Nursing Elites

1. A student reads the following sentence: A hundred years ago, automobiles were rare, but now cars are ubiquitous. However, she doesn't know what the word ubiquitous means. Which key context clue is essential to decipher the word's meaning?

• A. Ago
• B. Cars
• C. Now
• D. Rare

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The key context clue essential to decipher the word 'ubiquitous' is the word 'now.' By comparing the rarity of automobiles a hundred years ago to their ubiquity now, the student can infer that 'ubiquitous' means something that is commonplace or found everywhere. Choice A ('Ago') refers to the past and does not provide information about the current state of cars. Choice B ('Cars') only contrasts rare and ubiquitous without indicating the change over time. Choice D ('Rare') simply contrasts with 'ubiquitous' without showing the transition from rarity to ubiquity.

2. Which sentence uses the semicolon correctly?

• A. The play was long; however, it was very entertaining.
• B. The guests arrived; Sarah greeted them at the door.
• C. John likes apples; Mary prefers oranges.
• D. He was tired; he went to bed early.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Option B correctly uses a semicolon to join two independent clauses related to the same event. In this sentence, 'The guests arrived' and 'Sarah greeted them at the door' are both independent clauses that are appropriately connected using a semicolon. Choice A incorrectly uses a semicolon before 'however,' which is a conjunction that should be preceded by a comma. Choice C incorrectly uses a semicolon to connect two independent clauses that are not closely related. Choice D incorrectly uses a semicolon to connect two independent clauses without a clear relationship or cohesion.

3. In which of the following word pairs does the noun become a verb when the suffix is added?

• A. Biology, Biologist
• B. Apology, Apologize
• C. Happy, Happily
• D. Mineral, Mineralogy

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B. 'Apology' transforms into 'apologize' when the suffix is added, changing the word from a noun to a verb. In this case, the suffix '-ize' is added to the noun 'apology' to form the verb 'apologize.' Choices A, C, and D do not involve a transformation from a noun to a verb when a suffix is added. 'Biology' and 'biologist' are related but not in a noun-to-verb transformation. 'Happy' and 'happily' involve an adjective-to-adverb transformation. 'Mineral' and 'mineralogy' are related terms in the same field but do not show a noun-to-verb change.

4. Which of the following best defines the word circumvent?

• A. To go around
• B. To go under
• C. To come near
• D. To come through

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: 'To go around.' Circumvent means to find a way around an obstacle or to avoid something by cleverness or deception. Choice B, 'To go under,' is incorrect as circumvent does not involve going under something. Choice C, 'To come near,' is incorrect as circumvent does not mean to approach or get close to something. Choice D, 'To come through,' is incorrect as circumvent does not involve passing through something.

5. It was not a compact city but was instead divided into separate districts. What is the meaning of the homograph 'compact' in the sentence above?

• A. A small case for holding makeup
• B. To compress
• C. Closely packed together
• D. Very tidy

Correct answer: C

Rationale: In this context, the term 'compact' refers to things being 'closely packed together.' The city was not compact in the sense of being closely packed together, but rather divided into separate districts. Choice A, 'A small case for holding makeup,' is not relevant to the context of the sentence. Choice B, 'To compress,' does not fit the sentence's context as it refers to the action of pressing things together. Choice D, 'Very tidy,' is also unrelated to the meaning of 'compact' in the sentence.

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