PAPA Writing Conventions & Grammar 3

Question 1

Which sentence avoids a comma splice?

Accepted Answer

The weather was beautiful, so we decided to picnic.

Answer

Using a coordinating conjunction ('so') after a comma correctly joins two independent clauses; conjunctive adverbs like 'however' require a semicolon before them.

Question 2

Identify the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement.

Accepted Answer

The number of errors in the essay is alarming.

Answer

'The number' takes a singular verb, while 'a number' takes a plural verb; 'the number of errors is' is correct.

Question 3

Which sentence uses quotation marks correctly?

Accepted Answer

She said, "I will be late," and left quickly.

Answer

In American English, commas and periods always go inside closing quotation marks, and a comma is needed before the opening quote after 'said.'

Question 4

Which sentence correctly uses the past perfect tense?

Accepted Answer

By the time we arrived, the show had started.

Answer

The past perfect ('had started') shows that one past action (the show starting) was completed before another past action (arriving).

Question 5

Which option shows the correct possessive form for a plural noun?

Accepted Answer

The children's books were on the shelf.

Answer

'Children' is an irregular plural not ending in -s, so the possessive is formed by adding apostrophe + s: children's.

(PAPA) Pre-service Academic Performance Assessment Practice Test

(PAPA) Pre-service Academic Performance Assessment Practice Test

PAPA Writing Conventions & Grammar 3