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Tubman University Placement Exam study materials
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Tubman University Placement Exam practice questions

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Question 1English Language and Reading Comprehension

In the sentence 'The students submitted their assignments before the deadline,' what is the grammatical function of the word 'before'?

  1. Subordinating conjunction introducing a dependent clause
  2. Adverb modifying the verb 'submitted'
  3. Preposition introducing a prepositional phrase Correct answer.
  4. Coordinating conjunction joining two clauses

Explanation

The word 'before' is followed by the noun phrase 'the deadline,' so it functions as a preposition linking that object to the rest of the sentence. A subordinating conjunction would need a full clause with its own subject and verb.

Question 2English Language and Reading Comprehension

Which word in the sentence 'The librarian quietly shelved the heavy reference books' is an adverb?

  1. heavy
  2. librarian
  3. quietly Correct answer.
  4. books

Explanation

An adverb modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. 'Quietly' describes how the librarian shelved the books, so it modifies the verb 'shelved.'

Question 3English Language and Reading Comprehension

What is the simple subject of the sentence 'Across the river stood the abandoned lighthouse'?

  1. Across the river
  2. stood
  3. lighthouse Correct answer.
  4. river

Explanation

The simple subject is the noun that performs or receives the action of the main verb. Here the verb is 'stood' and the noun doing the standing is 'lighthouse,' which appears after the verb in this inverted sentence.

Question 4English Language and Reading Comprehension

Which sentence contains an independent clause and a dependent clause?

  1. Although it rained, the match continued. Correct answer.
  2. The rain stopped and the sun came out.
  3. Run fast or miss the bus.
  4. She studied hard, and she passed the exam.

Explanation

A dependent clause begins with a subordinating word and cannot stand alone. 'Although it rained' is dependent, while 'the match continued' is independent, giving a complex sentence.

Question 5English Language and Reading Comprehension

Identify the type of sentence: 'Close the door gently.'

  1. Imperative Correct answer.
  2. Interrogative
  3. Exclamatory
  4. Declarative

Explanation

An imperative sentence gives a command or request and typically has an understood subject, 'you.' The verb 'close' opens the sentence, signaling a command.

Question 6English Language and Reading Comprehension

Which option correctly identifies the verb tense in 'By the time you arrive, the committee will have finished its report'?

  1. Past perfect
  2. Future continuous
  3. Present perfect
  4. Future perfect Correct answer.

Explanation

The future perfect tense uses 'will have' plus a past participle to describe an action completed before a future point. Here the report will be done before the arrival.

Question 7English Language and Reading Comprehension

Choose the sentence in which the pronoun reference is clear and correct.

  1. The dog chased the ball, and it was very fast.
  2. Because the engine was hot, it could not be repaired immediately. Correct answer.
  3. When Maria met Ama, she said she was tired.
  4. The teacher told the student that her essay needed revision.

Explanation

A pronoun must refer clearly to a single antecedent. In this sentence 'it' clearly refers to 'the engine,' so the meaning is unambiguous.

Question 8English Language and Reading Comprehension

Which word best completes the sentence: 'The scientist's findings were so ______ that they changed the entire field.'

  1. trivial
  2. significant Correct answer.
  3. minor
  4. ordinary

Explanation

The clause after the blank says the findings 'changed the entire field,' so the missing adjective must express importance. 'Significant' means important or noteworthy, which fits the logic of the sentence.

Question 9English Language and Reading Comprehension

In the phrase 'a bitter defeat,' the word 'bitter' is used in which sense?

  1. Resentful and painful, as in a humiliating loss Correct answer.
  2. A cold temperature, as in bitter weather
  3. A sharp taste, as in bitter coffee
  4. A medicinal flavor, as in bitter herbs

Explanation

'Bitter' can describe taste, cold, or emotional pain. Paired with 'defeat,' it conveys a painful, resentful sense of loss rather than a literal flavor.

Question 10English Language and Reading Comprehension

Which word is the best antonym for 'scarce' as used in 'Fresh water is scarce in the region'?

  1. Limited
  2. Costly
  3. Rare
  4. Abundant Correct answer.

Explanation

'Scarce' means in short supply. Its opposite is 'abundant,' meaning plentiful. The other choices either restate scarcity or describe a different quality.

Question 11English Language and Reading Comprehension

Read the passage: 'Emmanuel had studied all night for the mathematics test. When the results were posted, he saw a score of ninety-five. He smiled and called his mother.' What can the reader most reasonably infer about Emmanuel?

  1. He was pleased with his performance. Correct answer.
  2. He was unhappy with the score.
  3. He expected to fail the test.
  4. He had not studied at all.

Explanation

Emmanuel smiled and immediately called his mother after seeing a high score. These reactions support the inference that he was satisfied with his result.

Question 12English Language and Reading Comprehension

Read the passage: 'The village well had dried up. Women who once walked five minutes now walked nearly an hour to fetch water, and children often missed school to help.' What is the main idea of the passage?

  1. The village should build a new school.
  2. The drying of the well created serious hardship for the community. Correct answer.
  3. Women enjoy long walks to distant wells.
  4. Children prefer fetching water to attending school.

Explanation

The passage describes a dried well and the resulting burdens: longer walks and children missing school. Together these details support the main idea that the community suffered real hardship.

Question 13English Language and Reading Comprehension

Read the passage: 'Although the new road reduced travel time, it also brought more traffic and noise to the once-quiet town.' The author's attitude toward the road is best described as:

  1. Indifferent
  2. Completely enthusiastic
  3. Balanced, noting both benefits and drawbacks Correct answer.
  4. Strongly opposed

Explanation

The author acknowledges a benefit ('reduced travel time') and a drawback ('more traffic and noise'). Presenting both sides signals a balanced attitude rather than a one-sided judgment.

Question 14English Language and Reading Comprehension

Read the passage: 'The rains came late that year. Farmers who had planted early watched their seedlings wither, while those who waited saw their fields turn green.' Which sentence best states the lesson suggested by the passage?

  1. Early planting always guarantees a better harvest.
  2. Farmers who wait never succeed.
  3. Rain is unimportant for crops.
  4. Timing can matter more than effort in farming. Correct answer.

Explanation

The early planters lost their seedlings while the late planters succeeded, showing that timing was decisive. The contrast supports the idea that choosing the right moment can matter more than acting quickly.

Question 15English Language and Reading Comprehension

Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly?

  1. I wanted to attend the lecture; but the hall was full.
  2. She brought pens; paper; and a ruler.
  3. The exam was difficult; many students ran out of time. Correct answer.
  4. Although it rained; the event continued.

Explanation

A semicolon can join two closely related independent clauses without a conjunction. 'The exam was difficult' and 'many students ran out of time' are both independent, so the semicolon is correct.

Question 16English Language and Reading Comprehension

Which sentence demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement?

  1. The list of names were posted on the wall.
  2. The box of old letters sits in the attic. Correct answer.
  3. Each of the students have submitted a form.
  4. Neither the teacher nor the students was informed.

Explanation

The subject is 'box,' a singular noun, and the phrase 'of old letters' does not change the number. The singular verb 'sits' agrees with 'box.'

Question 17English Language and Reading Comprehension

Which sentence uses the apostrophe correctly?

  1. The children's books were donated to the library. Correct answer.
  2. The children's' books were donated to the library.
  3. The childrens books' were donated to the library.
  4. The childrens' books were donated to the library.

Explanation

The plural noun 'children' is already irregular and does not end in -s, so the possessive is formed by adding apostrophe plus s: 'children's.'

Question 18English Language and Reading Comprehension

Choose the option that correctly combines these two sentences: 'The road was flooded. We took a longer route.'

  1. The road was flooded; we took a longer route.
  2. The road was flooded, we took a longer route.
  3. The road was flooded and we took a longer route because.
  4. Because the road was flooded, we took a longer route. Correct answer.

Explanation

'Because' makes the flooding the cause of taking a longer route, and the subordinating conjunction correctly joins the dependent clause to the independent one. The comma after the dependent clause is also correct.

Question 19English Language and Reading Comprehension

Which sentence is written in the active voice?

  1. Mistakes were made during the project.
  2. The committee approved the new budget. Correct answer.
  3. The report was written by the intern.
  4. The results were announced yesterday.

Explanation

In active voice the subject performs the action. Here 'the committee' performs the action of approving, so the sentence is active.

Question 20English Language and Reading Comprehension

Which sentence contains a misplaced modifier?

  1. The student who won the prize smiled proudly.
  2. After finishing the test, the class was dismissed.
  3. Covered in mud, the farmer inspected the truck. Correct answer.
  4. Walking to school, Ama saw a flock of birds.

Explanation

The opening phrase 'Covered in mud' should describe the truck, but it is placed next to 'the farmer,' suggesting the farmer was covered in mud. The modifier is misplaced.

Question 21English Language and Reading Comprehension

Which sentence maintains parallel structure?

  1. She enjoys reading, swimming, and hiking. Correct answer.
  2. She enjoys read, swim, and hiking.
  3. She enjoys reading, to swim, and hiking.
  4. She enjoys to read, swimming, and to hike.

Explanation

Parallel structure requires items in a series to share the same grammatical form. All three items here are gerunds ending in -ing, so the list is parallel.

Question 22English Language and Reading Comprehension

Read the passage: 'The teacher handed back the essays. Kwame glanced at the red marks covering every page, then slowly placed the essay in his bag and said nothing.' What do Kwame's actions most strongly suggest?

  1. He had not received his essay.
  2. He planned to celebrate his grade.
  3. He was discouraged by the feedback. Correct answer.
  4. He was proud of his work.

Explanation

Kwame's silence and slow movement after seeing many red marks suggest disappointment rather than satisfaction. The details imply he was discouraged by the amount of correction.

Question 23English Language and Reading Comprehension

Read the passage: 'Some argue that technology isolates people. Yet the same tools allow a student in a rural village to attend a lecture given thousands of miles away.' The author's purpose in this passage is to:

  1. Describe how lectures are recorded.
  2. Challenge a common claim by offering a counterexample. Correct answer.
  3. Persuade readers to avoid technology.
  4. Prove that technology is harmful.

Explanation

The author first states a common argument and then presents a counterexample showing a benefit. This structure is designed to challenge the claim that technology isolates people.

Question 24English Language and Reading Comprehension

Which word best replaces 'meticulous' in 'She kept meticulous records of every transaction' without changing the meaning?

  1. Careless
  2. Occasional
  3. Secret
  4. Thorough Correct answer.

Explanation

'Meticulous' means showing great attention to detail. 'Thorough' carries the same sense of careful completeness, so it preserves the meaning.

Question 25English Language and Reading Comprehension

Read the passage: 'The old bridge groaned under the weight of the truck. Its cables trembled, and a fine dust drifted from the rusted bolts.' The primary purpose of the details is to:

  1. Create a sense of strain and danger. Correct answer.
  2. Show that the weather was changing.
  3. Explain how bridges are engineered.
  4. Describe the truck's cargo.

Explanation

Words like 'groaned,' 'trembled,' and 'rusted' create an impression of stress and possible failure. The details work together to build tension and a sense of danger.

Question 26English Language and Reading Comprehension

A placement candidate reads: 'The librarian asked the students to return the books quietly.' Which word in the sentence functions as an adverb?

  1. asked
  2. quietly Correct answer.
  3. return
  4. books

Explanation

An adverb modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. Here 'quietly' describes how the students were asked to return the books, so it is the adverb.

Question 27English Language and Reading Comprehension

In the sentence 'The committee reached its decision quickly,' the word 'its' refers to which noun?

  1. decision
  2. reached
  3. quickly
  4. committee Correct answer.

Explanation

A possessive pronoun must agree with and point to a clear antecedent. The only singular entity that could possess a decision is 'committee,' which is treated as a single body here.

Question 28English Language and Reading Comprehension

Which option gives the correct plural form of 'analysis' as used in a university reading passage?

  1. analysises
  2. analyses Correct answer.
  3. analysi
  4. analysis

Explanation

'Analysis' is a Greek-derived noun ending in -sis, and such nouns form the plural by changing -is to -es. Thus the accepted academic plural is 'analyses.'

Question 29English Language and Reading Comprehension

A passage states: 'The market was bustling; vendors called out prices while buyers haggled.' What does 'bustling' most nearly mean here?

  1. quietly closed
  2. full of noisy activity Correct answer.
  3. completely empty
  4. poorly organized

Explanation

Context clues from vendors calling out and buyers haggling show lively movement and sound. 'Bustling' describes a place full of energetic, noisy activity.

Question 30English Language and Reading Comprehension

Which sentence from a reading passage uses a coordinating conjunction to join two independent clauses?

  1. The rain stopped, and the children ran outside. Correct answer.
  2. After the rain stopped, the children ran outside.
  3. Because the rain stopped, the children ran outside.
  4. The rain stopped before the children ran outside.

Explanation

A coordinating conjunction such as 'and' can join two independent clauses when preceded by a comma. Only the first sentence has two clauses that could each stand alone joined by 'and.'

Question 31English Language and Reading Comprehension

In the sentence 'The teacher praised the student because she had improved,' the pronoun 'she' most logically refers to which person?

  1. neither person
  2. the teacher
  3. both people equally
  4. the student Correct answer.

Explanation

Meaning and logic resolve the reference: the person who improved is the one being praised. The teacher is the one giving praise, so 'she' naturally points to the student.

Question 32English Language and Reading Comprehension

Which word best completes the placement sentence: 'The instructions were so ______ that even a first-time user could follow them'?

  1. explicit Correct answer.
  2. tedious
  3. obscure
  4. ambiguous

Explanation

The phrase 'even a first-time user could follow them' signals that the instructions were clear and detailed. 'Explicit' means stated clearly and fully, which fits the contrast.

Question 33English Language and Reading Comprehension

A reading passage says: 'The clinic opened at dawn, yet by noon the waiting room was still empty.' What does the word 'yet' signal about the two clauses?

  1. a contrast between expectation and reality Correct answer.
  2. a condition that must be met
  3. a sequence of identical events
  4. a cause-and-effect relationship

Explanation

'Yet' is a coordinating conjunction of contrast. Opening at dawn suggests patients should have arrived, so an empty room at noon is an unexpected contrast.

Question 34English Language and Reading Comprehension

A passage reads: 'The river, which had been calm for weeks, suddenly rose three metres overnight.' Which element of the sentence is a non-restrictive relative clause?

  1. The river
  2. which had been calm for weeks Correct answer.
  3. overnight
  4. suddenly rose three metres overnight

Explanation

A non-restrictive relative clause adds extra information and is set off by commas. 'Which had been calm for weeks' does exactly that, and the sentence remains complete without it.

Question 35English Language and Reading Comprehension

Which revision best corrects the run-on in 'The lecture was long the students grew restless'?

  1. The lecture was long; the students grew restless. Correct answer.
  2. The lecture was long, the students grew restless.
  3. The lecture was long the students, grew restless.
  4. The lecture was long and the students, grew restless.

Explanation

Two independent clauses need a semicolon, a coordinating conjunction, or a period between them. A semicolon correctly separates the two complete thoughts without adding a conjunction.

Question 36English Language and Reading Comprehension

A passage contains: 'Having finished the experiment, the results were recorded by the researcher.' What is the structural problem with this sentence?

  1. The introductory phrase dangles because its subject is not the researcher. Correct answer.
  2. The sentence lacks a main verb.
  3. The tense shifts incorrectly within one clause.
  4. The passive voice makes the meaning unclear.

Explanation

An introductory participial phrase must describe the subject of the main clause. Here the stated subject is 'the results,' which did not finish the experiment, so the modifier dangles.

Question 37English Language and Reading Comprehension

In an academic passage, which sentence uses 'effect' correctly?

  1. The new policy will have a positive effect on attendance. Correct answer.
  2. The drought had a serious affect on crop yields.
  3. The new policy will effect every student in the faculty.
  4. The drought effected the farmers' income severely.

Explanation

'Effect' as a noun means a result or outcome, which fits 'have a positive effect on.' The verb 'affect' means to influence, and the verb 'effect' means to bring about.

Question 38English Language and Reading Comprehension

A passage states: 'Unlike her brother, who spoke rarely, Adjoa was garrulous at every family gathering.' What does 'garrulous' mean in this context?

  1. unusually silent
  2. excessively talkative Correct answer.
  3. physically tired
  4. easily offended

Explanation

The contrast marker 'unlike' sets Adjoa against a brother who 'spoke rarely.' That opposition signals she talked a great deal, which is the meaning of 'garrulous.'

Question 39English Language and Reading Comprehension

Which sentence maintains consistent pronoun person throughout, as required in formal academic writing?

  1. When students study hard, they earn better grades. Correct answer.
  2. When students study hard, one earns better grades.
  3. When a student studies hard, you earn better grades.
  4. When a student studies hard, we earn better grades.

Explanation

Formal writing requires pronouns to match their antecedents in person and number. 'Students' (third-person plural) pairs correctly with 'they.'

Question 40English Language and Reading Comprehension

A passage argues: 'Solar panels cost more to install than diesel generators. However, fuel prices rise yearly while sunlight remains free.' What is the function of the second sentence?

  1. It introduces an unrelated example.
  2. It restates the first sentence in different words.
  3. It concedes that solar panels are impractical.
  4. It offers a counterpoint that weakens the cost objection. Correct answer.

Explanation

The first sentence presents a drawback of solar power, and 'However' signals a rebuttal. By noting rising fuel costs versus free sunlight, the second sentence offsets the initial cost objection.

Question 41English Language and Reading Comprehension

Which option correctly changes 'The technician repaired the generator' into the passive voice?

  1. The technician was repaired by the generator.
  2. The generator repaired the technician.
  3. The generator has repaired the technician.
  4. The generator was repaired by the technician. Correct answer.

Explanation

In the passive voice, the original object becomes the subject and the original subject moves into a 'by' phrase. 'The generator was repaired by the technician' follows that pattern.

Question 42English Language and Reading Comprehension

A passage contains: 'The professor, along with her three assistants, ______ preparing the laboratory.' Which verb form correctly completes the sentence?

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

Explanation

When a subject is followed by 'along with,' the intervening phrase does not change the subject's number. The true subject is the singular 'professor,' so the singular verb 'is' is required.

Question 43English Language and Reading Comprehension

Which sentence uses a colon correctly according to academic writing conventions?

  1. The team needed three things, tents, water, and maps.
  2. The team needed: tents, water, and maps for the trip.
  3. The team needed three things: tents, water, and maps. Correct answer.
  4. The team needed three things, and: tents, water, and maps.

Explanation

A colon introduces a list only after a complete independent clause. 'The team needed three things' is complete, so the colon before the list is correct.

Question 44English Language and Reading Comprehension

A passage says: 'The negotiations were protracted, stretching across eleven months of tense meetings.' Which word could replace 'protracted' without changing the meaning?

  1. prolonged Correct answer.
  2. secret
  3. cancelled
  4. abrupt

Explanation

The phrase 'stretching across eleven months' directly explains that the negotiations were drawn out. 'Prolonged' carries that same meaning of lasting longer than usual.

Question 45English Language and Reading Comprehension

Which sentence correctly uses a dash to set off a parenthetical comment?

  1. The results which surprised everyone-were published in June.
  2. The results-which surprised everyone-were published in June. Correct answer.
  3. The results which-surprised everyone were published in June.
  4. The-results which surprised everyone were published in June.

Explanation

A pair of dashes can enclose extra information that interrupts the main clause. Placing one dash before 'which' and one after 'everyone' keeps the main clause intact.

Question 46English Language and Reading Comprehension

A passage reads: 'The committee's report was praised for its candour; it hid nothing and named every failing.' What does 'candour' mean here?

  1. formal politeness
  2. cautious evasion
  3. technical complexity
  4. honest directness Correct answer.

Explanation

The clause after the semicolon explains the word by saying the report 'hid nothing and named every failing.' That behaviour is honest directness, the meaning of 'candour.'

Question 47English Language and Reading Comprehension

A passage states: 'While the subsidy lowered prices in the short term, critics argue it discouraged local production.' Which statement best captures the passage's implied position?

  1. The subsidy had no measurable effect.
  2. The subsidy was entirely beneficial.
  3. The subsidy had both benefits and drawbacks. Correct answer.
  4. The subsidy was entirely harmful.

Explanation

The sentence balances a benefit ('lowered prices') against a criticism ('discouraged local production'). The implied position is therefore mixed rather than one-sided.

Question 48English Language and Reading Comprehension

Identify the error in 'Neither the supervisor nor the workers was informed about the schedule change.'

  1. The sentence contains no error.
  2. 'Informed' should be 'informing' after 'about.'
  3. The verb 'was' should be 'were' to agree with 'workers.' Correct answer.
  4. 'Neither' should be 'Either' in this construction.

Explanation

With 'neither...nor,' the verb agrees with the nearer subject. 'Workers' is plural, so the correct verb is 'were,' not 'was.'

Question 49English Language and Reading Comprehension

A passage says: 'The proposal was not without merit, though its costs gave the council pause.' Which paraphrase preserves the original meaning?

  1. The proposal had no costs and no benefits.
  2. The proposal had some value, but its expense made the council hesitant. Correct answer.
  3. The proposal was inexpensive, so the council approved it quickly.
  4. The proposal was worthless and the council rejected it outright.

Explanation

The double negative 'not without merit' means the proposal had some merit. 'Gave the council pause' means caused hesitation, and the hesitation is tied to costs.

Question 50English Language and Reading Comprehension

A passage reads: 'Rarely has a single speech so altered the course of a debate.' Which grammatical feature does this sentence use?

  1. an indirect question in the main clause
  2. a dangling participle at the start
  3. a split infinitive in the main clause
  4. subject-verb inversion after a negative adverb Correct answer.

Explanation

When a sentence opens with a negative or restrictive adverb such as 'rarely,' standard English inverts the subject and auxiliary. Here 'has a single speech' follows that pattern.