APCAT English Grammar and Structure 4

Question 1

Which sentence uses a colon correctly?

Accepted Answer

She packed the following items: a flashlight, handcuffs, and a radio.

Answer

A colon correctly follows a complete independent clause when introducing a list, as in option B.

Question 2

Choose the sentence that avoids wordiness.

Accepted Answer

Because it was raining, the pursuit was called off.

Answer

'Because' replaces the wordy phrase 'due to the fact that,' making the sentence concise and clear.

Question 3

Which sentence contains a comma splice?

Accepted Answer

The suspect denied the charges, the lawyer advised him to remain silent.

Answer

Option C joins two independent clauses with only a comma, creating a comma splice — a punctuation error.

Question 4

What is the correct past tense of the verb 'to lie' (meaning to recline)?

Accepted Answer

lay

Answer

The past tense of 'to lie' (recline) is 'lay'; 'lied' is the past tense of 'to lie' (to be untruthful).

Question 5

Select the sentence with correct pronoun-antecedent agreement.

Accepted Answer

The team completed its training on schedule.

Answer

'Team' is a collective noun treated as singular in this context, so 'its' is the correct singular pronoun.

APCAT - Alberta Police Cognitive Ability Test Practice Test