his friend really digs modern classical music even though it can be totally jarring

ATI TEAS 7

ATI TEAS English Practice Test

1. Which word in the following sentence is a slang term?

A. Digs
B. Classical
C. Totally
D. Jarring

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is 'A: Digs.' In this context, 'digs' is a slang term that means 'likes' or 'enjoys.' The other choices are not slang terms. 'Classical' is a music genre, 'totally' is an adverb emphasizing 'jarring,' and 'jarring' describes something that is shocking or unsettling.

2. A teacher wants to counsel a student about using the word ain’t in a research paper for a high school English class. What advice should the teacher give?

A. Ain’t is not in the dictionary, so it isn’t a word.
B. Because the student isn’t in college yet, ain’t is an appropriate expression for a high school writer.
C. Ain’t is incorrect English and should not be part of a serious student’s vocabulary because it sounds uneducated.
D. Ain’t is a colloquial expression, and while it may be appropriate in a conversational setting, it is not standard in academic writing.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The teacher should advise the student that 'ain’t' is a colloquial expression, and while it may be suitable in informal or conversational settings, it is not standard in academic writing. Using colloquialisms like 'ain’t' in formal research papers can diminish the professionalism and clarity of the writing. Choice A is incorrect as the presence of a word in the dictionary does not solely determine its appropriateness in formal writing. Choice B is incorrect because the student's academic level does not justify the use of non-standard English. Choice C is incorrect as it focuses on the perceived uneducated sound of 'ain’t' rather than its appropriateness in formal writing, which is the key concern for the research paper in question.

3. Which word in the following sentence is a homophone of 'I'll'?

A. Me
B. Aisle
C. I'm
D. Ill

Correct answer: B

Rationale: 'Aisle' is the correct answer. A homophone is a word that is pronounced the same as another word but has a different meaning or spelling. In this sentence, 'I'll' is a homophone of 'aisle' as they sound the same but have distinct definitions and spellings. Choices A, C, and D do not fit the criteria of being homophones of 'I'll'.

4. What is the function of a colon when used to introduce a list?

A. A colon joins two related sentences.
B. A colon sets off direct quotes longer than five words.
C. A colon introduces a list or explanation after a complete sentence.
D. A colon separates clauses in a compound sentence.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: When a colon is used to introduce a list, it is placed after a complete sentence and serves to signal that what follows will be a list or an explanation related to the preceding sentence. Choice A is incorrect because a colon doesn't join two related sentences; it introduces what follows after a complete sentence. Choice B is incorrect as a colon is not used to set off direct quotes longer than five words; quotation marks are used for that purpose. Choice D is incorrect because a colon does not separate clauses in a compound sentence; it is used to introduce a list or explanation after a complete sentence.

5. What is the correct plural of chair?

A. Chair
B. Chairs
C. Chaires
D. Chairies

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct plural form of 'chair' is 'chairs,' following the regular pluralization rule by adding 's.' Choices C and D, 'Chaires' and 'Chairies,' are incorrect because they do not follow the standard English pluralization rule. Choice A, 'Chair,' is the singular form and not the plural form of the word.