Copyright 2006 © Laraine Flemming.
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Directions: For each of the following sentences, decide which pattern organizes it—cause and effect, classification, comparison and contrast, or time order—and circle the appropriate letter.
1. The high cost of malpractice insurance is forcing many doctors to leave the medical profession.
| Pattern: | a. | Cause and effect |
| b. | Classification | |
| c. | Comparison and contrast | |
| d. | Time order |
2. Wastewater is pumped into sewage treatment plans, where it is filtered and disinfected before it is discharged into rivers or the sea or pumped back to purification plants.
| Pattern: | a. | Cause and effect |
| b. | Classification | |
| c. | Comparison and contrast | |
| d. | Time order |
3. The geologic features and weather of the Rocky Mountains and the much older Appalachian Mountains are very different.
| Pattern: | a. | Cause and effect |
| b. | Classification | |
| c. | Comparison and contrast | |
| d. | Time order |
4. Children in day care are constantly being exposed to cold germs passed on by other kids; as a result, they get one-third fewer colds than kids who didn't attend day care.
| Pattern: | a. | Cause and effect |
| b. | Classification | |
| c. | Comparison and contrast | |
| d. | Time order |
5. Parenting styles can be loosely organized into three categories: strict, permissive, and authoritative.
| Pattern: | a. | Cause and effect |
| b. | Classification | |
| c. | Comparison and contrast | |
| d. | Time order |
6. The Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings films have similar characters and plots.
| Pattern: | a. | Cause and effect |
| b. | Classification | |
| c. | Comparison and contrast | |
| d. | Time order |
7. Reactions to stress tend to fall into one of three groups.
| Pattern: | a. | Cause and effect |
| b. | Classification | |
| c. | Comparison and contrast | |
| d. | Time order |
8. Stalactites and stalagmites are both stone formations that develop in caves, but stalactites extend down from the caves ceiling while stalagmites rise up from ground.
| Pattern: | a. | Cause and effect |
| b. | Classification | |
| c. | Comparison and contrast | |
| d. | Time order |
9. Eighteenth-century composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was playing piano by age 4, giving public performances by age 5, and writing his first symphonies when he was only 8 years old.
| Pattern: | a. | Cause and effect |
| b. | Classification | |
| c. | Comparison and contrast | |
| d. | Time order |
10. Global warming is likely to cause a decrease in the number of hurricanes.
| Pattern: | a. | Cause and effect |
| b. | Classification | |
| c. | Comparison and contrast | |
| d. | Time order |
Please contact the author for an answer key!
Test 3 • Reading Keys: Additional Material
Last change made to this page: Feb.27, 2014