which sentence demonstrates correct use of the apostrophe

ATI TEAS 7

ATI TEAS English Practice Test

1. Which sentence demonstrates correct use of the apostrophe?

A. The dog wagged its tail.
B. It's a wonderful day.
C. The dog's tail wagged.
D. It's a big house.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Choice C, 'The dog's tail wagged,' is the correct use of the apostrophe to show possession. In this sentence, the apostrophe is used correctly to indicate that the tail belongs to the dog. Choice A is incorrect as 'it's' is a contraction of 'it is' or 'it has,' not possessive. Choice B is also incorrect as 'Its' should be 'It's' to mean 'It is' or 'It has.' Choice D is incorrect as 'Its'' is grammatically incorrect; the correct form would be 'It's' if it were a contraction or 'Its' if it indicated possession without an apostrophe.

2. The student feared she would fail, so she thought she should study harder. Which of the following is a correct revision of the ambiguous sentence above?

A. Unless the student feared that she would fail out of school, she wouldnâ€™t study harder.
B. The student said, 'she will fail out of the university unless she studies during her exams.'
C. The student was afraid that she should study harder before failing out during her exams.
D. 'If I donâ€™t study harder before the exams,' the student fretted, 'I will surely fail out of school.'

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Option D is the clearest revision as it expresses the student's concern directly through dialogue. The use of quotation marks provides clarity, and the student's worry about failing is stated clearly. The other options either lack clarity or contain grammatical issues. Option A introduces an unnecessary condition with 'unless' which changes the original meaning. Option B introduces a third-person perspective that is not present in the original sentence. Option C is awkwardly constructed and does not convey the student's concern effectively.

3. Identify the sentence component of the underlined portion in the sentence: New students should report to the student center.

A. Dependent clause
B. Adverbial phrase
C. Adjective clause
D. Noun phrase

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The underlined portion 'New students' is a noun phrase. In this sentence, 'New students' acts as the subject of the sentence, making it a noun phrase. A dependent clause is a group of words with a subject and a verb that cannot stand alone as a sentence. An adverbial phrase modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb in a sentence. An adjective clause is a group of words that describes a noun in the sentence. None of these definitions apply to the underlined portion in the sentence provided, making 'Noun phrase' the correct identification.

4. Which of the following best defines the word circumvent?

A. To go around
B. To go under
C. To come near
D. To come through

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: 'To go around.' Circumvent means to find a way around an obstacle or to avoid something by cleverness or deception. Choice B, 'To go under,' is incorrect as circumvent does not involve going under something. Choice C, 'To come near,' is incorrect as circumvent does not mean to approach or get close to something. Choice D, 'To come through,' is incorrect as circumvent does not involve passing through something.

5. Today, astrophysicists study the same stars that were observed by the astronomers of the ancient world, though todayâ€™s techniques and technology are much more advanced. Which of the following is misspelled in the sentence?

A. astrophysicists
B. astronomers
C. techniques
D. technology

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The misspelled word in the sentence is 'astronemers,' which should be spelled as 'astronomers.' 'Astrophysicists,' 'techniques,' and 'technology' are all correctly spelled words in the sentence. Ensuring proper spelling is essential for effective communication and clarity. The term 'astronomers' refers to individuals who study celestial bodies, including stars, making it the correct answer in this context.