Nursing Elites

1. Which of the answer choices best combines the following four sentences into two sentences? I'm usually good about keeping track of my keys. I lost them. I spent hours looking for them. I found them in the freezer.

• A. I lost my keys, even though I'm usually good about keeping track of them. I found them in the freezer and spent hours looking for them.
• B. I spent hours looking for my keys and found them in the freezer. I had lost them, even though I'm usually good about keeping track of them.
• C. I'm usually good about keeping track of my keys, but I lost them. After spending hours looking for them, I found them in the freezer.
• D. I'm usually good about keeping track of my keys, but I lost them in the freezer. I had to spend hours looking for them.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Combining the sentences is most effective when using 'but' to contrast the two ideas. Option C is concise, clear, and provides the best flow, accurately capturing both the contrast 'but I lost them' and the sequence of events 'After spending hours looking for them, I found them in the freezer.' Options A, B, and D do not effectively combine the sentences or maintain the sequence of events and contrast between keeping track of the keys and losing them.

2. What is the primary purpose of using strong vocabulary in writing?

• A. Impress the reader with your knowledge of complex words.
• B. Confuse the reader and make them think harder.
• C. Communicate your ideas clearly and precisely.
• D. Shorten your sentences and save space.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The primary purpose of using strong vocabulary in writing is to communicate your ideas clearly and precisely to the reader. While using complex words may impress the reader, the ultimate goal is effective communication. Clear communication ensures that the message is easily understood, removing any potential confusion or ambiguity. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because the main focus should be on clarity and precision in conveying thoughts, rather than solely aiming to impress, confuse, or save space.

3. Which of the following sentences shows the correct use of quotation marks?

• A. "Grady asked Abe, 'Did you know that an earthquake and a tsunami hit Messina, Italy, in 1908?'"
• B. Grady asked Abe, 'Did you know that an earthquake and a tsunami hit Messina, Italy, in 1908?'
• C. Grady asked Abe, "Did you know that an earthquake and a tsunami hit Messina, Italy, in 1908?"
• D. Grady asked Abe, "Did you know that an earthquake and a tsunami hit Messina, Italy, in 1908?"

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct use of quotation marks is in option C. In this option, the entire quoted sentence is enclosed within double quotation marks. This is the standard convention for punctuating direct speech in English. Option A has an incorrect placement of single and double quotation marks. Option B lacks opening double quotation marks for the spoken sentence. Option D incorrectly places the closing quotation mark outside the question mark, which is not the standard punctuation rule for quoted sentences.

4. Which of the following examples uses correct punctuation?

• A. The moderator asked the candidates, “Is each of you prepared to discuss your position on global warming?”.
• B. The moderator asked the candidates, “Is each of you prepared to discuss your position on global warming?”
• C. . The moderator asked the candidates, ‘Is each of you prepared to discuss your position on global warming?’
• D. The moderator asked the candidates, ‘Is each of you prepared to discuss your position on global warming?’

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Option B is the correct answer because it correctly places the period inside the closing quotation mark, following the closing punctuation of the sentence. This is the standard punctuation rule for quotations in American English. Choice A is incorrect as it has an extra period outside the closing quotation mark. Choice C is incorrect as the period should come after the closing quotation mark. Choice D is incorrect as it lacks the initial space before the quotation, not adhering to proper punctuation rules.

5. Which of the following punctuation marks is used incorrectly in the sentence? "Otto, somewhat abruptly, got up out of his chair, and just like that, headed into the next room."

• A. The comma after "somewhat"
• B. The comma after "Otto"
• C. The semicolon after "that"
• D. The comma after "chair"

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The semicolon after "that" is used incorrectly; a comma should be used instead. Semicolons are typically used to join two independent clauses without a conjunction. In this sentence, the phrase "just like that" is not an independent clause, so a comma is more appropriate for separating it from the rest of the sentence. Choices A, B, and D all use commas correctly within the sentence.

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