CLT Grammar and Writing 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence uses the semicolon correctly? A) She studied Latin; because it strengthened her reading of classical texts. B) The speech was eloquent; however, it failed to persuade the council. C) He finished the essay; and submitted it before the deadline. D) I enjoy reading; novels, poetry, and essays.
- She studied Latin; because it strengthened her reading of classical texts.
- The speech was eloquent; however, it failed to persuade the council. (Correct answer)
- He finished the essay; and submitted it before the deadline.
- I enjoy reading; novels, poetry, and essays.
Correct answer: The speech was eloquent; however, it failed to persuade the council.
A semicolon followed by a conjunctive adverb like 'however' correctly joins two independent clauses.
Question 2: Which sentence exhibits faulty parallel structure? A) The orator was known for her clarity, her passion, and her precision. B) Aristotle valued logic, ethics, and to study rhetoric. C) She liked reading, writing, and debating. D) The essay was clear, concise, and persuasive.
- The orator was known for her clarity, her passion, and her precision.
- Aristotle valued logic, ethics, and to study rhetoric. (Correct answer)
- She liked reading, writing, and debating.
- The essay was clear, concise, and persuasive.
Correct answer: Aristotle valued logic, ethics, and to study rhetoric.
In option B, 'to study rhetoric' breaks the parallel noun series 'logic, ethics'; it should be 'rhetoric.'
Question 3: Which sentence has correct pronoun-antecedent agreement? A) Each of the students must bring their own pencil to the examination. B) Everyone should submit his or her essay by Friday. C) Neither of the candidates stated their position clearly. D) The jury reached their verdict after deliberating for two hours.
- Each of the students must bring their own pencil to the examination.
- Everyone should submit his or her essay by Friday. (Correct answer)
- Neither of the candidates stated their position clearly.
- The jury reached their verdict after deliberating for two hours.
Correct answer: Everyone should submit his or her essay by Friday.
Indefinite pronouns like 'everyone' are grammatically singular and take singular pronouns; 'his or her' is the formally correct agreement.
Question 4: Which sentence correctly hyphenates a compound modifier? A) She delivered a well-reasoned argument to the assembly. B) She delivered a well reasoned-argument to the assembly. C) She delivered a well reasoned argument to the assembly. D) She delivered a wellreasoned argument to the assembly.
- She delivered a well-reasoned argument to the assembly. (Correct answer)
- She delivered a well reasoned-argument to the assembly.
- She delivered a well reasoned argument to the assembly.
- She delivered a wellreasoned argument to the assembly.
Correct answer: She delivered a well-reasoned argument to the assembly.
Compound modifiers preceding a noun are hyphenated (well-reasoned argument), but not when they follow the noun they modify.
Question 5: Which option shows the correct use of an apostrophe for a plural possessive? A) The student's essays were all submitted on time. B) The students's essays were all submitted on time. C) The students' essays were all submitted on time. D) The students essays were all submitted on time.
- The student's essays were all submitted on time.
- The students's essays were all submitted on time.
- The students' essays were all submitted on time. (Correct answer)
- The students essays were all submitted on time.
Correct answer: The students' essays were all submitted on time.
For plural nouns ending in -s, the possessive is formed by adding only an apostrophe after the final s.
Question 6: Which sentence correctly uses a colon? A) The three virtues are: courage, temperance, and justice. B) She remembered: to bring her notebook, her pen, and her textbook. C) The syllabus included only one classical text: Homer's Iliad. D) He was excited: because the examination results were announced.
- The three virtues are: courage, temperance, and justice.
- She remembered: to bring her notebook, her pen, and her textbook.
- The syllabus included only one classical text: Homer's Iliad. (Correct answer)
- He was excited: because the examination results were announced.
Correct answer: The syllabus included only one classical text: Homer's Iliad.
A colon is correctly used after a complete independent clause to introduce what follows; option C is the only sentence where the clause before the colon is complete.
Question 7: Which sentence avoids a misplaced modifier? A) The student almost read every assigned text before the examination. B) The student read almost every assigned text before the examination. C) Almost the student read every assigned text before the examination. D) The student read every almost assigned text before the examination.
- The student almost read every assigned text before the examination.
- The student read almost every assigned text before the examination. (Correct answer)
- Almost the student read every assigned text before the examination.
- The student read every almost assigned text before the examination.
Correct answer: The student read almost every assigned text before the examination.
Option B correctly places 'almost' adjacent to 'every,' modifying the quantity of texts read rather than the act of reading.
CLT Grammar and Writing 3
Which sentence uses the semicolon correctly?
A) She studied Latin; because it strengthened her reading of classical texts.
B) The speech was eloquent; however, it failed to persuade the council.
C) He finished the essay; and submitted it before the deadline.
D) I enjoy reading; novels, poetry, and essays.