CBEST Writing 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence uses the comma correctly?
- She ran quickly, and she finished first. (Correct answer)
- She ran quickly and, she finished first.
- She, ran quickly and she finished first.
- She ran, quickly and she finished first.
Correct answer: She ran quickly, and she finished first.
A comma before a coordinating conjunction ('and') is correct when joining two independent clauses.
Question 2: A student wants to add a supporting detail to strengthen this claim: 'Daily exercise improves mental health.' Which addition best supports the claim?
- Exercise can be done indoors or outdoors.
- Studies show that 30 minutes of daily exercise reduces depression symptoms by 40%. (Correct answer)
- Many people enjoy walking as a form of exercise.
- Exercise equipment can be expensive.
Correct answer: Studies show that 30 minutes of daily exercise reduces depression symptoms by 40%.
A specific statistic directly tied to the claim provides the strongest evidence.
Question 3: Which transition word best fills the blank? 'The experiment failed the first time. _______, the team tried a new approach.'
- Furthermore
- Similarly
- Therefore (Correct answer)
- Consequently
Correct answer: Therefore
'Therefore' signals a logical result or decision that follows from the prior fact.
Question 4: Identify the sentence with a dangling modifier.
- Running to catch the bus, Maria dropped her bag.
- Running to catch the bus, the bag was dropped. (Correct answer)
- Maria, running to catch the bus, dropped her bag.
- While Maria ran to catch the bus, her bag dropped.
Correct answer: Running to catch the bus, the bag was dropped.
In option B, 'running to catch the bus' incorrectly modifies 'the bag,' not a person.
Question 5: Which revision makes the following sentence more concise? 'Due to the fact that it was raining, we cancelled the picnic.'
- We cancelled the picnic due to the fact of rain.
- Because it was raining, we cancelled the picnic. (Correct answer)
- The picnic was cancelled, and this was due to the rain falling.
- It was raining and so the picnic was therefore cancelled.
Correct answer: Because it was raining, we cancelled the picnic.
'Because' replaces the wordy phrase 'due to the fact that,' making the sentence concise.
Question 6: Which sentence is written in the active voice?
- The report was written by the manager.
- Mistakes were made by the staff.
- The manager wrote the report. (Correct answer)
- The project had been completed by noon.
Correct answer: The manager wrote the report.
In active voice, the subject ('the manager') performs the action ('wrote').
Question 7: A writer's concluding paragraph restates the thesis and summarizes main points but adds no new insight. What should the writer do to improve it?
- Remove the thesis restatement entirely.
- Add a call to action or broader implication to give the conclusion significance. (Correct answer)
- Add more body paragraphs instead.
- Begin the conclusion with 'In conclusion' for clarity.
Correct answer: Add a call to action or broader implication to give the conclusion significance.
An effective conclusion goes beyond summary by offering a broader implication, call to action, or final insight.
CBEST Writing 2
Which sentence uses the comma correctly?