Cathedral High School Academic Quiz Bowl English/Language Arts Test

Attention:

1.Please write your name and school on your answer sheet.

2.Please write Language Arts in the Subject space.

Directions:Chose the best answer for each of the following multiple choice questions and darken the appropriate space on the scantron answer sheet. You will receive 1 point for each correct answer. The highest, second highest, and third highest score will receive a bonus of 20, 10, and 5 points respectively.

Good Luck!

Part I:Questions 1-20

Directions: The following sentences test correctness and effectiveness of expression.

Part of each sentence is missing; beneath each sentence are five ways of completing the sentence. Select the letter of the choice that makes the best sentence and mark that letter on your scantron answer sheet.

  1. Kaitlyn was nearly as talented a painter as she was at singing.

(A)nearly as talented a painter as she was at singing

(B)nearly as talented a painter as she was a singer

(C)nearly as talented a painter as at singing

(D)nearly as talented at painting and singing

(E)nearly talented as a painter and a singer

  1. Professor Samson wrote short stories, they speak of very interesting events.

(A)wrote short stories, they speak of

(B)writing short stories, they speaking of

(C)wrote short stories, and speaking of

(D)writing short stories, and they speak of

(E)wrote short stories that speak of

  1. Global warming issues could be alleviated if everyone insulated their homes, invested in energy-efficient appliances, and carpooled to work.

(A)invested in energy-efficient appliances

(B)investing in energy-efficient appliances

(C)and invested in energy-efficient appliances

(D)invested in appliances that are energy-efficient

(E)and investing in energy-efficient appliances

  1. Aside from them we addressed during the final club meeting, no other issues remained.

(A)Aside from them we addressed during the final club meeting

(B)Other than them we had addressed at the final club meeting

(C)Aside from those we addressed during the final club meeting

(D)Besides them we addressed during the club’s final meeting

(E)Aside from them that we addressed during the final club meeting

  1. Reaching an internal temperature of 250 degrees, the firefighters scrambled to put out the blazing inferno with buckets of water.

(A)the firefighters scrambled to put out the blazing inferno

(B)the firefighters scrambled the blazing inferno

(C)the firefighters had scrambled to put out the blazing inferno

(D)the blazing inferno was put out by the scrambling firefighters

(E)the blazing inferno put out the scrambled firefighters.

  1. Many adults prefer going to the movies over renting a DVD, another preference is that adults prefer eating out over cooking.

(A)movies over renting a DVD, another preference is that adults prefer eating out over

(B)movies over renting a DVD; another preference is that adults prefer eating out over

(C)movies over renting a DVD; another adult preference is for eating out over

(D)movies over renting a DVD, another adult preference is eating out over

(E)movies over renting a DVD, which also is a preference for eating out over

  1. Suzanne scolded her disobedient son, which was covered with mud.

(A)son, which was covered with mud

(B)son, who was covered with mud

(C)son, whom was covered with mud

(D)son, who covers mud

(E)son, that was covered with mud

  1. Dependent upon its services, Mount Nittany Medical Center is a hospital that many people visit.

(A)Dependent upon its services, Mount Nittany Medical Center is a hospital that many people visit.

(B)A hospital visited by many people dependent upon their services is Mount Nittany Medical Center.

(C)Dependent upon its services, the hospital Mount Nittany Medical Center is a place that many people visit.

(D)Dependent upon its services ,many people visit Mount Nittany Medical Center hospital.

(E)Many people dependent on Mount Nittany Medical Center and visiting it.

  1. The exquisite texture of fine Italian cuisine can be experienced in either Bell’s or Beagleman’s pizza.

(A)in either Bell’s or Beagleman’s

(B)either Bell’s or Beagleman’s

(C)either in Bell’s or in Beagleman’s

(D)in Bell’s or Beagleman’s

(E)either in Bell’s nor in Beagleman’s

  1. Professor Epstain spent many years researching the theory of genetic mutation, which he was fascinated by, and these are his results that are included in his latest scientific journal.

(A)these are his results that are included in

(B)the inclusion of these, his results is in

(C)his results having been included in

(D)his inclusion of these results in

(E)included his results in

  1. The topic we discussed that was whether or not our club should take a field trip later this month.

(A)that was whether or not our club should take a field trip

(B)was the decision of whether or not a field trip should be taken by our club

(C)was whether or not a field trip should be taken by our club

(D)was whether our club should take a field trip

(E)whether our club should take a field trip

  1. James’ ambition was not only to study but also mastering the craft of journalism.

(A)not only to study but also mastering

(B)not only studying but to try and master

(C)not studying only, but also mastering

(D)not only to study but also to master

(E)to study and as well to master

  1. The Islandian government, under pressure to satisfy the needs of consumer, and loosening its control of the economy.

(A)and loosening its

(B)by loosening its

(C)is loosening their

(D)but loosening their

(E)is loosening its

  1. To the surprise of the school’s staff, the new freshman class at Ridgewood High being larger than last year’s.

(A) being larger than last year’s

(B)is large, more so than last year

(C)which is larger than the one last year

(D)is larger than last year’s

(E)by far larger than the last

  1. Night shift workers lead a strange life, working while the rest of us are sleeping, then sleeping while the rest of us are working.

(A)then sleeping

(B)after which they sleep

(C)then they sleep

(D)until they go to sleep

(E)but soon they are sleeping

  1. The young couple eventually returned to the grassy spot where they had left their sandwiches, strolling hand in hand.
  2. The young couple eventually returned to the grassy spot where they had left their sandwiches, strolling hand in hand.
  3. Eventually, the young couple returned to the grassy spot where they had left their sandwiches, strolling hand in hand.
  4. Strolling hand in hand, the grassy spot where they had left their sandwiches was returned to by the young couple.
  5. The young couple, returning to the grassy spot where they had left their sandwiches, while strolling hand in hand.
  6. Strolling hand in hand, the young couple eventually returned to the grassy spot where they had left their sandwiches.
  1. Samuel Johnson’s Dictionary, published in 1755, was neither the first in English nor the largest, but its quotations illustrating definitions made it the best for many decades.
  2. was neither the first in English nor the largest
  3. neither was it the first in English nor the largest
  4. neither was the first in English nor the largest
  5. neither was the first in English, and it was not the largest either
  6. was neither the first in English, now was it the largest
  1. In the mIddle Ages, when astronomical phenomena were poorly understood, the comets that seemed to portend military conflicts or other social crises.
  2. The comets that seemed to portend
  3. the comets seeming to portend
  4. the comets seemed to portend
  5. the comets apparently portending
  6. and when the comets seemed to portend
  1. Unusual numbers of playwrights and artists flourishing in the England of Shakespeare’s time and the Italy of Michelangelo’s day, when cultural conditions were particularly conducive to creativity.
  2. flourishing in the England of Shakespeare’s time
  3. by flourishing in the England of Shakespeare’s time
  4. while flourishing in Shakespeare’s England
  5. flourished in the England of Shakespeare’s time
  6. having flourished in Shakespeare’s England
  1. In War and Peace, Tolstoy presented his theories on history and illustrated them with a slanted account of actual historical events.
  2. illustrated them
  3. also illustrating them
  4. he also was illustrating these ideas
  5. then illustrated the theories also
  6. then he went about illustrating them

For Questions 21-30, each sentence below will have one or two blanks. Each blank indicates that something has been omitted. Beneath the sentence are five words or sets of words labeled A through E. Choose the word or set of words that, when inserted in the sentence, best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole.

21. Desiring to _____ his taunting friends, Mitch gave them taffy in hopes it would keep their mouths shut.

  1. eliminate
  2. satisfy
  3. overcome
  4. ridicule
  5. silence

22. Unlike her award winning first book, Roberta’s new volume can only be considered a ______effort

  1. significant
  2. mediocre
  3. whimsical
  4. feasible
  5. laudable

23. Most animals respond to ______with excessive violence; in contrast, some remain ______when facing serious physical danger.

  1. kindness...calm
  2. peril...aggressive
  3. sympathy...impassive
  4. neutrality...belligerent
  5. threats...placid

24. Unfortunately, many of Aristotle’s works are _____ to us, since they were _____ along with the ancient library at Alexandria.

  1. unknown...promoted
  2. lost...destroyed
  3. meaningless...investigated
  4. important...chastised
  5. clear...suppressed

25. Engineers attribute the building’s _____during the earthquake, which destroyed more rigid structures, to the surprising _____ of its steel girders.

  1. obliteration...strength
  2. damage...weakness
  3. survival...inadequacy
  4. endurance...suppleness
  5. devastation...inflexibility

26. Prior to the discovery of one intact ancient burial site in central America, it had been thought that all of the Mayan tombs had been _____ thieves.

  1. leviated
  2. exacerbated
  3. inculpated
  4. delayed
  5. desecrated

27. Although the first viewers of Waiting for Godot jeered and called the play _____, later audiences came to recognize the _____ of the piece, and it soon became one of the classics of world theatre.

  1. abominable...impenetrability
  2. complicated...fickleness
  3. lenient...unpleasantness
  4. melancholy….triteness
  5. preposterous...subtlety

28. In his later works, Langston Hughes’s discussions of ethnic issues in America became increasingly ____, as he relied less on veiled criticism and more on direct confrontation.

  1. concrete
  2. coherent
  3. forthright
  4. confused
  5. delineated

29. Few would call the company president _____; in fact, he would often _____ the ideas of his subordinates, alleging that they were his own.

  1. xenophobic...exemplify
  2. original...expropriate
  3. innovative...inculcate
  4. duplicitous...arrogate
  5. egregious...steal

30. The scientific community was ____when a living specimen of the coelacanth, which ichthyologists had feared was _____, was discovered by deep-sea fishermen.

  1. perplexed...common
  2. overjoyed...dangerous
  3. unconcerned...exterminated
  4. astounded...extinct
  5. dismayed...alive

Grammar Rules: For questions 31-40 select the correct answer for the corresponding questions.

31. Identify the noun or pronoun being described by the underlined adjective clause:

If you buy the watch that winds itself, you will never need batteries.

  1. you
  2. that
  3. winds
  4. itself
  5. watch

32. Identify the noun or pronoun being described by the underlined adjective clause:

Of all the insects, the one that jumps the farthest for its size is the flea.

  1. insects
  2. flea
  3. one
  4. size
  5. farthest

33. Identify the noun or pronoun being described by the underlined adjective clause: When Sally shops, she buys the fruits that look freshest.

  1. buys
  2. when
  3. fruits
  4. Sally
  5. you

34. An adverb clause of _____ answers the question “when?”, and an adverb clause of _____ answers the question “where?”

  1. reason/manner
  2. degree/comparison
  3. time/location
  4. distance/area
  5. none of the above

35. An adverb is a/an ______clause, which means it ______be a full sentence.

  1. independent/can
  2. independent/cannot
  3. dependent/can
  4. dependent/cannot
  5. full/will

36. Identify the simple subject/s from the choices provided:

Why would a baby elephant be eating leaves?

  1. why
  2. baby
  3. baby elephant
  4. leaves
  5. elephant

37. Identify the simple subject/s from the choices provided:

Will Greg and his sister be in the play?

  1. Greg
  2. Greg and his sister
  3. Greg, his sister
  4. Greg, sister
  5. sister

38. An indirect object cannot be a/an ______

  1. pronoun
  2. noun
  3. number
  4. name
  5. phrase

39. Look at the following sentences and identify the indirect objects:

Our dad read us the newspaper article.

  1. us
  2. dad
  3. newspaper
  4. article
  5. our

40. What are the two parts of a conditional sentence?

  1. Main clause and conditional clause
  2. Subject and main clause
  3. Verb and conditional clause
  4. Only the conditional clause
  5. Only a subject and verb in agreement

Questions 41-50 are based on the following passages and supplementary material. The questions are referred to in the superscripts within the passages:

Reefs at Risk

[1] 41 Coral reefs contain more than one quarter of all marine life and help reduce storm damage to coastal lands. [2] 42Ultimately, about ten percent of the world’s coral reefs have been destroyed and about sixty percent of the remaining reefs are in danger. [3] Many people enjoy snorkeling and fishing near coral reefs. [4] 43A coral reef is formed by a community of very small plants and animals; these plants and animals are known as algae and polyps. [5] The algae use sunlight to produce their own food for energy and growth. [6] The polyps eat other small animals that come to feed on the algae. [7] They also make a hard substance, called limestone, which eventually builds to form a reef.

41. Which sentence should be removed in order to improve the focus of this paragraph?

  1. Sentence 1
  2. Sentence 3
  3. Sentence 6
  4. Sentence 7

42. a. No Change

b. Unfortunately,

c. Consequently,

d. Inevitably,

43.a. No Change

b. Very small plants and animals, known as algae and polyps, make up the

community that forms a coral reef.

c. A coral reef is formed by a community of very small plants and animals called

algae and polyps.

d. Known as algae and polyps, very small plants and animals forma community

that is called a coral reef.

The health of a coral reef depends on having clean water and sunlight, but human activities can threaten these 44basic resources. Oil or chemical spills in the water near the reefs can harm the polyps, and chemical runoff into streams from mines and farms can also destroy the polyps and algae.

45Fishing and boating are popular sports near coral reefs. People who fish for a living often use explosives to catch the many fish that are attracted to coral reefs, causing significant damage. Boats also destroy reefs with their anchors, and tourists who swim in coral reefs often beak coral off to keep as a souvenir.

Development along a coast, such as cutting down trees and building roads or parking lots, 46increased the amount of dirt and sand that washes into the ocean and settles on the bottom. This covers the coral and blocks sunlight. Without sunlight, the algae cannot grow, and in turn, the polyps lack the energy needed to produce limestone and build up the reef.

44. a. No Change

b. elusive

c. committed

d. vital

45. Which choice most effectively establishes the paragraph’s central idea?

  1. No Change
  2. People who participate in activities near coral reefs often cause damage.
  3. Boats are dangerous to the health of coral reefs.
  4. Coral reefs are fragile, and people should be careful around them.

46. a. No Change

b. increases

c. increasing

d. increase

[1] Marine biologists have found that small crabs living in coral reefs can help prevent the damage caused by coastal development. [2] They remove particles of dirt and sand that settle on the coral and 47stop sunlight. [3] The crabs also eat some of the polyps, which 48would probably suggest that the crabs might also be a threat to the coral. [4] The crabs help the coral survive 49but benefit from the relationship as well. [5] The crabs living on the coral have a steady source of food, and the reef provides the crabs with shelter from predators. [6] However, when the biologists removed crabs form sections of coral, less coral survived than in the sections where crabs remained. 50

The destruction of coral reefs does not have to continue. Recognizing the part that local animals, such as crabs, can play to reduce the amount of damage will help to slow the loss of coral reefs and may provide better ways to protect them.

47. a. No Change

b. hinder

c. obstruct

d. cover

48. a. No Change

b. would suggest

c. maybe suggests

d. almost certainly suggests

49. a. No Change

b. but are one of millions of animals that live in coral reefs.

c. and can be very large or very small in size.

d. and are found on coral reefs all over the world.

50. a. where it is now

b. before sentence 1

c. after sentence 2

d. after sentence 3