Passage 1: Science Fiction
The First Signal
(1) For decades, scientists listened to the universe in silence. Then, one quiet night, a signal appeared on their screens, spreading through the lab like electricity.
(2) The message was brief, but it carried enormous meaning. Hope wrapped itself around the scientists’ thoughts, and for a moment, no one spoke.
(3) When the spacecraft finally arrived, it drifted downward as softly as snow. Lights shimmered along its surface, and the crowd watched with wide eyes.
Which sentence from the passage contains a simile?
Passage 2: Informational Text
Is Space Exploration Worth the Cost?
(1) Since the beginning of the space age, nations have invested large amounts of money into space exploration. While some people question this expense, others believe the benefits are worth the cost.
(2) Space exploration has led to improvements in technology that affect everyday life. Tools developed for space missions have helped advance medicine, communication, and weather prediction.
(3) In addition, space missions often unite people across the globe. Millions of viewers watch launches and landings together, sharing moments that go beyond national borders.
(4) Although space exploration is expensive, its benefits reach far beyond scientific discovery. For these reasons, continued investment in space programs is justified.
What is the main claim of the article?
Vocabulary & Conventions
Questions 9–14
What type of figurative language is used in the phrase “Hope wrapped itself around the scientists’ thoughts”?
What does the author most likely mean by “the signal spread through the lab like electricity”?
How does the author’s word choice in paragraph 3 affect the tone?
Which sentence provides the best evidence to support the author’s claim?
Which paragraph mainly explains how space exploration brings people together?
What is the purpose of paragraph 1?
The submarine traveled below the surface of the ocean. What does the prefix sub- most nearly mean?
The team worked for years to crack the code. What does crack most nearly mean in this sentence?
Which sentence contains a positive adverb?
Which sentence contains a comparative adjective?
Which verb form is used in the sentence below?
Scientists had gathered the data.
Which sentence has a compound predicate?