read the excerpt from “raymond's run.”

now some people like to act like things come easy to them, won’t let on that they practice. not me. i’ll high-prance down 34th street like a rodeo pony to keep my knees strong even if it does get my mother uptight so that she walks ahead like she’s not with me, don’t know me, is all by herself on a shopping trip, and i am somebody else’s crazy child.
which theme is shown most clearly in this excerpt?

a. strong knees are the secret to improved running.
b. people with natural talent require little practice to win.
c. being good at something requires hard work and practice.
d. kids will sometimes go to extremes to embarrass their parents.

Read the dialogue from act ll scene iv of romeo and juliet. which word from the conversation best the reader understand the mood of the scene?

Write a literary analysis essay about an intercalary chapter of the grapes of wrath. your essay should examine how the structure and language support the overall purpose, and it should include specific examples from the text to support your claim. your essay should include the following elements: • a claim that takes a clear stand on the author's purpose, supported by main points • evidence from the text that supports your claim and main points • commentary that the reader understand how your evidence should be interpreted • an introduction, body and conclusion that organize the content of your essay

Read this passage: many manufacturers prefer plastic as a material for containers because it can be molded into many shapes. but plastic is not very strong. it must be fused with glass or steel for strength. it is also not very durable. even the strongest plastic can break under enough pressure. the biggest disadvantage to using plastic is that it does not decompose. while plastic can be recycled, doing so is tedious and difficult. while it may be more expensive and difficult to work with, aluminum is a much stronger building material with far greater tensile strength. it conducts electricity because it is metal. best of all, aluminum is very easy to recycle. even if it is thrown away, it decomposes much more quickly than most manufacturing materials. how does the compare-and-contrast organizational pattern of the passage support the author's purpose? a. the passage gradually leads up to the point about decomposition to inform the reader about the importance of recycling plastics. b. the passage lists the advantages and disadvantages of each material to make a case for the use of plastic and not aluminum in containers. c. the passage begins with a description of plastic's problems in order to call attention to the good qualities of aluminum. d. the passage shows the superiority of aluminum in order to make a case for the production of stronger plastics.