CHSPE Writing Skills 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence uses the correct form of the verb? 'Each of the boys ______ responsible for cleaning his room.'
- are
- were
- is (Correct answer)
- have been
Correct answer: is
'Each' is an indefinite pronoun that always takes a singular verb, so 'is' is the correct choice.
Question 2: Which sentence contains a comma splice?
- I was hungry, so I made a sandwich.
- I was hungry; I made a sandwich.
- I was hungry, I made a sandwich. (Correct answer)
- Because I was hungry, I made a sandwich.
Correct answer: I was hungry, I made a sandwich.
A comma splice incorrectly joins two independent clauses with only a comma; a coordinating conjunction, semicolon, or period is needed.
Question 3: Which sentence uses 'fewer' and 'less' correctly?
- There are less students in class today.
- I have fewer patience than I used to.
- She has fewer assignments and less stress this semester. (Correct answer)
- We need less chairs for the meeting.
Correct answer: She has fewer assignments and less stress this semester.
'Fewer' is used with countable nouns (assignments) and 'less' with uncountable or abstract nouns (stress).
Question 4: In which situation is formal writing style most appropriate?
- Texting a friend about weekend plans
- Writing a personal journal entry
- Submitting a persuasive essay for a class assignment (Correct answer)
- Posting a comment on a social media platform
Correct answer: Submitting a persuasive essay for a class assignment
Academic essays require formal writing: complete sentences, standard grammar, precise vocabulary, and an objective tone.
Question 5: Read this sentence: 'The reason I was late is because I missed the bus.' Which revision is MOST grammatically correct?
- The reason I was late is due to the bus being missed.
- I was late because I missed the bus. (Correct answer)
- The reason I was late is because of me missing the bus.
- The reason why I was late is because I missed the bus.
Correct answer: I was late because I missed the bus.
'The reason is because' is redundant; the cleaner and grammatically preferred form simply uses 'because' to state the cause.
Question 6: Which technique best helps a writer maintain a consistent point of view in an essay?
- Alternating between first person and third person to keep readers engaged
- Using 'you' in the introduction and 'I' in the conclusion
- Choosing one point of view (first, second, or third person) and using it throughout (Correct answer)
- Switching to second person when giving advice within the essay
Correct answer: Choosing one point of view (first, second, or third person) and using it throughout
Consistency in point of view prevents reader confusion; shifting pronouns disrupts the essay's tone and coherence.
Question 7: Which word or phrase is an example of a vague pronoun reference?
- Maria told her sister that she had won the award. (Correct answer)
- The committee submitted its report on time.
- After reviewing the data, the scientist published her findings.
- Carlos completed his project before the deadline.
Correct answer: Maria told her sister that she had won the award.
In this sentence, 'she' is ambiguous — it could refer to either Maria or her sister, making the reference unclear.
CHSPE Writing Skills 5
Which sentence uses the correct form of the verb? 'Each of the boys ______ responsible for cleaning his room.'