Writing Skills Flashcards
7 cards from real PCAT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Writing Skills flashcards as text
Which sentence is a run-on that requires correction?
Answer: She reviewed the drug interactions then she counseled the patient.
Option C fuses two independent clauses without proper punctuation or a coordinating conjunction, making it a run-on sentence.
What is the function of a topic sentence in a body paragraph?
Answer: To state the main idea that the paragraph will develop
A topic sentence announces the controlling idea of its paragraph, guiding the reader through the essay's structure.
Which revision corrects the comma splice: 'Aspirin reduces inflammation, it also thins the blood.'?
Answer: Aspirin reduces inflammation; it also thins the blood.
A semicolon correctly joins two closely related independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction.
In PCAT writing, which word choice is most appropriate for a formal persuasive essay?
Answer: Numerous studies have demonstrated this phenomenon.
Formal academic writing uses precise, professional vocabulary such as 'numerous studies have demonstrated.'
What is a thesis statement's primary role in a PCAT persuasive essay?
Answer: To present the writer's central argument or position
A thesis statement presents the writer's main claim or position, giving direction to the entire essay.
Which sentence uses an apostrophe correctly?
Answer: The pharmacist's licenses were renewed.
Option B correctly uses 'pharmacist's' (singular possessive) and 'licenses' (plural noun without possession).
Which revision makes the following sentence more concise: 'Due to the fact that the patient was noncompliant with the medication regimen, the disease progressed rapidly.'?
Answer: Because the patient was noncompliant, the disease progressed rapidly.
'Due to the fact that' is a wordy phrase best replaced by the concise conjunction 'because.'