Nursing Elites

1. What is the best way to punctuate the dialogue, 'Are you coming?' she asked. 'Maybe,' I replied.

• A. 'Are you coming?' she asked? 'Maybe,' I replied.
• B. 'Are you coming?' she asked. 'Maybe,' I replied.
• C. 'Are you coming?' she asked, 'Maybe,' I replied.
• D. 'Are you coming?' she asked, 'Maybe,' I replied.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct way to punctuate dialogue is to enclose each speaker's words in quotation marks. Additionally, the question mark should be placed inside the closing quotation mark of the question. In this case, the correct answer is B as it adheres to the punctuation rules for dialogue. Each character's dialogue is correctly enclosed in quotation marks, and the question mark is appropriately positioned inside the closing quotation mark of the question. Choice A is incorrect as the question mark is placed outside the closing quotation mark of the question. Choice C is incorrect as it uses a comma instead of a period after 'she asked.' Choice D is incorrect as it uses a comma instead of a period after 'she asked' and incorrectly places the comma inside the closing quotation mark of the question.

2. Reread the following sentence from the passage: 'Don't hit me with arguments about greater freedom for workers.' Which of the following would be a more formal way to rewrite the sentence?

• A. I disagree with the argument about contract workers having greater freedom.
• B. Stop telling me that freelancers have more freedom!
• C. Is there actually freedom for workers?
• D. I've already heard.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Choice A, 'I disagree with the argument about contract workers having greater freedom,' is the correct answer. This sentence rephrases the original statement in a more formal and respectful tone, which is suitable for formal writing. Choice B is too direct and lacks formality. Choice C does not address the argument directly and poses a question instead of providing a formal statement. Choice D is dismissive and does not offer a formal rewrite of the original sentence.

3. What is the function of an adjective in a sentence?

• A. To describe a verb
• B. To connect clauses
• C. To describe a noun
• D. To show action

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The function of an adjective in a sentence is to describe or modify a noun. Adjectives provide more information about the noun they modify, such as its size, color, shape, etc. For example, in the sentence 'The tall building,' 'tall' is an adjective describing the noun 'building.' Choices A, B, and D are incorrect. Adjectives do not describe verbs (adverbs do that), connect clauses (conjunctions do that), or show action (verbs do that).

4. If all of the following sentences appeared in the same paragraph, which sentence would be irrelevant?

• A. I had been doing yoga at least three times a week for the past year.
• B. At first, I walked and ran, though really it was more walking than running.
• C. I had never run a 5k race before, but I decided to try and gave myself six weeks to train for it.
• D. Each day I was able to run a bit further and a bit faster.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The sentence about doing yoga is irrelevant to the topic of training for a 5k race. The focus of the paragraph is on the process of preparing for the race through running and training, making sentence A unrelated as it discusses a different physical activity.

5. Which of the following sentences correctly uses a semicolon?

• A. I have a big test tomorrow; I can't go out tonight.
• B. I have a big test tomorrow; I can't go out tonight.
• C. I have a big test tomorrow; and I can't go out tonight.
• D. I have a big test tomorrow; but I can't go out tonight.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct use of a semicolon is to join two closely related independent clauses. Choice A is the only option that correctly uses a semicolon to connect two independent clauses: 'I have a big test tomorrow' and 'I can't go out tonight.' Choice B incorrectly uses a comma instead of a semicolon. Choice C adds an unnecessary 'and' after the semicolon, which disrupts the correct punctuation usage. Choice D introduces a contradictory conjunction 'but' after the semicolon, which is not necessary for the given context. Therefore, the correct answer is A.

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