Nursing Elites

1. 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.

2. What is the function of a colon when used to introduce a list?

• A. A colon joins two related sentences.
• B. A colon sets off direct quotes longer than five words.
• C. A colon introduces a list or explanation after a complete sentence.
• D. A colon separates clauses in a compound sentence.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: When a colon is used to introduce a list, it is placed after a complete sentence and serves to signal that what follows will be a list or an explanation related to the preceding sentence. Choice A is incorrect because a colon doesn't join two related sentences; it introduces what follows after a complete sentence. Choice B is incorrect as a colon is not used to set off direct quotes longer than five words; quotation marks are used for that purpose. Choice D is incorrect because a colon does not separate clauses in a compound sentence; it is used to introduce a list or explanation after a complete sentence.

3. Which of the answer choices best explains the purpose of the parentheses in the sentence?

• A. To offer brief commentary on the subject matter being discussed
• B. To modify or qualify the statement that came immediately before
• C. To identify information that was located using another source
• D. To set off useful information that does not fit the flow of the sentence

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D. Parentheses are used to set off supplementary information (the years of Franz Joseph I's reign) that provides context but does not disrupt the flow of the main sentence. Choice A is incorrect as the purpose of the parentheses in this case is not to offer commentary but to provide additional information. Choice B is incorrect as the parentheses do not modify or qualify the statement before. Choice C is incorrect as the information in the parentheses is not identified as being from another source.

4. What literary device is used in the phrase 'a heart of gold'?

• A. Metaphor
• B. Simile
• C. Hyperbole
• D. Personification

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A, Metaphor. A metaphor is a figure of speech that directly compares two unlike things by stating that one thing is another. In the phrase 'a heart of gold,' the good nature of a person is being directly compared to gold, indicating that the person is kind, valuable, and precious, much like gold. This comparison is not using 'like' or 'as,' which would make it a simile, but rather it is a direct assertion, making it a metaphor. Simile involves comparing two things using 'like' or 'as,' which is not present in this phrase. Hyperbole is an exaggeration, which is not the case here. Personification gives human qualities to non-human entities, which is also not occurring in 'a heart of gold.'

5. Everyday items like potatoes, bread, onions, and even saliva are the tools of art conservators, who work to clean and restore works of art. Which of the following is misspelled in the sentence above?

• A. potatoes
• B. saliva
• C. conservators
• D. restore

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct spelling is 'potatoes,' with the correct plural form being used in this context. The other choices are spelled correctly: 'saliva,' 'conservators,' and 'restore.' 'Saliva' refers to a bodily fluid, 'conservators' are professionals who work on art conservation, and 'restore' means to bring something back to its original condition or state.

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