which of the following is a compound sentence

ATI TEAS 7

English TEAS Practice Test

1. Which of the following is a compound sentence?

A. Plague, generally not a major public health concern, actually continues to spread among rodent populations today, and it even occasionally makes its way into a human host.
B. Modern archaeology, which seeks answers to humanity’s questions about its past, is significantly helped by new technologies.
C. In the fight against obesity, countries around the world are imposing taxes on sodas and other sugary drinks in an effort to curb unhealthy habits.
D. Because the assassination of President John F. Kennedy continues to haunt and fascinate Americans, new movies, books, and television series about it are released every year.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: A compound sentence consists of two or more independent clauses that are joined by coordinating conjunctions such as 'and,' 'but,' or 'or.' In choice A, the sentence contains two independent clauses separated by the coordinating conjunction 'and': 'Plague, generally not a major public health concern, actually continues to spread among rodent populations today' and 'it even occasionally makes its way into a human host.' Choice B is a complex sentence as it contains a dependent clause 'which seeks answers to humanity’s questions about its past' and an independent clause 'is significantly helped by new technologies.' Choice C is a simple sentence with one independent clause: 'In the fight against obesity, countries around the world are imposing taxes on sodas and other sugary drinks in an effort to curb unhealthy habits.' Choice D is a complex sentence with a dependent clause 'Because the assassination of President John F. Kennedy continues to haunt and fascinate Americans' and an independent clause 'new movies, books, and television series about it are released every year.'

2. In which of the following situations would it be best to use informal language?

A. In a seminar
B. Writing a postcard
C. Talking to your boss
D. Participating in a professional conference

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is writing a postcard (Choice B). A postcard is a casual form of communication, typically sent to friends or family, making it a suitable context for informal language. Using informal language in a seminar (Choice A) would be inappropriate as it is a formal setting where professional language is expected. Talking to your boss (Choice C) and participating in a professional conference (Choice D) also require formal language to maintain professionalism and respect for the workplace environment.

3. Which of the following examples is a correctly punctuated compound sentence?

A. Condors are protected by laws, but many people fear they will soon become extinct.
B. Asian elephants, cheetahs, and tigers are all in danger of extinction.
C. Some efforts are being made to protect animals and more people are behind this initiative.
D. Most hunters don't kill endangered species, but some don't care if it's unlawful.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Option A presents a correctly punctuated compound sentence. It consists of two independent clauses 'Condors are protected by laws' and 'many people fear they will soon become extinct,' which are appropriately joined by a comma and the coordinating conjunction 'but.' In contrast, in option B, the sentence only lists items without independent clauses. Option C combines phrases without independent clauses, and Option D incorrectly uses a comma before the coordinating conjunction 'but' without an independent clause following it.

4. Which of the following sentences correctly uses commas to set off a non-essential element?

A. The teacher, who lives next door, will visit our class next week.
B. The teacher who lives next door will visit our class next week.
C. The teacher, who, by the way, lives next door, will visit our class next week.
D. The teacher will visit our class next week, who lives next door.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A. In this sentence, the phrase 'who lives next door' is a non-essential element providing additional information about the teacher. It is correctly set off by commas. Choice B does not use any commas to set off the non-essential element, making the information essential to the sentence. Choice C uses an unnecessary comma before 'who,' which disrupts the flow of the sentence. Choice D incorrectly places the non-essential element at the end of the sentence without appropriate commas, making it less clear and concise.

5. In the phrase 'a drop in the bucket,' what does 'bucket' represent?

A. A literal container
B. A large quantity
C. A specific goal
D. An obstacle

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The phrase 'a drop in the bucket' is an idiom that means a very small or insignificant amount in comparison to a much larger total. In this context, 'bucket' symbolizes a large quantity, emphasizing the idea that the 'drop' is minimal or inconsequential when considering the overall amount. Choice A, 'A literal container,' is incorrect as 'bucket' in this phrase is not meant to be taken literally but rather symbolically. Choice C, 'A specific goal,' is incorrect as the phrase does not refer to achieving a specific target. Choice D, 'An obstacle,' is incorrect as 'bucket' is not presented as a hindrance or barrier in this idiom.