RLA Grammar and Word Usage 5 â Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence correctly uses a restrictive clause?
- Students, who study regularly, tend to succeed.
- Students who study regularly tend to succeed. (Correct answer)
- Students; who study regularly, tend to succeed.
- Studentsâwho study regularlyâtend to succeed.
Correct answer: Students who study regularly tend to succeed.
A restrictive clause (no commas) limits the meaning of the noun and is essential to the sentence's meaning.
Question 2: Identify the correct use of 'who' vs. 'whom': 'Give the award to ______ deserves it most.'
- whom
- who
- whomever
- whoever (Correct answer)
Correct answer: whoever
'Whoever' is correct because it acts as the subject of the clause 'whoever deserves it most,' which is the object of the preposition 'to.'
Question 3: Which sentence avoids wordiness?
- Due to the fact that it was raining, we stayed inside.
- In spite of the fact that she tried, she failed.
- Because it was raining, we stayed inside. (Correct answer)
- At this point in time, we need a decision.
Correct answer: Because it was raining, we stayed inside.
'Because it was raining' replaces the wordy phrase 'due to the fact that it was raining' concisely.
Question 4: Select the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement:
- A number of students has completed the survey.
- A number of students have completed the survey. (Correct answer)
- The number of students have increased.
- The number of students were counted.
Correct answer: A number of students have completed the survey.
'A number of' takes a plural verb; 'the number of' takes a singular verb.
Question 5: Which option uses 'that' vs. 'which' correctly?
- The car which I bought last year needs repairs.
- The car that needs repairs is in the garage. (Correct answer)
- The car, that is blue, belongs to me.
- The car that, is blue, belongs to me.
Correct answer: The car that needs repairs is in the garage.
'That' introduces a restrictive clause (essential information); 'which' introduces a nonrestrictive clause set off by commas.
Question 6: Choose the correctly punctuated sentence with a quotation:
- She said, "I will be there by noon".
- She said, "I will be there by noon." (Correct answer)
- She said "I will be there by noon."
- She said: "I will be there by noon".
Correct answer: She said, "I will be there by noon."
In American English, the period goes inside the closing quotation mark, and a comma introduces a direct quotation.
Question 7: Which sentence uses 'among' vs. 'between' correctly?
- Divide the candy between the five children.
- Divide the candy among the five children. (Correct answer)
- Decide between the many options available.
- The secret is among you and me.
Correct answer: Divide the candy among the five children.
'Among' is used when referring to more than two; 'between' is used with exactly two.
RLA Grammar and Word Usage 5
Which sentence correctly uses a restrictive clause?