which sentence correctly uses the colon

ATI TEAS 7

TEAS Test English Questions

1. Which sentence correctly uses the colon?

A. She had one wish: to visit Paris.
B. She had: one wish to visit Paris.
C. She had one: wish to visit Paris.
D. She had one wish: visit Paris.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: "She had one wish: to visit Paris." A colon is used after a complete sentence to introduce a list, quotation, or explanation. In choice A, the colon is appropriately used after the complete sentence 'She had one wish' to introduce the explanation 'to visit Paris.' Choices B, C, and D incorrectly place the colon in positions that do not follow a complete sentence or do not properly introduce an explanation, making them grammatically incorrect.

2. What literary device is used in the phrase 'a heart of gold'?

A. Metaphor
B. Simile
C. Hyperbole
D. Personification

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A, Metaphor. A metaphor is a figure of speech that directly compares two unlike things by stating that one thing is another. In the phrase 'a heart of gold,' the good nature of a person is being directly compared to gold, indicating that the person is kind, valuable, and precious, much like gold. This comparison is not using 'like' or 'as,' which would make it a simile, but rather it is a direct assertion, making it a metaphor. Simile involves comparing two things using 'like' or 'as,' which is not present in this phrase. Hyperbole is an exaggeration, which is not the case here. Personification gives human qualities to non-human entities, which is also not occurring in 'a heart of gold.'

3. Which of the following choices best combines the following sentences? The French and Indian War was not an isolated war in North America. It was part of a larger war that Europe was fighting. Europeans called it the Seven Years’ War.

A. The French and Indian War did not occur in North America but was rather a small part of the larger European war known as the Seven Years’ War.
B. What Europeans called the Seven Years’ War was called the French and Indian War in North America. It was part of a larger war that Europe was fighting.
C. The French and Indian War was not an isolated war in North America but was rather part of a larger war that Europe was fighting, known among Europeans as the Seven Years’ War.
D. While North America was fighting the French and Indian War, the Europeans were fighting a much larger war known as the Seven Years’ War.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Choice C best combines the sentences by correctly stating that the French and Indian War was not an isolated conflict in North America but rather part of a larger war that Europe was engaged in, known as the Seven Years’ War. This option maintains the chronological order of events and provides a clear and concise explanation. Choices A, B, and D either incorrectly convey the relationship between the wars, introduce unnecessary information, or deviate from the original context of the sentences, making them less suitable for combining the information effectively.

4. Identify the relative clause in the sentence 'The book that won the award was a bestseller.'

A. 'The book'
B. 'that won the award'
C. 'was a bestseller'
D. 'award'

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is 'B: 'that won the award.' A relative clause provides additional information about a noun in the sentence. In this case, 'that won the award' is the relative clause specifying which book out of all books is being referred to. It is essential to recognize and understand relative clauses for better comprehension of sentence structures. Choice A ('The book') is the main noun phrase and not a relative clause. Choice C ('was a bestseller') is the main clause of the sentence, not a relative clause. Choice D ('award') is a noun but not a relative clause as it does not provide additional information about a noun in the sentence.

5. Which of the following punctuation marks correctly completes the sentence below? "She bought several items for the trip____ a tent, a sleeping bag, and a flashlight."

A. ;
B. :
C. ,
D. .

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct punctuation mark to use in this sentence is the colon (:) because it is used to introduce a list. In this case, the list of items she bought for the trip includes a tent, a sleeping bag, and a flashlight. A semicolon (;) is not appropriate here because it is typically used to connect independent clauses. A comma (,) is not suitable as it would create a comma splice error. A period (.) is incorrect as it signifies the end of a sentence, which is not the intended purpose in this context.