Select the statement that best expresses the main idea of the passage. People often refer to taxes in terms of their being much too high. In reality, they are probably even higher than you think because in addition to the federal income tax we are now studying, there are many other Federal, State, and local taxes, including sales taxes, inheritance taxes, state income taxes, personal property taxes, real estate taxes, and others. These are just some of the most obvious ones.

Select the statement that best expresses the main idea of the passage. There is a common belief that while the dog is man’s best friend, the coyote is his worst enemy. The coyote's bad reputation traces back to his fondness for small animals; he hunts at night and is particularly destructive to sheep, young pigs, and poultry. Yet it is sometimes wise to encourage coyotes. Provided valuable farm animals are protected, the coyote will often free the property of other animals, like rabbits, which are ruinous to crops and certain trees. He is especially beneficial in keeping down the rodent population. Where coyotes have been allowed to do their work without molestation, ranchers and fruit growers have found them so valuable that they would no more shoot them than shoot their dogs.

What is causing the white marble of the Taj Mahal to turn green? Since the mid-1600s, the magnificent white marble walls of India's Taj Mahal have welcomed tourists hoping to visit the mausoleum. Recently, however, the white marble has started turning green, thanks to insects that leave patches of their waste on the structure. The insects, known as Goeldichironomus, are usually eaten by fish in the nearby Yamuna River. However, because drought and water pollution have decimated many of the fish that once lived in the Yamuna, the insect population has exploded.

The grizzly is a large, powerful bear standing about six feet tall and weighing approximately eight hundred pounds. Due to the bear's impressive size and intimidating strength, many early settlers who explored the American west documented their encounters with the bear. When Lewis and Clark were traveling to the Pacific in 1805, for example, Lewis recorded how grizzlies surrounded their camp in Montana. As settlers continued to push westward, grizzlies were hunted and pushed out. Therefore, the majority of grizzlies in the American west have disappeared. Today, it's estimated that only one thousand grizzlies remain in the United States. Because grizzly bears were hunted and pushed out, ____________________________________

It is easy to start your own tomato plants at home. First get together a few simple supplies like a seed mat and an old fish tank light, potting soil, and tomato seeds. You will also need something to use as small pots for your seedlings. Used plastic tubs from sour cream or yogurt work really well. Fill each container about ¾ of the way full. Place two or three seeds into the soil in each cup. Poke them down a little and cover them with soil. Give each pot a little water, and place them on the seedling mat. Plug the seedling mat into the wall. Within a week or two, you should see your seeds beginning to sprout. When you do, move them underneath the fish tank light. Be sure to check on your baby plants every few days and remember to water them. Your plants will be ready to set outside in about six weeks. The above passage is an example of which organizational pattern?

Have you noticed tiny white bugs on the leaves of your tomato plants? Those are called aphids, and they are bad news. The good news, though is that there is an easy and natural way to get rid of aphids: ladybugs! Ladybugs love aphids and will eat more than 50 of them a day. You can order a container of live ladybugs for your garden from many garden companies. Simply release them into your garden when they arrive, and let them take care of the aphids for you! The above passage is an example of which organizational pattern?

Select the meaning of the underlined word in the passage. No matter where you go, the Internet is following you. Almost every portable device is being made with an Internet connection. Most new TVs and many other appliances come with Internet connections as well. The Internet is truly ubiquitous. If something is ubiquitous, ______________________

Some people are always bashing the president just like others bashed the one before him. Wouldn't you think that everyone could find something to praise him for, at least once in a while? What does the word bashing mean in the above passage?

In the early 1600s, a dangerous trip across the Atlantic Ocean was a daunting idea. The Europeans, who would someday be known as the Pilgrims, must have been a very determined and brave group of settlers. A daunting task is one that would _______ someone.

Choose the best answer for the following statement. REFORESTATION will help to RESTORE our environment.