ELAR Oral & Written Communication 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly?
- She loves reading; and she also enjoys writing.
- He was tired; however, he finished the project. (Correct answer)
- They went to the store; buying milk and eggs.
- I will call you; when I arrive.
Correct answer: He was tired; however, he finished the project.
A semicolon correctly joins two independent clauses, especially when a conjunctive adverb like 'however' follows it.
Question 2: In formal writing, which of the following should generally be avoided?
- Passive voice constructions
- Contractions such as 'don't' or 'it's' (Correct answer)
- Topic sentences in body paragraphs
- Transitional phrases between ideas
Correct answer: Contractions such as 'don't' or 'it's'
Contractions are considered informal and should be avoided in formal academic or professional writing.
Question 3: A student delivering a speech pauses frequently, speaks softly, and avoids looking up from the page. These behaviors most likely indicate:
- Strong command of the topic
- Lack of confidence or preparation (Correct answer)
- Deliberate use of dramatic pausing
- Expert use of vocal variety
Correct answer: Lack of confidence or preparation
Frequent pausing, low volume, and lack of eye contact are common signs that a speaker lacks confidence or has not sufficiently prepared.
Question 4: Which of the following best describes the purpose of a thesis statement in an essay?
- To summarize all evidence presented in the essay
- To present the central argument or main point of the essay (Correct answer)
- To introduce background information about the topic
- To list all the sources used in the essay
Correct answer: To present the central argument or main point of the essay
A thesis statement presents the writer's central claim or argument that the rest of the essay supports and develops.
Question 5: Which word correctly completes the sentence? 'The principal effect of the new policy _____ to reduce tardiness.'
- were
- have been
- was (Correct answer)
- are
Correct answer: was
'Effect' is a singular noun here, so the verb must be singular past tense 'was' to agree with 'The principal effect'.
Question 6: When a speaker uses anaphora in a speech, they are:
- Telling a personal story to connect with the audience
- Repeating a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses (Correct answer)
- Using statistical evidence to support a claim
- Asking a rhetorical question to provoke thought
Correct answer: Repeating a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses
Anaphora is a rhetorical device in which the same word or phrase is repeated at the start of successive clauses to create emphasis and rhythm.
Question 7: Which revision improves the clarity of this sentence? 'The report that the manager who was new wrote was confusing.'
- The new manager's report was confusing. (Correct answer)
- The confusing report was written by the new manager who wrote it.
- The manager who was new wrote a report and it was confusing.
- Being new, the manager wrote a confusing report that was written.
Correct answer: The new manager's report was confusing.
Eliminating unnecessary embedded clauses and using a possessive construction ('new manager's report') makes the sentence clearer and more direct.
ELAR Oral & Written Communication 3
Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly?