Core Academic Skills Assessment Writing: Language and Conventions 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence correctly uses a restrictive clause without unnecessary commas? A) The book, that I borrowed, was overdue. B) The book that I borrowed was overdue. C) The book, that I borrowed was overdue. D) The book that, I borrowed, was overdue.
- The book, that I borrowed, was overdue.
- The book that I borrowed was overdue. (Correct answer)
- The book, that I borrowed was overdue.
- The book that, I borrowed, was overdue.
Correct answer: The book that I borrowed was overdue.
Restrictive clauses beginning with 'that' are essential to the meaning and should not be set off by commas.
Question 2: Select the sentence that correctly uses a hyphen: A) She is a well known author in science fiction. B) She is a well-known author in science fiction. C) She is a well known-author in science fiction. D) She is a well-known-author in science fiction.
- She is a well known author in science fiction.
- She is a well-known author in science fiction. (Correct answer)
- She is a well known-author in science fiction.
- She is a well-known-author in science fiction.
Correct answer: She is a well-known author in science fiction.
Compound modifiers before a noun, like 'well-known,' are hyphenated to show they modify the noun together.
Question 3: Which sentence maintains consistent pronoun-antecedent agreement? A) Each student must submit their own work by Friday. B) Every employee must bring their ID badge to the meeting. C) A doctor should always listen to their patients carefully. D) Neither candidate was willing to change their position on the issue.
- Each student must submit their own work by Friday.
- Every employee must bring their ID badge to the meeting. (Correct answer)
- A doctor should always listen to their patients carefully.
- Neither candidate was willing to change their position on the issue.
Correct answer: Every employee must bring their ID badge to the meeting.
Though traditionally singular, 'every employee… their' is now widely accepted as inclusive singular usage; among the options, B maintains the clearest agreement.
Question 4: Which revision corrects the fragment: 'Although the research was thorough and well-documented.' A) Although the research was thorough and well-documented! B) Although the research was thorough, and well-documented. C) Although the research was thorough and well-documented, the committee rejected it. D) The research although thorough and well-documented.
- Although the research was thorough and well-documented!
- Although the research was thorough, and well-documented.
- Although the research was thorough and well-documented, the committee rejected it. (Correct answer)
- The research although thorough and well-documented.
Correct answer: Although the research was thorough and well-documented, the committee rejected it.
Adding an independent clause ('the committee rejected it') completes the thought introduced by the subordinating conjunction 'although.'
Question 5: Which sentence uses transition words effectively to show contrast? A) She studied hard; furthermore, she failed the exam. B) He is talented; in addition, he rarely practices. C) The plan was innovative; nevertheless, it lacked funding. D) They finished early; similarly, the project was over budget.
- She studied hard; furthermore, she failed the exam.
- He is talented; in addition, he rarely practices.
- The plan was innovative; nevertheless, it lacked funding. (Correct answer)
- They finished early; similarly, the project was over budget.
Correct answer: The plan was innovative; nevertheless, it lacked funding.
'Nevertheless' correctly signals contrast between the plan being innovative and lacking funding.
Question 6: Identify the sentence with an error in adjective or adverb usage: A) She sang beautifully at the recital. B) He drives more carefully than his brother. C) The athlete felt badly about missing the game. D) The coffee tasted bitter after sitting for hours.
- She sang beautifully at the recital.
- He drives more carefully than his brother.
- The athlete felt badly about missing the game. (Correct answer)
- The coffee tasted bitter after sitting for hours.
Correct answer: The athlete felt badly about missing the game.
'Felt' is a linking verb here, so the adjective 'bad' (not the adverb 'badly') should be used.
Question 7: Which sentence correctly uses quotation marks and end punctuation? A) She asked, "Is the meeting still scheduled for tomorrow"? B) She asked, "Is the meeting still scheduled for tomorrow?" C) She asked "Is the meeting still scheduled for tomorrow?" D) She asked, 'Is the meeting still scheduled for tomorrow?'
- She asked, "Is the meeting still scheduled for tomorrow"?
- She asked, "Is the meeting still scheduled for tomorrow?" (Correct answer)
- She asked "Is the meeting still scheduled for tomorrow?"
- She asked, 'Is the meeting still scheduled for tomorrow?'
Correct answer: She asked, "Is the meeting still scheduled for tomorrow?"
The question mark belongs inside the quotation marks when the quoted material is itself a question.
Core Academic Skills Assessment Writing: Language and Conventions 5
Which sentence correctly uses a restrictive clause without unnecessary commas?
A) The book, that I borrowed, was overdue.
B) The book that I borrowed was overdue.
C) The book, that I borrowed was overdue.
D) The book that, I borrowed, was overdue.