which of the following sentences demonstrates correct use of an apostrophe

ATI TEAS 7

TEAS 7 English Practice Test

1. Which of the following sentences demonstrates correct use of an apostrophe?

A. In one version of the story, there are seven fairies invited to the christening, while in another version there are twelve fairies.
B. Some historians believe that the number twelve represents the shift from a lunar year of thirteen months to a solar year of twelve months.
C. Other historians claim that the symbolism in the fairy tale is more about nature and the shifting seasons.
D. Regardless of its meaning, the fairy tale remains popular and has been immortalized in Tchaikovsky's music for the ballet.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Choice C, 'Other historians claim that the symbolism in the fairy tale is more about nature and the shifting seasons,' demonstrates the correct use of an apostrophe. The apostrophe in 'season’s' indicates the possessive form of 'seasons,' correctly showing ownership by the shifting seasons. Choices A, B, and D do not showcase the correct use of an apostrophe. Choice A incorrectly uses 'fairy’s' instead of 'fairies,' which is the plural form of 'fairy.' Choice B uses 'historians’' which is correct for the possessive form but does not relate to the use of an apostrophe. Choice D correctly uses 'Tchaikovsky's' to indicate possession by Tchaikovsky.

2. Which of the following punctuation marks is used incorrectly in the sentence? "Otto, somewhat abruptly, got up out of his chair, and just like that, headed into the next room."

A. The comma after "somewhat"
B. The comma after "Otto"
C. The semicolon after "that"
D. The comma after "chair"

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The semicolon after "that" is used incorrectly; a comma should be used instead. Semicolons are typically used to join two independent clauses without a conjunction. In this sentence, the phrase "just like that" is not an independent clause, so a comma is more appropriate for separating it from the rest of the sentence. Choices A, B, and D all use commas correctly within the sentence.

3. Tanya told her sister to tell her boyfriend Joe to call her as soon as he got home. Which of the following is a correct revision of the ambiguous sentence above?

A. Tanya told her sister, 'Tell Joe to call me as soon as he gets home.'
B. Her sister told her boyfriend Joe to call Tanya as soon as he got home.
C. Tanya instructed her sister, 'Joe should call me when he gets home.'
D. Tanya instructed her sister, 'Tell your boyfriend Joe to call me right after he gets home.'

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Option D provides a clear and concise revision of the ambiguous sentence with a straightforward instruction. Tanya asks her sister to relay a message to Joe, instructing him to call her immediately upon arriving home. The direct speech used in Option D clarifies the relationships and actions involved in the communication. Choices A, B, and C introduce confusion by altering the relationships and instructions given in the original sentence, making them incorrect.

4. Which of the following is essential in the concluding statement of an argument?

A. The introduction of new points that might lead to future arguments
B. A summary of the argument that clearly reinforces its main points
C. A brief explanation of other perspectives on the topic
D. A short metaphor to help the main idea be more memorable to the audience

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: 'A summary of the argument that clearly reinforces its main points.' In a concluding statement of an argument, it is crucial to provide a concise summary that reinforces the main points presented throughout the argument. Option A is incorrect because introducing new points in the conclusion can confuse the audience and detract from the coherence of the argument. Option C is incorrect as the conclusion should focus on summarizing the main argument rather than delving into other perspectives. Option D is incorrect because while metaphors can be useful in enhancing understanding, they are not essential in the concluding statement of an argument, which should primarily focus on summarizing the key points.

5. Which of the following sentences is written in the active voice?

A. John threw the ball.
B. The ball was thrown by John.
C. The ball had been thrown by John.
D. The ball is thrown by John.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is B: 'John threw the ball.' Active voice sentences have the subject performing the action, which is the case in this sentence where 'John' is the subject performing the action 'threw.' Choices A, C, and D are in passive voice where the subject receives the action rather than performing it.