Which of the following statements most directly expresses the author's thesis in the passage?
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| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
Which of the following statements most directly expresses the author's thesis in the passage? | "[R]eal excellence often comes unheralded and from unexpected quarters." (paragraph 1, sentence 5) |
In the second paragraph, the author develops a comparison between life and "a thousand arrows shot from the same point and aimed at the same object" primarily to suggest that | People exhibit remarkable diversity in their development over time. |
The discussion of the "greatest of poets and philosophers" in the third paragraph suggests that the author believes the audience of the speech will | Recognize an implicit reference to Shakespeare and agree about his importance. |
In the context of the passage as a whole, the author's comparison between the qualities of people and of metals (paragraphs 5-6) primarily serves to | Reinforce the author's overarching claim about ordinary people's capacity for success. |
Which of the following best describes the function of the first two clauses of the passage's final sentence ("It is natural . . . despised") in the context of the passage as a whole? | They urge a change in attitude that should follow logically from the author's argument. |
Which of the following statements most directly expresses the author's thesis in the passage? | "Femininity was a challenge thrown down to the female sex, a challenge no proud, self-respecting young woman could afford to ignore" (paragraph 2, sentence 2) |
In the first two paragraphs, the author describes experiences from her girlhood and early adulthood primarily to | Introduce two different attitudes toward femininity. |
In the second paragraph, the author defines femininity as a "challenge" primarily to support which of the following points? | Reconciling the demands of femininity with her ambition presented difficulties. |
In the final paragraph, the author concludes her argument by | Highlighting the context in which women may choose to embrace femininity's restrictions. |
The writer wants to add a sentence after sentence 1 to provide factual support for the introductory claim and focus the audience on the argument of the passage. Which of the following sentences best accomplishes this purpose? | A recent study found that 86 percent of Americans are stressed out from constantly checking their smartphones. |
The writer wants to add information to the end of sentence 2 (reproduced below) to preview the line of reasoning in the passage. | Brain, with potentially serious physiological and emotional costs. |
The writer is considering deleting the underlined portion of sentence 3 (reproduced below), adjusting the capitalization as needed. | Keep it, because it provides sensory details that help the writer illustrate the concept being discussed in the paragraph. |
The writer is considering deleting the underlined portion of sentence 7 (reproduced below), adjusting the punctuation as needed. | Keep it, because it adds information that helps clarify the contrasting relationship identified in sentence 6 between anticipation and reward. |
The writer wants to add a sentence that introduces the topic of the passage. Which of the following sentences, if added to the beginning of the first paragraph, would most effectively accomplish this goal? | Language experts have long observed that children are better than adults at mastering a second language. |
Which of the following versions of sentence 2 (reproduced below) most effectively sets up the main claim of the passage? | (As it is now) |
The writer wants to change sentence 3 (reproduced below) to provide a more specific preview of the passage's argument. | An overview of the new study's claim that optimal language acquisition can occur up to age 30 and that even older adults should remain hopeful about their language-learning prospects. |
In context, which version of sentence 5 (reproduced below) provides the most effective explanation of the "critical period" mentioned in sentence 4? | It designates the time in one's life during which the capacity to absorb the rules and structure of a language is maximized. |
The writer is considering deleting sentence 15 (reproduced below). | Keep it, because it draws on information discussed throughout the passage to suggest that the audience take a different, more practical approach to language learning. |