Which of these is necessary to construct a horseshoe court?
A patch of lawn
A level surface
A bag of concrete
A plastic bucket
Which sentence should be included in a presentation about the proper way to pitch horseshoes?
The stake pits should be anywhere from four to eight inches deep, with the stake spot in the center of the rectangle.
Drive the stakes into the centers of their respective pits until they extend 14-15 inches above the pit surface.
Each player pitches two consecutive shoes at the same stake and then walks to the stake, totals the points, and pitches back to the other stake.
Experts recommend concentrating on the spot where you want the horseshoe to fall while lofting the horseshoe with an easy underhand motion.
Based on the section “Tips to anchor the stakes more firmly,” the reader may best infer that —
players risk potential injury from stakes that are not anchored
stakes that are not anchored may shift during the course of play
the most effective way to anchor the stakes is with concrete
stakes must be anchored according to the official rules of play
The organizational structure of the section “Finally, Time to Play” is best described as —
chronological order
comparison/contrast
order of importance
listing or enumeration
According to the document, a full inning of play consists of —
both players pitching at each stake
one toss at each stake
one player pitching at each stake
two tosses at one stake
What section of the document explains how to use loose dirt or sawdust as filler for your stake pits?
The Game of Horseshoes
Follow these steps to construct a court:
Tips to anchor the stakes more firmly:
Finally, Time to Play
Which statement best expresses the main idea of this document?
The game of horseshoes was created many years ago and is still played today.
Points are scored in horseshoes by trying to pitch a horseshoe toward a stake.
Pitching horseshoes is an ancient sport and an easy game to set up and play.
Driving the stakes is the most difficult part of setting up a horseshoe court.
Which sentence supports the idea that there are variations to the rules of amateur horseshoe pitching?
If you want to enjoy the game of horseshoes with your own family and friends, it’s easy enough to get started.
For safety, locate your court away from houses, decks, and other buildings, as well as far from any streets or walkways.
You’re going to dig neat rectangular areas at either end of the court.
You can rotate pitching order or allow the highest scorer from the previous round to throw second.
Which question is answered in this document?
Who is considered the game’s greatest player?
What is the best strategy if an opponent throws a leaner?
How long does a game of horseshoes typically last?
Where can proper stakes for a horseshoe court be found?
The main purpose of this document is to —
amuse
persuade
inform
analyze
Which additional visual information would be most helpful to the reader?
A diagram of a horseshoe court
A photograph of a stone discus
A photograph of horseshoe players
A diagram of a stake in a small log
Which information would be best to include in a presentation about the National Horseshoe Pitchers Association of America?
Games are usually played until one player scores 40 points.
Sand is superior to dirt or sawdust as filler for stake pits.
The origins of the sport are likely based on discus competitions.
There are 6,000 members in league-sanctioned tournament play.
Which source would best help a reader evaluate the accuracy of the information in the document?
A copy of the official rules and regulations for horseshoes
A website advertising outdoor recreation equipment
A news article about an official horseshoe-pitching league
A guide to outdoor sports and recreation activities for children
Read this sentence from paragraph 1.
This sentence contains an example of —
allusion
simile
metaphor
paradox
As it is used in paragraph 1, what does the term sharp reports mean?
low, steady rumblings
distant echoes
abrupt, explosive noises
hypnotic rhythms
Paragraph 2 is mostly about the —
typical sights and sounds on D Street
horses pulling drays on D Street
people who live on D Street
main shops and businesses on D Street
Which question is not answered in paragraph 4?
How far was Lydia able to sled?
How much older was Michael than Lydia?
What neighborhood offered the best sledding?
What time of day were the streets most crowded?
Paragraph 5 suggests that Dan Kilkenny had —
extraordinary mental discipline
more than one job
exceptional physical strength
plans to retire soon
Read this sentence from paragraph 5.
In this sentence, the word effaced means —
called into question
supported with ease
reduced to nothing
resembled or brought to mind
Which sentence best expresses the main idea of paragraphs 5 and 6?
Lydia was certain Heaven resembled the interior of her father’s ice wagon: a dark place, cool and quiet.
The lot of them would be playing ball in Commonwealth Park, or ambling toward the beach at City Point, or playing marbles or Kick the Wicket on the street.
Frozen shatterings found their way into mouths, inside shirts and dresses, under chins, and atop closed eyes.
Ice bent the iron rule of summer for a few precious moments before the heat clamped down again.
Which sentence contains an example of alliteration?
The wooden wagons were heavy and low-riding with loud rattling wheels, their broad planks too battered and begrimed to recall distant origins as trees.
Each dray was pulled by horses—two, four, or sometimes six per wagon—pounding down nearby Third Street.
Because Dan Kilkenny was an iceman, the whole D Street gang was in thrall to Lydia and Michael in summer.
The hazy destination of the morning drays acquired focus.
In paragraph 6, the words “comfort” and “nestled” evoke images of —
pride
exhaustion
solitude
pleasure
Based on this selection, the reader may best infer that Lydia —
learned how to ride a sled from her brother
had lived her entire life with her family in South Boston
frequently crossed the bridge to shop with her mother
was determined to improve her neighborhood in South Boston
Which statement best describes the theme suggested in this selection?
People do not value what they have until it is gone.
Part of growing up involves expanding your perspective.
It is important to stay true to your feelings no matter what happens.
Choices made during childhood determine the types of adults we become.
Which word means the same as assertions in paragraph 1?
concepts
facts
suspicions
claims
Which best summarizes paragraph 2?
IQ tests are an effective measure in determining the intelligence of both males and females.
Although there is a link between body weight and brain size, males are not more intelligent than females.
Although there is a difference in brain size between males and females, they seem to be equally intelligent.
Males tend to score about the same as females on tests.
Read the sentence from paragraph 3.
The word “talk” is used —
sarcastically
figuratively
objectively
literally
In paragraph 5, why does the author present the findings of Dr. Leonard Sax?
To establish credibility by citing a medical professional
To show that psychologists and physicians sometimes disagree on gender differences
To demonstrate the fact that stereotypes are based on opinion
To provide medical evidence to support the claim that women are more intelligent than men
In paragraph 6, the author presents evidence to suggest that —
males are generally better at public speaking than females
females are better able to put their thoughts into words at an earlier age than males
males are more likely to excel in the social sciences than females
females in their teens express themselves better through speech than through writing
Which word means the same as proficiency in paragraph 6?
curiosity
skill
effort
beauty
Why does the author compare historical and modern attitudes toward men and women in paragraph 7?
To prove that the brains of males and females are physically the same
To confirm that gender determines how well a student will perform in a subject
To demonstrate that assumptions about gender learning differences are misleading
To show that males are better at learning languages than females
Which best expresses the main idea of paragraph 7?
Scientists have found that brain types are determined at birth.
Expectations can influence performances of males and females.
Perspectives on women’s language abilities have changed.
Abilities of males and females have reversed in the last 100 years.
In paragraph 7, the author supports her point of view by —
exposing contradictions between gender stereotypes and behaviors
explaining the reasons behind stereotypes of the 1800s
focusing on women’s strong points and men’s areas of weakness
revealing that girls tend to outperform boys in chemistry and biology
Which characteristic most clearly identifies this passage as a report?
It uses descriptive language.
It has a central theme.
It is based on factual information.
It contains figurative language.
If a student researches the difference in employment status between men and women, which website would be the best source of information?
www.career/guide.com, a site that provides guidance to job seekers of any age, gender, or race
www.laborstatistics.com, a statistical site that provides a wide range of information on employment trends
www.careersingovt.net, a site that offers information on how to apply for government employment
www.nationalemploymentco.net, an employment counseling site that gives an overview of career options for job seekers
Read this sentence from paragraph 3.
What is the purpose of the simile in this description?
To describe the narrator’s confusion
To foreshadow later events in the selection
To suggest the general’s harshness
To establish a tone of despair in the selection
In paragraph 4, the words “humiliating,” “disgraceful,” and “shameful” evoke what tone?
Cautious
Frightened
Jealous
Bitter
Which question is not answered in paragraph 5?
Why were soldiers passing out?
Why did Henry crawl to the stream?
What kind of clothing was Henry wearing?
Where was the couple in the mule cart going?
In paragraph 7, the word alleviating means to —
modify or alter
examine closely
lessen or diminish
consider thoughtfully
Caleb George and Woodrow Hinnant could best be described as —
rebels
dreamers
loyal companions
rugged individualists
Miss Clara Barton’s character is revealed through —
her thoughts
Henry’s actions
her dialogue with Henry
Henry’s description of her
Which sentence contains an example of figurative language?
You have probably read an account or two of our humiliating defeat.
It was at the Fairfax railway station that my salvation came in the form of a ministering angel.
Miss Barton’s sacrifices are all the more extraordinary given the context in which they are offered.
Her hand cramps from holding the pen and trying to keep pace with my ramblings.
Which image best illustrates a main focus of this selection?
Clara Barton tending to wounded soldiers
General William T. Sherman wearing his uniform
Trains arriving at the Fairfax railway station
Henry, Caleb, and Woodrow hiding behind a hedge
Which sentence most clearly illustrates the time period of this selection?
Your advice discouraging my enlistment was, in hindsight, well conceived.
She opened my collar and pressed a cool, wet cloth to my shoulder.
I responded that I was a university professor from Rochester, New York.
At night, she held lanterns so that the surgeons could continue to work.
Which situation could best be described as ironic?
Though they met in a tent-hospital, Henry and Clara Barton were both educators before the war.
Though Caleb George and Woodrow Hinnant were from the same town, only one of them was injured in the war.
Though Henry was a professor before the war, two uneducated youths taught him how to survive the experience.
Though he is unable to write to his mother, Henry has dictated his letter to a volunteer nurse.
Which sentence best reflects Henry’s overall attitude about serving in the war?
I suffered two injuries at the confrontation called Bull Run and am lying in a hospital, recuperating from the effects of surgery.
I must admit that I find I am much better suited to my former life as a professor than to enduring the strains of military life.
Dressed as we were in our woolen blues, it was not surprising that countless soldiers fainted from excessive heat or dehydration.
They loaded me on their cart with little concern for my wounds.
You do not need to read a passage to answer the following questions. Read and answer the questions.
Which sentence contains an example of an allusion?
Brian defended his latest film and lashed out at his critics like a wounded tiger.
Sheila tapped her pencil nervously on the desk while waiting for the phone to ring.
Utterly exhausted, he went to bed and slept like Rip Van Winkle.
At the top of Mt. Helios, the locomotive sighed with relief, exhaling steam.
Which keywords could best be used to find information about applying to colleges?
Academic scholarships
College coursework
Financial aid
College admissions
Which Internet source would be best for finding information about the life of Jack London?
A webpage called The Influence of Jack London on 20th-Century Writers
An online source called The Jack London Online Collection of Fiction
A webpage called Jack London’s Collected Letters and Journals, 1889–1916
An online source called Monroe High School’s Special Tribute to Jack London
Read these results from an online search.
Which website would be best for finding reliable information on the different varieties of lemurs?