Nursing Elites

1. Which sentence uses comma splices incorrectly?

• A. The baker kneaded the dough, flour dusted her apron, and the oven warmed up.
• B. The mountains, shrouded in mist, seemed to disappear into the clouds.
• C. He arrived late, having forgotten his keys, and the meeting had already started.
• D. The movie, despite its flaws, was surprisingly enjoyable.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Option (C) incorrectly combines two independent clauses with only a comma, resulting in a comma splice. A comma should not be used to connect independent clauses; instead, a semicolon, conjunction, or period is needed to properly separate the ideas in the sentence. Choices (A), (B), and (D) do not contain comma splices and present their ideas in a grammatically correct manner.

2. Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly?

• A. A carpenter must use certain tools - hammers, saws, chisels - to finish a job.
• B. A carpenter must use certain tools: hammers, saws, chisels to finish a job.
• C. A carpenter must use certain tools hammers, saws, chisels to finish a job.
• D. A carpenter must use certain tools; hammers, saws, chisels to finish a job.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Choice A is the correct answer as the sentence is correctly punctuated using em dashes to set off the list. The em dashes help to clearly separate the list of tools from the rest of the sentence. In Choice B, a colon is used, which is incorrect as colons are typically used to introduce a list, not within the list itself. Choice C lacks any punctuation to separate the list, making it unclear and incorrect. Choice D uses semicolons, which are not appropriate for separating items in a list, making it incorrect as well.

3. She was really looking forward to the picnic, _________ she feared it might rain that afternoon. Which of the following transition words or phrases is more appropriate to complete the sentence above?

• A. after all
• B. likewise
• C. in other words
• D. although

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is 'D' - 'although.' This transition word is suitable in the context as it indicates a contrast between the excitement of looking forward to the picnic and the worry about rain. 'After all' (choice A) implies a conclusion or reasoning, which doesn't fit the contrast in the sentence. 'Likewise' (choice B) suggests similarity or agreement, which is opposite to the intended contrast. 'In other words' (choice C) signals clarification or providing more details, which is not needed here. Therefore, 'although' is the best choice to convey the contrast between anticipation and concern.

4. Which of the following sentences correctly uses subject-verb agreement?

• A. The lead scientist writes the reports; however, all scientists in the group do the research.
• B. The lead scientist is the one who writes the reports; however, she is the only one of the scientists who does the research.
• C. The lead scientist writes the reports; however, she is the only one of the scientists who does the research.
• D. The lead scientist is the one who writes the reports; however, every scientist in the group does the research.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B because it maintains subject-verb agreement. In this sentence, 'she is' agrees with 'the lead scientist,' and 'does' agrees with 'she.' Choices A, C, and D have subject-verb agreement errors. In choice A, 'write' should be 'writes' to match the singular subject 'The lead scientist,' and 'does' should be 'do' to match the plural 'scientists in the group.' Choice C also has the same subject-verb agreement error as A. In choice D, 'do the research' should be 'does the research' to match the singular 'every scientist in the group.'

5. What is the initial step a writer takes when generating new ideas for a writing task?

• A. Brainstorm
• B. Final edit
• C. Draft
• D. Revision

Correct answer: A

Rationale: When a writer begins a new writing task, the first step is typically brainstorming. Brainstorming involves generating new ideas, concepts, and approaches before moving on to drafting. Option B, 'Final edit,' is incorrect as it refers to the last stage of the writing process, where the writer reviews and makes final adjustments to the completed draft. Option C, 'Draft,' is incorrect as it comes after brainstorming and involves putting the ideas into a structured form. Option D, 'Revision,' is also incorrect as it involves making changes and improvements to the draft after the initial writing phase.

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