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BSEH SS English Special study materials
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BSEH SS English Special practice questions

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Question 1Reading Comprehension

A passage states: 'The committee reviewed the proposal, found several flaws, and recommended rejection.' What is the main idea of this sentence?

  1. The committee wrote a proposal and reviewed it.
  2. The committee ignored the proposal entirely.
  3. The committee will rewrite the proposal later.
  4. The committee rejected the proposal after finding flaws. Correct answer.

Explanation

The main idea is the central point the sentence conveys: the committee examined the proposal, identified problems, and concluded it should be rejected. The other options introduce actions or outcomes the sentence does not state.

Question 2Reading Comprehension

In the sentence 'Her argument was persuasive, but the evidence supporting it was thin,' what does the word 'thin' most nearly mean?

  1. poorly written
  2. narrow in width
  3. weak or insufficient Correct answer.
  4. rarely available

Explanation

In context, 'thin' describes evidence and contrasts with 'persuasive,' so it means weak or insufficient in substance. The literal meaning of physical narrowness does not fit evidence. Reading the contrast signaled by 'but' is the key skill.

Question 3Reading Comprehension

A writer wants to show that two events happened at the same time. Which transition best fits the blank? 'The storm intensified; ___, the rescue team continued searching.'

  1. meanwhile Correct answer.
  2. consequently
  3. for example
  4. therefore

Explanation

'Meanwhile' signals that two actions are occurring concurrently, which matches the intended simultaneous timing. 'Therefore' and 'consequently' mark cause and effect, and 'for example' introduces an illustration. Only 'meanwhile' expresses simultaneity.

Question 4Reading Comprehension

Which detail in a passage about honeybees would best serve as supporting evidence for the claim that bees communicate location?

  1. Bees produce honey stored in wax combs.
  2. Bees have five eyes and sensitive antennae.
  3. Bees live in large colonies with one queen.
  4. Bees perform a waggle dance indicating direction and distance to food. Correct answer.

Explanation

Supporting evidence must directly back the claim about communicating location. The waggle dance encodes direction and distance to food, which is exactly location information. The other details describe colony structure, storage, or anatomy without addressing communication of place.

Question 5Reading Comprehension

A passage describes a character who 'smiled politely while clenching her fists beneath the table.' What does this contrast most strongly suggest about her feelings?

  1. She is concealing anger or frustration. Correct answer.
  2. She is physically exhausted from work.
  3. She is confused about what was said.
  4. She is genuinely delighted by the conversation.

Explanation

The polite smile conflicts with clenched fists, a physical sign of tension. This juxtaposition implies hidden anger or frustration rather than genuine pleasure. Inference from contrasting details is a core reading skill.

Question 6Reading Comprehension

Which sentence best states the author's purpose in a text that explains how to change a bicycle tire?

  1. to instruct readers in a step-by-step procedure Correct answer.
  2. to compare bicycles from different countries
  3. to persuade readers to buy a new bicycle
  4. to entertain readers with a humorous story

Explanation

A text explaining how to perform a task has an instructional purpose. Its structure of steps and procedures signals that the author intends to teach readers to do something. Persuasion, entertainment, and comparison have different structures and goals.

Question 7Reading Comprehension

In a passage, the word 'frugal' is used to describe a shopper who 'compared prices, used coupons, and avoided impulse buys.' What does 'frugal' mean here?

  1. wealthy and generous
  2. careless with money
  3. economical and careful with spending Correct answer.
  4. unable to make decisions

Explanation

The surrounding actions-comparing prices, using coupons, avoiding impulse buys-all describe careful spending. Context clues therefore define 'frugal' as economical. The other options conflict with these behaviors.

Question 8Reading Comprehension

A paragraph begins: 'Recycling programs succeed only when residents participate consistently.' Which sentence would best function as the topic sentence of a following paragraph supporting this claim?

  1. Low participation rates have caused several city programs to fail. Correct answer.
  2. Some residents prefer glass bottles to plastic ones.
  3. Cities spend millions on recycling bins each year.
  4. Recycling bins come in many colors and sizes.

Explanation

A supporting paragraph should develop the claim that participation determines success. A sentence linking low participation to program failure directly illustrates that dependence. The other sentences offer unrelated details about bins or preferences.

Question 9Reading Comprehension

A passage presents statistics showing rising temperatures, then quotes a scientist warning of consequences. What is the primary organizational pattern of this passage?

  1. problem and solution
  2. comparison and contrast
  3. chronological narration
  4. cause and effect Correct answer.

Explanation

The passage links rising temperatures (a cause) to warned consequences (effects), which is a cause-and-effect structure. Comparison, chronology, and problem-solution would require different signals such as contrasts, dates, or proposed remedies.

Question 10Reading Comprehension

Read: 'The museum's new wing opened to great fanfare. Within a year, however, attendance had dropped sharply.' What is the function of the word 'however' in this passage?

  1. It introduces an example of the fanfare.
  2. It indicates that the events happened simultaneously.
  3. It shows that the second event caused the first.
  4. It signals a contrast with the previous statement. Correct answer.

Explanation

'However' is a contrast signal: it sets the disappointing attendance against the earlier enthusiasm. It does not introduce an example, a cause, or simultaneity. Recognizing contrast markers helps readers track shifts in a passage's direction.

Question 11Reading Comprehension

A writer claims, 'Online courses are less effective than classroom courses.' Which piece of evidence would most strengthen this claim?

  1. A study showing online students scored lower on standardized exams than classroom students. Correct answer.
  2. A survey showing many students own laptops.
  3. An anecdote about a teacher who enjoys classroom teaching.
  4. A report that online courses are cheaper to produce.

Explanation

Effective evidence directly measures the claim's terms: effectiveness compared across formats. A study comparing exam scores of online and classroom students does exactly that. Cost, laptop ownership, and personal preference do not measure learning effectiveness.

Question 12Reading Comprehension

In the sentence 'The negotiator's tone was conciliatory, softening the room's hostility,' what does 'conciliatory' mean?

  1. intended to soothe and make peace Correct answer.
  2. confused and uncertain
  3. loud and aggressive
  4. intended to provoke conflict

Explanation

The clause 'softening the room's hostility' provides a context clue that 'conciliatory' means peace-making or soothing. The effect described is reduced hostility, which rules out provocation or aggression. Context clues often appear in adjacent clauses.

Question 13Reading Comprehension

A passage states: 'The author's tone is best described as cautiously optimistic.' Which detail would most support this characterization?

  1. The author describes events without any opinion.
  2. The author predicts disaster and criticizes all involved.
  3. The author notes promising signs while warning of remaining risks. Correct answer.
  4. The author praises the plan without reservation.

Explanation

'Cautiously optimistic' combines hope with awareness of risk. A detail noting promising signs alongside warnings captures both halves of the tone. Unreserved praise or pure pessimism captures only one side or neither.

Question 14Reading Comprehension

What can a reader infer about a narrator who says, 'I told everyone I had forgotten the incident, though I thought of it every night'?

  1. The narrator thinks of the incident only rarely.
  2. The narrator truly forgot the incident.
  3. The narrator never experienced the incident.
  4. The narrator is hiding that the incident still troubles them. Correct answer.

Explanation

The contradiction between the public claim of forgetting and the private nightly thoughts implies concealment of lingering distress. Inference requires combining both clauses. The other options contradict the explicit statement about nightly thoughts.

Question 15Reading Comprehension

A passage argues that a new policy will reduce traffic. Which statement, if true, would most weaken this argument?

  1. The policy was approved by a large majority.
  2. The policy takes effect next month.
  3. Studies show the policy increases the number of cars entering the city. Correct answer.
  4. The policy was proposed by a transportation expert.

Explanation

A weakening statement must undermine the causal link between the policy and reduced traffic. Evidence that the policy actually increases cars entering the city directly contradicts the predicted outcome. Approval, timing, and the proposer's credentials do not address the effect.

Question 16Reading Comprehension

A paragraph reads: 'Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity. They require little maintenance. Homeowners can therefore reduce energy bills.' Which sentence is the paragraph's conclusion?

  1. None of the sentences is a conclusion.
  2. Homeowners can therefore reduce energy bills. Correct answer.
  3. Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity.
  4. They require little maintenance.

Explanation

The conclusion is the claim drawn from the preceding points, signaled by 'therefore.' The first two sentences provide supporting facts, while the last sentence states the inference. Transition words like 'therefore' often mark conclusions.

Question 17Reading Comprehension

A writer wants to describe a setting as isolated. Which sentence most effectively conveys isolation through imagery?

  1. The house stood far from town.
  2. The nearest neighbor was a mile away.
  3. The house sat alone, its windows staring into miles of empty fields. Correct answer.
  4. The house was built in 1952.

Explanation

Effective imagery uses sensory, figurative detail to create an impression rather than state facts plainly. The personified windows 'staring into miles of empty fields' evokes isolation vividly. The other options state distance or date without imagery.

Question 18Reading Comprehension

In a passage, the phrase 'the tip of the iceberg' is used to describe early research findings. What does the phrase suggest?

  1. The findings are cold and unfeeling.
  2. The findings are dangerous to researchers.
  3. The findings are final and complete.
  4. The findings are only a small visible part of a larger whole. Correct answer.

Explanation

'Tip of the iceberg' is an idiom meaning that only a small, visible portion of something larger is apparent. Applied to research findings, it suggests much remains undiscovered. Literal or opposite readings misread the idiom.

Question 19Reading Comprehension

An author writes: 'We must act now; delay will cost us dearly.' Which rhetorical appeal is primarily used?

  1. a neutral, factual appeal
  2. pathos, through fear of loss Correct answer.
  3. logos, through statistical data
  4. ethos, through the author's credentials

Explanation

The warning about costly delay appeals to the audience's fear of loss, which is an emotional (pathos) appeal. No statistics or credentials are offered. Recognizing appeals helps readers evaluate persuasive texts.

Question 20Reading Comprehension

A passage compares two studies with conflicting results and then explains why their methods differed. What is the author's main purpose?

  1. to entertain readers with a story about scientists
  2. to describe a single study in detail
  3. to argue that all research is unreliable
  4. to resolve an apparent contradiction by analyzing methodology Correct answer.

Explanation

By presenting conflicting findings and then explaining methodological differences, the author aims to reconcile the contradiction. The focus is on analysis of methods, not entertainment or blanket skepticism. This is a common purpose in explanatory texts.

Question 21Reading Comprehension

A text states: 'Critics dismissed the theory as speculative, yet subsequent experiments confirmed its central predictions.' What is the effect of the word 'yet' on the passage's meaning?

  1. It suggests the theory was never tested.
  2. It shows the critics were correct.
  3. It indicates the experiments were inconclusive.
  4. It emphasizes a reversal in which the theory was vindicated. Correct answer.

Explanation

'Yet' signals contrast, here reversing the critics' dismissal by noting later confirmation. The word thus highlights vindication of the theory. Without recognizing the contrast, a reader might misread the sentence as agreeing with the critics.

Question 22Reading Comprehension

A passage describes a policy's short-term benefits and long-term costs. Which inference is best supported?

  1. The author believes the policy has no costs.
  2. The author believes the policy is entirely beneficial.
  3. The author believes the policy should be adopted without review.
  4. The author believes the policy requires weighing trade-offs. Correct answer.

Explanation

Presenting both benefits and costs implies a balanced evaluation in which trade-offs must be weighed. This inference follows from the passage's dual framing. Claims of pure benefit or cost-free adoption ignore half the evidence presented.

Question 23Reading Comprehension

An author writes, 'The data do not prove causation, but the correlation is too strong to ignore.' What is the author's stance?

  1. The author refuses to discuss the data.
  2. The author claims the data prove causation.
  3. The author rejects the correlation as meaningless.
  4. The author is cautious yet treats the correlation as significant. Correct answer.

Explanation

The author acknowledges a limitation (no proof of causation) while asserting the correlation's importance. This balanced stance is cautious yet attentive to significance. Misreading it as either dismissal or proof of causation would distort the sentence.

Question 24Reading Comprehension

A passage presents a claim, a counterclaim, and a rebuttal. Which element most directly strengthens the author's position against the counterclaim?

  1. the introduction's background information
  2. the counterclaim itself
  3. the rebuttal addressing the counterclaim Correct answer.
  4. the original claim

Explanation

A rebuttal responds to the counterclaim and defends the author's position, so it is the element that directly strengthens the argument. The claim states the position, and the counterclaim opposes it. Background information provides context but does not answer objections.

Question 25Reading Comprehension

A passage uses the metaphor 'the city was a sleeping giant, breathing slowly beneath the fog.' What effect does this metaphor create?

  1. It indicates the fog is dangerous.
  2. It shows the city is abandoned.
  3. It suggests the city is small and insignificant.
  4. It conveys the city as vast and quietly powerful. Correct answer.

Explanation

Comparing the city to a sleeping giant implies great size and latent power, while 'breathing slowly' adds a sense of calm. Together these create an impression of vastness and quiet strength. The other options contradict the imagery of size and life.

Question 26Reading Comprehension

A reading passage opens with a short anecdote about a hiker lost in fog, then moves to a general discussion of how navigational tools changed exploration. Which term best describes the structural role of the opening anecdote?

  1. A thesis statement that states the central argument
  2. A concluding summary of the main points
  3. A hook that introduces the passage's broader theme Correct answer.
  4. A counterargument the author later refutes

Explanation

An opening anecdote in an informational passage typically functions as a hook: a concrete, engaging entry point that draws readers in before the writer connects it to a larger subject. It does not itself assert the argument, so it is not a thesis, and it appears before any claims to refute or summarize.

Question 27Reading Comprehension

Read this sentence from an informational article: 'The bridge, completed in 1937, still carries more than 100,000 vehicles daily.' Which reading skill is most directly required to understand the phrase 'completed in 1937'?

  1. Detecting the author's emotional tone
  2. Recognizing a rhetorical question
  3. Evaluating the reliability of the source
  4. Identifying a detail that supplies factual context Correct answer.

Explanation

The phrase adds a specific factual detail (a completion date) that gives context for the bridge's later traffic load. Recognizing such supporting details is a literal-comprehension skill, distinct from judging tone, source reliability, or rhetorical form.

Question 28Reading Comprehension

A passage contains the sentence: 'The committee's decision was unanimous, though not everyone left the meeting satisfied.' Which inference is best supported by this sentence?

  1. The committee postponed its decision to a later meeting
  2. Some members voted for the decision despite personal reservations Correct answer.
  3. The chairperson overruled the committee's vote
  4. Most members openly opposed the final outcome

Explanation

A unanimous decision means every voter supported it, while dissatisfaction afterward implies some members had doubts or regrets yet still voted yes. Combining those two clauses supports the inference that agreement and contentment are not the same thing.

Question 29Reading Comprehension

In a passage about scientific writing, the author states: 'Precision, not ornament, is the virtue of a methods section.' Which word in this sentence carries the contrast the author intends?

  1. not Correct answer.
  2. section
  3. methods
  4. virtue

Explanation

The word 'not' sets up an explicit contrast between precision and ornament, signaling which quality the author values. The other words are nouns identifying the quality, the genre, and the part of a report, but none marks a comparison.

Question 30Reading Comprehension

A paragraph reads: 'Many cities now plant trees along busy roads. The trees absorb noise and trap airborne particles. Shade also lowers surface temperatures on hot days.' Which sentence best expresses the paragraph's main idea?

  1. Roadside planting is mainly an aesthetic choice
  2. Urban tree planting delivers several measurable environmental benefits Correct answer.
  3. Trees are expensive to maintain in dense urban areas
  4. Airborne particles are the leading urban health risk

Explanation

Each supporting sentence names a distinct benefit of street trees: noise reduction, particle capture, and cooling. A main-idea statement must generalize across all three, and only the first option does so without adding unsupported claims.

Question 31Reading Comprehension

Read: 'The researcher's findings were provisional; she published them to invite scrutiny rather than to close the debate.' In this context, what does 'provisional' most nearly mean?

  1. Proven beyond reasonable doubt
  2. Copied from an earlier study
  3. Subject to revision as new evidence appears Correct answer.
  4. Deliberately concealed from peers

Explanation

The second clause clarifies the meaning: publishing to invite scrutiny signals that the conclusions are open to challenge and change. That matches 'subject to revision,' the standard sense of provisional in academic contexts.

Question 32Reading Comprehension

An author writes: 'The new transit line has shortened average commutes by twelve minutes. Ridership, however, has grown more slowly than planners projected.' Which relationship between the two sentences does the second sentence establish?

  1. A qualification that limits the impression of success Correct answer.
  2. An illustration that gives a concrete example
  3. A cause that explains the first sentence's result
  4. A restatement that repeats the first claim

Explanation

The first sentence reports a clear benefit, and 'however' introduces a fact that complicates that positive impression. The second sentence therefore qualifies rather than repeats, illustrates, or causally explains the first.

Question 33Reading Comprehension

A passage describes a novelist who 'wrote in the margins of other people's books, filling them with corrections and questions.' Which trait does this detail most strongly suggest about the novelist?

  1. A talent for commercial marketing
  2. A distrust of published fiction
  3. A preference for solitary travel
  4. A habit of engaged, critical reading Correct answer.

Explanation

Annotating others' books with corrections and questions shows active intellectual engagement with texts, which is the defining feature of critical reading. The detail reveals how the novelist read, not where she traveled or how she sold books.

Question 34Reading Comprehension

A writer argues that a city should fund more public libraries and supports the claim with data on literacy gains among library users. Which additional evidence would most directly strengthen the argument?

  1. A list of the city's oldest library buildings
  2. A report on the rising cost of e-books
  3. An opinion column praising libraries by a local celebrity
  4. A study linking library access to higher employment rates in the same city Correct answer.

Explanation

Strong evidence for a funding claim should show concrete public benefits of libraries. A study connecting library access to employment adds a second measurable outcome, directly reinforcing the case beyond literacy alone.

Question 35Reading Comprehension

A passage states: 'The festival's organizers expected a modest turnout. By noon, however, the streets were impassable.' Which inference about the turnout is best supported?

  1. Organizers had accurately predicted the crowd size
  2. The crowd greatly exceeded the organizers' expectations Correct answer.
  3. The event was cancelled before noon
  4. Attendance was lower than the previous year

Explanation

'Modest turnout' sets a low expectation, and impassable streets by noon show a crowd large enough to overwhelm the area. The contrast signaled by 'however' supports the inference that attendance far surpassed the forecast.

Question 36Reading Comprehension

In a passage, an author writes: 'Advocates of the reform cite efficiency; opponents cite equity. Both are describing real trade-offs.' Which stance does the author take toward the debate?

  1. Balanced, acknowledging validity on both sides Correct answer.
  2. Firmly aligned with the opponents
  3. Indifferent to the outcome of the debate
  4. Dismissive of the reform's supporters

Explanation

The author presents each side's concern and then affirms that both describe real trade-offs, a move that grants legitimacy to both positions. That even-handed treatment signals a balanced stance rather than partisanship or indifference.

Question 37Reading Comprehension

A passage explains that a vaccine trial reported strong results but notes that participants were all healthy adults aged 18 to 30. Which conclusion is most appropriately limited by that detail?

  1. The results were fabricated by the researchers
  2. The trial was conducted without any oversight
  3. The vaccine will work equally well for elderly patients Correct answer.
  4. The vaccine prevents all known diseases

Explanation

A sample restricted to young, healthy adults cannot by itself establish effectiveness for a very different population such as the elderly. Generalizing beyond the sampled group is the specific overreach the age detail warns against.

Question 38Reading Comprehension

A passage contains these lines: 'The proposal promises savings. Yet its costs fall on those least able to bear them, while its benefits accrue to those least in need.' Which rhetorical strategy is the author primarily using?

  1. Contrasting who bears costs with who receives benefits Correct answer.
  2. Appealing to the reader's fear of change
  3. Conceding that the proposal has no flaws
  4. Citing statistical studies to prove a point

Explanation

The sentence sets the distribution of costs against the distribution of benefits, a classic fairness contrast that invites the reader to judge the proposal by who gains and who loses. No statistics, fear appeal, or concession of flawlessness appears.

Question 39Reading Comprehension

Read: 'Her argument was elegant, but elegance is not evidence.' Which criticism of the argument does the sentence imply?

  1. Its terminology is too technical for readers
  2. Its persuasive form does not establish that its claims are true Correct answer.
  3. Its conclusion contradicts its own premises
  4. Its evidence is drawn from unreliable sources

Explanation

The sentence separates the argument's aesthetic appeal (elegance) from its evidentiary value, implying that a well-formed argument can still lack proof. The criticism targets form mistaken for proof, not source quality, internal contradiction, or jargon.

Question 40Reading Comprehension

A passage presents two historians who disagree about a treaty's causes, then notes that one relied on private letters while the other used public speeches. What does this detail about sources most likely explain?

  1. Why the treaty was ultimately ratified
  2. Why public speeches are always more accurate
  3. Why the two historians reached different interpretations Correct answer.
  4. Why private letters are historically worthless

Explanation

Different source types reveal different aspects of motive: private letters may show candid reasoning while speeches show public positioning. That divergence in evidence plausibly accounts for the historians' conflicting interpretations.

Question 41Writing Skills

In a formal academic essay, which sentence uses the most appropriate register for the stated audience of examiners and scholars?

  1. The findings proved rather unexpected and generated considerable scholarly interest. Correct answer.
  2. The results were pretty surprising, and a lot of people were kind of shocked.
  3. Loads of researchers got super interested once the numbers came out.
  4. The results were surprising, and many people were shocked by them.

Explanation

Formal academic register favours precise, measured vocabulary and avoids colloquial intensifiers such as 'pretty', 'kind of', 'loads of' and 'super'. Option 1 maintains an impersonal, scholarly tone appropriate to examiners. The other options either use informal modifiers or are too vague for academic argument.

Question 42Writing Skills

Which cohesive device best fills the gap? 'The experiment was repeated three times; ____, the results remained consistent.'

  1. consequently
  2. furthermore
  3. nevertheless Correct answer.
  4. however

Explanation

'Nevertheless' signals a contrast or concession, meaning 'in spite of that', which fits a sentence where consistency persists despite repetition. The semicolon plus conjunctive adverb structure is correct here. 'Consequently' would wrongly imply repetition caused consistency, and 'furthermore' merely adds information without the concessive nuance.

Question 43Writing Skills

A candidate is writing a summary of a 600-word article for an exam task. Which approach best reflects the conventions of summary writing?

  1. Add personal opinions about the article's strengths and weaknesses.
  2. Copy the opening and closing sentences verbatim to preserve the author's voice.
  3. State the central claim and key supporting points in condensed, original wording. Correct answer.
  4. Include every example and statistic so nothing is lost from the original.

Explanation

A summary condenses the source's main idea and essential supporting points using the writer's own words, without evaluation. Verbatim copying, exhaustive detail, and personal commentary all violate summary conventions. The purpose is faithful compression, not reproduction or critique.

Question 44Writing Skills

Which version of the sentence best corrects the dangling modifier? 'Having reviewed the data, the conclusion was clear to the researchers.'

  1. Having reviewed the data, the conclusion became clear to the researchers.
  2. Having reviewed the data, it was clear the conclusion was reached.
  3. Having reviewed the data, clarity was achieved about the conclusion.
  4. Having reviewed the data, the researchers found the conclusion clear. Correct answer.

Explanation

A participial phrase at the start of a sentence must modify the grammatical subject that follows. In the original, 'the conclusion' did not review the data; the researchers did. Only option 0 makes 'the researchers' the subject, so the modifier attaches logically.

Question 45Writing Skills

In an argumentative essay, which sentence functions as a counterargument rather than a claim?

  1. Studies show that uniformed schools report fewer dress-code disputes.
  2. Therefore, uniform policies should be adopted by all secondary schools.
  3. School uniforms improve discipline by reducing visible socioeconomic differences.
  4. Some parents argue that uniforms suppress students' freedom of expression. Correct answer.

Explanation

A counterargument presents an opposing viewpoint that the writer must then address. Option 1 attributes a position to opponents ('some parents argue'), signalling an opposing view. The other options are the writer's own claim, conclusion, or supporting evidence.

Question 46Writing Skills

Which sentence uses the colon correctly according to standard written English conventions?

  1. The committee needed: funding, staff and time to complete the project.
  2. The committee needed three things; funding, staff and time.
  3. The committee needed three things: funding, staff and time. Correct answer.
  4. The committee needed three things, funding, staff and time.

Explanation

A colon may introduce a list only after an independent clause, and it must not separate a verb from its object. In option 2, 'The committee needed three things' is a complete clause, so the colon correctly introduces the list. The other options misuse the colon or use a semicolon where a colon is required.

Question 47Writing Skills

A writer wants to vary sentence structure in an academic paragraph. Which revision best combines the two sentences using a subordinate clause? 'The trial ended early. The drug showed unexpected side effects.'

  1. The trial ended early; the drug showed unexpected side effects.
  2. The trial ended early. The drug showed unexpected side effects.
  3. The trial ended early because the drug showed unexpected side effects. Correct answer.
  4. The trial ended early, and the drug showed unexpected side effects.

Explanation

A subordinate clause is introduced by a subordinating conjunction such as 'because', creating a main clause plus dependent clause. Option 2 achieves this and clarifies the causal relationship. Coordination with 'and' or a semicolon creates compound structures, not subordination.

Question 48Writing Skills

Which sentence avoids a comma splice while correctly joining two independent clauses?

  1. The lecture was cancelled the students went home early.
  2. The lecture was cancelled, so the students went home early. Correct answer.
  3. The lecture was cancelled, the students, went home early.
  4. The lecture was cancelled, the students went home early.

Explanation

A comma splice occurs when a comma alone joins two independent clauses. Adding the coordinating conjunction 'so' in option 1 creates a correct compound sentence. The other options either retain the splice, omit punctuation entirely, or insert a misplaced comma.

Question 49Writing Skills

In the sentence 'The editor, who had reviewed the manuscript twice, requested further revisions', what is the function of the clause set off by commas?

  1. It is an independent clause forming a compound sentence.
  2. It is a restrictive clause essential to identifying the editor.
  3. It is an appositive renaming the editor.
  4. It is a non-restrictive clause adding supplementary information. Correct answer.

Explanation

Commas around a relative clause signal that it is non-restrictive: it adds extra information about an already identified noun rather than defining it. Because 'the editor' is specific, the clause is supplementary and could be removed without changing the sentence's core meaning. A restrictive clause would take no commas.

Question 50Writing Skills

Which sentence demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement in an academic context?

  1. Neither the supervisor nor the students is aware of the deadline change.
  2. Neither the supervisor nor the students were aware of the deadline change. Correct answer.
  3. Neither the supervisor nor the students has been aware of the deadline change.
  4. Neither the supervisor nor the students was aware of the deadline change.

Explanation

With 'neither...nor', the verb agrees with the nearer subject. Here the nearer subject is the plural 'students', so the plural verb 'were' is required. The other options use singular verbs that disagree with the plural nearer subject.