Core Academic Skills Assessment Writing 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence correctly uses a colon? A) The ingredients you need are: flour, eggs, and butter. B) She had one goal: to finish the marathon. C) He brought: his laptop, charger, and notebook. D) The team decided: to postpone the meeting.
- The ingredients you need are: flour, eggs, and butter.
- She had one goal: to finish the marathon. (Correct answer)
- He brought: his laptop, charger, and notebook.
- The team decided: to postpone the meeting.
Correct answer: She had one goal: to finish the marathon.
In option B, the colon follows a complete independent clause and introduces a direct explanation or elaboration.
Question 2: A writer wants to shift from a general observation to a specific example. Which transition is most appropriate? A) In contrast B) As a result C) For instance D) On the other hand
- In contrast
- As a result
- For instance (Correct answer)
- On the other hand
Correct answer: For instance
'For instance' signals that a specific example is about to illustrate the general point just made.
Question 3: Which sentence demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement with an intervening phrase? A) The box of chocolates were left on the counter. B) The results of the experiment was surprising. C) The team of engineers is working on the prototype. D) A group of students are responsible for the project.
- The box of chocolates were left on the counter.
- The results of the experiment was surprising.
- The team of engineers is working on the prototype. (Correct answer)
- A group of students are responsible for the project.
Correct answer: The team of engineers is working on the prototype.
The subject is 'team' (singular), so the verb 'is' is correct; the phrase 'of engineers' does not change the subject.
Question 4: A writer includes this sentence: 'It goes without saying that exercise is important.' What is the best revision? A) Obviously, it is clear that exercise is important. B) Exercise is important. C) As everyone knows, exercise is important. D) It is a well-known fact that exercise is important.
- Obviously, it is clear that exercise is important.
- Exercise is important. (Correct answer)
- As everyone knows, exercise is important.
- It is a well-known fact that exercise is important.
Correct answer: Exercise is important.
Option B eliminates the filler phrase and states the point directly and concisely.
Question 5: Which option correctly identifies the error in the sentence? 'Neither the manager nor the employees was informed about the change.' A) 'nor' should be 'or' B) 'was' should be 'were' because the verb agrees with the nearer subject 'employees' C) 'informed' should be 'informing' D) There is no error in the sentence.
- 'nor' should be 'or'
- 'was' should be 'were' because the verb agrees with the nearer subject 'employees' (Correct answer)
- 'informed' should be 'informing'
- There is no error in the sentence.
Correct answer: 'was' should be 'were' because the verb agrees with the nearer subject 'employees'
With 'neither…nor,' the verb agrees with the subject closest to it ('employees'), which is plural, so 'were' is correct.
Question 6: Which type of appeal is used in this sentence from a persuasive essay? 'Dr. Elena Torres, a leading cardiologist with 20 years of research, confirms that daily exercise reduces heart disease risk by 35%.' A) Pathos (emotional appeal) B) Ethos (credibility/authority appeal) C) Logos (logical/statistical appeal only) D) Both ethos and logos
- Pathos (emotional appeal)
- Ethos (credibility/authority appeal)
- Logos (logical/statistical appeal only)
- Both ethos and logos (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Both ethos and logos
The sentence uses ethos by citing an expert authority and logos by providing a specific statistic.
Question 7: Which revision best improves the coherence of this paragraph ending? Original last sentence: 'So that is basically what the research says about sleep.' A) And that's pretty much it for sleep research. B) Research consistently demonstrates that adequate sleep is essential for cognitive function and overall health. C) Sleep is, according to research, something that is important. D) In conclusion, sleep research has been discussed above.
- And that's pretty much it for sleep research.
- Research consistently demonstrates that adequate sleep is essential for cognitive function and overall health. (Correct answer)
- Sleep is, according to research, something that is important.
- In conclusion, sleep research has been discussed above.
Correct answer: Research consistently demonstrates that adequate sleep is essential for cognitive function and overall health.
Option B uses formal language, summarizes the research's key finding precisely, and ends the paragraph with a strong declarative statement.
Core Academic Skills Assessment Writing 5
Which sentence correctly uses a colon?
A) The ingredients you need are: flour, eggs, and butter.
B) She had one goal: to finish the marathon.
C) He brought: his laptop, charger, and notebook.
D) The team decided: to postpone the meeting.