WKCE Diagnostic Test (10) Ela

8/8/2019 WKCE Diagnostic Test (10) Ela

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WKCE DiagnosticPractice TestGRADE 10

Language Arts


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2 Preparing for the Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Exam

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WKCE Diagnostic Test

Directions: Read each passage. Choose the best way to write each numbered section and mark the letterfor your answer. If the section needs no change, mark the choice Best as is.

A prove once, and for allB prove: once and for allC prove once and for all,

D Best as is

A 150 million years, ago scientistsB 150 million years ago, scientistsC 150 million years ago; scientistsD Best as is

A of feathers other feathersB of feathers and other feathersC of feathers; other feathers

D Best as is

A tightly, interlaced strandsB tight, interlaced strandsC tight-interlaced strandsD Best as is

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Feathered Dinosaurs?

[1]

Dinosaur fossils unearthed in the mid-1900s

in China may prove, once and for all, that birds

are the direct descendants of dinosaurs. The

proof is in the feathers. Thanks to the fine-

grained sediments in which the animals were

buried 150 million years ago scientists today are

able to see the anatomy of the two specimens

in stunning detail. One fossil is of a three-foot

dinosaur, its neck and tail bowed toward each

other. Extending from the tail is a peacocklike

fan of feathers, other feathers form fringes

under the arms. The fossil clearly shows long,

tightly interlaced strands splitting off from a

central spine, like the flight feathers of a

modern bird. The body was covered with fuzzy,

downy structures, but in reality,

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A theyB heC itD Best as is

A feathers coveringB feathers have coveredC feathers were coveringD Best as is

A However,B Consequently,C Moreover,D Best as is

A the feathers functionB the feathers functionC their functionD Best as is

A insulation, as added protection from thewet or cold

B insulationC insulation: as added protection from the

wet or coldD Best as is

Which of the following sequences of sen-tences will make Paragraph 4 most logical?

A 2, 3, 4, 1B 3, 4, 1, 2C 1, 3, 4, 2D Best as is

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the body of this animal looked much more like

a Velociraptorthan a chicken. The evidence was

there, however.

[2]

Apparently, feathers had covered dinosaurs

long before birds arose. The new species was

named Caudipteryx, meaning tail feather.

[3]

Although all of the characteristics that have

been historically used to distinguish birds from

dinosaurs are found in Caudipteryx, it was far

too primitive to be considered a bird. Certainly

it could not fly! What was the purpose of the

feathers?

[4]

Scientists, of course, can only speculate as

to the feathers function. They do know for sure

that it would be a very long time before the

first protobirds adapted them for flight. Some

say that they provided an extra layer of

insulation as added protection from the wet or

cold. Others think that the feathers were

plumage for courtship display.

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A , taken with the evidence alreadygathered,

B OMIT only the commasC OMIT the underlined phraseD Best as is

A remainB remainsC are remainingD Best as is

A number of fossils isB fossils areC fossil isD Best as is

Which of the following provides the mostlogical and succinct conclusion toFeathered Dinosaurs?

A They must find more fossils to be sure.B More compelling evidence is needed in

order to say that birds descended directlyfrom dinosaurs.

C Scientists find new fossils each day.D Best as is

The writer intends to add the followingsentence in order to clarify and emphasize:

The growing body of feathered fossils beingestablished throughout the geologicalrecord supports the theory that todays birdsare the direct descendants of dinosaurs.

In order to accomplish this purpose, itwould be most logical to place thissentence after

A the last sentence in Paragraph 1.

B the last sentence in Paragraph 2.C the first sentence in Paragraph 4.D the first sentence in Paragraph 5.

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[5]

Many experts believe that this latest find,

taken with the evidence that has already been

gathered by researchers and scientists in the

field and in the laboratory, finally settles the

30-year argument. But a few scientists

remained unconvinced. They argue that the

number of fossils are still too small to make

such a bold claim.

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Which of the alternatives makes the mosteffective opening to the passage?

A Combating a fever in ancient times,willow bark was often used.

B To combat a fever in ancient times,physicians often prescribed a powdermade from the bark of a willow.

C Willow bark was used by ancientphysicians.

D Best as is

A remedy containedB remedy, which contained

C remedy which containedD Best as is

A effective and for hundredsB effective, for hundredsC effective for hundredsD Best as is

A have been madeB are madeC made

D Best as is

Substituting which of the following con-junctions for While will eliminate thefragment and make the meaning clearer?

A However,B BecauseC AndD Since

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About Aspirin

[1]

To combat a fever in the times of the

ancient physicians, they would prescribe a

powder made from willow bark.

This remedy that contained a natural salicylic

compound related to aspirin, was very effective.

For hundreds of years willow bark remained a

commonly used medicine throughout the world.

[2]

By the early nineteenth century,

improvements had been made. Salicin, an

extract derived from willow bark and the

meadowsweet plant, was the most popular

drug of the day for fevers and inflammations.

Then, in 1853, Alsatian chemist Charles

Frederick von Gerhardt first synthesized

acetylsalicylic acid in his laboratory. While

Gerhardt did not think his new compound to be

significantly better than Salicin. For forty years,

acetylsalicylic acid was forgotten.

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A a good drugB some sort of drugC a more effective drugD Best as is

A synthetic; and in desperationB synthetic, and in desperation;C synthetic; in desperationD Best as is

A but it also alleviated the pain.B his father felt no pain.C the drug was also effective.D Best as is

A Thus theB And theC Yet theD Best as is

A for manufacturing.B for its manufacture.C to make it.D Best as is

A for

B becauseC seeing as howD Best as is

A a loose powder, in 1915,B a loose powder in 1915C a loose powder; in 1915D Best as is

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[3]

It was rediscovered in 1893 by a chemist

with Germanys Fargenfabriken Bayer drug

company. Felix Hoffman was searching for

a more better drug to ease his fathers crippling

rheumatoid arthritis. He had heard of Gerhardts

synthetic, in desperation he prepared a batch

and tested it on his father. To his surprise, the

drug not only moderated the crippling effects of

the disease, the pain was gone too.

The Bayer company immediately recognized

the importance of the drug and made plans for

its manufacture. To come up with a brand name

for the product, they took a from acetyl,

spir from Spiraea ulmaria (the scientific name

for meadowsweet plant), and in due to the

fact that it was a popular suffix for medications.

Aspirin was first marketed in 1899 as a loose

powder: in 1915, Bayer introduced Aspirin

tablets. Continuing to own

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A aspirin was givenB Bayer surrendered the nameC Bayer gave aspirinD Best as is

The writer wishes to add a more effectiveconclusion to this paragraph and to thepaper as a whole. Which is the bestalternative?

A Bayer aspirin is still the best.B The Allies headaches were over.C Aspirin then became even more popular.D Shortly thereafter, capital A Aspirin

became lower-case a aspirin, and it isstill the most widely used drug in theworld today.

The writer has been asked to write an essayassessing the significance of aspirin as auseful drug for humans. Would this essayfulfill this assignment?

A Yes; the writer focuses on how longhumans have used aspirin.

B Yes; the writer focuses on how humanshave improved aspirin.

C No; the writer focuses on the history of

aspirin.D No; the writer focuses on the chemistswho made aspirin.

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the brand name until Germanys defeat in

World War I, the name was surrendered by

Bayer to the Allies as part of Germanys war

reparations.

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A theyreB theirC all

D Best as is

A layB had lainC had been lyingD Best as is

A Bill Gates owe a debtB Bill Gates did owe a debtC Bill Gates owed a debt

D Best as is

Which sentence, if added at this point,would provide an effective conclusion toParagraph 1 and a good transition toParagraph 2?

A Computers certainly are not what theyonce were.

B In the history of the computer there area lot of these.

C One of these pioneers was Grace

Murray Hopper.D Grace Murray Hopper invented many

things for the computer.

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A Life of Grace

[1]

Long before the entrepreneurial visionaries

of todays computer industry built there silicon

empires, the true believers in the computers

potential contribution to humankind laid the

foundations to effectively integrate it into daily

life. Individuals such as Thomas Watson, Steve

Jobs and Bill Gates owes a debt of gratitude to

those pioneers who transformed the computer

from a big, sophisticated calculator into the

compact, multitasking machine we know

today.

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A consideringB considered asC is consideredD Best as is

A has with her very vastB has; with her vastC has, with her vastD Best as is

A from Yale HopperB from Yale; HopperC from Yale sheD Best as is

A Reserves, eventuallyB Reserves and later on eventuallyC Reserves; eventuallyD Best as is

A Hopper had the vision to see whatcomputers could become.

B Hopper had vision.C Hopper thought about computers.D Best as is

A businessB businessesC businesssD Best as is

Which alternative, inserted at this point,provides a better transition to the nextparagraph?

A She knew a great deal about computersand sought to share her knowledge.

B Computers were to become the back-bone of American business.

C She focused all of her talents and energyon achieving that end.

D Best as is

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[2]

Grace Murray Hopper, nicknamed

Amazing Grace by her friends and

co-workers, considered the mother of

computing. Few women in the world of

technology receive the kind of recognition that

she has. With her vast and significant

accomplishments in the computer field.

[3]

After earning her Ph.D. in math and physics

from Yale, Hopper joined the U.S. Naval

Reserves. Eventually becoming the nations first

woman admiral. During World War II, she was

the third programmer for the Mark I, the first

large-scale computer. After the war, employed

by private industry to work with UNIVAC,

Hopper had the vision to see the future and

think about what computers could become in

the next fifty years. She sought to provide

businesses with computers that were both

programmer- and application-friendly.

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A developedB has developedC is developingD Best as is

A machine language. This allowedB machine language this allowedC machine language, allowedD Best as is

A COBOL, the computerB COBOL; the computerC COBOL the computerD Best as is

The writer intends to add the followingsentence to the essay:

Her expertise in programming and computerinterface made her invaluable to the militaryin the war.

The most logical and appropriate place toput this sentence would be after

A the second sentence in Paragraph 3.B the first sentence in Paragraph 3.C the first sentence in Paragraph 4.D the last sentence in Paragraph 1.

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[4]

In 1950, Hopper develops the worlds first

compiler, a program that would translate

symbolic math codes into machine language,

this allowed programmers to store codes on

magnetic tape and retrieve them as needed.

Later, she created COBOL. The computer

language still widely used in business today.

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In several sentences, write a conclusion forthis piece on the Renaissance. Check yourwork for correct spelling, capitalization, andpunctuation.

What would be an appropriate title for thispiece of writing?

A Inventions that Changed the WorldB The Renaissance and Its ContributionsC How to Train to be a Renaissance Artist

D The Voyage that Made All theDifference

Why do you think the invention of the print-ing press and gunpowder changed the world?Please write in complete sentences. Checkyour work for correct spelling, capitalization,and punctuation.

Choose the sentence that is written correctly.

A The Renaissance given us many

amazing paintings.B Architects, artist, writers and scientist

could of changed the world.C The human mind was of great interest

to the Renaissance.D None of the above

Revise the following run-on sentence:The Renaissance was a time of invention andimagination it changed the world forever.

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The Renaissance

The Renaissance, which literally means

rebirth, began in Italy in the thirteenth and

fourteenth centuries, and spread throughout

Europe in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.

The Renaissance brought with it a new attitudetoward life, which emphasized the development

of the individual, a greater freedom of thought,

and a curiosity about the world. It was an age

in which art and scientific research were

honored. The accomplishments of this age are

comparable to our own time.

During the Renaissance, there were major dis-

coveries that changed the world forever. Two of

them were gunpowder and the printing press.

There were also voyages of discovery that

changed the way scientist viewed the world.

Christopher Columbus discovered America and

that the world was round. In addition to scien-

tific research, the Renaissance produced some

of the worlds most accomplished artists and

architects. Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci,

Giotto, and Bottichelli were just a view of the

accomplished artists of the time.

The heart of the Renaissance was Florence, Italy.

Many of the architects, writers, artists, and musi-

cians live in Florence and worked there. Therewere many trade schools devoted to training

young men to become artists. Every well-known

artist had a shop called a bottega. A boy could

apprentice there when he was ten or twelve years

old. He spent his time grinding the colors, prepar-

ing the gold, transferring the masters preliminary

drawings to the panel or wall, and preparing the

panel of seasoned wood for a painting.


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In your own words, write a thesis statementfor this piece. Write in complete sentencesand check for correct spelling, capitalization,and punctuation.

Describe what the author means aboutintellect and emotion in the music ofMozart and Beethoven. Write in complete

sentences and check for correct spelling,capitalization, and punctuation.

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Listening to Mozart and Beethoven

The recorded compositions of Mozart and

Beethoven present the listener with a wonderful

study in contrasts. They are both recognized as

preeminent figures in the history of music, and

the talent of each is apparent even now, morethan 200 years later. However, in style and the

realization of the music, they could not be more

different. In them we find classical musics sense

and sensibility.

In the musical compositions that Mozart com-

posed, there is a delicatealmost lacyquality.

Strands of notes are interwoven; intricate pat-

terns and themes are constructed and then

repeated again and again throughout the piece

in almost mathematical fashion. Much of the

beauty of his music lies in this complexity and

emphasis on form and structure. So precise in

timing, so perfect in tone. It might well be

thought of as auditory architecture.

Listening to a piece such as the famous Eine

Kleine Nachtmusik, one hears many of the ele-

ments that Mozart regularly employs. It opens

with a marchlike cadence that quickly evolves

into nimble little themes and variations that are

repeated throughout. Simple melodies are flour-

ished, reworked, and reused. Though repetitive,listeners are never bored.

Beethovens music, on the other hand, evokes all

the chaos that great emotion can engender. The

cool, calculated precision that Mozart exhibits

gives way to a fiery, unpredictable passion in

Beethoven. Simple three- and four-note themes

blossom and flower into heartfelt outpourings of

anger, or sadness, or reflection, or love.

One of the most famous lines of music in the

world is the opening of Beethovens Fifth

Symphony. There are just two notes: the first is

repeated three times and the second is held with

great intensity. Anyone who hears those notes is

provoked into feeling something.

The music of Mozart and Beethoven reflects

the two great qualities of humanity: intellect

and emotion. They represent the best we have

to offer.


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In paragraph 2, there is a fragment. Whichsentence is it?

A Much of the beauty of his music liesin this complexity and emphasis onstructure.

B So precise in timing, so perfect in tone.C Strands of notes are interwoven; intri-

cate patterns and themes are con-structed and then repeated.

D It might well be thought of as auditoryarchitecture.

The writer wishes to add this sentence tothe essay:

The flawless craftsmanship makes the

music intellectually stimulating andspiritually satisfying.

The most logical and appropriate place forthis sentence is after

A the first sentence in paragraph 3.B the first sentence in paragraph 2.C the first sentence in paragraph 6.D the last sentence in paragraph 3.

What is the best way to revise the last

sentence in paragraph 3?A Though repetitive, the music bores

listeners.B Though the music is repetitive, listeners

are never bored.C While repetitive, listeners are never

bored.D Best as is

Write down the topic sentence inparagraph 4.

Rewrite this sentence in your own words.

Simple melodies are flourished, reworked,and reused.

Combine the last two sentences into one.

The music of Mozart and Beethovenreflects the two great qualities of humanity:intellect and emotion. They represent the

best we have to offer.

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Many people have different ideas about what constitutes a good movie. In an essay, pleasedescribe the elements you think are necessary for a good movie versus a bad one. Please be asspecific as possible in your response, and try to give examples to prove your points.

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WKCE Diagnostic Test (10) Ela