Nursing Elites

1. The swirling snow drifted down all afternoon. Which of the following parts of speech is 'swirling' as used in the sentence above?

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

Correct answer: C

Rationale: In the sentence 'The swirling snow drifted down all afternoon,' 'swirling' is functioning as an adjective. Adjectives modify or describe nouns, and in this case, 'swirling' describes the noun 'snow.' The word 'swirling' is giving more information about the nature or quality of the snow, indicating that it is moving in a circular motion. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect. An interjection is a word or phrase used to express strong emotions or sentiments, which 'swirling' does not do in this context. An article is a determiner that introduces a noun, and 'swirling' is not serving this function. An adverb typically modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb, but in this sentence, 'swirling' is not modifying a verb, making it an incorrect choice.

2. Which sentence contains a homonym?

• A. I need to bear the pain.
• B. She found a bear in the woods.
• C. I can't bear to see this.
• D. He bears a striking resemblance.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: 'I can't bear to see this.' The words 'bear' and 'bare' are homonyms, as they sound the same but have different meanings. Choice A does not contain a homonym; it correctly uses 'bear' in the context of enduring pain. Choice B uses 'bear' as a noun referring to the animal, not a homonym. Choice D uses 'bears' as a verb, not a homonym.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. Which word choice best fits the blank: 'Her research paper was riddled with _____ errors.'

• A. flagrant (obvious and inexcusable)
• B. cursory (superficial)
• C. innocuous (harmless)
• D. meticulous (carefully detailed)

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The word 'flagrant' in option A is the most appropriate choice for the blank because it conveys the idea of errors that are glaringly obvious and inexcusable. In this context, the research paper is described as being 'riddled with errors,' suggesting a significant amount of mistakes that stand out and are severe. Choice B, 'cursory,' meaning superficial, does not accurately describe the seriousness of the errors. Choice C, 'innocuous,' meaning harmless, is the opposite of what is implied by the sentence. Choice D, 'meticulous,' meaning carefully detailed, is the opposite of what is needed to describe errors in this context.

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