12th grade writing & editing

Question 1

Which statement is this: just a fact?

• A. Cities should prioritise protected cycle lanes over new car parks, because they reduce congestion and pollution at lower cost.
• B. In Macbeth, Shakespeare presents ambition not as a personal flaw alone but as a force encouraged by the people around Macbeth, especially his wife.
• C. Water boils at 100 °C at sea level.

Question 2

Is the proposed edit for the part in brackets the best choice? Her argument was [more stronger] than his. → stronger

• A. yes, it is correct
• B. no, it is not correct

Question 3

What kind of statement is this, as the thesis of an essay? Shakespeare is a very important writer.

• A. arguable, specific thesis
• B. just a fact
• C. too broad or vague
• D. an announcement of the topic

Question 4

Claim: "Homework should be optional in secondary school." Which sentence best concedes a point and then rebuts it?

• A. Homework is boring and nobody likes it.
• B. Admittedly, homework can build independent study habits; however, the same habits can be built through optional projects that students actually choose.
• C. Some people think homework is good, and they are right.
• D. Homework should be optional because I said so.

Question 5

Purpose: a speech to Year 7 pupils encouraging them to join the reading club. Which line suits the audience and purpose best?

• A. Imagine travelling to a new world every week without leaving your chair — that's what our reading club offers.
• B. Reading club. Tuesdays. Be there.
• C. Notwithstanding prior commitments, attendance is encouraged.
• D. The reading club operates in accordance with library regulations.

Question 6

A report on a charity's work: "The charity helped a whole bunch of families with stuff." Which revision is most precise?

• A. The charity provided food and housing support to 340 families.
• B. The charity helped heaps of families with various stuff.
• C. The charity was helpful to families in lots of ways and stuff.
• D. The charity helped many families with things.

Question 7

"This proves that social media causes loneliness." (The evidence is a single correlational survey.) Which revision uses appropriate hedging?

• A. This totally proves social media causes loneliness.
• B. Nobody could ever disagree that social media causes loneliness.
• C. Social media definitely makes everyone lonely.
• D. These findings suggest a possible link between social media use and loneliness.

Question 8

Is the proposed answer correct? Claim: "Schools should teach financial literacy." Which sentence best concedes a point and then rebuts it? → It is true that the timetable is crowded, yet a few lessons a year on budgeting could save students from costly mistakes for decades.

• A. yes, it is correct
• B. no, it is not correct

Question 9

Is the proposed answer correct? Purpose: a post for your friends' group chat inviting them to a beach clean-up. Which version suits the audience and purpose best? → Beach clean-up Saturday 10am — bring gloves and snacks! Who's in? 🌊

• A. yes, it is correct
• B. no, it is not correct

Question 10

Which choice is best for the part in brackets? Choose NO CHANGE if the original is best. Neither the players nor the coach [were] happy with the result.

• A. NO CHANGE
• B. are
• C. have been
• D. was

Question 11

Is this the right way to classify the student's version? Original (Okafor, 2021): "Urban trees reduce summer temperatures by shading streets and releasing water vapour." Student: According to Okafor (2021), city trees cool streets in summer through shade and the moisture they give off. → correctly cited quotation

• A. yes, it is correct
• B. no, it is not correct

Question 12

How should the student's version be classified? Original (Ruiz, 2020): "The printing press transformed how ideas travelled across Europe." Student: As Ruiz (2020) puts it, the printing press "transformed how ideas travelled across Europe."

• A. acceptable paraphrase (with citation)
• B. correctly cited quotation
• C. patchwriting (too close to the original)
• D. plagiarism

Question 13

Which statement is this: arguable, specific thesis?

• A. Water boils at 100 °C at sea level.
• B. Shakespeare is a very important writer.
• C. In Macbeth, Shakespeare presents ambition not as a personal flaw alone but as a force encouraged by the people around Macbeth, especially his wife.

Question 14

Is the proposed edit for the part in brackets the best choice? The bridge was [closed, however] it reopened a week later. → closed however,

• A. yes, it is correct
• B. no, it is not correct

Question 15

What kind of statement is this, as the thesis of an essay? The Second World War ended in 1945.

• A. arguable, specific thesis
• B. just a fact
• C. too broad or vague
• D. an announcement of the topic

Question 16

Claim: "Homework should be optional in secondary school." Which sentence best concedes a point and then rebuts it?

• A. Homework is boring and nobody likes it.
• B. Some people think homework is good, and they are right.
• C. Homework should be optional because I said so.
• D. Admittedly, homework can build independent study habits; however, the same habits can be built through optional projects that students actually choose.