Read the excerpt from "The Role of Social Media in the Arab Uprisings" by Heather Brown, Emily Guskin, and Amy Mitchell. This passage is about Egypt.Almost immediately after the Arab uprisings began, there was debate over the role and influence of social media in the ouster of Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and the imminent overthrow of [Egyptian president Hosni] Mubarak. In covering what some deemed the Facebook or Twitter revolutions, the media focused heavily on young protesters mobilizing in the streets in political opposition, smartphones in hand. And since then, the violent and sectarian unrest in Syria has brought increased attention to the role of citizen journalism.Social media indeed played a part in the Arab uprisings. Networks formed online were crucial in organizing a core group of activists, specifically in Egypt. Civil society leaders in Arab countries emphasized the role of "the internet, mobile phones, and social media" in the protests. Additionally, digital media has been used by Arabs to exercise freedom of speech and as a space for civic engagement.
Read the passage.(1) Wearing school uniforms has a positive impact on students’ attitudes toward their education. (2) Both recent studies and interviews with school administrators demonstrate that uniforms have a direct impact on school pride. (3) Some researchers have found that uniforms do not improve attendance or academic achievement. (4) Regardless, having a uniform could boost students’ confidence and reduce their stress, two factors that will inevitably make their learning more productive. (5) Eliminating a focus on appearance will help students focus on what truly matters.
Which image would be the best choice for convincing a middle school audience to clean up litter on a local waterway?




Which statements are examples of ethics rather than laws? Select two options.
When revising an essay, how can a writer best connect ideas more clearly?
Read the passage.Social media is here to stay. No amount of complaining by a generation who cannot even turn on a computer will change the fact that we live in a social media world. Increasing access to social media for people who are unfamiliar with it or afraid of using it should be the first step toward making the playing field a bit more even for everyone.
Read the two passages about school uniforms.Passage 1"What should I wear today? Will this help me fit in?” If we listen to recent studies, which reveal the impact that school uniforms have, our children no longer have to ask themselves those questions. Uniforms decrease fighting. Uniforms decrease drug use. Uniforms decrease vandalism. There is no other possible solution to fix our schools.Passage 2When schools introduce uniforms, students become complacent, no longer interested in individuality. When schools introduce uniforms, schools lose their identities, blending in to look the same as other schools. When schools introduce uniforms, what is the true cost? The unfortunate answer will come as no surprise.
Read the excerpt from a news report.A local youth group, collaborating with Splash and Dash Car Wash, raised more than $450 for their annual trip to Washington, DC. These boys and girls, who work as mentors for younger children in our community, set a goal, organized the plan for a car wash, and worked with local businesses to find the perfect partner for their project. Working side by side with Splash and Dash Car Wash employees, the group washed nearly one hundred cars. As a result, they surpassed their fundraising goals and are able to focus on planning their trip. One student said, "This car wash was successful beyond our wildest dreams.”The trip to Washington, DC, is scheduled for May 19. While they visit the nation’s capital, students will tour the monuments, explore the Smithsonian museums, and meet with other youth groups from around the country. They are scheduled to leave early in the morning on May 19. The manager of Splash and Dash said that he and his staff will be there to see the students off on their trip. "These kids are our future leaders. It is wonderful to see their hard work rewarded,” he said.
Read the excerpt from "The Role of Social Media in the Arab Uprisings" by Heather Brown, Emily Guskin, and Amy Mitchell.Now, research is emerging that reexamines in a more detailed way the role that social media played in the Arab uprisings.In July 2012 a report was published by the United States Institute of Peace based on an extensive content analysis of bit.ly links from the uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and Bahrain. Bit.ly links, or short URLs, are predominantly used in social media such as Twitter. The authors came to some conclusions that countered the initial assumption that social media was a causal mechanism in the uprisings.Instead, the study suggests that the importance of social media was in communicating to the rest of the world what was happening on the ground during the uprisings.
Read the passage.The salaries of athletes who take part in professional sports are well earned and well deserved. These athletes benefit more than just fans like me. In a recent survey, 92 percent of children stated that they viewed at least one athlete as a role model; 75 percent go on to state that they learn about fair play and sportsmanship from professional athletes. While not all athletes exhibit sportsmanship, most kids focus on athletes with admirable traits, since 76 percent of children surveyed agree that it is never okay to taunt an opponent.
Read the excerpt from "The Role of Social Media in the Arab Uprisings" by Heather Brown, Emily Guskin, and Amy Mitchell. This passage is about Egypt.Almost immediately after the Arab uprisings began, there was debate over the role and influence of social media in the ouster of Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and the imminent overthrow of [Egyptian president Hosni] Mubarak. In covering what some deemed the Facebook or Twitter revolutions, the media focused heavily on young protesters mobilizing in the streets in political opposition, smartphones in hand. And since then, the violent and sectarian unrest in Syria has brought increased attention to the role of citizen journalism.Social media indeed played a part in the Arab uprisings. Networks formed online were crucial in organizing a core group of activists, specifically in Egypt. Civil society leaders in Arab countries emphasized the role of "the internet, mobile phones, and social media" in the protests. Additionally, digital media has been used by Arabs to exercise freedom of speech and as a space for civic engagement.
Read this prompt.Create a multimedia presentation about the risk to farmers using standard farming methods such as pesticides, as compared to organic farming techniques. Use research and evidence to support your opinion. Use persuasive techniques and a variety of visual aids in your presentation.
Read the excerpt from an editorial.State lawmakers are considering overturning a law that forbids the sale of lottery tickets on Sundays. Proponents of the bill claim that the reason for the potential change is a result of consumer demand. These "state leaders” clearly have no concept of how to maintain family values. Playing the lottery is just as despicable as gambling in a casino and should be outlawed altogether.
Which sentences should be removed or revised to eliminate logical fallacies and improve clarity? Select three options.
Read the excerpts from two articles written about the same topic.Article 1Taxpayers will fund most of the new arena, at a cost of $300 million. We will all be asked to share the burden of a facility that may well be replaced in 10 years, when the powers that be decide that we need yet another upgrade.Article 2The construction of the arena will cost the city $300 million. Taxpayers will assume 90 percent of the cost. Several protesters showed up at city hall Tuesday to express their disapproval of the decision. They were forcibly removed by police after two hours.
Read the excerpt from "The Role of Social Media in the Arab Uprisings" by Heather Brown, Emily Guskin, and Amy Mitchell.In July 2012 a report was published by the United States Institute of Peace. . . .. . . The study suggests that the importance of social media was in communicating to the rest of the world what was happening on the ground during the uprisings. . . .Data from the Pew Research Center’s Global Attitudes Project at least somewhat supports this conclusion with its findings that the majority of Egyptians are not online. Nearly two-thirds (65%) of the total population do not use the internet. When looking specifically at those with a college education, use of social media for obtaining political information is more prevalent than in other segments of the population. Though most of the country is disconnected from the internet, 84% of those who are online say they visit social networking sites for news about Egypt’s political situation. These findings point to social media’s important role in spreading information, but do not necessarily indicate that social media was a mobilizing force in the uprisings.
Read the passage.The salaries of athletes who take part in professional sports are well earned and well deserved. These athletes benefit more than just fans like me. In a recent survey, 92 percent of children stated that they viewed at least one athlete as a role model; 75 percent go on to state that they learn about fair play and sportsmanship from professional athletes. While not all athletes exhibit sportsmanship, most kids focus on athletes with admirable traits, since 76 percent of children surveyed agree that it is never okay to taunt an opponent.
What evidence could the authors use to support their claim in the last sentence of this excerpt? Select three options.
You have been asked to create a multimedia presentation about the dangers of texting and driving. You have chosen the photo below as the final visual aid for your presentation.

Read the passage.(1) State leaders must ensure the safety of all citizens by stopping the construction of landfills. (2) Piles of garbage in an area close to homes can cause harmful diseases. (3) My uncle lived very close to a landfill and recently became very ill. (4) I am certain that many of his neighbors have also suffered due to the harmful nature of the landfill.
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