Nursing Elites

1. Which of the following substitutions best captures the meaning of the word 'obsequious' in the sentence: 'The young apprentice was obsequious to his master, always eager to please'?

• A. showing deference
• B. poorly dressed
• C. reserved
• D. aggressive

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The word 'obsequious' means excessively submissive or eager to please, often to the point of showing deference. In this context, 'showing deference' best captures the meaning, indicating respect or submission rather than being poorly dressed, reserved, or aggressive. 'Poorly dressed' (B) is unrelated to the meaning of obsequious. 'Reserved' (C) suggests a different behavior that is opposite to being obsequious. 'Aggressive' (D) is the opposite of obsequious and does not fit the context of the sentence.

2. During trips to the beach, he preferred to swim at the pool, and whenever he went hiking, he avoided touching any plants for fear that they might be poison ivy.

• A. Leave it where it is now.
• B. Move the sentence so that it comes before the preceding sentence.
• C. Move the sentence to the end of the first paragraph.
• D. Omit the sentence.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The sentence is well-placed where it is, as it provides context to the narrative about the individual's preferences. Moving it before the preceding sentence or to the end of the first paragraph would disrupt the flow of information and may confuse the reader. Omitting the sentence would result in a gap in the story, leaving the reader questioning the individual's behavior without a clear explanation. Thus, leaving the sentence where it is now is the best choice for maintaining coherence in the narrative.

3. In which of the following situations is the inclusion of a citation necessary?

• A. The author is stating an opinion about a new biography of Abraham Lincoln.
• B. The author is describing a trip to Abraham Lincoln's birthplace.
• C. The author is quoting another author's opinion about a new biography of Abraham Lincoln.
• D. The author is describing a play she saw about Abraham Lincoln.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C. A citation is required when directly quoting another author's opinion to give credit and avoid plagiarism. Choices A, B, and D do not necessitate citations as they involve the author's own opinion, personal experience, and description of a play, respectively, without directly quoting another source.

4. A student reads the following sentence: A hundred years ago, automobiles were rare, but now cars are ubiquitous. However, she doesn't know what the word ubiquitous means. Which key context clue is essential to decipher the word's meaning?

• A. Ago
• B. Cars
• C. Now
• D. Rare

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The key context clue essential to decipher the word 'ubiquitous' is the word 'now.' By comparing the rarity of automobiles a hundred years ago to their ubiquity now, the student can infer that 'ubiquitous' means something that is commonplace or found everywhere. Choice A ('Ago') refers to the past and does not provide information about the current state of cars. Choice B ('Cars') only contrasts rare and ubiquitous without indicating the change over time. Choice D ('Rare') simply contrasts with 'ubiquitous' without showing the transition from rarity to ubiquity.

5. 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.

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