Nursing Elites

1. Which of the following punctuation marks is used incorrectly in the sentence? "Otto, somewhat abruptly, got up out of his chair, and just like that, headed into the next room."

• A. The comma after "somewhat"
• B. The comma after "Otto"
• C. The semicolon after "that"
• D. The comma after "chair"

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The semicolon after "that" is used incorrectly; a comma should be used instead. Semicolons are typically used to join two independent clauses without a conjunction. In this sentence, the phrase "just like that" is not an independent clause, so a comma is more appropriate for separating it from the rest of the sentence. Choices A, B, and D all use commas correctly within the sentence.

2. What literary device is used in the phrase 'a heart of gold'?

• A. Metaphor
• B. Simile
• C. Hyperbole
• D. Personification

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A, Metaphor. A metaphor is a figure of speech that directly compares two unlike things by stating that one thing is another. In the phrase 'a heart of gold,' the good nature of a person is being directly compared to gold, indicating that the person is kind, valuable, and precious, much like gold. This comparison is not using 'like' or 'as,' which would make it a simile, but rather it is a direct assertion, making it a metaphor. Simile involves comparing two things using 'like' or 'as,' which is not present in this phrase. Hyperbole is an exaggeration, which is not the case here. Personification gives human qualities to non-human entities, which is also not occurring in 'a heart of gold.'

3. Which of the following sentences from a paragraph about gingivitis is the topic sentence?

• A. Gingivitis can be reversed by daily brushing, flossing, and regular dental cleanings.
• B. Gingivitis is a mild form of gum disease, in which bacteria causes inflammation of the gums.
• C. With gingivitis, the gums become red and swollen and can bleed easily.
• D. If left untreated, gingivitis can cause periodontitis, in which the gums pull away from the teeth.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The topic sentence in a paragraph typically introduces the main idea or topic of the paragraph. In this case, choice B correctly serves as the topic sentence by clearly stating that gingivitis is a mild form of gum disease caused by bacteria that leads to inflammation of the gums. Choices A, C, and D provide additional information that supports or follows the main idea but do not present the overarching topic of the paragraph.

4. In the following sentence, which part of speech does the word 'capacity' function as?

• A. Verb
• B. Noun
• C. Adverb
• D. Pronoun

Correct answer: B

Rationale: In the sentence, 'capacity' is used to refer to the maximum amount that something can contain or produce, making it a noun. It is not functioning as a verb (choice A), as it is not describing an action. It is not an adverb (choice C) because it is not modifying a verb, adjective, or another adverb. Additionally, it is not a pronoun (choice D) because it is not replacing a noun or noun phrase. Therefore, the correct answer is 'B: Noun.'

5. Which sentence uses parallel structure correctly?

• A. I enjoy reading, watching movies, and spending time with friends.
• B. Reading, watching movies, and spending time with friends are all activities I enjoy.
• C. I like to read, watch movies, and spend time with friends.
• D. Reading, movies, and friends are all things I enjoy.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Parallel structure means using the same grammatical form for elements in a list. Option (B) uses parallel gerunds ('reading,' 'watching,' 'spending'), making it the correct choice. The other options have inconsistencies in the form of the listed activities, making them grammatically incorrect. Option (A) starts with 'I enjoy' but then switches to '-ing' verbs. Option (C) changes from 'like' to '-ing' verbs, breaking parallelism. Option (D) lists 'reading' correctly but then switches to singular nouns ('movies,' 'friends'), which is not parallel.

Similar Questions