Nursing Elites

1. 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.

2. Which of the following sentences is written in the active voice?

• A. John threw the ball.
• B. The ball was thrown by John.
• C. The ball had been thrown by John.
• D. The ball is thrown by John.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is B: 'John threw the ball.' Active voice sentences have the subject performing the action, which is the case in this sentence where 'John' is the subject performing the action 'threw.' Choices A, C, and D are in passive voice where the subject receives the action rather than performing it.

3. Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly?

• A. A carpenter must use certain tools - hammers, saws, chisels - to finish a job.
• B. A carpenter must use certain tools: hammers, saws, chisels to finish a job.
• C. A carpenter must use certain tools hammers, saws, chisels to finish a job.
• D. A carpenter must use certain tools; hammers, saws, chisels to finish a job.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Choice A is the correct answer as the sentence is correctly punctuated using em dashes to set off the list. The em dashes help to clearly separate the list of tools from the rest of the sentence. In Choice B, a colon is used, which is incorrect as colons are typically used to introduce a list, not within the list itself. Choice C lacks any punctuation to separate the list, making it unclear and incorrect. Choice D uses semicolons, which are not appropriate for separating items in a list, making it incorrect as well.

4. Surely, he thought, I can’t trust this enticing yet dubious offer, although I could use the opportunity more than I’d like to admit. 'Although' is which part of speech?

• A. Adverb
• B. Preposition
• C. Conjunction
• D. Adjective

Correct answer: C

Rationale: 'Although' is a conjunction because it connects two clauses in the sentence. In the given sentence, 'although' introduces a dependent clause ('although I could use the opportunity more than I’d like to admit') and connects it to the independent clause ('Surely, he thought, I can’t trust this enticing yet dubious offer'). This conjunction shows the contrast between the two ideas. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because 'although' does not function as an adverb, preposition, or adjective in this context.

5. Identify the appositive in the following sentence: 'My favorite author, Agatha Christie, wrote many detective novels.'

• A. favorite
• B. Agatha Christie
• C. many
• D. novels

Correct answer: B

Rationale: In the sentence, 'Agatha Christie' is the appositive. An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that renames or clarifies another noun or pronoun in a sentence. In this case, 'Agatha Christie' renames the noun 'author.' The appositive provides additional information about the noun it follows, enhancing the reader's understanding. Choices A, C, and D are not appositives. 'Favorite' is an adjective describing 'author,' 'many' is an adjective describing 'novels,' and 'novels' is the direct object of the verb 'wrote,' not an appositive.

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