Nursing Elites

1. During the Civil War, the United States, still a fairly young country, was divided into the North and South on strongly felt issues. President Abraham Lincoln took a stand on the side of the North, which ultimately emerged victorious. What is the most appropriate topic sentence for the passage below?

• A. The Civil War was a war that was not easily won, but hard fought.
• B. The Civil War ended in 1865.
• C. Jefferson Davis was the President of the Confederate States.
• D. Many countries have had civil wars.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The topic sentence sets the stage for the discussion that follows. Choice A, 'The Civil War was a war that was not easily won, but hard fought,' is the most appropriate as it introduces the theme of the challenges faced during the Civil War and the determination required for victory. Choice B, 'The Civil War ended in 1865,' is a factual statement but does not lead into the paragraph content. Choice C, 'Jefferson Davis was the President of the Confederate States,' introduces a different historical figure not central to the paragraph. Choice D, 'Many countries have had civil wars,' is a broad statement not related to the specific context of the Civil War in the United States.

2. Which of the following transitional words or phrases can be used to indicate contrast?

• A. Regardless
• B. Furthermore
• C. Additionally
• D. Moreover

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct transitional words or phrases that indicate contrast are 'Regardless' and 'On the other hand.' 'Regardless' introduces a contrasting idea, while 'On the other hand' explicitly signals a shift in perspective or introduces an opposing viewpoint. 'Furthermore' and 'Moreover' are not used to indicate contrast; instead, they are used to add more information or support to a related point.

3. How do you spell the past participle of the verb 'lie' (to recline)?

• A. lied
• B. lain
• C. lay
• D. lying

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct spelling of the past participle of the verb 'lie' (to recline) is 'lain.' 'Lied' is the past tense form of the verb, not the past participle. 'Lay' is the simple past form. 'Lying' is the present participle form. Therefore, the correct answer is 'lain,' representing the past participle form of the verb 'lie.'

4. 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.

5. 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.

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