Nursing Elites

1. At last night’s company function, in honor of Mr. Robertson’s retirement, several employees spoke kindly about his career achievements. In the preceding sentence, what part of speech is the word function?

• A. Adjective
• B. Adverb
• C. Verb
• D. Noun

Correct answer: D

Rationale: In the sentence provided, the word 'function' is used as a noun to refer to an event or gathering. Nouns name people, places, things, or ideas, and in this case, 'function' is a thing (an event), so it functions as a noun. Adjectives describe nouns, adverbs modify verbs, and verbs express actions or states, none of which apply to the word 'function' in the sentence. Therefore, the correct answer is 'D: Noun.' Choices 'A: Adjective,' 'B: Adverb,' and 'C: Verb' are incorrect because 'function' in this context isn't being used to describe, modify, or express an action; it is naming an event.

2. Which of the following substitutions best captures the meaning of the word 'obsequious' in the sentence: 'The young apprentice was obsequious to his master, always eager to please'?

• A. showing deference
• B. poorly dressed
• C. reserved
• D. aggressive

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The word 'obsequious' means excessively submissive or eager to please, often to the point of showing deference. In this context, 'showing deference' best captures the meaning, indicating respect or submission rather than being poorly dressed, reserved, or aggressive. 'Poorly dressed' (B) is unrelated to the meaning of obsequious. 'Reserved' (C) suggests a different behavior that is opposite to being obsequious. 'Aggressive' (D) is the opposite of obsequious and does not fit the context of the sentence.

3. Identify the pronoun in the following sentence:

• A. quickly
• B. finished
• C. her
• D. before

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is 'C: her.' Pronouns replace nouns. In this sentence, 'her' is a pronoun that replaces a specific female person's name, indicating ownership of the homework. Pronouns like 'her,' 'he,' 'it,' and 'they' are commonly used to avoid repetition of nouns and make sentences less repetitive and more concise. Choices A, B, and D are not pronouns. 'Quickly' and 'before' are adverbs, while 'finished' is a verb. Therefore, they do not replace nouns and cannot function as pronouns in this context.

4. 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.

5. What type of clause is 'as the sun dipped below the horizon' in the sentence 'We sat on the beach as the sun dipped below the horizon'?

• A. Independent clause
• B. Subordinate clause
• C. Appositive clause
• D. Noun clause

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The clause 'as the sun dipped below the horizon' functions as a subordinate clause because it provides additional information about the main clause 'We sat on the beach,' indicating a dependent relationship between the two clauses. An independent clause can stand alone as a complete sentence, which is not the case here. Appositive clauses rename or explain nouns, while noun clauses act as nouns within a sentence. In this context, 'as the sun dipped below the horizon' acts as a dependent clause, making it a subordinate clause.

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