ESL Writing & Composition 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence uses a comma splice incorrectly?
- I enjoy reading, and I also like writing.
- She was tired, she went to bed early. (Correct answer)
- Although it rained, we had fun.
- He studied hard, so he passed the test.
Correct answer: She was tired, she went to bed early.
A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are joined with only a comma, as in option B.
Question 2: What is the purpose of a thesis statement in an essay?
- To summarize the entire essay in detail
- To provide background information on the topic
- To state the main argument or point of the essay (Correct answer)
- To list all the evidence that will be used
Correct answer: To state the main argument or point of the essay
A thesis statement presents the central claim or argument that the essay will develop and support.
Question 3: Which transition word best shows contrast between two ideas?
- Furthermore
- Therefore
- However (Correct answer)
- Similarly
Correct answer: However
'However' signals a contrast or contradiction between two ideas, unlike the others which show addition, conclusion, or similarity.
Question 4: In academic writing, which point of view is most commonly preferred?
- First person (I, we)
- Second person (you)
- Third person (he, she, they) (Correct answer)
- Mixed first and second person
Correct answer: Third person (he, she, they)
Third person is preferred in academic writing because it creates objectivity and formality.
Question 5: What does it mean to 'paraphrase' a source in writing?
- Copy the exact words from the source
- Restate the idea in your own words (Correct answer)
- Summarize multiple paragraphs into one sentence
- Quote the source word-for-word with quotation marks
Correct answer: Restate the idea in your own words
Paraphrasing means restating someone else's idea in your own words while keeping the original meaning.
Question 6: Which sentence is an example of passive voice?
- The chef cooked a delicious meal.
- Maria wrote the report last night.
- The report was written by Maria. (Correct answer)
- They completed the project on time.
Correct answer: The report was written by Maria.
Passive voice places the action's receiver as the subject, as in 'The report was written by Maria.'
Question 7: What is the role of a topic sentence in a paragraph?
- To conclude the paragraph's main idea
- To introduce the main idea of the paragraph (Correct answer)
- To provide a supporting example for the essay
- To connect the paragraph to the next one
Correct answer: To introduce the main idea of the paragraph
A topic sentence introduces the main idea that the rest of the paragraph will develop and support.
ESL Writing & Composition 2
Which sentence uses a comma splice incorrectly?