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.

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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.

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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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