KYOTE Writing Proficiency 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence uses a comma correctly with a coordinating conjunction?
- She studied hard, so she passed the exam. (Correct answer)
- She studied hard so, she passed the exam.
- She studied hard so she, passed the exam.
- She, studied hard so she passed the exam.
Correct answer: She studied hard, so she passed the exam.
A comma is placed before a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) that joins two independent clauses.
Question 2: A student writes: 'Everyone must submit their reports by Friday.' What does 'their' refer to?
- Everyone (Correct answer)
- Reports
- Friday
- Student
Correct answer: Everyone
'Their' is used as a singular gender-neutral pronoun referring to 'everyone,' which is singular but treated as plural in informal usage.
Question 3: Which transition best shows a contrast between two ideas?
- Furthermore
- However (Correct answer)
- Therefore
- Similarly
Correct answer: However
'However' signals a contrast or shift in direction between two ideas.
Question 4: In an argumentative essay, the BEST place to address a counterargument is:
- In the introduction, before the thesis
- In the body, before or after your main points (Correct answer)
- Only in the conclusion
- Counterarguments should never be included
Correct answer: In the body, before or after your main points
Acknowledging and refuting counterarguments in the body strengthens the writer's credibility and overall argument.
Question 5: Which revision makes this sentence more concise? 'Due to the fact that it was raining, the game was cancelled.'
- Because of the raining fact, the game was cancelled.
- Because it was raining, the game was cancelled. (Correct answer)
- The game was cancelled, due to it was raining.
- The fact that rain caused the game's cancellation.
Correct answer: Because it was raining, the game was cancelled.
'Due to the fact that' is a wordy phrase that can be replaced with 'because' for conciseness.
Question 6: Which sentence contains a dangling modifier?
- Running down the street, Maria dropped her keys.
- Running down the street, the keys were dropped. (Correct answer)
- Maria, running down the street, dropped her keys.
- While running, Maria dropped her keys.
Correct answer: Running down the street, the keys were dropped.
A dangling modifier occurs when the modifying phrase doesn't logically connect to the noun it intends to describe; 'the keys' cannot run.
Question 7: What is the purpose of a topic sentence in a body paragraph?
- To summarize the entire essay
- To introduce evidence for the argument
- To state the main idea of that paragraph (Correct answer)
- To transition to the next paragraph
Correct answer: To state the main idea of that paragraph
A topic sentence announces the central idea of its paragraph, focusing the reader on what that section will discuss.
KYOTE Writing Proficiency 2
Which sentence uses a comma correctly with a coordinating conjunction?