College test english 5 pps

CHAPTER 3 • LearningExpress Skill Builders 64 First, and most important, is the issue of language. There is a violent assault being perpetrated on our language. Students abuse it when they speak and when they write. Profanity prevails. In addition to their disrespect for language, students have begun to violate all the rules of common courtesy and decency that were once the hallmarks of a civilized society. And last, but not least, they are committing violence every time they dress in the morning. It is as if they are off to the beach or a picnic instead of the serious institution called school. Notice that the biggest difference between analy- sis/classification and order of importance is that the lat- ter establishes a pecking order for the issues to be addressed, i.e., most important, least important, first, sec- ond. Other words that give clues as to order of impor- tance, are more importantly, moreover, above all, last but not least, etc. COMPARISON AND CONTRAST The final organization pattern is comparison/contrast, which does exactly what it says; it enables the writer to use similarities and differences between two things in order to present information. Here’s how the school vio- lence issue might look presented this way: At the same time that violence is on the rise in America’s public schools, there has been no appreciable rise in parochial schools. When the two school systems are put side by side, it is easy to see why. First, in public school the issue of dress creates an atmosphere for social disruption. On the other hand, uniforms in parochial school have long been known to establish order and respect. When students can come to school in dirty jeans and tee shirts with obscenities written on them, it is no wonder that discipline is difficult. Contrast that to the parochial school student who knows, as he or she is getting dressed in the morning, that just as the dress for the day is restricted so will be the social conduct. Words which signal comparison/contrast include on the other hand, however, on the contrary, unlike, but, yet, nevertheless, rather, instead, whereas, although, in con- trast, etc. It is important to note that a piece of reading can combine many organizational patterns. Order of impor- tance and cause and effect, for example, often go hand in hand. When you read, it is important to pay atten- tion to the organizational pattern. When you write, it is important to determine which pattern(s) will best serve your purpose as you set out to inform, persuade, or entertain your reader. TEST YOUR SKILLS READING COMPREHENSION PRACTICE PASSAGE Now that you feel comfortable with different strategies and techniques by which authors write, use this new information to read the next paragraph and circle the correct response for the questions that follow. Notice that each sentence is numbered for easy reference. TAXES (1) There are many things you can do to make tax time easier. (2) The single most important strategy is to keep accurate records. (3) Keep all of your pay stubs, receipts, bank statements, and other relevant financial information in a neat, organized folder so that when you’re –BASIC SKILLS FOR COLLEGE– LearningExpress Skill Builders • CHAPTER 3 65 ready to prepare your form, all of your paperwork is in one place. (4) The second thing you can do is start early. (5) Get your tax forms from the post office as soon as they are available and then start calculating. (6) This way, if you run into any problems, you have plenty of time to straighten them out. (7) You can also save time by reading the directions carefully. (8) This will prevent time-consuming errors. (9) Finally, if your taxes are relatively simple (that is, you don’t have itemized deductions or special investments), use the shorter tax form. (10) It’s only one page, and if your records are in order, it can be completed in less than an hour. 1. The main idea of this passage is expressed in which sentence? a. 1 b. 3 c. 7 d. 10 2. This paragraph uses which of the following organizational strategies? a. cause and effect b. analysis/classification c. order of importance d. chronology 3. Sentence (2) is a a. fact. b. opinion. c. both. d. neither. 4. Which of the following would be a good sum- mary of this passage? a. Simple strategies can make tax time less taxing. b. Don’t procrastinate at tax time. c. Always keep good records. d. Get a tax attorney. 5. Which of the following is the most effective underlining of the passage? a. You can also sa ve time by reading the directions carefully. This will prevent time-consuming e rrors. Finally, if your tax es are r elatively simple (you don’t have itemized deductions or special invest- ments), use the sho rter tax form.It’s only one page, and if y our rec ords are in order, it can be completed in less than an hour. b. You can also save time by r eading the directions carefully. This will prevent time-consuming errors. Finally, if your taxes are relatively simple (y ou don’t have itemized deductions or special invest- me nts), use the shorter tax form. I t’s only one page, and it your records are in order, it can be completed in less than an hour. c. You can also save time by r eading the directions carefully. This will prevent time-consuming errors. Finally, if your taxes are relatively simple (you don’t have itemized deductions or special invest- ments), use the sho rter tax form.It’s only one page, and if your records are in order, it can be completed in less than an hour. –READING COMPREHENSION– CHAPTER 3 • LearningExpress Skill Builders 66 d. You can also save time by reading the directions carefully. This will prevent time-consuming errors. Finally, if your taxes are r elatively simple (you don’t have itemized deductions or special invest- ments), use the shorter tax form. It’s only one page, and if your records are in order, it can be completed in less than an hour . ANSWERS 1. a 2. c 3. b 4. a 5. c –BASIC SKILLS FOR COLLEGE– LearningExpress Skill Builders • CHAPTER 4 67 C • H • A • P • T • E • R SUMMARY This chapter starts out with examples of the types of ques- tions commonly found on college placement tests. In gen- eral, you will be evaluated on your knowledge and skills in the areas of arithmetic, elementary algebra, geometry, and measurement. ollege placement tests include these formats: pencil and paper tests, computer versions of these pencil and paper tests, and adaptive computer tests. (Adaptive computer tests adjust your test’s difficulty level as you take it.) Your test may be timed, in which case you should expect it to be about half an hour long, but make sure you check all the particulars with your school in advance. Specifically, you should ask for the test format, time constraints, subject matter being assessed, and if you may bring a calculator. In fact, the best idea is to find out all of this information prior to reading this chapter. This way you will know which areas to study (and which ones to skip), and you will be prac- ticing under simulative testing conditions. With this done, read through the sample questions. These examples walk you through the common questions on a topic-by-topic basis. Then at the end of the chapter, you have a chance to assess your strengths and weaknesses with the Skill Builder questions. All of these questions have detailed explanatory answers and serve as another chance to brush up on ESSENTIAL PRACTICE WITH MATH 4 4 C C CHAPTER 4 • LearningExpress Skill Builders 68 any skills you feel need work. If you have trouble with any of the Skill Builder questions, go back to the sam- ple questions and make sure that you really understand the individual topics. To recap, the game plan is: review (sample ques- tions), practice and assess (Skill Builder), and go back (rereview topics as necessary). This is the best way to assure a solid foundation before attempting the sam- ple test in the next chapter or the real test. OPERATIONS WITH WHOLE NUMBERS 1. Janice has started a wholesale jewelry making business. She makes 36 bracelets a day, and sells them to local shops for $18.00 a dozen. How much does Janice make per week if she works 5 days a week? a. $220 b. $270 c. $54 d. $378 2. At a baseball game,Deanna bought food for her- self and her sister Jamie: 1 jumbo box of pop- corn to share at $7 a box, 2 hot dogs for each of them (4 total) at $3 a dog, and one soda for each at $4 apiece. Jamie paid for their tickets at $13 a ticket.Who spent the most money and by how much? a. Deanna, by $1 b. Deanna, by $3 c. Jamie, by $2 d. Jamie, by $4 OPERATIONS WITH FRACTIONS 3. Jack is retiling his kitchen floor. Each tile he has is 1 ᎏ 1 8 ᎏ foot by 1 ᎏ 3 5 ᎏ foot. What is the area of each tile? a. ᎏ 4 3 0 ᎏ square feet b. 1 ᎏ 3 8 ᎏ square feet c. 1 ᎏ 4 5 ᎏ square feet d. 1 ᎏ 3 5 ᎏ square feet 4. Divide ᎏ 5 9 ᎏ by ᎏ 5 9 ᎏ . a. ᎏ 9 5 ᎏ b. 1 c. ᎏ 2 8 5 1 ᎏ d. 1 ᎏ 5 9 ᎏ OPERATIONS WITH DECIMALS 5. Lauren and Jenna want to buy a present for their mom, a bracelet that costs $50. Lauren has $5 from her allowance and $13.73 saved in her piggy bank. Jenna has $2.50 from her allowance, $7.19 in her piggy bank, plus she found $2 out- side. If their dad gives them $10 towards the gift, how much more money do they need? a. $30.42 b. $19.58 c. $40.42 d. $ 9.58 6. Zoey needs to build a deck in her backyard that is 12.84 feet by 14.3 feet. How many square feet will the deck be? a. 233.89 square feet b. 1,836.12 square feet c. 183.612 square feet d. 183,612 square feet –BASIC SKILLS FOR COLLEGE– LearningExpress Skill Builders • CHAPTER 4 69 RATIO AND PROPORTION 7. If it takes 27 nails to build 3 boxes, how many nails will it take to build 7 boxes? a. 64 b. 72 c. 56 d. 63 8. In Mrs. Sam’s first grade class, the ratio of boys to girls is 3 to 4. There are 28 students total. How many are girls? a. 12 b. 20 c. 16 d. 4 PERCENTS 9. Change 35% into a decimal. a. 3.5 b. .35 c. 35.0 d. .035 10. 75 people were invited to the Frazzettas’ wedding. All but 9 were able to attend. What percent couldn’t come? a. 8.33% b. 7.5% c. 12% d. 9% ABSOLUTE VALUE 11. What is | 47 Ϫ 64 |? a. 17 b. Ϫ17 c. 111 d. 47 12. Find | Ϫ ᎏ 2 3 ᎏ |. a. Ϫ ᎏ 2 3 ᎏ b. ᎏ 3 2 ᎏ c. 1 ᎏ 1 2 ᎏ d. ᎏ 2 3 ᎏ EXPONENTS 13. Calculate 43 2 ϫ 4. a. 172 b. 129 c. 7,396 d. 1,849 14. Calculate (Ϫ ᎏ 1 5 ᎏ ) 3 . a. ᎏ 1 1 25 ᎏ b. ᎏ 1 5 ᎏ c. – ᎏ 1 1 25 ᎏ d. – ᎏ 1 3 5 ᎏ SCIENTIFIC NOTATION 15. What is the correct way to write 3,600,000 in sci- entific notation? a. 3,600 ϫ 100 b. 3.6 ϫ 10 6 c. 3.6 ϫ 10 Ϫ6 d. 36 ϫ 10 6 16. 7.359 multiplied by 10 Ϫ6 is equal to a. 0.0007359 b. 0.00007359 c. 0.000007359 d. 0.0000007359 –ESSENTIAL PRACTICE WITH MATH– . Change 35% into a decimal. a. 3 .5 b. . 35 c. 35. 0 d. .0 35 10. 75 people were invited to the Frazzettas’ wedding. All but 9 were able to attend. What percent couldn’t come? a. 8.33% b. 7 .5% c. 12% d 1 ᎏ 3 5 ᎏ foot. What is the area of each tile? a. ᎏ 4 3 0 ᎏ square feet b. 1 ᎏ 3 8 ᎏ square feet c. 1 ᎏ 4 5 ᎏ square feet d. 1 ᎏ 3 5 ᎏ square feet 4. Divide ᎏ 5 9 ᎏ by ᎏ 5 9 ᎏ . a. ᎏ 9 5 ᎏ b pencil and paper tests, computer versions of these pencil and paper tests, and adaptive computer tests. (Adaptive computer tests adjust your test s difficulty level as you take it.) Your test may be