which of the following sentences uses correct punctuation

ATI TEAS 7

English and Language Usage TEAS

1. Which of the following sentences uses correct punctuation?

A. Carole is not currently working; her focus is on her children at the moment.
B. Carole is not currently working, and her focus is on her children at the moment.
C. Carole is not currently working; her focus is on her children at the moment.
D. Carole is not currently working, her focus is on her children at the moment.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Option A uses correct punctuation by correctly utilizing the semicolon to separate two closely related independent clauses. This punctuation choice effectively conveys the relationship between the two ideas presented in the sentence. Choice B is incorrect because it uses a comma without a coordinating conjunction to join two independent clauses. Choice C is incorrect as it lacks the coordinating conjunction 'and' after the comma to connect the two independent clauses. Choice D is incorrect because it lacks any punctuation or conjunction to properly separate the two independent clauses, leading to a run-on sentence.

2. What is the past tense of the verb 'discover'?

A. discovers
B. discovered
C. discovering
D. discovery

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The past tense of the verb 'discover' is 'discovered.' In this case, the scientist already found a new species of butterfly, indicating a past action. 'Discovered' is the correct past tense form of 'discover.' The other options do not represent the past tense form of the verb. 'Discovers' is present tense, 'discovering' is present participle, and 'discovery' is a noun, not a verb tense.

3. Which sentence uses the past perfect tense correctly?

A. By the time I arrived, the party had already begun.
B. I wish I had studied harder for the exam.
C. We will have finished the project by Monday.
D. She had been waiting for hours before he finally showed up.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Option A correctly uses the past perfect tense to show an action that was completed before another past action. In this sentence, 'the party had already begun' indicates that the party started before 'I arrived.' This structure is typical of the past perfect tense. Choice B uses the past perfect tense but does not demonstrate the sequence of actions in the past. Choice C uses the future perfect tense, indicating completion of an action by a future time. Choice D uses the past perfect continuous tense, not the simple past perfect tense required by the question.

4. Identify the type of error in the sentence, 'They went to the store, bought groceries, then went home.'

A. Run-on sentence
B. Comma splice
C. Dangling modifier
D. Subject-verb agreement

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The given sentence combines multiple independent clauses without appropriate punctuation or conjunctions, creating a run-on sentence. A run-on sentence occurs when two or more independent clauses are joined without the necessary punctuation or coordination. In this case, the sentence lacks the proper conjunction or punctuation between 'store' and 'bought,' resulting in a run-on sentence. Choice B, 'Comma splice,' is incorrect because a comma splice involves joining two independent clauses with just a comma, which is not the case in the given sentence. Choice C, 'Dangling modifier,' is incorrect as there are no misplaced modifiers in the sentence. Choice D, 'Subject-verb agreement,' is also incorrect as the error in the sentence does not involve subject-verb agreement but rather the incorrect combination of independent clauses.

5. What are the five basic elements of the writing process?

A. Prewriting, drafting, conferencing, revision, editing
B. Brainstorming, outlining, writing, peer-review, researching
C. Researching, prewriting, writing, brainstorming, conferencing
D. Prewriting, writing, revising, researching, proofreading

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Prewriting, drafting, conferencing, revision, editing. In the writing process, prewriting involves planning and brainstorming ideas, drafting is the stage where you put your ideas into writing, conferencing refers to seeking feedback or discussing the work, revision involves making changes to improve the content and structure, and editing focuses on correcting grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors. The other choices are incorrect because they either include elements that are not part of the standard writing process (such as peer-review and outlining) or they mix up the order of the stages (such as researching before prewriting).