CLEP English Composition 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence correctly uses a semicolon?
- The rain stopped; the sun came out. (Correct answer)
- The rain stopped; and the sun came out.
- The rain stopped, the sun came out.
- The rain stopped; because the sun came out.
Correct answer: The rain stopped; the sun came out.
A semicolon joins two independent clauses without a conjunction.
Question 2: Identify the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement.
- Neither the teacher nor the students were ready. (Correct answer)
- Neither the teacher nor the students was ready.
- Neither the teacher nor the students is ready.
- Neither the teacher nor the students has been ready.
Correct answer: Neither the teacher nor the students were ready.
With 'neither/nor,' the verb agrees with the nearer subject, here the plural 'students.'
Question 3: Which word is an example of a dangling modifier error when misplaced?
- Walking to school, the rain soaked me. (Correct answer)
- Walking to school, I got soaked by rain.
- I walked to school in the rain.
- The rain soaked me while I walked.
Correct answer: Walking to school, the rain soaked me.
The modifier 'walking to school' wrongly attaches to 'the rain,' which cannot walk.
Question 4: What is the best revision for clarity: 'The reason is because he was late.'?
- The reason is that he was late. (Correct answer)
- The reason is because of being late.
- The reason being he was late.
- The reason is due to because he was late.
Correct answer: The reason is that he was late.
'The reason is because' is redundant; 'the reason is that' is correct.
Question 5: Which sentence uses the apostrophe correctly?
- The dogs' bowls were empty. (Correct answer)
- The dog's bowls were empty for both pets.
- The dogs bowl's were empty.
- The dogs bowls' were empty.
Correct answer: The dogs' bowls were empty.
For plural possessive of 'dogs,' the apostrophe follows the s.
Question 6: Choose the sentence in active voice.
- The committee approved the proposal. (Correct answer)
- The proposal was approved by the committee.
- The proposal had been approved.
- Approval was given to the proposal.
Correct answer: The committee approved the proposal.
Active voice has the subject performing the action.
Question 7: Which transition word signals contrast?
- However (Correct answer)
- Therefore
- Furthermore
- Consequently
Correct answer: However
'However' introduces a contrasting idea.
CLEP English Composition 2
Which sentence correctly uses a semicolon?