Asset Test – Sample

Each underlined word or phrase in the following passage either does or doesn’t contain an error or style, grammar, or usage. If you believe it’s correct as shown, select a for NO CHANGE; otherwise, select the answer that would be the best choice to replace the word or phrase. Once upon a time, (1) there was a village in the jungle, a man appeared and announced to the villagers that he would buy monkeys for $10 each. (2) Seeing as how there were many monkeys around, the villagers went out to the (3) forest, and started catching them. The man bought thousands at $10, (4) and, as the supply started to diminish, the villagers let (5) there efforts lag. The man (6) later announced that he would buy monkeys at $20 each. This renewed the vigor of the (7) villagers and got them catching monkeys again. there was

Seeing as how

forest, and

and,

there

later

villagers and

Read the following passage and then answer the questions that follow Daylight Saving Time (DST) is the practice of changing clocks so that afternoons have more daylight and mornings have less. Clocks are adjusted forward one hour in the spring and one hour backward in the fall. The main purpose of the change is to make better use of daylight. DST began with the goal of conservation. Benjamin Franklin suggested it as a method of saving on candles. It was used during both World Wars to save energy for military needs. Although DST’s potential to save energy was a primary reason behind its implementation, research into its effects on energy conservation are contradictory and unclear. Beneficiaries of DST include all activities that can benefit from more sunlight after working hours, such as shopping and sports. A 1984 issue of Fortune magazine estimated that a seven-week extension of DST would yield an additional $30 million for 7-Eleven stores. Public safety may be increased by the use of DST: some research suggests that traffic fatalities may be reduced when there is additional afternoon sunlight. On the other hand, DST complicates timekeeping and some computer systems. Tools with built-in time-keeping functions such as medical devices can be affected negatively. Agricultural and evening entertainment interests have historically opposed DST. DST can affect health, both positively and negatively. It provides more afternoon sunlight in which to get exercise. It also impacts sunlight exposure; this is good for getting vitamin D, but bad in that it can increase skin cancer risk. DST may also disrupt sleep. Today, daylight saving time has been adopted by more than one billion people in about 70 countries. DST is generally not observed in countries near the equator because sunrise times do not vary much there. Asia and Africa do not generally observe it. Some countries, such as Brazil, observe it only in some regions. DST can lead to peculiar situations. One of these occurred in November, 2007 when a woman in North Carolina gave birth to one twin at 1:32 a.m. and, 34 minutes later, to the second twin. Because of DST and the time change at 2:00 a.m., the second twin was officially born at 1:06, 26 minutes earlier than her brother. According to the passage, what is the main purpose of DST?

Which of the following is not mentioned in the passage as a negative effect of DST?

The article states that DST involves: