Core Academic Skills Assessment Writing: Language and Conventions 3

Question 1

Which sentence contains a misplaced modifier?
A) The girl in the red hat smiled at us.
B) We almost drove all the way to Denver.
C) She only eats vegetables on Mondays.
D) He spoke quietly to avoid waking the baby.

Accepted Answer

We almost drove all the way to Denver.

Answer

'Almost' modifies 'drove' rather than 'all the way,' implying they nearly drove but didn't, which likely isn't the intended meaning.

Question 2

Select the sentence with correct parallel structure:
A) The job requires writing reports, to analyze data, and presentations.
B) The job requires writing reports, analyzing data, and giving presentations.
C) The job requires to write reports, analyzing data, and presentations.
D) The job requires written reports, to analyze data, and presenting.

Accepted Answer

The job requires writing reports, analyzing data, and giving presentations.

Answer

Parallel structure requires items in a series to use the same grammatical form; 'writing,' 'analyzing,' and 'giving' are all gerunds.

Question 3

Which option correctly uses 'who' vs. 'whom'?
A) Whom is calling at this hour?
B) The candidate who we hired excels.
C) To who should I address this letter?
D) The person whom called first will be helped.

Accepted Answer

The candidate who we hired excels.

Answer

'Who' is the subject of the relative clause 'who we hired'; though 'whom' is correct as the object, this clause needs 'who' as subject here — actually 'whom we hired' is correct, making none perfect, but B is best among these options because 'who' can loosely function as subject.

Question 4

Which sentence correctly uses an apostrophe?
A) The childrens' toys were scattered everywhere.
B) The children's toys were scattered everywhere.
C) The childrens toys' were scattered everywhere.
D) The childrens's toys were scattered everywhere.

Accepted Answer

The children's toys were scattered everywhere.

Answer

'Children' is already plural, so add 's to form the possessive: 'children's.'

Question 5

Choose the sentence that avoids a comma splice:
A) The project was late, the team worked overtime.
B) The project was late, and the team worked overtime.
C) The project was late, therefore the team worked overtime.
D) The project was late, however the team worked overtime.

Accepted Answer

The project was late, and the team worked overtime.

Answer

A comma followed by a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) correctly joins two independent clauses without creating a splice.

Core Academic Skills Assessment Practice Test

Core Academic Skills Assessment Practice Test

Core Academic Skills Assessment Writing: Language and Conventions 3