Question 1

Which of the principles listed below for constructing effective sentences does the following passage violate? The site marks the beginning of a first-year riparian forest buffer. Monitoring equipment was located essentially where this stream joined Cook Creek at the end of the forest riparian buffer. Monitoring data indicated improved water quality within the tributary. It is our opinion that this could be the result of the riparian forest buffer being created.

Accepted Answer

The passage violates the principle of avoiding wordy phrases and filler. The sentence "Monitoring equipment was located essentially where this stream joined Cook Creek at the end of the forest riparian buffer" is unnecessarily wordy and could be simplified.

Question 2

How should you punctuate a restrictive modifier?

Accepted Answer

A restrictive modifier provides essential information to the sentence and should not be separated from the rest of the sentence with punctuation. Adding commas or dashes would turn it into a non-restrictive modifier, which is not the intended meaning in these cases. Using "which" also makes it a non-restrictive modifier, so option D is also incorrect. Therefore, option C is the best choice.

Question 3

Which of these sentences shows parallel structure?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of these sentences shows parallel structure?
...

Question 4

In what way is the following list flawed? The Ventura Aquifer program objectives are the following:
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Characterization of groundwater quality
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To provide data to support Best Management Practices (BMP)
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Relating data to agricultural land-use practices

Accepted Answer

The list is not parallel in structure. The first objective is just a noun phrase while the other two have verbs. To make it parallel, the first objective should also have a verb such as "to characterize groundwater quality."

Question 5

Which of the following sentences demonstrates the use of the "people-first" approach to writing about people with disabilities?

Accepted Answer

Choice C uses the term "members with intellectual disabilities", which puts the emphasis on the person rather than their disability, following the "people-first" language approach.

Question 6

In which of the following sentences is qualifying information emphasized?

Accepted Answer

In sentence C, the qualifying information is emphasized by the phrase "If the new administrator gets her way" which suggests that the raises for the adjunct instructors are not yet a definite outcome. The other sentences do not have such emphasized qualifying information.

Question 7

Which type of modifier is NOT identified in Chapter 10 as a problem?

Accepted Answer

Chapter 10 identifies squinting modifiers, dangling modifiers, and misplaced modifiers as problems, but it does not identify adjectival modifiers as a problem.

Question 8

What is Simplified English?

Accepted Answer

Simplified English is a controlled language consisting of a limited vocabulary and grammar rules. It is used in industries such as aviation and aerospace to write technical manuals that can be easily understood by non-native English speakers. The vocabulary consists of around 1,000 words, and sentence structures are simplified to increase clarity and reduce the risk of misinterpretation.

Question 9

Which of the characteristics listed below does the following sentence exhibit? When a rescuer begins patient care, he should focus on basic life support and finalize his plan to decontaminate the patient.

Accepted Answer

The sentence uses "he" to refer to a rescuer, which assumes that all rescuers are male, making it an example of sexist language.

Question 10

Which of the following sentences has a strong verb?

Accepted Answer

"Download" is a strong verb as it conveys a specific action that needs to be taken. The other sentences use weaker verbs such as "expected," "responsible," and "left."

Question 11

Which of the following sentences illustrates the best approach to writing about people with disabilities?

Accepted Answer

The best approach to writing about people with disabilities is to focus on the condition rather than the individual. This avoids stereotyping and generalizations about individuals with disabilities. Choice B is the best because it provides specific advice for those with advanced cases of scleroderma to avoid cold climates. It is factual and avoids making assumptions about individuals with disabilities. Choices A and C make generalizations about individuals with arthritis, which can be inaccurate and perpetuate stereotypes. Choice D uses language that is insensitive and suggests that young men with lupus are abnormal.

Question 12

Chapter 10 suggests that the passive voice is generally more appropriate than the active voice in four circumstances. One is when the agent is clear from the context, as in "Students are required to take both writing courses," in which it is clear that the college set the requirements. Under which of the following circumstances is the passive voice NOT appropriate?

Accepted Answer

When you want to help the agent avoid responsibility, it is not appropriate to use the passive voice. Using the passive voice in this context would be unethical because it seeks to conceal or shift blame for an action. Therefore, the passive voice should not be used to avoid responsibility or accountability.

Question 13

What level of formality does technical communication usually require?

Accepted Answer

Technical communication usually requires a moderately to highly formal level of language, as the information being conveyed is often complex, precise, and data-driven. This requires a level of professionalism and clarity that can't be achieved through informal language.

Question 14

Which sentence below shows a comma splice?

Accepted Answer

This sentence shows a comma splice because it combines two independent clauses with only a comma instead of a coordinating conjunction or a semicolon.

Question 15

Which of the following is a run-on sentence?

Accepted Answer

Choice D is a run-on sentence because it combines two independent clauses without proper punctuation or conjunctions. The first clause, "Vote for Pedro," stands alone as a complete sentence, while the second clause, "he will represent you well," also stands alone as a complete sentence. However, there is no punctuation or conjunction to connect the two clauses or to separate them into two separate sentences.

Question 16

To what must a pronoun refer?

Accepted Answer

A pronoun must refer to its antecedent, which is the noun or pronoun that it replaces or refers back to.

Question 17

Sentences are often easier to understand and more emphatic if new information appears in which position?

Accepted Answer

Placing new information at the end of a sentence often makes the sentence easier to understand and more emphatic, as it follows the principle of end focus, where the new or important information is saved for the end to leave a stronger impact on the reader.

Question 18

Which of the following sentences best emphasizes the real subject?

Accepted Answer

In option B, the subject "investment in clean energy" is placed at the beginning of the sentence, making it the focus and emphasizing it as the real subject. Option A also mentions "investment in clean energy," but it is not emphasized as strongly as in option B. Options C and D use vague, passive constructions that do not clearly identify the real subject.

Question 19

Which of the following sentences has a strong subject?

Accepted Answer

The subject of the sentence is "The challenge of pursuing higher education while using a foreign language," which is a strong and specific noun phrase that clearly identifies the main topic of the sentence.

Question 20

In many cases, removing which type of phrase following a noun will make your writing more concise?

Accepted Answer

Prepositional phrases often provide additional information about a noun, but they can often be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence. Removing them can help to make the sentence more concise.

Quiz 10: Writing Correct and Effective Sentences