Read the selection and choose the best answer for each question.

Question

Arya is writing an article for her school newspaper. Read her first draft and look for any changes that should be made. Then answer the questions.

From Bed Bound to Breaking Boards [Part 1 - REVISING]

(1) Kameelah bounded off the mat grinning ear to ear. (2) She eventually got her green belt in Tae Kwando. (3) It was an amazing accomplishment for Kameelah, a thin African American girl. (4) Only four years before, she was told by a doctor that she would never walk again. (5) It was quite evident that not only would she walk again, but she would also run, jump, kick, and punch.
(6) When Kameelah was 11, a routine physical uncovered an abnormal curvature in her spine. (7) It was diagnosed as scoliosis. (8) Kameelah and her family were devastated. (9) They were told by the doctor that only 10 percent of all children are afflicted with scoliosis, but her family just couldn’t believe Kameelah was a part of that 10 percent.
(10) Her first surgery was scheduled immediately. (11) The doctor had the difficult task of reconstructing Kameelah’s entire spine and then re-situating her organs around it. (12) Since this surgery dealt with the vertebrae and nerve connections to the brain; the doctor had to make sure that Kameelah could still move her body parts correctly. (13) Therefore, she was awakened in the middle of the surgery.
(14) The first surgery was successful, but Kameelah would have to return two more times for the doctor to completely fix the problem. (15) It was at the end of the third surgery when things went wrong—really wrong. (16) The doctor inserted a metal rod, which happened to be too small, into Kameelah’s back. (17) Then, it compressed some of the nerves in her spine. (18) Eventually, she was paralyzed from the waist down.

1.
What is the BEST way to combine sentences 7 and 8?
A.Since it was diagnosed as scoliosis, but Kameelah and her family were devastated.
B.It was diagnosed as scoliosis, Kameelah and her family were devastated.
C.When it was diagnosed as scoliosis, so Kameelah and her family were devastated.
D.After it was diagnosed as scoliosis, Kameelah and her family were devastated.

2.
What is the BEST way to revise sentence 12?
A.Since this surgery dealt with the vertebrae and nerve connections to the brain, the doctor had to make sure that Kameelah could still move her body parts correctly.
B.Therefore the doctor had to make sure that Kameelah could still move correctly; since this surgery dealt with vertebrae, and nerve connections.
C.Since this surgery dealt with the vertebrae, and nerve connections to the brain, the doctor had to make sure that Kameelah could still move her body parts correctly.
D.Because this surgery dealt with the vertebrae and nerve connection to the brain the doctor had to make sure that Kameelah could still move her body parts correctly.

3.
The word eventually is not the most effective word to use in sentence 2. Which word should replace eventually in sentence 2?
A.finally
B.bitterly
C.consequently
D.gradually

Answer 1

1. The BEST way to combine sentences 7 and 8 is
   D. After it was diagnosed as scoliosis, Kameelah and her family were devastated.

2. The BEST way to revise sentence 12 is
   A. Since this surgery dealt with the vertebrae and nerve connections to the brain, the doctor had to make sure that Kameelah could still move her body parts correctly.

3. The word eventually is not the most effective word to use in sentence 2. The word that should replace eventually in sentence 2 is
   A. finally.