which of the following sentences correctly uses a hyphen

ATI TEAS 7

English and Language Usage TEAS

1. Which of the following sentences correctly uses a hyphen?

A. Last year, many of the players felt unsure of the coach's methods.
B. Some of the furniture she selected seemed a bit over-the-top for the space.
C. Henry is a beagle-mix and is ready for adoption this weekend.
D. Geena works to maintain a good relationship with her ex-husband to the benefit of their children.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct usage of a hyphen is seen in sentence C, 'Henry is a beagle-mix and is ready for adoption this weekend.' The hyphen is used in 'beagle-mix' to link the two words together to describe Henry's breed accurately. Choice A contains a comma incorrectly placed after 'Last year.' Choice B uses hyphens as dashes, which is incorrect. Choice D does not require a hyphen as there is no compound term or adjective that needs to be linked.

2. Ibexes are wild mountain goats that live in the Alps and the mountains of Asia. They climb very steep slopes. They are sure-footed and can easily leap from rock to rock. In winter, they replace their summer coat with thicker hair and a wooly undercoat.

A. Ibexes are wild mountain goats that are very agile.
B. Ibexes are found in lowlands and highlands.
C. Ibexes like to climb steep slopes in the mountains.
D. Ibexes have adapted to life in the mountains.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is 'Ibexes have adapted to life in the mountains' because it serves as a concluding sentence that summarizes the content of the paragraph. This statement encapsulates the information provided about ibexes living in the Alps and Asian mountains, climbing steep slopes, being sure-footed, and changing their coats in winter. Choice A is incorrect because the text does not specifically mention their agility. Choice B is incorrect as the text only mentions the Alps and Asian mountains, not lowlands. Choice C is also incorrect as the text mentions ibexes climbing steep slopes, not just liking to do so.

3. Identify the predicate in the following sentence: 'The children built a sandcastle on the beach.'

A. on the beach
B. built a sandcastle
C. children
D. the

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The predicate in a sentence is the part that tells what the subject is doing or what is being done to the subject. In this sentence, 'built a sandcastle' is the predicate as it is the action performed by the subject 'children.' 'On the beach' is a prepositional phrase that provides additional information but is not the predicate. Choice C 'children' is the subject of the sentence, and choice D 'the' is an article referring to 'children,' making them incorrect choices for the predicate.

4. Which of the following best defines the word circumvent?

A. To go around
B. To go under
C. To come near
D. To come through

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: 'To go around.' Circumvent means to find a way around an obstacle or to avoid something by cleverness or deception. Choice B, 'To go under,' is incorrect as circumvent does not involve going under something. Choice C, 'To come near,' is incorrect as circumvent does not mean to approach or get close to something. Choice D, 'To come through,' is incorrect as circumvent does not involve passing through something.

5. What type of sentence is the following: 'If it rains tomorrow, the picnic will be canceled'?

A. Simple
B. Compound
C. Complex
D. Compound-complex

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The given sentence, 'If it rains tomorrow, the picnic will be canceled,' is a complex sentence. It consists of an independent clause 'the picnic will be canceled' and a dependent clause 'If it rains tomorrow.' A simple sentence contains just one independent clause, a compound sentence contains two or more independent clauses, and a compound-complex sentence contains two or more independent clauses and at least one dependent clause. Therefore, choices A, B, and D are incorrect for this sentence.