SAEE SAEE Language Usage 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence correctly uses parallel structure?
- The coach told the players to stretch, to hydrate, and running laps.
- The coach told the players to stretch, to hydrate, and to run laps. (Correct answer)
- The coach told the players stretching, to hydrate, and to run laps.
- The coach told the players to stretch, hydrating, and to run laps.
Correct answer: The coach told the players to stretch, to hydrate, and to run laps.
Parallel structure requires that items in a series follow the same grammatical form; here all three use the infinitive 'to + verb.'
Question 2: Which word correctly completes the sentence? 'The data _____ collected over a six-month period.'
- was
- were (Correct answer)
- has
- have
Correct answer: were
'Data' is the plural form of 'datum,' so it takes the plural verb 'were' in formal and academic writing.
Question 3: Choose the sentence that uses the correct pronoun case.
- Him and I went to the library after school.
- The teacher gave the awards to she and I.
- Between you and me, the test was easier than expected. (Correct answer)
- Me and her completed the project together.
Correct answer: Between you and me, the test was easier than expected.
After the preposition 'between,' objective case pronouns ('you' and 'me') are required.
Question 4: Which sentence contains a comma splice?
- The students studied hard, they passed the exam. (Correct answer)
- The students studied hard, and they passed the exam.
- The students studied hard; they passed the exam.
- Because the students studied hard, they passed the exam.
Correct answer: The students studied hard, they passed the exam.
A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are joined only by a comma without a coordinating conjunction.
Question 5: What type of error does the following sentence contain? 'The team celebrated their victory, the trophy gleamed under the lights.'
- Subject-verb disagreement
- Sentence fragment
- Run-on sentence (Correct answer)
- Misplaced modifier
Correct answer: Run-on sentence
Two independent clauses joined by only a comma constitute a run-on sentence, specifically a comma splice.
Question 6: Which sentence demonstrates the correct use of an apostrophe in a contraction?
- The dog wagged it's tail happily.
- Its important to study for the SAEE.
- Who's responsible for collecting the assignments? (Correct answer)
- Your going to need a pencil for the test.
Correct answer: Who's responsible for collecting the assignments?
'Who's' is the correct contraction of 'who is,' while the other options confuse possessive forms with contractions.
SAEE SAEE Language Usage 3
Which sentence correctly uses parallel structure?