CHSPE Writing Skills 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence contains a dangling modifier?
- Exhausted from the hike, the campers rested by the lake.
- After finishing the report, it was submitted by the student. (Correct answer)
- Having studied all night, Marcus felt confident about the test.
- Broken by the fall, the vase lay in pieces on the floor.
Correct answer: After finishing the report, it was submitted by the student.
The modifier 'After finishing the report' has no logical subject in the main clause; the student finished the report, not 'it.'
Question 2: Which revision eliminates the redundancy in this sentence? 'The witness gave a true and accurate account of the events.'
- The witness gave a true, accurate, and honest account of the events.
- The witness gave an account of the events that was accurate.
- The witness gave an accurate account of the events. (Correct answer)
- The witness accurately gave a true account of what happened during the events.
Correct answer: The witness gave an accurate account of the events.
'True' and 'accurate' are redundant because they mean essentially the same thing; using just 'accurate' is more concise.
Question 3: Which sentence is written in passive voice?
- The chef prepared an elaborate meal.
- An elaborate meal was prepared by the chef. (Correct answer)
- The chef has been preparing an elaborate meal.
- The chef prepares elaborate meals every night.
Correct answer: An elaborate meal was prepared by the chef.
Passive voice occurs when the subject receives the action rather than performs it; 'an elaborate meal' receives the action of being prepared.
Question 4: Which sentence correctly uses a comma with a dependent clause?
- Although she was tired, she finished her homework. (Correct answer)
- She finished her homework, although she was tired.
- Although, she was tired she finished her homework.
- She finished her homework although, she was tired.
Correct answer: Although she was tired, she finished her homework.
When a dependent clause comes before the main clause, a comma separates them; when it follows the main clause, no comma is typically needed.
Question 5: Which sentence uses parallel structure correctly?
- She likes hiking, to swim, and riding her bike.
- She likes to hike, swimming, and bike rides.
- She likes hiking, swimming, and riding her bike. (Correct answer)
- She likes to hike, to swim, and biking.
Correct answer: She likes hiking, swimming, and riding her bike.
Parallel structure requires matching grammatical forms; all three activities are in gerund (-ing) form in option C.
Question 6: What does a topic sentence do in a body paragraph?
- It provides evidence or data to support the thesis
- It restates the thesis using different wording
- It introduces the main idea of that specific paragraph (Correct answer)
- It transitions the reader to the conclusion
Correct answer: It introduces the main idea of that specific paragraph
A topic sentence states the controlling idea of a single paragraph and connects that paragraph's content to the essay's overall thesis.
Question 7: Which is an example of a run-on sentence?
- It was raining; therefore, we stayed inside.
- It was raining, so we stayed inside.
- It was raining we stayed inside. (Correct answer)
- Because it was raining, we stayed inside.
Correct answer: It was raining we stayed inside.
A run-on sentence joins two independent clauses ('It was raining' and 'we stayed inside') without any punctuation or coordinating conjunction.
CHSPE Writing Skills 4
Which sentence contains a dangling modifier?