Grammar and Writing Flashcards

Which transition word best signals a contrast between two ideas? 'The essay presented a compelling thesis. _____, the supporting evidence was insufficient.' A) Furthermore B) Therefore C) Nevertheless D) Similarly

Answer: Nevertheless

'Nevertheless' signals a concessive contrast, introducing information that qualifies or contradicts the preceding statement.

Which sentence is most concise without losing meaning? A) Due to the fact that the library was closed, she was unable to access the books she needed. B) Because the library was closed, she could not access the books she needed. C) On account of the closing of the library, the books she needed were inaccessible to her. D) The library being in a state of closure meant that the books she needed were not accessible.

Answer: Because the library was closed, she could not access the books she needed.

Option B replaces the wordy 'due to the fact that' with 'because' and uses direct, concise phrasing without sacrificing meaning.

Which sentence uses 'affect' and 'effect' correctly? A) The storm effected the entire coastline, causing widespread damage. B) The new policy will effect a significant change in school culture. C) Her speech had a profound affect on the audience's opinions. D) Stress can effect your ability to concentrate during examinations.

Answer: The new policy will effect a significant change in school culture.

When used as a verb meaning 'to bring about or produce,' 'effect' is correct; 'affect' is typically a verb meaning 'to influence.'

Which sentence best maintains formal register appropriate for academic writing? A) Plato's dialogues are pretty deep and lots of people still find them super relevant. B) Plato's dialogues continue to resonate with readers across centuries due to their philosophical depth. C) You can see that Plato's dialogues are still a big deal because they tackle some heavy questions. D) Plato's dialogues are, like, still really important and everyone in philosophy reads them.

Answer: Plato's dialogues continue to resonate with readers across centuries due to their philosophical depth.

Option B uses precise, elevated diction and avoids colloquialisms, maintaining the formal register expected in academic writing.

Which sentence contains a redundancy that should be eliminated? A) The senator's speech was brief and to the point. B) The ancient ruins were old and crumbling. C) She returned back to her hometown after graduating. D) The experiment yielded unexpected and surprising results.

Answer: She returned back to her hometown after graduating.

'Returned' already implies going back, so 'back' is redundant; the sentence should read 'she returned to her hometown.'

Which sentence uses subordination most effectively to show the relationship between ideas? A) Homer composed the Iliad. The Iliad explored the nature of heroism. It also explored the cost of pride. B) Homer composed the Iliad, and the Iliad explored heroism, and it also explored pride. C) Homer's Iliad, which explored heroism and the cost of pride, remains a foundational classical text. D) Homer composed the Iliad, exploring heroism, exploring pride, being a classical text.

Answer: Homer's Iliad, which explored heroism and the cost of pride, remains a foundational classical text.

Option C uses a relative clause to subordinate supporting details, creating a single, well-integrated sentence that clearly emphasizes the main idea.

Which version of the underlined portion is grammatically correct and stylistically preferable? 'The historian argued that the fall of Rome was caused by moral decline, economic instability, and [invaders pressuring the borders].' A) invaders pressuring the borders B) the pressure of invaders on the borders C) border pressure from invading peoples D) military pressure from external invaders

Answer: military pressure from external invaders

Option D uses a parallel noun phrase that matches 'moral decline' and 'economic instability,' maintaining the parallel structure of the series.