CELSA - Combined English Language Skills Assessment Sentence Structure and Syntax Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following sentences demonstrates an error in parallel structure?
- The committee is responsible for drafting the proposal, reviewing the budget, and submitting the final report.
- To succeed in this role, you must be a strong communicator, a creative problem-solver, and work well under pressure. (Correct answer)
- She spent the afternoon writing emails, returning phone calls, and organizing her files.
- The company's mission is to innovate relentlessly, to serve customers passionately, and to operate ethically.
Correct answer: To succeed in this role, you must be a strong communicator, a creative problem-solver, and work well under pressure.
This sentence violates the rule of parallelism. The list begins with two noun phrases ('a strong communicator', 'a creative problem-solver') but ends with a verb phrase ('work well under pressure'). To be parallel, the final item should also be a noun phrase, such as 'a team player who works well under pressure'.
Question 2: Identify the structure of the following sentence: 'Although the new software has many advanced features, our team prefers the old system because it is more reliable.'
- Simple Sentence
- Compound Sentence
- Complex Sentence (Correct answer)
- Compound-Complex Sentence
Correct answer: Complex Sentence
This is a complex sentence. It contains one independent clause ('our team prefers the old system') and two dependent (subordinate) clauses ('Although the new software has many advanced features' and 'because it is more reliable'). A complex sentence consists of one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.
Question 3: Which of the following sentences contains a dangling modifier?
- The project manager, who was running late, sent a text message to the team.
- Having completed the training, the new system was much easier for me to use. (Correct answer)
- The report on the quarterly earnings was left on the conference table.
- To meet the deadline, we will need to work extra hours this weekend.
Correct answer: Having completed the training, the new system was much easier for me to use.
This sentence contains a dangling modifier. The introductory phrase 'Having completed the training' has no logical subject to modify in the main clause. It seems to imply that 'the new system' completed the training. A corrected version would be: 'Having completed the training, I found the new system much easier to use.'
Question 4: A junior analyst has written two short sentences: 'The data was collected. The team then analyzed it.' Which option correctly combines these into a single, grammatically sound sentence without creating a run-on?
- After the data was collected, the team analyzed it. (Correct answer)
- The data was collected, the team then analyzed it.
- The data was collected the team then analyzed it.
- The data was collected, and then analyzed by the team.
Correct answer: After the data was collected, the team analyzed it.
This option correctly turns the first sentence into a dependent clause ('After the data was collected') and joins it to the independent clause with a comma, creating a complex sentence. Option B is a comma splice, and Option C is a fused (run-on) sentence. Option D is awkward and slightly changes the active voice.
Question 5: Which of the following is a sentence fragment?
- The presentation is scheduled for 10:00 AM.
- Because the server was down all morning, delaying our work. (Correct answer)
- Please submit your report by the end of the day.
- Has the client approved the final designs?
Correct answer: Because the server was down all morning, delaying our work.
This is a sentence fragment because it begins with a subordinating conjunction ('Because') which creates a dependent clause, but it is not attached to an independent clause to complete the thought. It explains a cause but does not state the effect.
Question 6: In the following sentence, what type of sentence structure is used? 'The marketing team developed a new campaign, and while it was initially expensive, it ultimately generated a significant return on investment.'
- Simple
- Complex
- Compound
- Compound-Complex (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Compound-Complex
This is a compound-complex sentence because it contains two independent clauses ('The marketing team developed a new campaign' and 'it ultimately generated a significant return on investment') and one dependent clause ('while it was initially expensive').
