Title: Unit 9 Assessment - Form B
Course: Developmental English > Section: Unit 9: Applied Critical Analysis

Q: Unit 9 Quiz 162611 (Form A) Question 164423 - Objective(s) 9.1.1

Click here to read the passage before answering the question.

What is the main idea of the passage?
- Despite a successful history, the United States Postal Service is in trouble and requires changes to save it. (Correct. You have correctly identified the main idea of the passage. The main idea reflects multiple viewpoints about the United States Postal Service.)
- Congress should allow the United States Postal Service to discontinue service on Saturdays. (Incorrect. The main idea reflects multiple points of view about the USPS. This sentence is one of the recommendations listed in paragraph 9, but it is not the main idea of the entire passage.)
- The United States Postal Service began in 1775 and was headed by Benjamin Franklin. (Incorrect. The main idea reflects multiple points of view about the USPS. This sentence is a fact and a topic of paragraph 2, but it is not the main idea of the entire passage.)
- Starting in 2007, a drop in demand changed the United States Postal Service forever. (Incorrect. The main idea reflects multiple points of view about the USPS. This sentence is a claim made in paragraph 5, but it is not the main idea of the passage.)
A: Despite a successful history, the United States Postal Service is in trouble and requires changes to save it.

Q: Unit 9 Quiz 162611 (Form A) Question 164411 - Objective(s) 9.1.1

Click here to read the passage before answering the question.

What sentence best expresses the main idea of the passage?
- Because of a dramatic decrease in the volume of mail, the USPS needs to be reorganized and reformed. (Correct. You have correctly identified the main idea of the passage. The main idea reflects multiple viewpoints about the USPS.)
- If people want their post offices to stay open, they should contact their Congressional representatives. (Incorrect. The main idea reflects multiple points of view about the USPS. This sentence is a suggestion made in paragraph 11, but it is not the main idea of the passage.)
- The USPS has been losing money for many years, mostly because of the increase of social media. (Incorrect. The main idea reflects multiple points of view about the USPS. This sentence reflects a statement from the first paragraph, but it is not the main idea.)
- In 2006 the volume of mail was at its highest but in 2007 the numbers quickly began to drop. (Incorrect. The main idea reflects multiple points of view about the USPS. This sentence is a fact from paragraph 6, but it is not the main idea.)
A: Because of a dramatic decrease in the volume of mail, the USPS needs to be reorganized and reformed.

Q: Unit 9 Quiz 162611 (Form B) Question 164511 - Objective(s) 9.1.2

Click here to read the passage before answering the question.

What sentence from the passage shows the author's bias?
- By federal law, the USPS must provide mail service to all Americans regardless of cost or location. (paragraph 3) (Incorrect. A writer shows bias when he or she leans toward one side of an argument. This sentence is a fact and there is no side taken.)
- For example, in 2012, each of the 80 billion pieces of advertising brought 21 cents in revenue, compared to 42 cents for first-class mail. (paragraph 8) (Incorrect. A writer shows bias when he or she leans toward one side of an argument. This sentence is a fact and there is no side taken.)
- In an effort to solve the postal service's problems, the government has conducted numerous studies. (paragraph 9) (Incorrect. A writer shows bias when he or she leans toward one side of an argument. This sentence is a fact and there is no side taken.)
- As you drop the letter into the mailbox, you'll not only surprise a friend or relative, you'll also help keep an American tradition alive. (paragraph 11) (Correct. You have correctly identified the sentence that shows bias, a leaning toward one side of an argument. In this case, the phrase “keep an American tradition alive” shows that the writer leans toward saving the USPS.)
A: As you drop the letter into the mailbox, you'll not only surprise a friend or relative, you'll also help keep an American tradition alive. (paragraph 11)

Q: Unit 9 Quiz 162611 (Form B) Question 164499 - Objective(s) 9.1.2

Click here to read the passage before answering the question.

Based on paragraph 8, which sentence best explains what the author thinks about low-cost mailing rates for bulk mail advertisements?
- The author thinks they help businesses but hurt the USPS. (Correct. You have correctly identified the sentence that shows what the author thinks about low mailing rates, as expressed in paragraph 8 by the words “But there is a problem.”)
- The author considers them a great advantage to consumers. (Incorrect. A writer shows bias when he or she leans toward one side of an argument. There is no mention of consumers in paragraph 8.)
- The author believes these rates should be lowered even more. (Incorrect. A writer shows bias when he or she leans toward one side of an argument. The author does not suggest that the rates should be lowered even more.)
- The author supports banning paper advertisements from being mailed. (Incorrect. A writer shows bias when he or she leans toward one side of an argument. The author does not mention banning paper advertisements from being mailed.)
A: The author thinks they help businesses but hurt the USPS.

Q: Unit 9 Quiz 162611 (Form B) Question 164487 - Objective(s) 9.1.3

Click here to read the passage before answering the question.

Which sentence from the passage is an example of an opinion disguised as a fact?
- If you're like most Americans, it's been a while. (paragraph 1) (Correct. You have correctly identified the sentence that uses the vague phrase “most Americans” to refer to unknown strangers. That “most Americans” do not use the USPS is an opinion, not a fact.)
- Postal service in the United States dates back to 1775 . . .  (paragraph 2) (Incorrect. Sometimes writers state their opinions as if they were facts. This sentence is a historical fact, not an opinion.)
- Deliveries took weeks, if not months. (paragraph 2) (Incorrect. Sometimes writers state their opinions as if they were facts. This sentence is a historical fact, not an opinion.)
- Since 2007, the total volume of all mail has dropped 25 percent . . . (paragraph 6) (Incorrect. Sometimes writers state their opinions as if they were facts. This sentence is a measurable fact, not an opinion.)
A: If you're like most Americans, it's been a while. (paragraph 1)

Q: Unit 9 Quiz 162611 (Form B) Question 164475 - Objective(s) 9.1.3

Click here to read the passage before answering the question.

Read this sentence from paragraph 5 of the passage.

Starting in 2007, a dramatic drop in demand sent the USPS over a financial cliff.

Although the sentence appears to be a fact, it also expresses the author's opinion. What is the author's opinion?
- It will take many years for the USPS to bounce back. (Incorrect. Sometimes writers inject opinions into sentences that appear to be facts. However, this is not the opinion expressed by the figurative phrase “sent over a financial cliff.”)
- The USPS will probably never recover from this loss. (Correct. You have correctly identified the opinion expressed by the author in this sentence. The figurative phrase “sent over a financial cliff” clearly suggests inevitable doom for the USPS.)
- Federal agencies go through many periods of ups and downs. (Incorrect. Sometimes writers inject opinions into sentences that appear to be facts. However, this is not the opinion expressed by the figurative phrase “sent over a financial cliff.”)
- The USPS could become stable if Congress were to make changes. (Incorrect. Sometimes writers inject opinions into sentences that appear to be facts. However, this is not the opinion expressed by the figurative phrase “sent over a financial cliff.”)
A: The USPS will probably never recover from this loss.

Q: Unit 9 Quiz 162611 (Form A) Question 164399 - Objective(s) 9.2.1

Click here to read the passage before answering the question.

You are asked to write an essay on the United States Postal Service, using this passage as a source.

Which paragraph best supports the claim that the United States Postal Service has a long history?
- paragraph 2 (Correct. You have correctly identified the paragraph that would support the claim that the United States Postal Service has a long history. This paragraph states that the USPS “dates back to 1775.”)
- paragraph 4 (Incorrect. Writers use relevant sources to find answers to their questions. This paragraph contains no evidence about the history of the United States Postal Service.)
- paragraph 6 (Incorrect. Writers use relevant sources to find answers to their questions. This paragraph contains no evidence about the history of the United States Postal Service.)
- paragraph 9 (Incorrect. Writers use relevant sources to find answers to their questions. This paragraph contains no evidence about the history of the United States Postal Service.)
A: paragraph 2

Q: Unit 9 Quiz 162611 (Form A) Question 164387 - Objective(s) 9.2.1

Click here to read the passage before answering the question.

You are asked to write an essay on the United States Postal Service, using this passage as a source.

Which paragraph best supports the claim that the United States Postal Service has suffered because of technology?
- paragraph 3 (Incorrect. Writers use relevant sources to find answers to their questions. This paragraph contains no evidence that the United States Postal Service has suffered because of technology.)
- paragraph 7 (Correct. You have correctly identified the paragraph that would support the claim that the United States Postal Service has suffered because of technology. This paragraph says that all types of correspondence has decreased because people use technology.)
- paragraph 8 (Incorrect. Writers use relevant sources to find answers to their questions. This paragraph contains no evidence that the United States Postal Service has suffered because of technology.)
- paragraph 9 (Incorrect. Writers use relevant sources to find answers to their questions. This paragraph contains no evidence that the United States Postal Service has suffered because of technology.)
A: paragraph 7

Q: Unit 9 Quiz 162611 (Form A) Question 164375 - Objective(s) 9.2.2

Click here to read the passage before answering the question.

The author of this passage wants to add information from page 32 of the book Post Office Jobs by Dennis Damp, published by Bookhaven Press in 2009.

What is the correct in-text citation using MLA style?
- (Damp, Dennis, Post Office Jobs, page 32) (Incorrect. In MLA style, in-text citations do not include the author's full name, the title, or the word page.)
- (Bookhaven Press, 2009, 32) (Incorrect. In MLA style, in-text citations do not include the publisher, the date of publication, or a comma.)
- (Post Office Jobs, 32) (Incorrect. In MLA style, in-text citations do not include the title of the book or a comma.)
- (Damp 32) (Correct. You have correctly identified the format and content of an MLA in-text citation for a book: the author's last name and the page number in parentheses.)
A: (Damp 32)

Q: Unit 9 Quiz 162611 (Form B) Question 164463 - Objective(s) 9.6.1

Click here to read the passage before answering the question.

Read this sentence from the introduction of the passage.

If other package delivery services can make money, the USPS should be able to make money too.

Which logical fallacy is found in this sentence?
- red herring (Incorrect. A red herring is a claim that is misleading for the purpose of distracting the reader from the argument at hand. This fallacy is not misleading.)
- non sequitur (Incorrect. A non sequitur is a conclusion that is completely disconnected from the evidence that preceeds it. There is a connection here; it just is not enough to be credible.)
- false analogy (Correct. You have correctly chosen the logical fallacy used in this sentence. The speaker claims that since "A" is like "B" (since the USPS is like other delivery services), "A" has the same properties as "B" (USPS should be able to make money like other delivery services).)
- bandwagon appeal (Incorrect. A bandwagon appeal implies that because many people believe something, it must be true. This fallacy is not an appeal.)
A: false analogy

Q: Unit 9 Quiz 162611 (Form A) Question 164363 - Objective(s) 9.6.1

Click here to read the passage before answering the question.

Which sentence from the passage is the best example of a “red herring?”
- However, it probably hasn't been that long since you sent or got a text, an e-mail, or a tweet. (Incorrect. This sentence is not a “red herring.” A red herring is a claim that is misleading for the purpose of distracting the reader from the argument at hand.)
- The volume of U.S. mail peaked in 2006 at 213 billion pieces, but in 2007 the numbers quickly began to drop. (Incorrect. This sentence is not a “red herring.” A red herring is a claim that is misleading for the purpose of distracting the reader from the argument at hand.)
- Interestingly, the volume of mail that is considered advertising has held steady. (Incorrect. This sentence is not a “red herring.” A red herring is a claim that is misleading for the purpose of distracting the reader from the argument at hand.)
- Should we even expect the USPS, a government agency regulated by Congress, to be efficient and profitable? (Correct. You have correctly identified the “red herring,” because this inflammatory and critical sentence momentarily distracts the reader from the logical argument at hand.)
A: Should we even expect the USPS, a government agency regulated by Congress, to be efficient and profitable?

Q: Unit 9 Quiz 162611 (Form B) Question 164451 - Objective(s) 9.10.1

Click here to read the passage before answering the question.

Read the following entry that could be added to the Works Cited page.

Potter, John E. The United States Postal Service: An American History, 1775-2002. United States Postal Service, 2003.

If the author quotes from page 3 of the new source, which is the correct in-text citation using MLA style?
- (Potter, John E., 2003, page 3) (Incorrect. In MLA format, an in-text citation does not include the author's full name or the date of publication.)
- (Potter, American History, p. 3) (Incorrect. In MLA format, an in-text citation does not include the title unless there is more than one book by the same author.)
- (USPS, John E. Potter, 3) (Incorrect. In MLA format, an in-text citation does not include the publisher or the author's full name.)
- (Potter 3) (Correct. You have correctly identified the correct MLA format for in-text citations: author's last name and page number in parentheses with no punctuation.)
A: (Potter 3)

Q: Unit 9 Quiz 162611 (Form B) Question 164439 - Objective(s) 9.12.1

Click here to read the passage before answering the question.

Which word could best replace dwindled in paragraph 7 of the passage?
- broken (Incorrect. Use the context clues “more financial statements, bills and the checks that follow them have become digital every year,” “plummeted,” and “decreased” to help figure out the meaning of dwindled.)
- shrunk (Correct. You have correctly identified the word that best replaces dwindled. The context clues “more paper statements, bills and checks have become digital every year,” “plummeted,” and “decreased” help the reader understand the meaning of dwindled.)
- fractured (Incorrect. Use the context clues “more financial statements, bills and the checks that follow them have become digital every year,” “plummeted,” and “decreased” to help figure out the meaning of dwindled.)
- collapsed (Incorrect. Use the context clues “more financial statements, bills and the checks that follow them have become digital every year,” “plummeted,” and “decreased” to help figure out the meaning of dwindled.)
A: shrunk

Q: Unit 9 Quiz 162611 (Form A) Question 164351 - Objective(s) 9.12.1

Click here to read the passage before answering the question.

Read the sentence from paragraph 8 of the passage.

For example, in 2012, each of the 80 billion pieces of advertising brought 21 cents in revenue, compared to 42 cents for first-class mail.

Which word could best replace revenue in this sentence?
- government (Incorrect. The context tells you that revenue is related to “21 and 42 cents,” not government.)
- surprise (Incorrect. The context tells you that revenue is related to “21 and 42 cents;” it is not about surprise.)
- income (Correct. You have used context clues to correctly identify the best replacement for revenue. The context tells you that revenue is related to “21 cents and 42 cents” per piece of mail. That is the income of the USPS.)
- debt (Incorrect. The context tells you that revenue is related to “21 and 42 cents” that the USPS brought in, not debt.)
A: income

Q: Unit 9 Quiz 162611 (Form B) Question 164559 - Objective(s) 9.8.1

Read this sentence.

There are more and more women in the world entering the field of science than women who entered the field many years ago.

Which of the following is the most concise way to write this sentence without losing important information?
- There are more women entering the field of science than who entered the field many years ago. (Incorrect. Although this sentence deletes the unnecessary prepositional phrase “in the world,” it can still be more concise.)
- More and more women in the world enter the field of science as the years go by. (Incorrect. Although this sentence deletes the unnecessary beginning “There are” and addresses and avoids some repetition, it can still be more concise.)
- Over the years, more and more women have become scientists. (Correct. You have correctly identified the revision that deletes the unnecessary “There are” and “in the world” and avoids repetition without losing purposeful information.)
- Many women are scientists. (Incorrect. Although this revision deletes a lot of unnecessary words, it goes too far. It loses the idea of this trend changing “over time.”)
A: Over the years, more and more women have become scientists.

Q: Unit 9 Quiz 162611 (Form B) Question 164547 - Objective(s) 9.8.1

Read this sentence.

The trees that were planted by the young children grew probably three feet over the dog days of summer when the kids were not in school during vacation.

Which of the following is the most concise way to write this sentence without losing important information?
- The trees that were planted by the children achieved probably three feet of growth over their summer vacation. (Incorrect. Although this revision deletes the cliché “dog days of summer” and some redundancy, it introduces the wordier “achieved about three feet of growth.” It can still be more concise.)
- The trees that were planted by the young children grew probably three feet over their summer vacation. (Incorrect. Although this revision deletes the cliché “dog days of summer” and some redundancy, it can still be more concise.)
- The trees that were planted by the children grew three feet over summer vacation. (Incorrect. Although this revision deletes a lot of unnecessary words, including the qualifier “probably,” it is written in passive voice.)
- The children planted trees that grew three feet over summer vacation. (Correct. You have correctly identified the revision that deletes unnecessary repetition, the cliché and the qualifier, and changes to active voice, all without losing important information.)
A: The children planted trees that grew three feet over summer vacation.

Q: Unit 9 Quiz 162611 (Form B) Question 164535 - Objective(s) 9.8.1

Read this sentence.

Because it was true that it was really raining cats and dogs this morning, I decided to ask someone to give me a ride in the car to school.

Which of the following is the most concise way to write this sentence without losing important information?
- Because it was raining, I got a ride. (Incorrect. Although this revision eliminates wordiness and the cliché “raining cats and dogs,” it goes too far. The details about raining hard and school are both important.)
- Because it was raining so hard this morning, I asked for a ride to school. (Correct. You have correctly identified the revision that deletes unnecessary redundancy, wordiness, and the cliché, without losing important information.)
- Because it was raining cats and dogs this morning, I asked someone to give me a ride in the car to school. (Incorrect. Although this revision deletes some redundancy and wordiness, “It was raining cats and dogs” is a cliché.)
- Because it was true that it was really raining cats and dogs this morning, I asked for a ride to school. (Incorrect. Although this revision deletes some unnecessary words, it contains a cliché and the unnecessary phrase “it was true that.”)
A: Because it was raining so hard this morning, I asked for a ride to school.

Q: Unit 9 Quiz 162611 (Form B) Question 164523 - Objective(s) 9.13.1

Read this sentence.

The poet likes to transpose words which can confuse her readers.

What does the word transpose mean as it is used in this sentence?
- to write on paper (Incorrect. The prefix “trans-” means across and the root “pos” means to place.)
- to reverse the usual order (Correct. You have correctly identified the meaning of transpose based on the prefix “trans-,” which means across, and the root “pos,” which means to put or place.)
- to speak in a very loud voice (Incorrect. The prefix “trans-” means across and the root “pos” means to place.)
- to repeat over and over again (Incorrect. The prefix “trans-” means across and the root “pos” means to place.)
A: to reverse the usual order

Q: Unit 9 Quiz 162611 (Form A) Question 164435 - Objective(s) 9.8.1

Read this sentence.

Bothered by allergies, a condition that made them sneeze, some of the high schoolers had sinus troubles that caused them to miss several days of school last fall.

Rewrite this sentence in a more concise way without losing important information.

Q: Unit 9 Quiz 162611 (Form A) Question 164347 - Objective(s) 9.5.1

Click here to read the passage before answering the question.

A thesis for a critical analysis essay should identify what the author wanted to accomplish and then assess the author's success in doing so.

You have just read the passage “The Future of the USPS.” Write a sample thesis statement for a multi-page critical analysis essay that presents your opinion about the passage's effectiveness.