A student is writing a letter to an admissions committee to apply for a summer program in robotics. Read the paragraph from the draft of the letter and complete the task that follows.
Dear Admissions Committee:
I have been very interested in robots for as long as I can remember. I do not mean that I merely enjoyed reading about robots or seeing them in science fiction movies; I wanted to know how they were designed and built. I ordered my first robot kit when I was just nine and put it together myself, refusing any help from my family. Because of that experience, I was totally hooked and have made bunches of bots. For the past three years, I have participated in my school's robotics team.
Choose the best way to revise the underlined phrase so that the letter maintains a consistent tone.
A student is writing an essay for his social studies teacher about a community project in which he participated. Read part of the draft of the essay and answer the question that follows.
Years of disgusting dirt and mildew covered the decaying picket fence that surrounded the historic brick home. Our planned task was to remove the layers of grime using a pressure washer. Then we would paint the fence a bright cloud-white, making it appear brand new. To begin to get the project off to a start, we covered all the bushes located near the fence to protect them from the paint. Next, we used a pressure washer to apply the detergent. After we rinsed the fence with fresh water, we let it air dry for several days.
What is a more concise phrase to replace the underlined phrase?
A student is writing a paper about the Parthenon in Athens, Greece, for her history class. Read the draft of the paper and complete the task that follows.
For the Ages
In the center of Athens, Greece, stands a hill that is home to various ancient temples. That hill is known as the Acropolis. Remains of several buildings still stand there. To some, those buildings represent the highest achievement in Greek art.
The most important building on the Acropolis was the Parthenon. The building had a rectangular shape and an angled roof and columns all around the outside. The Parthenon contained many works of art. It also had painted sculptures all around the outside that gave it a
Most of the buildings we can see today on the Acropolis are the result of a rebuilding project
For each underlined pair of words, click on the word that is more exact.
A student is writing a report about myths for her English class. Read the draft of the report and complete the task that follows.
Myths
In ancient times, Greek and Roman myths were often created in an attempt to explain something bad that had happened when there was no natural explanation for why the event had happened. For example, when bad storms affected individuals at sea, people created a myth to explain why the bad storm occurred. These myths took hold, and people believed in them for many years.
Choose two words to replace the underlined words in the paragraph.
The student needs to add more specific detail to his essay. Click on three words that are too vague and need to be replaced.
"Nom de Plume" is the French expression given to the name an author uses for him or herself.
Annie Jump Cannon: Space Pioneer
A student is preparing a presentation for a science class about unknown pioneers of science. Read the draft of the presentation and complete the task that follows.
As you gaze at the millions of stars in the sky, you might remember the famous scientists who helped us understand the solar system: Nicholas Copernicus, Galileo, Albert Einstein, or Edwin Hubble. But have you ever heard of Annie Jump Cannon?
Annie Jump Cannon was a pioneer in the field of astronomy. What made her a pioneer was her gender. During a time when many women were not being educated or working outside the home, Cannon was making her mark in a male-dominated field. She was hired to help Edward Pickering record data and make complex calculations. Over her career, she figured out a lot of things in astronomy. With a team of other women assistants, she mapped the universe, recording over 400,000 stars. Among those stars are over 300 she discovered on her own.
Choose the best way to revise the underlined phrase so that the essay maintains a consistent tone.
A student is writing an article for his student newspaper about using lockers in school. Read the draft of a part of the article and complete the task that follows.
Locker Use
Students might be concerned about using a locker to store their personal belongings. According to our school’s student handbook, one way for students to
For each underlined pair of words, click on the word that is the most precise.
A student is writing a personal narrative about soccer for a literary magazine. Read the paragraph from the draft of the personal narrative and answer the question that follows
Soccer: A Labor of Love
After a hard soccer practice full of high-intensity drills up and down the field, I lumbered over to the sideline. I slumped down onto the bench, taking each breath deep into my lungs. I was so tired that standing back up to go to the water cooler seemed an impossible task.
The author of the narrative wants to replace the underlined words. Which two replacements of the underlined words most likely fit the author's intended purpose and audience?
Which two replacements of the underlined words most likely fit the author's intended purpose and audience?
A student is writing an article about George Washington for social studies class. Read the draft of the article and answer the question that follows.
George Washington
George Washington battled armies in the Revolutionary War, but he also battled pain and illness throughout his life. Washington and others in his family suffered the strong pain of smallpox. Later, Washington had such difficulty with arthritis that he could hardly turn over in bed. While president, he had a tumor on his leg that required removal.
What are two more concrete words to replace the underlined phrase?
A student is writing a report about world countries for his geography class. Read the draft of one paragraph of the report and answer the question that follows.
World Population
Having a high population does not mean that a country will have a problem with overcrowding. Some countries have many people, but they might have a lot of land. Other countries have a greater problem with overcrowding because their land mass is quite small. These countries may have a lower population, but they have a higher number of people in one area.
Which more precise phrase best replaces the underlined phrase?
A student is writing a report about beetles for her science class. Read the paragraph from the draft of the paper and complete the task that follows.
Ponds and streams make suitable
For each underlined pair of words, click on the word that is the most precise.
A student is writing a narrative about a rainy day for a literary magazine. Read the draft of the narrative and answer the question that follows.
For the third straight morning, I stood at my window and sadly saw the rain coming down really hard as it seemed to wash away the colors of summer. My baseball uniform still lay on my bed, clean and neatly folded, not looking very red and blue beneath the dim shadow of a rainy day. I knew there would be no reason to ask about the game; the rain already had given an answer.
The student would like to revise the underlined phrase to make it more descriptive. Which two phrases could replace the underlined phrase?
A student is writing a narrative for his teacher about gardening. Read the draft of the narrative and complete the task that follows.
A backyard garden can produce great rewards as well as some pretty good meals. The gardener first has to decide what he wants to grow. As soon as the chance of frost is over in the spring it is time to begin. First, just grow what you like to eat. Turn over your soil to loosen it and kill weeds. Then put your seeds in the ground, water them, and watch them sprout. Soon it will be time to eat the fruits of your labor. That is all it takes to grow a garden!
The student has used a word too many times. Choose two words to replace two of the underlined words in the paragraph.
A student is writing a letter to the principal inviting her to the Science Club Expo. Read the draft of the letter and answer the question that follows.
On behalf of the Seventh Grade Science Club, I would like to invite you to our Expo on Tuesday night. The evening will feature projects that the students have been working on all semester. Some of the highlights are robotics, astronomy, energy, and even cooking. The students have prepared demonstrations that will be pretty cool for the teachers, students, and staff.
The author of the letter wants to replace the underlined phrase. Which replacement most likely fits the author's intended purpose and audience?
A student is writing an article for his social studies class about music during the Civil War. Read the draft of the article and answer the question that follows.
During the American Civil War, there were states battling states, neighbors battling neighbors, and brothers battling brothers. It seemed as if no one could agree on political topics. There was one thing they could agree on, though, and that was music.
For many of the young soldiers on both sides of the battle lines, the Civil War was their first time away from home. To help from becoming too homesick, some of the soldiers brought music with them. Some soldiers brought instruments and some brought song. The common interest in music kept homesickness at bay and helped improve their feelings and state of mind. Major General J. E. B. Stuart, leader of Confederate troops, loved music so much that he would ask around to find members from other groups to play in his camp band. Frequently at night, the troops on both sides of the war would play music to entertain and comfort the battle-weary soldiers. The go-to song of the time period was "Home, Sweet Home" by composer John Howard Payne. It was common for the Union and Confederate troops to make camp near one another. There are accounts of this song rising up in harmony as the bands played it from their respective camps.
What are two more concise words to replace the underlined phrases?