Read this excerpt from a blog. dog walkers are welcome at the county park. kite flyers, sunbathers, fisherman, picnickers, and bikers are welcome, too. but not me. a newly posted sign at the entrance to the park states, “skateboards prohibited.” more than a mile of paved surface runs through the park, yet skateboarders are prohibited. there are challenging hills and narrow passes, but i can’t access them on my board. i am a responsible citizen who wears safety pads, throws away my trash, and stays well within posted speed limits. i should be able to join the throngs of outdoor enthusiasts enjoying all that the park has to offer. how does the writer of this blog promote change? a. by defining key terms b. by criticizing public policies c. by describing support for a cause d. by explaining researched facts

The greatest gift the sumerians gave the world was the invention of writing. the sumerians were wealthy people. they needed some way to keep track of what they owned. they began drawing pictures. they used a reed as a pen. they drew on soft pieces of clay. the soft clay was then dried in the sun. the tablet became a permanent record. later, the sumerian drawings changed into wedge-shaped symbols. this kind of writing is called cuneiform. by putting symbols together, the sumerians could write entire sentences.

Tori is writing a literary analysis of the novel little women. read the following claim statement she wrote about the story. in little women, louisa may alcott uses figurative language to readers understand the feelings and experiences of the central characters. which quote from the story can tori use as evidence to support her claim? a. “she knew it very well, for it was that beautiful old story of the best life ever lived, and jo felt that it was a true guidebook for any pilgrim going on a long journey.” b. “‘and so nice of annie moffat not to forget her promise. a whole fortnight of fun will be regularly splendid,’ replied jo, looking like a windmill as she folded skirts with her long arms.” c. “‘rather a pleasant year on the whole! ’ said meg, smiling at the fire, and congratulating herself on having treated mr. brooke with dignity.” d. “‘what are you thinking of, beth? ’ asked jo, when amy had her father and told about her ring.”

He contains the main idea in a paragraph. a. thesis statement b. first sentence c. declarative statement d. topic sentence