Commas
Which sentence uses commas correctly (or is no comma necessary)?
A. Because he was tired he went to bed early.
B. Because, he was tired he went to bed early.
C. Because he was tired, he went to bed early.
C. Because he was tired, he went to bed early.
Which sentence uses the semicolon correctly?
A. I wanted to go to the game; but I had too much homework.
B. I wanted to go to the game; however, I had too much homework.
C. I wanted to go to the game however; I had too much homework.
D. I wanted; to go to the game, however I had too much homework.
B. I wanted to go to the game; however, I had too much homework.
Choose the correct preposition:
He stayed awake ______ the entire movie.
A. toward
B. since
C. until
D. during
D. during
The team climbed the stairs to ______ their award.
A. except
B. accept
B. accept
Which statement primarily appeals to ethos, or character, to support the position that the best thing most people could do to improve their health is to get more sleep?
A. Although I love my job as a nurse, my health has suffered because of it; I am often required to work over-night shifts, which disrupts my sleep.
B. It should be no surprise that we are chronically tired. A busy lifestyle makes it hard to get a good night's sleep, and napping is impossible.
C. People are exhausted. After work, they are expected to fill their nights with errands, chores, and something fulfilling; they are completely drained and don't have the chance for enough sleep
A. Although I love my job as a nurse, my health has suffered because of it; I am often required to work over-night shifts, which disrupts my sleep.
Which of the following is correct (coordinate adjectives)?
A. It was a long, exhausting journey.
B. It was a long exhausting journey.
A. It was a long, exhausting journey.
Which version punctuates the list correctly using semicolons?
A. We traveled to Paris; France, Rome; Italy, and Vienna; Austria.
B. We traveled to Paris, France, Rome, Italy; and Vienna, Austria.
C. We traveled to Paris, France; Rome, Italy; and Vienna, Austria.
D. We traveled; to Paris, France; Rome, Italy; and Vienna, Austria.
C. We traveled to Paris, France; Rome, Italy; and Vienna, Austria.
Choose the correct preposition:
The book was written ______ a well-known historian.
A. by
B. of
C. at
D. from
A. by
We need to buy ______ ingredients before we start cooking.
A. fewer
B. less
A. fewer
Which statement primarily appeals to logos, or reason, to support the position that parents should not let young children play with smartphones and tablets?
A. As a child development specialist, I have seen firsthand how excessive screen use can interfere with healthy cognitive and social growth in young children.
B. Allowing very young children unlimited access to smartphones risks replacing precious moments of bonding and imagination with isolating digital distraction.
C. Studies consistently show that high screen time in early childhood is linked to reduced attention span, poorer sleep, and slower language development, making it reasonable for parents to limit device use.
C. Studies consistently show that high screen time in early childhood is linked to reduced attention span, poorer sleep, and slower language development, making it reasonable for parents to limit device use.
Which of the following is correct (coordinate adjectives)?
A. The child was interested in the big red car.
B. The child was interested in the big, red car.
A. The child was interested in the big red car.
Which sentence uses a semicolon incorrectly?
A. She loves classical music; he prefers jazz.
B. The concert was canceled; therefore, we stayed home.
C. We visited the museum; the new exhibit was incredible.
D. Because it was raining; the event was postponed.
D. Because it was raining; the event was postponed.
Which word in the sentence is a preposition?
The student placed her notes beside the open laptop.
beside
Her explanation didn’t have any ______ on my decision.
A. affect
B. effect
B. effect
Which statement primarily appeals to pathos, or emotion, to support the position that unpaid internships are exploitative?
A. As someone who has worked with student labor rights organizations, I’ve seen how unpaid internships often rely on young people’s work without offering fair compensation or real training.
B. Because unpaid interns perform productive tasks that benefit companies while receiving no wages, the arrangement fits the definition of labor exploitation according to economic and labor standards.
C. It’s unfair that many students are forced to choose between gaining experience and being able to afford basic living expenses, leaving them feeling used and undervalued.
C. It’s unfair that many students are forced to choose between gaining experience and being able to afford basic living expenses, leaving them feeling used and undervalued.
Insert commas where needed (Introductory Information):
Before beginning the test make sure you read all the directions.
Before beginning the test, make sure you read all the directions.
Insert a semicolon in the correct place:
The storm grew stronger the winds reached nearly 50 mph.
The storm grew stronger; the winds reached nearly 50 mph.
Which word in the sentence is the preposition?
After the announcement, the crowd applauded enthusiastically.
After
The committee must decide ______ proposal is strongest.
A. whose
B. who's
A. whose
Which statement primarily appeals to ethos, or character, to support the position that the system of using letter grades is fundamentally flawed?
A. While some may believe that grades provide a helpful indicator of student performance, others would argue that grades are arbitrary and subject, making other systems more meaningful.
B. Teacher and expert in education, Jane Smith, notes that a more narrative based approach to describe students abilities and performance allows for a much more accurate representation of that student.
C. The current system of letter grades is broken. Students are taught to manipulate it rather than just being taught the skills and standards that they should be.
B. Teacher and expert in education, Jane Smith, notes that a more narrative based approach to describe students abilities and performance allows for a much more accurate representation of that student.
Insert commas where needed (Complex Sentence):
Although the rain continued we decided to keep hiking.
Although the rain continued, we decided to keep hiking.
Insert a semicolon where needed:
The deadline was approaching however we still needed more time to finish the project.
The deadline was approaching; however, we still needed more time to finish the project.
Which word(s) in the sentence are a preposition?
The hikers walked through the forest as the sun began to set.
The student ___ the teacher praised won the award.
A. who
B. whom
B. whom
Which statement primarily appeals to pathos, or emotions, to support the position that the winter holiday is becoming far too commercialized?
A. As a scholar of cultural traditions, I have witnessed how contemporary winter celebrations increasingly subordinate authentic communal rituals to the demands of consumer culture.
B. Imagine just trying to prepare to celebrate with family--only for the stores to be filled with head-ache inducing lights and sounds, children and people made energized and frustrated, and an onslaught of red and green--rather than the simple grocery staples you needed.
C Given that winter holiday spending now constitutes a disproportionately large share of annual retail revenue and is driven by ever-intensifying marketing strategies, it is evident that the holiday has become excessively commercialized.
B. Imagine just trying to prepare to celebrate with family--only for the stores to be filled with head-ache inducing lights and sounds, children and people made energized and frustrated, and an onslaught of red and green--rather than the simple grocery staples you needed.