Free POST Writing Ability Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following sentences is written the clearest?
- Tom began his shift by filling his service car with gas and buying a cup of coffee. (Correct answer)
- Tom began his shift by filling his service car with gas and a cup of coffee.
Correct answer: Tom began his shift by filling his service car with gas and buying a cup of coffee.
Explanation: <br> The second phrase suggested that Tom put a cup of coffee in his service car by failing to give a verb to the second item in the list, which was the list of things he did to start his shift. Each item in a list of this kind needs to have a suitable verb.
Question 2: Which of the following sentences is written the clearest?
- The team budget is inflated at this point in time because of purchases along the lines of the new printer.
- The team budget is inflated now because of purchases like the new printer. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The team budget is inflated now because of purchases like the new printer.
Explanation: <br> The first sentence is very complex. While phrases like "along the lines of" and "at this point in time" make sense, they inflate the sentence and make it harder for the reader to understand. "Along the lines of" and "at this point in time" have been swapped out for "now" and "like," respectively, in the improved version, with no change in meaning.
Question 3: Which of the following sentences is written the clearest?
- As Mark received his diploma, his instructor called him his best student ever. (Correct answer)
- Receiving the diploma, his instructor called Mark the best student he had ever had.
Correct answer: As Mark received his diploma, his instructor called him his best student ever.
Explanation: <br> In the second sentence, it appears that the diploma was given to the instructor instead of Mark. This is made explicit in the introductory clause of the right version. Furthermore, the incorrect version includes the vague statement "best student he had ever had," which is better phrased as "best student ever."
Question 4: Which of the following sentences is written the clearest?
- Collecting evidence, Greg’s notepad was filled with interesting comments from the neighbors and onlookers.
- Greg filled his notepad with interesting comments from the neighbors and onlookers while he was collecting evidence. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Greg filled his notepad with interesting comments from the neighbors and onlookers while he was collecting evidence.
Explanation: <br> The first sentence is written as though the evidence was being gathered by the notepad. The subject is clear in the second sentence.
Question 5: Which of the following sentences is written the clearest?
- Sometimes, the guys he ran into in the locker room bragged about their fancy cars. (Correct answer)
- The guys he ran into in the locker room sometimes bragged about their fancy cars.
Correct answer: Sometimes, the guys he ran into in the locker room bragged about their fancy cars.
Explanation: <br> It is impossible to know from the second sentence whether "sometimes" refers to the bragging or the guys in the locker room. In other words, the reader cannot determine if the speaker sometimes saw these people or if they occasionally bragged about their vehicles. The message is clear in the first sentence.
Question 6: Choose the correct spelling of the missing word. <br> The mission would require a great deal of outdoor reconnaissance, so the team leader required all the soldiers to pack their _______ uniforms.
- camouflage (Correct answer)
- camoflage
- camelflage
- camofladge
Correct answer: camouflage
Explanation: <br> The correct spelling is “camouflage”.
Question 7: Choose the correct spelling of the missing word. <br> "I ______ wish things had gone differently," she said with obvious regret.
- trooly
- truely
- trewly
- truly (Correct answer)
Correct answer: truly
Explanation: <br> The correct spelling is "truly".
Question 8: Choose the correct spelling of the missing word. <br> The officer responded to a frantic call from a citizen, but when she arrived, she found nothing more than some minor __________.
- mischeif
- mischief (Correct answer)
- mischeff
- mischiff
Correct answer: mischief
Explanation: <br> The correct spelling is “mischief”.
Question 9: Choose the correct spelling of the missing word. <br> Unless there is an immediate _____ in unnecessary spending, the project will be way over budget.
- reduction (Correct answer)
- reducshen
- reduckshen
- reducton
Correct answer: reduction
Explanation: <br> The correct spelling is “reduction”.
Question 10: Choose the correct spelling of the missing word. <br> His excellent performance in several subjects made him a natural _______ for the "Best Student" award.
- cannadate
- cannidate
- cadidate
- candidate (Correct answer)
Correct answer: candidate
Explanation: <br> The correct spelling is “candidate”.
Question 11: Choose the correct spelling of the missing word. <br> He did not __________ the stolen goods.
- receve
- receive (Correct answer)
- recive
- recieve
Correct answer: receive
Explanation: <br> The correct spelling is “receive”.
Which of the following sentences is written the clearest?