Unit 4 — Session A Complete Walkthrough: Every Question Solved

📖 Reading Passage — Section A

An Animator from Scarborough

1Over 1500 applications from around the world flood George Lucas’s animation academy each year (Lucas created the Star Wars films), but only four applicants are selected for internships. Randolph Lizarda, 21, from Scarborough, was one of them.

2“I’m very excited. I’ll be working in the LucasArts division animating video games, although I don’t know what we’re working on. They wouldn’t tell me—it’s confidential,” Lizarda said on a break from his Sheridan College class.

3As a child, Lizarda liked to draw cartoons. Now he is learning to transfer his drawing ability to the computer.

4“I was into [art] when I was little; then I got more into it in high school. In Grade 10, I took one of those career surveys to find out where you fit in. I fit into the animation industry,” he said.

5Lizarda aspires to one day work for an animation company such as Pixar or DreamWorks.

6“He’s an excellent student,” said Dave Quesnelle, who teaches animation and is one of Lizarda’s professors. Lizarda stood out after handing in his first assignment, a 10-second action sequence of a muscular circus performer balancing on a ball before jumping through a hoop of fire. This clip was the first segment on the demo reel he submitted to Lucasfilm.

7“I had a really good sense of his storytelling. He had the basic principles of animation [but] it was also comical. And that’s our job. Anyone can make a picture move, but to make it entertaining, that’s the craft of an animator.”

Adapted from “A Jedi from Scarborough” by Robyn Doolittle, Toronto Star, April 15, 2009.

Question 1 EXPLICIT

“What will the focus of Lizarda’s internship be?”

A) films
B) cartoons
C) video games ✓
D) action sequences

🔍 Strategy — Keyword Scan: Search the passage for the word “internship.” In paragraph 2, Lizarda says: “I’ll be working in the LucasArts division animating video games.” The answer is stated directly—no interpretation needed.

A) films — George Lucas is famous for making films (Star Wars), but the passage specifically says the internship is in the LucasArts division, which is the video-game arm. Students often pick this because they associate Lucas with movies.
B) cartoons — Lizarda drew cartoons as a child, but childhood hobbies are not the same as his internship assignment. This is a detail from the wrong part of the text.
D) action sequences — He animated an action sequence as a school assignment, but assignments and internship duties are different things. Another misplaced-detail trap.

C) video games is correct because the passage explicitly states he will be “animating video games” in the LucasArts division. This is a direct, word-for-word match—the easiest type of OSSLT question.

Question 2 VOCABULARY

“Which word is closest in meaning to ‘confidential’ as used in paragraph 2?”

F) secret ✓
G) personal
H) confusing
J) professional

🔍 Strategy — Substitution Test: Go back to the sentence: “They wouldn’t tell me—it’s confidential.” Now swap in each answer choice. “It’s secret” makes perfect sense—they will not reveal the information because it is secret. Test the others: “It’s personal”? Doesn’t fit—the information belongs to a company, not a person. “It’s confusing”? Makes no sense in context. “It’s professional”? Grammatically possible but meaningless here.

G) personal — “Personal” means private to an individual. The information is about a company project, not someone’s private life. Close but wrong.
H) confusing — “Confusing” means hard to understand. The sentence is about withholding information, not about it being unclear.
J) professional — This describes a workplace setting, not the act of keeping something hidden. It does not explain why they “wouldn’t tell” him.

F) secret is correct because “confidential” means kept hidden from others, which is exactly what “secret” means. The context—“they wouldn’t tell me”—confirms that the information was being kept secret.

Question 3 EXPLICIT (from a specific person’s view)

“According to Quesnelle, what ability is most important for an animator?”

A) creating characters
B) pleasing an audience ✓
C) developing a demo reel
D) programming computers

🔍 Strategy — Source-Specific Search: The question says “According to Quesnelle.” That means the answer MUST come from Quesnelle’s quotes, not from general passage information. Find his quotes in paragraph 7: “to make it entertaining, that’s the craft of an animator.” Making something entertaining = pleasing an audience.

A) creating characters — Animators do create characters, but Quesnelle does not say this is the MOST important skill.
C) developing a demo reel — Demo reels are mentioned elsewhere in the passage, but not by Quesnelle as the key skill.
D) programming computers — This is not mentioned by Quesnelle at all. It is a general association students make with the tech industry.

B) pleasing an audience is correct because Quesnelle explicitly states that making animation “entertaining” is “the craft of an animator.” Entertainment is about pleasing an audience. This is a paraphrase question—the answer restates the passage idea in different words.

Question 4 INFERENCE

“What do Quesnelle’s quotes indicate about him?”

F) He knows a lot about internships.
G) He focuses on technical aspects of animation.
H) He recognizes skill and creativity in students. ✓
J) He suggests storylines for students to animate.

🔍 Strategy — Character Evidence: Inference questions ask you to read between the lines. Collect ALL of Quesnelle’s quotes: he calls Lizarda “an excellent student,” praises his “storytelling” ability, and notices the “comical” quality in his first assignment. What pattern emerges? He sees and praises talent in his students = he recognizes skill and creativity.

F) — Quesnelle never discusses internships. He talks about classroom performance.
G) — He emphasizes storytelling and entertainment—creative qualities, NOT technical skills like software or rendering.
J) — There is no evidence that Quesnelle gives students storylines. He evaluates their own ideas.

H) is correct because every Quesnelle quote shows him noticing and praising a student’s creative talent. He identifies “excellent” quality, storytelling ability, and comedic instinct. This is the pattern the answer captures.

Question 5 ORGANIZATION

“Which paragraph presents information in chronological order?”

A) paragraph 2
B) paragraph 4 ✓
C) paragraph 5
D) paragraph 7

🔍 Strategy — Time-Word Hunt: “Chronological order” means arranged by TIME. Check each paragraph for time markers. Paragraph 4 contains: “As a child” → “Grade 10” → “career surveys” → “aspires to one day.” That is a clear sequence: past → teenage years → present → future. None of the other paragraphs follow a time sequence.

A) paragraph 2 — This paragraph describes the internship details but does not move through time.
C) paragraph 5 — This paragraph discusses Sheridan College but stays in the present tense.
D) paragraph 7 — Quesnelle’s quotes evaluate Lizarda’s work, no time sequence.

B) paragraph 4 is correct because it traces Lizarda’s journey from childhood (“as a child”) through Grade 10 (career surveys) to his current aspirations, following a clear past-to-future timeline.

Question 6 MAIN IDEA

“Which of the following best states the main idea of this selection?”

F) Sheridan College has an excellent animation program.
G) Lizarda always knew he wanted to work in the film industry.
H) A young Canadian’s talent and passion for animation earned him a prestigious internship. ✓
J) George Lucas’s academy accepts only the best students from around the world.

🔍 Strategy — Big-Picture Summary Test: The main idea must cover the WHOLE passage, not just one part. Ask: does this answer capture what the passage is mostly about? The passage follows Lizarda’s story from childhood passion through college talent to winning a rare internship. Only option H covers all three parts of that arc.

F) — Sheridan College is mentioned as the setting, but the passage is not ABOUT the college. Too narrow.
G) — False based on the passage. Lizarda only discovered animation as a career path in Grade 10, not always.
J) — The academy detail supports the story but is not the main point; it is one piece of evidence.

H) is correct because it captures all key elements: the person (a young Canadian), the reason for success (talent and passion), and the outcome (a prestigious internship). Main idea answers must be broad enough to cover the whole passage.

Question 7 AUTHOR’S PURPOSE

“What is the author’s most likely purpose for writing this selection?”

A) to argue that animation is a better career than film-making
B) to explain how to apply to Sheridan College’s animation program
C) to inform readers about a young person who achieved success through dedication ✓
D) to persuade students to take career surveys in high school

🔍 Strategy — Author’s Purpose Framework: Authors write for one of four main purposes: to inform, to entertain, to persuade, or to describe. Real-life narratives on the OSSLT are almost always written to inform—they profile a real person and report on their accomplishments. Ask: is the author trying to change my mind (persuade)? Entertain me with a made-up story? Or report on a real person’s experience?

A) — The passage never compares animation to film-making as careers. No argument is being made.
B) — The passage does not include application instructions or advice about Sheridan College specifically.
D) — The career survey is one small detail; the passage does not make the case that all students should take surveys.

C) is correct because the passage is a real-life narrative that presents factual information about Lizarda’s accomplishments in an objective, journalistic tone. Its primary purpose is to inform readers about a young person’s journey, not to argue a point or entertain with fiction.

✍️ Practice Questions — Lesson 1

Answers are on the Solutions Page.

(1) When Marcus Cole was 14, he picked up a second-hand guitar at a neighbourhood garage sale for twelve dollars. He had never taken a music lesson, but something about the worn strings and scratched body of the instrument drew him in. That evening, he taught himself three chords from an online tutorial. Within a month, he was writing his own songs in his bedroom after school.

(2) Today, Cole is 18 and has already performed at two major youth music festivals in Ontario. His sound blends folk guitar with spoken-word poetry, a style he developed after joining his school’s creative writing club in Grade 10. “I realized my lyrics were just poems set to music,” Cole explains. “Once I made that connection, everything clicked.”

(3) Cole’s music teacher, Ms. Farah, noticed his talent early. “Marcus has an instinct for storytelling that you can’t teach,” she says. “He finds the emotional core of a subject and builds everything around it. That’s rare in someone so young.” It was Farah who encouraged Cole to enter the regional arts competition, where he won first place with an original composition about his grandmother’s immigration to Canada.

(4) As a child, Cole was shy and struggled to express himself verbally. In Grade 7, a teacher introduced him to journaling, which he credits with helping him find his voice. By Grade 9, he was performing spoken-word pieces at school assemblies. Now, he aspires to study music production at Humber College and eventually release a full-length album.

(5) Despite his growing success, Cole remains grounded. He volunteers every Saturday at the same community centre where he first learned guitar, teaching free beginner lessons to younger kids. “Someone gave me a chance with a twelve-dollar guitar,” he says. “The least I can do is pass it on.”

Multiple Choice

1Explicit: Where did Cole first get his guitar?
A. A music store downtown
B. A neighbourhood garage sale
C. A gift from his music teacher
D. An online marketplace

2Vocabulary: What is the meaning of “instinct” as used by Ms. Farah in paragraph 3?
F. formal training
G. natural ability
H. strong opinion
J. careful planning

3Inference: What do Ms. Farah’s quotes suggest about her as a teacher?
A. She focuses mainly on music theory and technical skill.
B. She recognizes and nurtures creative talent in her students.
C. She believes students should only perform classical music.
D. She prefers to let students figure things out entirely on their own.

4Organization: Which paragraph presents information in chronological order?
F. Paragraph 1
G. Paragraph 2
H. Paragraph 4
J. Paragraph 5

5Purpose: Why does the author include the detail about the “twelve-dollar guitar” in both the first and last paragraphs?
A. To show that Cole cannot afford expensive instruments.
B. To create a frame that connects Cole’s beginning to his values today.
C. To prove that cheap guitars are better than expensive ones.
D. To suggest that Cole should buy a new guitar.

6Main Idea: Which of the following best states the main idea of this selection?
F. Cole developed his musical style at a school creative writing club.
G. A shy teenager’s dedication to music helped him find his voice and give back to his community.
H. Winning a regional arts competition changed Cole’s life.
J. Community centres are important places for young people to learn.

7Author’s Purpose: What is the author’s most likely purpose for writing this passage?
A. To persuade students to learn a musical instrument.
B. To entertain readers with a made-up story about a musician.
C. To inform readers about a young person who overcame challenges through music.
D. To explain how to write spoken-word poetry.

Question 1 PARAGRAPH UNITY

“Choose the sentence that does not belong in this paragraph.”

(1) Traffic is busy on city streets. (2) Cars, pedestrians and cyclists must share them. (3) Pedestrians often cross the street where it is convenient but not always where it is safe. (4) Tall buildings often line the streets. (5) Navigating city streets can be a challenge.

A) sentence 2
B) sentence 3
C) sentence 4 ✓
D) sentence 5

🔍 Strategy — Topic Sentence Test: Step 1: Identify the paragraph’s topic. Sentence 1 sets it up: traffic on city streets. Step 2: Check each sentence. Does it relate to traffic, sharing the road, or navigating safely? Sentence 4 talks about tall buildings—that is about architecture, not traffic. It breaks the paragraph’s focus.

A) sentence 2 — Directly about traffic (cars, pedestrians, cyclists sharing streets). Belongs.
B) sentence 3 — About pedestrian safety in traffic. Belongs.
D) sentence 5 — A concluding statement about the challenge of city streets. Belongs.

C) sentence 4 is correct because “tall buildings often line the streets” describes the physical appearance of streets, not anything about traffic, safety, or navigation. It is off-topic.

Question 2 SENTENCE INSERTION

“Choose the best place to insert the following sentence: ‘They were originally chew sticks made from twigs, feathers, bones and even porcupine quills.’”

(1) The first toothbrush dates back over 3000 years. (2) In the 1700s, bristled toothbrushes began to appear. (3) Today, they come in all shapes, sizes and colours. (4) With so many choices, it is easy to have good dental hygiene.

F) after sentence 1 ✓
G) after sentence 2
H) after sentence 3
J) after sentence 4

🔍 Strategy — Timeline Logic: The paragraph moves through time: 3000 years ago → 1700s → today → conclusion. The inserted sentence describes the ORIGINAL form of the toothbrush (twigs, bones, quills). “Originally” = the beginning. It fits after sentence 1 (which introduces the first toothbrush) and before sentence 2 (which jumps to the 1700s). Inserting it elsewhere would break the chronological flow.

G) after sentence 2 — By the 1700s, bristled toothbrushes already existed. Mentioning “chew sticks” here would go backward in time.
H) after sentence 3 — After describing modern toothbrushes, jumping to ancient ones makes no sense.
J) after sentence 4 — The paragraph is wrapping up. Introducing ancient history at the end is illogical.

F) after sentence 1 is correct because the inserted sentence elaborates on the “first toothbrush” mentioned in sentence 1, explaining what those original toothbrushes looked like, before the paragraph moves forward in time to the 1700s.

Question 3 VERB TENSE

“Which of the following sentences needs revision?”

(1) The Tri-Town Snow Travellers is a snowmobile club that supports community projects. (2) When the club was formed in 1968, it focuses on teaching safe driving techniques. (3) Since then, it has raised money for various local causes. (4) Now, club members maintain over 350 kilometres of snowmobile trails.

A) sentence 1
B) sentence 2 ✓
C) sentence 3
D) sentence 4

🔍 Strategy — Tense Consistency Check: Read each sentence and check if the verb tenses match. Sentence 2: “was formed” is PAST tense, but “focuses” is PRESENT tense. You cannot mix past and present in the same time reference. “Was formed in 1968” + “focuses” = tense clash. It should say “focused” (past tense) to match “was formed.”

A) sentence 1 — Present tense throughout (“is,” “supports”). Consistent and correct.
C) sentence 3 — “Since then, it has raised” uses present perfect, which correctly describes an action that started in the past and continues. No error.
D) sentence 4 — “Now, club members maintain” uses present tense to describe current activity. Correct.

B) sentence 2 is correct because it contains a verb tense error. “Was formed” (past) and “focuses” (present) clash. Both verbs describe 1968, so both should be past tense: “was formed... focused.”

Question 4 COMMA USAGE

“Which sentence is written correctly?”

F) Ice fishing, a popular activity in northern regions, requires skill. ✓
G) First, you need to drill a hole, in the ice on a lake using an auger.
H) Some avid anglers, use an ice shack, while waiting for the fish to bite.
J) Ice fishing in the north requires patience a stool to sit on and warm winter clothing.

🔍 Strategy — Comma Rule Check: For each option, ask: “Can I remove the text between commas and still have a complete sentence?” In F: remove “a popular activity in northern regions” and you get “Ice fishing requires skill.” That works perfectly—it is an appositive phrase correctly enclosed in commas. Now check the others for comma errors.

G) — The comma after “hole” incorrectly splits the verb from its object. You drill a hole IN the ice—no comma should separate them.
H) — The comma after “anglers” incorrectly separates the subject from its verb. “Some avid anglers use” should not be split by a comma.
J) — This sentence is missing commas in its list. It should read “patience, a stool to sit on, and warm winter clothing.”

F) is correct because the commas properly set off the appositive phrase “a popular activity in northern regions.” An appositive gives extra information about a noun and must be enclosed in commas on both sides.

Question 5 END PUNCTUATION

“Choose the sentence that is written correctly.”

A) What time is it in Sao Paulo, Brazil!
B) Put the wrapper in the recycling bin. ✓
C) I am so tired that I could sleep in class?
D) Will the hockey game be over in an hour.

🔍 Strategy — Sentence Type Matching: Match each sentence to its type, then check if the punctuation fits.
• Questions (start with “what,” “will,” “do”) need a question mark (?).
• Statements (declare a fact or feeling) need a period (.).
• Commands / Imperatives (tell someone to do something) need a period (.).
• Exclamations (express strong emotion) need an exclamation mark (!).

A) — “What time is it” is a QUESTION, but it ends with an exclamation mark. It needs a question mark.
C) — “I am so tired that I could sleep in class” is a STATEMENT, but it ends with a question mark. It needs a period.
D) — “Will the hockey game be over” is a QUESTION, but it ends with a period. It needs a question mark.

B) is correct because “Put the wrapper in the recycling bin” is an imperative sentence (a command/instruction). Commands correctly end with a period.

✍️ Practice Questions — Lesson 2

Answers are on the Solutions Page.

Sentence That Does Not Belong

1Which sentence does NOT belong in this paragraph?
(1) Swimming is excellent exercise for people of all ages. (2) It strengthens muscles and improves cardiovascular health. (3) The new recreation centre has a large parking lot. (4) Many doctors recommend swimming for patients recovering from injuries. (5) Regular swimmers often report lower stress levels and better sleep. A. Sentence 2
B. Sentence 3
C. Sentence 4
D. Sentence 5

Best Place to Insert

2Choose the best place to insert: “This simple act of kindness inspired her to organize a full fundraiser.”
(1) Layla noticed that many students at her school did not have warm winter coats. (2) One day, she gave her extra jacket to a classmate who was shivering at the bus stop. (3) She collected over 150 coats from families in her community. (4) The school principal praised her generosity at the next assembly. F. After sentence 1
G. After sentence 2
H. After sentence 3
J. After sentence 4

Needs Revision

3Which sentence needs revision?
(1) The science fair was held in the gymnasium last Friday. (2) Students presented projects on topics ranging from robotics to marine biology. (3) The judges evaluates each project based on creativity, research, and presentation skills. (4) Awards were given to the top three entries in each category. A. Sentence 1
B. Sentence 2
C. Sentence 3
D. Sentence 4

Written Correctly (Grammar)

4Which sentence is written correctly?
F. The team of players were celebrating their victory in the hallway.
G. Each of the students have finished their assignment before the bell.
H. Neither the coach nor the players was satisfied with the result.
J. The group of volunteers has organized a successful food drive.

5Which sentence is written correctly?
A. Running through the park on a sunny day, the flowers smelled wonderful.
B. The committee have decided to postpone the meeting until next week.
C. After reviewing the evidence, the detective concluded that the suspect was innocent.
D. Him and his brother goes to the same school every morning.

End Punctuation and Commas

6Which sentence uses end punctuation correctly?
F. Could you please pass the salt.
G. What an incredible performance that was!
H. I wonder if we will have a snow day tomorrow?
J. Stop running in the hallway?

7Which sentence uses commas correctly?
A. Toronto, which is the largest city in Canada is located in Ontario.
B. Toronto which is the largest city in Canada, is located in Ontario.
C. Toronto, which is the largest city in Canada, is located in Ontario.
D. Toronto which, is the largest city in Canada is located in Ontario.

📖 Reading Passage — Section C (Dialogue)

1“Thanks for agreeing to talk with me about your successful business,” said Nat, shaking hands with Alex.

2Alex smiled. “I’m happy to help students with career exploration.”

3“I have three main questions: How did you get started? What do you like best about being your own boss? And what advice do you have for young entrepreneurs?”

4“You are well prepared,” said Alex, nodding in approval. “I trained at Blaiseville College.”

5“How did you go from there to having your own Hair Shop on Wheels?”

6“I got the idea after volunteering at my grandfather’s seniors’ residence. I cut hair and trimmed beards, even styled women’s hair, for anyone who couldn’t get out to the barbershop or hairdresser. The residence didn’t have space to set up professional equipment, so I thought of a way to bring it all to them. After graduation, I borrowed money from the bank so I could at least afford to buy a van. My brother put in some sweat equity as a mechanic and converted the van into a mobile salon,” explained Alex.

7Nat was puzzled. “Sweat equity? Your brother gets a share of your profit as payment for his hard work fixing up the van?”

8Alex nodded in agreement. “That’s the best thing about being my own boss. I can be creative in how I run my business.”

9“That aspect appeals to me too,” said Nat. “What’s your best advice for me as an aspiring businessman?”

10“Do your research, develop a realistic business plan and focus on your goals.”

Written for EQAO. © Queen’s Printer for Ontario.

Question 1 EXPLICIT

“How does Nat show that he prepared for his interview with Alex?”

A) by shaking hands with Alex
B) by sharing his business plan
C) by having his questions ready ✓
D) by volunteering at a seniors’ residence

🔍 Strategy — Speaker Action Scan: The question asks about NAT, not Alex. Look for what Nat DOES early in the conversation. In paragraph 3, Nat states his three main questions upfront: “I have three main questions...” Having pre-planned questions shows preparation.

A) — Shaking hands is a polite greeting, not evidence of preparation.
B) — Nat does not share a business plan. That detail does not appear in the dialogue.
D) — Alex is the one who volunteered, not Nat. This confuses the two speakers.

C) is correct because Nat demonstrates preparation by arriving with his interview questions already organized. He outlines three specific areas he wants to cover, which shows advance planning.

Question 2 PUNCTUATION PURPOSE

“The colon in paragraph 3 is used to”

F) end a sentence
G) introduce a list ✓
H) indicate a pause
J) highlight the next idea

🔍 Strategy — Look at What Follows: Find the colon in paragraph 3. It appears before Nat lists his three questions: “How did you get started? What do you like best... And what advice...” A colon followed by multiple items = introducing a list.

F) — Colons do not end sentences. Periods and question marks do.
H) — That would be a comma or a dash, not a colon.
J) — While colons can introduce an important idea, the colon here specifically introduces a LIST of three questions. “Introduce a list” is more precise.

G) is correct because the colon directly precedes three separate questions that Nat plans to ask, making it a list-introduction colon.

Question 3 INFERENCE

“The questions in paragraph 7 are a request for”

A) proof
B) a reason
C) permission
D) clarification ✓

🔍 Strategy — Context of the Question: In paragraph 7, Nat hears Alex use the term “sweat equity” and asks: “Sweat equity?” Then Nat tries to explain what he thinks it means and asks Alex to confirm. He is not asking for proof, a reason, or permission. He is asking Alex to clarify an unfamiliar term.

A) proof — Nat is not doubting Alex or asking him to prove something.
B) a reason — Nat is not asking WHY something happened; he is asking WHAT a term means.
C) permission — Nat is not asking to do anything; he is seeking understanding.

D) clarification is correct because Nat repeats the term as a question and then offers his own interpretation, signaling that he wants Alex to confirm or correct his understanding. This is a classic request for clarification.

Question 4 VOCABULARY

“What is the meaning of ‘aspiring’ as used in paragraph 9?”

F) mature
G) hopeful ✓
H) friendly
J) struggling

🔍 Strategy — Substitution Test: The phrase is “aspiring businessman.” Substitute each option: “hopeful businessman” = someone who hopes to become a businessman. That fits perfectly. “Mature businessman”? That describes experience, not ambition. “Friendly businessman”? That describes personality. “Struggling businessman”? That describes difficulty, but “aspiring” is about ambition, not hardship.

F) mature — “Mature” describes age or experience, not someone who aims to become something.
H) friendly — A personality trait unrelated to ambition or career goals.
J) struggling — Has a negative connotation. “Aspiring” is positive—it implies hope and ambition, not difficulty.

G) hopeful is correct because “aspiring” means hoping or aiming to become something. An aspiring businessman is one who hopes to succeed in business.

Question 5 INFERENCE

“Which of the following best shows that Alex is creative?”

A) He attended college.
B) He borrowed money from a family member.
C) He started a mobile salon. ✓
D) He volunteered at a seniors’ residence.

🔍 Strategy — Match the Trait to the Evidence: The question asks about CREATIVITY. Which action demonstrates creative thinking? Attending college shows education. Borrowing money shows resourcefulness. Volunteering shows generosity. But starting a MOBILE salon—putting a hairstyling business inside a van to bring it directly to customers—is a unique, inventive business idea. That is creativity.

A) — Attending college shows commitment to learning, not creativity.
B) — Borrowing money shows financial resourcefulness, not creative thinking.
D) — Volunteering shows compassion and community mindedness, not creativity.

C) is correct because a mobile salon is an unconventional and original business concept. Alex saw a need (seniors who could not get to a salon) and invented a unique solution (bringing the salon to them). That is creative problem-solving.

Question 6 OPEN RESPONSE

“Is the interview with Alex beneficial to Nat’s career exploration?”

🔍 Strategy — Yes + Two Reasons: OSSLT open responses that ask “Is it...?” almost always expect you to say YES and then provide evidence. Use the T.E.E.L. template: state your position, give two pieces of evidence from the text, and link back.

Yes, the interview with Alex is highly beneficial to Nat’s career exploration. First, the interview exposes Nat to a unique career path he may not have considered. Alex demonstrates that a successful business can start from a simple act of volunteering, showing Nat that career ideas can come from everyday community involvement. Second, Alex shares practical business knowledge, such as the concept of “sweat equity,” where his brother contributed labour instead of money to help build the business. This teaches Nat real-world financial strategies. Overall, Nat gains both inspiration and practical knowledge from this interview, making it a valuable career exploration experience.

105 words

Question 7 OPEN RESPONSE

“How does this selection show the benefits of volunteering for community service?”

🔍 Strategy — Cause and Effect Chain: Find the volunteering → trace its effects. Alex volunteered → saw a need → created a business. The volunteering CAUSED the business idea. That is the benefit.

This selection shows that volunteering for community service can lead to meaningful career opportunities. In the text, Alex explains that he got the idea for his mobile salon business after volunteering at his grandfather’s seniors’ residence, where he cut hair for people who could not easily get out. This demonstrates that volunteering exposed Alex to a real community need, which inspired him to create a business that serves that need. Furthermore, Alex’s volunteer experience gave him practical skills and confidence that he later used professionally. This is why volunteering benefits both the community and the individual who serves it.

98 words

✍️ Practice Questions — Lesson 3

Answers are on the Solutions Page.

(1) Sara: Hi, Mr. Okafor! Thanks for letting me interview you for my careers class. I’ve been looking forward to hearing about your bakery.

(2) Mr. Okafor: Happy to help, Sara. What would you like to know?

(3) Sara: I have three main questions: How did you start your bakery? What do you enjoy most about running it? And what advice would you give a student thinking about opening a small business?

(4) Mr. Okafor: Well, it started about six years ago. I had been working as an accountant, but I spent every weekend baking for friends and family. One Thanksgiving, my neighbour said, “You should sell these pies — they’re better than anything at the store.” That comment stuck with me.

(5) Sara: So a compliment from a neighbour changed your whole career path?

(6) Mr. Okafor: It planted the seed. I took a weekend course in small-business management, wrote a business plan, and six months later, I opened Okafor’s Oven on Queen Street. My wife handled the “pro bono” marketing — she designed all our signs and ran our social media for free.

(7) Sara: Pro bono? You mean she did the work without being paid?

(8) Mr. Okafor: Exactly. It’s a Latin term meaning “for the public good,” but people also use it to mean donating your professional skills. Without her help, I couldn’t have afforded proper advertising.

(9) Sara: What do you enjoy most about the bakery?

(10) Mr. Okafor: Seeing regulars come in every morning. There’s a group of retired teachers who meet here at seven o’clock sharp. They say it’s the cinnamon buns, but I think it’s the company. Making people’s day a little better — that never gets old.

Multiple Choice

1Title: Which of the following would be the best title for this dialogue?
A. How to Become an Accountant
B. From Weekend Baker to Small Business Owner
C. The History of Queen Street
D. Why Students Should Take Business Courses

2Punctuation Purpose: The colon in paragraph 3 is used to
F. end a sentence
G. introduce a list
H. indicate a pause
J. show excitement

3Vocabulary: What is the meaning of “pro bono” as used in paragraph 6?
A. Professionally designed
B. Done without charge
C. Completed quickly
D. Planned in advance

4Inference: Sara’s question in paragraph 7 is a request for
F. proof
G. permission
H. clarification
J. an apology

5Specific Detail: What did Mr. Okafor do before opening his bakery?
A. He was a chef at a restaurant.
B. He worked as an accountant.
C. He taught business courses at a college.
D. He managed a grocery store.

Open Response

6Is this interview beneficial to Sara’s careers class project? Use specific details from the dialogue to support your answer. (Aim for 80–100 words.)

Students Participate in Important Election

Students at Maplewood Secondary School participated in a school-wide mock election last Thursday to learn about the democratic process ahead of the upcoming provincial election.

The event, organized by the school’s social studies department, transformed the gymnasium into a polling station complete with voting booths, registration tables, and ballot boxes. Over 600 students from Grades 9 through 12 cast their ballots throughout the day.

Four student candidates, each representing a different political party, delivered five-minute speeches during a morning assembly. They addressed issues important to young people, including tuition costs, climate change, and mental health support in schools.

“We wanted students to experience what it feels like to be part of a real election,” said social studies teacher Mr. Karim Hasan. “Many of our Grade 12 students will be eligible to vote in the upcoming provincial election, and this gives them a chance to practise.”

Student council president Amira Chen, who helped organize the event, said the turnout exceeded expectations. Ballots were counted by a team of student volunteers and results were announced during afternoon announcements.

The school plans to host similar events before future elections to continue building civic engagement among students.

192 words

✍️ Practice Questions — Lesson 4

Answers are on the Solutions Page.

Short Writing Prompt

1Short Writing: Identify a benefit of participating in extracurricular activities. Use specific details to explain why it is beneficial. (Write approximately 80–100 words using the 4-step template you learned in this lesson.)

News Report Prompt

2News Report: Write a complete news report based on this headline:

“Local Students Launch Free Tutoring Program”

Include all 5Ws + H, at least one quote from a person involved, and write in third person. Use the inverted pyramid structure. (Approximately 150–200 words.)

📖 Reading Passage — Section F (Information Text)

Polar bear survival in the wild may be in danger because of climate change. Climate change is lengthening the ice-free period in southwestern Hudson Bay and thus the polar bear fast. During the Arctic spring, the bears build up their fat by eating seals that they hunt from the ice. Warming temperatures are reducing the ice. For the estimated 2000 polar bears in the region, this has serious implications. The sea ice melts completely each summer, stranding the marine creatures on land and away from their normal diet of seal meat. Although many polar bears do consume lots of blueberries and black crowberries on land, the bears lose almost a kilogram of weight a day for at least four months and as long as eight months in the case of pregnant females. Canadian wildlife biologists have been trying for decades to determine whether polar bears can better endure their months of fasting on land by eating berries. Biologists in the past have tried using measurements from muscle and blood, without success. More recently, researchers applied masks to 300 tranquilized bears and gathered samples of their breath. They found no significant differences between bears that had recently eaten berries (detectable from tell-tale stains on teeth and backsides) and those that hadn’t. Can a berry diet reduce the polar bears’ dependence on their fat reserves? The answer is no. Unlike that of the brown bear, polar bear metabolism cannot extract sufficient energy from berries alone.

Adapted from “Fieldwork: Berry Bears” by Peter Calamai, Toronto Star, January 18, 2009.

Question 1 VOCABULARY

“What is the best meaning of ‘endure’ as used in line 10?”

A) start
B) enjoy
C) tolerate ✓
D) prevent

🔍 Strategy — Context Substitution: The sentence reads: “whether polar bears can better endure their months of fasting.” Substitute each option: “can better tolerate their months of fasting” makes sense—it means to survive or withstand a difficult experience. “Start,” “enjoy,” and “prevent” their fasting? None of those make logical sense.

A) start — Bears do not choose when fasting starts; it happens when ice melts. “Can better start their fasting” is illogical.
B) enjoy — Fasting is a hardship, not a pleasure. “Better enjoy their fasting” contradicts the passage’s tone.
D) prevent — The research is about SURVIVING fasting, not preventing it. Bears cannot prevent ice from melting.

C) tolerate is correct because “endure” means to suffer through something difficult over time, which is what “tolerate” means in this context.

Question 2 ORGANIZATION

“Which option best describes how the information in lines 4 to 7 is presented?”

F) chronologically
G) by cause and effect ✓
H) as problem and solution
J) by similarities and differences

🔍 Strategy — Signal Word Search: Look at the chain of events in lines 4–7: temperatures rise (CAUSE) → ice melts earlier (EFFECT) → bears are stranded on land (EFFECT) → bears lose weight (EFFECT). Each event directly causes the next. This is a cause-and-effect chain.

F) chronologically — While the effects happen in sequence, the passage emphasizes the CAUSAL relationship, not just the timeline.
H) problem and solution — Lines 4–7 describe the PROBLEM only. No solution is presented in this section.
J) similarities and differences — No comparison is being made in these lines.

G) cause and effect is correct because the passage explicitly links warming temperatures to a chain of consequences: warming → ice loss → stranding → weight loss. Each step is the direct result of the previous one.

Question 3 EXPLICIT

“How did the biologists determine which bears had recently eaten berries?”

A) They tested the bears’ blood.
B) They looked for stained teeth. ✓
C) They measured the bears’ muscles.
D) They used breath-analysis masks.

🔍 Strategy — Keyword Scan: Search for “berries” and “determine/identify.” The passage states the biologists identified berry-eating bears by “tell-tale stains on teeth and backsides.” Stained teeth = the visual indicator.

A) — Blood testing is mentioned as a method used by EARLIER researchers for different purposes, not for identifying berry consumption.
C) — Muscle measurement is also a previously used method, not related to berry identification.
D) — Breath-analysis masks were used to measure metabolic rates AFTER identifying which bears ate berries. The masks did not identify the berry-eaters.

B) is correct because the passage explicitly states that biologists identified bears that had eaten berries by the tell-tale stains on their teeth (and backsides). This is a direct-from-the-text answer.

Question 4 PUNCTUATION PURPOSE

“What is set off by the comma in the final sentence?”

F) a contrast ✓
G) a definition
H) items in a list
J) a repeated detail

🔍 Strategy — Read the Final Sentence: The final sentence begins with “Unlike that of the brown bear, polar bear metabolism cannot extract sufficient energy from berries.” The comma separates a CONTRAST phrase (“Unlike that of the brown bear”) from the main clause. The word “unlike” is a signal word for CONTRAST.

G) a definition — No term is being defined. The sentence compares two types of bears.
H) items in a list — There is no list in this sentence.
J) a repeated detail — The brown bear detail is NEW information, not a repetition.

F) a contrast is correct because the comma sets off the introductory phrase “Unlike that of the brown bear,” which directly contrasts brown bear metabolism (CAN use berries) with polar bear metabolism (CANNOT use berries).

Question 5 INFERENCE

“Which is likely to occur if average temperature continues to rise?”

A) The polar bear population will rise.
B) Polar bears will consume less seal meat. ✓
C) Polar bears will spend less time on land.
D) Dependency on berries will decrease.

🔍 Strategy — Extend the Cause-and-Effect Chain: The passage establishes: warmer temperatures → longer ice-free period → less time on ice → less access to seals. If temperatures CONTINUE to rise, extend the chain: even longer ice-free period → even LESS seal-hunting time → polar bears consume LESS seal meat.

A) — The passage shows bears are THREATENED by warming. More warming = more threat = population would decline, not rise.
C) — The opposite is true. More warming = MORE time on land (because ice melts earlier and forms later).
D) — If anything, desperate bears might eat MORE berries (even though they do not help). But the question asks about the LIKELY outcome based on the passage’s logic.

B) is correct because the passage explicitly links ice availability to seal hunting. Less ice = less hunting = less seal meat consumed. This is a logical extension of the passage’s cause-and-effect chain.

Question 6 SYNTHESIS

“Which is compared in this selection?”

F) blueberries and crowberries
G) tranquilized bears and awake bears
H) past and more-current research methods ✓
J) muscle measurements and blood tests

🔍 Strategy — Big Picture Comparison: Step back and look at the passage as a whole. The passage describes how EARLIER researchers used muscle measurement and blood testing (older methods), while the CURRENT researchers used breath-analysis masks on tranquilized bears (newer method). The overall comparison is between past and current research approaches.

F) — Different berry species are mentioned briefly but are not the focus of a comparison.
G) — The passage does not compare bears in different states of consciousness.
J) — These are both examples of OLD methods. The passage compares old methods AS A GROUP to the new method, not individual old methods to each other.

H) is correct because the passage’s central structural comparison is between how researchers USED to study polar bear health (blood tests, muscle measurements) and how they study it NOW (breath-analysis masks on tranquilized bears).

Question 7 OPEN RESPONSE

“State a main idea of this selection and provide one specific detail from the text to support it.”

🔍 Strategy — Main Idea + Evidence: The main idea is the CENTRAL message, not a minor detail. Ask yourself: “If I had to summarize this passage in one sentence, what would it be?” Then pick the STRONGEST piece of evidence to support it.

The main idea of this selection is that climate change threatens polar bear survival in Hudson Bay, and berries cannot replace their seal-based diet. The text states that researchers applied breath-analysis masks to 300 tranquilized polar bears and found “no significant differences” in metabolic health between bears that ate berries and those that did not. This finding is critical because it proves that, unlike brown bears, polar bear metabolism cannot extract sufficient energy from berries alone. As warming temperatures continue to reduce ice and shorten the seal-hunting season, polar bears will continue to lose nearly a kilogram per day during their forced fasting, with no dietary alternative available.

107 words

Why this scores well: The model answer (1) states the main idea clearly in the first sentence, (2) provides a SPECIFIC detail (300 bears, breath-analysis masks, “no significant differences”), (3) EXPLAINS why that detail matters (proves berries cannot replace seals), and (4) connects back to the larger issue (climate change). This is the complete package markers look for.

✍️ Practice Questions — Lesson 5

Answers are on the Solutions Page.

(1) The monarch butterfly is one of the most recognizable insects in North America, known for its distinctive orange-and-black wings. Every autumn, millions of monarchs undertake an extraordinary migration, travelling up to 4,500 kilometres from southern Canada to the mountain forests of central Mexico.

(2) This migration is driven by changes in daylight and temperature. As days grow shorter and cooler in September, monarchs begin their southward journey. Unlike most migratory animals, no single butterfly completes the round trip. The butterflies that arrive in Mexico in November are the great-great-grandchildren of those that left the previous spring. Scientists call this a “multi-generational migration” — a phenomenon unique among insects.

(3) The biggest threat to monarch populations is the loss of milkweed, the only plant on which monarchs lay their eggs. Milkweed has declined sharply across the midwestern United States and southern Ontario due to the widespread use of herbicides on agricultural land. Without milkweed, monarch caterpillars cannot survive, and the population drops.

(4) Earlier studies of monarch populations relied on counting butterflies at their Mexican wintering sites, measuring the area of forest they occupied. More recently, researchers at the University of Guelph have developed a citizen-science program called Monarch Watch, which enlists volunteers to tag individual butterflies with tiny stickers. When a tagged butterfly is recovered at a distant location, scientists can trace its route and calculate its speed.

(5) Unlike traditional counting methods, the tagging program provides data on individual migration paths rather than just overall population size. However, Dr. Amara Singh, the program coordinator, notes that both approaches are necessary. “Counting tells us how many butterflies survive. Tagging tells us how they get there. You need both pieces of the puzzle.”

(6) Conservation efforts are underway. Many Ontario schools and community groups have begun planting milkweed gardens to restore habitat along the migration route. While these efforts are encouraging, scientists warn that decades of habitat loss cannot be reversed quickly, and the monarch population remains vulnerable.

Multiple Choice

1Vocabulary: What is the meaning of “phenomenon” as used in paragraph 2?
A. a common event
B. a remarkable occurrence
C. a dangerous situation
D. a scientific experiment

2Organization: Which option best describes how the information in paragraph 3 is organized?
F. Chronologically
G. By cause and effect
H. By similarities and differences
J. As a list of instructions

3Explicit: What is the only plant on which monarchs lay their eggs?
A. Sunflowers
B. Milkweed
C. Goldenrod
D. Clover

4Inference: What is likely to happen if milkweed continues to decline?
F. Monarchs will switch to laying eggs on other plants.
G. The monarch population will continue to decrease.
H. Monarchs will stop migrating to Mexico.
J. Herbicide use will naturally decrease on its own.

5Comparison: Which is compared in this selection?
A. Monarch butterflies and other insect species
B. Traditional population counting and the tagging program
C. Canadian and American conservation policies
D. Milkweed and other wildflower species

6Main Idea: What is the main purpose of paragraph 4?
F. To describe a new scientific approach to studying monarch migration.
G. To explain why monarchs are endangered.
H. To criticize farmers for using herbicides.
J. To compare monarchs to other butterfly species.

Open Response

7State the main idea of this passage and support it with two specific details from the text. (Aim for 80–100 words.)

Session A Complete Walkthrough — Every Question Solved

📝 Session A — Section-by-Section Walkthrough

Section A — Real-Life Narrative: “An Animator from Scarborough”

🎬 What This Section Tests

An Animator from Scarborough

✍️ Practice Questions — Lesson 1

Section B — Writing Conventions (5 Questions Solved)

📝 What This Section Tests

✍️ Practice Questions — Lesson 2

Section C — Dialogue: “Hair Shop on Wheels”

💬 What This Section Tests

THE FORMULA — Open Response (30 marks, ~100 words)

MARKS BREAKDOWN

✍️ Practice Questions — Lesson 3

Sections D & E — Short Writing + News Report

✍️ What These Sections Test

THE FORMULA — Short Writing (~30 marks, ~100 words)

MARKS BREAKDOWN — Short Writing

Section D — Short Writing Task

THE FORMULA — News Report (~30 marks, ~200 words)

MARKS BREAKDOWN — News Report

Section E — News Report Writing

📗 The ONLY Reading Open Response in Session A Appears Here

THE FORMULA — News Report Reading Open Response (~100 words)

WHY THIS IS THE KEY OPEN RESPONSE IN SESSION A

✍️ Practice Questions — Lesson 4

Section F — Information Text: “Polar Bears”

📚 What This Section Tests

THE FORMULA — Open Response (30 marks, ~100 words)

MARKS BREAKDOWN

✍️ Practice Questions — Lesson 5