CSR English Grammar, Punctuation & Vocabulary 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence demonstrates correct pronoun-antecedent agreement?
- Each of the jurors submitted their verdict separately.
- Neither the plaintiff nor the defendants submitted their brief on time.
- The committee issued its final report last Friday. (Correct answer)
- Everyone on the panel voiced their opinion loudly.
Correct answer: The committee issued its final report last Friday.
'Committee' is a collective noun treated as singular when acting as one unit, so 'its' is correct.
Question 2: In legal transcription, the term 'stet' written on a proof means:
- Delete this text
- Let it stand; do not make the indicated correction (Correct answer)
- Transpose these words
- Insert a paragraph break
Correct answer: Let it stand; do not make the indicated correction
'Stet' is a proofreading term from Latin meaning 'let it stand,' canceling a previously marked correction.
Question 3: Identify the sentence with correct parallel structure:
- The reporter must be accurate, to be fast, and have good hearing.
- The reporter must be accurate, fast, and have good hearing.
- The reporter must be accurate, fast, and attentive. (Correct answer)
- The reporter must accurately transcribe, be fast, and good hearing.
Correct answer: The reporter must be accurate, fast, and attentive.
All three adjectives ('accurate,' 'fast,' 'attentive') are grammatically parallel, matching form across the series.
Question 4: Which word is spelled correctly?
- Supercede
- Superceed
- Supersede (Correct answer)
- Supresede
Correct answer: Supersede
'Supersede' is derived from Latin 'supersedere' and is the only correct spelling; 'supercede' is a common misspelling.
Question 5: An em dash in a transcript is most appropriately used to indicate:
- A brief, natural pause within a sentence
- An abrupt interruption or break in speech (Correct answer)
- A range between two numbers
- A compound modifier before a noun
Correct answer: An abrupt interruption or break in speech
In legal transcription, an em dash marks an abrupt interruption—such as when a speaker is cut off mid-sentence.
Question 6: The word 'plaintiff' is derived from Old French and literally relates to someone who:
- Defends against a claim
- Complains or laments (Correct answer)
- Represents the court
- Issues a judgment
Correct answer: Complains or laments
'Plaintiff' traces to Old French 'plaintif,' meaning one who complains, reflecting the party bringing a grievance to court.
Question 7: In which sentence is the apostrophe used correctly?
- The attorney's briefcase's handle was broken.
- Its' clauses were ambiguous.
- The firms' partners disagreed on the settlement. (Correct answer)
- The 1990's saw a rise in civil litigation.
Correct answer: The firms' partners disagreed on the settlement.
'The firms' partners' correctly shows plural possessive: multiple firms sharing possession, apostrophe after the plural 's'.
CSR English Grammar, Punctuation & Vocabulary 3
Which sentence demonstrates correct pronoun-antecedent agreement?