AA English Composition and Writing 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence demonstrates correct use of a semicolon?
- She studied all night; consequently, she passed the exam. (Correct answer)
- She studied all night; and passed the exam.
- She; studied all night and passed the exam.
- She studied; all night, and passed the exam.
Correct answer: She studied all night; consequently, she passed the exam.
A semicolon correctly joins two independent clauses, especially when followed by a conjunctive adverb like 'consequently.'
Question 2: In academic writing, what is the primary purpose of a counterargument?
- To confuse the reader about the writer's position
- To acknowledge opposing views and strengthen the writer's credibility (Correct answer)
- To replace the thesis with a new claim
- To summarize the body paragraphs
Correct answer: To acknowledge opposing views and strengthen the writer's credibility
Addressing counterarguments demonstrates critical thinking and builds the writer's credibility by showing awareness of multiple perspectives.
Question 3: Which of the following is an example of an appeal to ethos?
- Studies show that 80% of users prefer the new design.
- As a licensed physician with 20 years of experience, I recommend this treatment. (Correct answer)
- Think of how your children will suffer without proper nutrition.
- If we don't act now, civilization will collapse.
Correct answer: As a licensed physician with 20 years of experience, I recommend this treatment.
Ethos appeals to the writer's or speaker's credibility and authority, as demonstrated by citing professional credentials.
Question 4: What does 'parallel structure' require in a sentence?
- Each clause must have the same number of words
- Coordinated elements must use the same grammatical form (Correct answer)
- Every sentence must begin with the same word
- Subjects and verbs must always be in the same position
Correct answer: Coordinated elements must use the same grammatical form
Parallel structure means that items in a series or coordinated elements share the same grammatical form (e.g., all nouns, all gerunds).
Question 5: A student writes: 'The committee have made their decision.' This sentence reflects which style convention?
- American English, which treats collective nouns as singular
- British English, which may treat collective nouns as plural (Correct answer)
- A grammatical error in both American and British English
- Formal academic style in the United States
Correct answer: British English, which may treat collective nouns as plural
British English often treats collective nouns like 'committee' as plural, while American English treats them as singular.
Question 6: Which revision best corrects this dangling modifier: 'Running to the bus, my backpack fell off.'?
- Running to the bus, the backpack fell off me.
- My backpack fell off while running to the bus.
- Running to the bus, I dropped my backpack. (Correct answer)
- The backpack, running to the bus, fell off.
Correct answer: Running to the bus, I dropped my backpack.
A dangling modifier is fixed by ensuring the subject performing the action (I) immediately follows the modifying phrase.
Question 7: In MLA format, how should a direct quotation of more than four lines be formatted?
- Enclosed in double quotation marks with the citation in parentheses
- Set as a block quotation, indented one inch, with no quotation marks (Correct answer)
- Paraphrased and cited to avoid lengthy quotations
- Placed in italics with the source listed in a footnote
Correct answer: Set as a block quotation, indented one inch, with no quotation marks
MLA style requires prose quotations longer than four lines to be formatted as block quotations, indented one inch from the left margin, without quotation marks.
AA English Composition and Writing 2
Which sentence demonstrates correct use of a semicolon?