which of the following sentences correctly uses apostrophes

ATI TEAS 7

English and Language Usage TEAS

1. Which of the following sentences correctly uses apostrophes?

A. Our home's roof needs repairing.
B. My grandparents' families are coming to town for the holidays.
C. There are many parks located across the country.
D. All of the women's things were lost at sea.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Choice A, 'Our home's roof needs repairing,' is the correct answer as it correctly uses the apostrophe to indicate possession. In this sentence, the apostrophe is used to show that the roof belongs to the home. Choice B is incorrect because it should be 'My grandparents' families' to show that multiple families belong to the grandparents. Choice C is incorrect as the sentence should be 'There are many parks located across the country' without using an apostrophe. Choice D is incorrect because it should be 'All of the women's things' to indicate possession by the women.

2. Which of the following substitutions best captures the meaning of the word 'obsequious' in the sentence: 'The young apprentice was obsequious to his master, always eager to please'?

A. showing deference
B. poorly dressed
C. reserved
D. aggressive

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The word 'obsequious' means excessively submissive or eager to please, often to the point of showing deference. In this context, 'showing deference' best captures the meaning, indicating respect or submission rather than being poorly dressed, reserved, or aggressive. 'Poorly dressed' (B) is unrelated to the meaning of obsequious. 'Reserved' (C) suggests a different behavior that is opposite to being obsequious. 'Aggressive' (D) is the opposite of obsequious and does not fit the context of the sentence.

3. Which of the following sentences is an example of a complex sentence structure?

A. Opening night for the performance was fast approaching, and stress levels were high.
B. Because my tea was cold, I heated it in the microwave.
C. She returned the laptop, the mouse, and the extra monitor.
D. I closed the door as the noise from the TV was too loud, but I could still hear it.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: A complex sentence consists of one independent clause and at least one dependent clause. In sentence B, 'Because my tea was cold' is the dependent clause, indicating that it cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. Choices A, C, and D do not contain a dependent clause along with an independent clause, making them incorrect. Choice A is a compound sentence with two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction. Choice C is a compound sentence with a series of independent clauses, but lacks a dependent clause. Choice D is a compound-complex sentence with two independent clauses and a dependent clause.

4. A teacher wants to counsel a student about using the word ain’t in a research paper for a high school English class. What advice should the teacher give?

A. Ain’t is not in the dictionary, so it isn’t a word.
B. Because the student isn’t in college yet, ain’t is an appropriate expression for a high school writer.
C. Ain’t is incorrect English and should not be part of a serious student’s vocabulary because it sounds uneducated.
D. Ain’t is a colloquial expression, and while it may be appropriate in a conversational setting, it is not standard in academic writing.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The teacher should advise the student that 'ain’t' is a colloquial expression, and while it may be suitable in informal or conversational settings, it is not standard in academic writing. Using colloquialisms like 'ain’t' in formal research papers can diminish the professionalism and clarity of the writing. Choice A is incorrect as the presence of a word in the dictionary does not solely determine its appropriateness in formal writing. Choice B is incorrect because the student's academic level does not justify the use of non-standard English. Choice C is incorrect as it focuses on the perceived uneducated sound of 'ain’t' rather than its appropriateness in formal writing, which is the key concern for the research paper in question.

5. Which term refers to the feelings a text creates in the reader?

A. Tone
B. Irony
C. Mood
D. Theme

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is 'Mood.' Mood refers to the atmosphere or emotional setting created by a piece of literary work. It reflects the feelings and emotions evoked in the reader while experiencing the text. 'Tone' (choice A) refers to the attitude of the writer towards the subject or audience, 'Irony' (choice B) involves a contrast between what is expected and what actually occurs, and 'Theme' (choice D) is the central idea or message conveyed by the text.