ATI TEAS English Practice Test

1. Which of the following punctuation marks correctly completes the sentence below? "She bought several items for the trip____ a tent, a sleeping bag, and a flashlight."

• A. ;
• B. :
• C. ,
• D. .

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct punctuation mark to use in this sentence is the colon (:) because it is used to introduce a list. In this case, the list of items she bought for the trip includes a tent, a sleeping bag, and a flashlight. A semicolon (;) is not appropriate here because it is typically used to connect independent clauses. A comma (,) is not suitable as it would create a comma splice error. A period (.) is incorrect as it signifies the end of a sentence, which is not the intended purpose in this context.

2. The plump old white cat basked in the warm sunlight. Which of the following options correctly punctuates the above?

• A. The plump, old, white cat basked in the warm sunlight.
• B. The plump, old, white, cat basked in the warm sunlight.
• C. The plump, old white cat basked in the warm sunlight.
• D. The plump old white cat, basked in the warm sunlight.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: 'The plump, old, white cat basked in the warm sunlight.' Commas should be used to separate coordinate adjectives describing the cat. In this sentence, 'plump,' 'old,' and 'white' are coordinate adjectives, each providing distinct information about the cat. Option B incorrectly places a comma after 'white,' creating a nonessential element. Option C lacks commas to separate the coordinate adjectives. Option D incorrectly places a comma after 'cat,' causing a punctuation error.

3. Which of the following examples from the paragraph about the Silk Road is a transition sentence?

• A. The Silk Road got its name from Chinese silk, which was a major item traded along the route.
• B. However, there were many other important trade items, some of which would end up changing the world forever.
• C. Because the Silk Road was not just one single road, historians also use the term 'Silk Routes' to describe the network.
• D. The Silk Road was an ancient network of trade routes that stretched from China through India all the way to Africa, Greece, Rome, and Great Britain.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Choice B is the correct answer because it serves as a transition sentence in the paragraph about the Silk Road. It shifts the focus from Chinese silk being a major trade item to the introduction of other important trade items that had a significant impact on the world. This transition indicates a change in the topic being discussed within the paragraph. Choices A, C, and D do not serve as transition sentences. Choice A simply introduces the origin of the Silk Road's name, choice C provides additional information about the network without transitioning to a new topic, and choice D gives a general description of the Silk Road without transitioning to a different aspect of the trade routes.

4. Which of the following sentences correctly uses subject-verb agreement?

• A. The lead scientist writes the reports; however, all scientists in the group do the research.
• B. The lead scientist is the one who writes the reports; however, she is the only one of the scientists who does the research.
• C. The lead scientist writes the reports; however, she is the only one of the scientists who does the research.
• D. The lead scientist is the one who writes the reports; however, every scientist in the group does the research.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B because it maintains subject-verb agreement. In this sentence, 'she is' agrees with 'the lead scientist,' and 'does' agrees with 'she.' Choices A, C, and D have subject-verb agreement errors. In choice A, 'write' should be 'writes' to match the singular subject 'The lead scientist,' and 'does' should be 'do' to match the plural 'scientists in the group.' Choice C also has the same subject-verb agreement error as A. In choice D, 'do the research' should be 'does the research' to match the singular 'every scientist in the group.'

5. In which of the following words does the suffix make the root word an adjective?

• A. Created
• B. Pointing
• C. Childlike
• D. Suburbanite

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: 'Childlike' is an adjective formed by adding the suffix '-like' to the noun 'child.' The suffix '-like' is commonly used to transform a noun into an adjective by indicating a resemblance or characteristic associated with the root noun. Choices A, B, and D do not follow the same pattern. 'Created' is a past participle, 'pointing' is a present participle, and 'suburbanite' is a noun derived from 'suburban.' Therefore, 'Childlike' is the only word where the suffix directly converts the root word into an adjective.