1

If you want to write a paragraph describing how to change a flat tire on a car, which pattern
would you be most likely to use?

list
A)

sequence
B)

comparison-contrast
C)

definition
D)

2
If you want to explain to someone what a rain forest is, which pattern is probably the most
logical one to use?

list
A)

sequence
B)

comparison-contrast
C)

definition
D)

3
Your criminal justice professor tells the class he is going to present the differences between
misdemeanor crimes and felonies. You expect that he will organize the information using
which pattern?

list
A)

sequence
B)

comparison-contrast
C)

definition
D)

4
If you write a paper explaining the most common reasons employees lose their jobs, you
would probably organize your thoughts using which pattern?

list
A)
 sequence
B)

comparison-contrast
C)

cause-effect
D)

5
If you tell your younger brother how college is different from high school, you would use
which pattern?

list
A)

sequence
B)

comparison-contrast
C)

definition
D)

6
Which pattern would you use to let your roommate know the things you need from the
grocery store?

list
A)

sequence
B)

comparison-contrast
C)

cause-effect
D)

7
Which pattern would you be likely to use if you wrote a paragraph describing the
development of a hurricane?

list
A)

sequence
B)

comparison-contrast
C)

cause-effect
D)
8
On a biology test, you are asked to explain the term ecosystem. Which pattern would you
use?

list
A)

sequence
B)

definition
C)

cause-effect
D)

9
Suppose you are asked on a history test to explain the causes of the American Revolution.
Which pattern would you be likely to use to organize the information?

list
A)

definition
B)

comparison-contrast
C)

cause-effect
D)

10
A paragraph in a health textbook has the heading, "Types of Food Additives." What pattern
do you anticipate the author will use to present the information?

list
A)

sequence
B)

comparison-contrast
C)

cause-effect
D)

aragraph Development” refers to the way writers _______.

a) develop the points supporting the topic sentence according to patterned structures

b) deepen the thinking in the topic sentences

 c) add coherence by using “wraps” to conclude the thought of each paragraph

d) balance the length of each paragraph in the essay

Question 2:

The systematic ways of developing paragraphs discussed in Chapter Five are known as _______.

a) rhetorical patterns

b) rhetorical modes

c) rhetorical questions

d) parallel structures

Question 3:

Writers use patterns to shape the thought in a paragraph, because _______.

a) paragraphs too tightly shaped may appear insincere

b) the patterns help to create unity in the paragraph

c) the rhetorical patterns help to create coherence across the paragraph

d) the thought in the topic sentence may not be sufficiently clear

Question 4:

Which of the following is true of choosing rhetorical patterns for developing paragraphs?

a) Writers should choose based on the instructions of the instructor.

b) All of the rhetorical patterns function in the same way.

c) The choice of which rhetorical pattern to use is generally arbitrary.

d) Writers choose based on many factors such as the audience, the purpose, the topic, and others.

Question 5:

Many of the rhetorical patterns involve analysis, a form of critical thinking, which means _______.

a) breaking ideas down into smaller units

b) “loosening” ideas in order to begin taking them apart

c) separating ideas one from another

d) All of the above.

Question 6:

Why might a writer use definition as a method of essay development?

a) To let the reader know what will be discussed in the essay

b) To make an abstract concept more understandable to the audience

c) To help the writer understand the topic better

d) All of the above.

Question 7:

The question “what is it?” can best be answered by the writer’s use of which rhetorical pattern?

a) definition

b) cause-effect

c) chronology

d) narration

Question 8:

Employing a timeline as a way to develop a paragraph calls on the _______.

a) process method of development

b) chronological method of development

c) classification/division method of development

d) makes the writer appear credible

Question 9:

A paragraph that traces the evolution of the university as an institution uses which rhetorical pattern?

a) definition

b) cause-effect

c) chronology

d) narration

Question 10:

While not extensively a part of academic papers, description may be used in order to achieve which goal?

a) to entertain the reader with a vivid image

 b) to convey close physical qualities of an object or space pertinent to the discussion

c) to enliven the scholarly discourse so as to engage the reader

d) to demonstrate the competent skills of the writer

Question 11:

Using a “spatial” form of description means _______.

a) expressing abstract ideas by use of a spatial analogy

b) decreasing the space of the paragraph to accommodate the description

c) increasing the space of the paragraph to accommodate the description

d) describing something in a controlled manner, from one side to another, or from top to bottom

Question 12:

Why might the narration method of essay development be used in an essay?

a) to trace a subject’s development over time

b) to define an abstract concept

c) to dramatize and reinforce a topic

d) None of the above.

Question 13:

Narration, unlike some of the other forms of rhetorical patterns, is considered _______.

a) unhelpful in the personal essay

b) inappropriate for an expository essay

c) more formal

d) less formal

Question 14:

Which of the following is true of the process essay?

a) It is usually fact-based.

b) It relates the step-by-step stages of a process.

c) Both of the above.

d) None of the above.

Question 15:

Which of the following is generally true of successful personal essays?

a) They are concerned with the experience of the writer.

b) The use of personal experience can create drama and immediacy.

c) They make personal experience relevant to the reader.

d) All of the above.

Question 16:

Which of the following is true of classification/division essays?

a) They are focussed on the writer.

b) They use cause and effect.

c) They employ the spatial method.

d) None of the above.

Question 17:

While classification separates a large group into small, coherent sub-units, division _______.

a) divides a large group into two workable parts

b) breaks down a larger group into its parts in order to better show the working of the whole

c) requires the use of a chart, which can be inserted into the essay as an illustration

d) None of the above.

Question 18:

Which of the following is true of the cause-effect method?

a) You can use it to organize an entire essay.

b) You can use it in one or more paragraphs to develop a main point.

c) It could focus on one effect, which would be accounted for by one or more causes.

d) All of the above.

Question 19:
If a paragraph discusses the three main reasons why the federal Conservatives failed to gain a majority in
the last election, it is organized according to which rhetorical pattern?

a) cause and effect

b) classification/division

c) chronology

d) process analysis

Question 20:

Asking a question in your topic sentence and answering it in the paragraph is characteristic of what method
of development?

a) problem-solution

b) cost-benefit

c) question-answer

d) narration

Question 21:

Using examples as a way to develop a paragraph _______.

a) tends to lower the level of academic discourse

b) should be used in conjunction only with the cause-effect rhetorical pattern

c) is unnecessary and tends to clutter the writing

d) is fundamental to writing, helping to support ideas and clarify abstract ideas

Question 22:

A paragraph that begins by explaining that universities continue to struggle with academic fraud and
continues by providing answers to how the issue can be addressed is employing _______.

a) compare and contrast

b) analogy

c) the problem-solution pattern

d) the cost-benefit pattern

Question 23:

The writer who weighs the positives and negatives of mandatory writing courses for all first-year students is
likely to use which rhetorical pattern of development?
 a) analogy

b) cost-benefit

c) example/illustration

d) problem-solution

Question 24:

Which of the following is true of analogy as a method of development?

a) It is essentially the same as the compare and contrast method.

b) It considers the pros and cons of a subject.

c) It involves a comparison between one object and a second object.

d) It should be avoided in all but literary essays.

Question 25:

When writers employ analogy, they must ensure that the analogy is not _______.

a) a novel analogy that surprises the reader

b) a comparison of two objects

c) an invalid or false analogy that distorts rather than clarifies the ideas

d) None of the above.

Question 26:

Which essay development method systematically draws similarities and differences between two things?

a) analogy

b) compare and contrast

c) question-answer

d) problem-solution

Question 27:

The following is seldom used to develop an entire essay _______.

a) example/illustration

b) cause-effect
 c) cost-benefit

d) All are equally useful in developing an entire essay.

Question 28:

In both expository and argumentative papers, it is very common for writers to _______.

a) employ long narratives to introduce their topics

b) omit introductions and come immediately to the body paragraphs

c) avoid even short definitions at the beginning of their essays

d) begin by carefully defining the important terms of their discussions

Question 29:

At the beginning of her essay on criminal re-offenders, a social sciences major defines her major term
“recidivism ” Such a definition will very likely _______.

a) clarify what is intended by the term

b) clearly set the terms of the discussion

c) help to establish her credibility as a writer

d) All of the above.

Question 30:

It may be helpful to provide a definition for a term like “technology,” as the term’s meaning _______.

a) may have changed significantly over time

b) can be enhanced by the addition of the writer’s subjective impressions

c) lacks any coherent denotation

d) will otherwise remain irrelevant to the reader

Question 31:

An initial concern for the writer of a compare and contrast essay should be _______.

a) to what extent one of the topics should dominate over the other

b) whether comparison or contrast will predominate

c) whether the two topics under consideration are actually comparable

d) None of the above.

Question 32:

What are the two ways to structure compare and contrast essays?

a) the block method and the spiral method

b) the point-by-point method and the spiral method

c) the simple method and the complex method

d) the block method and the point-by-point method

Question 33:

Claims of fact _______.

a) are usually empirical claims

b) rely for support on observation and measurement

c) are used in most expository essays

d) All of the above.

Question 34:

The “claim of fact” is a type of claim (a thesis) in which a writer _______.

a) chooses a well-known fact and uses it as the basis for an essay

b) through empirical research discovers a new fact

c) uses an obvious fact about the topic as the topic sentence

d) None of the above.

Question 35:

Claims of value _______.

a) are ethical claims

b) make a call for some kind of action

c) are supported through references to a literary text

d) are used in most expository essays

Carefully review the text paragraph and choose the best pattern of organization the author uses
for the information.
Flag this Question
Question 11 pts
In view of the overwhelming health problems among the poor, it is necessary to make
massive efforts to serve them. First of all, a major focus should be on preventing health
problems, which is usually much less costly than treating them later on. There is a great
need for many preventive health services to poor children. In addition, society has to
work on the social conditions of poverty that breed disease. We have to help people
break out of the cycle of poverty and illiteracy and unemployment.

Time sequence
Process
Listing of ideas
Classification

Flag this Question

Question 21 pts
The debate over the value of video games is a continuing one. Parents, doctors, and
media-effects researchers say the games are destructive. They accuse video games of
distracting students from schoolwork and of being too violent without any actual person
to person contact. Defenders of the games counter that the games do have positive
aspects. They note that the games help improve eye-hand-brain coordination, develop
reasoning, and improve perception of space.The debate promises to continue.

Classification
Contrasting ideas
Listing of ideas
Time sequence

Flag this Question

Question 31 pts
On the basis of power, there are essentially three kinds of radio stations. First is the
local station, with a receiving range of about twenty-five miles. Second is the regional
station, which may cover an entire state. The least common type is the clear-channel
station, with power up to 50,000 watts. It covers a sizable portion of the country, and
traditionally it operates on a frequency where no other stations are permitted.

Classification
Similar Ideas
Contrasting ideas
Cause and Effect
Flag this Question
Question 41 pts
Burton Clark and Martin Trow have identified four subcultures found among college
students. The collegiate focuses on having fun and socializing. Enthusiasts have little
commitment to learning pursuits. By contrast, the academic group identifies with the
intellectual concerns of the faculty and values knowledge for its own sake. The
vocational crowd is primarily interested in career prospects and views college as a
means of obtaining degrees which are essential for advancement. Finally, the
nonconformists are hostile to the college environment and seek out ideas that may or
may not relate to studies.

Listing of ideas
Time sequence
Problem and Solutions
Classification!

Flag this Question

Question 51 pts
No planet outside this solar system has yet been detected. But should such a planet be
found, it will have to have a couple of important characteristics to support life as we
know it. First of all, the planet must have a very narrow range of possible masses.
Because life we are familiar with requires oxygen to exist, the planet must have an
atmosphere. If the planet's mass is too small, the atmosphere will escape into space.
On the other hand, if it is too large, the heat from the interior will evaporate surface
water, also essential to life. In addition, the star that the planet revolves around must be
exactly the right size. Too big a star will tend to explode before life has a chance to
develop around it. Too small a star will hold its planet in such a close orbit that one side
will burn up while the other side freezes.

Similar Ideas
Listing of ideas
Process
Time sequence

Nicotine affects the same brain system that morphine and heroin do. It causes the release of
opiods, brain chemicals that help suppress pain and produce pleasurable feelings. These
findings explain in part why it is so difficult for smokers to give up cigarettes.

Source: Based on "Why Nicotine Is So Insidious," Dallas Morning News, November 9, 2004,
p. 6E.

list
A)
 comparison-contrast
B)

definition
C)

cause-effect
D)

2
Chinese and English are similar in that they are the two most dominant languages in the
world. English is spoken in more countries than Chinese, though. Another difference is that
Chinese has no alphabet while English has a 26-letter alphabet that is based on sounds. In
contrast, Chinese is written with 50,000 characters, or signs that represent words.

list
A)

comparison-contrast
B)

definition
C)

cause-effect
D)

Parents and schools need to do a better job of educating teens about money matters.
According to Parade magazine (June 27, 2004), a survey by the Charles Schwab Foundation
revealed that American teenagers have shocking misperceptions about fiscal matters.

 One in five teens does not know that if you take out a loan, you must pay interest in
addition to repaying the loan.
 One teen in four has the mistaken notion that financial aid will take care of all their
college expenses.
 And one teen in three thinks that Social Security payments will provide all the
money they need when they retire.


list
A)

comparison-contrast
B)

definition
C)

cause-effect
D)
4
For at least 4,000 years, the wind has been used as an energy source. Unlike fossil fuel
energy (such as diesel oil or gasoline), wind energy is unlimited. Another difference is that
wind energy produces no pollution when it is used to create electricity. Large windmills or
wind turbines capture the wind; the energy from the turning blades produces electricity.
Another distinction is that wind is the fastest growing energy source in the world.

sequence
A)

comparison-contrast
B)

cause-effect
C)

definition
D)

The Development of Currency The history of money is interesting. Bronze coins were
probably invented in ancient China, but they were not round in shape. The Lydians in 600
BC were the first to produce those. They stamped special images and marks on the sides of
the coins. As time went on, trade among countries increased, and coins came into even
wider use. It is likely that the ancient Chinese also developed some form of paper money,
but it was not until 1661 that a Swedish bank issued paper bank notes. In 1988 Australia
introduced durable, recyclable plastic bank notes.

sequence
A)

comparison-contrast
B)

cause-effect
C)

definition
D)

6
Braille is a system of writing that uses patterns of raised dots to represent letters and
numbers. It was named for its inventor, Louis Braille, a French educator who lost his sight in
an accident at the age of three. When he was a teenager he developed the system for
soldiers so that they could read orders in darkness. Readers run their fingertips over the
dots. Eventually the method became the one sightless people use for reading and writing.
There are Braille typewriters, and today there are Braille embossers that attach to
computers.

sequence
A)

comparison-contrast
B)

cause-effect
C)
 definition
D)

The term oratory refers to the art of speaking in public with great skill and eloquence. It
involves the ability to use language effectively and persuasively. It has been valued
throughout history. The Roman statesman and philosopher Cicero was renowned for his
oratory. British prime minister Winston Churchill was a superb orator who was able to
inspire British citizens during the darkest days of World War II. In the U.S., civil rights
leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is viewed as one of the nation's most gifted orators.

cause-effect
A)

definition
B)

comparison-contrast
C)

list
D)

8
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) attorneys warn consumers that there is no "National Do
Not Email Registry." Bogus radio ads and websites claim that consumers can reduce spam
(unsolicited email) by registering. Ironically, the result could be more email clutter. Illegal
spammers use the lists as "do spam" lists. Fake registries sell spammers the email
addresses they collect. There can be another very unpleasant consequence: registering
could lead to identity theft. Some fake registries collect personal and financial data that are
then used to steal victims' identities. The bottom line is that consumers should not register
with any "Do Not Email Registry."

cause-effect
A)

definition
B)

comparison-contrast
C)

sequence
D)

9
A strange series of events is associated with the creation of the Nobel Prize. Alfred Nobel
invented dynamite in 1867. His goal was create a safer substance that would reduce
accidental deaths among workers who used explosives. It was soon used in war to kill and
destroy. His invention had made him wealthy, and to make up for the devastation unleashed
by his creation, Nobel sought a way to help humankind. He then decided to use his fortune
to fund the Nobel Prizes, six international awards given annually for outstanding
 achievement in chemistry, literature, physics, physiology or medicine, economics, and
promoting world peace.

sequence
A)

comparison-contrast
B)

list
C)

definition
D)

10
There are several research findings about hyponatremia, or water intoxication. Three
important ones are:

1. Hyponatremia is not common, but it can occur in athletes who drink too much water
during prolonged periods of exertion.
2. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and weakness.
3. In severe cases seizures, coma, and death can occur.

4.
cause-effect
A)

sequence
B)

comparison-contrast
C)

list
D)