which of the following sentences uses a comma correctly

ATI TEAS 7

English and Language Usage TEAS

1. Which of the following sentences uses a comma correctly?

A. Let's eat Grandma!
B. Let's eat, Grandma!
C. Lets eat, Grandma!
D. Lets, eat Grandma!

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: 'Let's eat, Grandma!' The comma is correctly used to separate the direct address 'Grandma' from the rest of the sentence. In choice A, there should be a comma after 'eat' to separate the direct address. Choice C is missing an apostrophe in 'Lets,' and there should be a comma after 'eat' to separate the direct address. Choice D incorrectly places a comma after 'Lets,' and there should be a comma after 'eat' to separate the direct address.

2. 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.

3. Which of the following sentences contains a homophone error?

A. Their decision to stay home was vindicated when they heard about what happened.
B. Jane was given a prescription for oral paste to put on her mouth ulcers.
C. The team from Cincinnati led the league in scoring last year.
D. What effect will this new legislation have on hospital policy?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B because 'aural' and 'oral' are homophones, but they have different meanings. 'Aural' refers to hearing, while 'oral' refers to the mouth or spoken words. In the context of treating mouth ulcers, the correct term should be 'oral paste.' Choices A, C, and D do not contain homophone errors. In choice A, 'heard' is correctly used in the context of listening. Choice C is grammatically correct and does not involve homophones. Choice D correctly uses 'effect' and does not involve homophones.

4. Which of the following versions of the sentence is written correctly?

A. Because she wanted to reduce unnecessary waste, Cicily decided to have the television repaired instead of buying a new one.
B. Cicily decided to have the television repaired because she wanted to reduce unnecessary waste instead of buying a new one.
C. Cicily decided to have the television repaired because she wanted to reduce unnecessary waste, instead of buying a new one.
D. Because Cicily decided to have the television repaired instead of buying a new one, she wanted to reduce unnecessary waste.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Option A is the correct version of the sentence. It is written in a clear and grammatically correct way. The conjunction 'because' is correctly placed to show the reason for Cicily's decision, and the structure of the sentence flows logically. Choices B, C, and D have issues with sentence structure, placement of conjunctions, or unnecessary commas, making them grammatically incorrect. Choice B places 'because' in an awkward position, disrupting the flow of the sentence. Choice C introduces a comma after 'wanted to reduce unnecessary waste' unnecessarily, causing a punctuation error. Choice D shifts the focus of the sentence by placing 'she wanted to reduce unnecessary waste' at the end, making the sentence less coherent and grammatically incorrect.

5. Which of the following types of language is acceptable in a research paper?

A. Colloquialisms
B. Contractions
C. Relative pronouns
D. Second-person point of view

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Relative pronouns are acceptable in a research paper for connecting clauses. Colloquialisms (choice A) are informal expressions that are not suitable for academic writing. Contractions (choice B) are considered too casual for a research paper. The second-person point of view (choice D) should be avoided in research papers as it can make the writing less objective and scholarly.