NSCAS English Language Arts 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which revision best improves the clarity of this sentence: 'The book that my teacher gave me that I read last summer that was about space was good.'
- The book, given to me by my teacher, which I read last summer about space was good.
- Last summer, I read the space book my teacher gave me, and it was excellent. (Correct answer)
- The book that my teacher gave me was about space and good.
- My teacher gave me a good book about space that I read.
Correct answer: Last summer, I read the space book my teacher gave me, and it was excellent.
Rearranging the sentence to place modifiers close to what they modify eliminates confusion and improves readability.
Question 2: A writer includes a quote from a NASA scientist in an article about Mars exploration. What does this primarily add to the writing?
- An emotional appeal to make readers feel excited
- Credibility through expert testimony (Correct answer)
- A counterargument that weakens the main point
- Figurative language to entertain the reader
Correct answer: Credibility through expert testimony
Expert quotes provide credibility (ethos), lending authority to the writer's claims by citing a qualified source.
Question 3: Which word is a precise synonym for 'happy' that would best fit a formal academic essay?
- Pumped
- Stoked
- Content (Correct answer)
- Thrilled
Correct answer: Content
'Content' is appropriately formal and precise for academic writing, unlike informal words such as 'pumped' or 'stoked.'
Question 4: A poem repeats the line 'the rain keeps falling' at the end of each stanza. This repetition is called a:
- Sonnet
- Refrain (Correct answer)
- Couplet
- Meter
Correct answer: Refrain
A refrain is a line or group of lines repeated at regular intervals throughout a poem, often at the end of each stanza.
Question 5: When analyzing an informational text, a student notices the author only cites sources that support one viewpoint. This is an example of:
- Balanced reporting
- Bias (Correct answer)
- Satire
- Inference
Correct answer: Bias
Bias occurs when an author selectively presents evidence that supports only one viewpoint, omitting contradictory information.
Question 6: Which sentence correctly uses a comma after an introductory clause?
- When the bell rang students rushed to lunch.
- When the bell rang, students rushed to lunch. (Correct answer)
- Students, when the bell rang, rushed to lunch.
- Students rushed to lunch, when the bell rang.
Correct answer: When the bell rang, students rushed to lunch.
A comma is required after an introductory dependent clause before the main clause begins.
Question 7: A student is writing a research report and finds two sources with conflicting information. What is the BEST strategy?
- Use only the source that agrees with the thesis
- Ignore both sources since they disagree
- Compare both sources and look for additional sources to determine which is more credible (Correct answer)
- Use the source that was published most recently regardless of quality
Correct answer: Compare both sources and look for additional sources to determine which is more credible
Comparing conflicting sources and seeking additional evidence is the best way to evaluate credibility and find accurate information.
NSCAS English Language Arts 3
Which revision best improves the clarity of this sentence: 'The book that my teacher gave me that I read last summer that was about space was good.'