English TEAS Practice Test

1. Which of the following sentences follows the rules of capitalization?

• A. As juveniles, African white-backed vultures are darkly colored, developing their white feathers only as they grow into adulthood.
• B. Ukrainians celebrate a holiday called Malanka during which men dress in costumes and masks and play tricks on their neighbors.
• C. Because of its distance from the sun, the planet Neptune has seasons that last the equivalent of forty-one Earth years.
• D. Edward Jenner, considered the Father of Immunology, invented the world’s first vaccine.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: In sentence B, "Ukrainians" is capitalized because it is referring to a specific group of people, and "Malanka" is also capitalized as it is a holiday name. This follows the rules of capitalization for proper nouns. Choices A, C, and D contain correct capitalization, but they also include additional capitalizations that are unnecessary. For instance, in choice A, "African white-backed vultures" should not be capitalized unless it is part of a proper noun or a title. In choice C, while "Neptune" and "Earth" should be capitalized as they are names of celestial bodies, the word "sun" is not capitalized unless it is used as part of the proper noun "Sun." Choice D correctly capitalizes proper nouns like "Edward Jenner" and "Immunology," but the general terms like "Father" and "vaccine" do not need capitalization unless they are part of a title or a specific name.

2. First and foremost, they receive an annual pension payment. T has been reviewed and changed a number of times, most recently to reflect the salary of a high-level government executive. Which of the following would NOT be an acceptable way to revise and combine the underlined portion of the sentences above?

• A. annual pension payment, the amount of which
• B. annual pension payment; the amount of the pension
• C. annual pension payment; over the years since 1958, the amount of the pension
• D. annual pension payment, the amount of the pension.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Option C is the correct answer because it disrupts the flow of the sentence and introduces unnecessary information. The phrase 'over the years since 1958' is irrelevant in this context and does not contribute to the intended meaning of the sentence. The sentence is focused on the recent changes to the pension, not its historical evolution. Choices A, B, and D provide clear and concise ways to revise and combine the underlined portion of the sentences, maintaining a logical and relevant sentence structure.

3. Which of the following sentences has the correct subject-verb agreement?

• A. The Akhal-Teke horse breed, originally from Turkmenistan, has long enjoyed a reputation for bravery and fortitude.
• B. The employer decided that he could not, due to the high cost of health care, afford to offer other benefits to his employees.
• C. Though Puerto Rico is known popularly for its beaches, its landscape also includes mountains, which are home to many of the island’s rural villages.
• D. Each of the storm chasers decides whether or not to go out when rain makes visibility low.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The subject 'employer' in sentence B agrees with the singular verb 'decided.' In subject-verb agreement, singular subjects need singular verbs, while plural subjects need plural verbs. The use of 'decided' correctly pairs with the singular subject 'employer' in this sentence. Choice A is incorrect as the subject 'Akhal-Teke horse breed' is singular and should be paired with the singular verb 'has,' not 'have.' Choice C is incorrect because the verb 'play' does not agree with the plural subject 'mountains'; it should be 'play host' or 'are home to.' Choice D is incorrect as 'Each of the storm chasers' is a singular subject and should be paired with the singular verb 'decides,' not 'decide.'

4. Which of the following is a compound sentence?

• A. Plague, generally not a major public health concern, actually continues to spread among rodent populations today, and it even occasionally makes its way into a human host.
• B. Modern archaeology, which seeks answers to humanity’s questions about its past, is significantly helped by new technologies.
• C. In the fight against obesity, countries around the world are imposing taxes on sodas and other sugary drinks in an effort to curb unhealthy habits.
• D. Because the assassination of President John F. Kennedy continues to haunt and fascinate Americans, new movies, books, and television series about it are released every year.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: A compound sentence consists of two or more independent clauses that are joined by coordinating conjunctions such as 'and,' 'but,' or 'or.' In choice A, the sentence contains two independent clauses separated by the coordinating conjunction 'and': 'Plague, generally not a major public health concern, actually continues to spread among rodent populations today' and 'it even occasionally makes its way into a human host.' Choice B is a complex sentence as it contains a dependent clause 'which seeks answers to humanity’s questions about its past' and an independent clause 'is significantly helped by new technologies.' Choice C is a simple sentence with one independent clause: 'In the fight against obesity, countries around the world are imposing taxes on sodas and other sugary drinks in an effort to curb unhealthy habits.' Choice D is a complex sentence with a dependent clause 'Because the assassination of President John F. Kennedy continues to haunt and fascinate Americans' and an independent clause 'new movies, books, and television series about it are released every year.'

5. Which of the following would most likely be found in an academic research paper on the world’s food supply?

• A. It is ridiculous that so many people in the world are hungry while others just throw away tons of uneaten food.
• B. I have always believed that it is our moral duty as a people to provide food and clean water to those who do not have access to it, which is why I have made research of the food supply my life’s work.
• C. Advances in agricultural technology over the past five decades have led to a steady increase in the global food supply, and the populations of many countries around the world are benefiting.
• D. Poor people should appeal to their governments for help feeding their families.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Option C is the most likely to be found in an academic research paper on the world's food supply because it presents a factual statement about advances in agricultural technology leading to an increase in the global food supply. This type of information is commonly featured in academic research papers as it highlights trends, developments, and impacts on global food systems. Options A, B, and D are more opinion-based or advocacy-oriented statements, which are typically not the focus of academic research papers. Academic research papers aim to present objective information, data-driven analysis, and scholarly insights rather than personal opinions or advocacy perspectives.