TSI Writing Practice Test #2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Select the best version of the underlined part of the sentence. The first choice is the same as the original sentence. If you think the original sentence is best, choose the first answer: Claude Monet was a famous painter <u>who's well-known painting includes</u> Starry Night and Water Lilly Pond.
- whose well-known paintings include (Correct answer)
- who's well-known painting includes
- whose well-known painting including
- who well-known paintings include
Correct answer: whose well-known paintings include
Explanation: <br> The correct way to refer to a person, in this case Monet, is through the use of the pronoun whose which eliminates two of the choices. Two paintings are identified, so the plural form must be used, eliminating another of the choices. This choice uses whose and paintings, indicating there is more than one, making it the correct choice.
Question 2: Rewrite the sentence in your head following the directions given below. Keep in mind that your new sentence should be well written and should have essentially the same meaning as the original sentence. Bats and dolphins use a process known as echolocation, which means they emit and receive frequencies that can help them navigate through the dark night and murky waters, and also allows them to locate food sources like insects or fish. Rewrite, beginning with, <u>Locating food sources like insects or fish</u> The next words will be:
- is done through a process known as echolocation
- helps them navigate through the dark night
- during which they emit and receive frequencies
- is done by bats and dolphins (Correct answer)
Correct answer: is done by bats and dolphins
Explanation: <br> The original sentence indicates that bats and dolphins are able to do many things, including locating food sources like insects or fish through a process known as echolocation. This choice best expresses the fact that locating food is accomplished through echolocation.
Question 3: Rewrite the sentence in your head following the directions given below. Keep in mind that your new sentence should be well written and should have essentially the same meaning as the original sentence: Carbon dating is an accepted method used by archaeologists to figure out the age of artifacts, even though it may not be entirely accurate if samples are contaminated or if the objects to be dated are not extremely old. Rewrite, beginning with <u>Even though carbon dating is not always entirely accurate</u>, The next words will be
- samples are contaminated
- to figure out the age
- objects to be dated
- it is an accepted method (Correct answer)
Correct answer: it is an accepted method
Explanation: <br> The new sentence begins with the phrase "even though," indicating that a contrast is being constructed. "Even though carbon dating is not always entirely accurate, it is still an accepted method" provides this contrast, while the other choices do not.
Question 4: Rewrite the sentence in your head following the directions given below. Keep in mind that your new sentence should be well written and should have essentially the same meaning as the original sentence. Chemical changes are sometimes difficult to distinguish from physical changes, but some examples of physical changes, such as melting water, chopped wood, and ripped paper, are very easy to recognize. <u>Melting water, chopped wood, and ripped paper</u>, The next words will be
- are chemical changes
- are sometimes difficult to distinguish
- are very easy to recognize
- are some examples of physical changes (Correct answer)
Correct answer: are some examples of physical changes
Explanation: <br> Melting water, chopped wood, and ripped paper are identified in the original sentence as examples of physical changes that are easy to distinguish from chemical changes. This choice is best because it identifies the previously mentioned objects as examples of physical changes.
Question 5: Rewrite the sentence in your head following the directions given below. Keep in mind that your new sentence should be well written and should have essentially the same meaning as the original sentence. The theory of repressed memory was developed by Sigmund Freud, and it stated that all people store memories that cannot be accessed during daily life, but can be accessed through hypnotherapy and hypnosis. Rewrite, beginning with, <u>Developed by Sigmund Freud</u>, The next words will be
- hypnotherapy and hypnosis
- it stated that all people
- that cannot be accessed
- the theory of repressed memory (Correct answer)
Correct answer: the theory of repressed memory
Explanation: <br> This is the only phrase that describes something developed by Sigmund Freud.
Question 6: Rewrite the sentence in your head following the directions given below. Keep in mind that your new sentence should be well written and should have essentially the same meaning as the original sentence. Romantic poetry is an important genre, and the works are easily distinguished from other types of poetry by several characteristics, including their focus on nature and the importance that is ascribed to everyday occurrences. Rewrite, beginning with <u>A focus on nature and the importance that is ascribed to everyday occurrences</u>, The next words will be
- from other types of poetry
- are easily distinguished
- are several characteristics (Correct answer)
- is an important genre
Correct answer: are several characteristics
Explanation: <br> A focus on nature and ascribing importance to everyday occurrences are identified in the original sentence as important characteristics of Romantic poetry. This answer clearly identifies them as characteristics, and is the only choice that can logically follow the given phrase.
Question 7: Choose the best alternative to the sentence's underlined part. The first option is identical to the first statement. Choose the first option if you believe the original sentence is preferable. <br> While speed is a measurement of how fast an object is moving, velocity is a measurement of how fast an object is moving <u>as well as the direction in which it is travelling</u>.
- and only indicates in which direction
- and also indicates in what direction (Correct answer)
- and also indicate in which directions
- and only indicated in what direction
Correct answer: and also indicates in what direction
Explanation: <br> The original is consistent with the single, noun, and the and implies that velocity can be used to represent multiple values.
Question 8: Choose the best version of the sentence's underlined part. The first option corresponds to the original sentence. Choose the first option if you believe the original sentence is the best.<u>A key factor taken into account during city planning is </u>where the majority of the services and amenities will be.
- A key factor taking into account during city planning is
- Key factors taken into account during city planning is
- A key factor taken into account during city planning is (Correct answer)
- Key factors, taken into accounting during city planning are
Correct answer: A key factor taken into account during city planning is
Explanation: <br> This decision makes logical, and the singular is a critical criterion that everyone agrees on.
Question 9: Choose the best version of the sentence's underlined part. The first option corresponds to the original sentence. Choose the first option if you believe the original sentence is the best. <u>Jupiter with its numerous moons, and Great Red Spot,</u> has been studied extensively by astronomers.
- Jupiter, with its numerous moons and Great Red Spot, (Correct answer)
- Jupiter with, its numerous moons, and Great Red Spot,
- Jupiter with, its numerous moons and Great Red Spot,
- Jupiter with its numerous moons, and Great Red Spot,
Correct answer: Jupiter, with its numerous moons and Great Red Spot,
Explanation: <br> The only option with correctly positioned commas is this one. Both the numerous moons and the Great Red Spot pertain to Jupiter, which is preserved in this response.
Question 10: Select the best edit for the underlined part. Coming in from Fourth Street, the <u>Student Union is seen by students who are arriving on campus.</u>
- Student Union is seen by students who are arriving on campus.
- students who are arriving on campus see the Student Union. (Correct answer)
- the students having seen the Student Union arrive on campus.
- the Student Union is being seen by students who arrive on campus.
Correct answer: students who are arriving on campus see the Student Union.
The introductory phrase 'Coming in from Fourth Street' must describe whoever performs that action, and a building cannot arrive on campus, so the sentence must be recast in active voice with 'students' as the subject who see the Student Union. The other options leave the dangling modifier in place or stay in passive voice.
Question 11: Select the best edit for the underlined part. Judy is dating a <u>man that has a seven hundred-acre ranch near the foothills outside of town.</u>
- a man that has a seven hundred-acre ranch near the foothills outside of town
- a man, that has a seven hundred-acre ranch near the foothills outside of town.
- a man, who has a seven hundred-acre ranch near the foothills outside of town.
- a man who has a seven hundred-acre ranch near the foothills outside of town (Correct answer)
Correct answer: a man who has a seven hundred-acre ranch near the foothills outside of town
The relative pronoun 'who' is used for people, so 'a man who has a ranch' is correct, while 'that' is reserved for things. The clause is essential (restrictive) information identifying the man, so no comma should set it off, which rules out the comma versions.
Question 12: Rewrite the following sentence: <br> In his kitchen, Chef Thomas Keller applies classical French cooking techniques to create a unique American dining experience. <br> <br> Rewrite the sentence, beginning with: “Classical French cooking…” <br> <br> The new sentence will be:
- Classical French cooking techniques make American dining offered by Chef Thomas Keller.
- Classical French cooking and American dining are combined in the Chef Thomas Keller kitchen. (Correct answer)
- Classical French cooking techniques are applied in the kitchen by Chef Thomas Keller to create a unique American dining experience
- Classical French cooking applications are made by Chef Thomas Keller in his kitchen.
Correct answer: Classical French cooking and American dining are combined in the Chef Thomas Keller kitchen.
The correct rewrite, 'Classical French cooking and American dining are combined in the Chef Thomas Keller kitchen,' begins with the required phrase while preserving the original meaning that French techniques are blended to create the American experience. The other versions distort the meaning or leave out key elements of the original sentence.
Question 13: Read the statement. Choose the correct answer to tell if it is a fact or an opinion. <br> <br> We had a terrific view of the game from our seats.
- Fact
- Opinion (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Opinion
'Terrific' is a subjective judgment that different people could reasonably disagree about, so the statement is an opinion. It cannot be independently verified as true or false the way a measurable fact can.
Question 14: Read the statement. Choose the correct answer to tell if it is a fact or an opinion. <br> <br> The official whistled and signaled a penalty.
- Fact (Correct answer)
- Opinion
Correct answer: Fact
An official whistling and signaling a penalty is an observable event that any witness could confirm happened, so it is a fact. It states what occurred without any personal judgment or interpretation.
Question 15: Which phrase works better as the subordinating clause? <br> <br> ... James wanted to join the Army, he had to take a series of tests.
- Because (Correct answer)
- And
- Then
- During
Correct answer: Because
"Because" is the correct subordinating conjunction here because it shows the cause-and-effect relationship: wanting to join the Army is the reason he had to take the tests. "And" and "Then" are coordinating/sequencing words that don't create a subordinate clause, and "During" is a preposition that needs an object, not a clause.
Question 16: Which subordinating conjunction best completes the following sentence? <br> <br> You are to stay in the house _____________ I say otherwise.
- even if
- unless (Correct answer)
- since
Correct answer: unless
"Unless" is correct because it introduces an exception to the rule—you must stay in the house except in the case that the speaker says otherwise. "Even if" would mean you stay no matter what (which removes the exception), and "since" expresses reason or time, neither of which fits this conditional command.
TSI Writing Practice Test #2
Select the best version of the underlined part of the sentence.
The first choice is the same as the original sentence.
If you think the original sentence is best, choose the first answer: Claude Monet was a famous painter who's well-known painting includes Starry Night and Water Lilly Pond.