English Language and Composition Exam Grammar Style and Conventions 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence demonstrates correct use of a semicolon?
- She studied hard; but failed the test.
- The report was thorough; it covered every major issue. (Correct answer)
- He arrived early; to set up the room.
- The results were clear; and the team celebrated.
Correct answer: The report was thorough; it covered every major issue.
A semicolon correctly joins two independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction.
Question 2: In the AP Lang free-response essays, which grammatical error most significantly undermines a writer's credibility?
- Using passive voice occasionally
- Comma splices that create run-on sentences throughout the essay (Correct answer)
- Using contractions in one body paragraph
- Beginning a sentence with 'And' or 'But'
Correct answer: Comma splices that create run-on sentences throughout the essay
Frequent comma splices indicate a pattern of grammatical error that disrupts readability and undermines the writer's ethos.
Question 3: Which of the following correctly uses an appositive phrase?
- Maya Angelou, she wrote many poems, was a civil rights activist.
- Maya Angelou, a renowned poet and memoirist, advocated for civil rights. (Correct answer)
- Maya Angelou wrote poetry and was a civil rights activist she was famous.
- Maya Angelou's poems and her civil rights work, were important.
Correct answer: Maya Angelou, a renowned poet and memoirist, advocated for civil rights.
An appositive renames or describes a noun using a noun phrase set off by commas, as correctly done in this sentence.
Question 4: Which revision best eliminates the dangling modifier in: 'Running down the street, the ice cream truck was spotted'?
- Running down the street, the children spotted the ice cream truck. (Correct answer)
- The ice cream truck, running down the street, was spotted.
- Running down the street was when the ice cream truck was spotted.
- The ice cream truck ran down the street and was spotted.
Correct answer: Running down the street, the children spotted the ice cream truck.
The modifier 'running down the street' must be placed next to the noun performing the action — the children, not the truck.
Question 5: Which sentence uses parallel structure correctly?
- She likes hiking, to swim, and runs every day.
- She likes hiking, swimming, and running. (Correct answer)
- She likes to hike, swimming, and to run every day.
- She likes hike, swim, and to run.
Correct answer: She likes hiking, swimming, and running.
Parallel structure requires all items in a series to use the same grammatical form — here, all gerunds.
Question 6: In formal AP Lang writing, which pronoun-antecedent agreement error is most common?
- Using 'they' for a singular indefinite pronoun like 'everyone' (Correct answer)
- Using 'he or she' in academic writing
- Using 'I' in the first person
- Using 'we' in a persuasive essay
Correct answer: Using 'they' for a singular indefinite pronoun like 'everyone'
Using 'they' with a singular antecedent like 'everyone' or 'a student' is a common agreement error in formal academic writing, though it is increasingly accepted.
English Language and Composition Exam Grammar Style and Conventions 1
Which sentence demonstrates correct use of a semicolon?