English 10 Practice 1

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Read the instructions carefully and choose the best answer.

For Questions 1-6

Read each sentence and look at the underlined part. It may contain a mistake in grammar, choice of words, sentence construction, or punctuation. Choose the best way to write the underlined part of the sentence. If you think the original phrasing is best, choose answer d, “Best as it is.”

In 1215, a document known as the Magna Carta was signed by King John, that needed to control the rebellious nobles of England.

a.	Which	c.	Whom
b.	Who	d.	Best as it Is

The Magna Carta stated that the king could only rule with the consent of the people and had to obey the laws of the land.

a.	may	c.	can
b.	shall	d.	Best as it is.

King John had to choose between civil war and appeasement, and he chose the best of the two options.

a.	the better	c.	well
b.	the good	d.	Best as it is

The influence of the Magna Carta can be seen very clear in the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

a.	clarity	c.	clearer
b.	clearly	d.	Best as it is

The Magna Carta, which controlled the powers of monarchs, are regarded by historians as one of the first stirrings of the democratic spirit.

a.	were	c.	is
b.	will be	d.	Best as it is

Although some kings and queens were unwilling to obey the law, the terms of the Magna Carta had to be renewed, revised, and enlarged many times over the centuries.

a.	Despite	c.	Because
b.	In fact	d.	Best as it is

Which is a run-on sentence that should be written as two sentences?

a.	King John gave the document his royal seal in a meadow at Runnymede, a village on the Thames River to the west of London.
b.	The Pope objected strongly to the Magna Carta because he felt that it weakened King John’s power over his subjects.
c.	The Pope felt that the Church’s power in England would be threatened if the king lost control over his troublesome subjects.
d.	King John had no intention of honoring the Magna Carta almost before the ink was dry he rejected it and thus brought about a bitter civil war.

Which is an interrogative sentence that should end with a question mark?

a.	Was what he did short-sighted and self-destructive
b.	A group of powerful barons joined together and marched into London with their combined armies on June 10, 1215
c.	The barons demanded that King John respect what they believed were their rights
d.	King John asked himself how he could keep his powers and still avoid civil war

Refer to the following passage for questions 9-14

(1) A few days ago, I asked my friend Keiko to name her favorite book. (2) Keiko is a Japanese student from Tokyo. (3) She has come to study here in Boston for a year. (4)Without hesitation, she replied that Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice was the book she admired and loved more than any other.

(5) I was amazed. (6) How could a book written in 1813 appeal so strongly to someone of the twenty-first century? (7) How could a story about genteel ladies and wealthy gentlemen in the English countryside have such an effect on a Japanese girl from one of the busiest, most cosmopolitan cities in the world?

(8) “I guess you must like to learn about English society in the nineteenth century,” I said.

(9) “That’s fun,” she replied, “but that’s not why I like it so much.”

(10) Keiko had a copy of the book in her bag. (11) She opened it and pointed to the first sentence on the first page: “It is a universal truth that a single man with a large fortune is in need of a wife.”

(12) “That statement is as interesting today as it was in 1813,” she said. (13) “It is certainly true in Japan, even though many in America would say it is not true here. (14) The characters in the book are people we still recognize today, and their problems and

emotions are the same as ours. (15) I’m sure you could find modern versions of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy here in Boston. (16) A good novel is timeless, and if it is true to human nature, then it is universally true.”

(17) “Is it funny, too?” I asked.

(18) “It’s hilarious,” she replied.

What kind of passage is this?

a.	persuasive	c.	response to literature
b.	expository	d.	personal narrative

10.

What pattern of organization did the writer use in this passage?

a.	comparison and contrast	c.	problem and solution
b.	chronological order	d.	order of importance

11.

What is the best way to combine sentences 2 and 3?

a.	Keiko is a Japanese student from Tokyo who has come to study here in Boston for a year.
b.	Keiko is a Japanese student come from Tokyo to study here in Boston for a year.
c.	Keiko is a Japanese student who has come to study here in Boston for a year from Tokyo.
d.	Keiko is a Japanese student, here in Boston to study from Tokyo for a year.

12.

Which sentence could best be added after sentence 4 to provide useful detail?

a.	She said she much preferred it to other novels.
b.	She said she liked the movie version, too.
c.	She told me she had actually started reading it again that day.
d.	She said she particularly liked the American paperback version.

13.

Which sentence could best be added at the beginning of sentence 12 to link it to the preceding paragraph?

a.	Then she smiled and closed the book.
b.	Keiko slammed the book shut and laughed out loud.
c.	“I really love that sentence, don’t you?”
d.	Keiko read on silently, forgetting that I was there.

14.

In the sixth paragraph, which is the topic sentence?

a.	“That statement is as interesting today as it was in 1813.”
b.	“It is certainly true in Japan, even though many in America would say it is not true here.”
c.	“The characters are people we still recognize today, and their problems and emotions are the same as ours.”
d.	“I’m sure you could find modern versions of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy here in Boston.”

Questions 15–20: A student wrote this passage. It may need some changes or corrections. Read the passage. Then choose the best answer to each question.

(1) Bullying can be a real problem in school—and I should know, because I used to be a bully myself. (2) We have other problems in our school, too. (3) I used to bully kids I thought were smarter than I was. (4) I didn’t use any kind of physical force. (5) I just used to point out to them forcefully that being smart wasn’t the most important thing in the world, and that I could be smarter than they were if I put my mind to it. (6) I said I was just too busy doing other more interesting things and didn’t care to show off my intellectual prowess. (7) But I wasn’t.

(8) A new kid came to our school in the eighth grade. (9) He was kind of a loner like me, and I liked him. (10) We became friends. (11) The funny thing was, this kid was smart, and for some reason he thought I was smart, too. (12) I had never given myself a chance to find out if I was smart or not I just pretended that it didn’t really matter. (13) Then I began to think it was actually pretty cool to be smart. (14) That was when I started working hard, and that was when I stopped bullying other kids. (15) I guess I discovered I wasn’t stupid.

15.

What kind of passage is this?

a.	persuasive	c.	response to literature
b.	expository	d.	editorial

16.

Which sentence is inappropriate and should be removed from this passage?

a.	We have other problems in our school, too.
b.	But I wasn’t.
c.	The funny thing was, this kid was smart, and for some reason he thought I was smart, too.
d.	Then I began to think it was actually pretty cool to be smart.

17.

Which would be the best sentence to insert at the beginning of sentence 8 to link it to sentence 7?

a.	Then everything changed.
b.	Soon after my sixteenth birthday, my school changed.
c.	I soon learned the error of my ways.
d.	I was going downhill fast.

18.

Which is a run-on sentence that should be written as two sentences?

a.	Bullying can be a real problem in school—and I should know, because I used to be a bully myself.
b.	I just used to point out to them forcefully that being smart wasn’t the most important thing in the world, and that I could be smarter than they were if I put my mind to it.
c.	I had never given myself a chance to find out of I was smart or not I just pretended that it didn’t really matter.
d.	That was when I started working hard, and that was when I stopped bullying other kids.

19.

Which is the best way to rewrite sentences 14 and 15 to conclude the passage?

a.	That was when I started working hard. I stopped bullying other kids because I guess I discovered I wasn’t stupid.
b.	That was when I started working hard and guessed I wasn’t stupid. I discovered I stopped bullying other kids.
c.	That was when I started working hard. I stopped bullying other kids and discovered I wasn’t stupid.
d.	That was when I started working hard and discovered I wasn’t stupid. That was when I stopped bullying other kids.

20.

Which detail sentence could best be inserted after sentence 8 to add to the readers’ understanding?

a.	His name was Jason, and we got to know each other.
b.	Our school actually has five different eighth-grade homerooms.
c.	He lived in Philadelphia before he and his dad moved here.
d.	The school I go to has a lot of students in it.