HELP NEEDED!!! 3/2

7. The Hoosier National Forest, in the hills of south central Indiana, provides a wide mix of opportunities and resources for people to enjoy. Rolling hills, back-country trails, hiking, camping, horseback riding, fishing, rural crossroad communities combine to make this small but beautiful Forest a local treasure. Forest managers work with the public to develop a shared vision of how this forest should be managed. We strive to provide outstanding stewardship of our public lands. We offer high quality and rare ecosystems that provide diverse outdoor recreational experiences.

Which BEST describes the technique used to develop the author's argument in these sentences?

A. The author eliminates conjunctions to provide a rhythm that impresses upon the reader the many available opportunities.
B. The author avoids parallel structure to emphasize and differentiate features the forest offers.
C. The author uses personal experience to illustrate the concept of the forest as a local treasure.
D. The author compares the beauty of the forest and its many resources to high quality and rare ecosytems around the world.

Excerpt from Laughter May Be The Best Medicine
Cheryl Nason, BS, MEd.

8. Here are some results of research into the relationship between stress, work and wellness.

1. Forty five percent of a sample of coronary patients spent more than 60 hours per week on their job.
2. Job stress has been associated with high cholesterol levels, increased heart rate and increased smoking.
3. Blood pressure was higher among employees who said they "did not understand" what was expected of them.
4. "Responsibility for people" on a job is more likely to lead to heart disease than having responsibility for things.

The positive emotions such as hope, faith, love and laughter have a direct effect on your health. Laughter is not only good medicine, it is also good business. Because laughter and play have been shown to relax tense individuals, humor may be the ultimate weapon for combating stress and preventing burnout.

What is the purpose of this selection?

A. to share a personal experience
B. to describe methods to increase humor in the workplace
C. to entertain business people
D. to motivate employers and employees to laugh it up for good health and business

9. Common Sense Measures are Needed by Mattie Olson, member of Our Voices, Our Time

Death from firearms has been a problem for years and must be reduced by taking common-sense measures to strengthen gun control. People under twenty-one years old should not be able to buy semi-automatic assault rifles. A new state measure like this is needed if we are serious about reducing gun violence. The National Rifle Association will likely file suit, but that is not reason enough to shirk our civic responsibilities to our state and our communities.

In the absence of federal action, this move is crucial for our state in order to strengthen gun control regulations. It will not solve all problems, but it is a responsible step in the right direction. Gun violence is a complicated problem in our country and in our state. No easy answers exist. Gun violence has been a problem for years. Since 2008, firearm deaths top motor vehicle accidents for the number of fatalities per year. In 2013, state officials reported 620 gun deaths compared to 454 automobile related deaths. In 2014, 56% of all homicides in our state were committed by firearms.

In addition to the age restrictions, we need new rules insisting that gun dealers wait ten days before delivering semiautomatic assault rifles they sell. This will likely prevent impulse purchases and rash actions. Support is increasing to require anyone buying a semiautomatic assault rifle to have completed a state-certified gun safety training course within the last three years. Unsafe gun storage is another issue that must be addressed as well as more extensive background checks for purchases of the assault weapons.

Which detail from the passage BEST supports the author's perspective?

A. Death from firearms must be reduced by taking common sense measures to strengthen gun control.
B. Unsafe gun storage is another issue that must be addressed as well as more extensive background checks for purchases of the assault weapons. (Section 3)
C. In 2014, 56% of all homicides in our state were committed by a firearm. (Section 2)
D. In the absence of federal action, this move is crucial for our state in order to strengthen gun control regulations.