Thank you, members of the town council, for agreeing to this meeting. As you know, we are here to discuss whether the town should do away with parking fines for street parking. As a small business owner, I can tell you that my customers don’t like getting tickets for overstaying their time at a parking meter. It makes them feel like they’re being punished for shopping downtown. And many customers have told me that sometimes they shop at the big chain stores, which have parking lots, just so they can take their time and not risk getting a ticket. So, giving out fines for street parking is hurting small businesses.

I know that some will say that the town needs the revenue from these fines. But I say, a vibrant downtown with independent businesses and happy shoppers brings in far more money than a few parking tickets. And if we keep giving out parking tickets, we won’t have happy shoppers or a vibrant downtown. Additionally, the money the town gets from parking tickets is an extremely small part of its annual revenue and could easily be made up from other sources.

Question
Use the passage, a speech given at a meeting, to answer the question.

Who is the audience for this speech?

(1 point)
Responses

town residents
town residents

the town council
the town council

shoppers
shoppers

small business owners
small business owners
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Feature
Thank you, members of the town council, for agreeing to this meeting. As you know, we are here to discuss whether the town should do away with parking fines for street parking. As a small business owner, I can tell you that my customers don’t like getting tickets for overstaying their time at a parking meter. It makes them feel like they’re being punished for shopping downtown. And many customers have told me that sometimes they shop at the big chain stores, which have parking lots, just so they can take their time and not risk getting a ticket. So, giving out fines for street parking is hurting small businesses.

I know that some will say that the town needs the revenue from these fines. But I say, a vibrant downtown with independent businesses and happy shoppers brings in far more money than a few parking tickets. And if we keep giving out parking tickets, we won’t have happy shoppers or a vibrant downtown. Additionally, the money the town gets from parking tickets is an extremely small part of its annual revenue and could easily be made up from other sources.

Question
Use the passage, a speech given at a meeting, to answer the question.

What counterarguments does the speaker make to address opposing viewpoints? Select the two correct answers.

(1 point)
Responses

Customers do not like getting tickets for overstaying their time at a parking meter.
Customers do not like getting tickets for overstaying their time at a parking meter.

Parking tickets are a small and easily replaceable source of revenue for the town.
Parking tickets are a small and easily replaceable source of revenue for the town.

Customers who get tickets from parking downtown are likely to shop at big chain stores.
Customers who get tickets from parking downtown are likely to shop at big chain stores.

Customers who get parking tickets often feel like they are being punished for shopping downtown.
Customers who get parking tickets often feel like they are being punished for shopping downtown.

A vibrant downtown brings in more money than parking tickets.
A vibrant downtown brings in more money than parking tickets.
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Feature
Passage 1

In 1973, a baby chimpanzee named Nim, wrapped in a blanket and wearing a tiny diaper, was carried off a plane and introduced to his new human family. He had arrived in New York City as part of a Columbia University study to see whether a chimpanzee could develop language. Nim did, in fact, learn many signs. But many experts, including the psychologist who led the experiment, question whether Nim and other primates who have learned signs are in fact using language. The researcher who worked with Nim came to the belief that while Nim imitated people’s signs, he did not form sentences and express ideas. Language, he concluded, is a human skill.

Passage 2

Linguists and other experts on language and cognitive development have long argued about whether animals can use language. There is no doubt that animals communicate. Language, though, is a complex system that some believe only humans can master. A landmark experiment in animal language, involving a young chimpanzee named Nim, proved this. In short, people, and only people, can acquire language.

Question
Use the introductions to two argumentative texts to answer the question.

Which line is a hook that grabs the reader’s attention?

(1 point)
Responses

In 1973, a baby chimpanzee named Nim, wrapped in a blanket and wearing a tiny diaper, was carried off a plane and introduced to his new human family.
In 1973, a baby chimpanzee named Nim, wrapped in a blanket and wearing a tiny diaper, was carried off a plane and introduced to his new human family.

Language, he concluded, is a human skill.
Language, he concluded, is a human skill.

In short, people, and only people, can acquire language.
In short, people, and only people, can acquire language.

Linguists and other experts on language and cognitive development have long argued about whether animals can use language.
Linguists and other experts on language and cognitive development have long argued about whether animals can use language.
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Question
Use the opening statement from an argumentative text to answer the question.

Everyone should get real-life experience before starting college, so students should take a year off to explore job, internship, or volunteer opportunities.
What questions does the opening statement answer? Select the two correct answers.

(1 point)
Responses

Who should provide students with jobs, internships, or volunteer opportunities?
Who should provide students with jobs, internships, or volunteer opportunities?

How should students use the year before they go to college?
How should students use the year before they go to college?

Where is the best place for students to attend college?
Where is the best place for students to attend college?

Why should students take a year off before college?
Why should students take a year off before college?

How can students find a job, internship, or volunteer opportunity?
How can students find a job, internship, or volunteer opportunity?
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Question
Use the information to answer the question.

How can students find meaningful opportunities before they enter college?
Which opening statement answers this question?

(1 point)
Responses

Students who have just completed high school are at an excellent time in their lives to explore interests outside of a school setting; they are mature enough to know their interests but young enough to be open to new ideas.
Students who have just completed high school are at an excellent time in their lives to explore interests outside of a school setting; they are mature enough to know their interests but young enough to be open to new ideas.

High schools should cultivate relationships with local businesses and organizations to help graduated students find meaningful opportunities before they enter college.
High schools should cultivate relationships with local businesses and organizations to help graduated students find meaningful opportunities before they enter college.

Students should take time off between high school and college because if they seek meaningful opportunities outside of school, they will have a greater understanding of themselves and their interests.
Students should take time off between high school and college because if they seek meaningful opportunities outside of school, they will have a greater understanding of themselves and their interests.

Students should take time between high school and college to explore meaningful opportunities.
Students should take time between high school and college to explore meaningful opportunities.
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1 answer

  1. Who is the audience for this speech?

    • the town council
  2. What counterarguments does the speaker make to address opposing viewpoints? Select the two correct answers.

    • Parking tickets are a small and easily replaceable source of revenue for the town.
    • A vibrant downtown brings in more money than parking tickets.
  3. Which line is a hook that grabs the reader’s attention?

    • In 1973, a baby chimpanzee named Nim, wrapped in a blanket and wearing a tiny diaper, was carried off a plane and introduced to his new human family.
  4. What questions does the opening statement answer? Select the two correct answers.

    • How should students use the year before they go to college?
    • Why should students take a year off before college?
  5. Which opening statement answers the question, "How can students find meaningful opportunities before they enter college?"

    • High schools should cultivate relationships with local businesses and organizations to help graduated students find meaningful opportunities before they enter college.