which example shows correct comma usage for dates

ATI TEAS 7

English and Language Usage TEAS

1. Which example shows correct comma usage for dates?

A. The due date for the final paper in the course is Monday, May 16.
B. Tuesday, March 10, 2021 was when the meeting took place.
C. We will meet on Friday, March 11, 2022.
D. We met on Monday, December 11, 2020.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A because it uses a comma to separate the day of the week from the date, as well as a comma after the month when the date is included in a sentence. In choice B, there should be commas after both the day of the week and the date. Choice C correctly uses commas after the day of the week and the date. Choice D incorrectly places the comma before the date instead of after the month.

2. Which of the following sentences contains an incorrect use of capitalization?

A. For Christmas, we are driving to the South to visit my grandmother in Mississippi.
B. Last year, we went to East Texas to go camping in Piney Woods.
C. Next month, we will visit my Aunt Darla, who lives just east of us.
D. When my sister-in-law Susan has her baby, I will take the train north to see her.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C. In this sentence, 'East' should not be capitalized because it is not part of a proper noun. Choices A, B, and D use capitalization correctly. In option A, 'South' and 'Mississippi' are capitalized as they are referring to specific regions. In option B, 'East Texas' and 'Piney Woods' are proper nouns and correctly capitalized. In option D, 'Susan' is a proper noun and capitalized appropriately.

3. Which of the following sentences best represents style and clarity of expression?

A. Without adequate preparation, the test was likely to be a failure for Zara.
B. The test was likely to be a failure for Zara without adequate preparation.
C. Without adequate preparation, Zara expected to fail the test.
D. Zara expected to fail the test without adequate preparation.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Choice C, 'Without adequate preparation, Zara expected to fail the test,' is the best option as it maintains clarity and conciseness. The subject 'Zara' is directly linked to the action 'expected to fail the test' with the cause 'Without adequate preparation' clearly stated at the beginning. This structure enhances the flow of the sentence and makes it easier to understand. Choices A, B, and D are less clear as they place the cause and effect in less optimal positions, resulting in a less effective and concise expression of the idea.

4. Which of the following is a compound sentence?

A. Plague, generally not a major public health concern, actually continues to spread among rodent populations today, and it even occasionally makes its way into a human host.
B. Modern archaeology, which seeks answers to humanity’s questions about its past, is significantly helped by new technologies.
C. In the fight against obesity, countries around the world are imposing taxes on sodas and other sugary drinks in an effort to curb unhealthy habits.
D. Because the assassination of President John F. Kennedy continues to haunt and fascinate Americans, new movies, books, and television series about it are released every year.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: A compound sentence consists of two or more independent clauses that are joined by coordinating conjunctions such as 'and,' 'but,' or 'or.' In choice A, the sentence contains two independent clauses separated by the coordinating conjunction 'and': 'Plague, generally not a major public health concern, actually continues to spread among rodent populations today' and 'it even occasionally makes its way into a human host.' Choice B is a complex sentence as it contains a dependent clause 'which seeks answers to humanity’s questions about its past' and an independent clause 'is significantly helped by new technologies.' Choice C is a simple sentence with one independent clause: 'In the fight against obesity, countries around the world are imposing taxes on sodas and other sugary drinks in an effort to curb unhealthy habits.' Choice D is a complex sentence with a dependent clause 'Because the assassination of President John F. Kennedy continues to haunt and fascinate Americans' and an independent clause 'new movies, books, and television series about it are released every year.'

5. Which word in the sentence 'The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog' demonstrates alliteration?

A. quick
B. brown
C. fox
D. jumps

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Alliteration is the repetition of the initial consonant sound in neighboring words. In the sentence 'The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog,' 'quick' and 'brown' both start with the 'k' sound, but only 'quick' aligns with the definition of alliteration as it repeats the 'k' sound found at the beginning of the words.