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Robotics Results: Tighten the News Report

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Robotics Results: Tighten the News Report

Make each word count without changing the facts.

Read and Refine

Read the fictional school news report. Choose revisions that are precise and concise without removing necessary information.

A Careful Finish at the Robotics Meet

1Students from Bellwick Middle School returned Saturday with first place in the beginner division of a regional robotics competition. Their robot transported foam supply blocks across a marked course and placed them on shelves. The competition included beginner and advanced divisions, with separate rankings for each. Bellwick entered only the beginner division, which included eight teams.

2During the opening round, Bellwick’s robot developed a problem near the second shelf. Its wheels stopped turning for six seconds, although the motor continued humming. A yellow boundary stripe ran beside the shelf. Judges watched from behind a low barrier. The robot eventually completed the route, but the delay reduced the team’s score.

3Between rounds, team member Zoya Menon examined the robot’s lifting arm. She discovered that a loose cable was catching beneath a wheel. Zoya secured the cable with a clip while teammate Idris Vale checked the route instructions. The students kept the original program rather than rewriting it. Their adjustment addressed a mechanical problem, not a programming error.

4In the final round, the robot delivered seven blocks in ninety seconds. It had delivered five blocks during its opening round, which also lasted ninety seconds. Both rounds used the same course. The final score placed Bellwick ahead of the other beginner teams, although an advanced team delivered more blocks on a different course.

5Team captain Renata Park credited the students’ repair checklist. “We checked one possible cause at a time instead of changing everything,” she said. Coach Mr. Vang said the students had practiced that method during meetings. Neither the coach nor the students claimed that the checklist could prevent every equipment problem. The loose cable had escaped notice during practice.

6The team plans to demonstrate the robot during next month’s school activities period. A room has not been assigned, so the demonstration’s location remains unconfirmed. Students will explain how they identified the cable problem and why they left the program unchanged. Renata hopes the demonstration will show that troubleshooting involves careful decisions as well as quick repairs.

1.
An editor wants to replace “developed a problem” in paragraph 2 with a precise verb. Which revision best fits the robot’s wheel movement?
Question 1 options
2.
In paragraph 2, underline the sentence describing the pause in wheel movement that supports the verb chosen in question 1.

3.
A proposed headline reads, “Bellwick Team Is the Winner of First Place in the Beginner Division.” Which headline removes wordiness while preserving the result’s scope?
Question 3 options
4.
Revise this proposed sentence: “Zoya made an examination of the lifting arm and made the discovery of a loose cable.” Which choice replaces wordy noun phrases with direct verbs?
Question 4 options
5.
A draft says, “The students did not consider it necessary to make changes to the program.” Which revision expresses the same decision most concisely?
Question 5 options
6.
A results sentence reads, “The final round produced a better performance.” Which replacement communicates the improvement precisely, using paragraph 4?
Question 6 options
7.
Which revision of “The location of the demonstration has not been confirmed at this point in time” is most concise without changing its status?
Question 7 options

Make the Final Cuts

Edit proposed additions to the report. Keep meaningful distinctions, even when a shorter sentence is possible.

8.
A proposed addition reads, “It is important to note the fact that the loose cable had escaped notice during practice.” Which version states the fact directly, without an unnecessary introduction?
Question 8 options
9.
Underline the TWO proposed sentences that contain unnecessary repetition within the sentence. Do not select a sentence merely because its information appears in the report.

10.
A draft says, “Zoya secured the cable. At the same time, Idris checked the instructions.” Which combination removes repeated sentence structure while preserving the simultaneous actions?
Question 10 options
11.
A proposed photo caption reads, “A clip held the cable away from the wheel so that the cable would not catch beneath the wheel.” Which revision cuts repeated words while retaining both the clip’s position and purpose?
Question 11 options
12.
An editor shortens “Renata credited the checklist with helping the team locate the problem” to “The checklist located the problem.” Why should the editor reject this cut?
Question 12 options
13.
Revise this proposed sentence in no more than 18 words: “According to what Coach Mr. Vang said, the students had previously practiced the method before during meetings.” Preserve the source, the earlier practice, and where it occurred. Then explain one cut you made.
14.
Revise this proposed update in no more than 30 words: “The students plan to give a demonstration showing how they found the cable problem. The demonstration will also show why they kept the program unchanged. The location where this demonstration will take place is not confirmed.” Preserve the plan, both demonstration topics, and the uncertainty about the location. Then explain why cutting “plan to” would change the meaning.