Nursing Elites

1. Which of the following statements offers a supporting argument for the passage's claim that many coastal islands are eroding?

• A. Recent hurricane seasons have been expensive.
• B. The Atlantic Basin is entering an active period.
• C. Louisiana has lost 2,000 square miles of coastal land.
• D. Barrier islands are the first line of defense against coastal storms.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Statement C directly provides evidence of coastal land erosion by stating that Louisiana has lost a significant amount of coastal land area. This supports the passage's claim that many coastal islands are eroding. Choice A is incorrect because the expense of recent hurricane seasons does not directly relate to coastal land erosion. Choice B is incorrect as the active period of the Atlantic Basin does not specifically address coastal land erosion. Choice D, while related to coastal storms, does not directly support the claim that many coastal islands are eroding.

2. How is this passage structured?

• A. cause and effect
• B. problem and solution
• C. chronological order
• D. compare and contrast

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The passage is structured in chronological order as it presents events in the order in which they occurred. It starts with Harriet Tubman's background as a slave, then progresses through her marriage, escape, and subsequent actions to help other slaves. Each event is presented in a time sequence, making it clear that the passage follows a timeline of events. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because the passage does not focus on demonstrating cause and effect relationships, outlining problems and solutions, or comparing and contrasting different elements. Instead, it provides a historical account of Harriet Tubman's life in a sequential manner.

3. As used in the passage, what does the word 'depressed' most nearly mean?

• A. Very unhappy
• B. Decreased appreciably
• C. Exhaled hard
• D. Pushed down

Correct answer: D

Rationale: In this context, 'depressed' means 'pushed down' as it refers to the action of pushing down the plunger to force out the clog in the pipe. The word 'depressed' is used to describe the physical action of pressing down, not to convey emotions like being very unhappy (choice A), to decrease appreciably (choice B), or to exhale hard (choice C), making these choices incorrect.

4. What is the purpose of the first paragraph in relation to the second paragraph?

• A. The first paragraph serves as a cause and the second paragraph serves as an effect.
• B. The first paragraph serves as a contrast to the second.
• C. The first paragraph is a description for the argument in the second paragraph.
• D. The first and second paragraphs are merely presented in a sequence.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The first paragraph introduces the general characteristics of insects and their ability to live both on land and in the air, setting the stage for discussing specific examples in the second paragraph. The second paragraph then delves into examples of insects that transition from living underwater to the aerial phase, establishing a cause-and-effect relationship between the general concept introduced in the first paragraph and the specific examples in the second paragraph. Choice A is correct because the first paragraph gives the cause (insects being creatures of land and air) and the second paragraph provides the effect (specific examples of insects transitioning between water and air). Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because they do not accurately describe the relationship between the two paragraphs as cause and effect.

5. Assuming this statement is true, which of the answer choices is a logical conclusion?

• A. Whole language is more effective at teaching people to read than phonics.
• B. Phonics is more effective at teaching people to read than whole language.
• C. Literacy rates will probably continue to decline over the next 15 years.
• D. The definition of what it means to be literate is much stricter now.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: If we consider the information provided in the extract that literacy rates were higher when phonics was predominantly used and have declined since whole language programs became more popular, it logically follows that phonics is more effective at teaching people to read than whole language. Choice A is incorrect as the extract suggests the opposite. Choice C cannot be concluded based on the information provided; it is an assumption beyond the scope of the data. Choice D is also unrelated to the information given and does not logically follow from the provided statement.

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