TSI - Texas Success Initiative Essay and Sentence Revision Questions and Answers

Question 1

Read the following pair of sentences:

(1) The city council approved the new park proposal. (2) It was a contentious issue that had been debated for months.

Which is the best way to combine these two sentences?

Accepted Answer

After months of contentious debate, the city council approved the new park proposal.

Answer

This choice correctly combines the two sentences into one clear and concise sentence. It uses a prepositional phrase ('After months of contentious debate') to introduce the main clause, effectively linking the cause (the debate) and the effect (the approval) without grammatical errors or redundancy.

Question 2

Which of the following sentences contains a grammatical error?

Accepted Answer

Running down the street, the bus suddenly pulled away from the curb.

Answer

This sentence contains a dangling modifier. The introductory phrase 'Running down the street' should describe the subject of the main clause, but the subject is 'the bus.' Since the bus cannot run down the street in the way a person does, the modifier is misplaced. The sentence should be revised to clarify who was running, for example: 'As I was running down the street, the bus suddenly pulled away from the curb.'

Question 3

A student is writing a persuasive essay arguing that schools should implement a later start time. Which of the following sentences would be the most effective thesis statement?

Accepted Answer

To improve student well-being and academic performance, high schools should start no earlier than 8:30 a.m.

Answer

A strong thesis statement makes a clear, specific, and arguable claim. This option presents a direct argument ('high schools should start no earlier than 8:30 a.m.') and provides the main reasons for this position ('to improve student well-being and academic performance'). It sets a clear direction for the rest of the essay.

Question 4

In the context of writing an essay, what is the primary purpose of a transition word or phrase like 'However' or 'In contrast'?

Accepted Answer

To signal a shift in thought and show the relationship between ideas.

Answer

Transition words and phrases are crucial for creating coherence and logical flow in an essay. Words like 'However' or 'In contrast' specifically signal a shift to an opposing or different idea, helping the reader understand the relationship between the sentences or paragraphs.

Question 5

Read the following sentence:

The manager told the employees that they would receive a bonus, this made everyone happy.

Which of the following is the best revision of this sentence?

Accepted Answer

The manager told the employees that they would receive a bonus, which made everyone happy.

Answer

The original sentence contains a comma splice, where two independent clauses are joined only by a comma. This revision correctly uses the relative pronoun 'which' to connect the second clause to the first, creating a grammatically correct and fluent sentence. The word 'which' refers to the act of the manager telling the employees about the bonus.

TSI Practice Test

TSI Practice Test

TSI - Texas Success Initiative Essay and Sentence Revision Questions and Answers