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. Which of the following words is spelled correctly?

A. Miniscool
B. Miniature
C. Maintenance
D. Millennium

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is 'Millennium.' 'Millennium' is spelled correctly, referring to a period of 1000 years. Choice A, 'Miniscool,' and Choice B, 'Miniature,' are misspelled. Choice C, 'Maintenance,' is a commonly misspelled word, but in this case, it is spelled correctly. However, the correct spelling requested in the question is 'Millennium.'

3. Be sure to prepare for an interview, including for an internship. Read any materials sent to you, and practice answering questions out loud so that you're less nervous during the actual interview. Be on time, dress appropriately for the type of job you're interviewing for, and thank the interviewers for interviewing you even if the interview doesn't go as well as you hope. Which of the following styles of writing is illustrated in the passage?

A. Formal
B. Informal
C. Colloquial
D. Slang

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is 'B - Informal.' The passage provides practical advice in a casual and conversational tone, making it suitable for informal writing. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect. 'Formal' writing would be more structured and sophisticated, often used in professional or academic settings. 'Colloquial' writing involves informal, everyday language specific to a particular region or group, which is not the case here. 'Slang' is informal language that is more casual and may not be appropriate for professional advice like in the given passage.

4. Why is it not recommended to edit while writing your first draft?

A. It is considered prewriting.
B. It wastes effort.
C. It clouds judgment.
D. It changes the organization.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: 'It wastes effort.' Editing while writing the first draft can be counterproductive as it interrupts the flow of ideas and slows down the writing process. Instead of focusing on perfecting each sentence or paragraph, it is more beneficial to get all ideas down first during the initial drafting phase. Choice A is incorrect as editing is not part of the prewriting stage. Choice C is incorrect because editing may affect the quality of judgment but is not the primary reason to avoid it during the first draft. Choice D is incorrect because changes in organization can be made during the revision stage, not necessarily while writing the initial draft.

5. Her new tennis racket cost her a hundred dollars, but it was worth the steep price tag. Which of the following words from the sentence is slang?

A. cost
B. dollars
C. steep
D. tag

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: 'dollars.' 'Bucks' is a slang term for dollars. The use of 'bucks' in this sentence is informal and colloquial compared to the other word choices, making it the slang word in the sentence. 'Cost,' 'steep,' and 'tag' are all standard English words that are not considered slang in this context.