It's really time for me to leave, and yet there are still so many things I'd like to do; next year I think I'll spend an extra week. Which of the following punctuation marks is used incorrectly in the sentence above?
- A. The comma after the word 'think'
- B. The semicolon after the word 'do'
- C. The period at the end of the sentence
- D. The comma after 'and yet'
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The comma after 'think' is unnecessary and incorrect. It should be removed to correct the sentence. The semicolon after 'do' is correct as it separates two independent clauses. The period at the end of the sentence is necessary to indicate the end of the sentence. The comma after 'and yet' is correctly used to separate two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction.
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The plane ride was terrible, and they got home three hours late: _______ they never made it to the wedding.
- A. although
- B. conversely
- C. unless
- D. consequently
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is 'consequently.' In this sentence, 'consequently' is used to show the result of their late arrival, leading to them missing the wedding. 'Although' (choice A) is incorrect because it suggests a contrast rather than a cause-effect relationship. 'Conversely' (choice B) is also incorrect as it indicates a contrasting idea. 'Unless' (choice C) introduces a condition, which doesn't fit the context of the sentence. Therefore, 'consequently' best connects the delay to missing the wedding.
In which of the following words does the suffix make the root word an adjective?
- A. Created
- B. Pointing
- C. Childlike
- D. Suburbanite
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: 'Childlike' is an adjective formed by adding the suffix '-like' to the noun 'child.' The suffix '-like' is commonly used to transform a noun into an adjective by indicating a resemblance or characteristic associated with the root noun. Choices A, B, and D do not follow the same pattern. 'Created' is a past participle, 'pointing' is a present participle, and 'suburbanite' is a noun derived from 'suburban.' Therefore, 'Childlike' is the only word where the suffix directly converts the root word into an adjective.
The shear number of people in the audience overwhelmed the actress as she peeked through the curtain before scene one. Which of the following correctly describes an error in the sentence above?
- A. The homograph 'peeked' should be 'peaked.'
- B. The homograph 'through' should be 'threw.'
- C. The homophone 'shear' should be 'sheer.'
- D. The homophone 'scene' should be 'seen.'
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The word 'shear' means to cut, while 'sheer' in this context means 'complete' or 'unqualified.' The correct spelling in the sentence should be 'sheer.' Choice A, 'peeked' is the correct past tense of 'peek,' meaning to glance quickly or briefly. Choice B, 'through' is the correct preposition to indicate moving in one side and out the other. Choice D, 'scene,' is the correct term for a part of a play or movie, not 'seen,' which is the past participle of 'see.'
Which of the following best defines the word circumvent?
- A. To go around
- B. To go under
- C. To come near
- D. To come through
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: 'To go around.' Circumvent means to find a way around an obstacle or to avoid something by cleverness or deception. Choice B, 'To go under,' is incorrect as circumvent does not involve going under something. Choice C, 'To come near,' is incorrect as circumvent does not mean to approach or get close to something. Choice D, 'To come through,' is incorrect as circumvent does not involve passing through something.
Which of the following examples from the paragraph about the Silk Road is a transition sentence?
- A. The Silk Road got its name from Chinese silk, which was a major item traded along the route.
- B. However, there were many other important trade items, some of which would end up changing the world forever.
- C. Because the Silk Road was not just one single road, historians also use the term 'Silk Routes' to describe the network.
- D. The Silk Road was an ancient network of trade routes that stretched from China through India all the way to Africa, Greece, Rome, and Great Britain.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Choice B is the correct answer because it serves as a transition sentence in the paragraph about the Silk Road. It shifts the focus from Chinese silk being a major trade item to the introduction of other important trade items that had a significant impact on the world. This transition indicates a change in the topic being discussed within the paragraph. Choices A, C, and D do not serve as transition sentences. Choice A simply introduces the origin of the Silk Road's name, choice C provides additional information about the network without transitioning to a new topic, and choice D gives a general description of the Silk Road without transitioning to a different aspect of the trade routes.