"Yo Ho, a Pirate's Book For Me"

Book Review by Stephen Davidson from the online blog Popular Reads

 

In the 17th century, there were people who called the sea home and sought extraordinary adventures. These people were called pirates. Pirates, or privateers as they were sometimes called, have long been a part of popular culture in the 21st century in books, television shows, plays, and movies. With so many pieces of media about pirates, one would not think that anything else would be needed. That would be a mistaken belief.Pirates: A Swashbuckling History by Grace O'Malley Teach, a popular fiction writer, is a wonderful addition to the popular fiction on pirates. She brings a fresh take on mythology from the world of piracy. Each chapter of this 168 page book is dedicated to a famous (or possibly infamous) pirate from history, from the dreaded Blackbeard to the fierce Mary Reed. As she explores these legends with her vivid writing style, it is like the pirates leap from the pages of the book and begin battling in right in front of my eyes. In addition to her excellent writing bringing the stories to life, artistic representations of each of the pirates has been created for this book by up and coming illustrator Edward Teach, the author's brother, who just began a comic series about British history.Some of the content can get a little graphic in its violence, which is what we should really all expect from a book about pirates. However, I believe that this book is the perfect present for the young children that haven't yet found a love of reading. I would also recommend this as a fun read when relaxing on a boat or by the beach to really get in the mindset of piracy and adventure. No matter where this book is read, I can guarantee that this is a purchase is worth it!

 

Based on the passage, whose point of view is being used in this book review?

At a school field trip to the zoo, Laura wanted to visit as many animals as she could. She first stopped at the lion exhibit. Then, she saw the elephant after stopping to see the giraffe. Finally, she stopped to see the otter playing in the water.

Which of the following animals did Laura see second?

The day began when my watch beeped at 4:30 a.m. The alarm was supposed to sound at 7:30, but I had forgotten to change the time back to my time zone after my last business trip in Boston. It was a struggle to stay awake for everything I needed to get done. First, I groggily showered, washed my hair, and blow dried it. Then, I kept yawning while I got dressed, but before I got dressed I had to iron my silky blouse. Next, I finally got to have my hot coffee while I styled my hair and put on my makeup. Finally, I was wide awake and at my bus stop ten minutes early so I could arrive at my audition on time.

Which of the following actions did the protagonist of the passage perform first?

As little as three years before her birth, few would have thought that the child born Princess Alexandrina Victoria would eventually become Brittain's longest monarch, Queen Victoria. She was born in 1819, the only child of Edward, Duke of Kent, who was the fourth son of King George III. Ahead of Edward were three brothers, two of whom became king but none of whom produced a legitimate, , surviving heir, King George's eldest son, who was eventually crowned King George IV, secretly married a Catholic commoner, Maria Fitzherbert, in 1783. The marriage was never officially recognized, and in 1795, George was persuaded to marry a distant cousin, Caroline of Brunswick. The marriage was bitter, and the two had only one daughter, Princess Charlotte Augusta. She was popular in England where her eventual reign was welcome, but in a tragic event that shocked the nation, the princess and her stillborn son dies in childbirth in 1817.

Realizing the precarious position of the British throne, the remaining sons of King George III were motivated to marry and produce an heir. The first in line was Prince Frederick, the Duke of York. Frederick married Princess Frederica Charlotte of Prussia, but the two had no children. After Prince Frederick was Prince William, the Duke of Clarence. William married Princess Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen, and they had two sickly daughters neither of whom survived infancy. Finally, Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, threw his hat into the ring with his marriage to Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfield. The Duke of Kent died less than a year after his daughter's birth, but the surviving Duchess of Kent was not unaware of the future possibilities for her daughter. She took every precaution to ensure that the young Princess Victoria was healthy and safe throughout her childhood.

Princess Victoria's uncle, William, succeeded his brother George IV to become King William IV. The new king recognized his niece as his future heir, but he did not necessarily trust her mother. As a result, he was determined to survive until Victoria's eighteenth birthday to ensure that she could rule in own right without the regency of the Duchess of Kent. The king's fervent prayers were answered: he died June, 1837, less than one month after Victoria turned eighteen. Through young and inexperienced, the young queen recognized the importance of her position and determined to rule fairly and wisely. The improbable princess who became queen ruled for more than sixty-three years, and her reign is considered to be one of the most important in British history.

What is the author's likely purpose in writing this passage about Queen Victoria?

As little as three years before her birth, few would have thought that the child born Princess Alexandrina Victoria would eventually become Brittain's longest monarch, Queen Victoria. She was born in 1819, the only child of Edward, Duke of Kent, who was the fourth son of King George III. Ahead of Edward were three brothers, two of whom became king but none of whom produced a legitimate, , surviving heir, King George's eldest son, who was eventually crowned King George IV, secretly married a Catholic commoner, Maria Fitzherbert, in 1783. The marriage was never officially recognized, and in 1795, George was persuaded to marry a distant cousin, Caroline of Brunswick. The marriage was bitter, and the two had only one daughter, Princess Charlotte Augusta. She was popular in England where her eventual reign was welcome, but in a tragic event that shocked the nation, the princess and her stillborn son dies in childbirth in 1817.

Realizing the precarious position of the British throne, the remaining sons of King George III were motivated to marry and produce an heir. The first in line was Prince Frederick, the Duke of York. Frederick married Princess Frederica Charlotte of Prussia, but the two had no children. After Prince Frederick was Prince William, the Duke of Clarence. William married Princess Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen, and they had two sickly daughters neither of whom survived infancy. Finally, Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, threw his hat into the ring with his marriage to Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfield. The Duke of Kent died less than a year after his daughter's birth, but the surviving Duchess of Kent was not unaware of the future possibilities for her daughter. She took every precaution to ensure that the young Princess Victoria was healthy and safe throughout her childhood.

Princess Victoria's uncle, William, succeeded his brother George IV to become King William IV. The new king recognized his niece as his future heir, but he did not necessarily trust her mother. As a result, he was determined to survive until Victoria's eighteenth birthday to ensure that she could rule in own right without the regency of the Duchess of Kent. The king's fervent prayers were answered: he died June, 1837, less than one month after Victoria turned eighteen. Through young and inexperienced, the young queen recognized the importance of her position and determined to rule fairly and wisely. The improbable princess who became queen ruled for more than sixty-three years, and her reign is considered to be one of the most important in British history.

Based on the context of the passage the reader can infer that this information is likely to appear in which of the following types of works?

Lisa Grant: "School should make students wear uniforms. Everyone would look the same. Students would be able to respect each other based on their ideas and character because they would no longer be judge by their appearance."

Joe Smith. "Students should not have to wear uniforms: Clothing is an important part of self expression. Taking away that method of expression is suppressing that student's rights."

...

Which of the following statements could NOT provide support for BOTH arguments?

Which of the following would be the best reference material for a researcher looking for statistics over different demographics in various countries?

In 1907, Edith Cavell, a British nurse, was appointed head nurse of the Berkendael Medical Institute in Belgium. In 1914, at the start of World War I and the German occupation of Belgium, Cavell joined the Red Cross to support the nursing effort. The Berkendael Institute was converted into a hospital for wounded soldiers of all nationalities. During this time, Cavell helped soldiers treated there to escape to neutral Holland. In 1915, she was arrested by local German authorities for abetting the escape of 200 soldiers and was sentenced to death. Cavell's case received significant press coverage around the world, especially in Britain and the United States. In the weeks after her death, the number of men enlisting to serve in World War I greatly increased.

Which sentence in the passage allows the reader to infer that Edith Cavell was a skilled nurse?

"Yo Ho, a Pirate's Book For Me"

Book Review by Stephen Davidson from the online blog Popular Reads

In the 17th century, there were people who called the sea home and sought extraordinary adventures. These people were called pirates. Pirates, or privateers as they were sometimes called, have long been a part of popular culture in the 21st century in books, television shows, plays, and movies. With so many pieces of media about pirates, one would not think that anything else would be needed. That would be a mistaken belief.Pirates: A Swashbuckling History by Grace O'Malley Teach, a popular fiction writer, is a wonderful addition to the popular fiction on pirates. She brings a fresh take on mythology from the world of piracy. Each chapter of this 168 page book is dedicated to a famous (or possibly infamous) pirate from history, from the dreaded Blackbeard to the fierce Mary Reed. As she explores these legends with her vivid writing style, it is like the pirates leap from the pages of the book and begin battling in right in front of my eyes. In addition to her excellent writing bringing the stories to life, artistic representations of each of the pirates has been created for this book by up and coming illustrator Edward Teach, the author's brother, who just began a comic series about British history.Some of the content can get a little graphic in its violence, which is what we should really all expect from a book about pirates. However, I believe that this book is the perfect present for the young children that haven't yet found a love of reading. I would also recommend this as a fun read when relaxing on a boat or by the beach to really get in the mindset of piracy and adventure. No matter where this book is read, I can guarantee that this is a purchase is worth it!

Based on the passage, whose point of view is being used in this book review?

"Yo Ho, a Pirate's Book For Me"

Book Review by Stephen Davidson from the online blog Popular Reads

In the 17th century, there were people who called the sea home and sought extraordinary adventures. These people were called pirates. Pirates, or privateers as they were sometimes called, have long been a part of popular culture in the 21st century in books, television shows, plays, and movies. With so many pieces of media about pirates, one would not think that anything else would be needed. That would be a mistaken belief.Pirates: A Swashbuckling History by Grace O'Malley Teach, a popular fiction writer, is a wonderful addition to the popular fiction on pirates. She brings a fresh take on mythology from the world of piracy. Each chapter of this 168 page book is dedicated to a famous (or possibly infamous) pirate from history, from the dreaded Blackbeard to the fierce Mary Reed. As she explores these legends with her vivid writing style, it is like the pirates leap from the pages of the book and begin battling in right in front of my eyes. In addition to her excellent writing bringing the stories to life, artistic representations of each of the pirates has been created for this book by up and coming illustrator Edward Teach, the author's brother, who just began a comic series about British history.Some of the content can get a little graphic in its violence, which is what we should really all expect from a book about pirates. However, I believe that this book is the perfect present for the young children that haven't yet found a love of reading. I would also recommend this as a fun read when relaxing on a boat or by the beach to really get in the mindset of piracy and adventure. No matter where this book is read, I can guarantee that this is a purchase is worth it!

"Yo Ho, a Pirate's Book For Me"What is the author's purpose for writing this book review?

The Bermuda Triangle

The area known as the Bermuda Triangle has become such a part of popular culture that it can be difficult to separate fact from fiction. The interest first began when five Navy planes vanished in 1945, officially resulting from "causes or reasons unknown." The explanations about other accidents in the Triangle range from the scientific to the supernatural. Researchers have never been able to find anything truly mysterious about what happens in the Bermuda Triangle if there even is a Bermuda Triangle. What is more one of the biggest challenges in considering the phenomenon is deciding how much area actually represents the Bermuda Triangle. Most consider the Triangle to stretch from Miami out to Puerto Rico and to include the island of Bermuda. Others expand the area to include all of the Caribbean islands and to extend eastward as far as the Azores, which are closer to Europe than they are to North America.

The problem with having a larger Bermuda Triangle is it increase the odds of accidents. There is near-constant travel, by ship and plane, across the Atlantic, and accidents are expected to occur. In fact, the Bermuda Triangle happens to fall within one of the busiest navigational regions in the world, and the reality of greater activity creates the possibility for more to go wrong. Shipping records suggest that there is not a greater than average loss of vessels within the Bermuda Triangle, and many researchers have argued that the reputation of the Triangle makes any accident seem out of the ordinary. In fact, most accidents fall within the expected margin of error. The increase in ships from East Asia no doubt contributes to an increase in accidents. And as for the story of the Navy planes that disappeared within the Triangle, many researchers now conclude that it was the result of mistakes on the part of the pilot who were flying into storm clouds and simply got lost.

Which of the following describes this type of writing?