HAST Written Expression 2

Question 1

Which is the most precise and concise revision of: 'Due to the fact that it was raining, the event was cancelled'?

Accepted Answer

Because it was raining, the event was cancelled.

Answer

'Because' is the concise equivalent of 'due to the fact that,' eliminating unnecessary words.

Question 2

Which sentence uses the correct homophone?

Accepted Answer

Their books are on the table.

Answer

'Their' is the possessive pronoun indicating the books belong to them.

Question 3

Which sentence is in the active voice?

Accepted Answer

The scientist discovered a new element.

Answer

In the active voice, the subject (scientist) performs the action (discovered) directly on the object (element).

Question 4

Which punctuation correctly ends a direct question embedded in a statement: 'She asked whether the test would be hard'?

Accepted Answer

Period (.)

Answer

An indirect question (reported speech using 'whether') is a statement and ends with a period, not a question mark.

Question 5

Which sentence correctly uses a colon?

Accepted Answer

She needed three things: a pen, paper, and an eraser.

Answer

A colon after a complete independent clause correctly introduces a list; the clause before the colon must be complete.

HAST - Higher Ability Selection Test Practice Test