TSA Writing 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence correctly uses a comma in a compound sentence?
- The line was long but it moved fast.
- The line was long, but it moved fast. (Correct answer)
- The line was long but, it moved fast.
- The line, was long but it moved fast.
Correct answer: The line was long, but it moved fast.
A comma precedes the coordinating conjunction joining two independent clauses.
Question 2: Choose the sentence with correct pronoun usage.
- Between you and I, the test was easy.
- Between you and me, the test was easy. (Correct answer)
- Between yourself and I, the test was easy.
- Between I and you, the test was easy.
Correct answer: Between you and me, the test was easy.
After a preposition, use the objective pronoun "me."
Question 3: Which sentence avoids a double negative?
- We don't have no scanners left.
- We don't have any scanners left. (Correct answer)
- We don't need no help.
- We can't hardly wait.
Correct answer: We don't have any scanners left.
"Don't have any" correctly uses a single negative.
Question 4: Identify the correctly capitalized sentence.
- the officer works at the airport in denver.
- The Officer works at the Airport in Denver.
- The officer works at the airport in Denver. (Correct answer)
- The officer Works at the airport in denver.
Correct answer: The officer works at the airport in Denver.
Only the first word and the proper noun "Denver" are capitalized.
Question 5: Which sentence uses the modifier correctly?
- Walking to the gate, the bag felt heavy.
- Walking to the gate, she felt the bag was heavy. (Correct answer)
- The bag walking to the gate felt heavy.
- Heavy walking to the gate the bag felt.
Correct answer: Walking to the gate, she felt the bag was heavy.
The modifier "walking to the gate" correctly describes "she."
Question 6: Choose the correct plural form.
- The two knifes were confiscated.
- The two knives were confiscated. (Correct answer)
- The two knifs were confiscated.
- The two knive were confiscated.
Correct answer: The two knives were confiscated.
Nouns ending in -fe often change to -ves in the plural.
Question 7: Which sentence is the clearest and most concise?
- Due to the fact that it was late, we left.
- Because it was late, we left. (Correct answer)
- On account of the lateness of the hour, we left.
- In view of the fact it was late, we left.
Correct answer: Because it was late, we left.
"Because" conveys the same meaning with fewer words.
TSA Writing 3
Which sentence correctly uses a comma in a compound sentence?