Which of the following sentences contains a colloquialism?
- A. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is pretty sure that the Zika virus is spread through mosquito bites.
- B. Travelers who are pregnant or considering pregnancy should consult a doctor.
- C. Some theories on the Zika virus are difficult to understand.
- D. In response, the U.S. has taken steps to prevent the spread of the Zika virus.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because the phrase 'pretty sure' is a colloquialism, making the sentence less formal. Choice B is incorrect as it is a formal recommendation. Choice C is incorrect as it contains no colloquial expressions. Choice D is incorrect as it is a straightforward statement without colloquial language.
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Here's what I'd like you to bring tomorrow: two dozen cupcakes, a carton of milk, and party napkins. Which of the following punctuation marks best completes the sentence above?
- A. ;
- B. .
- C. :
- D. ,
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is a colon (C). In this sentence, the colon is used to introduce a list of items that the speaker wants you to bring. The colon is the most suitable punctuation mark in this context. Choice A (;) is incorrect because a semicolon is used to connect independent clauses or items in a list when those items contain commas. Choice B (.) is incorrect because a period ends a sentence and does not fit here as the sentence continues. Choice D (,) is incorrect because a comma is used to separate items in a list, but the sentence needs a punctuation mark that introduces the list.
Which of the following examples is a sentence fragment?
- A. Believe me.
- B. On the 5:30 train.
- C. You probably know Sally.
- D. That's right.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B, 'On the 5:30 train.' This is a sentence fragment because it does not contain a subject and a verb. In this case, 'On the 5:30 train' is a prepositional phrase, not a complete sentence. Choices A, C, and D are complete sentences as they have both a subject and a verb, making them grammatically correct and not sentence fragments.
Many _____ books are popular among adults these days.
- A. Children's
- B. Childrens's
- C. Childrens'
- D. Childrens
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is 'Children's.' In this context, 'Children's' is the correct possessive form to indicate that the books belong to or are associated with children. Choice B ('Childrens's') is incorrect due to the unnecessary extra 's' after the apostrophe. Choice C ('Childrens'') is wrong as it is missing the apostrophe to show possession. Choice D ('Childrens') is incorrect as it is missing the apostrophe and does not form the possessive form correctly.
In the sentence 'The cherry tomatoes in our backyard are finally ready to be picked,' which of the following is the complete subject?
- A. tomatoes
- B. ready to be picked
- C. The cherry tomatoes in our backyard
- D. finally ready
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The complete subject in a sentence refers to the noun or pronoun that the sentence is about. In this case, the complete subject is 'The cherry tomatoes in our backyard.' It includes all the words that describe the subject and provide more specific information about it. 'Tomatoes' (Choice A) is just a part of the complete subject and not the entire subject. 'Ready to be picked' (Choice B) is a verb phrase, not the subject of the sentence. 'Finally ready' (Choice D) is an adjective phrase, not the subject of the sentence. Therefore, the correct choice is 'The cherry tomatoes in our backyard.'
Which of the following is a correctly punctuated complex sentence?
- A. Mary-Louise put on her softball jersey, and then she grabbed her bat.
- B. Before finishing her walk home, Raina stopped to watch the sunset.
- C. When Greta ran around third base, she noticed her cheering teammates.
- D. After we eat dinner, Marvin will do the dishes, and I will clean the counters.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Option B is the correct answer as it is a complex sentence with a dependent clause ('Before finishing her walk home') followed by an independent clause. In this sentence, 'Before finishing her walk home' acts as the dependent clause that sets the context for the main action, which is 'Raina stopped to watch the sunset.' Option A features two independent clauses connected by a comma and a coordinating conjunction, making it a compound sentence. Option C also has two independent clauses separated by a semicolon, which is incorrect punctuation for a complex sentence. Option D consists of two independent clauses connected by a comma and a coordinating conjunction, forming a compound sentence rather than a complex sentence.