PERT Writing Skills & Essay Organization 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence uses the correct subject-verb agreement?
- The team of researchers are presenting their findings.
- The team of researchers is presenting its findings. (Correct answer)
- The team of researchers were presenting its findings.
- The team of researchers been presenting their findings.
Correct answer: The team of researchers is presenting its findings.
"Team" is a singular collective noun, so it takes the singular verb "is" and pronoun "its."
Question 2: Where should a thesis statement typically appear in a standard academic essay?
- In the middle of the first body paragraph
- At the end of the introduction (Correct answer)
- In the conclusion
- Scattered throughout each paragraph
Correct answer: At the end of the introduction
A thesis usually appears at the end of the introduction to guide the rest of the essay.
Question 3: Which transition word best signals a contrast between two ideas?
- Furthermore
- However (Correct answer)
- Therefore
- Likewise
Correct answer: However
"However" introduces a contrasting idea, while the others show addition, result, or similarity.
Question 4: Choose the sentence with correct comma usage.
- After the storm passed, we cleaned the yard. (Correct answer)
- After the storm passed we, cleaned the yard.
- After, the storm passed we cleaned the yard.
- After the storm, passed we cleaned the yard.
Correct answer: After the storm passed, we cleaned the yard.
An introductory dependent clause is followed by a comma before the main clause.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of a topic sentence?
- To restate the essay's conclusion
- To state the main idea of a paragraph (Correct answer)
- To list every supporting detail
- To cite outside sources
Correct answer: To state the main idea of a paragraph
A topic sentence states the central idea that the rest of the paragraph develops.
Question 6: Which revision corrects the run-on sentence: "The exam was difficult I studied for hours"?
- The exam was difficult I studied, for hours.
- The exam was difficult, I studied for hours.
- The exam was difficult; I studied for hours. (Correct answer)
- The exam was difficult I, studied for hours.
Correct answer: The exam was difficult; I studied for hours.
A semicolon correctly joins two related independent clauses.
Question 7: Which word is the most precise replacement for "good" in "a good explanation"?
- nice
- okay
- clear (Correct answer)
- fine
Correct answer: clear
"Clear" conveys a specific, meaningful quality, while the others are vague.
PERT Writing Skills & Essay Organization 2
Which sentence uses the correct subject-verb agreement?