Read this excerpt from "are dogs dumb? " by karen hopkin.

chimps can use sign language to talk to their trainers. monkeys can learn to count. a crow can figure out how to use a stick to get at that hard-to-reach grub. chickens can learn to play checkers. even worms can be taught to run mazes. so which animal is the smartest? you're probably thinking that chimps are smarter than chickens. and that crows are smarter than worms. and that you’re smarter than all of them.

what is the author's purpose in this paragraph?

a to argue that bigger animals are smarter than smaller animals

b to give information about animal intelligence

c to explain that humans are the smartest animals of all

d to describe how intelligent chimps are

Read the excerpt below from "letter from birmingham jail" and then answer the question below: "my citing the creation of tension as part of the work of the nonviolent resister may sound rather shocking. but i must confess that i am not afraid of the word "tension." i have earnestly opposed violent tension, but there is a type of constructive, nonviolent tension which is necessary for growth. just as socrates felt that it was necessary to create a tension in the mind so that individuals could rise from the bondage of myths and half truths to the unfettered realm of creative analysis and objective appraisal, so must we see the need for nonviolent gadflies to create the kind of tension in society that will men rise from the dark depths of prejudice and racism to the majestic heights of understanding and brotherhood." how does king's repetition of the term "tension" impact the meaning of the text? dr. king says that he is afraid of the word tension and he doesn't think it is necessary. dr. king repeats the word tension to explain how he sees the word as a negative force that discourages change. dr. king repeats the word tension unintentionally, and it doesn't impact the meaning of the text. dr. king repeats the word tension to support how he views the word tension as positive and growth-producing.

Which counter claim is most effective against this claim? rob's essay includes

Armed with invisible ink, a cipher system, and a passion to end the war and preserve the union, elizabeth van lew became butler's eyes and ears in the confederate capital city. truth be told, however, she became much more than that. she became a spymaster, the person responsible for running a network of agents, couriers, and safe houses that was very active during the war. in addition to the spying, elizabeth van lew continued to maintain her church hill home as a safe house and something of a local union spy headquarters. —the dark game, paul janeczko what is the central idea of this passage? van lew’s home was used as a safe house, which was critical to the confederacy. van lew had a passion to end the war and preserve the union. van lew was a spymaster, a leading force in the espionage activities for the union. van lew did not enjoy working for general butler.