Nursing Elites

1. Where should a semicolon be placed in the following sentence: 'He loves reading comics, playing video games, and spending time with friends'?

• A. He loves reading comics; playing video games, and spending time with friends.
• B. He loves reading comics, playing video games; and spending time with friends.
• C. He loves reading comics, playing video games, and spending time with friends.
• D. No semicolon needed.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: A semicolon is used to separate items in a list when the items themselves contain commas. In the sentence provided, 'playing video games' and 'spending time with friends' are the items that contain commas. Therefore, the correct placement of the semicolon is before the conjunction 'and,' as shown in option (B). Choice (A) incorrectly places the semicolon after 'comics,' disrupting the parallel structure. Choice (C) does not use a semicolon where needed. Choice (D) is incorrect as a semicolon is required in this context to maintain proper punctuation in the list.

2. What is the tone of the following sentence: 'The presentation was informative and engaging'?

• A. Sarcastic
• B. Neutral
• C. Angry
• D. Confused

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The sentence 'The presentation was informative and engaging' conveys a neutral tone because it provides a factual description of the presentation without any hints of sarcasm, anger, or confusion. The use of 'informative and engaging' indicates a positive evaluation but does not express any emotional bias or negativity, qualifying it as a neutral statement. Choice A, 'Sarcastic,' is incorrect because there are no indications of mockery or insincerity in the sentence. Choice C, 'Angry,' is incorrect as there are no elements of displeasure or hostility. Choice D, 'Confused,' is incorrect since the sentence does not suggest any confusion or lack of understanding.

3. Which of the following is a complex sentence?

• A. When skywriting, a pilot flies a small aircraft in specific, particular formations, creating large letters visible from the ground.
• B. The public defense attorney was able to maintain her optimism despite her dearth of courtroom wins, her lack of free time, and her growing list of clients.
• C. Because the distance between stars in the galaxy is far greater than the distance between planets, interstellar travel is expected to be an even bigger challenge than interplanetary exploration.
• D. Invented in France in the early nineteenth century, the stethoscope underwent a number of reiterations before the emergence of the modern form of the instrument in the 1850s.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: A complex sentence has one independent clause and at least one dependent clause connected by a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun. In choice C, the sentence 'Because the distance between stars in the galaxy is far greater than the distance between planets' is a dependent clause introduced by the subordinating conjunction 'Because,' while the rest of the sentence 'interstellar travel is expected to be an even bigger challenge than interplanetary exploration' forms the independent clause. This combination of an independent clause and a dependent clause makes choice C a complex sentence. Choices A, B, and D do not contain both an independent and dependent clause connected in the way that choice C does, thus they do not qualify as complex sentences.

4. Which of the answer choices best combines the following four sentences into two sentences? I'm usually good about keeping track of my keys. I lost them. I spent hours looking for them. I found them in the freezer.

• A. I lost my keys, even though I'm usually good about keeping track of them. I found them in the freezer and spent hours looking for them.
• B. I spent hours looking for my keys and found them in the freezer. I had lost them, even though I'm usually good about keeping track of them.
• C. I'm usually good about keeping track of my keys, but I lost them. After spending hours looking for them, I found them in the freezer.
• D. I'm usually good about keeping track of my keys, but I lost them in the freezer. I had to spend hours looking for them.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Combining the sentences is most effective when using 'but' to contrast the two ideas. Option C is concise, clear, and provides the best flow, accurately capturing both the contrast 'but I lost them' and the sequence of events 'After spending hours looking for them, I found them in the freezer.' Options A, B, and D do not effectively combine the sentences or maintain the sequence of events and contrast between keeping track of the keys and losing them.

5. Which of the following actions should NOT take place during the revising, editing, and proofreading steps of the writing process?

• A. Improving word choice
• B. Replacing irrelevant or weak sentences
• C. Identifying sentences that require citations
• D. Determining the argument the composition will defend

Correct answer: D

Rationale: During the revising, editing, and proofreading steps of the writing process, the focus is on refining the existing content rather than creating new material. Improving word choice, replacing irrelevant or weak sentences, and identifying sentences that require citations are tasks that fall within these steps to enhance the overall quality and clarity of the writing. Determining the argument the composition will defend is a task that belongs to the drafting stage, where the main ideas and arguments are formulated. Therefore, deciding on the argument is not a step that should take place during revising, editing, and proofreading.

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