Nursing Elites

1. The following words all end in the same suffix, -ism: polytheism, communism, nationalism. Considering the meaning of these three words, which of the following best correlates to the meaning of the suffix?

• A. A doctrine
• B. A condition
• C. A characteristic
• D. A state of being

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: 'A doctrine.' The suffix -ism is commonly used to denote a system, doctrine, or belief. Words like polytheism, communism, and nationalism all represent specific doctrines or systems of belief. Therefore, the suffix -ism in these contexts indicates a particular set of ideas or principles. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because -ism does not typically refer to a condition, characteristic, or state of being, but rather to a specific ideology, doctrine, or belief system.

2. Which of the following represents the correct plural form of the word 'syllabus'?

• A. Syllabus
• B. Syllaba
• C. Syllabi
• D. Syllabis

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct plural form of 'syllabus' is 'syllabi.' In English, when a word ends in -us, the plural form is often changed to -i. Therefore, 'Syllabi' is the correct plural form. Choice A, 'Syllabus,' is the singular form, not the plural. Choice B, 'Syllaba,' does not follow the standard pluralization rule for words ending in -us. Choice D, 'Syllabis,' is an incorrect plural form that does not follow the standard English pluralization rules.

3. A teacher notices that, when students are talking to each other between classes, they are using their own unique vocabulary words and expressions to talk about their daily lives. When the teacher hears these non-standard words that are specific to one age or cultural group, what type of language is she listening to?

• A. Slang
• B. Jargon
• C. Dialect
• D. Vernacular

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is 'Slang.' Slang refers to informal words or phrases that are specific to a particular group of people, such as young people or a specific culture. In this scenario, the teacher is hearing non-standard words and expressions used by students, which aligns with the definition of slang. Jargon typically refers to specialized terminology used within a specific profession or group. Dialect refers to a particular form of a language that is specific to a region or social group. Vernacular refers to the everyday language spoken by people in a particular region or country.

4. Which sentence uses the modal verb 'should' correctly?

• A. You should have studied harder for the exam.
• B. I should be going now.
• C. She said she should have taken a different route.
• D. They should be arriving any minute now.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The modal verb 'should' is used to imply an intention or expectation in the present or near future. Option B, 'I should be going now,' correctly conveys such a meaning, indicating the speaker's intention to leave at the current moment. Choices A, C, and D refer to past actions or future arrivals, which do not align with the appropriate usage of 'should' in this context. Therefore, option B is the only sentence that uses the modal verb 'should' correctly.

5. Which sentence uses the correlative conjunction 'either/or' correctly?

• A. You can either come to the party or stay home.
• B. Either she will go to the concert, or he will.
• C. I'm not sure whether I should go swimming or running.
• D. He likes both pizza and pasta, so he can have either.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Option A uses the correlative conjunction 'either/or' correctly by presenting two exclusive options. The structure 'either...or' is used to show a choice between two alternatives, and in this sentence, it clearly presents the options of coming to the party or staying home. Choice B incorrectly separates the options with a comma after 'either,' disrupting the correlative conjunction pair. Choice C uses 'whether' instead of 'either/or,' which changes the meaning and structure. Choice D uses 'either' incorrectly, as it should be followed by 'or' to form the correlative pair.

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