Read this excerpt from "mad cow, furious farmer." a prion is a piece of protein very similar, but not identical, to other proteins in the brain. it is a little bit squishy and maybe a little sticky. if it manages to burrow into a corner of the brain, it will slowly bend and break all the proteins nearby, carving sponge-like holes all over the brain. these holes are what give the disease its official name: bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or bse. "bovine" means having to do with a cow, "spongiform" means having sponge-like structures, and “encephalopathy” means a disease of the brain. it takes a long time for the cow to show symptoms of the disease, but by the time the cow starts staggering around and acting strangely, the brain is a mess and the poor animal is nearly dead. that strange behavior is what gives the diseases its common name of "mad cow disease." what is one example of the author keeping a lively tone even while discussing a disease? a. the author uses technical language when defining the name "bovine spongiform encephalopathy." b. the author explains how "[i]t takes a long time for the cow to show symptoms" after it is infected by the disease. c. the author connects prions to humans by saying it is "very similar to other proteins in the brain." d. the author humanizes the prion with playful language by saying "[i]f it manages to burrow into a corner."

Select the correct text in the passage. in richard connell's short story "the most dangerous game," zaroffs aristocratic appearance and dignified manners mask his sinister, animalistic nature. which line from the excerpt best provides a glimpse into his true nature? rainsford's first impression was that the man was singularly handsome; his second was that there was an original, almost bizarre quality about the general's face. he was a tall man past middle age, for his hair was a vivid white; but his thick eyebrows and pointed military mustache were as black as the night from which rainsford had come. his eyes, too, were black and very bright. he had high cheekbones, a sharpcut nose, a spare, dark face-the face of a man used to giving orders, the face of an aristocrat. turning to the giant in uniform, the general made a sign. the giant put away his pistol, saluted, withdrew. "ivan is an incredibly strong fellow," remarked the general, "but he has the misfortune to be deaf and dumb. a simple fellow, but, i'm afraid, like all his race, a bit of a savage." "is he russian? " "he is a cossack," said the general, and his smile showed red lips and pointed teeth. "so am i." half apologetically general zaroff said, "we do our best to preserve the amenities of civilization here. forgive any lapses. we are well off the beaten track, you know." laughter shook the general. "how extraordinarily droll you are! " he said. "one does not expect nowadays to find a young man of the educated class, even in america, with such a naive, and, if i may say so, mid-victorian point of view. it's like finding a snuffbox in a limousine. ah, well, doubtless you