which of the following sentences correctly uses a semicolon

ATI TEAS 7

Practice English TEAS TEST

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

A. I have a big test tomorrow; I can't go out tonight.
B. I have a big test tomorrow; I can't go out tonight.
C. I have a big test tomorrow; and I can't go out tonight.
D. I have a big test tomorrow; but I can't go out tonight.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct use of a semicolon is to join two closely related independent clauses. Choice A is the only option that correctly uses a semicolon to connect two independent clauses: 'I have a big test tomorrow' and 'I can't go out tonight.' Choice B incorrectly uses a comma instead of a semicolon. Choice C adds an unnecessary 'and' after the semicolon, which disrupts the correct punctuation usage. Choice D introduces a contradictory conjunction 'but' after the semicolon, which is not necessary for the given context. Therefore, the correct answer is A.

2. 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.

3. What is the most effective way to combine the two sentences below?

A. German cuisine is known for its hearty meat and potato dishes but families often enjoy a rich Sunday dinner of roast meat, potatoes, and cabbage.
B. German cuisine is known for its hearty meat and potato dishes, but families often enjoy a rich Sunday dinner of roast meat, potatoes, and cabbage.
C. German cuisine is known for its hearty meat and potato dishes and families often enjoy a rich Sunday dinner of roast meat, potatoes, and cabbage.
D. German cuisine is known for its hearty meat and potato dishes, and families often enjoy a rich Sunday dinner of roast meat, potatoes, and cabbage.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D. This choice effectively combines the two sentences with the use of a comma before 'and' to connect the two related but independent clauses. The comma helps to separate the contrasting information about German cuisine and the Sunday dinner, maintaining a clear and coherent structure. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because they either lack the necessary punctuation or use 'but' instead of 'and,' which disrupts the flow of the combined sentence and fails to convey the intended relationship between the two ideas.

4. In the sentence 'The cherry tomatoes in our backyard are finally ready to be picked,' which of the following is the complete subject?

A. tomatoes
B. ready to be picked
C. The cherry tomatoes in our backyard
D. finally ready

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The complete subject in a sentence refers to the noun or pronoun that the sentence is about. In this case, the complete subject is 'The cherry tomatoes in our backyard.' It includes all the words that describe the subject and provide more specific information about it. 'Tomatoes' (Choice A) is just a part of the complete subject and not the entire subject. 'Ready to be picked' (Choice B) is a verb phrase, not the subject of the sentence. 'Finally ready' (Choice D) is an adjective phrase, not the subject of the sentence. Therefore, the correct choice is 'The cherry tomatoes in our backyard.'

5. Which of the following makes a correction to an error in this sentence: The family sprinted through the airport, worryed they would miss their flight?

A. 'family' should be 'families'
B. 'worryed' should be 'worried'
C. 'airport' should be 'airport'
D. 'their' should be 'there'

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The error in the sentence lies in the misspelling of 'worryed,' which should be corrected to 'worried.' This choice addresses the grammatical mistake in the sentence. Choice A ('families') is incorrect as the sentence refers to a singular 'family.' Choice C ('airport' should be 'airport') is grammatically incorrect. Choice D ('their' should be 'there') is also incorrect; 'there' is used to indicate a place, while 'their' shows possession, neither of which is the error in the original sentence.