which of the following examples correctly uses quotation marks

ATI TEAS 7

English and Language Usage TEAS

1. Which of the following examples correctly uses quotation marks?

A. “Where the Red Fern Grows” was one of my favorite novels as a child.
B. Though he is famous for his roles in films like “The Great Gatsby” and “Titanic,” Leonardo DiCaprio has never won an Oscar.
C. Sylvia Plath’s poem, “Daddy,” will be the subject of this week’s group discussion.
D. “The New York Times” reported that many fans are disappointed in some of the trades made by the Yankees this off-season.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct use of quotation marks in choice A is to enclose the title of a book, 'Where the Red Fern Grows,' indicating that it is a specific title that should be distinguished from the rest of the sentence. Choice B incorrectly uses quotation marks for movie titles, which should be italicized or underlined. Choice C correctly uses quotation marks for the title of a poem. Choice D has an extra space before the opening quotation mark, which is incorrect.

2. Which of the following sentences shows the correct way to separate the items in the series?

A. These are actual cities in the United States: Unalaska, Alaska; Yreka, California; Two Egg, Florida; and Boring, Maryland.
B. These are actual cities in the United States: Unalaska; Alaska, Yreka; California, Two Egg; Florida, and Boring; Maryland.
C. These are actual cities in the United States: Unalaska, Alaska, Yreka, California, Two Egg, Florida, and Boring, Maryland.
D. These are actual cities in the United States: Unalaska Alaska, Yreka California, Two Egg Florida, and Boring Maryland.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Option C is the correct answer as it correctly separates the cities and states in the series using commas. The items in a series should be separated by commas, with the final two items being separated by 'and.' Choices A, B, and D have incorrect punctuation or lack necessary commas. In Choice A, semicolons are used incorrectly, and in Choice B, semicolons are placed inappropriately. Choice D lacks necessary commas to separate the cities and states effectively. Therefore, Option C is the only choice that demonstrates the correct way to separate items in a series.

3. Which of the following words is hyphenated correctly?

A. Ex-president
B. Hyperactive
C. Self-made
D. Mid-America

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is 'Mid-America.' It is correctly hyphenated as it combines 'Mid' and 'America' to form a compound noun. Choice A, 'Ex-president,' should be hyphenated to show the prefix 'Ex-' before 'president.' Choice B, 'Hyperactive,' should not be hyphenated as 'hyper' is a prefix. Choice C, 'Self-made,' should be hyphenated to connect 'self' and 'made' in this compound adjective.

4. The shear number of people in the audience overwhelmed the actress as she peeked through the curtain before scene one. Which of the following correctly describes an error in the sentence above?

A. The homograph 'peeked' should be 'peaked.'
B. The homograph 'through' should be 'threw.'
C. The homophone 'shear' should be 'sheer.'
D. The homophone 'scene' should be 'seen.'

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The word 'shear' means to cut, while 'sheer' in this context means 'complete' or 'unqualified.' The correct spelling in the sentence should be 'sheer.' Choice A, 'peeked' is the correct past tense of 'peek,' meaning to glance quickly or briefly. Choice B, 'through' is the correct preposition to indicate moving in one side and out the other. Choice D, 'scene,' is the correct term for a part of a play or movie, not 'seen,' which is the past participle of 'see.'

5. Which adjective best describes the following setting: 'A lone cabin stood nestled amongst towering pines, smoke curling from its chimney into the crisp mountain air'?

A. Bland
B. Urban
C. Idyllic
D. Sterile

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is 'Idyllic' because it accurately captures the peaceful and picturesque nature of the setting. The image of a lone cabin nestled among towering pines with smoke curling from its chimney into the crisp mountain air evokes a sense of tranquility and beauty. 'Bland' (choice A) is incorrect as it suggests something dull or uninteresting, which does not align with the vivid imagery described. 'Urban' (choice B) is also incorrect as it refers to a city or town setting, which is the opposite of the isolated cabin in the mountains. 'Sterile' (choice D) is incorrect as it conveys a lack of warmth and character, which is not reflective of the cozy and inviting atmosphere portrayed in the description.