which of the following uses commas in a series correctly

ATI TEAS 7

English and Language Usage TEAS

1. Which of the following uses commas in a series correctly?

A. Jericka went to the store for milk, bread, and eggs.
B. For breakfast, Jason wanted to make French toast, bacon, and eggs.
C. Aj had a lot to do the next day, including homework, hockey practice, and chores.
D. Paz's mom, dad, and sister would come to watch his game.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Option A is the correct answer as it uses commas to separate items in a series ('milk, bread, and eggs'). In option B, the comma after 'bacon' is unnecessary. Option C correctly uses commas to separate the items in the series ('homework, hockey practice, and chores'). Option D incorrectly omits commas between 'mom' and 'dad,' and 'dad' and 'sister,' making it incorrect for a series of three or more items.

2. Parrots, among the most intelligent birds in the world, have been prized pets for many centuries; in fact, the first recorded instance of parrot training was written in the thirteenth century. Which of the following is a synonym for prized as used in the sentence?

A. unlikely
B. misunderstood
C. rewarded
D. valued

Correct answer: D

Rationale: In the context of the sentence, 'prized' is used to describe how much people value parrots as pets. Synonyms for 'prized' in this context would include esteemed, cherished, or valued, making option D the most suitable choice. Options A, B, and C do not accurately capture the meaning of 'prized' in this sentence.

3. It's really time for me to leave, and yet there are still so many things I'd like to do; next year I think I'll spend an extra week. Which of the following punctuation marks is used incorrectly in the sentence above?

A. The comma after the word 'think'
B. The semicolon after the word 'do'
C. The period at the end of the sentence
D. The comma after 'and yet'

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The comma after 'think' is unnecessary and incorrect. It should be removed to correct the sentence. The semicolon after 'do' is correct as it separates two independent clauses. The period at the end of the sentence is necessary to indicate the end of the sentence. The comma after 'and yet' is correctly used to separate two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction.

4. In which of the following situations is a citation needed?

A. A professor teaches a concept from a book she wrote.
B. A speaker recites an original poem.
C. A student quotes song lyrics to support his point.
D. A writer states a well-known and accepted fact.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C. A citation is necessary when using someone else's work, such as song lyrics, to support an argument in academic writing. In options A, B, and D, there is no need for a citation. Option A involves the professor teaching her own work, so no external citation is required. Option B refers to an original work by the speaker, which does not require citation. Option D mentions a well-known and accepted fact, which generally does not need a citation in academic writing.

5. The connection caused an insatiable curiosity within Helen. What does the word 'engendered' mean as used in this sentence?

A. Caused to exist
B. Made sense of
C. Connected
D. Satisfied

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The word 'engendered' in this context means to cause something to come into existence or to bring about. In the sentence, it indicates that the connection sparked an insatiable curiosity within Helen, suggesting that it created or triggered this strong curiosity in her. Choice B, 'Made sense of,' is incorrect as 'engendered' does not imply making sense of something. Choice C, 'Connected,' is incorrect as 'engendered' goes beyond just establishing a connection, it means to cause or produce. Choice D, 'Satisfied,' is incorrect as 'engendered' does not mean satisfied, but rather initiating or creating something.