Nursing Elites

1. After a twelve-hour workday, James was exhausted when he heard the news.

• A. .
• B. ;
• C. ,
• D. —

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The comma (,) is used to separate the introductory clause 'After a twelve-hour workday' from the main clause 'James was exhausted when he heard the news.' This punctuation correctly indicates the relationship between the two clauses without interrupting the flow of the sentence. Choice A (.), a period, would create two separate sentences, which is not appropriate in this context. Choice B (;) is too strong of a pause and semicolons are typically used to connect closely related independent clauses. Choice D (—) is an em dash, which is used to set off an abrupt break or interruption in the sentence, not to separate an introductory clause from the main clause.

2. A teacher wants to counsel a student about using the word ain’t in a research paper for a high school English class. What advice should the teacher give?

• A. Ain’t is not in the dictionary, so it isn’t a word.
• B. Because the student isn’t in college yet, ain’t is an appropriate expression for a high school writer.
• C. Ain’t is incorrect English and should not be part of a serious student’s vocabulary because it sounds uneducated.
• D. Ain’t is a colloquial expression, and while it may be appropriate in a conversational setting, it is not standard in academic writing.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The teacher should advise the student that 'ain’t' is a colloquial expression, and while it may be suitable in informal or conversational settings, it is not standard in academic writing. Using colloquialisms like 'ain’t' in formal research papers can diminish the professionalism and clarity of the writing. Choice A is incorrect as the presence of a word in the dictionary does not solely determine its appropriateness in formal writing. Choice B is incorrect because the student's academic level does not justify the use of non-standard English. Choice C is incorrect as it focuses on the perceived uneducated sound of 'ain’t' rather than its appropriateness in formal writing, which is the key concern for the research paper in question.

3. Which of the following pieces of writing should include citations?

• A. A comparison of the language used in two different Shakespeare plays
• B. A news article describing a burglary
• C. A description of your favorite play
• D. A personal essay about your lifelong interest in marine biology

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A. A comparison of the language used in two different Shakespeare plays should include citations to support the analysis. Citations are necessary in academic or analytical pieces to give credit to the original sources, especially when comparing specific works. Choices B, C, and D do not require citations as they are more subjective or personal in nature. Choice B, a news article, should be based on facts and not personal analysis. Choice C is a personal opinion, and choice D is a personal essay based on the author's experiences and interests, where citations are not typically needed.

4. Cassidy's track and field experience was greater than any in her school's history. Cassidy was quite tall at 5'10". This made hurdling easier, which is where she got her start. It was easy to spot Cassidy with her long ponytail.

• A. Cassidy's track and field experience was greater than any in her school's history.
• B. Cassidy was quite tall at 5'10".
• C. This made hurdling easier, which is where she got her start.
• D. It was easy to spot Cassidy with her long ponytail.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The detail about Cassidy's ponytail is irrelevant to her track and field experience and can be removed. Choices A, B, and C provide relevant information about Cassidy's track and field experience and how her height contributed to her hurdling skills. However, choice D is the correct answer as it highlights an unrelated detail about her appearance, which does not impact her athletic abilities or achievements in track and field.

5. Which sentence uses the word 'literally' correctly?

• A. I literally died laughing at that joke.
• B. He literally climbed a mountain of paperwork.
• C. Her eyes were literally sparkling with excitement.
• D. The house was literally haunted by ghosts.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B because it uses 'literally' to emphasize the magnitude of work, not to exaggerate a simple action. In this sentence, 'literally' is used to convey the idea that the person climbed a significant amount of paperwork, highlighting the challenging and overwhelming nature of the task. Choices A, C, and D use 'literally' inappropriately by exaggerating or using the word in a non-literal sense. In choice A, 'died laughing' is a common expression and not meant to be taken literally. Choice C describes a figurative expression, not a literal one. Choice D involves the supernatural, which is not a literal occurrence.

Similar Questions