CLAST English Language Skills 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence contains a subject-verb agreement error?
- The team wins every game.
- Neither the manager nor the employees was informed. (Correct answer)
- The data supports the hypothesis.
- Mathematics is her favorite subject.
Correct answer: Neither the manager nor the employees was informed.
When 'neither/nor' connects a singular and a plural noun, the verb agrees with the closer noun — 'employees' (plural) requires 'were.'
Question 2: Which sentence correctly uses a comma?
- She, ate lunch before the meeting.
- Although she was tired, she finished the report. (Correct answer)
- She finished the report, although, she was tired.
- Although she was tired she, finished the report.
Correct answer: Although she was tired, she finished the report.
A comma is correctly placed after an introductory dependent clause ('Although she was tired') before the main clause.
Question 3: What error appears in this sentence: 'The professor, who teaches biology and chemistry graded all the exams.'
- Comma splice
- Missing comma after the nonrestrictive clause (Correct answer)
- Run-on sentence
- Incorrect pronoun
Correct answer: Missing comma after the nonrestrictive clause
The nonrestrictive clause 'who teaches biology and chemistry' must be set off with commas on both sides.
Question 4: Which sentence uses the apostrophe correctly?
- The childrens' playground was renovated.
- The children's playground was renovated. (Correct answer)
- The childrens playground was renovated.
- The childrens's playground was renovated.
Correct answer: The children's playground was renovated.
'Children' is an irregular plural, so the possessive is formed by adding 's to give 'children's.'
Question 5: Which of the following is a run-on sentence?
- She studied, and she passed.
- She studied she passed. (Correct answer)
- She studied; she passed.
- Although she studied, she passed.
Correct answer: She studied she passed.
Two independent clauses ('She studied' and 'she passed') joined without any punctuation or conjunction form a run-on sentence.
Question 6: Which transition word BEST fits: 'She prepared thoroughly for the CLAST; _____, she felt confident on test day.'
- however
- consequently (Correct answer)
- nevertheless
- conversely
Correct answer: consequently
'Consequently' shows a cause-and-effect relationship: thorough preparation led to confidence.
CLAST English Language Skills 2
Which sentence contains a subject-verb agreement error?