which of the examples uses the correct plural form

ATI TEAS 7

English and Language Usage TEAS

1. Which of the examples uses the correct plural form?

A. Tomatoes
B. Analysis
C. Cacti
D. Criterion

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct plural form of 'cactus' is 'cacti' according to the English language rules for forming plural nouns ending in -us. The word 'cacti' is the plural form of 'cactus,' which follows this particular rule. Choice A 'Tomatoes' is incorrect because the correct plural form of 'tomato' is 'tomatoes,' not 'tomatos.' Choice B 'Analysis' is incorrect as it is already the plural form. Choice D 'Criterion' is incorrect as its plural form is 'criteria,' not 'criterion.'

2. Which word best completes the sentence: 'The students _______ finished their exams.'

A. has
B. have
C. is
D. was

Correct answer: B

Rationale: In the sentence, 'The students' is referring to a plural subject. Since 'students' is plural, the correct verb should also be plural. 'Have' is the correct verb form for the plural subject 'students' in this sentence. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because 'has' and 'is' are singular verbs, while 'was' is past tense and does not agree with the present tense of 'finished.' Therefore, the correct choice is B: 'have.'

3. Leaping to the saddle, his horse bolted.

A. His horse bolted as he leaped to the saddle.
B. When he leaped to the saddle, his horse bolted.
C. His horse bolted, he leaped to the saddle.
D. He leaped to the saddle, his horse bolted.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Option B, 'When he leaped to the saddle, his horse bolted,' effectively removes the dangling modifier by clearly connecting the action of the subject ('he leaped to the saddle') with the consequence ('his horse bolted'). This restructuring ensures that the sentence is stylistically and logically clear. Choice A changes the order of the actions, which alters the original meaning. Choice C incorrectly places 'he leaped to the saddle' after 'His horse bolted,' leading to confusion. Choice D does not address the dangling modifier issue and maintains the original error in sentence structure.

4. What part of speech is the word 'silently' in the sentence 'The masked villain silently laughed while watching the hero struggle to escape'?

A. Preposition
B. Adverb
C. Verb
D. Adjective

Correct answer: B

Rationale: 'Silently' is an adverb in this sentence as it describes how the villain laughed. Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. In this case, 'silently' is modifying the verb 'laughed,' indicating the manner in which the action was performed. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect. 'Silently' is not a preposition (A) as it doesn't show a relationship between nouns or pronouns. It is not a verb (C) because it doesn't express an action or state of being. Additionally, it is not an adjective (D) since it does not describe a noun or pronoun.

5. Protestors filled the streets of the city because they were dissatisfied with the government’s leadership. Which of the following is an appropriately-punctuated correction for this sentence?

A. Protestors filled the streets of the city, because they were dissatisfied with the government’s leadership.
B. Protesters, filled the streets of the city, because they were dissatisfied with the government’s leadership.
C. Because they were dissatisfied with the government’s leadership, protestors filled the streets of the city.
D. Protestors filled the streets of the city because they were dissatisfied with the government’s leadership.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D. The sentence should be corrected by removing the period and joining the clauses to avoid a sentence fragment. Option A is incorrect because it incorrectly separates the clauses with a comma. Option B is incorrect as it incorrectly uses a comma after 'Protesters' and lacks proper structure. Option C is incorrect as it places the subordinate clause at the beginning, which disrupts the flow of the sentence.