Exam 1: Writing Effective Paragraphs

Instructions: The paragraphs of the following essay have been scrambled so that they are out of order. Read them and then answer the question(s) that follow. Libraries of the Future - Now _____ (1) A third illustration of a library breaking the old mold, the Cerritos Public Library in New Mexico strives for mixed-media experience that reflects modern culture. (2) The first titanium-clad building in the U.S., this sleek library s golden skin changes colors with the weather. (3) Its lobby, where a 15,000-gallon saltwater aquarium reproduces a coral reef, looks more like the inside of a futuristic shopping mall than a library. (4) Video screens flash images such as movie clips, and visitors glide in space-age elevators. (5) Librarians don t sit behind desks; instead, armed with headsets and handheld computers, they greet visitors and move among them to offer assistance and guidance. (6) In the children s library, kids can project themselves onto a video screen beside a life-size replica of a T. rex dinosaur. (7) The library aims, through interaction and sensory experience, to stimulate library-goers imaginations and curiosity, inspiring them to grab one of the library s 300,000 books and start reading. _____ (8) A second, even more experimental example is the Salt Lake City Library, which has become one of Utah s top attractions since it opened in 2003. (9) The curved glass skin of the building dazzles visitors with views of the city and the Wasatch Mountains beyond, and a roof garden overlooks the entire Salt Lake Valley. (10) Like Seattle s library, this has won architectural awards, but unlike Seattle, it has been called the unquietest library in America. (11) Inside, music pumps through speakers, and librarians wear No Shhh! buttons, although the five floors do get quieter the higher one goes. (12) Patrons can sip coffee at a caf , browse a huge CD and DVD collection, surf the Internet on one of the 163 computers, stroll through an art gallery, or attend a lecture or concert in the auditorium. (13) Of course, they can also help themselves to one of the books in the library s 500,000-volume collection. _____ (14) As information-seekers began turning to computers and the Internet, some people predicted the death of the public library, which supposedly would serve no purpose in an electronic world. (15) But that has not happened. (16) On the contrary, many city planners now think that libraries will take on a new role for busy people in the twenty-first century. (17) In fact, pioneering cities are spending vast sums to reinvent their libraries as community information centers that not only integrate the latest technology but also attract visitors with art, music, comfort, and beautiful design. _____ (18) To achieve the goal of expanding their citizens knowledge and literacy, savvy library planners know that, first, they must draw people inside. (19) In the case of these three libraries, the plan seems to be working. (20) Library membership at all three has risen dramatically. (21) Residents who never before set foot in a library are regulars, and after school, young people hang out and do homework. (22) As such extreme library makeovers are revealed, old perceptions of libraries as stuffy or boring shatter. (23) Wired? Enlightening? Gorgeous? Cool? (24) It might be a library. _____ (25) One example is the new library in Seattle, Washington, which opened in 2004 to worldwide praise. (26) After studying feedback from residents, librarians, and library users of all ages, architect Rem Koolhaas created at a cost of $165 million a modernistic copper and glass building with interior touches of eye-popping color. (27) Employees describe it as so much fun to work in that they never miss a day. (28) Library-goers enter a huge, welcoming living room where they can relax, socialize, read, or connect wirelessly to the Internet. (29) Virtual guides on large monitors greet people and later pop up helpfully on screens throughout the library. (30) At the building s core, a continuous, user-friendly spiral of bookshelves holds the library s collection. (31) Patrons can get help from librarians, search for information on 132 computers, or chat online with the virtual reference service in a space Koolhaas calls the mixing chamber. (32) In the teen center, young patrons can enter sound domes and blast ear-splitting music without disturbing anyone else. Part A: Select the letter of the answer that numbers the paragraphs in the order they should appear in the essay. a. 5, 1, 4, 2, 3 b. 4, 3, 1, 5, 2 c. 3, 2, 5, 1, 4 Part B: Which paragraph in the reordered sequence begins with a transitional expression? a. paragraph 1 b. paragraph 3 c. paragraph 5

Instructions: The following sentences form a passage. For each one, select correct if the sentence is punctuated correctly, fragment if it is a fragment, run-on if it is a run-on, and comma splice if it is a comma splice. Education and drive turned his childhood passion into mastery, as a college student, McLurkin began to enter computer and robotics contests.

Instructions: Select the answer that correctly adds the suffix to each word below. sad + er

Instructions: In the groups below, choose the set of words in which all the words are spelled correctly. Select the letter of the correct answer. Which set of words is spelled correctly?

Instructions: Select the letter of the correct words for the blanks in each of the following sentences. Jamal ____ the guests, ____ the cake, and ____ the apartment for Susanna s welcome home party.

Instructions: Find the complete subject and the complete verb in each sentence. Then select the letter of the answer that contains both the subject and the verb. Everyone was in awe of Mia s skill in mathematics.

Instructions: Select the letter of the correct definition of the word. Discuss causes

Instructions: The following sentences form a paragraph. For each set of choices, select the letter of the answer in which conjunctions or conjunctive adverbs are used correctly and punctuation is correct. Which sentences are correct?

Instructions: Select the letter of the word in the sentence that is a look-alike/sound-alike error. What affect will the strike have on the sale of hot dogs?

Instructions: For each pair of sentences below, select the letter of the option that provides the best sentence variety. Which answer choice provides the best sentence variety?

Instructions: The following sentences form a paragraph. Select the answer that correctly identifies the underlined portion of the sentence as wordy or trite. When you look at the sky on a clear night, you will not see the exact same sky that the ancient Greeks saw thousands of years ago when they looked at the night sky .

Instructions: In each of the following sentences, a blank space appears where a verb should be. Select the letter of the verb that agrees with the subject of the sentence. Here ____ my check for the first month s rent and the security deposit.

Instructions: Select the answer that correctly adds the suffix to each word below. pair + ed

Instructions: Identify each of the following statements as true or false. According to MLA style guidelines, a correct citation in the body of an essay should appear inside parentheses after the material from that source.

Instructions: The following sentences form an essay. Select the correct verb for each blank. Because most exhibits ____ hands-on, children love to go from floor to floor pushing as many buttons and turning as many knobs as possible.

Instructions: In each of the plans below, one detail has nothing to do with the topic sentence; it is merely a bit of irrelevant information. Find the irrelevant detail in each plan and choose its letter. The auto repair shop was alive with activity.

Instructions: Select the answer that correctly adds the suffix to each word below. continue + ous

Instructions: If the sentence is correctly punctuated, select Correct. If the sentence is not correctly punctuated, select Not correct. The reading list for Asian American Women s Literature includes the following: Dogeaters by Jessica Hagedorn, Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston, and Interpreter of Maladies , a short story by Jhumpa Lahiri.

Instructions: Select the answer that correct joins each pair of simple sentences with conjunctions or conjunctive adverbs and is punctuated correctly. I would love to own an antique roll-top desk. I need to save money for our family vacation.

Instructions: In each of the sentences below, choose the correct words to fill in the blanks. Then select the letter that indicates your choice. ____ something that s ____ bothering me for ____ some time.