TEST 1: LANGUAGE ARTS, WRITING, PART I Directions The Language Arts, Writing test is intended to measure your ability to use clear and effective English. It is a test of English as it should be written, not as it might be spoken. This test includes both multiple-choice questions and an essay. These directions apply only to the multiple-choice section; a separate set of directions is given for the essay. The multiple-choice section consists of paragraphs with numbered sentences. Some of the sentences contain errors in sentence structure, usage, or mechanics (spelling, punctuation, and capitalization). After reading the numbered sentences, answer the multiple-choice questions that follow. Some questions refer to sentences that are correct as written. The best answer for these questions is the one that leaves the sentences as originally written. The best answer for some questions is the one that produces a sentence that is consistent with the verb tense and point of view used throughout the paragraph. You should spend no more that 75 minutes on the multiple-choice questions and 45 minutes on your essay. Work carefully, but do not spend too much time on any one question. You may begin working on the essay part of this test as soon as you complete the multiple- choice section. To record your answers, mark one numbered space on the answer sheet beside the number that corresponds to the question in the test. FOR EXAMPLE: Sentence 1: We were all honored to meet governor Philips. What correction should be made to this sentence? (1) insert a comma after honored (2) change the spelling of honored to honered (3) change governor to Governor (4) replace were with was (5) no correction is necessary In this example, the word “governor” should be capitalized; therefore, answer space 3 would be marked on the answer sheet. 1
Transcript
TEST 1: LANGUAGE ARTS, WRITING, PART I
Directions
The Language Arts, Writing test is intended to measure your ability to use clear and effective English. It is a test of English as it should be written, not as it might be spoken. This test includes both multiple-choice questions and an essay. These directions apply only to the multiple-choice section; a separate set of directions is given for the essay.
The multiple-choice section consists of paragraphs with numbered sentences. Some of the sentences contain errors in sentence structure, usage, or mechanics (spelling, punctuation, and capitalization). After reading the numbered sentences, answer the multiple-choice questions that follow. Some questions refer to sentences that are correct as written. The best answer for these questions is the one that leaves the sentences as originally written. The best answer for some questions is the one that produces a sentence that is consistent with the verb tense and point of view used throughout the paragraph.
You should spend no more that 75 minutes on the multiple-choice questions and 45 minutes on your essay. Work carefully, but do not spend too much time on any one question. You may begin working on the essay part of this test as soon as you complete the multiple-choice section.
To record your answers, mark one numbered space on the answer sheet beside the number that corresponds to the question in the test.
FOR EXAMPLE:
Sentence 1: We were all honored to meet governor Philips.
What correction should be made to this sentence?
(1) insert a comma after honored (2) change the spelling of honored to honered (3) change governor to Governor(4) replace were with was (5) no correction is necessary
In this example, the word “governor” should be capitalized; therefore, answer space 3 would be marked on the answer sheet.
Time: 75 minutesQuestions: 50
Marks: 800
Score Evaluation
Score achieved: ………………. Percentage………………… □ Excellent □ Good □ Fair
Questions 1 to 9 refer to the following paragraphs
(A)
(1) Safe food must be planed and not left to chance, for the consumer, food safety begins in the marketplace. (2) All cooperative efforts made by states and the U.S. department of agriculture to make available a clean, safe, wholesome food supply will be in vain unless the consumer takes certain precautions to keep it that way. (3) The precautions to be taken by the consumer include care in buying, storing, handling, and cooking food.
(B)
(4) Shop for groceries last after all other errands has been run. (5) Take foods home immediately and don’t leave them unattended for a long period of time. (6) Sufficient light in grocery stores is necessary to enable you to adequately view foods four proper selection. (7) Store personnel should make sure that foods are replaced frequently in order to keep it as fresh as possible.
(C)
(8) Under no circumstances buy swollen or leaking cans. (9) The food in a swollen or leaking can may be dangerous to eat or even to taste.
(D)
(10) Ask the checkout clerk to bag cold foods together so that they keep cold longer; interspersed with room-temperature foods, they may warm up quickly. (10) Ask checkout clerk to bag cold foods together so that they keep cold longer; interspersed with room-temperature foods, they may warm up quickly.
1. Sentence 1: Safe food must be planned and not left to chance, for the consumer, food safety begins in the marketplace.
Which of the following is the best way to write the underlined portion of this sentence? If you think the original is the best way, choose option (1).
(1) chance, for(2) chance: for(3) chance; for (4) chance, For(5) chance. For
2. Sentence 2: All cooperative efforts made by states and the U.S. department of agriculture to make available a clean, safe, wholesome food supply will be in vain unless the consumer takes certain precautions to keep it that way.
What correction should be made to this sentence?
(1) insert a hyphen in cooperative (2) capitalize department and agriculture(3) remove the comma after clean(4) change it to them(5) no correction is necessary
3. Sentence 3. The precautions to be taken by the consumer include care in buying, storing, handling, and cooking food.
If you rewrote sentence 3 beginning with
Care in buying, storing, handling and cooking food.
the next words should be
(1) include (2) is(3) is among(4) would be among(5) will be among
4. Sentence 4: Shop for groceries last after all other errands has been run.
What correction should be made to this sentence?
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(1) insert a comma after last(2) remove the word other (3) change run to ran(4) change has been to have been(5) no correction is necessary
5. Sentence 5: Take foods home immediately and don’t leave them unattended for a long period of time.
Which of the following is the best way to write the underlined portion of this sentence? If you think the original is the best way, choose option (1).
(1) and don’t (2) also don’t (3) but don’t(4) however don’t(5) nevertheless don’t
6. Sentence 6: Sufficient light in grocery stores is necessary to enable you to adequately view foods four proper selection.
What correction should be made to this sentence?
(1) change the spelling of four to for(2) insert a comma after stores(3) change the spelling of necessary
to necessary(4) insert a comma after foods(5) no correction is necessary
7. Sentence 7: Store personnel should make sure that foods are replaced frequently in order to keep it as fresh as possible.
What correction should be made to this sentence?
(1) change it to them(2) change the spelling of personnel
to personal (3) change should to might (4) change fresh to freshly (5) no change is necessary
8. Sentence 8 and 9: Under no circumstances buy swollen or leaking cans. The food in a swollen or leaking can may be dangerous to eat or even to taste.
The most effective combination of sentences 8 and 9 would include which of the following groups of words?
(1) which contain food that may be (2) and the food in a swollen can(3) since the food in a swollen can(4) being dangerous to eat (5) that may be dangerous to eat
9. Which of the following is the thesis statement for the passage?
Question 10 to 18 refers to the following paragraphs.
(1) The traditional family grouping will remain dominant, although the people in the family may change because of divorce, separation, and remarriage.
(2) The family with dual careers, both husband and wife working, will increase—particularly among the young. (3) The husband and wife family with no children will also increase.
(4) Some couples will choose to remain childless, others will spend the major part of their lifetime with no children present because of the possibilities for spacing and limiting family size.
(5) An increasing number of single- parent families will be formed as a result of divorce, death, abandonment, or the choice of the unwed to rear its children alone.
(6) In most cases, the single-
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parent family will have an employed woman at its head.
(7) Because of increased acceptability, more individuals may remain unmarried and establish single households. (8) The single adult living alone will establish close kin or simulated kin networks, relying upon and sharing with others economic and emotional resources to fulfill parentlike roles in an “aunt-uncle” capacity.
(9) These family forms, will present different issues and problems for family members.
(10) Families will need information to select wisely the family pattern they want to pursue.
10. Sentence 1: The traditional family grouping will remain dominant, although the people in the family may change because of divorce, separation, and remarriage.
Which of the following is the best way to write the underlined portion of this sentence? If you think the original is the best way, choose option (1).
11. Sentences 2 and 3: The family with dual careers, both husband and wife working, will increase—particularly among the young. The husband and wife family with no children will also increase.
The most effective combination of sentences 23 and 3 would include which of the following groups of words?
(1) as well as (2) but (3) although
(4) nevertheless(5) therefore
12. Sentence 4: Some couples will choose to remain childless, others will spend the major part of their lifetime with no children present because of the possibilities for spacing and limiting family size.
Which of the following is the best way to write the underlined portion of this sentence? If you think the original is the best way, choose option (1).
13. Sentence 5: An increasing number of single-parent families will be formed as a result of divorce, death, abandonment, or the choice of the unwed to rear its children alone.
What correction should be made to this sentence?
(1) change its to their(2) change the spelling of families to
familys(3) remove the comma after
abandonment(4) change rear to raise(5) no correction is necessary
14. Sentence 6: In most cases, the single-parent family will have an employed woman as its head.
What correction should be made to this sentence?
(1) remove the comma after cases(2) remove the hyphen in single-parent (3) change will have to has(4) change its to it’s(5) no change is necessary
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15. Sentence 7: Because of increased acceptability, more individuals may remain unmarried and establish single households.
What correction should be made to this sentence?
(1) change the spelling of acceptability to acceptibility? (2) remove the comma after acceptability (3) change may remain to will remain(4) insert a comma after unmarried (5) no correction is necessary
16. Sentence 8: The single adult living alone will establish close kin or simulated kin networks, relying upon and sharing with others economic and emotional resources to fulfill parentlike roles in an “aunt- uncle” capacity.
What correction should be made to this sentence?
(1) add a comma after close kin(2) remove the comma after networks(3) change the spelling of resources to resourses(4) change to fulfill to fulfilling (5) no correction is necessary
17. A new paragraph can
(1) not be started(2) be started after sentence 2(3) be started after sentence 5(4) be started after sentence 6(5) be started before sentence 8
18. Sentence 10: Families will need information to select wisely the family pattern they want to pursue.
What correction should be made to this sentence?
(1) change will need to will be needing
(2) change select wisely to wisely select
(3) change the spelling of pattern to pattren
(4) change the spelling of pursue to persue
(5) no correction is necessary
Questions 19 to 27 refer to the following paragraphs.
(A) (1) Drug abuse is like a
communicable disease. (2) It spreads—by example, by word of mouth, and by imitation. (3) Drug abuse is certainly increasing, but so is the number of young people who have tried drugs and want out. (4) As we provide treatment services for them, these young people become able to tell other youth that the drug scene is not as great as they thought it was before they got hooked. (5) And, of greater importance, they are believed by they’re contemporaries before experimentation becomes habit.
(B) (6) Parents can help prevent drug
usage by setting an example, by knowledge, and by understanding. (7) If they are to talk to their children about drugs they must be informed. (8) usually they know far less about drugs than do their children. (9) Ideally, before their child is tempted to experiment, they will be able to explain to him the undesirability of the drugged life. (10) What is even more convincing to young people, they will have been able to communicate to him the actual damage that a drug abuser does to their body.
19. Sentence 1 and 2: Drug abuse is like a communicable disease. It spreads—by example, by word of mouth, and by imitation.
The most effective combination of sentences 1 and 2 would include which of the following groups of words?
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(1) disease. it spreads (2) disease although it spreads (3) disease yet it spreads (4) disease that spreads (5) disease having spread
20. Sentence 3: Drug abuse is certainly increasing, but so is the number of young people who have tried drugs and want out.
What correction should be made to this sentence?
(1) remove the comma after increasing(2) change but to and (3) change number to amount(4) insert a comma after people(5) no correction is necessary
21. Sentence 4: As we provide treatment services for them, these young people become able to tell other youth that the drug scene is not as great as they thought it was before they got hooked.
What correction should be made to this sentence?
(1) change As to Although (2) remove the comma after them (3) change become to became(4) change thought to think(5) no correction is necessary
22. Sentence 5: And, of greater importance, they are believed by their contemporaries before experimentation becomes habit.
What correction should be made to this sentence?
(1) remove the commas before of and after importance
(2) change they’re to their (3) insert commas before by and
after contemporaries(4) change becomes to will become(5) no correction is necessary
23. Sentence 6: Parents can help prevent drug usage by setting an example, by knowledge, and by understanding.
What correction should be made to this sentence?
(1) change can to could(2) change by setting and example to by example(3) change the spelling of knowledge to knowlege (4) remove the comma before and (5) no correction is necessary
24. Sentence 7: If they are to talk to their children about drugs they must be informed.
What correction should be made to this sentence?
(1) change are to to would(2) change their to they’re (3) insert a comma after drugs (4) change informed to informative(5) no correction is necessary
25. Sentence 7 and 8: If they are to talk to their children about drugs they must be informed. usually they know far less about drugs than do their children.
Which of the following is the best way to write the underlined portion of this sentence? If you think the original is the best way, choose option (1).
(1) informed. usually (2) informed usually (3) informed: usually (4) informed—Usually (5) informed. Usually
26. Sentence 9: Ideally, before their child is tempted to experiment, they will be able to explain to him the undesirability of the drugged life.
What correction should be made to this sentence?
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(1) change the spelling of ideally to idealy(2) remove the comma before before (3) change be able to have been able (4) change the spelling of undesirability to undesireability (5) no correction is necessary
27. Sentence 10: What is even more convincing to young people, they will have been able to communicate to him the actual damage that a drug abuser does to their body.
What correction should be made to this sentence?
(1) move even to after convincing(2) remove the comma after people (3) change the spelling of communicate to comunicate (4) change their to his(5) no change is necessary
Questions 28 to 37 refer to the following paragraphs.
(A)
(1) Statistically, by far the most common type of home accidents are falls. (2) Each year thousands of americans meet death in this way, within the four walls of their home or in yards around their house. (3) Nine out of ten of the victims is over 65, but people of all ages experience serious injuries as a result of home falls. (4) It is impossible to estimate how many injuries result from falls, but it must run into the millions.
(B)
(5) Falls can be a problem for all ages. (6) In the process of growing up, children or teenagers often will fall. (7) Fortunately their bodies are supple, so they may suffer only skinned knees bumps, and bruises. (8) In an older person, however, the same fall may cause a broken arm, leg, or hip, or other injury that requires hospitalization or Medical
care. (9) As you get older, you may not fall any more often but the results usually are more serious and may even be fatal.
(C)
(10) Adults fall because they don’t look where they’re going, are in a hurry, are careless, or thinking about something else. (11) A few inexpensive items such as a suction-type rubber mat or safety strips in the tub, a non-slip mat on the floor, and bathtub handholds can go a long way toward eliminating falls in the bathroom.
28. Sentence 1: Statistically, by far the most common type of home accidents are falls.
What correction should be made to this sentence?
(1) change the spelling of Statistically to Statisticly
(2) remove the comma before by (3) insert a comma after accidents (4) change are to is(5) no correction is necessary
29. Sentence 2: Each year thousands of americans meet death in this way, within the four walls of their home or in yards around their house.
What correction should be made to this sentence?
(1) change americans to Americans(2) remove the comma after way(3) change within to in (4) insert a comma after home(5) no correction is necessary
30. Sentence 3: Nine out of ten of the victims is over 65, but people of all ages experience serious injuries as a result of home falls.
What correction should be made to this sentence?
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(1) change is to are(2) remove the comma after 65(3) change but to and (4) change experience to experiance (5) no correction is necessary
31. Sentence 4: It is impossible to estimate how many injuries result from falls, but it must run into the millions.
What correction should be made to this sentence?
(1) change it must run to they must run
(2) change result to results(3) remove the comma after falls(4) change but to since(5) no correction is necessary
32. Sentence 5 and 6: Falls can be a problem for all ages. In the process of growing up, children or teenagers often will fall.
Which of the following is the best way to write the underlined portion of this sentence? If you think the original is the best way, choose option (1).
33. Sentence 7: Fortunately their bodies are supple, so they may suffer only skinned knees bumps, and bruises.
What correction should be made to this sentence?
(1) change the spelling of Fortunately to Fortunitely (2) remove the comma after supple (3) change suffer only to only suffer (4) insert a comma after kness(5) no correction is necessary
34. Sentence 8: In an older person, however, the same fall may cause a
broken arm, leg, hip, or other injury that requires hospitalization or Medical care.
What correction should be made to this sentence?
(1) remove the commas around however
(2) change Medical to medical(3) insert a colon after cause (4) change requires to require(5) no correction is necessary
35. Sentence 9: As you get older, you may not fall any more often but the results usually are more serious and may even be fatal.
What correction should be made to this sentence?
(1) change As to When(2) change get to will get (3) insert a comma after often(4) change more to most (5) no correction is necessary
36. Sentence 10: Adults fall because they don’t look where they’re going, are in a hurry, are careless, or thinking about something else.
What correction should be made to this sentence?
(1) change don’t to doesn’t (2) change they’re to there(3) remove the comma after hurry(4) insert are before thinking (5) no correction is necessary
37. A new paragraph can
(1) be started after sentence 10(2) be started after sentence 8(3) be started after sentence 5(4) be started after sentence 3(5) not be started
Questions 38 to 46 refer to the following paragraphs.
(A)
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(1) The only known cure for bikomania, a highly contagious fever, sweeping the country from coast to coast, is to ride a bike. (2) Nearly 100 million happy victims, including mom and pop and the kids, now are taking this delightful treatment and pedaling their two-wheelers into an exciting new world of fun and adventure.
(B)
(3) Why buy a bike? Partly because ridding a bike benefits both you and you’re environment. (4) A bike doesn’t foul up the air, makes no noise, keeps you in top physical shape, takes up little room on the road. and is easy to park in a small space. (5) With appropriate accessory’s—such as saddle bags, luggage racks, or baskets - a bike can be used on shopping missions, picnic excursions, or bicycle tours.
(C)
(6) What kind of bike should you get? (7) Bewildered by the tantalizing display of racing models with 10 -speed gearshifts and lots of fancy gimmicks, your apt to plunge into something you really don’t need. (8) Best advice: buy the simplest model that meets your transportation requirements. (9) You need not invest in dropped handlebars, multigear ratios, and special frames that may be too complicated for your purposes.
(D)
(10) Try renting a bike before you buy one. (11) Spend a couple of weekends pedaling various makes over typical terrain in your area; this tryout will answer many of your questions.
38. Sentence 1should be
(1) left as it is(2) moved after sentence 8(3) moved after sentence 5
(4) moved after sentence 3(5) omitted
39. Sentence 2: Nearly 100 million happy victims, including mom and pop and the kids, now are taking this delightful treatment and pedaling their two-wheelers into an exciting new world of fun and adventure.
What correction should be made to this sentence?
(1) remove the comma after victims(2) capitalize mom, pop (3) capitalize kids(4) change the spelling of exciting to exsiting(5) no correction is necessary
40. Sentence 3: Why buy a bike? Partly because riding a bike benefits both you and you’re environment.
What correction should be made to this sentence?
(1) change buy to by(2) insert a comma after and(3) remove the question mark after
bike(4) change you’re to your(5) no correction is necessary
41. Sentence 4: A bike doesn’t foul up the air, makes no noise, keeps you in top physical shape, takes up little room on the road. and is easy to park in a small space.
Which of the following is the best way to write the underlined portion of this sentence? If you think the original is the best way, choose option (1).
42. Sentence 5: With appropriate accessory’s -such as saddle bags, luggage racks, or baskets - a bike can be used on shopping missions, picnic excursions, or bicycle tours.
What correction should be made to this sentence?
(1) change accessory’s to accessories(2) remove the dashes before such
and after baskets (3) remove the comma after bags(4) change the spelling of excursions
to excurshuns (5) no change is necessary
43. Sentence 7: Bewildered by the tantalizing display of racing models with 10-speed gearshifts and lots of fancy gimmicks, your apt to plunge into something you really don’t need.
What correction should be made to this sentence?
(1) Insert commas before with and after gearshifts(2) remove the comma after gimmicks(3) change the spelling of vour to you’re(4) change the spelling of really to realy(5) no correction is necessary
44. Sentence 8: Best advice: buy the simplest model that meets your transportation requirements.
Which of the following is the best way to write the underlined portion of this sentence? If you think the original is the best way, choose option (1).
(1) Best advice: buy(2) Best advice; Buy(3) Best advice; buy(4) Best advice, Buy(5) Best advice, buy
45. Sentence 9: You need not invest in dropped handlebars, multigear
ratios, and special frames that may be too complicated for your purposes.
If you rewrote sentence 9 beginning with
Nor need you
the next words should be
(1) invest in(2) dropped handlebars (3) multigear ratios(4) that may be(5) for your purposes
46. A new paragraph can be
(1) started after sentence 9 (2) started after sentence 7(3) started after sentence 4(4) started after sentence 3(5) not be started
Questions 47 to 55 refer to the following paragraphs.
(A)
(1) At every stage of development, clothes can help establish a person’s identity for himself and for those with who he interacts. (2) The childhood game of “dressing up” in parents’ clothes provides an opportunity for the child to practice the roles he will be expected to play in adult life.
(B)
(3) The degree to which a person chooses clothes that fit the roles will affect his performance in those roles.
(C)
(4) Clothes are an important factor in developing feelings of self-confidence and self-respect. (5) When you look good, you feel good. (6) For most people, clothes are often
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a source of positive reaction from others, since in our culture we are more apt to compliment a person on his appearance than on other aspects of the “Self.”
(D)
(7) Most Americans also recognize that a proper appearance and proper dress are the keys to association with the right crowd, which in turn opens the door to job advancement increased income, and greater prestige.
(E)
(8) Our clothing needs are influenced by a multitude of circumstances. (9) Buying motives are seldom simple.
(F) (10) The first step in the decision-
making process is to make a conscious ordering of the things that are important to us. (11) If a person recognizes and accepts the priorities of his values – for example, that his status and prestige may be more important than his physical comfort - his choice of clothing is not only simplified, but more likely to bring him greater satisfaction.
47. Sentence 1: At every stage of development, clothes can help establish a person’s identity for himself and for those with who he interacts.
What correction should be made to this sentence?
(1) change the spelling of development to developement
(2) remove the comma after development
(3) insert a comma after himself(4) change who to whom(5) no correction is necessary
48. A new paragraph can
(1) be started after sentence 8(2) be started after sentence 5(3) be started after sentence 4(4) be started after sentence 1(5) not be started
This part of the Writing Skills test is intended to determine how well you write. You are asked to write an essay that explains something, presents an opinion on an issue, or concentrates on retelling a personal experience.
PROMPT
Throughout one’s life there is usually someone who has influenced us in such a way that leaves a lasting positive impression. This may have been a family member, teacher, or special friend who may have helped you through a rough time. Because of this person’s influence, you may feel that your life has become richer in ways of personal happiness or success.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Think of one person in your life who has been an influence to you in such a way that your life is better today. Why has this person been such an influence on you?
Directions
Write an essay of about 200 words in which you present your reasons on this topic. Give supporting details and examples for each reason in your essay. You have 45 minutes to write on this topic.
CHECK YOURSELF
▪ Read carefully the prompt, discussion question, and directions. ▪ Decide if the prompt is expository, persuasive, or narrative.▪ Plan your essay before you begin. ▪ Use scratch paper to prepare a simple outline. ▪ Write your essay on the lined pages of a separate answer sheet. ▪ Read carefully what you have written and make needed changes. ▪ Check for focus, elaboration, organization, conventions, and integration.
