TSI Essay and Sentence Revision 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which revision best corrects the comma splice: "The exam was difficult, many students still passed"?
- The exam was difficult, but many students still passed. (Correct answer)
- The exam was difficult many students still passed.
- The exam was difficult, many students, still passed.
- The exam, was difficult many students still passed.
Correct answer: The exam was difficult, but many students still passed.
Adding the coordinating conjunction "but" after the comma joins the two independent clauses correctly.
Question 2: Choose the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement.
- Each of the students have a calculator.
- Each of the students has a calculator. (Correct answer)
- Each of the students are having a calculator.
- Each of the students were a calculator.
Correct answer: Each of the students has a calculator.
"Each" is singular and requires the singular verb "has."
Question 3: Which word best completes the sentence to show contrast: "She studied for weeks; ______, she felt unprepared"?
- therefore
- however (Correct answer)
- moreover
- thus
Correct answer: however
"However" signals a contrast between her studying and her feeling unprepared.
Question 4: Identify the sentence that is a fragment.
- The runner crossed the finish line.
- Because the weather turned cold. (Correct answer)
- We waited in the rain.
- They cheered loudly.
Correct answer: Because the weather turned cold.
"Because the weather turned cold" is a dependent clause and cannot stand alone.
Question 5: Which revision corrects the misplaced modifier: "Walking to school, the rain soaked my jacket"?
- Walking to school, my jacket was soaked by the rain.
- The rain soaked my jacket walking to school.
- Walking to school, I got my jacket soaked by the rain. (Correct answer)
- My jacket, walking to school, was soaked.
Correct answer: Walking to school, I got my jacket soaked by the rain.
The modifier "walking to school" must logically describe "I," the person doing the walking.
Question 6: Which sentence uses parallel structure correctly?
- She likes hiking, swimming, and to bike.
- She likes to hike, swimming, and biking.
- She likes hiking, swimming, and biking. (Correct answer)
- She likes hike, swim, and biking.
Correct answer: She likes hiking, swimming, and biking.
All three items in the list use the same -ing gerund form, creating parallel structure.
Question 7: In an essay, what is the primary purpose of a thesis statement?
- To list every source used
- To state the main argument or central claim (Correct answer)
- To summarize each paragraph
- To provide a catchy opening hook
Correct answer: To state the main argument or central claim
A thesis statement presents the essay's central argument or main point.
TSI Essay and Sentence Revision 2
Which revision best corrects the comma splice: "The exam was difficult, many students still passed"?