which of these examples shows incorrect use of subject verb agreement

ATI TEAS 7

English and Language Usage TEAS

1. Which of these examples shows incorrect use of subject-verb agreement?

A. Neither of the cars is parked on the street.
B. Both of my kids are going to camp this summer.
C. Any of your friends are welcome to join us on the trip in November.
D. Each of the clothing options is appropriate for the job interview.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The sentence 'Neither of the cars is parked on the street' is incorrect in terms of subject-verb agreement. The subject 'Neither' is singular, so the verb should also be singular, which should be 'is' instead of 'are.' The correct sentence should be 'Neither of the cars is parked on the street.' Choices B, C, and D demonstrate correct subject-verb agreement. In choice B, 'Both' is plural and agrees with the plural verb 'are.' In choice C, 'Any' is singular and agrees with the singular verb 'are.' In choice D, 'Each' is singular and agrees with the singular verb 'is.'

2. Which of the following provides the best definition for the prefix trans- as used in the sentence?

A. Across
B. Beautiful
C. Change
D. Different

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The prefix trans- means 'across,' as in words like translucent, which allows light to pass through. 'Beautiful' (Choice B), 'Change' (Choice C), and 'Different' (Choice D) do not accurately capture the meaning of the prefix trans- in this context. Therefore, 'Across' is the correct definition.

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. Tanya told her sister to tell her boyfriend Joe to call her as soon as he got home. Which of the following is a correct revision of the ambiguous sentence above?

A. Tanya told her sister, 'Tell Joe to call me as soon as he gets home.'
B. Her sister told her boyfriend Joe to call Tanya as soon as he got home.
C. Tanya instructed her sister, 'Joe should call me when he gets home.'
D. Tanya instructed her sister, 'Tell your boyfriend Joe to call me right after he gets home.'

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Option D provides a clear and concise revision of the ambiguous sentence with a straightforward instruction. Tanya asks her sister to relay a message to Joe, instructing him to call her immediately upon arriving home. The direct speech used in Option D clarifies the relationships and actions involved in the communication. Choices A, B, and C introduce confusion by altering the relationships and instructions given in the original sentence, making them incorrect.

5. Identify the conjunction in the following sentence:

A. went
B. to
C. but
D. they

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is 'C: but.' Conjunctions are words that connect words, phrases, or clauses. In the sentence 'He went to the store, but they were already closed,' 'but' is a conjunction that joins two contrasting ideas - him going to the store and finding it closed. Choice 'A: went' is a verb, not a conjunction. Choice 'B: to' is a preposition, not a conjunction. Choice 'D: they' is a pronoun, not a conjunction.