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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Which of the following is essential in the concluding statement of an argument?
- A. The introduction of new points that might lead to future arguments
- B. A summary of the argument that clearly reinforces its main points
- C. A brief explanation of other perspectives on the topic
- D. A short metaphor to help the main idea be more memorable to the audience
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: 'A summary of the argument that clearly reinforces its main points.' In a concluding statement of an argument, it is crucial to provide a concise summary that reinforces the main points presented throughout the argument. Option A is incorrect because introducing new points in the conclusion can confuse the audience and detract from the coherence of the argument. Option C is incorrect as the conclusion should focus on summarizing the main argument rather than delving into other perspectives. Option D is incorrect because while metaphors can be useful in enhancing understanding, they are not essential in the concluding statement of an argument, which should primarily focus on summarizing the key points.
Which of the following sentences correctly uses commas to set off a non-essential element?
- A. The teacher, who lives next door, will visit our class next week.
- B. The teacher who lives next door will visit our class next week.
- C. The teacher, who, by the way, lives next door, will visit our class next week.
- D. The teacher will visit our class next week, who lives next door.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A. In this sentence, the phrase 'who lives next door' is a non-essential element providing additional information about the teacher. It is correctly set off by commas. Choice B does not use any commas to set off the non-essential element, making the information essential to the sentence. Choice C uses an unnecessary comma before 'who,' which disrupts the flow of the sentence. Choice D incorrectly places the non-essential element at the end of the sentence without appropriate commas, making it less clear and concise.
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; Florida, 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.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Option C is the correct answer as it correctly separates the cities and states in the series using commas. The items in a series should be separated by commas, with the final two items being separated by 'and.' Choices A, B, and D have incorrect punctuation or lack necessary commas. In Choice A, semicolons are used incorrectly, and in Choice B, semicolons are placed inappropriately. Choice D lacks necessary commas to separate the cities and states effectively. Therefore, Option C is the only choice that demonstrates the correct way to separate items in a series.
Julia is writing an essay about the influence of technology on interpersonal relationships. Which of the following sentences would NOT be a relevant supporting detail?
- A. Studies show that the more teenagers engage in social media, the less they engage with their peers.
- B. College students study and work on homework an average of 4-6 hours a day.
- C. Use of technology such as smartphones can lead to a lack of engagement in conversations.
- D. Some psychologists think that watching TV activates the same part of the brain as having an in-depth conversation.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In an essay focusing on the impact of technology on interpersonal relationships, details about college students' study habits and homework workload are not directly related to the influence of technology on relationships. Choices A, C, and D are more relevant as they directly address the impact of technology, such as social media engagement, smartphone usage affecting conversations, and the comparison between TV-watching and brain activity during conversations.
Which of the answer choices is an effective revision of the ambiguous sentence below? Tanya told her sister to tell her boyfriend Joe to call her as soon as he got home.
- A. Tanya's sister said, 'Tell Joe to call me as soon as he gets home.'
- B. Her sister told her boyfriend Joe to call Tanya as soon as he got home.
- C. Tanya said to her sister, 'Tell your boyfriend Joe to call me as soon as he gets home.'
- D. Tanya told her sister, 'Joe should call me as soon as he gets home.'
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer, option C, effectively clarifies the communication structure by specifying who is communicating with whom and when. Tanya instructs her sister to convey a message to her boyfriend Joe, requesting him to call Tanya upon his arrival home. This revision removes the ambiguity present in the original sentence. Option A is incorrect as it introduces unnecessary complexity and alters the original meaning. Option B is incorrect as it misinterprets the relationships among the individuals involved. Option D is incorrect as it changes the dynamics of the communication and does not address the ambiguity in the original sentence.