Climate change affects many things in cities. In coastal areas, higher ocean temperatures and melting ice raise sea levels, which push tides farther inland. During storms, that extra water combines with stronger winds to create storm surge that can flood subway entrances, roads, and basements. Saltwater can corrode bridges and damage electrical systems, making repairs costly and slow. Low-lying neighborhoods face frequent "nuisance flooding," where high tides leave streets soggy even on sunny days. Heat waves also strain city services, as air conditioners pull more electricity and vulnerable residents need cooling centers. City planners use flood maps and elevate critical equipment to protect hospitals and wastewater plants. Some communities build sea walls; others restore wetlands that absorb waves. Residents prepare emergency kits and learn evacuation routes. The draft above gives information, but its opening could be more direct about the specific focus.

Which revision best improves the clarity of the thesis in the opening sentence?

Harriet Tubman escaped slavery and then returned many times to guide others to freedom along secret routes known as the Underground Railroad. She traveled at night, studied the stars, and learned safe houses hidden in plain sight. Born into bondage, she endured harsh conditions that sharpened her resourcefulness. She listened carefully to news and memorized paths through forests and marshes. She later served the Union Army during the Civil War as a scout, spy, and nurse, helping raids that freed hundreds. Her knowledge of local terrain and networks made her missions effective and kept people safer. Tubman's persistence also inspired others to act with courage. This draft explains her work, but the shift from her earlier guiding experience to her Civil War service is abrupt.

Which transition would best connect Tubman's early guiding skills to her later Civil War service?

Lunar New Year is a cultural tradition celebrated in many countries across Asia and in communities around the world. Families prepare their homes, honor ancestors, and welcome a fresh start. It includes a lot of stuff like cool decorations and big parties. The holiday follows the lunar calendar, so the date changes each year, but common practices repeat: families gather for a reunion meal, children receive gifts, and public performances fill streets with sound and movement. Many customs are meant to bring good luck and express hopes for health and prosperity. Food carries meaning, too; long noodles symbolize long life, and round fruits suggest fullness. To make this explanation stronger, the vague description of activities should be revised with specific details. Different regions emphasize different dishes and performances.

Which revision best replaces the imprecise sentence "It includes a lot of stuff like cool decorations and big parties." with precise, domain-specific language?

Composting is the process of breaking down organic materials so they can be reused as a natural soil amendment. In a simple home system, people collect fruit peels, vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, and dry leaves. Microorganisms and small insects decompose these materials when given air, moisture, and the right mix of "greens" and "browns." Turning the pile adds oxygen, which speeds the process and reduces odors. Over time, the materials change into a dark, crumbly substance that smells earthy. Gardeners mix this finished product into soil to improve its structure and help it hold water. Communities sometimes run larger compost sites that handle yard waste and food leftovers from cafeterias. The draft explains how composting works and offers examples, but it ends without a clear concluding statement.

Which concluding sentence best follows from and supports the information presented?

Plastic pollution is a big issue for nature. Single-use plastics are items like bags, bottles, and wrappers designed to be thrown away after one use. Many of these products escape trash systems and drift into rivers that carry them to the ocean. Sunlight and waves break larger pieces into tiny fragments called microplastics. Sea turtles mistake floating bags for jellyfish, and seabirds feed colorful bits to their chicks. Scientists have also found microplastics in the guts of fish, raising concerns about how these particles move through food webs. Communities try beach cleanups, improved recycling, and laws that limit certain items. Understanding how single-use plastics travel and change helps people decide which solutions prevent the most harm. Some researchers map large garbage patches that form in rotating ocean currents, showing where debris accumulates.

Which revision best improves the clarity of the thesis in the first sentence?

George Washington Carver was a scientist and educator who focused on improving everyday farming. Born into slavery and raised in the South, he became curious about plants and how soils work. He studied botany and chemistry at college. Cotton had drained nutrients from Southern fields, leaving many plots less productive. Without expensive fertilizers available, farmers needed low-cost methods to rebuild the land. He shared practical lessons with farmers about rotating crops like peanuts and sweet potatoes to restore nutrients. Carver's bulletins explained how to make paints, soap, and feed from regional crops, helping families save money. He visited communities to demonstrate simple tools and to test soil, so his advice matched local conditions. His work connected scientific research with needs in the field and promoted resilience for small farms.

Which transition would best begin the sentence, "He shared practical lessons with farmers about rotating crops like peanuts and sweet potatoes to restore nutrients"?

Diwali is a festival celebrated by millions that highlights the victory of light over darkness. Families prepare by cleaning their homes and planning visits to relatives and friends. "Homes are decorated with nice lights and people do fun things." Many communities hold evening celebrations that include dance, music, and shared sweets. In some places, people create intricate floor art to welcome guests, and small lamps glow along windows and doorways. The festival also has religious meaning for different groups, and prayers are offered for good fortune in the year ahead. Although traditions vary by region, the focus on gathering and generosity remains constant across the five-day observance. Merchants often mark fresh beginnings with new account books, and families exchange small gifts. Fireworks are common in some areas, while other communities emphasize quiet reflection at home.

Which revision best replaces the sentence "Homes are decorated with nice lights and people do fun things" to use precise, domain-specific vocabulary?

Coastal cities face increasing flood risks as oceans expand and ice melts. Warmer water takes up more space, and glaciers add additional volume to the sea. In many harbors, higher average water levels turn routine high tides into events that close roads and seep into basements. Storms that push water onshore also ride on top of these elevated seas, so the same wind can now reach farther inland. Low-lying neighborhoods near drainage canals are especially vulnerable because intense rain can coincide with high tide, slowing the flow of water out to sea. Engineers track local land sinking as well, which can make flooding worse in certain regions. City planners use maps that combine elevation, tide records, and rainfall data to identify streets likely to flood several times per year. These projections help prioritize where to raise sidewalks, improve pumps, or protect wetlands.

Which concluding statement best follows from and supports the information presented?

Ada Lovelace is known for writing early ideas about computing. As a child, she was encouraged to diagram machines and study logic. She later worked with a mathematician who imagined a device called the Analytical Engine. She studied advanced mathematics with a tutor. Her notes on the Analytical Engine described how a machine could handle symbols, not just numbers, and she outlined a method for calculating Bernoulli numbers. These details showed that instructions could be arranged in a sequence, like steps in a recipe. In addition, she warned that machines would only do what they were told, emphasizing human responsibility. Quotations from her letters reveal curiosity and persistence. By defining key terms and providing examples of what the Engine might do, her writing helped people see computation as more than arithmetic.

Which transition should begin the sentence "Her notes on the Analytical Engine described how a machine could handle symbols, not just numbers" to best show the cause-and-effect relationship with the previous sentence?

During Lunar New Year, communities prepare the lion dance to invite good fortune. Performers wear bright costumes and move in coordinated steps to the beat. The celebration often includes fun stuff like cool music and things people carry as they walk through the streets. Drums echo so the crowd can feel the rhythm, and cymbals mark turns and leaps. In many places, organizers classify performances by size: a short routine at a storefront or a longer route that visits several blocks. Some teams explain the symbolism of the lion's blinking eyes, which are believed to "wake" the spirit of prosperity. Including a simple diagram of the costume's head and tail can help readers see how two dancers work together. A brief definition of tradition at the beginning would also support readers who are new to the topic.

Which revision best replaces the imprecise wording "fun stuff like cool music and things people carry" with precise, domain-specific language?