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 of the following sentences is written correctly?

A. Maya, my pet bird, can say “hello” in three languages.
B. Jason, Peter, Alice, and Soojin all wanted to visit the new museum.
C. Don’t forget to bring your violin, music book, and music stand to the lessons.
D. If you bring all of the supplies for the project, I will provide the workspace.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: This sentence correctly uses commas to set off the nonrestrictive phrase 'my pet bird' in between the name 'Maya' and the rest of the sentence. Nonrestrictive phrases provide additional information but are not essential to the sentence's meaning. Choice B has a missing comma after 'Peter' to separate the list of names correctly. Choice C should use commas, not dashes, to separate the items in the list. Choice D lacks a comma after 'project' to separate the clauses in a compound sentence.

3. Which of the following sentences is spelled correctly?

A. He always adds insightful, relevant remarks to the conversation.
B. Her comments were relevant to the class discussion.
C. His remarks were not relevant to the current situation.
D. Her suggestion has no relevance to issues discussed at the conference.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Choice A is the correct answer. The word 'relevant' is spelled correctly in this sentence, and the sentence is well-constructed. In Choices B, C, and D, the word 'relevant' is misspelled as 'revelant,' 'relevent,' and 'relavance' respectively. These incorrect spellings make Choices B, C, and D grammatically incorrect, thereby making Choice A the only correct option.

4. Based on the analysis of word parts, what is the meaning of the word 'bibliophile'?

A. A person who collects books
B. An index at the back of a book
C. A compiled list of different books
D. A place where books are kept

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A. The term 'bibliophile' is derived from the Greek words 'biblio' meaning books and 'phile' meaning lover or enthusiast. Therefore, a 'bibliophile' refers to a person who collects or has a great love of books. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because they do not accurately reflect the meaning of 'bibliophile.' An index at the back of a book is called a 'bibliography,' a compiled list of different books is a 'catalog,' and a place where books are kept is a 'library,' not a 'bibliophile.'

5. A student is writing a paper for their basic anatomy class and is unsure how they should cite their sources. What should the student do?

A. Look for a citation style online and use it.
B. Find out from the instructor what citation style to use.
C. Use the citation style used in other science classes.
D. Alternate between different citation styles, assuming that one will be correct.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is to find out from the instructor what citation style to use. In academic writing, it is essential to follow the specific guidelines provided by the instructor to ensure consistency and correctness. Option A is not recommended as different disciplines may have different citation requirements. Option C is not advisable as citation styles can vary between different fields even within the broader category of science. Option D is incorrect as using multiple citation styles in the same paper can lead to confusion and lack of clarity.