CERN Language Arts Spring 2012 Final Exam Part 2

1. Parallel Structure Please Select the Most Correct Answer. Karen wished Ray chewed with his mouth closed, for otherwise he was everything she wanted in a date; he was tall, intelligent, and __________. A.he looked good B.being good looking C.one handsome man to look at D.handsome

A

B

C

D

The correct answer is D. "handsome". This answer maintains parallel structure with the previous descriptors "tall" and "intelligent".

Explanation

The correct answer is D. "handsome". This answer maintains parallel structure with the previous descriptors "tall" and "intelligent".

2. Parallel Structure Please Select the Most Correct Sentence. A.Alex looked everywhere for his math book—under the bed, on his desk, and he searched inside the refrigerator. B.Alex looked everywhere for his math book—viewing under the bed, searching on his desk, and inside the refrigerator. C.Alex looked everywhere for his math book—under the bed, on his desk, and inside the refrigerator.

A

B

C

The correct answer is C because it maintains parallel structure by using the same preposition "on" in all three phrases: "under the bed, on his desk, and inside the refrigerator." The other options either use different prepositions or use different verb forms, which disrupts the parallel structure.

Explanation

The correct answer is C because it maintains parallel structure by using the same preposition "on" in all three phrases: "under the bed, on his desk, and inside the refrigerator." The other options either use different prepositions or use different verb forms, which disrupts the parallel structure.

3. Punctuation Please Select the Most Correct Answer. Before his calculus exam Scott rubbed his lucky A B rabbit's foot and found his favorite pencil. C A.exam, Scott B.rubbed, his C.foot, and D.No change is necessary.

A

B

C

D

The correct answer is A. In the given sentence, there is a comma missing between "exam" and "Scott". Adding a comma after "exam" would make the sentence grammatically correct and improve the clarity of the sentence.

Explanation

The correct answer is A. In the given sentence, there is a comma missing between "exam" and "Scott". Adding a comma after "exam" would make the sentence grammatically correct and improve the clarity of the sentence.

4. Capitalization Please Select the Most Correct Answer. Dai is vietnamese, but she grew up in Puerto A Rico, where she attended cooking school; now B she is the head chef at the Cuban restaurant on C Orange Avenue. A.Vietnamese B.Cooking School C.cuban D.No change is necessary.

A

B

C

D

Dai is Vietnamese, as stated in the sentence. This means that no change is necessary in terms of capitalization for this word.

Explanation

Dai is Vietnamese, as stated in the sentence. This means that no change is necessary in terms of capitalization for this word.

5. Misplaced Modifiers Please Select the Most Correct Sentence. A.Marking his score sheet with care, the hope this week was that Byron would pass his vocabulary quiz. B.Marking his score sheet with care, Byron hoped that this week he would pass his vocabulary quiz. C.Hoping that this week he would pass his vocabulary quiz, the score sheet was marked carefully by Byron.

A

B

C

The correct answer is B because it correctly places the modifier "Marking his score sheet with care" next to the subject "Byron." This sentence structure clearly shows that Byron is the one marking his score sheet and hoping to pass his vocabulary quiz. The other options either separate the subject and the modifier or create a confusing sentence structure.

Explanation

The correct answer is B because it correctly places the modifier "Marking his score sheet with care" next to the subject "Byron." This sentence structure clearly shows that Byron is the one marking his score sheet and hoping to pass his vocabulary quiz. The other options either separate the subject and the modifier or create a confusing sentence structure.

6. Misused Words Please Select the Most Correct Answer. Heed my advice, and don't loss your receipt. A B The college bookstore will not accept any excuse C if you need to return those books. A.advise B.lose C.except D.No change is necessary.

A

B

C

D

The word "loss" is incorrect in this sentence. The correct word should be "lose", as it is the verb form that matches the subject "you". Therefore, the correct answer is B.

Explanation

The word "loss" is incorrect in this sentence. The correct word should be "lose", as it is the verb form that matches the subject "you". Therefore, the correct answer is B.

7. Misused Words Please Select the Most Correct Answer. The heard of gazelle leaped through the air as A B the animals tried to elude the cheetah. C A.herd B.threw C.allude D.No change is necessary.

A

B

C

D

The correct answer is A. The word "heard" should be replaced with "herd" to maintain the correct meaning of the sentence. "Herd" refers to a group of gazelles, which makes more sense in the context of the sentence where the gazelles are trying to elude the cheetah. "Heard" is the past tense of the verb "to hear" and does not fit in this sentence.

Explanation

The correct answer is A. The word "heard" should be replaced with "herd" to maintain the correct meaning of the sentence. "Herd" refers to a group of gazelles, which makes more sense in the context of the sentence where the gazelles are trying to elude the cheetah. "Heard" is the past tense of the verb "to hear" and does not fit in this sentence.

8. Subject Verb Agreement Please Select the Most Correct Answer. Jasmine and Rodney have decided to double the A number of cupcakes that they are baking since B everyone love moist cake and chocolate frosting. C A.has B.is C.loves D.No change is necessary.

A

B

C

D

The correct answer is C because the subject "everyone" is singular and requires the singular verb form "loves" to agree with it.

Explanation

The correct answer is C because the subject "everyone" is singular and requires the singular verb form "loves" to agree with it.

9. Punctuation Please Select the Most Correct Sentence. A.Before you start painting the walls, you'll need a drop cloth and a ladder. B.Before you start painting the walls you'll need a drop cloth, and a ladder. C.Before you start painting the walls, youll need a drop cloth, and a ladder.

A

B

C

Option A is the correct answer because it correctly uses punctuation to separate the different elements of the sentence. The comma is placed before the coordinating conjunction "and" to separate the two items in the list (drop cloth and ladder). Additionally, a comma is used after the introductory clause "Before you start painting the walls" to indicate a pause in the sentence. This punctuation usage follows standard grammar rules and ensures clarity and proper sentence structure.

Explanation

Option A is the correct answer because it correctly uses punctuation to separate the different elements of the sentence. The comma is placed before the coordinating conjunction "and" to separate the two items in the list (drop cloth and ladder). Additionally, a comma is used after the introductory clause "Before you start painting the walls" to indicate a pause in the sentence. This punctuation usage follows standard grammar rules and ensures clarity and proper sentence structure.

10. Misused Words Please Select the Most Correct Answer. Maybe Gerald is caught in traffic, or he maybe A B flirting with the cute cafeteria cashier. Either way, don't accept any excuse for his tardiness. C A.May be B.may be C.except D.No change is necessary.

A

B

C

D

The correct answer is B. The word "maybe" should be written as two separate words, "may be." This is the correct usage of the phrase in the given sentence.

Explanation

The correct answer is B. The word "maybe" should be written as two separate words, "may be." This is the correct usage of the phrase in the given sentence.

11. Capitalization Please Select the Most Correct Answer. Patrick visited the police station to see if someone A had found Squeeze, his 9-foot albino python, but B officer Rodriguez said that no reptiles had been C recently caught. A.Police Station B.Python C.Officer D.No change is necessary.

A

B

C

D

The correct answer is C. "Officer." The sentence is discussing a conversation between Patrick and officer Rodriguez at the police station. The sentence is already correctly capitalized, so no change is necessary.

Explanation

The correct answer is C. "Officer." The sentence is discussing a conversation between Patrick and officer Rodriguez at the police station. The sentence is already correctly capitalized, so no change is necessary.

12. Parallel Structure Please Select the Most Correct Sentence. A.After giving Jeremy her phone number, Felicia had to tolerate his late night calls, stupid conversations, and requests for her math homework. B.After giving Jeremy her phone number, Felicia had to tolerate his late night calls, the fact that he carried on stupid conversations, and requests for her math homework. C.After giving Jeremy her phone number, Felicia had to tolerate being woken up late at night, having stupid conversations, and he constantly requested her math homework.

A

B

C

The correct answer is A because it maintains parallel structure by using the same structure for each item in the list: "his late night calls, stupid conversations, and requests for her math homework." The other options either introduce a different structure ("the fact that he carried on stupid conversations") or a different verb tense ("being woken up late at night") which disrupts the parallelism.

Explanation

The correct answer is A because it maintains parallel structure by using the same structure for each item in the list: "his late night calls, stupid conversations, and requests for her math homework." The other options either introduce a different structure ("the fact that he carried on stupid conversations") or a different verb tense ("being woken up late at night") which disrupts the parallelism.

13. Subject Verb Agreement Please Select the Most Correct Answer. The scissors are sharp, so neither the cousins nor A Timmy is allowed to play with them, even when the B boys needs to finish a school project. C A.is B.are C.need D.No change is necessary.

A

B

C

D

The correct answer is C. "need". This is because the subject "boys" is plural, so the verb should also be plural. In this case, "need" is the plural form of the verb. Therefore, the sentence should be "boys need to finish a school project."

Explanation

The correct answer is C. "need". This is because the subject "boys" is plural, so the verb should also be plural. In this case, "need" is the plural form of the verb. Therefore, the sentence should be "boys need to finish a school project."

14. Misplaced Modifiers Please Select the Most Correct Sentence. A.Sitting on the top shelf of the refrigerator, Desmond saw Mom's pristine birthday cake. B.Desmond, sitting on the top shelf of the refrigerator, saw Mom's pristine birthday cake C.Sitting on the top shelf of the refrigerator, Mom's pristine birthday cake caught Desmond's attention.

A

B

C

In sentence C, the modifier "Sitting on the top shelf of the refrigerator" correctly modifies the subject "Mom's pristine birthday cake" and shows the location of the cake. In sentence A, the modifier is misplaced as it seems to modify "Desmond" instead of the cake. In sentence B, the modifier is correctly placed but it implies that Desmond is sitting on the top shelf of the refrigerator, which is unlikely. Therefore, sentence C is the most correct option.

Explanation

In sentence C, the modifier "Sitting on the top shelf of the refrigerator" correctly modifies the subject "Mom's pristine birthday cake" and shows the location of the cake. In sentence A, the modifier is misplaced as it seems to modify "Desmond" instead of the cake. In sentence B, the modifier is correctly placed but it implies that Desmond is sitting on the top shelf of the refrigerator, which is unlikely. Therefore, sentence C is the most correct option.

15. Misplaced Modifiers Please Select the Most Correct Sentence. A.Loudly slurping the bowl of hot soup, Derrick's impolite behavior annoyed the other diner patrons. B.As Derrick loudly slurped the bowl of hot soup, his impolite behavior annoyed the other diner patrons. C.Loudly slurping the hot soup, the other diner patrons were annoyed by Derrick's impolite behavior.

A

B

C

In sentence B, the modifier "loudly slurped the bowl of hot soup" is correctly placed next to the subject "Derrick". This makes it clear that Derrick's behavior of loudly slurping the soup is what annoyed the other diner patrons. Sentence A incorrectly places the modifier at the beginning of the sentence, making it seem like Derrick's impolite behavior annoyed the other patrons. Sentence C incorrectly places the modifier after "the hot soup", making it seem like the other patrons were slurping the soup and Derrick's behavior annoyed them.

Explanation

In sentence B, the modifier "loudly slurped the bowl of hot soup" is correctly placed next to the subject "Derrick". This makes it clear that Derrick's behavior of loudly slurping the soup is what annoyed the other diner patrons. Sentence A incorrectly places the modifier at the beginning of the sentence, making it seem like Derrick's impolite behavior annoyed the other patrons. Sentence C incorrectly places the modifier after "the hot soup", making it seem like the other patrons were slurping the soup and Derrick's behavior annoyed them.

16. Capitalization Please Select the Most Correct Answer. Janelle will take Fundamentals of Biology next A semester; she hates Science classes but needs the B credits to transfer to a university. C A.fundamentals of biology B.science C.University D.No change is necessary.

A

B

C

D

The correct answer is B because it replaces the vague term "Science classes" with the more specific term "fundamentals of biology," which clarifies the type of science class that Janelle will be taking.

Explanation

The correct answer is B because it replaces the vague term "Science classes" with the more specific term "fundamentals of biology," which clarifies the type of science class that Janelle will be taking.

17. Subject Verb Agreement Please Select the Most Correct Answer. Tyrone, as well as his cousins, hope that Grandma A brings her famous brownies and peach pie that B drip with generous scoops of vanilla ice cream. C A.hopes B.bring C.drips D.No change is necessary.

A

B

C

D

The subject of the sentence is "Tyrone, as well as his cousins," which is plural. Therefore, the correct verb form should be "hope" to agree with the plural subject.

Explanation

The subject of the sentence is "Tyrone, as well as his cousins," which is plural. Therefore, the correct verb form should be "hope" to agree with the plural subject.

18. Punctuation Please Select the Most Correct Answer. During our picnic, we were tormented by A insects: ants swarming into the potato B salad, bees buzzing by our ears, and a katydid C jumping into Henry's open mouth. A.picnic we B.insects; ants C.salad bees D.No change is necessary.

A

B

C

D

The given sentence is grammatically correct and does not require any changes. The punctuation is used correctly, and the sentence is clear and coherent. Therefore, no change is necessary, making option D the correct answer.

Explanation

The given sentence is grammatically correct and does not require any changes. The punctuation is used correctly, and the sentence is clear and coherent. Therefore, no change is necessary, making option D the correct answer.

Cern Language Arts Spring 2012 Final Exam Part 2