COOP Writing Mechanics 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence avoids a double negative?
- I don't have no money.
- She didn't go nowhere.
- He couldn't find anything. (Correct answer)
- They haven't done nothing.
Correct answer: He couldn't find anything.
'Anything' is the correct indefinite pronoun to use with a negative verb, avoiding a double negative.
Question 2: Which word is misspelled?
- necessary
- occurrence
- occassion (Correct answer)
- commitment
Correct answer: occassion
'Occasion' is spelled with one c and two s's, not two c's.
Question 3: Which sentence correctly uses parentheses?
- The answer (is 42) to the question.
- Mars (the red planet) is our neighbor. (Correct answer)
- She (went to) the store yesterday.
- He bought (a new) coat today.
Correct answer: Mars (the red planet) is our neighbor.
Parentheses are correctly used here to add a non-essential description of Mars.
Question 4: Which contraction is spelled correctly?
- your'e
- youre
- you're (Correct answer)
- yore
Correct answer: you're
You're is the contraction for 'you are,' with the apostrophe replacing the missing letter 'a.'
Question 5: Which sentence correctly uses the comparative form of an adjective?
- This book is more better than that one.
- This book is gooder than that one.
- This book is better than that one. (Correct answer)
- This book is more good than that one.
Correct answer: This book is better than that one.
'Better' is the correct irregular comparative form of 'good.'
Question 6: Which sentence has correct comma placement with an introductory phrase?
- After the storm the roads were flooded.
- After the storm, the roads were flooded. (Correct answer)
- After, the storm the roads were flooded.
- After the storm the, roads were flooded.
Correct answer: After the storm, the roads were flooded.
A comma is required after an introductory prepositional phrase to separate it from the main clause.
Question 7: Which sentence uses an em dash correctly?
- She had one goal — to win. (Correct answer)
- She — had one goal to win.
- She had one goal to — win.
- She had-one goal to win.
Correct answer: She had one goal — to win.
An em dash is correctly used here to introduce an explanation or emphasis after a complete thought.
COOP Writing Mechanics 4
Which sentence avoids a double negative?