Author's Purpose Review

AUTHOR’S PURPOSE EXERCISES:Read each paragraph. Then select the answer that best describes the author’s purpose in writing.

 The word is terracide. It is not committed with guns and knives, but with relentless bulldozers, roaring dump trucks, and giant shovels like mythological beasts. Dynamite cuts and rips apart mountains to reach the minerals inside, leaving nothing but empty, naked hills. The land is left wasted and allowed to slide down upon houses and into streams, making the land unlivable and the stream water undrinkable. This is terracide, or if you prefer, strip mining. 

1. The author’s purpose is to 
a. inform you about the purposes of strip mining. 
b. describe a strip mining operation. 
c. persuade you that strip mining is bad for the environment. 
d. define terracide. 


The human sex chromosomes are of the XX-XY pattern. The Y chromosome is much smaller than the X chromosome. Two types of sperm cells are formed during gametogenesis; half of these have the X chromosome and the others have the Y chromosome. Every egg cell has an X chromosome; therefore, fertilization determines the sex. If a Y sperm cell fertilizes the egg, a male develops.

 2. The author’s purpose is to 
a. explain how the sex of humans is determined. 
b. describe chromosomes. 
c. tell the steps in fertilization. 
d. contrast X and Y chromosomes 


To make a delicious New England pit, proceed as follows: take some water and flour; then construct a bullet-proof dough. Make this into a disk-shaped object. Dry it for a couple of days in a mild temperature. Pour on stewed dried apples and slabs of citron; leave it in a safe place until it petrifies. Serve cold at breakfast and invite your mother-in-law. 

3. The author’s purpose is to
a. tell the steps in making a pie. 
b. make fun of (satirize) New England cooking. 
c. persuade the reader to buy New England pie. 
d. describe New England pie. 


I will try to give the reader of this article some idea of the real nature of Gothic architecture, not just of Venice, but of universal Gothic. One of the most interesting parts of our study will be to find out how far Venetian architecture went in achieving the perfect type of Gothic, and how far it fell short of it. 
4. The author’s purpose is to 
a. explain the importance of Gothic architecture. 
b. describe Venetian architecture. 
c. show how Venetian architecture is different from Gothic architecture. 
d. show the nature of Gothic architecture. 


 On September 23, a large cavalry troop from Fort Robinson arrived at the camp of Sitting Bull. Just as he was about to give a welcoming speech, a commotion broke out among the watching warriors. Rifles were fired, and the meeting ended in a massacre of the soldiers. 

5. The author’s purpose is to 
a. describe Sitting Bull’s camp. 
b. persuade the reader that the Indians were bloodthirsty. 
c. tell the events leading to a massacre. 
d. explain the problems of the Calvary. 


Tofu is a product that is becoming very popular as a low-calorie, cholesterol-free meat substitute. Formerly it was found exclusively in Oriental markets and health food stores, but today tofu can be purchased in most supermarket produce departments. This white, cheese like substance is made from the condensed milk of soybeans. It is extremely high in protein and low in sodium. Tofu is almost tasteless by itself, but it can be easily mixed into sauces and soups; it can even be made to imitate scrambled eggs. 

6. The author’s primary purpose is to 
a. evaluate Oriental cooking. 
b. persuade you to eat low-cholesterol foods. 
c. describe tofu. 
d. to compare tofu with meat. 

Tag Questions Review

1. He is late this morning, _______________________?
2. The hotel was quite good, ________________________?
3. She cooks well, _______________________?
4. You can’t tell the difference, _________________________?
5. They always sleep after lunch, __________________________?
6. You’re coming with us, _______________________?
7. Mary plays football, ________________________?
8. You didn’t have any lessons this morning, _______________________?
9. Ann is on holiday, ______________________?
10. The students see it everyday, ________________________?
11. Mr Priestley doesn’t know your father, ______________________?
12. There are lots of cars here, ______________________?
13. I am not disturbing you, _____________________?
14. Tom does his work very well, ________________________?
15. This isn’t very pleasant, _____________________?
16. She likes quiet places, ______________________?
17. Tom doesn’t play the piano, _______________________?
18. They didn’t hurt the child, _______________________?
19. There were two car accidents yesterday, _______________________?
20. Tourists used to come here, ________________________?
21. You haven’t got a computer, ________________________?
22. You don’t have to follow him, ________________________?
23. He has to fill a form, ________________________?
24. He didn’t have to choose one, _______________________?
25. He has your ticket, _______________________?
26. Everything is all right, _______________________?
27. He has got to leave, ______________________?
28. Smoking ruins our health, ________________________?
29. Most people cannot go to Africa, ________________________?
30. Finding a job isn’t easy, _______________________?

Finals' Review: 1st and 2nd Conditionals

EXERCISES: First Conditionals: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate form of the verbs in parentheses to make first conditional sentences.

1. If I _______________________ (pass) all my exams, I ________________________ (take) you all out to celebrate.

2. If you ________________________ (have) any money left, ____________________ (you/buy) me a newspaper?

3. Mom ______________________ (be) very disappointed if Jim ___________________ (forget) her birthday again.

4. It’s very late. Susie ___________________________ (get up) for school in the morning if she _____________________ (get) to bed soon.

5. If the weather ___________________ (be) nice tomorrow, we ______________________ (go) on a picnic.

6. You’re always watching TV or playing computer games. If you ______________________ (study) harder, you ______________________ (fail) the exam.

7. You _____________________ (come) with us if someone _______________________ (lend) you a bike.

8. Mark would like that job, but if he _______________________ (move) to Liverpool, he _______________________ (probably / apply) for it. He doesn’t like Liverpool at all.



Second Conditionals: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate form of the verbs in parentheses to make second conditional sentences.

1. You’re always watching TV or playing computer games. If you ______________________ (study) harder, you ______________________ (do) so badly in your exams.

2. If the weather ___________________ (be) nicer, we ______________________ (go) on a picnic.

3. What countries ___________________ (you/want) to visit if you ___________________ (have) lots of money?

4. If I ___________________ (be) you, I ___________________ (eat) there. The food’s really bad.

5. Your children ___________________ (have) such terrible teeth if they ____________________ (take) better care of them and ____________________ (eat) so many sweets.

6. If John ___________________ (have) so much homework to do, he ___________________ (go) to the baseball game.

7. I think Tricia ____________________ (feel) better if she ___________________ (stop) smoking and _________ (do) more exercise.

BOOKS READ SO FAR!

8A

Estefania Aguilar   - 3 BC

Cristina Arguello    - 32 BC

Annel Borque        - 31 BC

Alberto Buendia     - 4 BC

Daniel Casas        - 2 BC

Pablo de Leija       - 14 BC

Andrea Estrada     - 16 BC

Felipe Garcia         - 1 BC

Maria Jose Garcia  - 12 BC

Axel Gonzalez       - 13 BC

Rafael Hernandez  - 4 BC

Alejandro Juarez    - 14 BC

Gerardo Lopez       - 1 BC

Alicia Lozano         - 0 BC

Marifer Luna           - 2 BC

Delmy Martinez      - 43 BC

Arturo Mendoza      - 3 BC

Jesus Najera          - 0 BC

Sandra Nieto          - 23 BC

Valeria Perez         - 5 BC

Kevin Rios             - 47 BC

Isabella Sada         - 14 BC

Jose Salinas          - 3 BC

Sara Sujo               - 18 BC

Passive Voice Practice

Rewrite the sentences in passive voice.

1. I can answer the question. - 
2. She would carry the box. - 
3. You should open the window. - 
4. We might play cards. - 
5. You ought to wash the car. - 
6. He must fill in the form. - 
7. They need not buy bread. - 
8. He could not read the sentence. - 
9. Will the teacher test our English? - 
10. Could Jenny lock the door? - 

The first sentence is in the ACTIVE VOICE. Choose the most correct way of saying the same thing in the PASSIVE VOICE:

. They were interviewing her for the job. 
She ________________ for the job.
  was being interviewed
  was interviewed
  has been interviewed

2. Tom is writing the letter. 
The letter ________________ by Tom.
  was written
  is being written
  has been written

3. Everyone understands English. 
English ________________ by everyone.
  is understood
  has been understood
  was understood

4. The employees brought up this issue during the meeting. 
This issue ________________ by the employees during the meeting.
  has been brought up
  is brought up
  was brought up

5. The professor told him not to talk in class. 
He ________________ by the professor not to talk in class. 
  has been told
  was told
  was being told

6. They say that women are smarter than men. 
Women ________________ to be smarter than men.
  were being said
  were said
  are said

7. The fire has destroyed the house. 
The house ________________ by the fire. 
  has been destroyed
  was being destroyed
  is destroyed

8. She would have told you. 
You ________________ by her. 
  would have been told
  would be told
  were being told

9. She would reject the offer. 
The offer ________________ by her.
  will have been rejected
  would be rejected
  will be rejected

10. This surprises me. 
I ________________ by this.
  would have been surprised
  will be surprised
  am surprised

First Conditional Review

1. If I __________________ (go) out tonight, I __________________ (go) to the cinema.

2. If you __________________ (get) back late, I __________________ (be) angry. 

3. If we __________________ (not / see) each other tomorrow, we __________________ (see) each other next week. 

4. If he __________________ (come), I __________________ (be) surprised. 

5. If we __________________ (wait) here, we __________________ (be) late. 

6. If we __________________ (go) on holiday this summer, we __________________ (go) to Spain. 

7. If the weather __________________ (not / improve), we __________________ (not / have) a picnic. 

8. If I __________________ (not / go) to bed early, I __________________ (be) tired tomorrow. 

9. If we __________________ (eat) all this cake, we __________________ (feel) sick. 

10. If you __________________ (not / want) to go out, I _________________ (cook) dinner at home.