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 version of the sentence does NOT contain any misspelled words?

A. The suspect remained detained while the police conducted their inquisition.
B. The suspect remained detained while the police conducted their inquisition.
C. The suspect remained detained while the police conducted their inquisition.
D. The suspect remained detained while the police conducted their inquisition.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct version of the sentence is option D: 'The suspect remained detained while the police conducted their inquisition.' This option is correct as it does not contain any misspelled words. 'Inquisition' is spelled correctly in this option, while the other options have misspelled variations of the word. Option A, B, and C all contain misspelled versions of 'inquisition,' making them incorrect choices.

3. Which of the following sentences shows correct word usage?

A. It's often been said that work is better than rest.
B. Its often been said that work is better than rest.
C. It’s often been said that work is better than rest.
D. Its often been said that work is better than rest.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: In this sentence, 'It’s' is the contraction for 'it is,' and 'than' is used correctly for comparisons (e.g., better than). Therefore, sentence C is correct because it uses 'It’s' (it is) and 'than' (for comparison) properly. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect. Choice A lacks the necessary apostrophe in 'It's' (it is) and incorrectly uses 'then' instead of 'than.' Choice B incorrectly uses 'Its' (possessive form) instead of 'It’s.' Choice D lacks the necessary apostrophe in 'It's' (it is) and incorrectly uses 'then' instead of 'than.'

4. After a twelve-hour workday, James was exhausted when he heard the news.

A. .
B. ;
C. ,
D. —

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The comma (,) is used to separate the introductory clause 'After a twelve-hour workday' from the main clause 'James was exhausted when he heard the news.' This punctuation correctly indicates the relationship between the two clauses without interrupting the flow of the sentence. Choice A (.), a period, would create two separate sentences, which is not appropriate in this context. Choice B (;) is too strong of a pause and semicolons are typically used to connect closely related independent clauses. Choice D (—) is an em dash, which is used to set off an abrupt break or interruption in the sentence, not to separate an introductory clause from the main clause.

5. What is the most effective way to rewrite the following sentence: She is saying that some of the students are wearing to school is being distracting and inappropriate?

A. Some of the outfits students wear to school, she is saying, are distracting and not appropriate.
B. The outfits are distracting and inappropriate, she says, that students wear to school.
C. She says that some of the outfits that students wear to school are distracting and inappropriate.
D. She says that it is distracting and inappropriate that students wear outfits to school.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The most effective way to rewrite the sentence is, 'She says that some of the outfits that students wear to school are distracting and inappropriate.' This choice corrects the sentence structure by placing the subject ('Some of the outfits') before the verb ('are'), making it clearer and more grammatically correct. Choice A is incorrect as it places the subject after the verb, which disrupts the sentence structure. Choice B is incorrect as it changes the meaning of the sentence by placing the verb before the subject. Choice D is incorrect as it creates a confusing sentence structure by using 'that' redundantly.