Question 1

Instructions: In each set below, choose the sentence in which all the apostrophes are used correctly. Select the letter of the correct answer. Which sentence uses apostrophes correctly?

Accepted Answer

A)  I borrowed Javiers bicycle because I didn t bring mine to the island. 
B)  I borrowed Javier s bicycle because I didn t bring mine to the island. 
C)  I borrowed Javiers bicycle because I didnt bring mine to the island.

Question 2

Instructions: Choose the sentence in which every adjective and adverb is correct. Select the letter of the correct answer. In which sentence is every adjective and adverb correct?

Accepted Answer

A)  How good do you know Russian? 
B)  How well do you know Russian? 
C)  How better do you know Russian?

Question 3

Instructions: In each of the paragraph plans below, 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 in each plan. During the first week of classes, the college bookstore is wall-to-wall confusion.

Accepted Answer

A)  crowds of students pushing to get into the store 
B)  cartons of books clogging the aisles 
C)  students shouting their orders to harried salespeople 
D)  attractive displays of calendars and other organizational tools 
E)  separate, but unmarked, registers for cash, check, or credit-card sales

Question 4

Instructions: Select the letter of the correct definition of the word. Take a stand

Accepted Answer

A)  argue for a particular position 
B)  analyze the results or consequences of something 
C)  follow the development of something through time

Question 5

Instructions: The following sentences form an essay. If the sentence contains a pronoun error, select Pronoun error. If the sentence is free of pronoun errors, select Correct. In the cookbook, they said next to sprinkle flour on a wooden board.

Accepted Answer

A)  Pronoun error 
B)  Correct

Question 6

Instructions: Below is a plan for a contrast paragraph. The points of contrast in the second column do not follow the same order as the points in the first column. In addition, one detail is missing. Eating in a restaurant and eating at home Eating in a restaurant Eating at home 1. Can get expensive ____ Delicious, home-cooked meals 2. Atmosphere often loud and bustling ____ Someone must do the dishes 3. Diners more likely to converse with one another ____ Usually cheaper than eating out 4. No clean up ____ ________________________ 5. Quality of food varies from very good to poor, depending on the restaurant ____ Family members more likely to read or watch TV while eating The missing detail in the plan above is

Accepted Answer

A)  quieter, calmer atmosphere. 
B)  entertainment such as music on the radio. 
C)  no waiter or waitress to serve the diners.

Question 7

Instructions: Select the letter of the answer that correctly identifies each type of prewriting. The prewriting below is an example of A Problem in Society I m very worried about how we re damaging our environment. Pollution destroying our air, land, water. Failure to reduce gases that are causing global warming, extreme weather. Some people care they recycle, drive fuel-efficient cars, vote for candidates who want to protect Earth. Others don t care at all. What kind of planet will we leave for our children and grandchildren? How much will they suffer because we didn t do more to stop the problem now?

Accepted Answer

A)  focused freewriting. 
B)  brainstorming. 
C)  clustering. 
D)  asking questions. 
E)  keeping a journal.

Question 8

Instructions: Select the letter of the correct answer for each blank. ____ is failing to give proper credit to an author whose words or ideas you have used.

Accepted Answer

A)  A summary 
B)  Plagiarism 
C)  A paraphrase

Question 9

Instructions: Proofread the following sentences, which form an essay, for errors in the past participle. If the sentence contains a past participle error, select Past participle error. If the sentence is correct, select Correct. A bog is an area of soft, waterlogged ground that is compose of moss, grass, and other wetland plants.

Accepted Answer

A)  Past participle error 
B)  Correct

Question 10

Instructions: Each of the following sentences tells what you are trying to persuade someone to do. Beneath each sentence are four reasons that attempt to convince this person that he or she should take this particular course of action. Select the letter of the reason that seems irrelevant, illogical, or untrue. If you wanted to persuade someone to donate money to a certain charity, you might say that

Accepted Answer

A)  the charity helps people who truly need it. 
B)  the organization manages its money wisely. 
C)  donating will provide him or her with a tax deduction. 
D)  the organization s headquarters are in a brick building.

Question 11

Instructions: For each of the following sentences, select correct if the sentence is punctuated correctly, fragment if it is a fragment, run-on if it is a run-on, and comma splice if it is a comma splice. The word barbecue can refer to the wooden or metal framework used for cooking, it can also refer to the animal being cooked or the event or meal at which the food is being served.

Accepted Answer

A)  correct 
B)  fragment 
C)  run-on 
D)  comma splice

Question 12

Instructions: In each set below, choose the sentence that uses the correct coordinating or subordinating conjunction and that is punctuated correctly. Then select the letter of the correct answer. Which sentence uses the correct coordinating or subordinating conjunction and is correctly punctuated?

Accepted Answer

A)  Harry worked for Du Pont for fifteen years, then he got a job with the Apple Corporation. 
B)  Harry worked for Du Pont for fifteen years and, then he got a job with the Apple Corporation. 
C)  Harry worked for Du Pont for fifteen years, and then he got a job with the Apple Corporation.

Question 13

Instructions: Each of the following groups of things or persons has been divided according to a single basis of classification. However, one item in each group does not belong it does not fit that single basis of classification. Read each group of items carefully; then select the letter of the one item that does not belong. Next, identify the single basis of classification that includes the rest of the group. Part A: Food a. dessert b. side dish c. vegetarian d. main course Part B: Basis of classification: a. amount of calories b. preparation time c. meal part

Accepted Answer

Question 14

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and answer the question(s) that follow. (1) Satire is a type of humor that attacks or exposes foolishness or lack of good sense of a subject using sarcasm, wit, or irony. (2) Subjects of satire can be specific individuals or organizations. (3) Examples of modern satire include three popular animated TV comedy series: Family Guy , South Park , and The Simpsons . (4) All three repeatedly make fun of the modern American middle-class lifestyle as well as all other aspects of American culture and society. (5) In particular, greedy, selfish, or ineffective authority figures including parents, teachers, principals, police officers, elected officials, and the clergy are favorite targets of ridicule in all three of these comedies. (6) Other examples of modern television satire are The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report , two fake news programs that poke fun at the media, government, and politics. Select the number of the topic sentence of this paragraph.

Accepted Answer

A)  Sentence 1 
B)  Sentence 2 
C)  Sentence 3

Question 15

Instructions: The following sentences form a passage. For each one, select correct if the sentence is punctuated correctly, fragment if it is a fragment, run-on if it is a run-on, and comma splice if it is a comma splice. Sometimes a childhood passion can lead to a rewarding career James McLurkin s journey from Lego bricks to robots is a perfect example.

Accepted Answer

A)  correct 
B)  fragment 
C)  run-on 
D)  comma splice

Question 16

Instructions: The following sentences form an essay. Select the correct verb for each blank. There ____ also blueberries and blackberries waiting to be picked at prices lower than supermarket prices.

Accepted Answer

A)  are 
B)  is

Question 17

Instructions: The following sentences form a passage. Select the correct adjective or adverb for each blank. The water was so deep and the current so ____ that no one could find the ship.

Accepted Answer

A)  unusual 
B)  unusually

Question 18

Instructions: Read the definition below and answer the question(s) that follow. Success does not mean obtaining material wealth but using your strengths and talents to make the world a better place. The statement above is a

Accepted Answer

A)  synonym definition. 
B)  class definition. 
C)  definition by negation.

Question 19

Instructions: Select the correct noun for each blank. Tom and Linda treat all their ____ as unique individuals.

Accepted Answer

A)  childs 
B)  children

Question 20

Instructions: Read the paragraph below and answer the question(s) that follow. (1) Energy sources can be divided into two groups: nonrenewable sources and renewable sources. (2) The first group, nonrenewable sources, includes the energy sources that are in finite supply and will eventually be depleted. (3) Fossil fuels, which include coal, petroleum, and natural gas, are in this category. (4) They are obtained from deposits in the earth that were formed from living matter during previous geologic eras. (5) When these deposits have been emptied, these energy sources will no longer be available. (6) The second group contains renewable energy sources. (7) Energy produced by wind, water, the sun s rays, and the heat of the Earth, for example, will always be available because these sources continuously regenerate as they are consumed. How many categories are there?

Accepted Answer

A)  two 
B)  three 
C)  four

Exam 1: Writing Effective Paragraphs