Core Academic Skills Assessment Writing 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence contains a dangling modifier? A) Running through the park, the leaves crunched underfoot. B) After finishing the report, the manager reviewed it. C) The student who studied hardest passed the exam. D) Walking to school, Maria noticed the broken sidewalk.
- Running through the park, the leaves crunched underfoot. (Correct answer)
- After finishing the report, the manager reviewed it.
- The student who studied hardest passed the exam.
- Walking to school, Maria noticed the broken sidewalk.
Correct answer: Running through the park, the leaves crunched underfoot.
In option A, the modifier 'Running through the park' has no logical subject — leaves cannot run.
Question 2: Choose the revision that best corrects the comma splice: 'The experiment failed, the team revised the hypothesis.' A) The experiment failed, but the team revised the hypothesis. B) The experiment failed, and also the team revised the hypothesis. C) The experiment failed, so then the team revised the hypothesis. D) The experiment failed, however the team revised the hypothesis.
- The experiment failed, but the team revised the hypothesis. (Correct answer)
- The experiment failed, and also the team revised the hypothesis.
- The experiment failed, so then the team revised the hypothesis.
- The experiment failed, however the team revised the hypothesis.
Correct answer: The experiment failed, but the team revised the hypothesis.
Option A correctly joins two independent clauses with a coordinating conjunction after the comma.
Question 3: Which word best fills the blank to maintain formal academic tone? 'The results ______ that further research is necessary.' A) show B) prove C) indicate D) tell us
- show
- prove
- indicate (Correct answer)
- tell us
Correct answer: indicate
'Indicate' is the most appropriately hedged, precise term for academic writing when results are suggestive but not conclusive.
Question 4: Which transition word best signals a contrast between two ideas? 'The study was well-designed; ______, the sample size was too small.' A) furthermore B) consequently C) nevertheless D) similarly
- furthermore
- consequently
- nevertheless (Correct answer)
- similarly
Correct answer: nevertheless
'Nevertheless' signals a contrasting or concessive relationship, fitting the shift from praise to criticism.
Question 5: Identify the sentence with correct parallel structure. A) She likes hiking, to swim, and running. B) She likes hiking, swimming, and running. C) She likes to hike, swimming, and to run. D) She likes hike, swim, and run.
- She likes hiking, to swim, and running.
- She likes hiking, swimming, and running. (Correct answer)
- She likes to hike, swimming, and to run.
- She likes hike, swim, and run.
Correct answer: She likes hiking, swimming, and running.
Option B uses consistent gerund (-ing) forms for all three items in the series.
Question 6: Which revision makes the sentence more concise without losing meaning? Original: 'Due to the fact that it was raining, the game was cancelled.' A) Because of the rain, the game was cancelled. B) In light of the rainy weather conditions, the game was cancelled. C) Given the fact that rain occurred, the game was cancelled. D) Due to rainfall occurring, the game was cancelled.
- Because of the rain, the game was cancelled. (Correct answer)
- In light of the rainy weather conditions, the game was cancelled.
- Given the fact that rain occurred, the game was cancelled.
- Due to rainfall occurring, the game was cancelled.
Correct answer: Because of the rain, the game was cancelled.
'Because of the rain' replaces the wordy phrase 'due to the fact that it was raining' with fewer words and equal clarity.
Question 7: Which sentence uses the apostrophe correctly? A) The committee's decision was unanimous. B) The committees decision was unanimous. C) The committee's' decision was unanimous. D) The committees' decision were unanimous.
- The committee's decision was unanimous. (Correct answer)
- The committees decision was unanimous.
- The committee's' decision was unanimous.
- The committees' decision were unanimous.
Correct answer: The committee's decision was unanimous.
'Committee's' correctly shows singular possessive with an apostrophe before the s.
Core Academic Skills Assessment Writing 2
Which sentence contains a dangling modifier?
A) Running through the park, the leaves crunched underfoot.
B) After finishing the report, the manager reviewed it.
C) The student who studied hardest passed the exam.
D) Walking to school, Maria noticed the broken sidewalk.