NM-MSSA Writing Conventions 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence uses commas correctly with a nonrestrictive clause?
- My sister, who lives in Albuquerque, is a teacher. (Correct answer)
- My sister who lives in Albuquerque is a teacher.
- My sister, who lives in Albuquerque is a teacher.
- My sister who lives in Albuquerque, is a teacher.
Correct answer: My sister, who lives in Albuquerque, is a teacher.
Nonrestrictive (non-essential) clauses must be set off by commas on both sides.
Question 2: Which word correctly completes this sentence: 'Neither the students _____ the teacher was late.'
- or
- nor (Correct answer)
- and
- but
Correct answer: nor
'Neither…nor' is the correct paired conjunction when negating two subjects.
Question 3: Which sentence contains a misplaced modifier?
- Running quickly, she finished the race.
- She almost drove her kids to school every day. (Correct answer)
- The dog barked at the mail carrier loudly.
- Covered in mud, the dog ran inside.
Correct answer: She almost drove her kids to school every day.
'Almost' is misplaced; it should be 'She drove her kids to school almost every day' to modify 'every day.'
Question 4: Which option correctly uses a semicolon?
- I like hiking; but I prefer swimming.
- She studied hard; therefore, she passed the exam. (Correct answer)
- He bought apples; oranges; and bananas.
- We went home; because it was late.
Correct answer: She studied hard; therefore, she passed the exam.
A semicolon correctly joins two independent clauses, especially before conjunctive adverbs like 'therefore.'
Question 5: Which sentence uses apostrophes correctly?
- The student's notebooks' were left on the bus.
- The students' notebooks were left on the bus. (Correct answer)
- The students's notebooks were left on the bus.
- The students notebooks' were left on the bus.
Correct answer: The students' notebooks were left on the bus.
To show possession for a plural noun ending in -s, add only an apostrophe after the s.
Question 6: Which sentence demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement?
- The pack of wolves were howling all night.
- The pack of wolves was howling all night. (Correct answer)
- A pack of wolves were howling all night.
- Packs of wolves was howling all night.
Correct answer: The pack of wolves was howling all night.
The subject is the collective noun 'pack' (singular), so the verb must be singular: 'was.'
Question 7: Which sentence uses capitalization correctly?
- We visited the Grand Canyon during our Summer vacation.
- We visited the grand canyon during our summer vacation.
- We visited the Grand Canyon during our summer vacation. (Correct answer)
- we visited the Grand Canyon during our Summer Vacation.
Correct answer: We visited the Grand Canyon during our summer vacation.
Proper nouns like 'Grand Canyon' are capitalized, but common nouns like 'summer vacation' are not.
NM-MSSA Writing Conventions 2
Which sentence uses commas correctly with a nonrestrictive clause?