CALP Academic Grammar and Syntax 3

Question 1

Which sentence correctly avoids a dangling modifier?

Accepted Answer

After analyzing the data, the researchers found surprising results.

Answer

A dangling modifier lacks a clear noun to modify; 'the researchers' correctly follows the participial phrase to show who performed the analysis.

Question 2

Which sentence correctly uses a past perfect tense in an academic context?

Accepted Answer

The researchers had published their findings before the conference ended.

Answer

The past perfect ('had published') correctly signals that one past action (publishing) was completed before another past event (the conference ending).

Question 3

Which correctly identifies the error in this sentence: 'Neither the control group nor the experimental groups was affected.'?

Accepted Answer

The verb 'was' should be 'were' to agree with the nearer subject 'experimental groups.'

Answer

With 'neither...nor' constructions, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it ('experimental groups,' which is plural), requiring 'were'.

Question 4

Which sentence demonstrates correct academic use of a complex sentence with an adverbial clause of purpose?

Accepted Answer

The sample size was increased so that the results would be more reliable.

Answer

'So that' is the correct conjunction to introduce an adverbial clause of purpose, typically followed by a modal verb ('would') in formal academic writing.

Question 5

In the sentence 'It is essential that students understand academic syntax,' what grammatical structure is 'that students understand academic syntax'?

Accepted Answer

A noun clause serving as the true subject

Answer

When a sentence begins with an expletive 'it,' the noun clause ('that students understand academic syntax') is the true subject displaced to the end of the sentence.

CALP - Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency Practice Test

CALP - Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency Practice Test

CALP Academic Grammar and Syntax 3