Which of the following sentences has correct pronoun-antecedent agreement?
- A. The storm, which included three days of rain, was very strong, and it left half the city flooded.
- B. Each of the cars needs to be examined for damage by a mechanic; they may need repairs.
- C. The number of people who had to evacuate hasn't been confirmed, but it is small.
- D. Many people were able to take advantage of shelters, where they were kept safe from the storm.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Sentence C correctly maintains the pronoun-antecedent agreement. In this sentence, the antecedent is 'number of people,' and the pronoun 'it' is used to refer back to this antecedent. The singular pronoun 'it' matches the singular antecedent 'number,' making the sentence grammatically correct.
Choice A is incorrect because it uses the plural pronoun 'they' to refer back to the singular antecedent 'storm.'
Choice B is incorrect as it uses the plural pronoun 'they' to refer back to the singular antecedent 'each of the cars.'
Choice D is incorrect because it uses the singular pronoun 'he or she' to refer back to the plural antecedent 'many people.' This creates a lack of agreement between the pronoun and its antecedent.
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The patient's preoperative evaluation is scheduled for next Wednesday. In the sentence, the prefix pre- indicates that the evaluation will take place at which of the following times?
- A. before the operation
- B. after the operation
- C. during the operation
- D. outside of the operation
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The prefix 'pre-' typically means before. In this case, 'preoperative' refers to activities that occur before an operation. Therefore, the patient's preoperative evaluation, scheduled for next Wednesday, will take place before the operation. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because the prefix 'pre-' specifically indicates a time before the operation, not after, during, or outside of it.
Everyday items like potatoes, bread, onions, and even saliva are the tools of art conservators, who work to clean and restore works of art. Which of the following is misspelled in the sentence above?
- A. potatoes
- B. saliva
- C. conservators
- D. restore
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct spelling is 'potatoes,' with the correct plural form being used in this context. The other choices are spelled correctly: 'saliva,' 'conservators,' and 'restore.' 'Saliva' refers to a bodily fluid, 'conservators' are professionals who work on art conservation, and 'restore' means to bring something back to its original condition or state.
Which of the following statements about heat engines is true?
- A. Heat engines are the most common type of engine.
- B. Pneumatic and hydraulic motors are both types of electric engines.
- C. The three types of engines are heat engines, electric engines, and pneumatic motors.
- D. Heat engines can be broken down into combustion and non-combustion engines.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The statement that 'Heat engines can be broken down into combustion and non-combustion engines' is correct. Heat engines can indeed be categorized into combustion engines, where fuel combustion occurs, and non-combustion engines, such as steam engines, where heat is applied without combustion. This categorization helps in understanding the different mechanisms and types of heat engines available. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect. Choice A is incorrect as heat engines are not the most common type of engine; internal combustion engines are more prevalent. Choice B is incorrect as pneumatic and hydraulic motors are not types of electric engines, but rather different systems that use gas (pneumatic) or liquid (hydraulic) to transmit power. Choice C is incorrect as it lists electric engines, which are not a primary classification of engines like heat engines, but rather a type of engine that uses electricity to operate.
Which of the following is a complex sentence?
- A. When skywriting, a pilot flies a small aircraft in specific, particular formations, creating large letters visible from the ground.
- B. The public defense attorney was able to maintain her optimism despite her dearth of courtroom wins, her lack of free time, and her growing list of clients.
- C. Because the distance between stars in the galaxy is far greater than the distance between planets, interstellar travel is expected to be an even bigger challenge than interplanetary exploration.
- D. Invented in France in the early nineteenth century, the stethoscope underwent a number of reiterations before the emergence of the modern form of the instrument in the 1850s.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A complex sentence has one independent clause and at least one dependent clause connected by a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun. In choice C, the sentence 'Because the distance between stars in the galaxy is far greater than the distance between planets' is a dependent clause introduced by the subordinating conjunction 'Because,' while the rest of the sentence 'interstellar travel is expected to be an even bigger challenge than interplanetary exploration' forms the independent clause. This combination of an independent clause and a dependent clause makes choice C a complex sentence. Choices A, B, and D do not contain both an independent and dependent clause connected in the way that choice C does, thus they do not qualify as complex sentences.
Unfortunately, the belief that changelings could be convinced to leave was not just an innocuous superstition; however, on some occasions, harm came to the individual who was thought to be a changeling. Which is the best way to revise and combine the underlined portion of the sentences?
- A. an innocuous superstition, on some occasions,
- B. an innocuous superstition, but on some occasions,
- C. an innocuous superstition; however, on some occasions,
- D. an innocuous superstition: on some occasions,
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The best way to revise and combine the underlined portion of the sentences is by using a semicolon to show a stronger connection between the two ideas. Using 'however' after the semicolon helps to contrast the innocuous superstition with the negative outcome that sometimes occurred, providing a smoother flow between the ideas. Choice A is incorrect as it lacks a proper conjunction or punctuation to connect the ideas. Choice B is incorrect as 'but' does not effectively contrast the ideas as 'however' does. Choice D is incorrect as a colon is used to introduce a list or explanation, which is not suitable in this context where a contrast is needed.