TSA Writing 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Globally, cities are essentially amalgamations of smaller cultural settings, resulting in wildly disparate experiences for individuals. Every city usually has a wide range of restaurants in addition to different art institutions like theaters and museums. But despite all of these fusions of cuisine, art, and nightlife, what is the one quality that sets a city apart? Past. Rich customs and a sense of community among the residents are fostered by each city's indisputable unique past, which transcends the diverse array of dining options and cultural establishments found in other cities.<br> <br> <b>Which word best describes mélange in this context?</b>
- assortment (Correct answer)
- opportunity
- brochure
- tradition
Correct answer: assortment
The passage describes cities as 'amalgamations of smaller cultural settings' and mentions 'fusions of cuisine, art, and nightlife.' The word 'mélange' means a mixture or a medley of different things. Therefore, 'assortment,' which refers to a collection of various kinds of things, is the best synonym for 'mélange' in this context, reflecting the diverse elements found in a city.
Question 2: Globally, cities are essentially amalgamations of smaller cultural settings, resulting in wildly disparate experiences for individuals. Every city usually has a wide range of restaurants in addition to different art institutions like theaters and museums. But despite all of these fusions of cuisine, art, and nightlife, what is the one quality that sets a city apart? Past. Rich customs and a sense of community among the residents are fostered by each city's indisputable unique past, which transcends the diverse array of dining options and cultural establishments found in other cities.<br> <br> <b>Which of the following describes the author's opinion as the most significant feature or attraction of a city?</b>
- The exquisite French restaurant in the European district
- The Museum of Natural History
- Ruins from the Berlin Wall and the local community (Correct answer)
- Wrigley Field
- A democratic government
Correct answer: Ruins from the Berlin Wall and the local community
The author explicitly states, 'what is the one quality that sets a city apart? Past.' The passage further elaborates that 'Rich customs and a sense of community among the residents are fostered by each city's indisputable unique past.' Option C, 'Ruins from the Berlin Wall and the local community,' directly reflects this emphasis on historical elements (the ruins) and the resulting sense of community and customs, aligning with the author's main point about a city's unique past.
Question 3: What word would be a suitable substitute for the bolded word?<br> <br> The wind was really <b>brisk</b>, and Julie was dreading her run.
- swift (Correct answer)
- dangerous
- pretty
- loud
Correct answer: swift
When describing wind, 'brisk' means cold, invigorating, and often implies a quick or lively movement. In the context of 'dreading her run,' a brisk wind would be one that is strong and fast, making the run more challenging. 'Swift' means moving or capable of moving with great speed, making it the most suitable substitute for 'brisk' in this sentence.
Question 4: Regarding the word in bold, which of the following is its opposite?<br> <br> Hardwood floors were one of Ryan's <b>renovation</b> projects for his basement.
- destroy (Correct answer)
- embrace
- refurbish
- renew
Correct answer: destroy
'Renovation' refers to the process of restoring something to a good state of repair, typically a building, or making improvements to it. The opposite of improving or repairing something is to ruin or put an end to it. Therefore, 'destroy' is the most direct antonym for 'renovation,' as it signifies the complete undoing or ruination of a structure or project.
Question 5: Which word is bolded and why?<br> <br> The football game had Marie totally <b>absorbed</b> that she overlooked her mother's phone call.
- to fear greatly
- having been comforted
- being intensely intrigued and giving something their whole attention (Correct answer)
- to express sorrow
Correct answer: being intensely intrigued and giving something their whole attention
In the sentence, Marie was so 'absorbed' by the football game that she 'overlooked her mother's phone call,' indicating she was completely engrossed and focused on the game. Option C, 'being intensely intrigued and giving something their whole attention,' accurately captures this meaning. It describes a state of deep concentration where one's attention is fully captivated by a single activity, leading to a lack of awareness of external events.
Question 6: Which sentence has the proper punctuation?
- The chair which is an old family heirloom, is green.
- Although Sophia hates Christmas, she likes picking out the tree. (Correct answer)
- Kate, who is a real estate agent showed us our new home
- Jim, decided he wanted to go to the show, but he would arrive late.
Correct answer: Although Sophia hates Christmas, she likes picking out the tree.
Option B, 'Although Sophia hates Christmas, she likes picking out the tree,' is correctly punctuated. The dependent clause 'Although Sophia hates Christmas' precedes the independent clause 'she likes picking out the tree,' requiring a comma to separate them. Options A and C incorrectly omit a comma for non-restrictive clauses, and Option D incorrectly places a comma between the subject and verb.
Question 7: Which sentence has the proper capitalization?
- Susie said she disliked president Johnson’s policy. She particularly disliked that it made her have to pay more money.
- Joey is from Italy originally. he claims he is the best at cooking pasta.
- Jasmine took a trip to Rome, in which she saw the Colosseum, the Circus Maximus, and the Pantheon. (Correct answer)
- She claims that julie has been to London before. I do not believe her julie lied about going to Paris.
Correct answer: Jasmine took a trip to Rome, in which she saw the Colosseum, the Circus Maximus, and the Pantheon.
Option C, 'Jasmine took a trip to Rome, in which she saw the Colosseum, the Circus Maximus, and the Pantheon,' demonstrates proper capitalization. All proper nouns, such as names of cities (Rome) and specific landmarks (Colosseum, Circus Maximus, Pantheon), are correctly capitalized. The other options contain errors in capitalizing proper nouns or the beginning of sentences.
TSA Writing 1
Globally, cities are essentially amalgamations of smaller cultural settings, resulting in wildly disparate experiences for individuals.
Every city usually has a wide range of restaurants in addition to different art institutions like theaters and museums.
But despite all of these fusions of cuisine, art, and nightlife, what is the one quality that sets a city apart? Past.
Rich customs and a sense of community among the residents are fostered by each city's indisputable unique past, which transcends the diverse array of dining options and cultural establishments found in other cities.
Which word best describes mélange in this context?