ParaPro Assessment Test Grammar and Mechanics (Conventions of Standard English)

Question 1

Which sentence uses correct subject-verb agreement?

Accepted Answer

The teacher and her aide are preparing the lesson.

Answer

When two subjects are joined by 'and,' the verb is plural. 'The teacher and her aide are' is correct. In the other sentences, the true subject is singular and requires a singular verb.

Question 2

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

Accepted Answer

We will visit the museum on Friday, March 5.

Answer

Days of the week and months are proper nouns and must be capitalized. A comma separates the day of the week from the date.

Question 3

Which pronoun correctly completes the sentence? 'Every student must bring _____ own pencil.'

Accepted Answer

his or her

Answer

'Every student' is singular, so the pronoun must be singular. 'His or her' is the formally correct singular pronoun reference. (In formal written English tested on the ParaPro, 'his or her' is preferred over 'their' with a singular antecedent.)

Question 4

Identify the correctly spelled word in the following group:

Accepted Answer

necessary

Answer

'Necessary' is correctly spelled (one 'c', two 's'). 'Receive' follows the i-before-e rule after certain letters; 'accommodate' has two c's and two m's; 'occurred' has two r's.

Question 5

Which sentence contains a comma splice error?

Accepted Answer

The students finished the test, they handed it in.

Answer

A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are joined with only a comma. Option C joins two complete sentences ('The students finished the test' and 'they handed it in') with just a comma, which is an error.

ParaPro Assessment Test Practice Test

ParaPro Assessment Test Practice Test

ParaPro Assessment Test Grammar and Mechanics (Conventions of Standard English)