Read the following passages and identify the text structure being used.

1. Many people are confused about why our economy went to shambles in 2008. The crisis was
actually the result of a combination of many complex factors. First, easy credit conditions
allowed people who were high-risk or unworthy of credit to borrow, and even people who
had no income were eligible for large loans. Second, banks would bundle these toxic loans
and sell them as packages on the financial market. Third, large insurance firms backed these
packages, misrepresenting these high-risk loans as safe investments. Fourth, because of the
ease of acquiring credit and the rapid growth in the housing market, people were buying two
or three houses, intending to sell them for more than they paid. All of these factors created
bubbles of speculation. These bubbles burst, sending the whole market into a downward
spiral, causing employers to lose capital and lay off employees. Consumer spending then
plummeted and most businesses suffered. The economy is like a big boat, and once it gets
moving quickly in the wrong direction, it’s hard to turn it around.
2. All matter, all things can be changed in two ways: chemically and physically. Both chemical
and physical changes affect the state of matter. Physical changes are those that do not
change the make-up or identity of the matter. For example, clay will bend or flatten if
squeezed, but it will still be clay. Changing the shape of clay is a physical change, and does
not change the matter’s identity. Chemical changes turn the matter into a new kind of matter
with different properties. For example, when paper is burnt, it becomes ash and will never be
paper again. The difference between them is that physical changes are temporary or only last
for a little while, and chemical changes are permanent, which means they last forever.
Physical and chemical changes both affect the state of matter.
3. During the Revolutionary War, Americans learned just how important friends can be. When
the Americans declared independence on July 4, 1776, they had virtually no allies. But on
February 6, 1778, after the American victory at Saratoga, the French assisted the American
cause. The French went into deep debt helping the Americans. The Americans would receive
additional help in June of 1779, when the Spanish joined the fight against the British. They
would secure Southern ports and supply lines. Without the help of these allies, many more
Americans would have died in the fight for independence.
4. From airplanes to forklifts, hydraulic power is the strength behind many amazing
technologies that affect our daily lives, even the breaks on your school bus, but how do they
work? First, fluid is rapidly released into a chamber through a valve. As the fluid collect, the
valve is slammed shut which causes a pressure spike. Because the chamber is sealed, the
pressure has nowhere to go. The hydraulic mechanism channels the pressure and provides
great power.
5. Having good attendance is important because attendance determines the school’s funding.
Some students have poor attendance, and the school has tried many ways of addressing this:
teachers have talked to parents on the phone and the school has mailed letters. Yet, some
students still maintain poor attendance. Next, the staff will attempt to schedule
parent/teacher/administrator conferences with students who are habitually absent.
Hopefully, this will help more students get to school everyday.
6. Different students attend various types of schools; however, they can usually be classified as
either public, private religious, private non-religious, or alternative. Public schools are funded
by the state, and the majority of students in the United States attend them. Private religious
schools are based around a particular faith, such as Catholicism, Judaism, and so forth. The
religion is part of the everyday lives of the students and they also learn about the faiths. All
types of private schools do not receive state funding. Therefore, private non-religious schools
are simply just that: schools which do not receive state funding and have the ability to make
their own rules. Alternative schools can be made up of a variety of different categories, such
as the Montessori program or technical schools. Most students who attend class in an actual
school building go to one of these types of institutions.
7. There are four main levels of the Boy Scouts of America. Boys who are in first grade or are
seven years old can enter the Tiger Cubs. Each Tiger Cub has an adult partner. Uniforms are
optional for Tiger Cubs. Scouts and adults may wear orange Tiger T-shirts and hats. Boys who
are in second grade or are at least eight years old can join the Cub Scouts. The Cub Scouts
wear blue uniforms with blue and gold scarves. Boys who are 11 to 17 years old can join the
Boy Scouts. Boy Scouts wear khaki uniforms that include caps, scarves, shirts, and pants. Boys
and girls who are 14 to 20 years old can join the Venturing program. This program helps
young people develop leadership skills. Members of the Venturing program wear green
uniforms.
8. Making ice-cream is not easy. Cream and sugar have to first be mixed in a frozen container.
Ingredients may be added at this point, if desired. The mixture must be stirred and whipped
until the cream and sugar mixture is frozen. Depending on the equipment, this may take as
long as an hour. After the ice-cream is prepared, it must be kept frozen until it is ready to be
enjoyed. Making ice-cream is difficult, but most people would agree that it is worth the
trouble.
9. There are two types of people in this world: cat people and dog people. Which type are you?
Well, if you like a pet that is low maintenance, you might be a cat person. Cats are easier to
take care of than dogs because cats are very independent. Since they use litter boxes, they do
not have to be taken outside to go potty like dogs. Also, cats clean themselves while dogs
need occasional baths. If you prefer a pet that requires more attention, you may be a dog
person. Most dogs are very loyal and obedient. You can play games like fetch or tug of war
with a dog. Dogs will also alert you when someone is outside of your home, whereas cats will
usually just stay quiet. Both cats and dogs like to be petted, and they both make excellent
pets, but it takes a certain kind of person to own them. Which kind of person are you?
10. Fireworks are beautiful; but as with many beautiful things, they are also dangerous. Misusing
fireworks can result in property damage, injury, and even the loss of life. Such accidents
usually happen for one of two reasons. The operators may be using poorly manufactured
products, such as fireworks with fuses that burn too quickly. A defective firework can cause
even the most skilled operator to have an accident. Other times, however, it is the operator
who is at fault. The operator may be unskilled or distracted and make a mistake, such as
setting up an explosion sequence improperly or not accounting for conditions in the
environment, like soundproof foaming. For these reasons even the most beautiful fireworks
display can turn really ugly really quickly.