Sunday, October 26, 2014

Monday's Cold Read Passage "The Lost Art of Letter Writing"

Directions: Read the passage below.  Then, answer the questions that follow by writing the letter for each answer on your own paper.

The following is a rough draft of a student’s report, which may contain errors.

The Lost Art of Letter Writing

(1) Many people use email today to communicate with each other.  (2) If you have access to a computer, it’s a great way to send messages easily, in a quick manner, and on as many occasions as you like.  (3) No longer is it necessary to find a pen or paper, not to mention an envelope or a stamp.

(4) Are we missing anything by not writing actual letters to people?  (5) Is the experience of receiving such letters worth the trouble of writing them?  (6) Most people would probably reply “No it was waste of paper anyway; this is a much better system.” (7)  It’s hard to argue against such a logical viewpoint.  (8)  However, I would like

(9) I believe that the kinds of letters people used to write tended to be more meaningful than the vast majority of the billions of emails sent today. (10) Of course, when it comes to sending quick messages to convey specific information, email is the best. (11) If time is important, email is particularly useful. (12) If, however, you want to really reach out and touch someone, a letter is more personal.

(13) Handwritten letters are the most personal. (14) If you can type fast, you can fit a lot into a letter.  (15)  What’s lacking is that special sense of the person that comes from seeing her or his handwriting.  (16)  As long as it’s legible, it doesn’t matter how tidy it is.  (17) When someone sits down and writes just for you, you feel that when you’re reading it.

(18)  Though I’m a teenager, I confess that I too feel thrilled to receive a letter in the mail. (19) I love seeing my name written by hand on an envelope. (20) You make yourself a nice cup of cocoa or lemonade, sit down in a cozy place, open your letter, and enjoy everything that the person put into those words just for you. (21) What a gift!

  
1. In sentence 2, how is easily, in a quick manner, and on as many occasions as correctly written?
A easily, quickly, and as often as
B easy, quick, and as frequently as
C easily, quick, and as many if
D As it is

2. How can the student best rewrite sentence 6?
A Most people would probably reply, “no, it was a waste of paper anyway, this is a much better system.”
B Most people would probably reply, “No, it was a waste of paper anyway.  This is a much better system.”
C Most people would probably reply, “no, it was a waste of paper anyway; and this is a much better system.”
D Most people would probably reply “No it was a waste of paper anyway; this is a much better system.”

3. In sentence 17, how is you’re correctly written?
A youre
B your
C youre’
D As it is

4. How can the student best rewrite sentence 20?
A We make ourselves a nice cup of cocoa or lemonade, sit down in a cozy place, open our letters, and enjoy everything that the person put into those words just for us.
B You make yourself a nice cup of cocoa or lemonade. You sit down in a cozy place. You open your letter. You enjoy everything that the person put into those words just for you.
C I make myself a nice cup of cocoa or lemonade, sit down in a cozy place, open my letter, and enjoy everything that the person put into those words just for me.
D Make a nice cup of cocoa or lemonade, sit down in a cozy place, open the letter, and enjoy everything that the person put into those words.

5. The student decides to add an additional detail after sentence 3.  Which of these would be best?
A Thanks to the convenience of email, we can keep in touch with family and friends who live far away.
B Long ago, people had no choice but to write letters and mail them, not knowing if or when their messages would be received.
C Creating handwritten letters and sending them to people we miss is an art that should be revived.

D Scribbling brief notes is just not the same as writing long letters in which you pour out deep thoughts and feelings.

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