Exam 1: Writing Effective Paragraphs

Instructions: Read the following sentence(s) carefully. Then select the correct adjective or adverb in parentheses. Steve knows Lena ( good , well ); they ve been coworkers for ten years.

Instructions: Select the letter of the word in the sentence that is a look-alike/sound-alike error. Armand doesn t mind that he was past over for a promotion; he plans to accept a new position at the end of the month.

Instructions: The following sentences form a paragraph. For each item, select the underlined part that contains an error. The Zuni religion has a complex tradition of fetishes based on the six directions north , south, east, west, above, and below .

Instructions: Select the letter of the correct answer. Which of the following is not part of the revision process?

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and answer the question(s) that follow. (1) It would be difficult to imagine a more stifling and uncomfortable outfit than one favored by the fashionable, well-to-do lady of the Elizabethan era. (2) Atop her dyed and styled hair, she wore an often elaborate headdress. (3) Her face was covered with a base coat of white lead and sulfur makeup, with additional layers of dye for cheeks and lips. (4) Around her neck was either a heavy necklace of large jewels or a ruff, a stiff ring made of starched lace. (5) A bodice with long, detachable sleeves covered her to her waist. (6) Beneath this bodice, a corset functioned as a girdle to flatten her chest and decrease the size of her waist. (7) Underneath her skirt, or kirtle, she wore a stiff frame made of wire or whalebone, which was designed to make the skirt balloon out from the body. (8) On her legs and feet, knee-length stockings made of wool or silk and leather shoes completed her many-layered costume. How are the details arranged in this paragraph?

Instructions: Read the passage and then answer the question(s) that follow. Nail polish dates back to about 3000 B.C. In China, it was made from beeswax, egg whites, gelatin, vegetable dyes, and Arabic gum. In ancient Egypt, the cosmetic was made from henna, a reddish-brown dye from the leaves of a henna tree or shrub. In both societies, fingernail colors depended upon one s social and economic class. A royal woman was allowed to wear gold and silver polish. ____________, a lower-ranking woman could wear only pale tones. If she wore royal colors, she was punished with death. What pronoun refers to the subject of this passage?

Instructions: Select the letter of the answer that correctly identifies the subject and complete verb in each sentence. The new computer course was filled with students after the first hour of registration.

Instructions: In each set below, select the letter of the sentence in which all the apostrophes are used correctly. In which sentence are apostrophes used correctly?

Instructions: In each of the sentences below, select the letter for the word that most exactly and vividly completes the sentence. Sam ____ on the sofa reading a murder mystery.

Instructions: The following sentences form a paragraph. Select the correct words and punctuation for each blank. Our nation s Library of Congress has a ____ history.

Instructions: The following sentences form a paragraph. For each set of choices, select the letter of the answer in which conjunctions or conjunctive adverbs are used correctly and punctuation is correct. Which sentences are correct?

Instructions: In each of the following plans, one detail has nothing to do with the topic sentence; it is merely a bit of irrelevant information. Select the letter of the irrelevant detail. Spaghetti and meatballs were splattered all over the white kitchen.

Instructions: For each pair of sentences below, select the letter of the option that provides the best sentence variety. Which answer choice provides the best sentence variety?

Instructions: Each one of the following groups contains one correct sentence. Select the letter of the one correct sentence. Which sentence is correct?

Instructions: The following sentences form an essay. Select the correct preposition for each blank. Unsung Innovators Chevrolet, after designing cars that won the Indianapolis 500 in 1920 and 1921, failed ____ many business ventures and died a poor man.

Instructions: In each of the following sentences, a blank space appears where a verb should be. Select the letter of the verb that agrees with the subject of the sentence. The candidate s record on health-care reform is what ____ Moira.

Instructions: Select the letter of the correct word for each blank. The ____ provides all of the sources you summarized, directly quoted, or indirectly quoted in your essay, in alphabetical order by the author s last name.

Instructions: In each of the following plans, one detail has nothing to do with the topic sentence; it is merely a bit of irrelevant information. Select the letter of the irrelevant detail. The car looked like something from the future.

Instructions: The paragraphs of the following essay have been scrambled so that they are out of order. Read them and then answer the question(s) that follow. Visual Memories of Arizona _____ (1) First, was the massive 415 foot center field wall that surrounded the beauty that was the diamond. (2) Lush green grass swayed gently back in forth in the soft breeze. (3) The cloudless blue skies allowed the golden-yellow sun to beat down on us. (4) Two shattered wood bats, both from my doing, lay in the garbage can in the long crowded dugout. (5) The smell of pine tar filled the air as batters rubbed it on the bat handles for an extra grip. (6) The pitcher s mound is where I took root most of the time, staring the opposing batters down and waiting for the sign to be called. (7) This was one of the most beautiful fields I had ever played on. _____ (8) Finally, my Grandma s cozy little house was the perfect place to come and relax after a long day of baseball. (9) Paintings that my grandma had made of fruit, vegetation, and scenery cluttered the walls all over the house. (10) Also, the granite floors and countertops brought a nice sense of style to the house, and if anyone knew my grandma, they would know she s all about style. (11) My room was small and contained all her sewing materials and art supplies. (12) The table and countertops were lined with: fresh fruit, muffins, and a platter of eggs and bacon every morning for us to eat before our long days of baseball. (13) Behind her house was one of the seven golf courses that could be found in her city. (14) My Grandma s house was the ultimate post game getaway. _____ (15) Next, were the spectacular mountain views, the cacti and palm trees, and the animals that are native to the western area. (16) Enormous mountains bordered the highways and the diamonds that we played on. (17) Palm trees ran down both sides of the road that my grandma lived on along with a few strays that could be found by the field. (18) Green, prickly cacti were in every yard as shrubbery and were also outside of buildings and the ball diamonds. (19) We even came across a roadrunner and a jack rabbit after one of our games; however, the roadrunner didn t look anything like it did on television. (20) Arizona is probably the most spectacular state I have ever visited. _____ (21) My trip to Arizona will stay with me for the rest of my life. (22) I will never forget all the amazing people I met or the memories I made with them. (23) The ball diamonds, beautiful scenery, and my Grandma s little house made my trip what it was. (24) Now I can only wait to see what next year s trip holds for me. _____ (25) I recently took a trip to Arizona for a father-son baseball tournament. (26) On the plane trip there it was very crowded and noisy, mostly from the baby crying the whole way there. (27) Once we got there we could immediately feel the climate change as the heat was dry; our lips became chapped and our skin became dry. (28) My teammates were some of the best I could have ever asked for. (29) Above all, the ball diamonds, lush scenery, and my Grandma s cozy little house are the things that I remember the most. Sam Foutch, Student Select the number of the thesis statement of this essay. a. Sentence 25 b. Sentence 28 c. Sentence 29

Instructions: Select the letter of the word in the sentence that is a look-alike/sound-alike error. When the candidate tried to speak, several demonstrators rose their banners and shouted slogans.