TSI - Texas Success Initiative Essay and Sentence Revision Questions and Answers 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which revision most effectively improves this wordy sentence: "Due to the fact that it was raining outside, the game was postponed."
- Because it was raining, the game was postponed. (Correct answer)
- The game was postponed due to the fact that it was raining.
- It was raining outside; therefore, the game was postponed due to this fact.
- Owing to the fact of rain outside, the game was postponed.
Correct answer: Because it was raining, the game was postponed.
"Due to the fact that" is a wordy phrase best replaced with "because," which is concise and equally clear.
Question 2: A concluding paragraph should primarily accomplish which of the following?
- Restate the thesis in new words and synthesize the main points (Correct answer)
- Introduce a new argument not covered in the body paragraphs
- Repeat the introduction word for word
- Ask a series of rhetorical questions to confuse the reader
Correct answer: Restate the thesis in new words and synthesize the main points
A conclusion restates the thesis (in fresh language) and synthesizes — not merely summarizes — the main points to reinforce the overall argument.
Question 3: Which sentence correctly uses a semicolon?
- The library closes at nine; we should leave soon. (Correct answer)
- The library closes; at nine we should leave soon.
- The library; closes at nine, we should leave soon.
- The library closes at nine, we; should leave soon.
Correct answer: The library closes at nine; we should leave soon.
A semicolon joins two independent clauses. "The library closes at nine" and "we should leave soon" are both complete thoughts, making option A correct.
Question 4: Which revision best fixes the misplaced modifier: "Maria nearly drove her children to school every day for a decade."
- Maria drove her children to school nearly every day for a decade. (Correct answer)
- Nearly, Maria drove her children to school every day for a decade.
- Maria drove nearly her children to school every day for a decade.
- Maria drove her children to nearly school every day for a decade.
Correct answer: Maria drove her children to school nearly every day for a decade.
"Nearly" should modify "every day," not "drove." Moving it before "every day" clarifies that she almost never missed a day.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of a body paragraph's topic sentence?
- To introduce the main idea of that paragraph and connect it to the thesis (Correct answer)
- To restate the essay's conclusion at the start of each paragraph
- To provide all the evidence the paragraph will discuss
- To ask a question that the paragraph does not answer
Correct answer: To introduce the main idea of that paragraph and connect it to the thesis
A topic sentence signals what the paragraph is about and how it supports the overall thesis, keeping the essay organized and focused.
Question 6: Which of the following best combines these two sentences into one: "The experiment failed. It provided useful data for future research."
- Although the experiment failed, it provided useful data for future research. (Correct answer)
- The experiment failed and it provided useful data for future research.
- The experiment failed; providing useful data for future research.
- Because the experiment failed, it provided useful data for future research.
Correct answer: Although the experiment failed, it provided useful data for future research.
"Although" correctly expresses the contrast between failure and usefulness. "And" doesn't show contrast, the semicolon version creates a fragment, and "because" implies causation rather than contrast.
TSI - Texas Success Initiative Essay and Sentence Revision Questions and Answers 3
Which revision most effectively improves this wordy sentence: "Due to the fact that it was raining outside, the game was postponed."