Insects
by midsummer,
biting insects like mosquitoes and fleas are out in full force in most parts of the united states. unless you plan to stay inside, you will likely head to the store to load up on bug repellents. an excellent natural alternative to chemical bug repellents is the use of essential oils. such oils, taken from natural substances, have been used for centuries for this purpose. essential oils repel insects because they block their sense of smell, fooling them into thinking they should go elsewhere for their meal. for example, to get rid of ants around the house, put drops of peppermint oil across the ant paths. this confuses the insects' scent trails and makes it impossible for them to find food. similarly, you can confuse biting insects by wearing essential oils on your skin that do not allow them to sniff you out. oils that are strong smelling work best as bug repellents. some of the most effective are peppermint, citronella, eucalyptus, and lavender. applying a watered-down essential oil to the warmest exposed areas of your skin (backs of the knees, behind the ears, etc.) will discourage bugs from using your skin as a landing strip. however, make sure not to use sweet-smelling or perfume-like oils. what is the main idea of the passage?
a. insects usually have a strong sense of smell.
b. insects can be repelled through natural products.
c. natural bug repellents usually have a strong smell.
d. sweet-smelling oils can attract bugs to your skin.

Which phrase from the article suggests a tone that is formal but subjective? a- "thirty-six inches long and sixteen inches wide" b- "loads of fun with it" c- "most generous and attractive" d- "must be new subscribers" one of the most generous and attractive offers ever made to washington boys and girls is announced today by the washington times circulation department. for a limited time, national capital youngsters who show enterprise and energy will be given disc wheel coaster wagons in return for a few hours of their time. each boy or girl who sends in to the circulation manager, room 242, the names and addresses of ten friends or relatives who agree to take the washington times for six months, will receive one of these wagons, which can be made a source of profit as well as unending enjoyment for youngsters. the boys and girls are merely asked to obtain the signatures of ten friends or relatives. no money is to be collected and no work is required. the washington times is the most popular and constantly growing newspaper in the national capital and it is easy and simple to obtain the required ten signatures. as soon as the signatures are verified, the disc wheel coaster wagon will be delivered to the energetic boy or girl. the disc wheel coaster wagon is thirty-six inches long and sixteen inches wide. the coaster is built exactly like a high-powered automobile. the disc wheels have rubber tires and true roller bearings. it runs as smoothly as an eight-cylinder automobile. it is built of the strongest wood and is equipped with a reliable hand brake, enabling the owner to stop in an instant. the tongue—usually the first thing about a wagon to break and render the wagon unserviceable—is so stout that a man can jump on it without breaking it. it is built for real boys and active girls and they are bound to have loads of fun with it. besides using the wagon for pleasure and going visiting, boys and girls can use it to make money, running—or riding—errands, delivering packages, wheeling marketing home, etc. the disc wheel coaster wagon is so strongly built that it will withstand the roughest usage to which it may be subjected and will last for years. every boy and girl who wants one of the attractive and most desirable disc wheel coaster wagons should start today to sign up the necessary ten relatives or friends as home delivery subscribers for the washington times for six months. bear in mind that the ten persons whose signatures you obtain must be new subscribers—that is, they must be persons who are not having the washington times delivered at their homes at present. here’s hoping every boy and girl in washington gets a disc wheel coaster wagon before many days.