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Questions and Answers
Which of the following statements most directly expresses the author's thesis in the passage?
Which of the following statements most directly expresses the author's thesis in the passage?
- [R]eal excellence often comes unheralded and from unexpected quarters. (correct)
- The qualities of people are similar to those of metals.
- A recent study found that 86 percent of Americans are stressed out from constantly checking their smartphones.
- Femininity was a challenge thrown down to the female sex, a challenge no proud, self-respecting young woman could afford to ignore.
In the second paragraph, the author develops a comparison between life and 'a thousand arrows shot from the same point and aimed at the same object' primarily to suggest that?
In the second paragraph, the author develops a comparison between life and 'a thousand arrows shot from the same point and aimed at the same object' primarily to suggest that?
people exhibit remarkable diversity in their development over time
The discussion of the 'greatest of poets and philosophers' in the third paragraph suggests that the author believes the audience of the speech will?
The discussion of the 'greatest of poets and philosophers' in the third paragraph suggests that the author believes the audience of the speech will?
recognize an implicit reference to Shakespeare and agree about his importance
In the context of the passage as a whole, the author's comparison between the qualities of people and of metals primarily serves to?
In the context of the passage as a whole, the author's comparison between the qualities of people and of metals primarily serves to?
Which of the following best describes the function of the first two clauses of the passage's final sentence?
Which of the following best describes the function of the first two clauses of the passage's final sentence?
Which of the following statements most directly expresses the author's thesis in the passage?
Which of the following statements most directly expresses the author's thesis in the passage?
In the first two paragraphs, the author describes experiences from her girlhood and early adulthood primarily to?
In the first two paragraphs, the author describes experiences from her girlhood and early adulthood primarily to?
In the second paragraph, the author defines femininity as a 'challenge' primarily to support which of the following points?
In the second paragraph, the author defines femininity as a 'challenge' primarily to support which of the following points?
In the final paragraph, the author concludes her argument by?
In the final paragraph, the author concludes her argument by?
The writer wants to add a sentence after sentence 1 to provide factual support for the introductory claim. Which of the following sentences best accomplishes this purpose?
The writer wants to add a sentence after sentence 1 to provide factual support for the introductory claim. Which of the following sentences best accomplishes this purpose?
The writer wants to add information to the end of sentence 2 to preview the line of reasoning in the passage. What version most effectively accomplishes this goal?
The writer wants to add information to the end of sentence 2 to preview the line of reasoning in the passage. What version most effectively accomplishes this goal?
Should the writer keep or delete the underlined text about dopamine in sentence 3?
Should the writer keep or delete the underlined text about dopamine in sentence 3?
Should the writer keep or delete the underlined text in sentence 7 regarding dopamine?
Should the writer keep or delete the underlined text in sentence 7 regarding dopamine?
Which sentence would most effectively introduce the topic of the passage?
Which sentence would most effectively introduce the topic of the passage?
Which version of sentence 2 most effectively sets up the main claim of the passage?
Which version of sentence 2 most effectively sets up the main claim of the passage?
The writer wants to change sentence 3 to provide a more specific preview of the passage's argument. What information is most appropriate to include?
The writer wants to change sentence 3 to provide a more specific preview of the passage's argument. What information is most appropriate to include?
What version of sentence 5 provides the most effective explanation of the 'critical period'?
What version of sentence 5 provides the most effective explanation of the 'critical period'?
Should the writer keep or delete sentence 15?
Should the writer keep or delete sentence 15?
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Study Notes
Author's Thesis
- "Real excellence often comes unheralded and from unexpected quarters," highlighting the idea that talent may go unrecognized.
Diversity of Development
- Life is compared to "a thousand arrows shot from the same point and aimed at the same object" to emphasize the variety in individual growth experiences.
Importance of Poets and Philosophers
- References to "the greatest of poets and philosophers" imply a shared recognition of Shakespeare's significance among the audience.
Qualities of People vs. Metals
- The comparison between human qualities and metals reinforces the contention that ordinary individuals possess the potential for success.
Change in Attitude
- The first two clauses of the passage's final sentence advocate for a mindset shift that logically follows the author's argument.
Feminine Challenge
- Femininity is portrayed as a significant challenge that proud, self-respecting women cannot ignore, underscoring the pressures of societal expectations.
Attitudes Toward Femininity
- The author shares personal experiences from her youth to reveal contrasting perspectives on femininity.
Reconciling Femininity and Ambition
- Femininity as a "challenge" highlights the difficulties women face in balancing societal expectations with personal aspirations.
Context of Embracing Femininity
- The conclusion points out circumstances under which women might willingly accept the limitations imposed by traditional femininity.
Factual Support for Claims
- A suggested sentence regarding the stress from smartphone use aims to underline the introduction's main argument.
Previewing Line of Reasoning
- Neuroscientists warn about smartphone usage altering the brain, hinting at serious emotional and physiological consequences.
Importance of Dopamine
- Retaining details about dopamine's role in compulsive behavior adds sensory context to the discussion.
Clarifying Anticipation and Reward
- Keeping the section about unpredictability and dopamine release clarifies the tension between expectation and reality.
Introducing the Topic
- The addition regarding children's language mastery effectively sets the stage for discourse on language acquisition.
Setting Up the Main Claim
- The original version of a query about mastering language rules effectively introduces a key question.
Previewing Research Findings
- An ideal sentence revision would specify that optimal language learning can extend into the 30s, offering hope to older learners.
Critical Period Explanation
- The critical period pertains to the optimal timeframe for language absorption, akin to eyesight development.
Practical Language Learning Approaches
- Keeping the suggestion about prioritizing basic communication competence over grammatical mastery fosters a more realistic view of language learning.
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