physically, but
they must call for help. If they don't, they should be fined and
sentenced to spend some time in jail. In states that already have
Good Samaritan laws, the penalties for breaking that law should be
made much, much tougher. In Vermont, for example, failure to help
someone being attacked only results in a hundred-dollar fine. The
fine should be a hundred times that amount.
Although many European countries do have Good Samaritan laws,
American individualism seems to have interfered with court
willingness to make protecting others part of our legal code.
According to UCLA law professor Peter Arnella, "The criminal law in
this country tends to overvalue the notion of individual rights . .
. even when the person is risking a serious social harm."
A famous turn-of-the-century case often cited by legal scholars
certainly supports Arnella's position. During a couple's weekend
vacation, one member fell into a drug-induced coma. The man's
partner responded by going home and leaving him to die. The case
ultimately went all the way to the Michigan Supreme Court, where
the court found that the partner who left had no legal duty to
intervene and offer aid.
Legal or not, most people would argue that there was a moral
duty at stake in the Michigan case and certainly in the case of
Sherrice Iverson. We need a Good Samaritan law on the books, and we
need it now.
* Samaritan: A person from Samaria, a part of the Holy Land of
the Bible. Jesus tells the story of the "good Samaritan" who
selflessly helped someone who had been beaten and left behind by
robbers.
1. What is the author's overall main idea?
a. Our judicial system needs a Good Samaritan law.
b. Good Samaritans laws work only in theory.
c. Europeans might need a Good Samaritan law but Americans do
not.
d. A Good Samaritan law will help curb crime among
adolescents.
2. How would you describe the author's tone?
a. emotionally neutral b. insistent c. casual d. anxious
3. How would you describe the author's purpose?
a. She wants to describe Good Samaritan laws in Europe and
compare them to the U.S.
b. She wants to describe a terrible crime that could have been
avoided.
c. She wants to convince readers that something like a Good
Samaritan law would conflict with the American idea of taking
responsibility for one's self.
d. She wants to persuade readers that there must be something
like a Good Samaritan law introduced into the U.S. legal
system.
4. With which of the following do you agree?
a. The author is biased in favor of a Good Samaritan law
b. The author is biased against the concept of a Good Samaritan
law.
c. The author shows no evidence of any bias.
Directions: Identify the statement that best paraphrases the
topic sentence.
1. There are those who claim the American dollar bill's symbol
of a pyramid topped with an eye bears a secret meaning. However,
the pyramid was never meant to be mysterious. On the contrary, the
pyramid on the dollar bill was a carefully chosen symbol designed
to characterize the United States as a place of progress and faith.
The Roman numerals on the pyramid base refer to 1776, the year the
country was founded. The pyramid is also unfinished, representing
our country's future growth. The eye in a triangle radiating light
represents the overseeing eye of a deity. The motto above the
pyramid, "Annuit Coeptis," means "He has favored our undertakings."
Below the pyramid, the motto "Novus Ordo Seculorum" means "a new
order of the ages."
Which of the following best paraphrases the topic sentence?
a. All of the images printed on the $1 bill symbolize America's
principles and goals.
b. The pyramid and eye on the back of the $1 bill was carefully
created to represent American values.
c. The dollar's symbolism is typical of American currency.
d. American currency should be redesigned to better reflect our
country's separation of church and state.
2. In her famous 1969 book, On Death and Dying, author Elisabeth
Kbler-Ross identified five stages of death (denial, anger,
bargaining, depression, acceptance). Ever since the publication of
that best seller, Kbler-Ross's five stages have generally been
accepted as accurate, even scientific. Recently, however,
Kbler-Ross's well-known sequence has come under fire, in part
because more attention is being paid to the eccentric views on
death she publicly expressed starting in the 1970s. For instance,
Kbler-Ross began claiming that death did not exist at all. Inspired
by what she claimed was an "out of body" experience, she started
talking about death as the fountain of youth. From her new
perspective, death was not an end but the beginning of spiritual
renewal, a time when people would "become complete again." Her
description of death as a "sixth stage," where people refreshed
themselves before returning to the living was criticized as
irrational nonsense. Kbler-Ross's critics worried that she might be
encouraging those of her fans who had psychological problems to
embrace death as a way out of their pain. With more attention being
paid to Kbler-Ross's unusual views, it's not surprising that her
notions about death are being taken less seriously.
Which of the following best paraphrases the topic sentence?
a. Elisabeth Kbler-Ross helped generations of people conquer
their fear of dying.
b. Elisabeth Kbler-Ross was never afraid of expressing unpopular
points of view.
c. Elisabeth Kbler-Ross's unusual personal beliefs have caused
many people to dismiss her conclusions about the five stages of
death.
d. Elisabeth Kbler-Ross was oddly obsessed with death and
dying.
3. One of the best-known first pets was Fala, Franklin D.
Roosevelt's black Scottish terrier. The dog went everywhere with
Roosevelt, once making the news when he was accidentally left
behind on a trip to the Aleutian Islands. Roosevelt's Republican
opponents accused him of spending $8 million to send a destroyer
back to fetch the dog. The president's humorous defense of his dog
only increased his popularity and probably helped Roosevelt win his
historic fourth term. But Fala is not the only famous first pet; a
number of other presidential pets have earned the public's notice.
President Richard Nixon's dog Checkers, for instance, has been
credited with saving his political career. In a speech on national
television, Nixon defended accusations of financial irregularities
by acknowledging the receipt of just one personal gift, a dog named
Checkers. Nixon also claimed he would never give Checkers up.Gerald
Ford's dog Liberty was so popular, the cast of the TV comedy show
Saturday Night Live often included Liberty in their skits about the
president. Millie, the springer spaniel of George and Barbara Bush,
appeared as the author of a New York Times bestseller. First Lady
Hillary Clinton increased the fame of the Clinton's first pets with
her book "Dear Socks, Dear Buddy: Kids' Letters to the First
Pets."
Which of the following best paraphrases the topic sentence?
a. Franklin D. Roosevelt's dog Fala was America's most famous
First Pet.
b. Fala was the best-known of all the presidential pets.
c. Presidential pets are often in the news.
d. Several First Pets have achieved fame while residing in the
White House.
4. Despite his failure as a presidential candidate, Ohio
Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich's suggestion that we establish a new
Department of Peace within the federal government deserves serious
consideration. A Department of Peace might help stop the senseless
loss of life occurring all over the globe. If we in the United
States develop more peaceful ways to coexist with other nations, we
might influence others as well. A Department of Peace could, for
example, study the conditions that promote both domestic and
international harmony. A Department of Peace could also sponsor
conflict prevention and resolution initiatives in war-torn
countries. It could establish a Peace Academy to train people in
nonviolent conflict resolution. All of these measures could
ultimately save lives here at home and abroad.
Which of the following best paraphrases the topic sentence?
a. For two reasons, Congress should create a Department of
Peace.
b. A Department of Peace might help put an end to global
bloodshed.
c. Congressman Dennis Kucinich is a creative problem solver with
vision.
d. The U.S. government focuses too much on war and not enough on
peace.
5. Several grueling races around the globe test the limits of
human endurance. For instance, the Marathon des Sables is an
ultramarathon held every April in Morocco. It covers 150 miles in 6
days through blazing heat and some of the most difficult conditions
imaginable. One participant said, "The most difficult part was
waking up at 5 a.m. with your legs so sore you can hardly stand up,
feet blistered, bloodied, and bandaged, and then having to run a
marathon in 120-plus degree heat with a 20-pound pack." In the
Sahara Marathon, participants run 26 miles on sand roads through
the harsh and unforgiving Sahara Desert. The Jungle Marathon is a
7-day, 124-mile race through the Amazon jungle of Brazil. For
runners who prefer cooler climates, the Pike's Peak Marathon is
known as one of the toughest in the world, for participants must
run 26.3 miles up a mountain in Colorado, ascending 7,815 feet. The
Everest Marathon is a 26.2-mile race over the rough mountain
terrain of Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world.
Runners can also participate in the North Pole Marathon, a
26.2-mile run over Arctic ice floes in sub-zero temperatures
Which of the following best paraphrases the topic sentence?
a. Marathon runners are the most physically fit people in the
world.
b. Some marathon runners prefer races in hot climates, while
others prefer racing in cold climates.
c. The Marathon des Sables is the world's most difficult
race.
d. Many marathon races held all over the world force
participants to push themselves practically to the end of human
endurance.
Directions: Paraphrase the following proverb/adages/sayings
1. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
1.
______________________________________________________________________
2. Haste makes waste.
2.
______________________________________________________________________
3. Look before you leap.
3.
______________________________________________________________________
4. A stitch in time saves nine.
4.
______________________________________________________________________
5. All that glitters is not gold.
5.
______________________________________________________________________
6. Beauty is only skin deep.
6._____________________________________________________________________
Directions: Summarize the following paragraph in about a dozen
(12) words:
At a typical football match we are likely to see players
committing deliberate fouls, often behind the referees back. They
might try to take a throw-in or a free kick from an incorrect but
more advantageous positions in defiance of the clearly stated rules
of the game. They sometimes challenge the rulings of the referee or
linesmen in an offensive way which often deserves exemplary
punishment or even sending off. No wonder spectators fight amongst
themselves, damage stadiums, or take the law into their own hands
by invading the pitch in the hope of affecting the outcome of the
match.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Directions: Read this story and answer the questions that
follow.
The Gift of the Magi
(1) One dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all she had. And
the next day would be Christmas. Della flopped down on the shabby
old couch and cried. She wanted so much to get something special
for her husband Jim, but she only had $1.87. Della stood and looked
at herself in the mirror. Her eyes were red. She didn't want Jim to
know she'd been crying. She let her hair fall to its full length,
almost to her knees, and began to brush it. Jim loved her soft,
long hair. The only thing he liked more was the gold watch that had
belonged to his father and grandfather.
(2) Suddenly Della had an idea. She piled her hair on top of her
head, put on her old brown jacket and hat, and fluttered out the
door and down the steps to the street. She stopped at a door that
read: Madame Sofron, Hair Goods Della ran in and asked, "Will you
buy my hair?"
(3) "Take off your hat and let me see," said Madame Sofron. She
looked at Della's shiny hair and said, "I can give you 20
dollars."
(4) For two hours, Della went from store to store, looking for a
special gift for Jim. At last, she found it . . . a simple gold
watch chain. It would replace the old leather strap he now used on
his beloved watch!
(5) When Della got home, she fixed her head in short close-lying
curls. She looked in the mirror, satisfied with the new look. She
had dinner ready by 7 o'clock, but Jim had not come home. Della
began to worry; he was never late. At last she heard him come up
the steps. The door opened and in walked Jim. "You've cut off your
hair!" he said sadly when he saw Della.
(6) "I sold it," said Della. "But I'm still me, aren't I?"
(7) "Of course," Jim said softly as he took a package from his
coat pocket. "But if you'll unwrap this package you'll see why I am
sad."
(8) Della's fingers tore at the string and paper. Inside she
found a set of combs she'd once admired in a shop window. They were
beautiful, with jeweled rims that would have looked magnificent in
her handsome, long hair.
(9) "Oh, Jim, how lovely," she cried. "I shall wear them when my
hair grows. It grows fast. But see," she added happily, "I have a
gift for you!"
(10) Della held out the watch chain in her open palm. "I hunted
all over town to find it. Give me your watch. I want to see how it
looks on it!"
(11) Instead, Jim sat on the couch and began to laugh. "Oh,
Della," he said, "I sold my watch to get the money to buy your
combs!"
(12) Della sat beside him and together they laughed. They were
happy, yet sad, to know that each had given up a prized possession
for the love of the other. It was a special Christmas that year, a
day filled with love.
1. A summary is a retelling of a story that
a. is always shorter than the original text. b. must be at least
two paragraphs long.
c. has no ending. d. gives new information that was not in the
story
2. Which is the best one-sentence summary for paragraph 1?
a. Della is sad because Jim sold his watch.
b. Della is sad because she doesn't have much money to buy a
gift for Jim.
c. Della is sad because her mother can't come to visit.
d. Della is sad because she has no new coat to wear.
3. Which would NOT be important to include in a summary of the
story?
a.Della has beautiful long hair
b.Jim has a gold watch that belonged to his father and
grandfather.
c.Della wanted something special for Jim.
d.Della and Jim lived in an apartment.
4.Which is the main idea of the story?
a.Della changes her hairstyle.
b.Jim and Della plan a special Christmas dinner.
c.Jim and Della sacrifice to get each other special gifts.
d.Della only has old clothing to wear.
5.Write a summary of the story. Try to summarize in just a few
sentences.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Proofreading: Directions: Correct the mistakes (in spelling,
punctuation, capitalization, grammar, and usage) in the following
writing:
Mohandas Gandhi was one of Indias most popular leaders. A Lawyer
by trade, he left
the law to fight personally for his peoples' rites against there
British rulers. Deep comitted
to nonviolence Gandhi was determined to win Indias freedom by
avoiding confrontation.
Over the years he developed a code of action knowed today as
civil disobedience.
Gandhi's code called for nonviolent noncooperation to acheive
independance. When ever
armed british solders came to inforce the ocupation governments
laws, Gandhi urged his
peopel not to fight. Instead, they stood still, refusing to move
back or forward and
refusing to give into the soldiers. Unwilling to shoot the
un-armed crowd, the british
usually re-treated. However in the massacre of Amritsar, British
soldiers killed almost
four hundred of Gandhi's followers.
Paraphrasing Example
Read the following passage and paraphrase it by putting it into
your own words.
In 1610, Galileo Galilei published a small book describing
astronomical observations that he had made of the skies above
Padua. His homemade telescopes had less magnifying and resolving
power than most beginners telescopes sold today, yet with them he
made astonishing discoveries: that the moon has mountains and other
topographical features; that Jupiter is orbited by satellites,
which he called planets; and that the Milky Way is made up of
individual stars.
Possible Paraphrase
There is not a single correct answer, but you could paraphrase
the above passage by writing something like this:
Galileo was able to make some amazing discoveries with his
telescope. He made discoveries about the moon, about Jupiter, and
about the Milky Way. He was able to do this with a telescope that
was less powerful than even today's most basic telescopes.
Choose the sentence that accurately paraphrases the original.
Remember that when you paraphrase, you convey the meaning of the
original sentence using your own words.
1. It has been reported that the richest one percent of
Americans own 40% of the country's wealth.
a. The richest 1% are 40 times as wealthy as the rest of
Americans.
b. 40% of the country's wealth is in the hands of only 1% of
Americans.
c. 99% of Americans own 40% as much as the richest 1%.
d. If the gap between rich and poor continues to grow at the
current rate, the richest one percent will soon own 40% of the
country's wealth.
e. None of the above
2. 25% of adolescents who have one baby have a second baby
within two years of the first baby's birth.
a. 25% of adolescent mothers become pregnant again when their
first babies are two years old.
b. One out of four adolescent mothers has another baby before
the first baby reaches his second birthday.
c. A quarter of adolescent mothers gives birth when their first
born is two.
d. 25% of babies are born to mothers who are adolescents.
e. None of the above
3. Anyone who has ever driven through the Mojave Desert knows
that one should always carry a supply of extra water.
a. A person traveling across the Mojave Desert knows that it is
not convenient to carry a lot of water.
b. Desert heat hydrates the body, so it is no use carrying large
quantities of water.
c. Carrying sufficient water across the Mojave Desert is
required by law.
d. The Mojave Desert is so hot that it is dangerous to try to
cross it without plenty of water.
e. None of the above.
4. A local newspaper claims that 75% of all homeless people do
not like homeless shelters and prefer to live as they do.
a. A local newspaper recommends that three quarters of all
homeless people should be provided with homes.
b. An article in a local newspaper reports that three out of
four homeless people think that the streets are better than the
so-called homeless shelters.
c. 75% of homeless people think that homeless shelters are
better than the streets.
d. According to a local newspaper, 25% of all homeless people
would rather live in homeless shelters.
e. None of the above
5. Of the 138 million acres of land that Native Americans owned
in 1887, 90 million acres were taken away by whites by 1932.
a. In 1932 alone, the white settlers took 90 million acres of
land that belonged to Native Americans.
b. By 1932, Native Americans had lost almost all of their
land.
c. Native Americans owned in 1932 a little more than half of the
land they had owned in 1887.
d. Native Americans owned 138 million acres of land in 1887,
whereas whites had only 90 million acres.
e. None of the above.
6. The judge was relieved when the jury was finally ready to
announce its verdict.
a. The judge asked the jury to arrive at a verdict.
b. When the jury announced its verdict, the judge was
relieved.
c. The judge welcomed the prospect of an imminent verdict.
d. The jury welcomed the judge's relief.
e. None of the above
Prefixes:
If you were to examine the 20,000 most used English words, you
would find that about 5,000 of them contain prefixes and that 82
percent (about 4,100) of those words use one of only fourteen
different prefixes out of all the available prefixes in the
language.
1. ab- (away from) 2. be- (on all sides, overly) 3. de-
(reversal, undoing, downward)
4. dis-, dif- (not, reversal) 5. ex- (out of, former) 6. pre-
(before) 7.re- (again, restore)
8. un- (do the opposite of) 9. ad- (to, toward) 10, com-, con-,
co- (with, together)
11. en-, em- (in, into, or contain) 12. in- (into, not) 13. pro-
(in favor of, before)
14. sub- (under, beneath)
Here are the fourteen most important roots and are to be found
in over 14,000 words in a collegiate dictionary size or an
estimated 100,000 words in an unabridged dictionary
ROOTS: From Meaning
1. capere/cep
Latin to take, to catch, to receive
2. ducere
Latin to pull, to pull away/in, to lead
3. facere
Latin
to make, to do, to form
4. ferre Latin to bring, to carry
5. grapho
Greek
to write, to communicate
6. lego/logo Greek to speak
7. mittere/miss
Latin
to send, to throw
8. plicare
Latin
to fold
9. ponere
Latin
to put, to lay
10. scribere
Latin
to write
11. specere
Latin
to see, to look at
12. stare
Latin
to stand, to remain
13. tendere
Latin
to stretch, to reach, to proceed
14. tenere
Latin
to have, to hold, to know
Now, without using a dictionary, try to figure out the
definitions for the italicized words in the sentences below.
1. Jose has an extensive vocabulary
2. That restaurant failed the inspection by the Health
Department
3. I wonder what that box contains.4. My dog is my constant
companion.
5. He gave her a watch inscribed with her name on the back.
6. What has caused his unpleasant disposition today?
7. This is a very complicated problem.
8. He bad behavior caused his dismissal.
9. Very few people send telegraphs anymore.
10. The two of us had a good dialogue.
11. His TV reception isnt very good.
12. Can I induce you to try some of this salad?
13. What does that company manufacture?
14. My last employer gave me a good reference.
Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening, by Robert Frost
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
1. In one sentence, summarize the poem.
2. On a separate piece of paper, write a line-by-line paraphrase
.
3. On a separate piece of paper, write a prose paraphrase. Make
the poem a short story
Proofreading: Read the following paragraph and determine whether
each sentence is correct, is a fragment, has a subject/verb
agreement error, includes a comma splice, or is a fused sentence.
No sentence includes more than one error.
1. When I was younger, I had a number of "accidents" with my
cars. 2. Not accidents in the traditional sense. 3. For example, as
I was driving home from work one day, I smelled smoke. 4. I pulled
over to the side of the road then I looked under the hood. 5.
Seeing nothing alarming, I got back into my car and continued
driving, however, the scent of smoke became even stronger. 6. So
strong that I pulled over to the side of the road again. 7. Still
seeing nothing unusual, I got back into my car this time it filled
up with smoke. 8. A passing motorist stopped to offer his help. 9.
He pulled back the carpet from under the accelerator, the carpet
burst into flames. 10. Noticing a jug on my front seat, he asked
what were in it. 11. When I told him it was iced tea, he poured the
tea onto the fire. 12. Putting out the fire before it could do more
damage. 13. another incident happened several years later. 14. My
sister and I was driving to the beach. 15. Smoke started coming
from the cassette player, quickly the smoke filled the car. 16.
Forcing us out of the car. 17. It seems my husband had wired the
cassette player incorrectly. 18. A fact that is not particularly
surprising. 19. I no longer have either car, I no longer have that
husband.Summarizing: Directions: Read the following news story:
Identity fraud is costing the UK an estimated 1.7bn every year,
Home Office Minister Andy Burnham has said. At 35 per person, the
estimated annual cost was greater than that of planned compulsory
national identity cards, he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
Critics of the scheme accuse ministers of playing on people's
fears and say flaws in the security of ID cards mean they could
actually increase fraud. A July 2002 Cabinet Office report put the
annual cost of ID fraud at 1.3bn. ID fraudsters use personal
details to gain access to bank accounts, run up bills, and create
false documents like passports to carry out benefit crime.
Experts say all documents containing personal information should
be shredded before being discarded and people should be cautious
about online banking scams. Mr Burnham said there was "a range of
things people can do to protect themselves" - but compulsory
national identity cards would be "a major breakthrough". Putting a
"fingerprint or eye scan" on the cards along with the owner's name,
address and date of birth would give them "much greater control
over the use of their identity" and prevent criminals registering
multiple identities, he argued.
The current lack of "high-standard identification documentation"
meant identity fraud could rise, warned the minister. "We have all
kinds of stand-in documents being called upon as identity documents
- birth certificates, utility bills," said the minister. "The truth
is these do not prove identity."
For the Conservatives, shadow home affairs minister Edward
Garnier, said ID card might well make fraud worse. "If a criminal
cracked the ID card database - and the government's record on
running IT based projects does not inspire confidence - they would
have access to a gold mine of information," he said. Mr Garnier
urged ministers to stop playing on people's fears and spend the
cost of the ID card project on effective measures against fraud and
terrorism.
Simon Davies, director of Privacy International, cast doubt on
the estimates of the fraud costs. He was one of the London School
of Economics academics who previously said the actual costs were a
fraction of the 1.3bn estimated by the government in 2002. And he
cautioned people against believing figures produced by the Home
Office, which was criticised by a spending watchdog for
"extraordinary failures" in keeping track of its finances.1: Read
the news story carefully. The headings and subheadings have been
removed.
Why is it useful to read headings and subheadings in text?
a) Headings and subheadings can give you a clue about the
overall message of the text.
b) These are the most important parts of the text.
c) The headings and subheadings give you all the information
about the story.
d) They are the only part of the text that is true.
2: What is a subheading?
a) A heading for the whole piece of text.
b) A subheading shows what the following piece of text is
about.
c) A shortened version of a longer text.
d) Text written in bold.
3: Read the text carefully. What do you think is the most
appropriate heading for it?
a) ID theft is wrong.
b) Critics of ID theft.
c) ID theft costs UK 1.7bn a year.
d) 1.7bn every year.
4: Which sentence contains the main point of the text?
a) Anti-identity card campaigners claim there are weaknesses in
the technology used in the scheme.
b) Experts say all documents containing personal information
should be shredded before being discarded and people should be
cautious against online banking scams.
c) At 35 per person, the estimated annual cost was greater than
that of planned compulsory national identity cards.
d) Identity fraud is costing the UK an estimated 1.7bn every
year, Home Office Minister Andy Burnham has said.
5: Which description best summarises the whole text?
a) A description of the UK ID card scheme.
b) A news report on the cost of identity fraud in the UK,
containing the arguments for and against the ID card scheme.
c) A news report on the cost of identity fraud in the UK and the
planned ID card scheme.
d) A description of how to stop identity fraud.
6: What subheading could be used for paragraph two?
a) ID theft costs 1.7bn a year. b) Critics of the scheme.
c) How to run up bills. d)Critics.
7: What is the main point of paragraph three?
a) How to protect yourself against fraud. b) How to use a
shredder.
c) How to use online banking. d) Delete all personal
information.
8: What subheading could be used for paragraph five?
a) The Conservatives. b) Against identity cards.
c) Edward Garnier. d) ID.
9: What should you do if you are reading a text and do not
understand some of the words?
a) Ignore them.
b) Look up their meaning in a dictionary.
c) Try to guess the meaning from the context.
d) Stop reading the text if there are words you don't
understand.
10: Which of these sentences best summarises paragraph five?
a) Edward Garnier is the Conservative's shadow home affairs
minister.
b) Fraud, worse, more money.
c) Money should be spent on stopping fraud and terrorism.
d) People believe ID cards might make fraud worse and instead
money should be spent on stopping fraud.
Read the original text thoroughly to make sure that you
understand its overall meaning.
Be aware that sometimes you might have to 'read between the
lines' in order to pick up 'hidden' information. Use a dictionary
or ask someone who knows to help you find the meaning of any
unfamiliar words. Underline or highlight the main points of the
text, ignoring any unnecessary facts, descriptions or opinions.
Make a note of the most important details - you could even draw a
diagram or use pictures if this helps.
Summarise by linking together the key points using sentences or
paragraphs as appropriate. If images provide additional meaning
then these can also be included in your summary. If you are
shortening a very long text then it may be useful to summarise
under headings or sub-headings. Read your draft to make sure that
you haven't lost the overall point of the original information.
Make amendments to your draft as necessary.
Remember! A written summary should be a brief, 'easy to read'
version of a longer piece of writing. It must contain the main
points of the original text and it should be written in your own
words. Don't just copy out 'chunks' of the original version.
You should write your summary using correct grammar, punctuation
and sentences.
A summary does not need to contain information, descriptions or
opinions that do not support the general meaning of the text.
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