NBT Writing Skills & Essay Composition 2

Question 1

Which of the following best describes the purpose of a thesis statement in an essay?

Accepted Answer

To present the central argument or claim the essay will support

Answer

A thesis statement presents the writer's main claim or argument that the rest of the essay will develop and support.

Question 2

In a well-organized body paragraph, where should the topic sentence typically appear?

Accepted Answer

At the beginning, to introduce the paragraph's main idea

Answer

The topic sentence usually opens the body paragraph to signal its controlling idea before supporting evidence is presented.

Question 3

What is the primary function of a transition sentence at the END of a body paragraph?

Accepted Answer

To link the current paragraph's idea to the next paragraph

Answer

A closing transition connects the paragraph just discussed to the one that follows, maintaining essay flow and coherence.

Question 4

Which essay structure presents the opposing argument in full before systematically refuting it?

Accepted Answer

Rogerian structure

Answer

Rogerian argument acknowledges and fairly represents the opposing view first, then explains why the writer's position is preferable.

Question 5

In essay writing, 'coherence' refers to which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The logical flow and connection of ideas from sentence to sentence and paragraph to paragraph

Answer

Coherence means ideas are logically connected so that readers can follow the argument without confusion.

(NBT) National Benchmark Test Practice Test