Central Texas is entering its third month without significant rainfall, and the effects ripple across daily life. As soil moisture disappears, native grasses stop growing, so ranchers cut herd sizes to protect their pastures. That reduction lowers the local supply of beef, which raises prices at grocery stores. Lake levels drop, exposing long banks of dry clay; as a result, cities issue watering schedules and fine residents for waste. Dry vegetation becomes easy fuel, so even a small spark can spread quickly, increasing the risk of wildfires near neighborhoods. The hot, cloudless afternoons also intensify urban heat islands around highways and parking lots. When temperatures climb, people run air conditioners longer, pushing electricity demand to peak levels. Power plants work harder to meet that demand, which triggers air-quality alerts on windless days. Scientists track these linked outcomes to explain why one weather pattern—prolonged high pressure—can change how a whole region functions. In this passage, the focus is on how one condition leads to many consequences.

Which organizational pattern best describes the passage?

Wind turbines and solar panels both generate electricity without burning fuel, but they do so in different ways that affect how communities use them. Wind power relies on moving air turning blades; solar power converts sunlight directly into energy through panels. While both can be installed on large farms, solar often fits neatly on rooftops, whereas utility-scale wind usually requires tall towers and open land. Wind output can spike at night or during storms, a pattern that may not match daytime demand. In contrast, solar production peaks on clear afternoons, aligning better with air-conditioning use. However, clouds can reduce solar output quickly, just as calm days can quiet a wind farm. Maintenance also differs: technicians climb turbines to service gearboxes, while solar arrays need regular cleaning to clear dust. Because each source has strengths and limits, many grids use a mix of both. By weighing similarities and differences, planners decide where wind or solar—or a combination—makes the most sense.

Which organizational pattern does the author use to present the information in this passage?

From egg to adult, a monarch butterfly moves through a predictable series of stages. First, a female lays tiny, pale eggs on the underside of milkweed leaves. After a few days, each egg hatches into a striped caterpillar that eats its host plant almost nonstop. Next, the caterpillar molts several times as it grows, shedding its skin like a too-small jacket. When it has stored enough energy, it hangs in a J-shape and forms a smooth green chrysalis. Inside, tissues reorganize in an extraordinary transformation. After about two weeks, the chrysalis darkens, and the adult butterfly emerges with crumpled wings. Then it pumps fluid to expand the wings and rests while they dry. Finally, the monarch lifts off to feed on nectar and, in some seasons, to begin a long migration. By guiding readers step by step, the author shows how each phase leads naturally to the next in time, making a complex life cycle easier to follow.

Which text structure does the author use to explain the monarch's life cycle?

Along the Texas Gulf Coast, waves and storms steadily wear away beaches and dunes, threatening roads, homes, and sea turtle nesting sites. In some places, the shoreline has moved inland by several feet each year, shrinking public access and exposing communities to higher storm surge. Rather than simply piling up short-lived sand berms, coastal planners are testing longer-lasting solutions. One approach is dune restoration: workers plant native grasses and install temporary fences to trap blowing sand, rebuilding natural barriers. Another option is a living shoreline, which uses oyster shells and rock to slow waves while creating habitat for fish. Cities can also update building codes so new structures sit farther from the water and on higher foundations. Finally, public education—such as signs that keep off dunes—helps protect restored areas. Organizing ideas as a problem followed by practical solutions shows readers that erosion is serious but manageable when communities act together.

Which organizational pattern structures the passage?

During the 2011 drought, much of Texas endured months without significant rain. As reservoirs dropped, ranchers faced dried grazing land, leading many to sell cattle early. Low soil moisture also fueled wildfires, which damaged homes and strained firefighters. Towns issued watering limits, and some communities trucked in water when wells ran low. The drought's reach touched energy, too: power plants depending on cooling water cut back production on the hottest days. Those immediate effects pushed leaders to respond. The state funded new pipeline connections between water systems and expanded programs that pay farmers to adopt water-saving irrigation. Cities replaced thirsty medians with native plants and offered rebates for efficient fixtures. Scientists also launched studies on how La Niña patterns shape Texas rainfall, hoping to improve forecasts. In this passage, the author first presents the drought as the main cause and then traces its ripple effects across agriculture, safety, cities, and energy, before explaining responses that grew from those effects.

Which organizational pattern best describes the structure of this passage?

Texas holds many regions, but the Gulf Coast and the Panhandle reveal striking differences alongside shared traits. Along the coast, humid air from the Gulf of Mexico helps produce mild winters and frequent sea breezes, while the Panhandle's higher elevation brings wider temperature swings and fast-moving fronts. Both regions depend on wind, yet they use it differently: coastal breezes moderate heat for beach towns, whereas steady plains winds power vast turbine farms near Amarillo. Economically, ports along the coast anchor shipping and petrochemical industries; by contrast, the Panhandle leans on agriculture, feedlots, and wind energy. Still, residents in both places prepare for storms—hurricanes in one, blizzards and hail in the other—and value open skies and local traditions. By setting features side by side and pointing out similarities and differences, the passage helps readers understand how climate and economy vary across a single state without suggesting that one region is better.

Which organizational pattern does the author use to develop the passage?

Renewable energy sources can be grouped by how they capture natural flows. Solar technologies fall into two main types: photovoltaic panels that turn sunlight directly into electricity, and solar thermal systems that heat fluids for power or buildings. Wind systems harvest moving air with turbines, which can be sited on land or offshore; they work best where winds are steady and unobstructed. Hydropower captures the energy of flowing water with dams or run-of-river setups, converting motion into electricity with turbines. Each category has typical scales and strengths: rooftop solar suits homes, utility-scale arrays and wind farms feed the grid, and hydropower offers reliable output where rivers allow. Thinking in categories helps planners match local conditions—sun hours, wind patterns, river flow—to the right technology instead of mixing details. Within these categories, location matters: desert sun boosts solar output, mountain passes strengthen winds, and river seasons shape hydro generation. This passage sorts information into named groups and describes defining features of each group.

What organizational pattern structures this passage?

Many Texas cities experience urban heat islands—neighborhoods that stay several degrees warmer than surrounding areas. Dark roofs and wide asphalt lots absorb sunlight, raising afternoon temperatures and keeping nights hot. The extra heat increases energy bills, worsens air quality, and stresses vulnerable residents. Cities are testing practical solutions. Planting street trees creates shade that cools sidewalks and slows ozone formation; choosing drought-tolerant species conserves water. Cool roofing replaces dark shingles with reflective materials that bounce sunlight, lowering indoor temperatures without more air-conditioning. Some streets are being resurfaced with lighter, permeable pavements that reflect more light and let rain soak in, reducing both heat and flooding. Early trials in San Antonio and Houston show cooler surface readings on blocks with added trees and reflective roofs. Organizing the passage as a problem followed by a set of targeted solutions helps readers see how each strategy directly addresses the causes of extra heat.

Which organizational pattern best describes how this passage is organized?