Composition: Organizing Drafts with Structure and Coherence (TEKS.ELA.8.10.B.i) Practice Test

Along the Texas Gulf Coast, communities prepare for hurricanes in many ways. Families pack go-bags, but evacuation routes matter too. Sirens test on Wednesdays in one town. After storms, neighbors check on elders. Forecast cones can shift quickly. Before boarding windows, people should secure pets, and later they document damage. Some residents remember Hurricane Harvey; volunteers learned lessons about supply distribution. Emergency managers post updates online, although power can fail. A shelter's generator is loud. High water closes roads, and then curfews begin. Sandbags help near low bridges. Storm surge, not wind, often causes the most danger. A student club makes kits for cars. The plan works best when tasks are in order, and practice turns confusion into habit. Timelines reduce mistakes during stressful times.

I signed up for the debate tournament because my friend dared me, and the trophy by the door glittered. After the awards ceremony, my hands finally stopped shaking. The bus ride that morning felt endless, and a judge later asked a tough question about evidence. I forgot my second card in the first round. Between rounds, a teammate handed me water and a sticky note. The speaker points posted on a screen mattered more than I expected. In practice last week, I kept dropping my voice. Winning one round proved I could recover. The cafeteria smelled like pancakes. When I wrote thank-you emails that night, I realized I liked the work. Nerves at the start didn't last. Small mistakes taught me timing, breath, and focus.