- Choose the word that correctly fills the blank in the following sentence.
- reading
- to read
- read
- will read
“Read” (the present tense form of the verb) maintains the parallel structure of the sentence and matches the verb tense for “revise” and “complete.” The other answer choices represent the present participle (“reading”), infinitive (“to read”), and future tense (“will rea”) of the word.
- What do the underlined words represent in the following sentence?
- Dependent clause
- Independent clause
- Relative clause
- Adverbial clause
The underlined words represent an independent clause because they contain both a subject and verb and because they express a complete thought.
- Which of the following sentences is correct?
- I am going to buy a new car it is a blue sedan.
- I am going to buy a new car, it is a blue sedan.
- I am going to buy a new car; it is a blue sedan.
- I am going to buy a new car, therefore, it is a blue sedan.
“I am going to buy a new car” and “it is a blue sedan” are independent clauses (they each contain a subject and a verb and express a complete thought). It is appropriate to join two independent clauses in a single sentence with a semicolon. Choice A is a run-on sentence. Choice B is a comma splice. Choice D uses a comma to precede the conjunctive adverb “therefore,” which is incorrect.
- Which of the following sentences is correct?
- Rachel excels in several activities, including: swimming, hiking, and biking.
- Rachel excels in: swimming, hiking, and biking.
- Rachel excels in several activities: swimming, hiking, and biking.
- Rachel excels in several activities, such as: swimming, hiking, and biking.
It is appropriate to use a colon to introduce a list. It is not appropriate to use a colon following a preposition (choice B) or after the phrases “including” and “such as,” which make the use of a colon redundant (choices A and D).
- What does the word felicity mean in the following sentence?
- Discomfort
- Anxiety
- Disbelief
- Happiness
The context of the sentence indicates that Mara would feel great happiness.
- Choose the correct spelling of the word that completes the following sentence.
- indigenous
- endigenous
- indegenous
- endeginous
The correct spelling of the word is indigenous.
- Choose the word that best fills the blank in the following sentence.
- frantic
- docile
- lucid
- prudent
The word “docile” means easily taught or ready to be taught. The sentence should read: Peter is so talented with horses that the skittish colt became docile once Peter took over his training.
- Choose the word that best fills the blank in the following sentence.
- exalted
- praised
- honored
- commended
Although the word choices all have similar denotations, the context of the sentence, and especially the use of the word “grudgingly,” indicate that Stanley gave only a perfunctory congratulations to Nathan for his good idea. The sentence should read: “Stanley had never liked Nathan, but he grudgingly commended Nathan for his idea of holding a car wash for the school fund raiser.”
- Identify the figure of speech used in the following sentence.
- Irony
- Hyperbole
- Personification
- Euphemism
Irony is an expression where words are attributed with the opposite of their usual meaning. The fact that Caroline was not rendered speechless, but quite the opposite, is indicated by the fact that she did not stop talking the rest of the day.
- What does “hunting down the truth” mean in the following sentence?
- The detective preferred to work with a gun.
- The detective was determined to tell the truth.
- The detective wanted to eradicate the truth.
- The detective was determined to learn the truth.
“Hunting down the truth” is a figure of speech that means “determined to learn the truth.” This is indicated by the context of the sentence which references the life goal of a detective.