Which of the following is an example of a correctly punctuated sentence?
- A. Beatrice is very intelligent; however, she just does not apply herself well enough in her classes to make good grades.
- B. Beatrice is very intelligent: she just does not apply herself well enough in her classes to make good grades.
- C. Beatrice is very intelligent; she just does not apply herself well enough in her classes to make good grades.
- D. Beatrice is very intelligent; she just does not apply herself well enough in her classes to make good grades.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Option D is the correct answer as it uses a semicolon to correctly separate two independent clauses. In this sentence, 'Beatrice is very intelligent' and 'she just does not apply herself well enough in her classes to make good grades' are two independent clauses that are related but can stand alone as separate sentences. The semicolon is the appropriate punctuation mark to link these two closely related ideas. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because they either use a comma splice (A), a colon (B), or lack appropriate punctuation (C) to separate the independent clauses.
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Javier is writing a persuasive essay about the role of government in education. He has outlined his paper, written a draft, and revised his draft. Which of the following steps in the writing process has NOT been completed?
- A. Brainstorm topics
- B. Research reliable sources
- C. Write a second draft
- D. Select a topic
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A. Javier has already outlined his paper, written a draft, and revised it. Brainstorming topics typically occurs at the initial stages of the writing process to generate ideas and develop a focus. Since Javier has already completed a draft, the brainstorming step has not been done. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because Javier has already conducted research, written a draft, and selected a topic for his essay.
Which of the following types of language is acceptable in a research paper?
- A. Colloquialisms
- B. Contractions
- C. Relative pronouns
- D. Second-person point of view
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Relative pronouns are acceptable in a research paper for connecting clauses. Colloquialisms (choice A) are informal expressions that are not suitable for academic writing. Contractions (choice B) are considered too casual for a research paper. The second-person point of view (choice D) should be avoided in research papers as it can make the writing less objective and scholarly.
What is the function of a colon when used to introduce a list?
- A. A colon joins two related sentences.
- B. A colon sets off direct quotes longer than five words.
- C. A colon introduces a list or explanation after a complete sentence.
- D. A colon separates clauses in a compound sentence.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: When a colon is used to introduce a list, it is placed after a complete sentence and serves to signal that what follows will be a list or an explanation related to the preceding sentence. Choice A is incorrect because a colon doesn't join two related sentences; it introduces what follows after a complete sentence. Choice B is incorrect as a colon is not used to set off direct quotes longer than five words; quotation marks are used for that purpose. Choice D is incorrect because a colon does not separate clauses in a compound sentence; it is used to introduce a list or explanation after a complete sentence.
What is the most effective way to rewrite the following sentence: She is saying that some of the students are wearing to school is being distracting and inappropriate?
- A. Some of the outfits students wear to school, she is saying, are distracting and not appropriate.
- B. The outfits are distracting and inappropriate, she says, that students wear to school.
- C. She says that some of the outfits that students wear to school are distracting and inappropriate.
- D. She says that it is distracting and inappropriate that students wear outfits to school.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The most effective way to rewrite the sentence is, 'She says that some of the outfits that students wear to school are distracting and inappropriate.' This choice corrects the sentence structure by placing the subject ('Some of the outfits') before the verb ('are'), making it clearer and more grammatically correct. Choice A is incorrect as it places the subject after the verb, which disrupts the sentence structure. Choice B is incorrect as it changes the meaning of the sentence by placing the verb before the subject. Choice D is incorrect as it creates a confusing sentence structure by using 'that' redundantly.
Which of the following sentences would be classified as informal language?
- A. I'm counting on you to finish this before the deadline.
- B. The deadline presented by the CEO is non-negotiable.
- C. Every member of the department must meet the deadline.
- D. The time period prior to the deadline is extremely significant.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: "I'm counting on you to finish this before the deadline." This sentence is classified as informal language due to the use of contractions (I'm) and the casual tone of the phrase. The other choices (B, C, D) are more formal in nature. Choice B uses formal language with terms like 'non-negotiable.' Choice C is a general statement about meeting a deadline without any informal language, and choice D discusses the significance of the time period before a deadline in a formal manner.