identify the independent clause in the following sentence you need to call your mother as soon as you get home

ATI TEAS 7

ATI TEAS English and Language Usage

1. Identify the independent clause in the following sentence: You need to call your mother as soon as you get home.

A. You need to call your mother.
B. As soon as you get home.
C. You get home.
D. You need to call.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: "You need to call your mother." An independent clause is a sentence that can stand alone and express a complete thought. In this sentence, the clause "You need to call your mother" functions independently and makes complete sense by itself. Choice B, "As soon as you get home," is a dependent clause as it cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. Choice C, "You get home," is also a dependent clause lacking a complete thought. Choice D, "You need to call," is not a complete sentence without specifying who needs to call.

2. What is the main purpose of a thesis statement?

A. To summarize the essay
B. To state the main idea of the essay
C. To ask a question
D. To provide evidence

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The main purpose of a thesis statement is to clearly state the main idea or argument of the essay. It serves as a roadmap for the reader, outlining the central point that the essay will address. Choice A, 'To summarize the essay,' is incorrect because while a thesis statement does provide a concise summary of the main point, its primary function is to present the main idea, not summarize the entire essay. Choice C, 'To ask a question,' is incorrect as a thesis statement is a declarative statement that asserts a position or argument rather than posing a question. Choice D, 'To provide evidence,' is incorrect because a thesis statement does not offer evidence but rather sets the direction and focus for the evidence that will be presented in the essay.

3. 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.

4. Which of the following is an appropriately-punctuated correction for this sentence: Protestors filled the streets of the city because they were dissatisfied with the government's leadership?

A. Protestors filled the streets of the city, because they were dissatisfied with the government's leadership.
B. Protesters, filled the streets of the city, because they were dissatisfied with the government's leadership.
C. Because they were dissatisfied with the government's leadership protestors filled the streets of the city.
D. Protestors filled the streets of the city because they were dissatisfied with the government's leadership.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D. The sentence should be corrected by removing the period and joining the clauses to avoid a sentence fragment. Choice A is incorrect due to the unnecessary comma after 'city.' Choice B is incorrect as it mistakenly separates the subject and verb with a comma. Choice C is incorrect as it begins with the subordinate clause, disrupting the logical flow of the sentence.

5. What is the function of a conjunction in a sentence?

A. To connect words or phrases
B. To describe a noun
C. To modify a verb
D. To show possession

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: 'To connect words or phrases.' Conjunctions are used to connect words, phrases, or clauses in a sentence. They help to join different elements together, such as coordinating conjunctions like 'and,' 'but,' 'or,' etc. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect. B is incorrect because describing a noun is the function of an adjective, not a conjunction. C is incorrect because modifying a verb is the role of an adverb, not a conjunction. D is incorrect because showing possession is the function of a possessive noun or pronoun, not a conjunction.