ELSA Writing & Grammar Proficiency 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence is written in the active voice?
- The report was submitted by the intern.
- Mistakes were made by the team.
- The intern submitted the report. (Correct answer)
- The report had been submitted.
Correct answer: The intern submitted the report.
Active voice has the subject performing the action: 'The intern (subject) submitted (verb) the report (object).'
Question 2: Which sentence correctly uses 'who' vs. 'whom'?
- Who did you invite to the meeting? (Correct answer)
- Whom is presenting today?
- To who should I address the letter?
- Who should I speak with about the issue?
Correct answer: Who did you invite to the meeting?
In 'Who did you invite,' 'who' serves as the object — though informal usage accepts it; formally 'whom' is technically correct, but 'whom did you invite' is the standard, and here 'who' is accepted in everyday US English — the formally incorrect options make this the best choice.
Question 3: A paragraph's topic sentence should:
- Summarize the entire essay.
- Introduce the main idea of that paragraph. (Correct answer)
- Provide evidence and examples.
- Conclude the writer's argument.
Correct answer: Introduce the main idea of that paragraph.
A topic sentence states the central idea of its paragraph, guiding everything that follows.
Question 4: Which transition word best signals contrast?
- Furthermore
- Therefore
- Nevertheless (Correct answer)
- Similarly
Correct answer: Nevertheless
'Nevertheless' signals that the following idea contrasts with or qualifies the previous one.
Question 5: Identify the sentence with correct parallel structure.
- She enjoys swimming, to run, and cycling.
- She enjoys swimming, running, and cycling. (Correct answer)
- She enjoys to swim, running, and to cycle.
- She enjoys swim, run, and cycling.
Correct answer: She enjoys swimming, running, and cycling.
Parallel structure requires matching grammatical forms — all three gerunds (-ing) create balance.
Question 6: Which punctuation correctly sets off a non-restrictive clause?
- My brother who lives in Boston is visiting.
- My brother, who lives in Boston, is visiting. (Correct answer)
- My brother — who lives in Boston is visiting.
- My brother; who lives in Boston, is visiting.
Correct answer: My brother, who lives in Boston, is visiting.
Commas set off non-restrictive (non-essential) clauses, adding extra information without changing the sentence's meaning.
Question 7: Which word is spelled correctly?
- Accomodate
- Recieve
- Occurance
- Necessary (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Necessary
'Necessary' is correctly spelled; common misspellings include 'neccessary' and 'neccesary.'
ELSA Writing & Grammar Proficiency 3
Which sentence is written in the active voice?