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LANTITE Literacy study materials
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LANTITE Literacy practice questions

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Question 1Literacy

A student writes: 'The teacher gave the class their results.' Which statement best describes the grammatical function of 'the class' in this sentence?

  1. It is a subject complement, because it renames the teacher.
  2. It is the subject, because it performs the action of giving.
  3. It is the indirect object, because it names who received the results. Correct answer.
  4. It is the direct object, because it is what the teacher gave.

Explanation

In this clause the teacher (subject) gave results (direct object) to the class, so 'the class' is the recipient and functions as indirect object. The direct object is 'their results', and the subject is 'the teacher'.

Question 2Literacy

Which sentence uses the apostrophe correctly for a plural possessive?

  1. The three students' essays were displayed in the corridor. Correct answer.
  2. The three student's essays were displayed in the corridor.
  3. The three students essays' were displayed in the corridor.
  4. The three students's essays were displayed in the corridor.

Explanation

A regular plural noun ending in -s forms the possessive by adding an apostrophe after the s, giving 'students''. The apostrophe marks possession, not plurality, so it must follow the plural ending.

Question 3Literacy

In the sentence 'Although the report was lengthy, the committee read it carefully', what is the role of the word 'Although'?

  1. It introduces a subordinate clause that concedes a point. Correct answer.
  2. It joins two independent clauses as a coordinating conjunction.
  3. It functions as a preposition followed by a noun phrase.
  4. It introduces the main clause of the sentence.

Explanation

'Although' is a subordinating conjunction that opens a dependent clause expressing concession. The main clause is 'the committee read it carefully', which can stand alone.

Question 4Literacy

A writer wants a formal tone in a school newsletter. Which sentence best achieves an appropriately formal register?

  1. Hey everyone, come along to the info night on Tuesday arvo if you can.
  2. Families are invited to attend the information session on Tuesday evening. Correct answer.
  3. You guys should really try to make it to the Tuesday thing.
  4. Tuesday night's info session is a must for all you parents out there.

Explanation

Formal register favours standard vocabulary, complete clauses and polite impersonal address such as 'Families are invited'. Contractions, slang and direct colloquial address lower the register.

Question 5Literacy

Which sentence correctly uses a semicolon?

  1. The excursion was cancelled; severe storms, according to the forecast.
  2. The excursion was cancelled; the forecast predicted severe storms. Correct answer.
  3. The excursion was cancelled; because the forecast predicted storms.
  4. The excursion was cancelled; and the forecast predicted storms.

Explanation

A semicolon can join two independent clauses that are closely related, and both parts here are complete clauses. It cannot be followed by a fragment or by a coordinating conjunction in this way.

Question 6Literacy

In the word 'unbelievable', what is the function of the morpheme 'un-'?

  1. It is a derivational suffix that changes word class.
  2. It is a free morpheme acting as the root.
  3. It is an inflectional suffix marking tense.
  4. It is a derivational prefix that reverses the meaning of the base. Correct answer.

Explanation

'Un-' is a bound derivational prefix added to 'believable' to create a word with the opposite meaning. Derivational affixes create new words, unlike inflectional affixes that mark grammatical features.

Question 7Literacy

A student needs to find the part of a textbook that lists sources consulted by the author. Which section should the student consult?

  1. The index
  2. The glossary
  3. The bibliography Correct answer.
  4. The table of contents

Explanation

A bibliography lists the sources an author consulted or cited. A glossary defines terms, an index locates topics by page, and a table of contents outlines the book's structure.

Question 8Literacy

Which word is used correctly in the sentence 'The new policy will affect/effect all staff'?

  1. affect, because it is a noun meaning a result
  2. effect, because it is a verb meaning to influence
  3. affect, because it is a verb meaning to influence Correct answer.
  4. effect, because it is a noun meaning a result

Explanation

'Affect' is normally a verb meaning to influence something, which fits the modal verb 'will'. 'Effect' is usually a noun meaning a result.

Question 9Literacy

Read this sentence: 'The scientist who discovered the vaccine received an award.' Which type of clause is 'who discovered the vaccine'?

  1. A relative clause modifying 'the scientist' Correct answer.
  2. A main clause containing the finite verb
  3. An adverbial clause of reason
  4. A noun clause acting as the object of 'received'

Explanation

'Who discovered the vaccine' is introduced by the relative pronoun 'who' and modifies the noun 'the scientist'. It is embedded within the main clause rather than being the main clause itself.

Question 10Literacy

A paragraph opens with 'Firstly, the cost of the program is high.' Which cohesive device is used to signal the sequence of ideas?

  1. A lexical synonym chain
  2. An ellipsis of the verb phrase
  3. A sequencing connective Correct answer.
  4. A pronoun reference

Explanation

'Firstly' is a sequencing connective that signals the first point in an ordered list. Cohesion can also be achieved through reference, substitution and lexical chains, but none of these applies here.

Question 11Literacy

Which revision best removes the ambiguity in this sentence: 'The teacher told the student that she had won the prize'?

  1. The teacher told her that the student had won the prize.
  2. The teacher told the student and she had won the prize.
  3. The teacher told the student that she herself had won the prize.
  4. The teacher told the student, 'You have won the prize.' Correct answer.

Explanation

The original ambiguity arises because 'she' could refer to the teacher or the student. Direct quotation with 'You' removes the unclear pronoun reference entirely.

Question 12Literacy

A persuasive text states: 'Every sensible parent supports the new homework policy.' Which persuasive technique is being used?

  1. A statistical generalisation supported by cited evidence
  2. An appeal that assumes agreement by implying dissent is unreasonable Correct answer.
  3. An appeal to expert authority with named credentials
  4. A rhetorical question inviting the reader to reflect

Explanation

The claim implies that anyone who disagrees is not sensible, pressuring readers to agree. This is a loaded assumption rather than evidence-based argument.

Question 13Literacy

Which sentence uses a colon correctly?

  1. The kit contained three items: which were a compass, a torch and a map.
  2. The kit contained three items: a compass, a torch and a map. Correct answer.
  3. The kit contained three items, a compass, a torch and a map: all useful.
  4. The kit contained: a compass, a torch and a map.

Explanation

A colon introduces an explanation or list after a complete clause, and here the clause before the colon is grammatically complete. The list then follows the colon.

Question 14Literacy

A student writes: 'The results was surprising and the conclusion were unclear.' Which description best identifies the problem?

  1. Subject-verb agreement fails in both clauses. Correct answer.
  2. The sentence contains a dangling modifier.
  3. The tense shifts inconsistently between the clauses.
  4. The sentence uses a comma splice.

Explanation

'Results' is plural and requires 'were', while 'conclusion' is singular and requires 'was'. The sentence therefore has two agreement errors, not a tense or punctuation problem.

Question 15Literacy

In the sentence 'Having finished the experiment, the results were recorded by the student', what is the grammatical problem?

  1. The passive voice makes the sentence grammatically incorrect.
  2. The definite article 'the' is used incorrectly before 'results'.
  3. The introductory participial phrase has no logical subject in the main clause. Correct answer.
  4. The past perfect tense is used where the simple past is required.

Explanation

The phrase 'Having finished the experiment' should describe the person who finished it, but the main clause subject is 'the results'. This mismatch creates a dangling participle.

Question 16Literacy

Which sentence most effectively uses nominalisation to create a formal academic style?

  1. The implementation of the policy required extensive consultation with stakeholders. Correct answer.
  2. They put the policy in place and talked a lot to the stakeholders.
  3. The policy was implemented and they consulted stakeholders a lot.
  4. When they implemented the policy, they consulted stakeholders extensively.

Explanation

Nominalisation turns verbs and adjectives into nouns, as in 'implementation' from 'implement'. This condenses information and raises the register, which suits academic writing.

Question 17Literacy

A text includes the sentence: 'The river, a silver ribbon in the moonlight, wound through the valley.' Which literary device is used in 'a silver ribbon in the moonlight'?

  1. Personification of the moonlight
  2. Hyperbole exaggerating the river's size
  3. A simile introduced by 'like'
  4. A metaphor in apposition to 'the river' Correct answer.

Explanation

The noun phrase renames 'the river' without using 'like' or 'as', making it a metaphor in apposition. A simile would require an explicit comparison word.

Question 18Literacy

Which sentence correctly uses 'fewer' rather than 'less'?

  1. We have fewer money available for the excursion.
  2. The project took fewer time than the team had planned.
  3. There was fewer interest in the proposal than expected.
  4. There were fewer applicants this year than last year. Correct answer.

Explanation

'Fewer' is used with countable plural nouns such as 'applicants'. 'Less' is used with uncountable nouns such as 'interest', 'time' and 'money'.

Question 19Literacy

A writer wants to combine these sentences: 'The library was closed. We studied at home.' Which version creates the clearest causal relationship?

  1. The library was closed; we studied at home, however.
  2. Because the library was closed, we studied at home. Correct answer.
  3. The library was closed and we studied at home.
  4. The library was closed, we studied at home.

Explanation

'Because' explicitly signals a causal link between the closure and studying at home. The other options either lack a clear relationship or create punctuation errors.

Question 20Literacy

Read this extract: 'The council's decision was met with dismay. Residents had expected consultation.' Which inference is best supported?

  1. Residents felt the decision was made without adequate input from them. Correct answer.
  2. The council deliberately misled residents about the timeline.
  3. Residents had not been informed that a decision was pending.
  4. Residents disagreed with the decision because of its financial cost.

Explanation

The second sentence states that residents expected consultation, implying they felt it did not occur. The text does not mention cost, deception or lack of notice.

Question 21Literacy

Which sentence correctly uses a dash to add an explanatory aside?

  1. The final report which - ran to ninety pages - was submitted on Friday.
  2. The final report - which ran to ninety pages, was submitted on Friday.
  3. The final report which ran to ninety pages - was submitted on Friday.
  4. The final report - which ran to ninety pages - was submitted on Friday. Correct answer.

Explanation

A pair of dashes can enclose a parenthetical aside, and both dashes must frame the inserted clause. Here the aside 'which ran to ninety pages' is correctly enclosed.

Question 22Literacy

A student's essay argues that school uniforms improve behaviour but only cites one small survey of twelve students. Which criticism is most appropriate?

  1. The evidence base is too limited to support the generalisation made. Correct answer.
  2. The essay fails to define the term 'behaviour'.
  3. The essay relies too heavily on emotional language.
  4. The essay uses too many direct quotations.

Explanation

A single small survey cannot justify a broad generalisation about all students. The key weakness is the scope and representativeness of the evidence.

Question 23Literacy

Which pair of sentences demonstrates a correct shift from active to passive voice without changing the core meaning?

  1. Active: The committee approved the budget. Passive: The budget approved the committee.
  2. Active: The committee approved the budget. Passive: The budget was approved by the committee. Correct answer.
  3. Active: The committee approved the budget. Passive: The budget has approved the committee.
  4. Active: The committee approved the budget. Passive: The committee was approved by the budget.

Explanation

In the passive version the original object 'the budget' becomes the subject, and the original subject appears in a 'by' phrase. The core meaning is preserved.

Question 24Literacy

A text states: 'While the trial showed promising results, the sample size was small and the follow-up period short.' Which statement best captures the writer's stance?

  1. Cautiously optimistic, acknowledging significant limitations Correct answer.
  2. Unreservedly enthusiastic about the trial's success
  3. Wholly dismissive of the trial's findings
  4. Neutral, presenting the trial's strengths without qualification

Explanation

'Promising results' signals optimism, while the small sample and short follow-up signal caution. The stance combines both, so it is cautiously optimistic.

Question 25Literacy

Which sentence contains a faulty parallel structure?

  1. The role requires planning lessons, marking work and communicating with parents.
  2. The role requires teachers who plan lessons, mark work and communicate with parents.
  3. The role requires the planning of lessons, the marking of work and communication with parents.
  4. The role requires planning lessons, marking work and to communicate with parents. Correct answer.

Explanation

Items in a list joined by 'and' should share the same grammatical form. Here two gerunds ('planning', 'marking') are followed by an infinitive ('to communicate'), breaking parallelism.

Question 26Literacy

A student is reading a persuasive opinion piece and wants to identify the author's contention. Which element of the text should the student locate first?

  1. The heading of each paragraph
  2. The number of rhetorical questions used
  3. The list of sources at the end
  4. The main claim the author is arguing for Correct answer.

Explanation

The contention is the central position the writer wants the audience to accept, so it is the first element to identify when analysing a persuasive piece. Supporting evidence, headings and stylistic devices only make sense once the overall claim is known.

Question 27Literacy

In an information report about endangered species, the writer uses the phrase 'habitat fragmentation'. What is the most precise meaning of this term in context?

  1. The migration of animals to a new habitat
  2. The increase in the size of a protected habitat
  3. The splitting of a continuous habitat into smaller, isolated patches Correct answer.
  4. The destruction of all vegetation in a habitat

Explanation

Habitat fragmentation refers to the process by which a large, continuous area of habitat is divided into smaller, disconnected pieces, often by human activity such as road building. This isolation can reduce biodiversity because populations become separated and gene flow is limited.

Question 28Literacy

A student is writing a report and needs to indicate the exact words spoken by a witness. Which punctuation is required to enclose the direct quotation?

  1. Quotation marks Correct answer.
  2. A semicolon
  3. A colon
  4. Brackets

Explanation

Direct speech, or a verbatim quotation from a source, must be enclosed in quotation marks so the reader knows the words are not the writer's own. Brackets are used for editorial insertions, a colon introduces a quotation but does not enclose it, and a semicolon joins independent clauses.

Question 29Literacy

Read this sentence from a student's narrative: 'The wind whispered through the trees as the sun sank below the horizon.' Which literary device is used in 'the wind whispered'?

  1. Personification Correct answer.
  2. Hyperbole
  3. Simile
  4. Onomatopoeia

Explanation

Personification gives human qualities to non-human things; whispering is a human action attributed to the wind. A simile would use 'like' or 'as', hyperbole is deliberate exaggeration, and onomatopoeia is a word that imitates a sound.

Question 30Literacy

A student is proofreading an essay and wants to check that each paragraph develops one clear idea. Which feature should the student examine in each paragraph?

  1. The font style of the heading
  2. The topic sentence and supporting details Correct answer.
  3. The number of commas used
  4. The length of the concluding sentence

Explanation

A well-structured paragraph opens with a topic sentence that states the main idea, followed by supporting details that develop it. Checking these elements helps the writer confirm that the paragraph has unity and does not drift into unrelated points.

Question 31Literacy

Which sentence from a student's essay uses the apostrophe correctly to show possession?

  1. The student's were proud of their work.
  2. The students project's were displayed.
  3. The student's projects was displayed.
  4. The students' projects were displayed in the hall. Correct answer.

Explanation

When a plural noun ends in -s, the possessive is formed by adding an apostrophe after the s, as in 'students’'. The other options misplace the apostrophe or confuse the possessive with a plural or a contraction.

Question 32Literacy

A student is analysing a news article and wants to determine the writer's tone. Which feature of the language is most useful for this purpose?

  1. The date of publication
  2. The choice of adjectives and verbs Correct answer.
  3. The length of the headline
  4. The number of paragraphs

Explanation

Tone is created through word choice, especially adjectives and verbs, which convey the writer's attitude towards the subject. Structural features such as paragraph count or headline length do not reliably indicate tone.

Question 33Literacy

In the sentence 'The committee will announce its decision tomorrow', which word class is 'tomorrow'?

  1. Conjunction
  2. Adjective
  3. Adverb Correct answer.
  4. Preposition

Explanation

'Tomorrow' modifies the verb 'will announce' by indicating when the action occurs, so it functions as an adverb of time. Adjectives modify nouns, prepositions show relationships such as place or time before a noun, and conjunctions join words or clauses.

Question 34Literacy

A student's essay contains the sentence: 'The experiment was conducted by the researchers, and they analysed the data.' Which revision removes the unnecessary shift in voice?

  1. The researchers conducted the experiment, and the data was analysed by them.
  2. The researchers conducted the experiment and analysed the data. Correct answer.
  3. The experiment was conducted and the data was analysed by the researchers.
  4. The experiment was conducted by the researchers, and the data was analysed by them.

Explanation

The original sentence shifts from passive voice ('was conducted') to active voice ('they analysed'). Using active voice throughout makes the sentence more direct and keeps the same subject performing both actions.

Question 35Literacy

A student is writing a procedure and needs to give a command directly to the reader. Which sentence uses the imperative mood correctly?

  1. You should have added the solution to the beaker.
  2. Add the solution to the beaker and stir gently. Correct answer.
  3. The solution is added to the beaker and stirred gently.
  4. If the solution were added, it would stir gently.

Explanation

The imperative mood gives a direct instruction and typically begins with the base form of the verb, as in 'Add'. The other options use indicative or subjunctive forms and do not issue a direct command.

Question 36Literacy

Read this sentence: 'The report, which was published last week, recommends immediate action.' Which type of clause is 'which was published last week'?

  1. Noun clause
  2. Non-restrictive relative clause Correct answer.
  3. Adverbial clause of time
  4. Restrictive relative clause

Explanation

The clause is set off by commas and adds extra, non-essential information about the report, making it non-restrictive. A restrictive clause would not be separated by commas and would be necessary to identify which report is meant.

Question 37Literacy

A writer wants to combine these sentences smoothly: 'The team lost the final. They had trained for months.' Which version best uses a cohesive device to show contrast?

  1. The team lost the final because they had trained for months.
  2. Although they had trained for months, the team lost the final. Correct answer.
  3. The team lost the final, and they had trained for months.
  4. The team lost the final; they had trained for months.

Explanation

'Although' is a subordinating conjunction that signals contrast between the training and the loss. The other options either add information without contrast, suggest an incorrect causal link, or merely join the clauses with a semicolon.

Question 38Literacy

A student is writing an analytical essay and wants to integrate a short quotation from a novel. Which sentence uses quotation marks and citation correctly?

  1. The narrator states, I never saw a moor (Dickinson 12).
  2. The narrator states, 'I never saw a moor' (Dickinson 12). Correct answer.
  3. The narrator states, "I never saw a moor" Dickinson 12.
  4. The narrator states 'I never saw a moor (Dickinson 12).'

Explanation

Direct quotations must be enclosed in quotation marks, and the citation should follow the closing quotation mark before the full stop. This version correctly places both the quotation marks and the parenthetical citation.

Question 39Literacy

Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly to join two related independent clauses?

  1. The library was closed; we studied at home. Correct answer.
  2. The library was closed; and we studied at home.
  3. The library was closed; studying at home.
  4. The library was closed; because it was Sunday.

Explanation

A semicolon can join two independent clauses that are closely related in meaning. 'The library was closed' and 'we studied at home' are both independent clauses, so the semicolon is appropriate.

Question 40Literacy

A student is reading an online article and wants to assess the reliability of its evidence. Which feature most strongly suggests that the evidence is credible?

  1. The evidence is endorsed by a celebrity.
  2. The evidence is presented in a colourful infographic.
  3. The evidence is repeated several times in the article.
  4. The evidence is drawn from a peer-reviewed study. Correct answer.

Explanation

Peer-reviewed research has been evaluated by experts in the field before publication, which is a strong indicator of credibility. Visual appeal, repetition and celebrity endorsement do not guarantee the accuracy of the evidence.

Question 41Literacy

In the sentence 'The teacher, along with the students, was invited to the ceremony', which element determines the number of the verb 'was'?

  1. The phrase 'along with the students'
  2. The object 'ceremony'
  3. The preposition 'to'
  4. The subject 'teacher' Correct answer.

Explanation

The verb agrees with the simple subject, which is the singular noun 'teacher'. The phrase 'along with the students' is parenthetical and does not change the number of the subject.

Question 42Literacy

A student wants to revise 'The company made a decision to reduce costs' so that the nominalisation 'decision' heads the subject noun phrase. Which revision achieves this?

  1. The company decided that costs should be reduced.
  2. The company decided to reduce costs.
  3. The company made a decision about reducing costs.
  4. The company's decision was to reduce costs. Correct answer.

Explanation

Nominalisation expresses an action or quality as a noun. Here, 'decision' is the noun formed from 'decide'. In 'The company's decision was to reduce costs', it heads the subject noun phrase 'The company's decision', meeting the stated requirement.

Question 43Literacy

Which sentence correctly uses 'affect' and 'effect' in a single statement?

  1. The new policy will effect staff, and its effect will be monitored.
  2. The new policy will affect staff, and its effect will be monitored. Correct answer.
  3. The new policy will affect staff, and its affect will be monitored.
  4. The new policy will effect staff, and its affect will be monitored.

Explanation

'Affect' is usually a verb meaning to influence, while 'effect' is usually a noun meaning a result. The correct sentence uses 'affect' as the verb and 'effect' as the noun.

Question 44Literacy

A student is analysing a multimodal text that combines a photograph of a polluted beach with the headline 'Paradise Lost'. Which term best describes how the image and words work together to create meaning?

  1. Intersemiosis Correct answer.
  2. Hyperbole
  3. Onomatopoeia
  4. Alliteration

Explanation

Intersemiosis refers to the way different semiotic modes, such as image and language, combine to produce meaning in a multimodal text. The photograph and headline reinforce each other to create a message about environmental damage.

Question 45Literacy

Read this sentence: 'The scientist who discovered the vaccine received an award, and she donated the prize money to charity.' Which revision best improves the sentence by removing the unnecessary pronoun?

  1. The scientist who discovered the vaccine received an award; she donated the prize money to charity.
  2. The scientist who discovered the vaccine received an award, and the prize money was donated to charity.
  3. The scientist who discovered the vaccine received an award and donated the prize money to charity. Correct answer.
  4. The scientist who discovered the vaccine received an award, and she donated it to charity.

Explanation

Combining the two clauses with a single subject removes the redundant pronoun 'she' and makes the sentence more concise. The other options either retain the pronoun, change the meaning, or introduce passive voice.

Question 46Literacy

A writer wants to create a formal tone in a report. Which sentence best achieves this through the use of nominalisation and passive voice?

  1. The committee delayed implementing the policy.
  2. The implementation of the policy was delayed by the committee. Correct answer.
  3. The committee was late to implement the policy.
  4. They delayed the policy implementation.

Explanation

Nominalisation ('implementation') and passive voice ('was delayed by') create an impersonal, formal tone typical of reports. The other options use active voice and plainer verbs, which are less formal.

Question 47Literacy

A student's essay contains the sentence: 'The data was collected, and the results was analysed.' Which description best identifies the grammatical problem?

  1. The sentence contains a dangling modifier.
  2. The sentence uses incorrect pronoun reference.
  3. Both verbs incorrectly agree with their subjects. Correct answer.
  4. The sentence uses a comma splice.

Explanation

'Data' is a plural noun in formal academic English and should take 'were', while 'results' is also plural and should take 'were'. The sentence therefore contains two subject–verb agreement errors.

Question 48Literacy

A student is editing a sentence that contains a dangling modifier: 'Having finished the experiment, the results were recorded by the student.' Which revision corrects the dangling modifier?

  1. The experiment was finished, and the results were recorded by the student.
  2. The results were recorded by the student having finished the experiment.
  3. Having finished the experiment, the student recorded the results. Correct answer.
  4. Having finished the experiment, the results were recorded.

Explanation

A dangling modifier occurs when the subject of the modifier is not the subject of the main clause. The revision makes 'the student' the subject of the main clause, so it is clear who finished the experiment.

Question 49Literacy

Read this extract: 'The council's decision was met with dismay. Residents had expected consultation.' Which inference is best supported by the extract?

  1. Residents felt excluded from the decision-making process. Correct answer.
  2. The council's decision was popular with residents.
  3. Residents supported the council's decision.
  4. The council consulted residents before deciding.

Explanation

The residents' dismay and their expectation of consultation imply that they felt they had not been consulted. The extract does not support the idea that they supported the decision or that consultation occurred.

Question 50Literacy

A student is writing a literary analysis and wants to discuss how the author uses a recurring image to develop a theme. Which term best describes this technique?

  1. Zeugma
  2. Synecdoche
  3. Metonymy
  4. Motif Correct answer.

Explanation

A motif is a recurring image, symbol or idea that contributes to the development of a theme. Metonymy, synecdoche and zeugma are figures of speech involving substitution or grammatical compression, not recurrence.