Module 2

After finding information about Blanche Kelso Bruce, who represented Mississippi in the
United States Senate, the student discovered biographical sketches of two other Black
Americans who served in ________ Ralph Harold Metcalfe of Illinois and Alton R. Waldon
Jr. of New York.

20. Which choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of
Standard English?

A) Congress:
B) Congress;
C) Congress,
D) Congress

The correct answer is B: "Congress;" because the sentence structure requires a semicolon
to properly connect two independent clauses that are closely related in topic. Both parts of
the sentence discuss Black Americans who served in Congress, making them thematically
connected but grammatically independent. A colon (option A) would be incorrect as it's
typically used to introduce a list or explanation. Using just a comma (option C) would create
a comma splice by incorrectly joining two independent clauses, while using no punctuation at
all (option D) would result in a run-on sentence. The semicolon is therefore the most
appropriate choice as it properly joins these two related independent clauses while
maintaining the conventions of Standard English.

John Thomson employed the pseudonym "Gracchus" the name of an ancient Roman
politician — in political essays he wrote in 1795, a choice that accomplished far more than
simply concealing his authorship. ________ it wasn't an arbitrary pen name but rather a
complex rhetorical strategy through which Thomson aligned his political views with the
venerated republican ideals of the ancient world, thereby bolstering the authority of his
writing.

21. Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
A) Indeed,
B) Conversely,
C) In addition,
D) However,

The correct answer is A: "Ultimately." This is the most logical transition because the passage
describes Annie Dillard's journey of understanding the contrasts in nature, moving from her
initial observation of a single beautiful goldfish to her later realization about their harsh
behavior. The passage concludes with her final understanding that beauty and brutality in
nature are inseparable, making "Ultimately" the most fitting transition. The other options are
less effective because "To that end" suggests a purposeful outcome, "Hence" implies direct
causation, and "Moreover" suggests adding information rather than reaching a conclusion.
"Ultimately" works best as it signals the final resolution of Dillard's struggle to reconcile these
opposing aspects of nature, leading to her understanding that they are like "two branches of
the same creek."

In Annie Dillard's Pilgrim at Tinker Creek — where, early on, the author marvels at a single
goldfish's delicate fins but later winces when imagining a horde of goldfish laying and eating
their own eggs — Dillard struggles to reconcile the complicated juxtapositions of the natural
world. _______ nature's mesmerizing intricacy and pitiless harshness prove inextricably
linked for Dillard, like "two branches of the same creek."

22. Which choice completes the text with the most logical transition?
A) Ultimately,
B) To that end,
C) Hence,
D) Moreover,

The correct answer is A: "Ultimately." This is the most logical transition because the passage
describes Annie Dillard's journey of understanding the contrasts in nature, moving from her
initial observation of a single beautiful goldfish to her later realization about their harsh
behavior. The passage concludes with her final understanding that beauty and brutality in
nature are inseparable, making "Ultimately" the most fitting transition. The other options are
less effective because "To that end" suggests a purposeful outcome, "Hence" implies direct
causation, and "Moreover" suggests adding information rather than reaching a conclusion.
"Ultimately" works best as it signals the final resolution of Dillard's struggle to reconcile these
opposing aspects of nature, leading to her understanding that they are like "two branches of
the same creek."

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

● The Galápagos penguin is a species of bird that can be found on the Galápagos
Islands of Floreana.
● It has an average weight of 2.5 kilograms.
● The grey warbler finch is a species of bird that can be found on the Galapagos Island
of Floreana.
● It has an average weight of 9 grams.

23. The student wants to emphasize a similarity between the Galápagos penguin and
the grey warbler finch. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from
the notes to accomplish this goal?

A) On average, the Galápagos penguin weighs 2.5 kilograms, while the grey warbler
finch weighs 9 grams.
B) The grey warbler finch, which weighs 9 grams on average, can be found on the
Galápagos Island of Floreana.
 C) The grey warbler finch and the Galápagos penguin can both be found on the
Galápagos Island of Floreana.
D) The Galapagos Island of Floreana is home to several bird species, one of which is
the Galapagos penguin.

The correct answer is C: "The grey warbler finch and the Galápagos penguin can both be
found on the Galápagos Island of Floreana." This is the best answer because the question
specifically asks to emphasize a similarity between the two birds, and option C directly
identifies their shared habitat as the key similarity. The other options are less effective
because option A contrasts their weights (a difference, not a similarity), option B only
mentions information about the grey warbler finch, and option D is too general and only
explicitly mentions the Galápagos penguin. Option C stands out as the most effective choice
because it directly addresses the goal of showing a similarity, mentions both species, uses
the relevant information from the notes about their shared location, and presents the
information in a clear, parallel structure that emphasizes the commonality between the two
birds.

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

● The Mohs scale of mineral hardness is a ten-point scale that orders minerals by
hardness based on their ability to scratch other minerals.
● Minerals with larger numbers are harder than minerals with smaller numbers and can
leave visible scratches on them.
● Minerals with smaller numbers are softer than minerals with larger numbers and
cannot leave visible scratches on them.
● The mineral fluorite has a Mohs scale number of 4.
● The mineral orthoclase has a Mohs scale number of 6.
● The mineral corundum has a Mohs scale number of 9.

24. The student wants to emphasize orthoclase's Mohs scale number. Which choice
most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

A) In the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, corundum (9) is ranked higher than A fluorite
(4).
B) Orthoclase has a Mohs scale number of 6, which means that it is harder than fluorite
(4) but softer than corundum (9).
C) Orthoclase, fluorite, and corundum can be ordered by their ability to leave visible
scratches on other minerals.
D) Corundum, which has a Mohs scale number of 9, can scratch both fluorite and
orthoclase.

The correct answer is B: "Orthoclase has a Mohs scale number of 6, which means that it is
harder than fluorite (4) but softer than corundum (9)." This is the most effective answer
because the question specifically asks to emphasize orthoclase's Mohs scale number, and
option B does this perfectly by not only stating orthoclase's number (6) but also
contextualizing it in relation to the other minerals mentioned in the notes. It demonstrates
both orthoclase's relative hardness position on the scale and its relationship to the other
minerals, showing that it falls between fluorite and corundum. The other options are less
effective because they either focus on different minerals (options A and D) or provide a
general statement about mineral ordering without emphasizing orthoclase's specific number
(option C). Option B stands out as the best choice because it directly addresses the goal of
emphasizing orthoclase's Mohs scale number while effectively using the comparative
information provided in the notes.

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

● Zora Neale Hurston was an acclaimed writer.
● Her first published work of fiction was a short story.
● It was called "John Redding Goes to Sea."
● It first appeared in Stylus in 1921.

25. The student wants to identify the title of Zora Neale Hurston's first published short
story. Which choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to
accomplish this goal?

A) Zora Neale Hurston's first published work of fiction appeared in 1921.

B) Zora Neale Hurston's first published short story was called "John Redding Goes to
Sea."
C) In 1921, a short story by Zora Neale Hurston appeared in Stylus.
D) Acclaimed writer Zora Neale Hurston's first published work of fiction was a short
story.

The correct answer is B: "Zora Neale Hurston's first published short story was called 'John
Redding Goes to Sea.'" This is the best answer because the question specifically asks for
the title of Hurston's first published short story, and answer B directly and clearly provides
this information. While the other options contain related information, they fail to effectively
answer the specific question. Option A only mentions the publication year (1921) without the
title, Option C references the publication venue and year but omits that it was her first story
and doesn't provide the title, and Option D merely states that her first published work was a
short story without providing the crucial title information. Answer B stands out as the most
effective choice because it directly addresses the question by providing the specific title
information requested, using the relevant details from the notes without including
unnecessary information.

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

● Body positions are a fundamental aspect of dance.
● In Vaganova method ballet, there is a position for the dancer's arms called first
position.
● In the position, both arms are rounded to roughly align the fingers with the navel.
● In Royal Academy of Dance ballet, there is a position for the dancer's arms called
demi-seconde position.
● In this position, both arms are out to the sides but angled downward.
26. The's student wants to emphasize a similarity between the two positions. Which
choice effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this goal?

A) First position in Vaganova method ballet and demi-seconde position in Royal

Academy of Dance ballet are both positions for the dancer's arm.
B) Both first position and demi-seconde position are positions in Royal Academy of
Dance ballet.
C) In first position, both arms are rounded to roughly align the fingers with the navel, in
contrast to demi-seconde position, where both arms are out to the sides but angled
downward.
D) In Vaganova method ballet, there are a number of positions, including first position.

The correct answer is A: "First position in Vaganova method ballet and demi-seconde
position in Royal Academy of Dance ballet are both positions for the dancer's arm."

This is the best answer because the question specifically asks for a similarity between the
two positions, and answer A identifies the key common element: both are arm positions in
ballet, regardless of their specific method or style. The other options either contain incorrect
information (B), emphasize differences rather than similarities (C), or only discuss one
method without making any comparison (D). While the positions themselves are executed
differently (one with arms rounded toward the navel, the other with arms out to the sides),
their fundamental purpose as arm positions in ballet represents the clearest similarity that
can be drawn from the given notes. This answer stays focused on the common ground
between the two positions while avoiding unnecessary details about their differences.

While researching a topic, a student has taken the following notes:

● Save Me is a 2018 sculpture by American artist Olivia Steele.
● It is a pink neon sign that spells out the title phrase.
● Neon signs became popular with advertisers in the 1920s and began to decline in
popularity in the 1960s.
● Neon signs became popular with artists in the 1960s and continue to be popular
today.
● Writer Sarah Archer says, "[Neon signs] must be made by hand because there's no
cost-effective way to mass-produce them."

27. The student wants to connect the sculpture to the history of neon in art. Which
choice most effectively uses relevant information from the notes to accomplish this
goal?

A) Neon signs like Save Me are popular with advertisers and artists alike, though they
must, as Archer notes, be made by hand, as they cannot be easily mass-produced.
B) With Save Me, Steele joins the decades-long lineage of artists who have helped
make neon a popular artistic medium since the 1960s.
C) Continuing from the 1920s to today, neon lighting has been a popular material, both
as an advertising tool and an artistic medium.
 D) The pink neon sign Save Me nods to the rich history of a material whose artistic
popularity has long been in decline.

The correct answer is B: "With Save Me, Steele joins the decades-long lineage of artists who
have helped make neon a popular artistic medium since the 1960s."

This is the best answer because it accurately connects Steele's 2018 sculpture to the
historical timeline of neon art while using the information provided in the notes. The notes tell
us that neon signs became popular with artists, specifically in the 1960s, and have remained
popular in the art world since then. By using the phrase "decades-long lineage," answer B
effectively places Steele's work within this artistic tradition that has been ongoing since the
1960s. The other options either incorrectly suggest that neon is still popular in advertising
(A), misrepresent the continuous popularity from the 1920s (C), or wrongly imply that neon
art is in decline (D). Answer B is the only one that correctly reflects both the timing and the
continuing artistic relevance of neon as a medium.