which is the sentence with the correct use of punctuation

ATI TEAS 7

English and Language Usage TEAS

1. Which sentence uses correct punctuation?

A. I cooked so I could eat dinner.
B. I cooked so, I could eat dinner.
C. I cooked so I, could eat dinner.
D. I cooked, so I could eat dinner.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is sentence D: 'I cooked, so I could eat dinner.' This sentence uses a comma correctly to separate two independent clauses, 'I cooked,' and 'so I could eat dinner.' Choice A is incorrect as it lacks punctuation to separate the clauses properly. Choice B incorrectly uses a comma after 'so,' disrupting the flow of the sentence. Choice C incorrectly places a comma after 'I,' which is not needed in this context.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. Identify the determiner in the following sentence:

A. happily
B. branches
C. few
D. tree

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The determiner in the sentence is 'few.' Determiners specify the quantity or identity of a noun. In this case, 'few' indicates the number of birds present. Choice A, 'happily,' is an adverb modifying a verb or an adjective, not a determiner. Choice B, 'branches,' is a noun referring to parts of a tree, not a determiner. Choice D, 'tree,' is a noun identifying the main subject of the sentence, not a determiner.

5. Which of the following words functions as a verb in the sentence?

A. fought
B. control
C. trade
D. those

Correct answer: A

Rationale: In the sentence, 'fought' is the only word that functions as a verb. It shows action, as it is the past tense of the verb 'fight.' The other words in the sentence do not serve as verbs in this context. 'Control' and 'trade' can also be verbs, but in this specific sentence, they are not used as verbs but as nouns. 'Those' is a pronoun and does not function as a verb.