HiSET Language Arts Writing Practice Test 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Determine whether the underlined portion of the sentence below is correct or whether it needs to be revised.
- therefore
- but
- nevertheless (Correct answer)
- as a result
- and
Correct answer: nevertheless
Without the original sentence, it's understood that 'nevertheless' is a conjunctive adverb used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or qualifies something previously mentioned. It indicates a concession or a surprising outcome despite a preceding fact. The correct choice implies that 'nevertheless' provides the most appropriate logical connection or emphasis within the context of the original sentence, signaling a contrast.
Question 2: Determine whether the underlined portion of the sentence below is correct or whether it needs to be revised.
- In many cultures they consider fish eggs a delicacy.
- In many cultures fish eggs are considered a delicacy. (Correct answer)
- In many cultures a delicacy is considered to be fish eggs.
- Fish eggs, a delicacy in many cultures.
- They consider fish eggs to be a delicacy in many cultures.
Correct answer: In many cultures fish eggs are considered a delicacy.
The original sentence likely used the vague pronoun 'they,' creating an unclear or passive construction. Option B improves clarity and conciseness by using the passive voice 'fish eggs are considered' and making 'fish eggs' the direct subject of the sentence. This revision eliminates the ambiguity of 'they' and focuses directly on the item being discussed, making the sentence grammatically sound and more direct.
Question 3: Determine whether the underlined portion of the sentence below is correct or whether it needs to be revised.
- World Cup either through playing, watching or thru advertising.
- world cup either through playing, watching or thru advertising.
- World Cup either through playing, watching or through advertising.
- World Cup either through playing, watching or advertising.
- World Cup either through playing, watching or advertising for it. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: World Cup either through playing, watching or advertising for it.
The original sentence contained the informal spelling 'thru' instead of the correct 'through' and lacked proper parallelism. Option E corrects the spelling to 'through' and rephrases the end to 'advertising for it,' which maintains a consistent grammatical structure with 'playing' and 'watching.' This ensures the sentence is grammatically correct, stylistically consistent, and adheres to formal writing standards.
Question 4: Determine whether the underlined portion of the sentence below is correct or whether it needs to be revised.
- between Paarin and me about the dent in his car continued (Correct answer)
- between Paarin and I about the dent in his car continued
- about the dent in his car continued for Paarin and I
- on the dent in his car between Paarin and me continued
- between Paarin and I on the dent in his car continued
Correct answer: between Paarin and me about the dent in his car continued
The original sentence incorrectly used the subjective pronoun 'I' after the preposition 'between.' Prepositions require objective pronouns as their objects. Therefore, 'me' (an objective pronoun) is the grammatically correct choice to follow 'between.' Option A correctly uses 'me,' adhering to the rules of pronoun case after prepositions.
Question 5: Determine whether the underlined portion of the sentence below is correct or whether it needs to be revised.
- summer many students go away to summer camps that teach them skills about camaraderie, perseverance and integrity.
- Summer many students go away to summer camps that teach them skills about camaraderie, perseverance and integrity.
- summer many students go away to camps that teach them skills about camaraderie, perseverance and integrity.
- summer many students go away to summer camps that teach them skills about camaraderie, perseverance and maintaining integrity.
- Summer many students go away to camps that teach them skills about camaraderie, perseverance and integrity. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Summer many students go away to camps that teach them skills about camaraderie, perseverance and integrity.
The original sentence likely had a capitalization error and redundancy. 'Summer' should be capitalized at the beginning of a sentence, and the phrase 'summer camps' was unnecessarily repeated. Option E corrects the capitalization and removes the redundant 'summer' from 'summer camps,' making the sentence more concise and grammatically correct without altering its meaning.
Question 6: Determine whether the underlined portion of the sentence below is correct or whether it needs to be revised.
- Stefan's etiquette and social grace was unmatched.
- Stefan's etiquette and social grace were unmatched.
- Stefan's etiquette as well as his social grace were unmatched.
- Stefan possessed unmatched etiquette and social grace. (Correct answer)
- Stefan's social grace was matched only by his etiquette.
Correct answer: Stefan possessed unmatched etiquette and social grace.
The original sentence contained a subject-verb agreement error, as 'etiquette and social grace' is a compound subject requiring a plural verb ('were unmatched') instead of the singular 'was unmatched.' Option D completely rephrases the sentence to avoid this grammatical mistake by using 'possessed,' which is both grammatically correct and more concise. This revision also improves the sentence's flow and uses a more active voice.
Question 7: Determine whether the underlined portion of the sentence below is correct or whether it needs to be revised.
- capitalist market rather than communism and adjust
- capitalist market rather than Communism and adjust
- capitalist market rather than a communist market and adjust
- capitalist market rather than a communist market and adjusting (Correct answer)
- Capitalistic market nor a Communist market and adjusting
Correct answer: capitalist market rather than a communist market and adjusting
The original sentence suffered from a lack of parallelism and an inconsistent comparison. 'Capitalist market' was compared to 'communism,' which is a system, not a market. Option D corrects this by using 'a communist market' to maintain parallelism and also changes 'adjust' to 'adjusting' to match the gerund form implied by the sentence's structure. This ensures consistent grammatical structure and a logical comparison.
Question 8: Determine whether the underlined portion of the sentence below is correct or whether it needs to be revised.
- slapstick humor, however physical comedy is not
- slapstick humor, but physical comedy is not (Correct answer)
- slapstick humor, and physical comedy is not
- slapstick humor; physical comedy is not
- slapstick humor, but it is not physical comedy that is
Correct answer: slapstick humor, but physical comedy is not
The original sentence incorrectly used 'however' with a comma to connect two independent clauses, creating a comma splice. 'However' is a conjunctive adverb and requires a semicolon or a period to separate independent clauses. Option B correctly uses the coordinating conjunction 'but' preceded by a comma, which is the proper way to join two independent clauses when expressing a contrast, making the sentence grammatically sound.
Question 9: Determine whether the underlined portion of the sentence below is correct or whether it needs to be revised.
- after one reaches a certain age
- after they reach a certain age (Correct answer)
- after they reaches certain ages
- after it reaches a certain age
- after you reach a certain age
Correct answer: after they reach a certain age
While the original sentence using 'one' is grammatically correct, 'they' is increasingly accepted as a gender-neutral singular pronoun in modern English. Option B, 'after they reach a certain age,' provides a more inclusive and natural-sounding alternative to 'one.' This choice aligns with contemporary usage that avoids gender-specific pronouns or overly formal constructions.
Question 10: Determine whether the underlined portion of the sentence below is correct or whether it needs to be revised.
- the scheduling features of a planner.
- and a planner with scheduling features.
- and scheduling features.
- scheduling features.
- a planner. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: a planner.
The original sentence likely suffered from a lack of parallelism and redundancy in its list. Listing 'a calendar, a to-do list, and the scheduling features of a planner' is clunky. To maintain parallelism and conciseness, the last item should simply be 'a planner,' as a planner inherently includes scheduling features. Option E achieves this by simplifying the phrase, making the list grammatically consistent and more efficient.
Question 11: Pick the solution that best rephrases the paragraph. <br> <br> The wood was previously utilized by the locals for heating and cooking, but more recently, they started selling it to make a living.
- heating, but recently, they have began to sell it
- heating. But they had recently began to sell it
- heating. Recently, they have begun selling it (Correct answer)
- and they were selling it
Correct answer: heating. Recently, they have begun selling it
The original sentence contained a comma splice and an awkward phrasing with 'started selling.' Option C correctly separates the two independent clauses with a period, creating two distinct sentences for improved clarity and flow. It also uses the grammatically precise 'have begun selling' (present perfect tense) to indicate an action that started in the past and continues to the present, improving overall sentence structure and verb tense.
Question 12: Pick the solution that best rephrases the paragraph. <br> <br> The annual population growth rate is 2.05 percent.
- The population grow
- The population grew
- The population grows
- The population has grown (Correct answer)
Correct answer: The population has grown
The original sentence describes an 'annual population growth rate,' which implies an ongoing process of increase. To rephrase this in terms of the population's action, the present perfect tense 'has grown' is the most appropriate. This tense indicates an action that began in the past and continues up to the present, accurately reflecting the continuous nature of a growth rate.
Question 13: Pick the solution that best rephrases the paragraph. <br> <br> Although sugar was once Belize's main crash crop, citrus fruits have recently overtaken it as the most lucrative crop.
- Main cash crop
- A main cash crop
- The main cash crop (Correct answer)
- An main cash crop
Correct answer: The main cash crop
The original sentence contained a common typographical error: 'crash crop' should be 'cash crop.' A 'cash crop' is an agricultural product grown specifically for sale to generate income. Option C corrects this spelling mistake and uses the definite article 'The' to specify it as the primary cash crop, making the phrase grammatically correct and contextually accurate.
Question 14: Choose the answer which best rewords the underlined portion. <br> <br> People should only eat with <u>their</u> right hands, especially if they are eating with their fingers.
- their (Correct answer)
- they’re
- there
- theyre
Correct answer: their
The word 'their' is a possessive pronoun, correctly indicating that the hands belong to 'people.' Options like 'they're' (a contraction of 'they are') or 'there' (referring to a place) are grammatically incorrect in this context. Therefore, 'their' is the only appropriate choice to show possession and maintain the sentence's intended meaning.
Question 15: Choose the answer which best rewords the underlined portion. <br> <b> <u>In Belize tourism has become</u> one of the fastest growing sources of employment and income.
- In Belize tourism has become
- In Belize, tourism has become (Correct answer)
- In Belize tourism, has become
- In Belize tourism has become,
Correct answer: In Belize, tourism has become
The phrase 'In Belize' is an introductory prepositional phrase. According to standard punctuation rules, an introductory phrase of three or more words should be followed by a comma to separate it from the main clause. This comma improves readability and clarifies the sentence's structure, making option B the grammatically correct choice.
Question 16: Choose the answer which best rewords the underlined portion. <br> <br> <u>With over 200 ethnic groups represented the people</u> of the Congo have a wide variety of customs, traditions, and values.
- With over 200 ethnic groups represented the people
- With over 200 ethnic groups represented, the people (Correct answer)
- With over 200 ethnic groups represented. The people
- With over 200 ethnic groups represented; the people
Correct answer: With over 200 ethnic groups represented, the people
The phrase 'With over 200 ethnic groups represented' is an introductory participial phrase that modifies 'the people.' According to standard punctuation rules, such an introductory phrase should be followed by a comma to separate it from the main clause. This comma prevents misreading and enhances the clarity and flow of the sentence, making option B the correct choice.
HiSET Language Arts Writing Practice Test 2
Determine whether the underlined portion of the sentence below is correct or whether it needs to be revised.