which of the following uses commas in a series correctly

ATI TEAS 7

English and Language Usage TEAS

1. Which of the following uses commas in a series correctly?

A. Jericka went to the store for milk, bread, and eggs.
B. For breakfast, Jason wanted to make French toast, bacon, and eggs.
C. Aj had a lot to do the next day, including homework, hockey practice, and chores.
D. Paz's mom, dad, and sister would come to watch his game.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Option A is the correct answer as it uses commas to separate items in a series ('milk, bread, and eggs'). In option B, the comma after 'bacon' is unnecessary. Option C correctly uses commas to separate the items in the series ('homework, hockey practice, and chores'). Option D incorrectly omits commas between 'mom' and 'dad,' and 'dad' and 'sister,' making it incorrect for a series of three or more items.

2. Which sentence uses the pronoun 'they' correctly?

A. They is going to the park later today.
B. Sarah and John said they would come to the party.
C. The teacher said they needs to finish the report.
D. They enjoys reading books in their free time.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: A. "They" should be used with "are," not "is." B. Correct use of "they" for multiple people (Sarah and John). C. "They" should not be paired with "needs." D. "They" should be used with "enjoy," not "enjoys."

3. In the sentence 'The flustered man watched the train as it pulled out of the station,' which of the following is the simple subject?

A. man
B. the flustered man
C. watched
D. train

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The simple subject is the noun or pronoun that the sentence is about. In this sentence, the subject is 'man' because it is the entity performing the action of watching. 'The flustered man' is a noun phrase but not the simple subject as it includes an article and an adjective. 'Watched' is a verb and 'train' is the object of the action, not the subject. Therefore, 'man' is the correct simple subject in this sentence.

4. 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.

5. In the sentence 'The house was dilapidated,' what effect does the word 'dilapidated' have on the reader's understanding?

A. Creates a sense of mystery.
B. Emphasizes the large size of the house.
C. Suggests the house is in poor condition.
D. Implies the house is haunted.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The word 'dilapidated' specifically describes the deteriorating state of the house, indicating that it is in poor condition. This choice best reflects the impact the word has on the reader's understanding. Choice A, 'Creates a sense of mystery,' is incorrect as 'dilapidated' does not inherently imply mystery but rather a state of disrepair. Choice B, 'Emphasizes the large size of the house,' is incorrect as 'dilapidated' does not relate to the size but rather the condition. Choice D, 'Implies the house is haunted,' is incorrect as 'dilapidated' does not directly suggest haunting, but only poor maintenance or disuse.