PARCC Writing Practice Questions 1

Question 1

1. Are you all ready for the English exam?" asked mom. No error.

Accepted Answer

D

Answer

The error is in option D, 'mom.' When 'mom' is used as a proper noun, specifically in direct address or as a substitute for a name, it should be capitalized. In the sentence 'asked mom,' 'mom' functions as a proper noun, so it should be capitalized as 'Mom.'

Question 2

2. According to the fire marshall's statistics, smoking cigarettes in bed are the cause of many tragic fires. No error.

Accepted Answer

D

Answer

The error is in option D, 'are.' This is a subject-verb agreement error. The true subject of the sentence is the gerund phrase 'smoking cigarettes in bed,' which acts as a singular noun. Therefore, the verb should be singular ('is') to agree with the singular subject, not plural ('are').

Question 3

3. Signs of decay that should be recognized by every citizen includes oil spills along the shoreline as well as the absence of wildlife. No error.

Accepted Answer

B

Answer

The error is in option B, 'includes.' This is a subject-verb agreement error. The subject of the verb is 'Signs' (plural), not 'decay' or 'citizen.' Therefore, the verb should be plural ('include') to agree with its plural subject, rather than the singular form 'includes.'

Question 4

4. Either Philip or Joe will always finish their trigonometry homework in class. No error.

Accepted Answer

C

Answer

The error is in option C, 'their.' This is a pronoun-antecedent agreement error. When two singular subjects ('Philip' and 'Joe') are joined by 'either...or,' the pronoun referring to them should be singular. Therefore, 'their' (plural) should be replaced with 'his' (singular) to agree with the singular antecedents.

Question 5

5. Who else beside Jim Smith won a scholarship? No error.

Accepted Answer

C

Answer

The error is in option C, 'beside.' 'Beside' means 'next to' or 'at the side of.' The correct word to use in this context, meaning 'in addition to' or 'apart from,' is 'besides.' The sentence should read, 'Who else besides Jim Smith won a scholarship?'

PARCC Practice Test

PARCC Practice Test

PARCC Writing Practice Questions 1