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. Because of all your running around, their clients are confused about who's in charge, and the company is losing its competitive edge. Which contraction should be used to correct the error?

A. Who's
B. Whos
C. Who’ll
D. Who

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct contraction to use in this sentence is 'who's,' which is short for 'who is.' In the given context, 'who's' indicates the correct possessive form, clarifying that the clients are confused about who is in charge. Choice B, 'Whos,' is incorrect as it does not use an apostrophe to indicate the omitted letter. Choice C, 'Who’ll,' is incorrect as it is a contraction for 'who will,' which does not fit the context of the sentence. Choice D, 'Who,' is incorrect as it is not a contraction and does not clarify the intended meaning of the sentence.

3. Hampton was born and raised in Maywood, a suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in 1948. Which revision best improves the sentence?

A. NO CHANGE
B. in Maywood, of Chicago, Illinois in 1948.
C. in Maywood, of Chicago, Illinois, in 1948.
D. in Chicago, Illinois of Maywood in 1948.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The corrected choice C 'in Maywood, of Chicago, Illinois, in 1948.' is the best revision as it places commas around the city and state, as well as around the year, improving clarity and readability. Choice A is incorrect as it does not provide the necessary punctuation for clarity. Choice B incorrectly places 'of Chicago' between 'Maywood' and 'Illinois,' disrupting the flow of information. Choice D reverses the order of 'Chicago, Illinois' and 'Maywood,' making it structurally incorrect.

4. Which of the following examples is a simple sentence?

A. The man who wore a checked tie.
B. The man with the checked tie.
C. The man in the blue pin-striped suit and checked tie looked somewhat out of place at the party.
D. The man in the blue pin-striped suit looked out of place because of his checked tie.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is sentence C because it is a simple sentence containing only one independent clause. It expresses a complete thought with a subject 'The man in the blue pin-striped suit and checked tie' and a predicate 'looked somewhat out of place at the party.' Choices A, B, and D are not simple sentences. Choice A is a dependent clause as it does not express a complete thought on its own. Choice B is a prepositional phrase and does not form a complete sentence. Choice D is a complex sentence with a dependent clause ('because of his checked tie') along with the independent clause.

5. On Parents’ Day, a public holiday in the Democratic Republic of Congo, families celebrate parents’ both living and deceased. Which of the following punctuation marks is used incorrectly?

A. the apostrophe in Parents’ Day
B. the comma following Day
C. the comma following Congo
D. the apostrophe in parents’

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The comma following 'Day' is used incorrectly. Commas are typically not used after single-word identifiers like 'Day' in a sentence unless they are part of a list. In this case, the holiday is referred to as 'Parents’ Day,' where the apostrophe is used correctly to indicate possession. The comma following 'Day' is unnecessary and should be removed for proper punctuation. Choices A and D both use apostrophes correctly to indicate possession, so they are not incorrect. The comma following 'Congo' in choice C is necessary to set off the introductory phrase 'a public holiday in the Democratic Republic of Congo.' Therefore, the correct answer is B.