Which word or phrase fits best in the following sentence? Cathy asked many questions the first time she ___________ at the hospital.
- A. volunteered
- B. volunteering
- C. was volunteered
- D. volunteer
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct word to use in this sentence is 'volunteered' as it indicates an action that Cathy did in the past. The sentence suggests that Cathy was engaging in volunteering at the hospital for the first time, so the past tense form 'volunteered' is the most appropriate choice. Choice B ('volunteering') is incorrect because it is the present participle form and does not fit the past tense context of the sentence. Choice C ('was volunteered') is passive voice and implies that someone else made Cathy volunteer, which is not the intended meaning. Choice D ('volunteer') is incorrect as it is the base form of the verb and does not match the past tense requirement of the sentence.
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Select the phrase in the following sentence that is not used correctly. Before their hospitalization, the children had rarely eaten three meals a day.
- A. Before their
- B. children had
- C. had rarely
- D. rarely eat
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The phrase 'had rarely' is not used correctly in the sentence. The correct form should be 'rarely eaten' instead of 'had rarely' to convey the past tense of the children's eating habits before their hospitalization. 'Had rarely' is incorrect because it does not match the structure needed to describe the children's eating habits in the past. Choices A, B, and D are grammatically sound and fit appropriately in the sentence.
Which word is used incorrectly in the following sentence? That is the doctor whose diploma is hung on the partition.
- A. That
- B. whose
- C. hung
- D. partition
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The word 'whose' in the sentence should be 'whose.' 'Whose' is the correct possessive form used to indicate that the diploma belongs to the doctor. 'Who's' is a contraction for 'who is' or 'who has,' which does not make sense in this context. The other words in the sentence - 'That,' 'hung,' and 'partition' are all used correctly in the sentence.
Select the word that will make the following sentence grammatically correct. The lounge needs a thorough cleaning, ________ the windows must be washed.
- A. and
- B. or
- C. but
- D. yet
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is 'and.' The sentence requires a conjunction that shows the need for both a thorough cleaning and washing the windows. The word 'and' is used to connect two actions that must be performed, indicating a list of tasks that should be completed in the lounge. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because 'or' would imply a choice between cleaning and washing the windows, 'but' would suggest a contrast or contradiction between cleaning and washing the windows, and 'yet' is used to show a contrast or unexpected result, which is not suitable in this context where both actions are necessary.
What word is best to substitute for the underlined words in the following sentence? You can hear the nurses' laughter all the way down the hallway.
- A. his
- B. hers
- C. them
- D. their
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The phrase 'the nurses' laughter' indicates possession by the nurses, a plural subject. Therefore, the appropriate possessive pronoun to use in this context is 'their,' which correctly reflects possession by multiple nurses. Choice A ('his') is singular and refers to a male subject, not suitable for a group of nurses. Choice B ('hers') is singular and refers to a female subject, not suitable for a group of nurses. Choice C ('them') is a pronoun used for a group of people, but it doesn't indicate possession as required in the sentence.
Which of the following words fits best in the following sentence? ___________ the emergency room was not busy last night, the head nurse still did not let anyone end her shift early.
- A. Because
- B. Provided that
- C. As if
- D. Although
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The word 'although' is the best fit in the sentence because it indicates a contrast between the fact that the emergency room was not busy last night and the head nurse's decision not to let anyone end her shift early. 'Although' sets up a contrast by acknowledging the first part of the sentence while introducing the surprising or unexpected information that follows. Choices A, B, and C do not provide the appropriate contrast needed in this context. 'Because' implies causation, 'Provided that' implies a condition for something to happen, and 'As if' implies a comparison rather than a contrast.