ParaPro Writing 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence uses the correct form of the verb 'lie' (to recline)?
- She laid on the couch all afternoon.
- She lay on the couch all afternoon. (Correct answer)
- She lied on the couch all afternoon.
- She has laid on the couch all afternoon.
Correct answer: She lay on the couch all afternoon.
The past tense of 'lie' (to recline) is 'lay', so 'She lay on the couch' is correct.
Question 2: Which of the following is a compound-complex sentence?
- The dog barked loudly.
- After the rain stopped, we went outside.
- Maria studied hard, and she passed the exam because she was prepared. (Correct answer)
- Running through the park, the children laughed.
Correct answer: Maria studied hard, and she passed the exam because she was prepared.
A compound-complex sentence has at least two independent clauses and one dependent clause, as in option C.
Question 3: Which word correctly completes the sentence: 'The committee reached _____ decision after hours of debate.'
- it's
- their
- its (Correct answer)
- there
Correct answer: its
'Committee' is a collective noun treated as singular, so the possessive pronoun 'its' is correct.
Question 4: Which revision best eliminates the dangling modifier in: 'Walking to school, the rain began to fall.'?
- Walking to school, and the rain began to fall.
- As I was walking to school, the rain began to fall. (Correct answer)
- Walking to school, it rained.
- The rain began to fall, walking to school.
Correct answer: As I was walking to school, the rain began to fall.
Adding 'As I was' gives the participial phrase a clear subject to modify, eliminating the dangling modifier.
Question 5: In which sentence are commas used correctly with a nonrestrictive clause?
- My brother who lives in Texas is a teacher.
- My brother, who lives in Texas, is a teacher. (Correct answer)
- My brother who, lives in Texas, is a teacher.
- My brother, who lives in Texas is a teacher.
Correct answer: My brother, who lives in Texas, is a teacher.
A nonrestrictive (non-essential) clause must be set off by commas on both sides.
Question 6: Which sentence correctly uses a semicolon?
- I enjoy hiking; but I don't like camping.
- She loves music; playing the piano every day.
- The store was closed; we decided to go home. (Correct answer)
- He wanted to leave; early in the morning.
Correct answer: The store was closed; we decided to go home.
A semicolon correctly joins two independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction.
Question 7: Which option corrects the error in: 'Neither the students nor the teacher were ready for the test.'?
- Neither the students nor the teacher was ready for the test. (Correct answer)
- Neither the students nor the teacher are ready for the test.
- Neither the students nor the teacher have been ready for the test.
- The sentence is correct as written.
Correct answer: Neither the students nor the teacher was ready for the test.
With 'neither/nor', the verb agrees with the nearer subject ('teacher' — singular), so 'was' is correct.
ParaPro Writing 4
Which sentence uses the correct form of the verb 'lie' (to recline)?