When i was 25 i got testicular cancer and nearly died. i was given less than a 40 percent chance of surviving, and frankly, some of my doctors were just being kind when they gave me those odds. death is not exactly cocktail-party conversation, i know, and neither is cancer, or brain surgery, or matters below the waist. but i’m not here to make polite conversation. i want to tell the truth. i’m sure you’d like to hear about how lance armstrong became a great american and an inspiration to us all, how he won the tour de france, the 2,290-mile road race that’s considered the single most grueling sporting event on the face of the earth. you want to hear about faith and mystery, and my miraculous comeback, and how i joined towering figures like greg lemond and miguel indurain in the record book. you want to hear about my lyrical climb through the alps and my heroic conquering of the pyrenees, and how it felt. but the tour was the least of the story.

source: armstrong, lance and sally jenkins. it’s not about the bike: my journey back to life. new york: putnam, 2000. 2-3. print.

which statement describes the author’s perspective and purpose in this excerpt?
the perspective is personal and serious-minded; the purpose is to inform.
the perspective is distant and matter-of-fact; the purpose is to entertain.
the perspective is irreverent; the purpose is to entertain and persuade.
the perspective is sarcastic and humorous; the purpose is to self-reflect.

Describe three methods that can be used to improve photosynthesis

Which line from the text provides specific support for the idea that mantids are excellent hunters? a) first, mantids show an amazing mastery of hunting skills. b) mantids eat a wide variety of insects, including moths, crickets, bees, flies, and grasshoppers. c) they have large, powerful front legs, with spikes that them hold on to prey. d) finally, they are very personable, as far as insects go. (language arts)

Usatestprep 1) how might an article with the same information as this passage be used for a different purpose by a different author? a) the author of the new article might be celebrating the great variety and richness of the english language. b) the author of the new article might be demonstrating how travel affects the integration of new words into a language. c) the author of the new article might be trying to educate readers about how many foreign words are in the english language. d) the author of the new article might be arguing that the english language is being corrupted by the influence of foreign languages. reactivate 2) from steal this book, by abbie hoffman pay phones you can make a local 10 cent call for 2 cents by spitting on the pennies and dropping them in the nickel slot. as soon as they are about to hit the trigger mechanism, bang the coin-return button. another way is to spin the pennies counter-clockwise into the nickel slot. hold the penny in the slot with your finger and snap it spinning with a key or other flat object. both systems take a certain knack, but once you've perfected the technique, you'll always have it in your survival kit. if two cents is too much, how about a call for 1 penny? cut a 1/4 strip off the telephone book cover. insert the cardboard strip into the dime slot as far as it will go. drop a penny in the nickel slot until it catches in the mechanism (spinning will ). then slowly pull the strip out until you hear the dial tone. in the first paragraph of "steal this book," the term "technique" can best be defined as a) style of clothing b) necessary routine c) emotional control d) method of movement 3) which word or phrase from this article would a reader most likely be able to define without knowing the language from which it derived? a) parka b) regatta c) flamenco d) bon chance 4) which of these is true about the phrase bon chance? a) it means “good luck.” b) it means “boat race.” c) it comes from germany. d) it comes from england. 5) from steal this book, by abbie hoffman pay phones you can make a local 10 cent call for 2 cents by spitting on the pennies and dropping them in the nickel slot. as soon as they are about to hit the trigger mechanism, bang the coin-return button. another way is to spin the pennies counter-clockwise into the nickel slot. hold the penny in the slot with your finger and snap it spinning with a key or other flat object. both systems take a certain knack, but once you've perfected the technique, you'll always have it in your survival kit. if two cents is too much, how about a call for 1 penny? cut a 1/4 strip off the telephone book cover. insert the cardboard strip into the dime slot as far as it will go. drop a penny in the nickel slot until it catches in the mechanism (spinning will ). then slowly pull the strip out until you hear the dial tone. the tricks discussed in this passage from steal this book would not be of any if a) you have no dimes, only pennies. b) you have no pennies, only quarters. c) you have only two pennies. d) you have only one penny. 6)