On February 2 of each year, the United States observes the unusual holiday of Groundhog Day, a day of hope that winter is over and spring is beginning. This tradition has been officially observed in the US. since the 1800s, and is believed to have developed from European folk traditions in which a bear, fox, badger, or even hedgehog would serve as the symbolic meteorologist. Although other cultures and towns observe Groundhog Day (or something similar), the town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania takes special pride in being home to the one true forecasting groundhog Punxsutawney Phil. At the turn of the twentieth century, townspeople formed the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club to perpetuate the joyful rituals and events surrounding Groundhog Day. Over the years, these events have come to include a scavenger hunt, a talent show, and a ball.

Legend has it that on Groundhog Day the official weather-forecasting groundhog awakens from hibernation and comes out of his burrow to look for his shadow. If he sees his shadow, six more weeks of winter are to come, and Punxsutawney Phil goes back to bed. However, if he does not see his shadow, Punxsutawney Phil takes this as a sign that spring has arrived, and he remains above ground. Of course, common sense tells us that February 2 is too early for spring to begin and that while animals may be attuned to various elements of nature from which humans might learn, they are unlikely to act on their instincts based on a schedule set by a Gregorian calendar. Nevertheless, a visit to Pennsylvania to see Punxsutawney Phil and all of the fun he inspires each year might just provide the touch of hope needed to reach the end of winter

What source would be most useful in determining the reliability of Punxsutawney Phil's predictions over a number of years?

Which of the following resources would help a reader gather information about economic trade during World War I?

Which of the following sentences uses italics correctly?

          A. We read Lincoln's Gettysburg Address in my American history class.

          B. The orchestra will perform Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.

          C. William Carlos Williams was the United States Poet Laureate in 1952.

          D. The scientific name for the domestic dog is Canis lupus familioris.

Lexington and Concord

The majority of history scholars agree that the open warfare portion of the American War for Independence began in two small Massachusetts towns: Lexington and Concord. To stop the British from discovering military supplies hidden in Concord, the American Minutemen attempted to stall or halt the British Regulars in Lexington Common.

While the opposing factions were facing off against one another, a shot was fired from an unknown source, causing hostilities to break into violence. After the skirmish at Lexington settled, multiple people from both sides lay dead and the British continued their way toward Concord.

Which of the following best describes the tone of the passage?

Research shows that tipping in a restaurant has little to no effect on service. What tipping does do is enable restaurateurs to pay less than the federal minimum wage to servers and depend on customers to make up the difference between servers' salaries and the minimum wage. The U.S. federal minimum wage for servers is $2.13 per hour. Although minimum wage varies from state to state, it is safe to say that customers are paying the lion's share of servers' salaries. This practice leads to resentment on the part of customers, and it devalues servers. It's time to abolish tipping and pay employees a living wage. The result may well be happy servers who provide excellent service to grateful customers.

Which of the following is evidence the writer provides to support the main argument?

The following sentences can be combined to form a paragraph. Which of the following sentences represents the main idea?

Hedy Lamarr, the Inventor

Hedy Lamarr was a woman of many talents. She was first known as a European film actress in the 1930s. She began starring in American films with MGM Studios in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Some of her more popular films included Boom Town (1940) and White Cargo (1942); however, her roles generally did not include very many spoken lines and she became bored. To relieve this boredom, Lamarr took up inventing.

Hedy Lamarr did not have any formal training, but she did not allow that to stop her from teaching herself in her spare time. Although she had a number of failed inventions, such as an improved traffic light and a carbonated drink, Lamarr did not stop coming up with ideas. She even spent time working with the science engineering team employed by Howard Hughes, the aviation tycoon.

During World War I, Lamarr learned that one of the military's new technologies, radio-controlled torpedoes, were too easily jammed and redirected. She came up with a type of radio signal that changed, or "hopped, frequencies and was unable to be tracked or disrupted. With the assistance of her friend George Anthell, she was able to design the system and patent it in August 1942.

Unfortunately, the United States Navy was not interested. The technology of the era wasn't quite good enough to easily implement Lamarr's system, and the Navy was not particularly interested in civilian inventions at the time. It wasn't until 20 years later, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, that a version of Lamarr's system began appearing on Navy ships.

The work Lamarr and Antheil did creating this frequency-hopping system led to many technologies that are often taken for granted today. Their work led to the development of cell phones, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. Just think, we might not have any of those things if Hedy Lamarr had been given more interesting roles.

Which of the following can the reader infer about the author's point of view when they state: "The work Lamarr and Antheil did creating this frequency-hopping system led to many technologies that are often taken for granted today."?

Lexington and Concord

The majority of history scholars agree that the open warfare portion of the American War for Independence began in two small Massachusetts towns: Lexington and Concord. To stop the British from discovering military supplies hidden in Concord, the American Minutemen attempted to stall or halt the British Regulars in Lexington Common.

While the opposing factions were facing off against one another, a shot was fired from an unknown source, causing hostilities to break into violence. After the skirmish at Lexington settled, multiple people from both sides lay dead and the British continued their way toward Concord.

Which of the following could accurately subtitle this passage, following "Lexington and Concord"?

Hedy Lamarr, the Inventor

Hedy Lamarr was a woman of many talents. She was first known as a European film actress in the 1930s. She began starring in American films with MGM Studios in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Some of her more popular films included Boom Town (1940) and White Cargo (1942); however, her roles generally did not include very many spoken lines and she became bored. To relieve this boredom, Lamarr took up inventing.

Hedy Lamarr did not have any formal training, but she did not allow that to stop her from teaching herself in her spare time. Although she had a number of failed inventions, such as an improved traffic light and a carbonated drink, Lamarr did not stop coming up with ideas. She even spent time working with the science engineering team employed by Howard Hughes, the aviation tycoon.

During World War I, Lamarr learned that one of the military's new technologies, radio-controlled torpedoes, were too easily jammed and redirected. She came up with a type of radio signal that changed, or "hopped, frequencies and was unable to be tracked or disrupted. With the assistance of her friend George Anthell, she was able to design the system and patent it in August 1942.

Unfortunately, the United States Navy was not interested. The technology of the era wasn't quite good enough to easily implement Lamarr's system, and the Navy was not particularly interested in civilian inventions at the time. It wasn't until 20 years later, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, that a version of Lamarr's system began appearing on Navy ships.

The work Lamarr and Antheil did creating this frequency-hopping system led to many technologies that are often taken for granted today. Their work led to the development of cell phones, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. Just think, we might not have any of those things if Hedy Lamarr had been given more interesting roles.

Which of the following lines from the passage supports the inference that Hedy Lamarr worked earnestly to achieve her goals?

Peanut Butter Cookies

Grandma Harry 30 minutes

Cookies/Desserts

Makes 1 dozen

1 egg white

3/4 cup sugar

1 cup peanut butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup flour

Beat egg white until foamy. Stir in sugar, beat again until stiff peaks form. Gently fold in peanut butter and vanilla. Add flour in small increments until dough forms. Chill dough for at least 2 hours. Roll into balls, roll in sugar, press down with a fork, and bake at 350 degrees F for 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool on cookie sheet. These are very fragile.

Which of the following statements is true?

Shia looked up from his monitor, rubbed his eyes, and stared down the dark hallway toward the CFO's office. He was certain a sound had come from behind the closed door. It was a heavy thump, like someone had dropped a bowling ball.

There shouldn't be anyone else here at this hour, Shia thought to himself as he looked at his watch. The only illumination came from Shia's computer monitor. His office was on the thirtieth floor, far too high to get much more than a faint glow from the street lights below. Shia slowly stood up before reaching down to turn off the computer screen, hoping to hide in the darkness. He considered turning on his phone's flashlight, but his thoughts were cut short by a loud crash followed by the unmistakable tinkling of shattered glass.

She froze, as if he were caught by the gaze of Medusa. The initial doubt that he would actually find someone snooping around the CFO's office had turned to an icy fear that gripped his lungs and would not let him breathe. His heart was pounding loudly in his ears; he knew whoever was in his boss's office must be able to hear it.

Another crash, followed by a loud howl that he was sure couldn't be human, shocked She’s into motion, He broke into a run... in the opposite direction. He sprinted for the emergency stairwell and rushed downward, jumping over the last few steps of each fight. Shia didn't stop running and he had burst through the ground floor exit to the parking garage and found his car, His heart continued racing until he was at home in bed. He sent his boss a single text message before turning over and trying to force himself to sleep, don't think I can work late anymore"

Which of the following sentences from the passage supports the conclusion that the passage takes place in the 21st century?