CELSA Knowledge 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which word is a synonym for 'ambiguous'?
- Clear
- Uncertain (Correct answer)
- Definite
- Obvious
Correct answer: Uncertain
'Ambiguous' means open to more than one interpretation, making 'uncertain' the closest synonym.
Question 2: Which sentence contains a misplaced modifier?
- She nearly drove her friends crazy with her singing.
- He almost failed every single test.
- I only eat vegetables on Tuesdays. (Correct answer)
- She drove her friends nearly crazy with her singing.
Correct answer: I only eat vegetables on Tuesdays.
'Only' should be placed directly before what it modifies; 'I eat only vegetables on Tuesdays' or 'I eat vegetables only on Tuesdays' would be clearer.
Question 3: What is the correct form of the verb in this sentence: 'Neither the students nor the teacher _____ prepared.'
- were
- are
- was (Correct answer)
- have been
Correct answer: was
With 'neither...nor,' the verb agrees with the subject closest to it ('the teacher'), which is singular, requiring 'was.'
Question 4: Which sentence uses 'affect' and 'effect' correctly?
- The rain effected our plans.
- The drug had many side affects.
- Stress can affect your health, and its effects can be long-lasting. (Correct answer)
- She tried to effect a change but it didn't affect.
Correct answer: Stress can affect your health, and its effects can be long-lasting.
'Affect' is typically a verb (to influence) and 'effect' is typically a noun (a result), both used correctly in this sentence.
Question 5: In academic writing, which of the following is an example of a topic sentence?
- For example, many students struggle with time management.
- In conclusion, education is very important.
- Regular exercise improves both mental and physical health. (Correct answer)
- Furthermore, the results support this finding.
Correct answer: Regular exercise improves both mental and physical health.
A topic sentence states the main idea of a paragraph directly; it is neither an example nor a transitional or concluding statement.
Question 6: Which sentence demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement with a collective noun?
- The team are playing their best game.
- The jury have reached their verdict.
- The committee has submitted its report. (Correct answer)
- The staff have different opinions among themselves.
Correct answer: The committee has submitted its report.
In American English, collective nouns like 'committee' generally take singular verbs and singular pronouns when acting as a unit.
Question 7: What rhetorical device is used in: 'The pen is mightier than the sword'?
- Alliteration
- Metonymy (Correct answer)
- Hyperbole
- Onomatopoeia
Correct answer: Metonymy
Metonymy substitutes a related concept for what is meant; 'pen' stands for writing/ideas and 'sword' stands for military force.
CELSA Knowledge 3
Which word is a synonym for 'ambiguous'?