PSAT/NMSQT Grammar & Writing Skills 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence correctly uses a semicolon?
- The team practiced hard; they won the title. (Correct answer)
- The team practiced hard; and won the title.
- The team practiced hard; winning the title.
- The team practiced hard; because they wanted to win.
Correct answer: The team practiced hard; they won the title.
A semicolon joins two independent clauses without a conjunction.
Question 2: Choose the correct pronoun: 'Each of the students submitted ___ own essay.'
- their
- his or her (Correct answer)
- they
- them
Correct answer: his or her
'Each' is singular, so it takes the singular 'his or her' in formal usage.
Question 3: Which word best completes the sentence: 'The study had a profound ___ on policy.'?
- affect
- effect (Correct answer)
- affecting
- effected
Correct answer: effect
'Effect' is the noun meaning a result or influence.
Question 4: Identify the sentence with correct parallel structure.
- She likes hiking, swimming, and to bike.
- She likes hiking, swimming, and biking. (Correct answer)
- She likes to hike, swimming, and biking.
- She likes hike, swim, and biking.
Correct answer: She likes hiking, swimming, and biking.
Parallel items in a list should share the same grammatical form.
Question 5: Where should a comma go: 'After the long meeting we went home.'?
- After the long, meeting we went home.
- After the long meeting, we went home. (Correct answer)
- After, the long meeting we went home.
- No comma is needed.
Correct answer: After the long meeting, we went home.
An introductory phrase is set off from the main clause by a comma.
Question 6: Which revision fixes the dangling modifier: 'Walking to school, the rain started.'?
- Walking to school, the rain began to fall.
- While walking to school, I felt the rain start. (Correct answer)
- The rain, walking to school, started.
- Walking to school the rain started.
Correct answer: While walking to school, I felt the rain start.
The modifier must clearly describe the person performing the action.
Question 7: Choose the correct verb: 'The list of supplies ___ on the desk.'
- are
- were
- is (Correct answer)
- have been
Correct answer: is
The subject 'list' is singular, so it takes 'is.'
PSAT/NMSQT Grammar & Writing Skills 2
Which sentence correctly uses a semicolon?