which sentence avoids a comma splice

ATI TEAS 7

ATI TEAS 7 English quizlet

1. Which sentence avoids a comma splice?

A. The wind howled, the branches swayed, and rain lashed against the windows.
B. He packed his bags, checked the weather forecast, and then hit the road.
C. The movie was entertaining; it was also thought-provoking.
D. Tired and hungry, she stopped for a quick bite at the cafe.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Option C uses a semicolon to correctly separate the two independent clauses 'The movie was entertaining' and 'it was also thought-provoking.' This usage of a semicolon avoids a comma splice, which occurs when two independent clauses are incorrectly joined by a comma without a coordinating conjunction or appropriate punctuation. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because they all contain comma splices. In choice A, the comma splice is present between 'The wind howled' and 'the branches swayed.' In choice B, the comma splice occurs between 'He packed his bags' and 'checked the weather forecast.' Choice D has a comma splice between 'Tired and hungry' and 'she stopped for a quick bite at the cafe.'

2. The plump old white cat basked in the warm sunlight. Which of the following options correctly punctuates the above?

A. The plump, old, white cat basked in the warm sunlight.
B. The plump, old, white, cat basked in the warm sunlight.
C. The plump, old white cat basked in the warm sunlight.
D. The plump old white cat, basked in the warm sunlight.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: 'The plump, old, white cat basked in the warm sunlight.' Commas should be used to separate coordinate adjectives describing the cat. In this sentence, 'plump,' 'old,' and 'white' are coordinate adjectives, each providing distinct information about the cat. Option B incorrectly places a comma after 'white,' creating a nonessential element. Option C lacks commas to separate the coordinate adjectives. Option D incorrectly places a comma after 'cat,' causing a punctuation error.

3. Which sentence does not need quotation marks because it is an indirect quotation?

A. Dr. Martin Luther King said, I have a dream!
B. John F. Kennedy announced plans to go to the moon.
C. We have nothing to fear but fear itself, said President Roosevelt in his inauguration speech.
D. Benjamin Franklin wrote the famous saying, Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: An indirect quotation does not require quotation marks as it paraphrases what was said without directly quoting it. Sentence B, 'John F. Kennedy announced plans to go to the moon,' is an example of an indirect quotation as it conveys the information without using the exact words spoken by Kennedy. Choices A, C, and D directly quote the individuals and thus require quotation marks, making them incorrect answers.

4. Which of the following is NOT a prewriting strategy?

A. Brainstorming
B. Visual mapping of ideas
C. Asking questions
D. Organizing writing into paragraphs

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D. Organizing writing into paragraphs is a component of drafting, which occurs after prewriting. Prewriting involves generating ideas, organizing thoughts, and outlining content before beginning the actual writing process. Choices A, B, and C are all prewriting strategies. Brainstorming helps in generating ideas, visual mapping assists in organizing thoughts spatially, and asking questions helps in exploring different angles of the topic before structuring the content. Therefore, organizing writing into paragraphs is the only option that does not directly relate to prewriting.

5. Which sentence uses the semicolon correctly?

A. The play was long; however, it was very entertaining.
B. The guests arrived; Sarah greeted them at the door.
C. John likes apples; Mary prefers oranges.
D. He was tired; he went to bed early.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Option B correctly uses a semicolon to join two independent clauses related to the same event. In this sentence, 'The guests arrived' and 'Sarah greeted them at the door' are both independent clauses that are appropriately connected using a semicolon. Choice A incorrectly uses a semicolon before 'however,' which is a conjunction that should be preceded by a comma. Choice C incorrectly uses a semicolon to connect two independent clauses that are not closely related. Choice D incorrectly uses a semicolon to connect two independent clauses without a clear relationship or cohesion.