Provide Concluding Statement
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8th Grade ELA › Provide Concluding Statement
A report explains how a bill becomes a law in the U.S.: A bill is introduced in Congress, then it is reviewed in committees where changes can be made. If it passes votes in both the House and the Senate, it goes to the president. The president can sign it into law or veto it, and Congress can override a veto with enough votes.
A student wrote this conclusion: "In conclusion, the lawmaking process includes several steps and checks so that no single person or group can easily create a law on their own."
Does this conclusion follow from and support the information in the report?
No, because it focuses only on committees and leaves out the president entirely.
Yes, because it argues that Congress should pass more bills each year to solve problems faster.
Yes, because it synthesizes the steps into the idea of checks and balances and provides a clear ending.
No, because it introduces new information about the Supreme Court creating laws.
Explanation
This question tests providing a concluding statement for informative/explanatory writing that follows from the information presented (the lawmaking process) and supports it by synthesizing the main idea of checks and balances throughout the process. An effective informative conclusion should capture the underlying principle or significance of the facts presented, not just list them again. For example, after explaining a multi-step process, a conclusion might highlight what the process achieves or why it's designed that way. Choice A correctly identifies that the student's conclusion synthesizes the various steps into the overarching concept of checks and balances, showing no single entity can create laws alone—this perfectly follows from and supports the information. Choice B incorrectly claims new information was added about the Supreme Court creating laws (which wasn't mentioned), Choice C wrongly states the president was left out, and Choice D mischaracterizes the conclusion as argumentative. When evaluating conclusions, check whether they capture the essence of the information rather than just repeating details.
Read the explanation and select the best conclusion.
During the Industrial Revolution, many people moved from rural areas to cities to work in factories. This urbanization happened because factories offered steady wages, even though the work could be dangerous and the hours long. As cities grew quickly, housing often became crowded, and sanitation systems struggled to keep up. Over time, reform movements pushed for safer working conditions and improvements in public health.
Which conclusion best fits this informative explanation?
In conclusion, the next topic is World War I, which began in 1914 and involved alliances.
In conclusion, the Industrial Revolution happened in the past, and history has many events.
In conclusion, factories were evil, and the government should have shut them all down immediately.
In conclusion, urbanization during the Industrial Revolution was driven by factory jobs and led to crowded cities, but it also sparked reforms that improved working and living conditions over time.
Explanation
This question tests providing concluding statements for informative/explanatory writing that follows from information or explanation presented (logically connected) and supports it (synthesizes main points, reinforces understanding, provides closure appropriate for informative purpose). An informative conclusion about historical events should synthesize both the causes and effects discussed in the passage, showing how they connect over time without making extreme judgments or introducing unrelated topics. For instance, after explaining a historical transformation, the conclusion should capture what drove the change and what resulted from it. Option A effectively synthesizes the cause (factory jobs), the immediate effect (crowded cities), and the long-term outcome (reforms), providing balanced closure to the explanation. Option B inappropriately uses extreme language and shifts to persuasive writing, while option D introduces an entirely new topic. When concluding historical explanations, aim to show the progression from causes through effects to outcomes.
A science explanation describes how vaccines help the immune system: A vaccine introduces a harmless piece or weakened form of a germ (or instructions to make a harmless piece). The immune system responds by making antibodies and creating memory cells. Later, if the real germ enters the body, those memory cells help the immune system respond faster and more effectively.
Which conclusion best fits this explanatory passage?
In conclusion, vaccines work by training the immune system to recognize a germ, so the body can respond more quickly in the future using antibodies and memory cells.
In conclusion, the immune system has many parts, including skin, stomach acid, and white blood cells, which all do different jobs in the body.
In conclusion, doctors use vaccines, stethoscopes, and X-rays to diagnose many illnesses.
In conclusion, vaccines should be required for everyone because they are the best invention ever.
Explanation
This question tests providing a concluding statement for informative/explanatory writing that follows from the information presented (how vaccines work) and supports it by synthesizing the key mechanism of immune system training. An effective informative conclusion should capture the essential process or principle explained in the passage. For example, after explaining a biological mechanism, the conclusion might summarize how the parts work together to achieve the outcome. Choice A correctly synthesizes the vaccine process: training the immune system to recognize germs so it can respond quickly using antibodies and memory cells—this directly follows from and supports the explanation. Choice B inappropriately shifts to persuasive language about requirements, Choice C introduces unrelated medical tools, and Choice D discusses immune system parts not mentioned in the passage. When concluding scientific explanations, focus on the core mechanism or process you've explained rather than expanding to related topics.
Read the explanation and choose the best concluding sentence.
In a food web, energy enters an ecosystem when plants use sunlight to make sugars through photosynthesis. Herbivores get that energy by eating plants, and carnivores get it by eating herbivores. Decomposers like fungi and bacteria break down dead organisms and waste, returning nutrients to the soil so plants can grow again. Because energy is used for life processes and released as heat at each step, less usable energy is available higher up the food web.
Which conclusion best follows from this explanation?
These steps show how energy starts with the sun, moves through producers and consumers, and ends up supporting decomposers and nutrient recycling, even as less usable energy remains at higher levels.
This is why photosynthesis happens in mitochondria and cellular respiration happens in chloroplasts.
Therefore, everyone should stop eating meat to prevent energy loss in food webs.
In conclusion, ecosystems are complicated, and living things depend on each other in many ways.
Explanation
This question tests providing concluding statements for informative/explanatory writing that follows from information or explanation presented (logically connected) and supports it (synthesizes main points, reinforces understanding, provides closure appropriate for informative purpose). An effective informative conclusion should synthesize the key concepts explained in the passage and reinforce how they connect, without introducing new ideas or making persuasive arguments. For example, after explaining a process, the conclusion might summarize how the steps work together to achieve the overall result. Option B correctly synthesizes the energy flow process described in the passage, connecting how energy moves from the sun through the food web and explaining why less energy remains at higher levels. Option A is too vague and doesn't specifically address the energy flow concept that was the focus of the explanation. When writing informative conclusions, focus on bringing together the main ideas in a way that helps readers understand how the parts create the whole.
A student wrote an informative passage about how a tsunami forms: An underwater earthquake, landslide, or volcanic eruption can suddenly displace a large amount of water. This displacement creates waves that spread outward across the ocean. In deep water, the waves may be low but travel very fast. As they reach shallow coastal areas, the waves slow down, grow taller, and can cause flooding.
Two possible conclusions are shown below.
Conclusion 1: "In conclusion, tsunamis begin with a sudden displacement of ocean water and change as they travel, becoming especially dangerous when they grow taller near shore."
Conclusion 2: "In conclusion, tsunamis are the worst natural disaster, and everyone should live far away from the ocean."
Which conclusion better supports the informative passage and why?
Conclusion 1, because it synthesizes the causes and wave changes described in the passage and provides neutral closure.
Conclusion 2, because it summarizes the steps of tsunami formation in the correct order.
Conclusion 2, because it adds a strong opinion that makes the ending more powerful.
Conclusion 1, because it introduces new information about tsunami warning sirens and evacuation routes.
Explanation
This question tests selecting a concluding statement for informative/explanatory writing that follows from the information presented (tsunami formation) and supports it through neutral synthesis rather than emotional opinion. An effective informative conclusion should maintain the objective, explanatory tone of the passage while synthesizing the key process. For instance, after explaining a natural disaster mechanism, the conclusion should summarize the process without shifting to persuasive language about what people should do. Choice B correctly identifies Conclusion 1 as better because it synthesizes the causes (sudden water displacement) and wave changes (growing taller near shore) while maintaining neutral, informative closure. Conclusion 2 inappropriately shifts to opinion-based language calling tsunamis "the worst" and telling people where to live. Choice A incorrectly values the opinion, Choice C wrongly credits Conclusion 2 with good summary, and Choice D falsely claims Conclusion 1 adds new information. When writing informative conclusions, maintain the explanatory purpose rather than shifting to persuasion.
Read the explanation and identify the best concluding sentence.
When a computer sends information over the internet, the data is broken into smaller units called packets. Each packet includes part of the message plus addressing information so it can be routed to the right destination. Packets may travel along different paths through networks depending on traffic. At the destination, the packets are reassembled in the correct order to recreate the original message.
Which conclusion best synthesizes the process?
In conclusion, packets include addressing information, packets travel different paths, packets get reassembled, packets are used on the internet, packets are important.
In conclusion, packets are small, and the internet is fast.
In conclusion, breaking data into packets allows networks to route pieces efficiently and then reassemble them, making reliable communication possible even when paths differ.
In conclusion, computers should always be turned off at night to save energy.
Explanation
This question tests providing concluding statements for informative/explanatory writing that follows from information or explanation presented (logically connected) and supports it (synthesizes main points, reinforces understanding, provides closure appropriate for informative purpose). A technical explanation's conclusion should synthesize how the described process achieves its purpose, connecting the steps to the overall outcome rather than just listing them or making vague statements. For example, after explaining how a system works, the conclusion should clarify why this design enables the intended function. Option B correctly synthesizes how breaking data into packets enables efficient routing and reliable communication, connecting the process to its purpose. Option A is too vague and doesn't capture the specific process explained, while option D merely lists steps without synthesis. When concluding technical explanations, focus on how the described mechanism achieves its intended goal.
Read the explanation and identify the weakness in the conclusion.
A lunar eclipse happens when Earth moves between the sun and the moon. Earth’s shadow falls on the moon, making it look dimmer and sometimes reddish because some sunlight bends through Earth’s atmosphere. Lunar eclipses can only occur during a full moon, but they do not happen every month because the moon’s orbit is tilted compared to Earth’s orbit around the sun.
Conclusion: “In conclusion, the sun is a star made of hot gases, and it produces light through nuclear fusion.”
What weakens this conclusion most?
It is too detailed and repeats the entire explanation of lunar eclipses step-by-step.
It provides a clear summary of how Earth’s shadow causes the moon to appear reddish.
It offers a neutral implication about why lunar eclipses are visible from every place on Earth at once.
It shifts to a different topic (the sun’s structure) instead of synthesizing the explanation of lunar eclipses.
Explanation
This question tests providing concluding statements for informative/explanatory writing that follows from information or explanation presented (logically connected) and supports it (synthesizes main points, reinforces understanding, provides closure appropriate for informative purpose). An informative conclusion must stay focused on the topic that was explained and should not shift to unrelated subjects, even if they seem connected in a broader context. For example, a conclusion about photosynthesis shouldn't suddenly discuss animal migration, even though both involve living things. Option B correctly identifies that the conclusion's main weakness is shifting to an entirely different topic (the sun's structure) instead of synthesizing the lunar eclipse explanation. Option C is incorrect because the given conclusion doesn't summarize lunar eclipses at all—it discusses the sun instead. When writing informative conclusions, maintain focus on the specific topic you explained and resist the temptation to introduce new, unrelated information.
Read the explanation and choose the conclusion that best emphasizes the significance without introducing new topics.
The circulatory system moves blood through the body using the heart, blood vessels, and blood. Arteries carry blood away from the heart, and veins return blood to the heart. Capillaries are tiny vessels where oxygen and nutrients move into body cells and wastes like carbon dioxide move out. This continuous circulation helps keep cells supplied and removes materials they no longer need.
Which conclusion best fits?
In conclusion, everyone should exercise for an hour every day, or their circulatory system will fail.
In conclusion, blood is red.
In conclusion, the heart has four chambers, and some animals have different numbers of chambers, and doctors use stethoscopes.
In conclusion, the circulatory system’s constant movement of blood delivers oxygen and nutrients and removes wastes, helping every cell function properly and keeping the body in balance.
Explanation
This question tests providing concluding statements for informative/explanatory writing that follows from information or explanation presented (logically connected) and supports it (synthesizes main points, reinforces understanding, provides closure appropriate for informative purpose). A conclusion about a body system should synthesize its overall function and significance, showing how the components work together to maintain health without introducing new topics or making prescriptive health claims. For instance, after explaining a biological system, the conclusion should emphasize how it supports life and maintains balance. Option A effectively synthesizes the circulatory system's continuous function of delivering necessities and removing wastes, emphasizing its role in maintaining cellular function and body balance. Option B introduces new information not in the passage, while option D inappropriately shifts to prescriptive health advice. When concluding explanations about biological systems, emphasize their integrated function and importance to overall health.
A student explains how a search engine can rank results: It scans and indexes web pages, then uses algorithms to decide which pages best match the words in a search. It may consider factors like how many other sites link to a page, how recent the information is, and whether the content seems trustworthy.
Which conclusion would be the best revision to provide strong closure and synthesis?
In conclusion, search engines rank results by combining indexed information with algorithms that judge relevance and quality, which is why different pages appear higher for the same search terms.
In conclusion, the first step is scanning, the second step is indexing, the third step is algorithms, the fourth step is links, the fifth step is recency, and the sixth step is trust.
In conclusion, the best way to get your website to the top is to pay money and force the algorithm to pick you.
In conclusion, search engines are on the internet, and the internet is used by many people for many reasons.
Explanation
This question tests providing a concluding statement for informative/explanatory writing that follows from the information presented (how search engines rank results) and supports it by synthesizing the technical process into a clear understanding. An effective informative conclusion should connect the steps or factors explained to show why the outcome occurs. For instance, after explaining a technical process, the conclusion might show how the components work together to produce the result. Choice B correctly synthesizes how search engines combine indexed information with algorithms that judge relevance and quality, explaining why different pages rank differently—perfectly following from and supporting the explanation. Choice A is too vague about internet usage, Choice C inappropriately suggests paying for rankings, and Choice D merely lists steps without synthesis. When concluding technical explanations, help readers understand not just what happens but why it produces the observed results.
Read the explanation and choose the best revised conclusion.
When you cite sources in a research paper, you show where your information came from. Citations help readers find the original source to check facts or learn more. They also give credit to the author or organization that created the information. Without citations, a writer may accidentally plagiarize by presenting someone else’s ideas as their own.
Weak conclusion: “In conclusion, citations are good.”
Which revision best improves the conclusion?
In conclusion, citations help readers locate sources, support fact-checking, and give proper credit, which helps writers avoid plagiarism and strengthens research writing.
In conclusion, citations are good because they are usually written in small print at the bottom of the page.
In conclusion, you should cite sources or your teacher will give you a zero, so always use citations.
In conclusion, citations include MLA, APA, and Chicago style, and each has many rules about commas, italics, and capitalization.
Explanation
This question tests providing concluding statements for informative/explanatory writing that follows from information or explanation presented (logically connected) and supports it (synthesizes main points, reinforces understanding, provides closure appropriate for informative purpose). An effective informative conclusion should expand beyond vague statements to synthesize the key purposes and benefits explained in the passage, providing readers with a clear understanding of why the topic matters. For instance, after explaining a concept's functions, the conclusion should tie together how these functions serve the overall purpose. Option B correctly synthesizes the multiple purposes of citations (locating sources, fact-checking, giving credit) and connects them to the benefits (avoiding plagiarism, strengthening writing). Option A focuses on irrelevant formatting details, while option C shifts to a threatening tone inappropriate for informative writing. When revising weak conclusions, aim to capture the 'why' and 'how' of your topic, not just state that something is 'good' or 'important.'