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Alice was not scared. Not at all. Maybe a little bit. But she was determined to confront the ghost in her house. Alice lived in a farmhouse built in 1921. All of the floors and doors were original; the doors even had skeleton key locks. But by far the most terrifying part of the house was the basement. She kept that door locked and ignored the thumps, crashes, and cries that came from below the house. What made Alice determined to confront the ghost today was the especially loud crashes the previous night. She'd gotten no sleep, convinced the ghost was going to break through the door and do something horrible. What, she wasn't sure, but the ghost would do something.
Alice hadn't seen the ghost, but what else could be making loud noises in an old house? The one time she had been down in the basement was after buying the house unseen. Once she saw the shelves with old glass jars, she was a little put off. But what made her keep the door shut and locked was the abrupt end of the concrete floor halfway across the room. Because nothing good ever happened in a basement with a dirt floor. Alice had seen enough horror movies to know that.
Alice stared at the basement door, trying to gather enough confidence to open it and march down the stairs like she owned the place. Because she did-or she would, once she finished paying her mortgage in 30 years. Alice took a deep breath and yanked the door open. She marched down the stairs, only to stop abruptly at the bottom. Because she was face to face with not a ghost at all. It was a calico cat, one who looked utterly unimpressed by her brave journey into the basement.

Which of the following pieces of evidence from the text supports the prediction that Alice finally entered the basement because she was frustrated?

  • A. She kept that door locked and ignored the thumps, crashes, and cries that came from below the house.
  • B. The one time she had been down in the basement was after buying the house unseen.
  • C. Because nothing good ever happened in a basement with a dirt floor.
  • D. She'd gotten no sleep, convinced the ghost was going to break through the door and do something horrible.
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D because the evidence provided in the text shows that Alice's lack of sleep and fear of the ghost breaking through the door led her to finally confront the situation. Her frustration and fear of potential harm drove her to take action, as indicated by her sleepless night worrying about the ghost's intentions. This demonstrates that Alice's decision to enter the basement was fueled by her emotional state of being convinced that something terrible would happen if she didn't act. The other options do not directly support the idea of frustration as the primary motivator for entering the basement. Choice A illustrates her avoidance behavior, Choice B highlights a past experience without indicating frustration, and Choice C reflects a general belief about basements without tying it to her specific emotional drive to confront the ghost.

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Few things bring back childhood memories for me like baking Toll House chocolate chip cookies. This cookie recipe has humble beginnings. Ruth Wakefield of the Toll House restaurant in Whitman, Massachusetts, created it. The recipe appeared in a 1938 cookbook written by Wakefield called Tried and True. A year later, Wakefield sold the recipe and the use of the Toll House name to Nestlé for one dollar, and the rest is history.

What is the main topic of this passage?

  • A. The history of the Nestle company
  • B. Childhood memories
  • C. How to make money as a baker
  • D. Ruth Wakefield's cookie recipe
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The main topic of the passage is Ruth Wakefield's cookie recipe. The passage discusses the origin of Toll House chocolate chip cookies, attributing it to Ruth Wakefield, who created the recipe. It also mentions her selling the recipe to Nestl©. While the passage briefly mentions Nestl©'s involvement, the primary focus is on the creation of the cookie recipe by Ruth Wakefield, making choice D the correct answer.

What is all this talk of cicadas lately in the United States? You may be wondering why the media has featured it, but in fact, the discussion about Cicadas has emerged about as predictably as the Cicadas themselves from their underground refuge. Let’s get oriented with some background on Cicadas.
What is a Cicada? A typical definition will at least tell you that a cicada is a large, loud insect with transparent wings, mostly found in warm countries. A more detailed response might also inform you that cicadas have short antennae and wide-set eyes that jut out, with delicate, translucent wings- and not only is the cicada loud, but few creatures make a louder sound. In fact, it is male cicadas that are the noisy ones, to the tune of 80 to 100 decibels, which is like the roar od a loud engine. This is because male cicadas make a strident high buzzing by vibrating two membranes on its abdomen called tymbals, effectively turning its body into a kind of echo chamber or drum. Female cicadas cannot replicate the buzzing, though they respond with a clicking sound when they are ready to mate.
Although there are several species of cicada, mating typically takes place in trees whereafter the female deposits the eggs into the bark. When the eggs hatch, the larval cicadas, called nymphs, drop to the ground and burrow. They then live as nymphs for the most of their lives over 6 feet underground, with both male and female cicadas dying within weeks of their emergence from the soil. This is particularly true for north American cicadas, especially the Magicicada, or periodical cicadas, which regularly emerge in intervals of 13 or 17 years, depending on the species and the location. This is why talk of cicadas in the media is as predictable as their emergence in the U.S.

Which of the following words does the author use to express a derogatory tone?

  • A. Noisy
  • B. Roar
  • C. Predictable
  • D. Delicate
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B, 'Roar.' In the context provided, the author uses the word 'Roar' to describe the loud sound male cicadas make, implying a negative or derogatory tone towards the noise level they produce. This choice stands out from the other options as 'Noisy' is a neutral description, 'Predictable' is used to explain the regular emergence of cicadas, and 'Delicate' refers to the translucent wings of cicadas, which is not derogatory.

Dear Aunt Suzanne,
I have a few minutes before I get on the bus to Galway back to Dublin and wanted to tell you how my trip to Ireland is going. We just spent two days in Inis Mor, the largest of the Aran Islands, which are just off the central west coast of Ireland. We tool a ferry from Galway, a ride that takes about an hour and was quite gray and stormy.
For an Island that is only about 12 square miles, there is a lot to do and see on Inis Mor! After eating stew and vegetable soup and brown bread with butter, we went to the seater market, where all kinds of woolen products are sold. The Aran Islands are known for their wool because sheep thrive here and generations have used woolen sweaters and hats to survive long cold days of fishing on the open sea. In fact, I learnt that each family or clan has its own signature knitting pattern and some are able to tell which family someone belongs to by the pattern of their sweater! The Healy pattern is an interesting combination of twists and braids, and I found you a birthday souvenir with a beautiful example.
The next day, we rented bicycles and toured the island. We saw ancient ruins, a prehistoric hill fort, and a white sand beach. We also climbed down to a mysterious rock formation known as “The Worm Hole,” a rectangular hole in a stone shore that fills with thrashing waves and looks like it houses a terrible serpent (see attached photo). The Worm Hole was difficult to find, and when we stopped someone for directions, she only spoke Gaelic. Sometimes this island seems stuck in an earlier time.
I’m excited to see you when I get home. I have lots more pictures to share!

Love, Eva

Which of the following additional sources would have a comparable theme to the passage?

  • A. A journal entry about Dublin's food and weather
  • B. An essay about Irish agriculture
  • C. A postcard sent from the Aran Islands
  • D. An instructional book on knitting
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: 'A postcard sent from the Aran Islands.' The passage describes Eva's experiences on Inis Mor, one of the Aran Islands off the coast of Ireland. Eva recounts her visit, mentioning activities like exploring the island, learning about woolen products, and encountering unique landmarks. A postcard from the Aran Islands would likely cover similar themes, providing insights into the scenery, culture, and attractions of the islands. In contrast, the other options - a journal entry about Dublin's food and weather, an essay about Irish agriculture, and an instructional book on knitting - do not directly align with the experiences and themes described in Eva's trip to the Aran Islands.

Studies that more than 9 billion metric tons of plastic have been produced since 1950, more than four times the volume of Mt. Everest, and about 75% of it remains in Landfills or has entered the environment as pollution. As material, plastic has many advantages. However, it is difficult to recycle because popular single use and convenience items, such as packaging and water bottles are ;low in quality and value when recycled. part of the magic of plastics is that it seemingly lasts forever. but when it cannot be re-used efficiently, it leads to stark realities like an island of plastic, twice the size of Texas, floating in the pacific ocean. plastic is consumed by fish and birds an is seeping into the air, water and our food.

Based on the evidence from the passage, which of the following is the most likely inference?

  • A. If we increased production of single-use plastic packaging, more plastic would be recycled.
  • B. Plastic makes life convenient, but its use has so many drawbacks that its use should be reduced.
  • C. The best thing about plastic is that it is recyclable; a renewable resource, most of the plastic that has been produced has been recycled.
  • D. A renewable resource, most of the plastic that has been recycled.
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B because the passage highlights the negative impact of plastic on the environment, stating that a significant amount of plastic remains in landfills or has become pollution. It mentions the challenges in recycling plastic due to its low quality when recycled and how it leads to environmental issues like a large island of plastic in the ocean. Therefore, the most likely inference is that while plastic is convenient, its negative consequences outweigh its benefits, suggesting that its use should be reduced to mitigate environmental harm.

An Ode to Naps

The rain is tapping footsteps on the roof
It sounds a lovely dance inside my head
This peaceful aura only serves as proof
That I should dodge my work to lie in bed


The pillows pull me in with their behest
A trap that I do not want to escape
The blankets form a most enticing nest
They wrap me in a shroud that won't undrape

I'm tempted further by my furry friends
They've taken o'er the mattress in a pile
Oh, how I want to nestle in with them!
But first, I know that I must work awhile

I promise, bed, I will be back for you
I'll surely nap before the day is through

Which pair of words from the poem should be conveyed to an illustrator creating art for publication?

  • A. Shroud, nest
  • B. Aura, roof
  • C. Dance, tempted
  • D. Footsteps, enticing
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The words 'shroud' and 'nest' are crucial for an illustrator creating art related to the poem. 'Shroud' conveys a sense of wrapping or covering, while 'nest' suggests a cozy and inviting space. These words offer rich imagery that can guide the illustrator in visually capturing the essence of the poem, thereby enhancing the overall publication.

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