Passage A
1Did you know that until May 5 of every year, you are not really working for yourself?
2A group in Washington, D.C., has learned that it takes workers an average of four months and four days to earn enough to pay thier taxes.
3The group found in its study that taxes eat up 34 percent of all the income in the United States.
4So, if workers used thier entire income for taxes, they would not be through paying them until May.
5Since May 5 is the first day people really work for themselves, the study group has some advice.
6It would be like a bill passed naming May 5 “Tax Freedom Day.”
7On that day, you would give yourself a break, regardless of how hard you worked.
8therefore, from May 5 on, you would finally be your own boss.
Passage B
1Did you ever daydream about writing your life story?
2Do you think that your life is too dull, or that you can’t write?
3Anyone’s life story is filled with fascinating events, and writing them down is the best way you know you can give yourself a sense of accomplishment and, perhaps, leave a valuable inheritance to your family.
4The first thing to do is to buy a loose-leaf notebook.
5Each page of the book should be titled with a significant milestone of your life—from your first dog to your proudest moment.
6You should then jot down a few key words in the book whenever a memory comes back to you. 7The idea is not to begin with “I was born . . .” and try to write a chronological history of your whole life.
8Just delve into your past at random; one memory will trigger another.
9It will become quite easy after a while.
10It is also important to write in your own language.
11Plain, honest writing is the goal.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
1. That singer, whoever he is, really knows how to sing the blues.
2. The woman, sitting at the back table is a well-known restaurant reviewer.
3. When conditions are right, that horse can run just like its father.
4. His four favorite artists are Monet, Renoir, Degas, and Manet.
5. Let Warren and Andrea, our most skillful speakers, present our proposal.
6. Long regarded as a leading newspaper, the Washington Post boasts an outstanding staff of reporters.
7. Slowly, slyly, and cautiously, Eric slid the wallet across the table.
8. What we need is creative leadership, leadership that will encourage experimentation.
9. During high school, he read Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, and Hamlet.
10. Song of Solomon, I believe, is the professor’s favorite.
11. I believe that should the eggs break, we will have a mess.
12. Sometimes I think that people are extremely foolish.
13. I believe that a computer breakdown is a common excuse for late papers.
14. The elephant, that stands on the drum is Maggie.
15. The elephant, which is a hard worker and a talented performer, is found in most zoos and circuses.
Commas 2 -Insert all necessary commas into the following sentences:
1. Heeding all too well the admonition of Genesis 1:26, man has clearly established dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the cattle, and all the earth.
2. In fact, man has gone far toward destroying all members of the animal kingdom, including of course himself.
3. In the last 150 years, man has increased his extermination of mammals alone by fifty-five-fold, and if the killing continues at the present rate man may well destroy all 4062 species of mammals within thirty years.
4. Even today, there are 835 endangered species, with more being added each year.
5. In India, where 40000 tigers roamed in 1930, there are now only 2500 left, and the lion population, currently estimated at 175, has been depleted even more severely.
6. Australia, a land of energetic sports-minded individuals, has treated its animal population no better than India has.
7. Consequently, animals like the kangaroo, for which Australia is famous are fast disappearing as are koala bears, Tasmanian wolves, and emus.
8. Because Australians were not concerned about their wildlife, in 1930 the government machine-gunned 20000 emus at one time.
9. In the United States, too, several species of wildlife have disappeared and many others are close to extinction.
10. The Eastern elk and the passenger pigeon once so plentiful in this country are now forever gone.
11. Other animals such as the alligator, the Southern Bald eagle, and the ivory-billed woodpecker may be fated to join the growing list of species we will see no more.
12. Although alligators are protected by law, men continue to kill them for their skins, only the belly portion of which are used.
13. As long as Americans want their expensive alligator belts, handbags, and shoes, the poachers will continue to supply the skins.
14. The profit motive of course has led to the wholesale slaughter of animals like the alligator and the tiger, but many other animals have been killed for whim or pleasure.
More Parallelism
We were dirty, hungry, and penniless.
My roommate liked to repair things around the house and do his own cooking.
During the day, we went on long hikes, rowed around the lake, or just had leisure time.
She returned to pay the rent and to pick up some of her things she had left.
Two things that I found hard to learn as a freshman were to get enough sleep and to trim expenses.
He asked me about my courses and where I was planning to be next year.
The doctor said that I should rest and not get excited or upset.
Hitler’s followers considered other nations to be racially inferior and to be fit only for slave labor.
The best way to combat juvenile delinquency is not to set up more social agencies but to restore old-fashioned discipline in the home.
The book told how to build a gun cabinet, how to build a bookcase, and how to make all types of furniture.
When I was a member of the basketball team, everyone met me with a happy smile, made lively conversation, and invited me to many parties.
Fires, caused by unheeding persons, have destroyed valuable forests and haved thereby decreased our lumber resources.
In basketball, there is never a dull moment, any team can win, and it is a fine display of teamwork.
My parents liked peace and quiet and relaxing in the evening at home.
Esther is a helpful person who makes friends easily.
Yosemite is a park with spectacular scenery, and has half-tame bears.
My friends were always going off to jog in the park or play a game of tennis.
The manager asked me to file an application and to leave my number.
We went to rallies to protest against pesticides, oppose nuclear power, or support other current causes.
My roommate was a smart dresser, a good student, and an excellent speaker.
2. The woman, sitting at the back table is a well-known restaurant reviewer.
3. When conditions are right, that horse can run just like its father.
4. His four favorite artists are Monet, Renoir, Degas, and Manet.
5. Let Warren and Andrea, our most skillful speakers, present our proposal.
6. Long regarded as a leading newspaper, the Washington Post boasts an outstanding staff of reporters.
7. Slowly, slyly, and cautiously, Eric slid the wallet across the table.
8. What we need is creative leadership, leadership that will encourage experimentation.
9. During high school, he read Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, and Hamlet.
10. Song of Solomon, I believe, is the professor’s favorite.
11. I believe that should the eggs break, we will have a mess.
12. Sometimes I think that people are extremely foolish.
13. I believe that a computer breakdown is a common excuse for late papers.
14. The elephant, that stands on the drum is Maggie.
15. The elephant, which is a hard worker and a talented performer, is found in most zoos and circuses.
Commas 2 -Insert all necessary commas into the following sentences:
1. Heeding all too well the admonition of Genesis 1:26, man has clearly established dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the cattle, and all the earth.
2. In fact, man has gone far toward destroying all members of the animal kingdom, including of course himself.
3. In the last 150 years, man has increased his extermination of mammals alone by fifty-five-fold, and if the killing continues at the present rate man may well destroy all 4062 species of mammals within thirty years.
4. Even today, there are 835 endangered species, with more being added each year.
5. In India, where 40000 tigers roamed in 1930, there are now only 2500 left, and the lion population, currently estimated at 175, has been depleted even more severely.
6. Australia, a land of energetic sports-minded individuals, has treated its animal population no better than India has.
7. Consequently, animals like the kangaroo, for which Australia is famous are fast disappearing as are koala bears, Tasmanian wolves, and emus.
8. Because Australians were not concerned about their wildlife, in 1930 the government machine-gunned 20000 emus at one time.
9. In the United States, too, several species of wildlife have disappeared and many others are close to extinction.
10. The Eastern elk and the passenger pigeon once so plentiful in this country are now forever gone.
11. Other animals such as the alligator, the Southern Bald eagle, and the ivory-billed woodpecker may be fated to join the growing list of species we will see no more.
12. Although alligators are protected by law, men continue to kill them for their skins, only the belly portion of which are used.
13. As long as Americans want their expensive alligator belts, handbags, and shoes, the poachers will continue to supply the skins.
14. The profit motive of course has led to the wholesale slaughter of animals like the alligator and the tiger, but many other animals have been killed for whim or pleasure.
More Parallelism
We were dirty, hungry, and penniless.
My roommate liked to repair things around the house and do his own cooking.
During the day, we went on long hikes, rowed around the lake, or just had leisure time.
She returned to pay the rent and to pick up some of her things she had left.
Two things that I found hard to learn as a freshman were to get enough sleep and to trim expenses.
He asked me about my courses and where I was planning to be next year.
The doctor said that I should rest and not get excited or upset.
Hitler’s followers considered other nations to be racially inferior and to be fit only for slave labor.
The best way to combat juvenile delinquency is not to set up more social agencies but to restore old-fashioned discipline in the home.
The book told how to build a gun cabinet, how to build a bookcase, and how to make all types of furniture.
When I was a member of the basketball team, everyone met me with a happy smile, made lively conversation, and invited me to many parties.
Fires, caused by unheeding persons, have destroyed valuable forests and haved thereby decreased our lumber resources.
In basketball, there is never a dull moment, any team can win, and it is a fine display of teamwork.
My parents liked peace and quiet and relaxing in the evening at home.
Esther is a helpful person who makes friends easily.
Yosemite is a park with spectacular scenery, and has half-tame bears.
My friends were always going off to jog in the park or play a game of tennis.
The manager asked me to file an application and to leave my number.
We went to rallies to protest against pesticides, oppose nuclear power, or support other current causes.
My roommate was a smart dresser, a good student, and an excellent speaker.
Monday, April 6, 2009
I don't think you should go out with him. I heard that he doesn't have a job and that he just broke up with his long-term girlfriend. Therefore, he wouldn't be able to support you financially and may rely on you for help with money. Since he just broke up with his long-term girlfriend he might not be over her which means he would not be able to support you emotionally either. He will most likely still have feelings for her so he would not be a good person to start a relationship with.
Race is still an important consideration in American politics today. I recently heard President Bush speak about hate crimes in schools. If there are hate crimes in schools obviously race issues are being passed down to younger generations. Because they are in schools means kids are not learning tolerance for differences in race. Since President Bush gave a speech about the issue it is still releveant.
Argumentative essays are meant to show your views and opinions and sway your reader to the side you have taken. My essay took an obvious side but it just listed why capital punishment should be abolished. I should have expanded on the reasons why it should be abolished. My essay should have contained more on the different opinions on capital punishment including mine. It should have offered more facts and reasons that would sway the reader to my side.
Race is still an important consideration in American politics today. I recently heard President Bush speak about hate crimes in schools. If there are hate crimes in schools obviously race issues are being passed down to younger generations. Because they are in schools means kids are not learning tolerance for differences in race. Since President Bush gave a speech about the issue it is still releveant.
Argumentative essays are meant to show your views and opinions and sway your reader to the side you have taken. My essay took an obvious side but it just listed why capital punishment should be abolished. I should have expanded on the reasons why it should be abolished. My essay should have contained more on the different opinions on capital punishment including mine. It should have offered more facts and reasons that would sway the reader to my side.
In Class
Our notion that only poets and novelists have to write is unrealistic. Many of us foolishly object to taking courses in writing. Students going into technical or scientific fields may think that writing is something they seldom have to do. However, Practicing engineers and scientists say they spend half thier time writing memos and reports. College students going into business think thier secretaries will do thier writing for them. This attitude shows a naive faith in the competency of thier secretaries. Besides, young business people seldom have private secretaries. Other things being equal, a person in any field who can express ideas clearly is sure to succeed.
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