Nursing Elites

1. The hike became increasingly difficult as we got closer to the top of the mountain. Which of the following parts of speech is 'increasingly' as used in the sentence above?

• A. Adjective
• B. Interjection
• C. Verb
• D. Adverb

Correct answer: D

Rationale: In this sentence, 'increasingly' is functioning as an adverb. Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to describe the manner, degree, or frequency of an action. In this case, 'increasingly' describes how the difficulty of the hike was growing as we approached the mountain top. Choice A, 'Adjective,' is incorrect as adjectives modify nouns or pronouns, not verbs. Choice B, 'Interjection,' is also incorrect because interjections are words used to express strong emotions or sentiments, not to describe actions or qualities. Choice C, 'Verb,' is incorrect as 'increasingly' is not a verb; it does not express an action or state of being.

2. Which of the following best explains the purpose of the parentheses in the sentence?

• A. to indicate the page numbers in the book where this information might be found
• B. to tell the reader when the Austro-Hungarian Empire collapsed
• C. to identify information that was located using another source
• D. to set off useful information that does not fit directly into the flow of the sentence

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The purpose of the parentheses in the sentence is to set off useful information that does not fit directly into the flow of the sentence. Parentheses are commonly used to provide additional details, explanations, or examples that are helpful but not essential to the main point of the sentence. In this case, the information about the Austro-Hungarian Empire is presented in parentheses to offer context but is not crucial to the main idea being communicated. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect as they do not accurately describe the function of parentheses in this context.

3. 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.

4. Which term describes the most likely structure of an essay about the similarities and differences between World War I and World War II?

• A. Technical
• B. Expository
• C. Cause/effect
• D. Compare/contrast

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is 'Compare/contrast.' This structure is specifically designed to analyze and highlight the similarities and differences between two subjects, making it the most appropriate choice for an essay discussing the similarities and differences between World War I and World War II. Choice A, 'Technical,' typically involves detailed, specialized information rather than comparison. Choice B, 'Expository,' focuses on explaining or describing a topic without necessarily comparing or contrasting different subjects. Choice C, 'Cause/effect,' is used to examine the causes and consequences of events, which is different from directly comparing and contrasting two historical events like World War I and World War II.

5. Which sentence avoids a dangling modifier?

• A. Walking down the street, a bird swooped down from a tree.
• B. Having finished the report, it was time for lunch.
• C. Reading the book, I learned a lot about ancient history.
• D. Exhausted from the hike, the tent was a welcome sight.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Option C correctly places the participle phrase 'Reading the book' directly in front of the subject 'I,' ensuring that there is no dangling modifier. This structure establishes a clear connection between the action described in the introductory phrase and the subject performing the action, resulting in a grammatically correct sentence. Choice A, B, and D have dangling modifiers. In choice A, the phrase 'Walking down the street' should be followed by the noun it is describing to avoid the dangling modifier. Choice B has a dangling modifier as 'Having finished the report' does not have a clear subject to relate to. Choice D also has a dangling modifier as 'Exhausted from the hike' is not properly connected to the subject in the sentence.

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