Core Academic Skills Assessment Writing 2

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.

Accepted Answer

Running through the park, the leaves crunched underfoot.

Answer

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.

Accepted Answer

The experiment failed, but the team revised the hypothesis.

Answer

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

Accepted Answer

indicate

Answer

'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

Accepted Answer

nevertheless

Answer

'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.

Accepted Answer

She likes hiking, swimming, and running.

Answer

Option B uses consistent gerund (-ing) forms for all three items in the series.

Core Academic Skills Assessment Practice Test

Core Academic Skills Assessment Practice Test

Core Academic Skills Assessment Writing 2