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Question

03:Pretest
HS: English 3A [M] (Prescriptive) (GP) / 3:Effective Sentences
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5.
Read the passage.

(1) Can you imagine paying a year’s salary for a single tulip bulb? (2) During the early 1600s, wealthy investors in Holland did just that. (3) It was all part of a craze for tulips that became known as Tulip Mania. (4) Tulips, which were introduced to Europe in about 1550, seemed unusual to Europeans at that time. (5) Tulips had deeper, more intense colors than did flowers native to Europe. (6) Tulips therefore became highly prized. (7) Tulips’ popularity made tulips attractive to investors in Holland, where the economy was flourishing. (8) Tulip bulbs, the investors reasoned, would keep going up in price. (9) Tulip bulbs did not hold their high prices, however. (10) Tulip prices suddenly crashed in 1637. (11) Tulip bulbs that had sold for huge prices suddenly sold for much, much less. (12) Tulip Mania was over.

Which is the most effective way to vary the sentences in the passage?

Begin sentences with different parts of speech.

Invert sentences by putting verbs before subjects.

Combine sentences with coordinating conjunctions.

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Answer 1

The most effective way to vary the sentences in the passage is to begin sentences with different parts of speech. This approach can enhance the rhythm and flow of the text, making the writing more engaging for readers.

Starting sentences with different parts of speech—such as nouns, adjectives, adverbs, or prepositional phrases—can add variety and interest. For example, you could begin some sentences with adverbs to increase dynamism or with prepositional phrases to set the scene.

While inverting sentences or combining them can also create variation, beginning with different parts of speech offers a broader range of stylistic options.