Core Academic Skills Assessment Writing: Language and Conventions 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence is written in the active voice? A) The memo was written by the director. B) The award was given to the employee by the manager. C) The committee approved the new policy. D) The game was won by our team.
- The memo was written by the director.
- The award was given to the employee by the manager.
- The committee approved the new policy. (Correct answer)
- The game was won by our team.
Correct answer: The committee approved the new policy.
In 'The committee approved the new policy,' the subject (committee) performs the action, making it active voice.
Question 2: Choose the word that correctly fills the blank: 'The governor's _____ on tax reform surprised many voters.' A) stance B) stanza C) stanch D) stanchion
- stance (Correct answer)
- stanza
- stanch
- stanchion
Correct answer: stance
'Stance' means a person's position or attitude on an issue, which fits the context of tax reform.
Question 3: Which sentence uses capitalization correctly? A) My Uncle works as a professor at a State University. B) Last Summer, we traveled to the Pacific Northwest. C) She studied French and biology at Georgetown University. D) The President of the club will meet with the Mayor.
- My Uncle works as a professor at a State University.
- Last Summer, we traveled to the Pacific Northwest.
- She studied French and biology at Georgetown University. (Correct answer)
- The President of the club will meet with the Mayor.
Correct answer: She studied French and biology at Georgetown University.
'French' is capitalized as a proper adjective, 'biology' is not a proper noun, and 'Georgetown University' is a proper noun — all correctly handled.
Question 4: Identify the sentence containing a fused (run-on) sentence: A) I love coffee, but I try to drink it in moderation. B) She was exhausted she went straight to bed. C) Although he was tired, he finished the assignment. D) The flight was delayed; passengers waited in the terminal.
- I love coffee, but I try to drink it in moderation.
- She was exhausted she went straight to bed. (Correct answer)
- Although he was tired, he finished the assignment.
- The flight was delayed; passengers waited in the terminal.
Correct answer: She was exhausted she went straight to bed.
'She was exhausted she went straight to bed' fuses two independent clauses without any punctuation or conjunction.
Question 5: Which sentence avoids unnecessary shifts in verb tense? A) She walked into the room and sits down quietly. B) He finished his homework and then watches TV. C) The students completed the test and turned in their papers. D) I was cooking dinner when the phone rings.
- She walked into the room and sits down quietly.
- He finished his homework and then watches TV.
- The students completed the test and turned in their papers. (Correct answer)
- I was cooking dinner when the phone rings.
Correct answer: The students completed the test and turned in their papers.
'Completed' and 'turned' maintain consistent past tense throughout the sentence.
Question 6: Which option correctly punctuates the introductory element? 'After finishing the long difficult exam students celebrated outside.' A) After finishing the long, difficult exam students celebrated outside. B) After finishing the long difficult exam, students celebrated outside. C) After finishing the long, difficult exam, students celebrated outside. D) After finishing the long difficult, exam students celebrated outside.
- After finishing the long, difficult exam students celebrated outside.
- After finishing the long difficult exam, students celebrated outside.
- After finishing the long, difficult exam, students celebrated outside. (Correct answer)
- After finishing the long difficult, exam students celebrated outside.
Correct answer: After finishing the long, difficult exam, students celebrated outside.
A comma after the introductory phrase and a comma between coordinate adjectives 'long' and 'difficult' are both required.
Question 7: Which sentence uses 'effect' and 'affect' correctly? A) The medication will effect her mood significantly. B) The new law will affect small businesses the most. C) What effect did the noise have on the affect of the crowd? D) He was unable to affect the desired outcome through his efforts.
- The medication will effect her mood significantly.
- The new law will affect small businesses the most. (Correct answer)
- What effect did the noise have on the affect of the crowd?
- He was unable to affect the desired outcome through his efforts.
Correct answer: The new law will affect small businesses the most.
'Affect' is typically a verb meaning to influence, used correctly in 'will affect small businesses.'
Core Academic Skills Assessment Writing: Language and Conventions 4
Which sentence is written in the active voice?
A) The memo was written by the director.
B) The award was given to the employee by the manager.
C) The committee approved the new policy.
D) The game was won by our team.