- Read the paragraph, then choose the word that best completes the sentence. Technology has made transportation communication, end even everyday chares a lot easier These conveniences may simplify life, but they alse reduce people's activity levels. These days, lack of exercise contributes to more than half of preventable deaths around the world. Many companies are now trying to reverse this trend by making gadgets that motivate people to exercise more.Most of these play music to make exercise less boring. but some do a lot more than that. Some advancements in convenience have been __ to our health. irrelevant B hazardous sensitive D concidental
- Read It! The emerald ash beetle arrived in the United States from Asia in the early 2000s. Scientists think that the beetle came to the United States in the wood that is used to pack cargo. Since then, it has made itself at home in the ash trees of many U.S states. The beetle is no larger than a paperclip, but it is a killer. It has infected or killed millions of ash trees and shows no sign of slowing down. Do It! The beetle is __ A frigid B vallant C tactful D relentless D
- Read the sentence from paragraph 4 To pass the time they recounted tales they'd heard of the Wild West -of wild mustangs and outlaws, of hidden gold mines, and of the breathtaking beauty of areas of pristine wilderness. Based on the paragraph what does "pristine" mean? A harsh, bleak B strong, robust C impatient, greedy D preserved, untouched PART B How does paragraph 13 further help the reader understand the meaning of "pristine"? A by describing the loveliness of Ghost Canyon B by listing the challenges of travelling to Ghost Canyon C by imagining what will happen to the "pristine wilderness" if people come to Ghost Canyon seeking gold D by showing how Ghost Canyon is similar to the"pristine wilderness" that the characters enjoy on their journey
- Read the paragraph, then choose the word that best completes the sentence. If that bug of your favorite potato chips looks bigger your eyes may not be deceiving you! It is true that food package stres sometimes increase without the price increasing as well.The trend is one of the few windlalls of a weak economy, When an economic downturn occurs ingredient costs are lower , and food packages grow larger. When the economy is stronger, ingredient costs are high, which spurs manufacturers to compensate for the additional production expense by making food packages smaller Food package sizes often serve as an economic barometer. The economy __ food prices A obscures B certifies regulates inscribes
- 12 There was no question that they would camp by the glittering stream, the bonfire blazing late into the ni as the siblings imagined offering their family all the ease and luxury that gold could buy.But somehow t delightful dreams transformed into nightmares overnight, and in the morning they awakened burdened sober regret. Yes, it would be the easiest thing in the world to collect as much gold as they could carry an hustle away to create a new life. "And then what?" asked Anna,although she'd already divined Jack and Samuel's thoughts. 13 If they snatched up the gold, they'd auction the nuggets to the highest bidders, which would inspire hord fortune-hunters to swarm Ghost Canyon. Outposts would spring up, along with boardinghouses, stores, t depots, railroads. The narrow winding path into the canyon would be trampled into a thoroughfare. Perha the wolves' howling meant more than they'd thought. 14 The trio hurriedly filled in hoofprints at the edge of the stream with mud and then covered their tracks wit leaves. It would be an arduous journey home.but they knew they would be welcomed with love and warm despite not having accomplished what they set out to do. They would tell tales of the escaped calf and the cattle drive, of the nights under the starry skies and of the best fiddle-playing west of the Mississippi. The secret of the glittering stream flowing through Ghost Canyon would be the story they would never tell, because they'd earned some glimmering understanding that wealth was more than a handful of gold.And they would somehow together find a way forward for their family, just as they'd found their way to Ghost Canyon. What are two purposes served by the flashback in paragraph 2? A to reinforce the fear the characters feel B to explain the characters' motives for their journey C to describe the climate change where the characters live D to foreshadow the difficulty the characters will have getting along with each other E to build suspense about whether the characters will be able to help their family
