THEA THEA Writing 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement?
- The team are arguing among themselves.
- Neither the coach nor the players was ready.
- Each of the students have submitted their essay.
- Neither the players nor the coach was ready. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Neither the players nor the coach was ready.
When 'neither/nor' connects subjects, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it (coach = singular → 'was').
Question 2: What is the role of a topic sentence in a body paragraph?
- To summarize the entire essay
- To introduce a new topic unrelated to the thesis
- To state the main idea of that paragraph (Correct answer)
- To provide a concluding thought for the essay
Correct answer: To state the main idea of that paragraph
A topic sentence announces the controlling idea of its paragraph, tying it to the essay's thesis.
Question 3: Which punctuation correctly sets off a non-restrictive clause?
- My sister who lives in Austin is a nurse.
- My sister, who lives in Austin, is a nurse. (Correct answer)
- My sister: who lives in Austin is a nurse.
- My sister — who lives in Austin — are a nurse.
Correct answer: My sister, who lives in Austin, is a nurse.
Commas set off non-restrictive (non-essential) clauses, which add information but don't limit the noun.
Question 4: A student writes: 'I think that in my opinion the law is unfair.' What is the main problem?
- Passive voice
- Redundancy — 'I think' and 'in my opinion' say the same thing (Correct answer)
- Incorrect use of 'that'
- Missing comma after 'think'
Correct answer: Redundancy — 'I think' and 'in my opinion' say the same thing
'I think' and 'in my opinion' are redundant because both signal personal perspective.
Question 5: Which sentence correctly uses an apostrophe?
- The students essay's were returned.
- The students' essays were returned. (Correct answer)
- The student's essay's were returned.
- The students essays' were returned.
Correct answer: The students' essays were returned.
'Students'' shows plural possessive correctly — the apostrophe follows the plural noun.
Question 6: Which of the following is an example of a run-on sentence?
- She loves to read; she visits the library weekly.
- Although she loves to read, she rarely visits the library.
- She loves to read she visits the library every week. (Correct answer)
- She loves to read, and she visits the library weekly.
Correct answer: She loves to read she visits the library every week.
Two independent clauses joined without any punctuation or conjunction form a run-on sentence.
Question 7: In essay revision, 'coherence' refers to:
- Having a lot of supporting details
- Using advanced vocabulary throughout
- Ideas flowing logically and connecting clearly (Correct answer)
- Avoiding the use of pronouns
Correct answer: Ideas flowing logically and connecting clearly
Coherence means ideas are organized logically and transitions connect sentences and paragraphs clearly.
THEA THEA Writing 3
Which sentence demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement?