In 1947, Jackie Robinson became the first African American to play (correct spelling and capitalization of major league baseball) since 1889. He signed a contract with the (correct spelling and capitalization of Brooklyn Dodgers). Robinson faced harsh criticism and discrimination. However, Robinson's dignified manner and incredible talent established him as one of the best players in (correct spelling and capitalization of baseball history).

(20 points) passage: this year will be a record-breaking year for storms 1it looks like 2012 will be a year for the record books. thunderstorms, hurricanes, and tornadoes have increased across the country. the storms' high winds and heavy rains are making history. early tornado and hurricane seasons 2in march, not usually a busy month for tornadoes, the south and midwest had a large number of twisters. warm weather made conditions ripe for the creation of tornadoes. on some days, twisters dropped from the sky by the dozen. 3hurricane season also came early. two tropical storms hit the southeast in may. two more strong storms followed in june. severe thunderstorms 4many states that have escaped tornadoes and hurricanes have had severe thunderstorms. these giant storms dumped several inches of rain and caused flooding across the northeast and midwest. 5the end of hurricane season is months away, and this year's storm count and rainfall amounts could leave 2011 in the dust. forecasters say the wet, windy weather might stick around until fall. labor day parade rained out 6there is no joy in green town, where the annual labor day parade was called off because of heavy rain. the town's mayor says the parade hasn't been rained out in fifty years. 7a strong band of thunderstorms hit green town on sunday. more than two inches of rain fell each hour. by monday morning, main street looked more like a creek than a parade route. mayor nora bell said she had to call off the parade. "the heavy rains have created a serious safety issue in green town," she said. 8the loss of the labor day parade is green town's second disappointment this summer. in may, the memorial day parade was also called off because of rain. "this must be one of the wettest summers in history," mayor bell said. 9according to the national weather service, mayor bell is right. this summer will break rainfall records in green town and across the country. question: who would obtain the most useful information from the passage? a) someone planning a holiday picnic. b) someone interested in documenting annual meteorological patterns. c) an advocate for the green town labor day parade. d) someone who wishes to do research on the alleged truth of the "global warming" phenomenon.

Item 7 shakespeare often puts the audience in a situation where they know more than one of the characters does. how does shakespeare increase the tension in the four-lovers story line by giving the audience information that one or more of the characters does not have? the audience knows that hermia’s father really approves of lysander and there is no need for hermia and lysander to run away. this knowledge builds tension because the audience wonders if hermia and lysander’s relationship will survive a night in the woods. the audience knows that helena really hates hermia and wants to hurt her. this knowledge builds tension when helena tells demetrius of hermia’s plan to run away because the audience wonders if hermia will be caught and punished. the audience knows that lysander and demetrius are under the spell, but helena and hermia do not. this knowledge builds tension and makes the audience eager to see what will happen next. the audience knows that oberon is observing the lovers, but the lovers do not know. this knowledge builds tension because oberon falls in love with helena and decides to become a human so he can marry her.

Read the excerpt from "perseus." fate willed it—or perhaps zeus, who up to now had done little for his love and his child—that they should be discovered by a good man, a fisherman named dictys. he came upon the great box and broke it open and took the pitiful cargo home to his wife who was as kind as he. they had no children and they cared for danaë and perseus as if they were their own. this excerpt best shows that the ancient greeks valued beauty and gracefulness. intelligence and hard work. kindness and generosity. independence and action.