PRAXIS Core Academic Skills: Writing Usage and Mechanics

Question 1

Which sentence contains a comma splice?

Accepted Answer

She studied all night, consequently she passed the exam.

Answer

She studied all night; consequently, she passed the exam.

Answer

She studied all night and consequently passed the exam.

Answer

Because she studied all night, she passed the exam.

Question 2

Which of the following correctly uses a semicolon?

Accepted Answer

She was tired; she went to bed early.

Answer

I like coffee; but not tea.

Answer

He brought supplies; such as pencils and paper.

Answer

They arrived late; because of traffic.

Question 3

Which sentence uses apostrophes correctly?

Accepted Answer

The students' notebooks were on the desk.

Answer

The student's notebook's were on the desk.

Answer

The students notebook's were on the desk.

Answer

The student's notebook were on the desk.

Question 4

Identify the correct use of a colon in the following sentences.

Accepted Answer

She needed three things: a map, a compass, and water.

Answer

She packed: her bags before the trip.

Answer

She arrived at: the destination on time.

Answer

She said: she would be late.

Question 5

Which sentence demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement?

Accepted Answer

Neither the students nor the teacher was available.

Answer

Neither the teachers nor the principal were available.

Answer

Either the students or the teacher are responsible.

Answer

Both the teacher and the principal is absent.

Question 6

Which sentence contains a dangling modifier?

Accepted Answer

Running to catch the bus, the phone was dropped.

Answer

Running to catch the bus, Maria dropped her phone.

Answer

While running to catch the bus, Maria dropped her phone.

Answer

Maria, running to catch the bus, dropped her phone.

Question 7

Which of the following is a run-on sentence?

Accepted Answer

The test was hard most students still passed.

Answer

The test was hard; however, most students passed.

Answer

Although the test was hard, most students passed.

Answer

The test was hard, but most students passed.

Question 8

Which sentence uses parallel structure correctly?

Accepted Answer

She likes reading, swimming, and hiking.

Answer

She likes reading, to swim, and hiking.

Answer

She likes to read, swimming, and to hike.

Answer

She likes to read, to swimming, and hiking.

Question 9

In which sentence is the pronoun used correctly?

Accepted Answer

Everyone should bring their own materials.

Answer

Between you and I, the plan is flawed.

Answer

The award was given to she and her partner.

Answer

Each of the boys forgot their homework.

Question 10

Which option corrects the following fragment: 'Because the roads were icy.'

Accepted Answer

Because the roads were icy, the school was closed.

Answer

Because the roads were icy, and slippery.

Answer

The roads were icy because.

Answer

Because, the roads were icy.