ENGLISH TEST 2
Anne-Charlotte and I will be driving together to the picnic this weekend. 22.Which of the following words functions as a pronoun in the sentence? a. be b. this c. together d. I
22. D: Answer choice D is a pronoun: the subjective case I. Answer choice A is a helping verb. Answer choice B is an adjective. Answer choice C is an adverb.
A quick review of all available housing options indicated that Casper had little choice but to rent for now and wait for a better time to buy. 25. Which of the following words does not function as an adjective in the sentence? a. quick b. available c. little d. rent
25. D: The words quick, available, and little are all adjectives in the sentence. Quick modifies review; available modifies housing options; little modifies choice. The word rent is part of the infinitive (i.e. verbal) phrase to rent.
7. Which of the following nouns is the correct plural form of the word tempo? a. tempo b. tempae c. tempi d. tempos
7. C: The correct plural form of tempo is tempi. This word has an Italian root, and thus follows the pattern of other, similar words that end in -i in their plural form. Note also that tempo, meaning time, is simply the Italian form of the Latin tempus. (Recall the Latin expression tempus fugit, or "time flies.") Other Latin-based nouns ending in -us also take the -i ending when made plural: octopus > octopi, syllabus > syllabi, etc.
The discussion over the new park had begun well, but it soon descended into an acrimonious debate over misuse of tax revenues. 9. Using the context of the selection below, what is the meaning of the underlined word? a. shocking b. childish c. rancorous d. revealing
Acrimonious means bitter or vitriolic and is similar meaning to C: rancorousRancorous: characterized by bitterness or resentment.
1. Which of the following sentences shows the correct way to separate the items in the series? a. These are actual cities in the United States: Unalaska, Alaska; Yreka, California; Two Egg, Florida; and Boring, Maryland. b. These are actual cities in the United States: Unalaska; Alaska, Yreka; California, Two Egg; Florid, and Boring; Maryland. c. These are actual cities in the United States: Unalaska, Alaska, Yreka, California, Two Egg, Florida, and Boring, Maryland. d. These are actual cities in the United States: Unalaska Alaska, Yreka California, Two Egg Florida, and Boring Maryland.
1. A: Semicolons are used to separate items in a series when those items contain internal commas, such as in a listing of cities and states. Answer choice A correctly demonstrates this. Answer choice B places the semicolon between the city and its state, instead of between each listing of the city and its state, and this is incorrect. A comma is always used to separate a single instance of a city and a state. Answer choice C separate the items in the series with commas, but this creates confusion for the reader, since there are already commas between each city and its state. Answer choice D places commas between each item in the series, but fails to include the necessary comma between each city and its state.
10. Which of the following sentences does NOT use correct punctuation to separate independent clauses? a . Anne likes to add salsa to her scrambled eggs; Gordon unaccountably likes his with peanut butter. b. Anne likes to add salsa to her scrambled eggs, however Gordon unaccountably likes his with peanut butter. c. Anne likes to add salsa to her scrambled eggs. Gordon unaccountably likes his with peanut butter. d. Anne likes to add salsa to her scrambled eggs, but Gordon unaccountably likes his with peanut butter
10. B: Answer choice B demonstrates a comma splice, which is the use of a comma to join two independent clauses. Note that however is not a conjunction, and cannot join two sentences like other coordinating conjunctions (e.g., and, but, or, etc.) can. Answer choice A correctly uses a semicolon between the independent clauses. Answer choice C correctly uses a period between the independent clauses. Answer choice D correctly uses a comma and the coordinating conjunction but to join the independent clauses.
Mara enjoyed great felicity when her missing dog found his way home. 12. What does the word "felicity" mean in this sentence? a. Discomfort b. Anxiety c. Disbelief d. Happiness
12. D: The context of the sentence indicates that Mara would feel great happiness
The following words share a common Greek-based suffix: anthropology, cosmetology, etymology, and genealogy. 14. What is the most likely meaning of the suffix -logy? a. record b. study c. affinity d. fear
14. B: Anthropology is the study of human culture. Cosmetology is the study of cosmetic techniques. Etymology is the study of word meanings. Genealogy is the study of family history. All of these words would indicate that the suffix -logy refers to the study of something. It cannot refer to a record, since that indicates something in the past, and the words in question describe activities that are ongoing. An affinity for something is not the same as a committed study of it, and each item in the question represents its own dedicated field. The suffix for "fear" is -phobia.
Fenella wanted to attend the concert. She also wanted to attend the reception at the art gallery. She tried to find a way to do both in one evening. She failed. 11. Which of the following options best combines these sentences? Consider both style and clarity when choosing a response. a. Although Fenella wanted to attend the concert, she also wanted to attend the reception at the art gallery, so she tried to find a way to do both in one evening. She failed. b. Fenella wanted to attend both the concert and the reception at the art gallery, but she failed to find a way to do both in one evening. c. Fenella failed to find a way to attend both the concert and the reception at the art gallery. d. Because Fenella wanted to attend both the concert and the reception at the art gallery, she tried to find a way to do both in one evening. Unfortunately, she failed.
11. B: Answer choice B combines the sentences in the best way. The sentences are combined into a single sentence, and all of the details are still included. Answer choices A and D do a good job of combining the sentences, but still consist of more than one sentence. Answer choice C combines the sentences, but leaves out the part about how she "tried to find a way to attend both." There is no clear reason to leave this out, so answer choice C is not the best choice.
13. Based on the current definition of the word permeate "to penetrate or pervade," which of the following is the most likely meaning of the prefix per-? a. across b. by c. with d. through
13. D: If the root meare means "to pass," and the word permeate means "to penetrate or pervade," the most likely meaning of the prefix per- is "through." This would yield a literal word meaning of "to pass through," which is similar in meaning to the original: "to penetrate or pervade." The phrase "to pass across" does not match the original Latin origins. Similarly, "to pass by" and "to pass with" are not consistent with the meaning of "passing through."
Jacob had been worried about the speech, but in the end he did well. 15. Which of the following words functions as an adverb in the sentence? a. worried b. about c. but d. well
15. D: An adverb modifies a verb, and in the sentence, the word well modifies the verb did by indicating how Jacob did with his speech. The word worried is a verb. The word about is a preposition. The word but is a conjunction
16. Which of the following would belong in a formal speech? a. We all need to work together to make this school better. First, we need to organize a list of our issues. Then we need to form small groups to discuss them and find solutions. Finally, we need to implement those solutions. b. Our purpose is to work together to improve the quality of education at this school. Ideally, we need to organize a list of our issues. Secondly, we need to form small groups to discuss them and find solutions. Then, we need to implement some solutions. c. We all got to work together to make this school much better than before. First, we need to say what is on our mind. We got to form small groups to discuss them and find solutions. And, we need to talk about those solutions. d. It is possible for us to talk about the problems in school and solve them. Of course, we need to organize a list of our issues. For example, we should form small groups to discuss them and find solutions. Finally, we need to implement those solutions.
16. A: This answer provides an example of a formal speech, lays out the steps to a solution in a concise manner, and utilizes the correct transition words.
17. Which of the following sentences contains a correct example of subject-verb agreement? a. Neither Jeanne nor Pauline like the dinner options on the menu. b. All of the council likes the compromise that they have reached about property taxes. c. The faculty of the math department were unable to agree on the curriculum changes. d. Both Clara and Don feels that they need to be more proactive in checking on the contractors.
17. C: It is correct to pair a plural verb with a collective noun when that noun indicates a plural context. In answer choice C, it is clear that the faculty members are acting individually in their disagreement, so the plural verb makes sense. In answer choice A, the pronoun neither is singular, so the verb that accompanies it should also be singular. In answer choice B, the pronoun all is plural, so the accompanying verb should be plural. Similarly, in answer choice D, the pronoun both is plural, so the verb that accompanies it should also be plural.
The guest speaker was undoubtedly an erudite scholar, but his comments on nomological determinism seemed to go over the heads of the students in the audience. 18. Which of the following best explains the meaning of erudite in the sentence? a. authentic b. arrogant c. faulty d. knowledgeable
18. D: The sentence suggests that the scholar was very knowledgeable about his subject matter; it is just that his presentation went over the students' heads. The word authentic suggests an external guarantee of correctness, which makes little sense in the context of the sentence. The word arrogant might be accurate, except that there is nothing in the sentence to suggest the guest speaker deliberately spoke over the students' heads. It is simply that his knowledge was not presented effectively given the audience. Finally, there is nothing in the sentence to suggest that the guest speaker was faulty in any way. Rather, he knew so much that he failed to connect with an audience that was less knowledgeable.
Wearing white to a funeral is considered by many to be _____. 19. Which of the following correctly completes the sentence? a. sacrelegious b. sacriligious c. sacrilegious d. sacreligious
19. C: The word sacrilegious indicates a violation of sacred expectations, and wearing white to a funeral would be something that would violate the sacred expectations of many. The other answer choices are spelled incorrectly, particularly sacreligious, which spells the word with the correct spelling of religious. This is not correct, as the spelling is adjusted when joined to the other root
2. Choose the sentence that most effectively follows the conventions of Standard Written English: a. Wilbur and Orville Wright were two brothers, and they tested their prototype airplane on a beach in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. b. The two brothers, Wilbur and Orville Wright, tested their prototype airplane on a beach in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. c. Testing their prototype airplane on a beach in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, were the two brothers, Wilbur and Orville Wright. d. The beach in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina was where the two brothers, Wilbur and Orville Wright, came and tested their prototype airplane
2. B: This sentence best conveys the information without using too many words (choice D) or having an awkward construction (choices A and C).
(1) German cuisine is known for its hearty, meat and potato dishes. (2) Families often enjoy a rich Sunday dinner of roast meat, potatoes, and cabbage. 20. What is the most effective way to combine sentences 1 and 2? a. German cuisine is known for its hearty, meat and potato dishes but families often enjoy a rich Sunday dinner of roast meat, potatoes, and cabbage. b. German cuisine is known for its hearty, meat and potato dishes, but families often enjoy a rich Sunday dinner of roast meat, potatoes, and cabbage. c. German cuisine is known for its hearty, meat and potato dishes, and families often enjoy a rich Sunday dinner of roast meat, potatoes and cabbage. d. German cuisine is known for its hearty, meat and potato dishes, and families often enjoy a rich Sunday dinner of roast meat, potatoes, and cabbage
20. D: A comma and the conjunction and are required to combine the sentences. And is a better choice than but because the second sentence is a continuation of the first rather than a contradiction. Choices A and B are incorrect because the conjunction but doesn't fit the meaning of the sentences. Choice A is also missing the required comma. Choice C uses the correct conjunction, and, but is missing the comma.
21. Which of the following is a simple sentence? a. Ben likes baseball, but Joseph likes basketball. b. It looks like rain; be sure to bring an umbrella. c. Although he was tired, Edgar still attended the recital. d. Marjorie and Thomas planned an exciting trip to Maui.
21. D: Answer choice D has a plural subject, but is still a simple sentence. Answer choice A is a compound sentence, as it is composed of two independent clauses. Answer choice B consists of two independent sentences that are joined by a semicolon. (The punctuation is correct, and creates two simple sentences, not one.) Answer choice C contains a dependent clause, so it is a complex sentence
23. Which of the following sentences is the best in terms of style, clarity, and conciseness? a. Ava has a leap year birthday; she is really twenty, and her friends like to joke that she is only five years old. b. Because Ava has a leap year birthday, her friends like to joke that she is only five years old when she is really twenty. c. Ava is twenty years old, her friends like to joke that she is five because she has a leap year birthday. d. Although Ava has a leap year birthday, she is twenty years old, but her friends like to joke that she is five.
23. B: Answer choice B is the clearest and the most concise. Answer choices A and C include more than one independent clause. As the statement can function as a single independent clause, this is unnecessary. Answer choice D works, but it is not the best option in terms of style, clarity, and concision. The coordinating conjunction with the added independent clause makes the sentence more unwieldy than answer choice B.
The housekeeper Mrs. Vanderbroek had a fixed daily routine for running the manor, and was not particularly amenable to any suggested changes. 24. Which of the following best explains the meaning of amenable as it is used in the sentence? a. capable b. agreeable c. obstinate d. critical
24. B: The context of the sentence suggests that Mrs. Vanderbroek would not be delighted about any changes to her routine. Thus, answer choice B makes the most sense. Answer choice A has promise, but it does not exactly fit the meaning of the sentence. It is not that Mrs. Vanderbroek would be incapable of accepting change, but rather that she would not welcome it. Answer choices C and D indicate Mrs. Vanderbroek's overall response to changes, but they do not work as synonyms for the word amenable.
(1) A lot of teens express themselves through fashion. (2) Since many teens start earning their own money, they can buy their own clothes and choose the fashions that they want. 26. What is the most effective way to combine sentences 1 and 2? a. A lot of teens express themselves through fashion, and since many teens start earning their own money, they can buy their own clothes and choose the fashions that they want. b. A lot of teens express themselves through fashion and since many teens start earning their own money, they can buy their own clothes and choose the fashions that they want. c. A lot of teens express themselves through fashion, but since many teens start earning their own money, they can buy their own clothes and choose the fashions that they want. d. A lot of teens express themselves through fashion but since many teens start earning their own money, they can buy their own clothes and choose the fashions that they want.
26. A: Choice A uses correct punctuation and a logical conjunction. The conjunction and connects two independent clauses (meaning that they can stand on their own as sentences), there must be a comma before the conjunction. Therefore, choices B and D are incorrect because they are missing this comma. While choice C does have a comma before the conjunction, it uses the conjunction but rather than and. But implies that the two clauses contradict each other. And is a better choice because the two clauses are connected and support each other.
27. Use of formal language would be LEAST essential when addressing which of the following audiences? a. a board of directors b. a grammar school class c. a gathering of college professors d. none of the abovE
27. B: Young people will respond to and better comprehend informal, friendly speech. However, you would not want to be too informal when addressing an educated gathering of college professors or a professional board of directors. Informal speech likely would weaken addresses made before such audiences.
The Constitution mentions the right to _____ arms, but one common mistake is to spell this as though the Founding Fathers were ensuring the right to go sleeveless. 28. Which of the following words correctly completes the sentence? a. bear b. bare c. barre d. baire
28. A: The form bear is correct in this context, because it suggests the right to carry or own arms. The form bare indicates an uncovered limb. The word barre is the French form of bar, and is typically used to describe a ballet barre where dancers train. The word baire is an alternative colloquial form that refers to a mosquito net in some parts of the United States.
3. Which of the following types of language are not appropriate in a research paper? a. colloquialisms b. contractions c. relative pronouns d. both A and B
3. D: Research papers are formal exercises that should not include several types of speech used in informal spoken settings. Colloquialisms are non-standard forms of language, such as "ain't," or slang, like "dude." Contractions represent the words as they sound in speech, so "do not" is formal whereas "don't" is informal. Relative pronouns are necessary in grammar. In the phrase "The boy who I met...," "who" is a relative pronoun.
4. Which of the following sentences demonstrates the correct use of an apostrophe? a. Lyle works for the courthouse, and among his responsibilities is getting the jurors meal's. b. Lyle works for the courthouse, and among his responsibilities is getting the juror's meals. c. Lyle works for the courthouse, and among his responsibilities is getting the jurors' meals. d. Lyle works for the courthouse, and among his responsibilities is getting the jurors meals'.
4. C: When a plural word is made possessive, the standard rule is to place the apostrophe after the final s, as in jurors'. Answer choice C correctly demonstrates this. Answer choices A and D place the possessive apostrophe within meals (meal's and meals'), and these forms of the word do not make sense within the context of the sentence. Answer choice B places the possessive apostrophe before the final s, as in juror's, which indicates only a single juror. This form is incorrect in the context of the sentence
5. Which of the following is a complex sentence? a. Milton's favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs, along with a side salad and garlic toast . b. Before Ernestine purchases a book, she always checks to see if the library has it. c. Desiree prefers warm, sunny weather, but her twin sister Destiny likes a crisp, cold day. d. Ethel, Ben, and Alice are working together on a school project about deteriorating dams.
5. B: A complex sentence contains a single independent clause in addition to a dependent clause. Answer choice B opens with the dependent clause Before Ernestine purchases a book and ends with the independent clause she always checks to see if the library has it. Answer choice A is a simple sentence, as it has no dependent clause. Answer choice C is a compound sentence, because it has two independent clauses. Answer choice D is also a simple sentence, although it has a compound subject.
Finlay flatly refused to take part in the piano recital, so his parents had to cajole him with the promise of a trip to his favorite toy store. 6. Which of the following is the best definition of cajole as it is used in the sentence? a. prevent b. threaten c. insist d. coax
6. D: In the context of the sentence, it appears that Finlay's parents are attempting to coax him by promising a trip to his favorite toy store. Answer choice A makes little sense, as the sentence indicates Finlay's parents want him to participate in the recital. Answer choice B might work, but the promise of a trip to the toy store seems more like a reward than a punishment. Answer choice C makes no sense when added to the sentence in place of the word cajole.
8. Which of the following sentences follows the rules of capitalization? a. Kristia knows that her Aunt Jo will be visiting, but she is not sure if her uncle will be there as well. b. During a visit to the monastery, Jess interviewed brother Mark about the daily prayer schedule. c . Leah spoke to cousin Martha about her summer plans to drive from Colorado to Arizona. d. Justinia will be staying with family in the outer banks during the early Fall.
8. A: In answer choice A, Aunt Jo is correctly capitalized, because aunt identifies a specific person. The word uncle is not capitalized in this sentence, because the uncle's name is not added. Answer choice B fails to capitalize Brother Mark, as the expression clearly identifies a monk. Answer choice C fails to capitalize Cousin Martha. Cousin should be capitalized, because the word identifies a T specific individual. Answer choice D fails to capitalize Outer Banks, which is the proper noun for a region; answer choice D also incorrectly capitalizes Fall. Seasons are not capitalized.
