choose the sentence that demonstrates correct use of the semicolon

ATI TEAS 7

Practice English TEAS TEST

1. Choose the sentence that demonstrates correct use of the semicolon.

A. I have a test tomorrow; I need to study.
B. I have a test; tomorrow I need to study.
C. I have a test tomorrow.
D. I have a test tomorrow; and I need to study.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct use of a semicolon is demonstrated in sentence A: 'I have a test tomorrow; I need to study.' Semicolons are used to connect closely related independent clauses. In this sentence, the semicolon correctly separates the two independent clauses 'I have a test tomorrow' and 'I need to study.' Choice B is incorrect because it separates the clauses improperly by using the semicolon after 'test' instead of after 'tomorrow.' Choice C is incorrect as it lacks a second independent clause to be connected using a semicolon. Choice D is incorrect as it inappropriately adds 'and' after the semicolon, which disrupts the correct use of the punctuation mark to link independent clauses.

2. Knitting is my favorite hobby... Which of the following sentences does not fit with the rest of the paragraph above?

A. There are other benefits of knitting, too.
B. The repetition of stitch after stitch is so relaxing.
C. A ball of wool holds so much potential and is also a sustainable resource.
D. It helped me.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The sentence about the ball of wool being a sustainable resource introduces a new idea that doesn't align with the other ideas in the paragraph, which focus on relaxation and health benefits. Choices A, B, and D all relate to the positive aspects and personal experience with knitting, which are in line with the paragraph's context. Choice A expands on the benefits of knitting, choice B highlights the relaxing nature of the activity, and choice D indicates a personal benefit obtained from knitting.

3. The day was cold and wet. Jesse was worried that he would not beat his best time. Jesse had trained for the marathon for 6 months. Which of the following options uses correct grammar to combine the sentences for clarity?

A. The day was cold and wet, and Jesse was worried that he would not beat his best time. Jesse had trained for the marathon for 6 months.
B. Jesse was worried that he would not beat his best time because the day was cold and wet, and he had trained for the marathon for 6 months.
C. Because Jesse had trained for the marathon for 6 months, he was worried that he would not beat his best time. The day was cold and wet.
D. Jesse had trained for the marathon for 6 months, but because the day was cold and wet, Jesse was worried that he would not beat his best time.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Sentence D is the correct choice as it combines the sentences logically and clearly, showing cause and effect. It effectively connects the reason for Jesse's worry (the cold and wet day) with his training for the marathon. Choice A lacks a conjunction before 'Jesse was worried,' making it less clear. Choice B changes the sequence of events and weakens the cause-effect relationship. Choice C incorrectly places the reason for worry after the effect, leading to confusion in the sentence structure.

4. 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.

5. Which of the following sentences correctly uses a hyphen?

A. Last year, many of the players felt unsure of the coach's methods.
B. Some of the furniture she selected seemed a bit over-the-top for the space.
C. Henry is a beagle-mix and is ready for adoption this weekend.
D. Geena works to maintain a good relationship with her ex-husband to the benefit of their children.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct usage of a hyphen is seen in sentence C, 'Henry is a beagle-mix and is ready for adoption this weekend.' The hyphen is used in 'beagle-mix' to link the two words together to describe Henry's breed accurately. Choice A contains a comma incorrectly placed after 'Last year.' Choice B uses hyphens as dashes, which is incorrect. Choice D does not require a hyphen as there is no compound term or adjective that needs to be linked.