OELPA Grammar and Language Conventions 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence correctly uses a pronoun that agrees with its antecedent?
- Every student must bring their own pencil to the exam.
- Every student must bring his or her own pencil to the exam. (Correct answer)
- Every student must bring its own pencil to the exam.
- Every student must bring your own pencil to the exam.
Correct answer: Every student must bring his or her own pencil to the exam.
"Every student" is singular, and "his or her" is the traditional singular pronoun reference that maintains grammatical agreement.
Question 2: In OELPA-level writing, which sentence correctly uses a relative clause?
- The book which I borrowed it was very interesting.
- The book, that I borrowed, was very interesting.
- The book that I borrowed was very interesting. (Correct answer)
- The book who I borrowed was very interesting.
Correct answer: The book that I borrowed was very interesting.
"That" correctly introduces a restrictive relative clause modifying "the book," with no extra pronoun or comma needed.
Question 3: Which sentence demonstrates the correct use of a coordinating conjunction?
- She wanted to speak, but she was too nervous. (Correct answer)
- She wanted to speak, because she was too nervous.
- She wanted to speak, although she was not nervous.
- She wanted to speak, while she was nervous.
Correct answer: She wanted to speak, but she was too nervous.
"But" is a coordinating conjunction that correctly connects two independent clauses showing contrast.
Question 4: Which sentence correctly uses the passive voice, as students may encounter in OELPA reading passages?
- The teacher graded the essays carefully.
- The essays were graded carefully by the teacher. (Correct answer)
- The essays graded the teacher carefully.
- The teacher was graded the essays carefully.
Correct answer: The essays were graded carefully by the teacher.
The passive voice places the object of the action as the subject and uses "to be" + past participle.
Question 5: Which verb form correctly completes this conditional sentence: "If she ___ harder, she would improve her score"?
- studies
- studied (Correct answer)
- will study
- had studied
Correct answer: studied
In a present unreal conditional (second conditional), the simple past tense is used in the if-clause.
Question 6: Which sentence correctly uses a gerund as the subject?
- To read every day improves vocabulary.
- Reading every day improves vocabulary. (Correct answer)
- Read every day improves vocabulary.
- You read every day improves vocabulary.
Correct answer: Reading every day improves vocabulary.
A gerund (verb + -ing) can function as the subject of a sentence, making "Reading" the correct choice here.
Question 7: In OELPA writing tasks, which transitional phrase signals a contrasting idea?
- Furthermore
- In addition
- On the other hand (Correct answer)
- As a result
Correct answer: On the other hand
"On the other hand" is a transitional phrase used to introduce a contrasting or opposing idea.
OELPA Grammar and Language Conventions 2
Which sentence correctly uses a pronoun that agrees with its antecedent?