Nursing Elites

1. Choose the correct verb form: 'Neither of the boys ____ interested in the game.'

• A. is
• B. are
• C. were
• D. be

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The subject 'Neither' is singular, so the correct verb form to use is 'is.' In this sentence, 'boys' is part of a prepositional phrase 'of the boys' and does not affect the verb agreement. 'Are' (choice B) is plural and does not match the singular subject. 'Were' (choice C) is past tense and not suitable for the present context. 'Be' (choice D) is an infinitive form and does not agree with the subject.

2. She is a gifted pianist, although she's struggling with the piece for her upcoming concert.

• A. Inappropriate transition word choice
• B. Poor diction
• C. Tense disagreement
• D. Incomplete sentence

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C because there is a tense disagreement in the sentence. The use of 'was' (past tense) and 'she's' (contraction of 'she is' present tense) creates an inconsistency in the verb tense. The sentence should maintain consistency either in past tense ('She was a gifted pianist, although she struggled with the piece for her upcoming concert') or present tense ('She is a gifted pianist, although she's struggling with the piece for her upcoming concert'). Choices A, B, and D are incorrect as the issue in the sentence is related to verb tense disagreement, not transition words, diction, or sentence completeness.

3. Which sentence correctly uses quotation marks in connection with an indirect quote?

• A. My sister suggested, 'that we go to the movie next weekend.'
• B. My brother asked me to babysit his two children.
• C. 'The newscaster pointed out the storm's destruction.'
• D. The meteorologist called it 'the storm of a century.'

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Choice D correctly uses quotation marks to indicate the specific phrase 'the storm of a century.' In this sentence, the indirect quote is highlighted within the quotation marks. Choices A, B, and C do not correctly use quotation marks with an indirect quote. Choice A incorrectly places a comma inside the quotation marks, which should be outside. Choice B does not have any quotation marks around the indirect quote. Choice C uses double quotation marks unnecessarily around the indirect quote.

4. Which of the answer choices best combines the following four sentences into two sentences? I'm usually good about keeping track of my keys. I lost them. I spent hours looking for them. I found them in the freezer.

• A. I lost my keys, even though I'm usually good about keeping track of them. I found them in the freezer and spent hours looking for them.
• B. I spent hours looking for my keys and found them in the freezer. I had lost them, even though I'm usually good about keeping track of them.
• C. I'm usually good about keeping track of my keys, but I lost them. After spending hours looking for them, I found them in the freezer.
• D. I'm usually good about keeping track of my keys, but I lost them in the freezer. I had to spend hours looking for them.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Combining the sentences is most effective when using 'but' to contrast the two ideas. Option C is concise, clear, and provides the best flow, accurately capturing both the contrast 'but I lost them' and the sequence of events 'After spending hours looking for them, I found them in the freezer.' Options A, B, and D do not effectively combine the sentences or maintain the sequence of events and contrast between keeping track of the keys and losing them.

5. When proofreading your writing, what should be your primary focus?

• A. Changing the wording to enhance originality.
• B. Avoiding minor grammatical errors like typos.
• C. Checking for clarity, consistency, and overall flow.
• D. Avoiding replacing common words with thesaurus alternatives.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: When proofreading your writing, the primary focus should be on checking for clarity, consistency, and overall flow. This involves ensuring that the content is clear, logical, and flows smoothly from one point to the next. While enhancing originality can be important, it is secondary to ensuring that the writing effectively communicates its message. Ignoring minor grammatical errors like typos can detract from the professionalism and impact of the writing. Replacing common words with thesaurus alternatives should be done sparingly and only when it enhances the clarity or impact of the text, rather than as a routine practice during proofreading.

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