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CLEP College Composition Modular study materials
CLEP College Composition Modular study resources

CLEP College Composition Modular practice questions

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Question 1Conventions of Standard Written English

Choose the verb that correctly completes the sentence: The collection of rare coins in the museum's basement ___ catalogued every spring.

  1. is Correct answer.
  2. are
  3. were
  4. have been

Explanation

The subject is 'collection,' a singular noun; the phrase 'of rare coins' only modifies it and does not change the subject's number. A singular subject takes the singular verb 'is.'

Question 2Conventions of Standard Written English

Choose the word that correctly completes the sentence: The committee released ___ final report on Tuesday.

  1. its Correct answer.
  2. it's
  3. its'
  4. it is

Explanation

'Its' is the possessive form of 'it' and takes no apostrophe. 'It's' is a contraction of 'it is' or 'it has,' which does not fit this sentence.

Question 3Conventions of Standard Written English

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

  1. The storm knocked out power in the county, and crews worked through the night to restore it. Correct answer.
  2. The storm knocked out power across the county crews worked through the night to restore it.
  3. The storm knocked out power across the county and, crews worked through the night to restore it.
  4. The storm knocked out power across the county, crews worked through the night to restore it.

Explanation

Two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction such as 'and' require a comma before the conjunction. 'Crews worked through the night to restore it' can stand alone, so the comma plus 'and' is correct.

Question 4Conventions of Standard Written English

Choose the pronoun that correctly completes the sentence: My brother and ___ spent the afternoon repairing the fence.

  1. mine
  2. me
  3. I Correct answer.
  4. myself

Explanation

'I' is the subject-case pronoun, and here it forms part of the compound subject 'My brother and I.' A pronoun that would be the subject when standing alone keeps the subject case inside a compound subject.

Question 5Conventions of Standard Written English

Choose the word that correctly completes the sentence: The bakery sold ___ loaves this morning than it did yesterday.

  1. less
  2. fewer Correct answer.
  3. lesser
  4. little

Explanation

'Fewer' modifies count nouns, which name items that can be counted individually, such as loaves. 'Less' modifies mass nouns, such as flour or water.

Question 6Conventions of Standard Written English

Which of the following is a complete sentence?

  1. The passengers waited on the platform for nearly an hour. Correct answer.
  2. Waiting on the platform for nearly an hour in the cold.
  3. Although the passengers waited on the platform for nearly an hour.
  4. Because the train was delayed for nearly an hour.

Explanation

A complete sentence needs a subject, a finite verb, and no subordinating word that leaves the thought unfinished. 'The passengers waited on the platform for nearly an hour' supplies all three.

Question 7Conventions of Standard Written English

Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly?

  1. The orchestra tuned their instruments; the conductor had not yet arrived. Correct answer.
  2. The orchestra tuned their instruments; and the conductor had not yet arrived.
  3. The orchestra tuned their instruments; before the conductor arrived.
  4. The orchestra tuned their instruments, the conductor had not yet arrived.

Explanation

A semicolon joins two independent clauses that are closely related and are not already joined by a coordinating conjunction. Both halves of this sentence can stand alone.

Question 8Conventions of Standard Written English

Choose the option that completes the sentence without a dangling modifier: Walking through the botanical garden, ___.

  1. there were roses in full bloom
  2. the roses were in full bloom
  3. the fragrance of roses filled the air
  4. we saw the roses in full bloom Correct answer.

Explanation

An introductory participial phrase must modify the subject of the main clause. Since 'we' are the ones walking, the main clause must begin with 'we.'

Question 9Conventions of Standard Written English

Choose the option that completes the sentence with parallel structure: The job requires candidates who can analyze data, draft reports, and ___.

  1. the clear presentation of findings
  2. present findings clearly Correct answer.
  3. findings that are presented clearly
  4. clear presentation of findings

Explanation

Items in a series must share the same grammatical form. 'Analyze data,' 'draft reports,' and 'present findings clearly' are all verb phrases with objects.

Question 10Conventions of Standard Written English

Choose the pronoun that correctly completes the sentence: The critic ___ the author thanked in her acceptance speech had reviewed the book harshly.

  1. who
  2. whoever
  3. whomever
  4. whom Correct answer.

Explanation

'Whom' is the object form of the pronoun. Here it serves as the object of 'thanked,' so the objective case is required.

Question 11Conventions of Standard Written English

Which sentence uses a colon correctly?

  1. She packed a compass, a map, and: a flashlight.
  2. She packed three items: a compass, a map, and a flashlight. Correct answer.
  3. She packed: a compass, a map, and a flashlight.
  4. She packed three items, a compass: a map, and a flashlight.

Explanation

A colon follows an independent clause and introduces an explanation, list, or elaboration. 'She packed three items' is a complete clause, so the colon is appropriate.

Question 12Conventions of Standard Written English

Choose the word that correctly completes the sentence: Each of the firms submitted ___ bid before the deadline.

  1. there
  2. their
  3. it's
  4. its Correct answer.

Explanation

'Each' is singular, so the pronoun referring back to it must also be singular: 'its.' A plural pronoun would disagree in number with the antecedent.

Question 13Conventions of Standard Written English

Choose the verb that correctly completes the sentence: By the time the guests arrived, the chef ___ the entire meal.

  1. prepares
  2. had prepared Correct answer.
  3. was preparing
  4. has prepared

Explanation

The past perfect 'had prepared' marks an action completed before another past action, 'the guests arrived.' It makes the order of events clear.

Question 14Conventions of Standard Written English

Which sentence is free of a comma splice?

  1. The lecture ran long, many students left early.
  2. The lecture ran long, students left early.
  3. The lecture ran long, so many students left early. Correct answer.
  4. The lecture ran long, many students left early to catch their buses.

Explanation

A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are joined by only a comma. Adding the coordinating conjunction 'so' corrects the punctuation and states the relationship between the clauses.

Question 15Conventions of Standard Written English

Which sentence uses the correct comparative or superlative form?

  1. Between the two candidates, she is the most qualified applicant.
  2. Of all the candidates, she is the more qualified.
  3. This year's exam was more harder than last year's.
  4. Between the two candidates, she is the more qualified. Correct answer.

Explanation

The comparative form ('more qualified') is used when two items are compared; the superlative ('most qualified') is reserved for three or more.

Question 16Conventions of Standard Written English

Choose the word that correctly completes the sentence: The ___ locker room was renovated over the summer.

  1. players's
  2. players' Correct answer.
  3. player's
  4. players

Explanation

The locker room belongs to several players, so the possessive of the plural noun 'players' is formed by adding only an apostrophe after the final s.

Question 17Conventions of Standard Written English

Which sentence unambiguously states that the senator spoke to reporters and to no one else?

  1. Only the senator spoke to reporters after the vote.
  2. The senator spoke to reporters only after the final vote was counted.
  3. The senator spoke only to reporters after the vote. Correct answer.
  4. The senator only spoke to reporters after the vote.

Explanation

Placing 'only' immediately before 'to reporters' restricts the meaning to reporters as the sole recipients of the senator's remarks. The position of a limiting modifier determines which element it modifies.

Question 18Conventions of Standard Written English

Choose the verb that correctly completes the sentence: Yesterday afternoon she ___ the documents on the desk and left the office.

  1. lay
  2. lied
  3. lain
  4. laid Correct answer.

Explanation

'Lay' is a transitive verb meaning 'to put something down,' and its past tense is 'laid.' Because the sentence includes the object 'the documents,' 'laid' is required.

Question 19Conventions of Standard Written English

Choose the verb that correctly completes the sentence: Neither the manager nor her assistants ___ willing to sign the revised contract.

  1. has been
  2. was
  3. were Correct answer.
  4. is

Explanation

With the correlative conjunctions 'neither...nor,' the verb agrees with the subject nearer to it. 'Assistants' is plural, so the plural 'were' is correct.

Question 20Conventions of Standard Written English

Choose the verb that correctly completes the sentence: The dean insisted that the final report ___ to the board before Friday.

  1. is submitted
  2. be submitted Correct answer.
  3. will be submitted
  4. was submitted

Explanation

Verbs expressing a demand, request, or recommendation (such as insist, demand, recommend, and request) take a that-clause in the base form of the verb, even when the main verb is in the past tense. The base form "be submitted" supplies the required subjunctive. Indicative forms such as "is" or "was" replace the subjunctive and are not standard in this construction.

Question 21Revision Skills, Including Sentence-Level Skills

Choose the verb that correctly completes the sentence: Each of the students ___ responsible for bringing a calculator.

  1. have been
  2. are
  3. were
  4. is Correct answer.

Explanation

The indefinite pronoun each is singular, so it takes a singular verb. The prepositional phrase of the students does not change the subject.

Question 22Revision Skills, Including Sentence-Level Skills

Choose the pronoun that correctly completes the sentence: Neither the manager nor the employees had submitted ___ reports.

  1. their Correct answer.
  2. his
  3. her
  4. its

Explanation

With a neither...nor construction, the pronoun agrees with the nearer antecedent. The nearer antecedent is employees, which is plural, so their is required.

Question 23Revision Skills, Including Sentence-Level Skills

Which revision best corrects the comma splice? The concert was canceled, the fans went home disappointed.

  1. The concert was canceled, and the fans, went home disappointed.
  2. The concert was canceled; the fans went home disappointed. Correct answer.
  3. The concert was canceled, the fans went home disappointed.
  4. The concert was canceled the fans went home disappointed.

Explanation

A comma splice joins two independent clauses with only a comma. Replacing the comma with a semicolon correctly separates the two complete thoughts.

Question 24Revision Skills, Including Sentence-Level Skills

Which revision best corrects the run-on sentence? The storm knocked out power thousands of homes remained dark for days.

  1. The storm knocked out power, thousands of homes remained dark for days.
  2. The storm knocked out power; thousands of homes, remained dark for days.
  3. The storm knocked out power; thousands of homes remained dark for days. Correct answer.
  4. The storm knocked out power and thousands of homes, remained dark for days.

Explanation

Two independent clauses need a semicolon or a coordinating conjunction with a comma between them. This revision places a semicolon correctly between the two complete thoughts.

Question 25Revision Skills, Including Sentence-Level Skills

Which revision eliminates the dangling modifier? Walking through the park, the flowers were beautiful.

  1. Walking through the park, beautiful flowers were seen.
  2. The flowers were beautiful walking through the park.
  3. Walking through the park, we saw beautiful flowers. Correct answer.
  4. Beautiful flowers were walking through the park.

Explanation

A modifier at the start of a sentence must describe the subject of the main clause. In this revision, we is the subject and is the one walking through the park.

Question 26Revision Skills, Including Sentence-Level Skills

Which revision clarifies the intended meaning of the misplaced modifier? The teacher gave the handout to the student with the red cover.

  1. The teacher gave the handout with the red cover to the student. Correct answer.
  2. The teacher gave the handout to the student, with the red cover.
  3. With the red cover, the teacher gave the handout to the student.
  4. The teacher gave the handout to the student with the red cover.

Explanation

The phrase with the red cover should clearly modify handout, not student. Placing it directly after handout removes the ambiguity.

Question 27Revision Skills, Including Sentence-Level Skills

Which revision makes the list parallel? The job requires typing accurately, filing promptly, and to answer phones courteously.

  1. answer phones courteously
  2. to answer phones courteously
  3. to be answering phones courteously
  4. answering phones courteously Correct answer.

Explanation

Items in a series should share the same grammatical form. Typing and filing are gerunds, so the third item should also be a gerund: answering.

Question 28Revision Skills, Including Sentence-Level Skills

Which sentence uses the apostrophe correctly?

  1. The childrens' toys were scattered across the floor.
  2. The childrens toys were scattered across the floor.
  3. The children's toys were scattered across the floor. Correct answer.
  4. The children's' toys were scattered across the floor.

Explanation

Children is an irregular plural noun that does not end in s, so the possessive is formed by adding apostrophe plus s. The correct form is children's.

Question 29Revision Skills, Including Sentence-Level Skills

Choose the word that correctly completes the sentence: The company announced ___ new policy yesterday.

  1. it's
  2. it is
  3. its'
  4. its Correct answer.

Explanation

Its is the possessive form, which is needed before the noun policy. It's is a contraction meaning it is or it has.

Question 30Revision Skills, Including Sentence-Level Skills

Choose the pronoun that correctly completes the sentence: The award was given to ___ the judges believed had delivered the best performance.

  1. who
  2. whoever Correct answer.
  3. whom
  4. whomever

Explanation

The pronoun is the subject of had delivered inside the clause, so the nominative form whoever is required. The preposition to governs the entire clause, not the pronoun alone.

Question 31Revision Skills, Including Sentence-Level Skills

Which sentence is written in the active voice?

  1. Writing the report was done by the intern.
  2. The report is being written by the intern.
  3. The intern wrote the report. Correct answer.
  4. The report had been written by the intern.

Explanation

In active voice, the subject performs the action. Here, the intern is the subject and performs the action of writing.

Question 32Revision Skills, Including Sentence-Level Skills

Which revision most effectively reduces wordiness? Due to the fact that the meeting ran late, we postponed the vote.

  1. Owing to the fact that the meeting ran late, we postponed the vote.
  2. Because of the fact of the meeting running late, we postponed the vote.
  3. Because the meeting ran late, we postponed the vote. Correct answer.
  4. In light of the fact that the meeting ran late, we postponed the vote.

Explanation

The phrase due to the fact that can usually be replaced by the single word because. This makes the sentence more concise without changing its meaning.

Question 33Revision Skills, Including Sentence-Level Skills

Which sentence best combines the two ideas using subordination? The team lost the game. They practiced harder the next week.

  1. The team lost the game; practicing harder the next week.
  2. After losing the game, the team practiced harder the next week. Correct answer.
  3. The team lost the game and practicing harder the next week.
  4. The team lost the game, they practiced harder the next week.

Explanation

Subordination makes one idea dependent on the other and clarifies the relationship between them. After losing the game clearly shows that the loss came before the harder practice.

Question 34Revision Skills, Including Sentence-Level Skills

Which revision corrects the inconsistent verb tense? When she arrived at the office, she realizes she had forgotten her laptop.

  1. When she arrives at the office, she realizes she had forgotten her laptop.
  2. When she arrives at the office, she realized she had forgotten her laptop.
  3. When she arrived at the office, she realized she had forgotten her laptop. Correct answer.
  4. When she arrived at the office, she realizes she forgets her laptop.

Explanation

The sentence describes events in the past, so the main verb should be in the past tense. Realized matches arrived and had forgotten.

Question 35Revision Skills, Including Sentence-Level Skills

Choose the word that correctly completes the sentence: Between the two candidates, she is the ___ qualified.

  1. best
  2. most
  3. better Correct answer.
  4. good

Explanation

When comparing two people or things, use the comparative form better. The superlative best is used for three or more.

Question 36Revision Skills, Including Sentence-Level Skills

Choose the verb that correctly completes the sentence: The collection of rare coins in the museum's basement ___ worth a fortune.

  1. were
  2. have been
  3. are
  4. is Correct answer.

Explanation

The subject is collection, which is singular. The prepositional phrases of rare coins and in the museum's basement do not change the number of the subject.

Question 37Revision Skills, Including Sentence-Level Skills

Choose the pronoun that correctly completes the sentence: Between you and ___, the plan seems risky.

  1. me Correct answer.
  2. I
  3. we
  4. myself

Explanation

A pronoun after a preposition must be in the objective case. Between is a preposition, so the objective form me is required.

Question 38Revision Skills, Including Sentence-Level Skills

Which revision corrects the faulty comparison? Her salary is higher than her brother.

  1. Her salary is higher than her brother is.
  2. Her salary is higher than her brother does.
  3. Her salary is higher than her brother's. Correct answer.
  4. Her salary is higher than her brother.

Explanation

The sentence compares salaries, not a salary and a person. Her brother's supplies the missing possessive and means her brother's salary.

Question 39Revision Skills, Including Sentence-Level Skills

Which revision removes the redundancy without changing the meaning? The final outcome was completely unexpected.

  1. The outcome was unexpected. Correct answer.
  2. The final outcome was unexpected.
  3. The final outcome was completely expected.
  4. The outcome was completely unexpected final.

Explanation

An outcome is by definition a final result, so final outcome is redundant. Completely is also unnecessary with unexpected, so the cleanest revision is the outcome was unexpected.

Question 40Revision Skills, Including Sentence-Level Skills

Choose the transition that best fits the sentence: The proposal had many strengths; ___, its cost was prohibitive.

  1. however Correct answer.
  2. for example
  3. similarly
  4. therefore

Explanation

The second clause contrasts a drawback with the proposal's strengths. However signals contrast and accurately connects the two ideas.

Question 41Revision Skills, Including Sentence-Level Skills

Which combined sentence is most effective? The author wrote a novel. The novel won an award.

  1. The author wrote a novel, it won an award.
  2. The author wrote a novel and won an award.
  3. The author wrote a novel that won an award. Correct answer.
  4. The author wrote a novel, that won an award.

Explanation

A relative clause beginning with that can combine the two ideas smoothly and show that the award belongs to the novel. The result is concise and grammatically correct.

Question 42Revision Skills, Including Sentence-Level Skills

Which revision correctly fixes the comma splice in this sentence? The storm knocked out power for hours, the crew repaired the lines by morning.

  1. The storm knocked out power for hours, the crew repairing the lines by morning.
  2. The storm knocked out power for hours the crew repaired the lines by morning.
  3. The storm knocked out power for hours; the crew repaired the lines by morning. Correct answer.
  4. The storm knocked out power for hours, the crew repaired the lines by the next morning.

Explanation

A comma splice occurs when two independent clauses are joined by only a comma. A semicolon marks the boundary between two closely related independent clauses.

Question 43Revision Skills, Including Sentence-Level Skills

Choose the word that correctly completes the sentence: The new schedule will ___ everyone's commute.

  1. effect
  2. affective
  3. effective
  4. affect Correct answer.

Explanation

Affect is a verb meaning to influence, which is the meaning needed here. Effect is normally a noun meaning result, while affective and effective are adjectives.

Question 44Revision Skills, Including Sentence-Level Skills

Choose the word that correctly completes the sentence: There are ___ students in this section than in the morning one.

  1. fewer Correct answer.
  2. less
  3. fewest
  4. lesser

Explanation

Fewer is used with countable plural nouns such as students, while less is used with uncountable quantities. The comparison with than also rules out the superlative fewest.

Question 45Revision Skills, Including Sentence-Level Skills

Choose the word that correctly completes the sentence: The choir sang ___ at the ceremony.

  1. goodly
  2. good
  3. well Correct answer.
  4. real good

Explanation

Well is an adverb describing how the choir sang, and adverbs modify verbs. Good is an adjective and cannot modify sang in standard edited English.

Question 46Revision Skills, Including Sentence-Level Skills

Choose the pronoun that correctly completes the sentence: One of the boys lost ___ glove in the locker room.

  1. his Correct answer.
  2. they're
  3. their
  4. its

Explanation

The subject one is singular, so the possessive pronoun must be singular. The antecedent is one of the boys, a male individual, so his is the matching form.

Question 47Revision Skills, Including Sentence-Level Skills

Choose the word that correctly completes the sentence: Her approach to the problem was different ___ her colleague's.

  1. then
  2. than
  3. from Correct answer.
  4. of

Explanation

The standard idiom in edited American English is different from. The word than follows comparative adjectives such as larger, not different.

Question 48Revision Skills, Including Sentence-Level Skills

Which revision correctly punctuates the introductory element? After the long delay the train finally arrived.

  1. After the long delay the train, finally arrived.
  2. After the long delay the train finally, arrived.
  3. After the long delay, the train finally arrived. Correct answer.
  4. After, the long delay the train finally arrived.

Explanation

An introductory prepositional phrase is normally followed by a comma to mark where the main clause begins. Placing the comma elsewhere breaks the sentence at the wrong point.

Question 49Revision Skills, Including Sentence-Level Skills

Which revision correctly punctuates the two independent clauses? The report was thorough it lacked a clear conclusion.

  1. The report was thorough, but it lacked a clear conclusion. Correct answer.
  2. The report was thorough; however it lacked a clear conclusion.
  3. The report was thorough, it lacked a clear conclusion.
  4. The report was thorough but, it lacked a clear conclusion.

Explanation

Two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction take a comma before the conjunction. The comma must come before but, not after it.

Question 50Revision Skills, Including Sentence-Level Skills

Which revision corrects the dangling modifier? Walking through the museum, the paintings impressed the visitors.

  1. Walking through the museum, the paintings impressed the visitors greatly.
  2. Walking through the museum, the paintings were impressive to the visitors.
  3. Walking through the museum, the visitors were impressed by the paintings. Correct answer.
  4. Walking through the museum, it was impressive to the visitors.

Explanation

An introductory participial phrase must describe the subject of the main clause. Only in this version does the subject, the visitors, perform the walking.