| TOP | |
| Critical Reading | Home TestPrep Math Reading Communication Skills Office Location |
|
|
|||||||||||
| SATWRITING SATMATH | |||||||||||
|
Handle Associates
|
Students learn strategies for acquiring and maintaining new vocabulary. They also practice techniques to assist them in selecting the correct answers for a variety of vocabulary questions. In addition, they learn how to read actively and critically. | ||||||||||
| The critical reading section of the SAT* is composed of Sentence Completions and Passage-based Reading. Use the links below to initiate your review and practice of these sections. |
|
|
Handle Associates Can Help For help with preparation for Standardized Entrance Exams contact Handle Associates at: 1 203 453 5067 |
||||||||
|
|||||||||||
|
Sentence Completions |
|||||||||||
|
Vocabulary |
|||||||||||
|
Sentence Mechanics |
|
||||||||||
| Comprehension | |||||||||||
|
Passage-based Reading |
Active Reading Strategies | ||||||||||
| Practice Active Reading | |||||||||||
| Exercise 1 | |||||||||||
| Design the Test Questions
One way to practice reading comprehension is to imagine that you are the test designer For each of the samples below read the text and then design 5-7 specific questions for each article. |
|||||||||||
| TOP | |||||||||||
You can improve your written language skills! Grab the HANDLE on the door to success. |
Handle Associates is proud to offer the Handle Associates Writing Skills Workbook. Designed by an educator who has taught grammar and writing from grades seven through the first year of college, this workbook emphasizes practice. It contains six separate topics: parts of speech, sentence structure, word usage, case, agreement, and style. Each page presents a brief lesson followed by related exercises. The book is available with or without answer keys following each section. Because the workbook arose from real classroom situations, it has been widely field-tested and is practical and effective. It is the main text for the Handle Associates Communication Skills Program. It has been successful with students at all ability levels, and with native and non-native English speakers. It is being used in classrooms across the country; it has been adopted for use by schools in CT, LA, ME, MS, NY, NJ, OH, CA, UT | HOME TOP | |||||||||
| Global
Warming in the Public Eye: A Timeline
1904: Swedish scientist Svante Arrhenius was, according to NASA, "the first person to investigate the effect that doubling atmospheric carbon dioxide would have on global climate." Arrhenius began studying rapid increases in anthropogenic human-caused carbon emissions, determining that "the slight percentage of carbonic acid in the atmosphere may, by the advances of industry, be changed to a noticeable degree in the course of a few centuries." The unique research of Arrhenius suggested that this increase could be beneficial, making Earth's climates "more equable" and stimulating plant growth and food production. Until about 1960, most scientists thought it implausible that humans could actually affect average global temperatures. 1950s: Geophysicist Roger Revelle, with the help of Hans Suess, demonstrated that carbon dioxide levels in the air had increased as a result of the use of fossil fuels. 1965: Serving on the President's Science Advisory Committee Panel on Environmental Pollution in 1965, Roger Revelle helped publish the first high-level government mention of global warming. The book-length report identified many of the environmental troubles the nation faced, and mentioned in a "subpanel report" the potential for global warming by carbon dioxide. 1977: "In 1977 the nonpartisan National Academy of Sciences issued a study called Energy and Climate, which carefully suggested that the possibility of global warming 'should lead neither to panic nor to complacency.' Rather, the study continued, it should 'engender a lively sense of urgency in getting on with the work of illuminating the issues that have been identified and resolving the scientific uncertainties that remain.' As is typical with National Academy studies, the primary recommendation was for more research." From "Breaking the Global-Warming Gridlock" by Daniel Sarewitz and Roger Pielke Jr., THE ATLANTIC, July 2000 Roger Revelle chaired the National Academy Panel, which found that about forty percent of the anthropogenic carbon dioxide has remained in the atmosphere, two-thirds from fossil fuel and one-third from the clearing of forests. It is now known that carbon dioxide is one of the primary greenhouse gases that contributes to global warming and remains in the atmosphere for a century. 1980s: Representative Al Gore (D-TN), who had been a student of Revelle's, co-sponsored the first Congressional hearings to study the implications of global warming and to encourage the development of environmental technologies to combat global warming. 1982: Roger Revelle published a widely-read article in SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN addressing the rise in global sea level and the "relative role played by the melting of glaciers and ice sheets versus the thermal expansion of the warming surface waters." 1983: The Environmental Protection Agency released a report detailing some of the possible threats of the anthropogenic emission of carbon dioxide. 1988: NASA climate scientist James Hansen and his team reported to Congress on global warming, explaining, "the greenhouse warming should be clearly identifiable in the 1990s" and that "the temperature changes are sufficiently large to have major impacts on people and other parts of the biosphere, as shown by computed changes in the frequency of extreme events and comparison with previous climate trends." With the increased awareness of global warming issues, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was established by the World Meteorological Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme to assess scientific, technical and socio-economic information relevant for the understanding of climate change, its potential impacts and options for adaptation and mitigation. The IPCC was the first international effort of this scale to address environmental issues. 1990: Congress passed and President George Bush signed Public Law 101-606 "The Global Change Research Act of 1990. The purpose of the legislation was " to require the establishment of a United States Global Change Research Program aimed at understanding and responding to global change, including the cumulative effects of human activities and natural processes on the environment, to promote discussions towards international protocols in global change research, and for other purposes." As part of the Act, the Global Change Research Information Office (GCRIO) was established "to disseminate to foreign governments, businesses, and institutions, as well as citizens of foreign countries, scientific research information available in the United States which would be useful in preventing, mitigating, or adapting to the effects of global change. The office began formal operation in 1993. 1992: In June of 1992, over 100 government leaders, representatives from 170 countries, and some 30,000 participants met in Rio de Janeiro at the U.N. Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED or the "Earth Summit"). There, an international assembly formally recognized the need to integrate economic development and environmental protection into the goal of sustainable development. 1997: In December, 1997, more than 160 nations met in Kyoto, Japan, to negotiate binding limitations on greenhouse gases for the developed nations, pursuant to the objectives of the Framework Convention on Climate Change of 1992. The outcome of the meeting was the Kyoto Protocol, in which the developed nations agreed to limit their greenhouse gas emissions, relative to the levels emitted in 1990. The United States agreed to reduce emissions from 1990 levels by 7 percent during the period 2008 to 2012. Also that year, the United States Senate unanimously passed the Hagel-Byrd Resolution notifying the Clinton Administration that the Senate would not ratify any treaty that would (a) impose mandatory greenhouse gas emissions reductions for the United States without also imposing such reductions for developing nations, or (b) result in serious harm to our economy. 2001: The IPCC released its third assessment report, concluding on the basis of "new and stronger evidence that most of the observed warming over the last 50 years is attributable to human activities." They also observed that "the globally averaged surface temperature is projected to increase by 1.4 to 5.8 degrees Celsius over the period 1990 to 2100." The same year, President George W. Bush announced that the United States would not ratify the Kyoto Protocol. The Protocol is now in limbo until one of the two crucial holdouts Russia or the United States will ratify the treaty. 2002: The Milan conference of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was just one in a series of international meetings to negotiate points of the Kyoto Protocol, and the tension surrounding the issue brought both scientists and the energy industry to the table. NOW reported on the conference in "Ode to Kyoto." 2003: Senator John McCain (R-AZ) and Senator Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) co-sponsored a proposal for mandatory caps on "greenhouse gas" emissions from utilities and other industries. Although the proposal was rejected in the Senate by a margin of 55 to 43, it was the Senators' first attempt to garner Senate attention for the issue of global warming, and McCain and Lieberman were encouraged by the support for the measure. 2004: In August, an annual report by the Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research "Our Changing Planet: The U.S. Climate Change Science Program for Fiscal Years 2004 and 2005" was submitted to Congress. In what the NEW YORK TIMES called a "striking shift in the way the Bush administration has portrayed the science of climate change," the report indicated that "emissions of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases are the only likely explanation for global warming over the last three decades." Dr. James R. Mahoney, the director of government climate research, told the NEW YORK TIMES that the studies mentioned in the new report are "significant but not definitive." On September 15, members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation heard testimony examining recent scientific research concerning climate change impacts. Senator John McCain presided, opening the hearing by explaining: Last month, I visited the Arctic region and saw first hand the impacts of climate change on the region. These impacts are real and are consistent with earlier scientific projections that the polar regions would experience the effects of climate change at a faster rate than the rest of the globe. The retreating glaciers provide irrefutable evidence supporting the need to take action on this issue. We cannot continue to ignore an issue that is not static. We need to take action that extends well beyond eloquent speeches, and includes meaningful actions such real reductions in the emission of greenhouse gases. In late 2004, the Bush Administration came into conflict with the world
community when it appeared to take issue with parts of an eight-nation
report compiled by 250 scientists which contended that the Arctic is
warming almost twice as fast as the rest of the planet due to a buildup of
heat-trapping gases. The U.S. State Department argued that the group
lacked the evidence to prepare detailed policy proposals. The Kyoto Protocol entered into force on February 16, 2005. Industrialized countries have committed to cut their combined emissions to 5% below 1990 levels by 2008 - 2012. The emissions covered under the treaty are: Carbon dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), Perfluorocarbons (PFCs), Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6). As of April 19, 2005, 149 states and regional economic integration organizations have deposited instruments of ratifications, accessions, approvals or acceptances. (More about Kyoto.) SOURCES: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change; CBS News; NASA's Earth Observatory; Environmental Research Foundation; THE ATLANTIC; SOCIAL PROBLEMS; Global Change Research Information Office
|
|||||||||||
| Auto
Emissions and The Environment
It took over 200 million years for the oil beneath the earth's surface to form. In the past 200 years, we have already used half of that reserve. If current rates of consumption continue, the world's remaining oil would be used up in 40 years. Right now, two-thirds of the oil used around the world powers transportation vehicles, and half goes to passenger cars and light trucks. Being conscious of our fuel use will help to conserve resources for future generations.
Transportation involves the combustion of fossil fuels to produce energy translated into motion. Pollution is created from incomplete carbon reactions, unburned hydrocarbons or other elements present in the fuel or air during combustion. These processes produce pollutants of various species, including carbon monoxide, soot, various gaseous and liquid vapour hydrocarbons, oxides of sulphur and nitrogen, sulphate and nitrate particulates, ash and lead. These primary pollutants can, in turn, react in the atmosphere to form ozone, secondary particulates, and other damaging secondary pollutants. Combustion also produces carbon dioxide, the primary greenhouse gas. (United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Division for Sustainable Development)These environmental concerns about the country's transportation habits have been studied extensively. The tailpipe emissions from cars and trucks account for almost a third of the air pollution in the United States. Although smog is produced by many factors, including sunlight, temperatures, winds and "basin" effects (such as those that affect the air quality in Los Angeles), the air pollution caused by transportation is a major contributor. In their Sprawl Report 2001, the Sierra Club graded the car and truck smog in America's 50 largest cities using data from the EPA. The area containing New York City scored best, with a grade of C+, creating 54 pounds of smog from cars and trucks per person per year. Twelve of the top 50 cities earned a grade of F, including Louisville, Kentucky, which has 137 pounds of smog from cars and trucks per person per year. The full Sprawl Report 2001 is available on the Sierra Club Web site. And check the air quality in your state by consulting our environmental resource map. The Clean Air Act of 1970 gave the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency broad authority to regulate motor vehicle pollution, and since then, emission control policies have become progressively more stringent. In addition, the EPA has published various fact sheets, such as "Your Car and Clean Air: What YOU Can Do to Reduce Pollution." The EPA advocates some easy changes to transportation habits such as: - Avoiding unnecessary driving by consolidating trips, telecommuting,
carpooling, using public transit, and choosing clean transportation
alternatives such as biking and walking. Environmental Defense offers tips to maximize fuel economy and minimize the emissions your vehicle generates, in Vehicle Use: Driving Practices. The EPA also provides Tips to Save Gas and Improve Mileage, including pointers on what to consider when buying a new car. All new cars must meet federal emissions standards. But as vehicles get older, the amount of pollution they produce increases. Vehicles with better fuel economy may produce less pollution over time than vehicles with lower fuel economy. The United States Department of Energy and the EPA produce the Fuel Economy Guide each year to help car buyers choose the most fuel-efficient vehicle that meets their needs. Only about 15% of the energy in the fuel put in the gas tank of a conventional car gets used to move the car down the road or run useful accessories like air conditioning or power steering. The rest of the energy is lost. Because of this, the potential to improve fuel economy with advanced technologies is enormous. Clean vehicles are vehicles that emit extremely low or no air pollution. This category includes electric vehicles (EV's), hybrid and fuel cell vehicles: An electric vehicle is one powered by a battery, the most environmentally sound vehicle option in operation. They are the only true zero-emission vehicles on the road. For over a century, these vehicles have been used in industrial plants where internal combustion engine exhaust poses health risks, and for light-duty transportation. Hybrid vehicles are powered by a combination of a combustion engine and an electric motor. Hybrids can double gas mileage while halving emissions. The heat generated during braking is stored as electricity in the car's battery pack and then is used to provide extra power for accelerating. Hybrid vehicles rely on gasoline stored in a conventional fuel tank, and do not need to be plugged into an external electricity source. The U.S. Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency feature an extensive section on hybrid vehicles on their Fuel Economy Web site, including a side-by-side comparison of some hybrid vehicles on the market, a section on tax incentives, a description of how hybrids work, and links to sites where you can learn more about hybrid vehicles. Fuel cell vehicles are not yet available on the market. They are powered by electrochemical engines that harness the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen. The sole byproducts are water and heat. Hydrogen can be derived from a number of diverse sources, such as trees and plants (biomass), gases generated at landfills, and from other renewable energy sources, such as geothermal steam, sunlight and wind. Hydrogen can also be extracted from a hydrogen-rich fuel, such as methanol, ethanol, or natural gas and can be utilized in its pure form.
|
|||||||||||
|
The writer must believe that what he is doing is the most important thing in the world. And he must hold to this illusion even when he knows it is not true. -- John Steinbeck The great author John Steinbeck wrote about "regular Americans" for regular Americans. For this he was awarded a Nobel Prize in literature and his chronicle of the Depression Dust Bowl, THE GRAPES OF WRATH, is found on lists of the greatest books of the 20th century. Steinbeck might be disheartened by some recent developments which reflect on the American culture of reading.In 2004, the National Endowment for the Arts published the disturbing results of a study on American reading habits. "Reading at Risk" showed that the percentage of Americans reading literature has dropped from 56.9 percent in 1982 to 46.7 percent in 2002. That decline, the study said, represents a loss of 20 million readers. And the rate of the decline is accelerating, especially among young people. The study stated starkly: "At the current rate of loss, literary reading as a leisure activity will eventually disappear in half a century." Last year the three public libraries in Steinbeck's hometown of Salinas, California announced they would be forced to close because of lack of funding. Some 100 residents of the town gathered for a candelight vigil January 17, 2005 around the statue of John Steinbeck in front of the Steinbeck Library to protest the imminent closing. Library staff received termination notices for June 17, 2005. The American Library Association has passed a resolution opposing the closures.
|
|||||||||||