which of the following is an example of a correctly punctuated sentence

ATI TEAS 7

ATI TEAS English

1. Which of the following is an example of a correctly punctuated sentence?

A. Beatrice is very intelligent; however, she just does not apply herself well enough in her classes to make good grades.
B. Beatrice is very intelligent: she just does not apply herself well enough in her classes to make good grades.
C. Beatrice is very intelligent; she just does not apply herself well enough in her classes to make good grades.
D. Beatrice is very intelligent; she just does not apply herself well enough in her classes to make good grades.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Option D is the correct answer as it uses a semicolon to correctly separate two independent clauses. In this sentence, 'Beatrice is very intelligent' and 'she just does not apply herself well enough in her classes to make good grades' are two independent clauses that are related but can stand alone as separate sentences. The semicolon is the appropriate punctuation mark to link these two closely related ideas. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because they either use a comma splice (A), a colon (B), or lack appropriate punctuation (C) to separate the independent clauses.

2. Which sentence avoids a comma splice?

A. The wind howled, the branches swayed, and rain lashed against the windows.
B. He packed his bags, checked the weather forecast, and then hit the road.
C. The movie was entertaining; it was also thought-provoking.
D. Tired and hungry, she stopped for a quick bite at the cafe.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Option C uses a semicolon to correctly separate the two independent clauses 'The movie was entertaining' and 'it was also thought-provoking.' This usage of a semicolon avoids a comma splice, which occurs when two independent clauses are incorrectly joined by a comma without a coordinating conjunction or appropriate punctuation. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because they all contain comma splices. In choice A, the comma splice is present between 'The wind howled' and 'the branches swayed.' In choice B, the comma splice occurs between 'He packed his bags' and 'checked the weather forecast.' Choice D has a comma splice between 'Tired and hungry' and 'she stopped for a quick bite at the cafe.'

3. Which of the following is the plural of the word chief?

A. Chiefs
B. Chieves
C. Chievs
D. Chiefes

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is 'Chiefs.' When making the word 'chief' plural, the correct form is 'Chiefs.' Choices B, C, and D are incorrect as they do not follow the standard rules for forming plurals in English. 'Chieves,' 'Chievs,' and 'Chiefes' are not valid plural forms of 'chief.' It's important to understand the basic rules of pluralization in English to form correct plural nouns.

4. Hampton was born and raised in Maywood of Chicago, Illinois in 1948. Which of the following is the correct punctuation for the sentence?

A. NO CHANGE
B. in Maywood, of Chicago, Illinois in 1948.
C. in Maywood of Chicago, Illinois, in 1948.
D. in Chicago, Illinois of Maywood in 1948.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Option C correctly punctuates the sentence by placing commas after 'Chicago' and 'Illinois' to separate the location details and inserting a comma before 'in 1948' to separate the location from the date. This creates a clear and grammatically correct sentence. Choices A, B, and D incorrectly place the commas, leading to confusion or incorrect grouping of the location and date information.

5. When proofreading your writing, what should be your primary focus?

A. Changing the wording to enhance originality.
B. Avoiding minor grammatical errors like typos.
C. Checking for clarity, consistency, and overall flow.
D. Avoiding replacing common words with thesaurus alternatives.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: When proofreading your writing, the primary focus should be on checking for clarity, consistency, and overall flow. This involves ensuring that the content is clear, logical, and flows smoothly from one point to the next. While enhancing originality can be important, it is secondary to ensuring that the writing effectively communicates its message. Ignoring minor grammatical errors like typos can detract from the professionalism and impact of the writing. Replacing common words with thesaurus alternatives should be done sparingly and only when it enhances the clarity or impact of the text, rather than as a routine practice during proofreading.