CAHSEE Writing Conventions 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence contains a misplaced modifier?
- Running quickly, the finish line was crossed. (Correct answer)
- Running quickly, she crossed the finish line.
- She crossed the finish line by running quickly.
- The finish line was crossed after she ran quickly.
Correct answer: Running quickly, the finish line was crossed.
In option A, 'running quickly' illogically modifies 'the finish line' instead of a person.
Question 2: Which of the following is a run-on sentence?
- The dog barked loudly, and the neighbors complained.
- She studied hard she passed the test. (Correct answer)
- After studying hard, she passed the test.
- She studied hard and passed the test.
Correct answer: She studied hard she passed the test.
Option B joins two independent clauses without any punctuation or coordinating conjunction.
Question 3: Which word correctly completes the sentence? 'Neither the students nor the teacher ___ ready for the test.'
- were
- are
- was (Correct answer)
- been
Correct answer: was
With 'neither…nor,' the verb agrees with the subject closest to it ('teacher'), which is singular, so 'was' is correct.
Question 4: Which sentence has correct subject-verb agreement?
- The group of students are meeting today.
- The group of students is meeting today. (Correct answer)
- The group of students were meeting today.
- The group of students be meeting today.
Correct answer: The group of students is meeting today.
'Group' is a collective singular noun, so it takes the singular verb 'is.'
Question 5: Which of the following is a sentence fragment?
- The rain fell heavily all night.
- Because the rain fell heavily. (Correct answer)
- The rain fell, and we stayed inside.
- We stayed inside during the heavy rain.
Correct answer: Because the rain fell heavily.
Option B is a dependent clause beginning with 'because' that lacks an independent clause to complete the thought.
Question 6: Which sentence uses a pronoun in the correct case?
- Between you and I, this plan will not work.
- Between you and me, this plan will not work. (Correct answer)
- Between you and myself, this plan will not work.
- Between I and you, this plan will not work.
Correct answer: Between you and me, this plan will not work.
After the preposition 'between,' the objective case 'me' is required, not the subjective 'I.'
Question 7: Which sentence uses the correct verb tense?
- Yesterday, she goes to the store.
- Tomorrow, she went to the store.
- Yesterday, she went to the store. (Correct answer)
- Yesterday, she go to the store.
Correct answer: Yesterday, she went to the store.
The time clue 'yesterday' signals past tense, so 'went' is the correct past-tense form of 'go.'
CAHSEE Writing Conventions 1
Which sentence contains a misplaced modifier?