A.J. wrote an essay about the Civil War, making sure to include the vital information of who, what, where, when, and why. His teacher commended him on his thorough research.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Supporting details. Supporting details are specific information that backs up the main points in an essay, such as the who, what, where, when, and why in A.J.'s essay about the Civil War. In this case, A.J. included crucial facts and explanations to support his main arguments. Choice A, 'Emphasis paragraph,' does not directly relate to providing specific information like supporting details do. Choice C, 'Topic sentence,' introduces the main idea of a paragraph, not the specific supporting information. Choice D, 'Transitions,' are used to connect ideas and paragraphs smoothly, but they do not provide the specific information needed to support the main points in an essay.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Option C is the correct answer as it uses introductory punctuation correctly by placing a comma after the introductory clause 'Since we only have ten minutes.' Commas are used to separate introductory phrases or clauses from the main clause in a sentence. Option A is incorrect as it lacks the necessary comma after the introductory phrase. Option B uses a semicolon, which is not typically used in this context. Option D uses a colon, which is not appropriate for introducing the following clause in this sentence structure.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct punctuation mark to use in this sentence is the colon (:) because it is used to introduce a list. In this case, the list of items she bought for the trip includes a tent, a sleeping bag, and a flashlight. A semicolon (;) is not appropriate here because it is typically used to connect independent clauses. A comma (,) is not suitable as it would create a comma splice error. A period (.) is incorrect as it signifies the end of a sentence, which is not the intended purpose in this context.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: 'The plump, old, white cat basked in the warm sunlight.' Commas should be used to separate coordinate adjectives describing the cat. In this sentence, 'plump,' 'old,' and 'white' are coordinate adjectives, each providing distinct information about the cat. Option B incorrectly places a comma after 'white,' creating a nonessential element. Option C lacks commas to separate the coordinate adjectives. Option D incorrectly places a comma after 'cat,' causing a punctuation error.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Choice B is the correct answer because it serves as a transition sentence in the paragraph about the Silk Road. It shifts the focus from Chinese silk being a major trade item to the introduction of other important trade items that had a significant impact on the world. This transition indicates a change in the topic being discussed within the paragraph. Choices A, C, and D do not serve as transition sentences. Choice A simply introduces the origin of the Silk Road's name, choice C provides additional information about the network without transitioning to a new topic, and choice D gives a general description of the Silk Road without transitioning to a different aspect of the trade routes.