Stanford Achievement Test Stanford Achievement Language Mechanics and Expression 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence uses commas correctly in a series?
- I need eggs milk and bread.
- I need eggs, milk, and bread. (Correct answer)
- I need eggs, milk and, bread.
- I need, eggs, milk, and bread.
Correct answer: I need eggs, milk, and bread.
Items in a series are separated by commas, with a comma before the conjunction in standard usage.
Question 2: Which word is an example of a conjunction?
- Quickly
- Because (Correct answer)
- Beautiful
- Ran
Correct answer: Because
A conjunction connects words, phrases, or clauses; 'because' joins a dependent clause to an independent clause.
Question 3: Select the sentence that correctly uses an apostrophe.
- The dog wagged it's tail.
- The dogs' bone was buried.
- The girl's hat blew away.
- Both B and C are correct. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Both B and C are correct.
'Dogs'' shows plural possessive and 'girl's' shows singular possessive — both use apostrophes correctly.
Question 4: Which sentence contains a predicate adjective?
- The tall boy ran fast.
- The soup smells delicious. (Correct answer)
- She quickly finished her homework.
- He drove the red car.
Correct answer: The soup smells delicious.
A predicate adjective follows a linking verb and describes the subject; 'delicious' follows 'smells' and describes 'soup.'
Question 5: Which of the following is a compound sentence?
- Although it was raining, we played outside.
- We played outside, and we got wet. (Correct answer)
- Running through the rain, we laughed.
- We played outside in the rain.
Correct answer: We played outside, and we got wet.
A compound sentence joins two independent clauses with a coordinating conjunction like 'and.'
Question 6: Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: 'She _____ her homework before dinner.'
- done
- did (Correct answer)
- does
- do
Correct answer: did
'Did' is the correct simple past tense of 'do' for this sentence.
Question 7: Which sentence correctly uses a colon?
- I have three hobbies: reading, painting, and hiking. (Correct answer)
- I: have three hobbies reading, painting, and hiking.
- I have three: hobbies reading, painting, and hiking.
- I have three hobbies reading: painting, and hiking.
Correct answer: I have three hobbies: reading, painting, and hiking.
A colon is used after an independent clause to introduce a list.
Stanford Achievement Test Stanford Achievement Language Mechanics and Expression 2
Which sentence uses commas correctly in a series?