Question 1

Instructions: Select the letter of the answer that correctly identifies the subject and complete verb in each sentence. Two of my neighbors have been feuding over that elm tree for years.

Accepted Answer

The subject is "two" and the complete verb is "have been feuding." The phrase "over that elm tree" is a prepositional phrase that modifies the verb "feuding." The subject is "two" and the complete verb is "have been feuding."

Question 2

Instructions: Select the letter of the answer that correctly identifies the subject and complete verb in each sentence. Bram Stoker is best known for his novel Dracula .

Accepted Answer

The subject of the sentence is "Bram Stoker" and the complete verb is "is best known". Option A is incorrect because "Dracula" is not the subject of the sentence. Option B is incorrect because "novel" is not the subject of the sentence, and the verb "known" is not a complete verb.

Question 3

Instructions: Select the letter of the answer that correctly identifies the subject and complete verb in each sentence. One of our subscribers wrote a letter of complaint about the magazine s quality.

Accepted Answer

The subject of the sentence is "one" and the complete verb is "wrote."

Question 4

Instructions: Select the letter of the answer that correctly identifies the subject and complete verb in each sentence. The Industrial Revolution changed the lives of millions of people.

Accepted Answer

The subject is "Industrial Revolution" and the complete verb is "changed". The subject is "Industrial Revolution" and the complete verb is "changed."

Question 5

Instructions: Select the letter of the answer that correctly identifies the subject and complete verb in each sentence. For a skilled tailor, sewing a skirt presents no problem.

Accepted Answer

The subject is "sewing a skirt" and the complete verb is "presents."

Question 6

Instructions: Select the letter of the answer that correctly identifies the subject and complete verb in each sentence. The Australians were thrilled about their country s victory in the sailing competition.

Accepted Answer

The subject of the sentence is "The Australians" and the verb is "were thrilled," making option A the correct choice. Option B is incorrect because "competition" is not the subject of the sentence, and option C is incorrect because "victory" is not the verb. The subject of the sentence is "The Australians" and the complete verb is "were thrilled" about "their country's victory in the sailing competition." Therefore, the correct answer is A) Australians, were.

Question 7

Instructions: Select the answer that correct joins each pair of simple sentences with conjunctions or conjunctive adverbs and is punctuated correctly. Marcia wanted to hire the actor. She was concerned about his bad temper.

Accepted Answer

This choice correctly uses the coordinating conjunction "but" to connect the two simple sentences and adds a comma before the coordinating conjunction. Option A uses the conjunction "but" to join the two simple sentences, indicating a contrast between Marcia's desire to hire the actor and her concern about his bad temper. The sentence is also correctly punctuated with a comma before the conjunction. Option B uses "however," but it is incorrectly punctuated without a comma. Option C uses the conjunctive adverb "since," which does not convey the correct relationship between the two sentences.

Question 8

Instructions: Select the letter of the answer that correctly identifies the subject and complete verb in each sentence. Louisa bought the jogging suit with the blue pinstripes.

Accepted Answer

The subject is Louisa and the complete verb is bought. The subject is Louisa and the verb is bought. The jogging suit with the blue pinstripes is the direct object of the verb.

Question 9

Instructions: Select the letter of the answer that correctly identifies the subject and complete verb in each sentence. In the course of three days, forest fires destroyed most of the national park.

Accepted Answer

The subject of the sentence is "fires" and the complete verb is "destroyed."

Question 10

Instructions: Select the letter of the answer that correctly identifies the subject and complete verb in each sentence. A mystery admirer from Ian s office sent the bouquet of flowers.

Accepted Answer

The subject is "admirer" and the complete verb is "sent."

Question 11

Instructions: Select the answer that correct joins each pair of simple sentences with conjunctions or conjunctive adverbs and is punctuated correctly. Stephen cleans the kitchen and bathroom once a week. They always look cluttered and messy.

Accepted Answer

The correct answer uses a semicolon before the conjunctive adverb "however" and a comma after it, which is the correct punctuation for joining two independent clauses with a conjunctive adverb.

Question 12

Instructions: Select the letter of the answer that correctly identifies the subject and complete verb in each sentence. Your tickets will be sent to you by the first week of November.

Accepted Answer

The subject of the sentence is "tickets," and the complete verb is "will be sent," indicating a future passive action.

Question 13

Instructions: Select the answer that correct joins each pair of simple sentences with conjunctions or conjunctive adverbs and is punctuated correctly. I couldn t bring the clients both to and from the conference. Betty offered to drive one way.

Accepted Answer

This sentence requires a subordinate conjunction to join the two independent clauses "I couldn't bring the clients both to and from the conference" and "Betty offered to drive one way." "Because" is an appropriate subordinate conjunction to use in this case, as it indicates a cause-and-effect relationship between the two clauses. Additionally, the sentence is punctuated correctly with a comma after the subordinate conjunction. This choice uses the conjunction "because" to show the cause-and-effect relationship between the two sentences. It is punctuated correctly with a comma after "conference" and a comma before "Betty."

Question 14

Instructions: Select the letter of the answer that correctly identifies the subject and complete verb in each sentence. I should have taken more Caribbean literature courses.

Accepted Answer

The subject is "I" and the complete verb is "should have taken."

Question 15

Instructions: Select the letter of the answer that correctly identifies the subject and complete verb in each sentence. The new computer course was filled with students after the first hour of registration.

Accepted Answer

The subject is "course" and the verb is "was filled" (past tense of the verb "fill"). The subject of the sentence is "course" and the complete verb is "was filled."

Question 16

Instructions: Select the letter of the answer that correctly identifies the subject and complete verb in each sentence. Miguel can tell the difference between a male and a female parrot.

Accepted Answer

The subject is "Miguel" and the complete verb is "can tell."

Question 17

Instructions: Select the letter of the answer that correctly identifies the subject and complete verb in each sentence. The job was a good opportunity for him to learn about merchandising.

Accepted Answer

The subject is "job" and the complete verb is "was". The subject is "job" and the complete verb is "was."

Question 18

Instructions: Select the letter of the answer that correctly identifies the subject and complete verb in each sentence. I missed my bus more often than not last month.

Accepted Answer

The subject is "I" and the complete verb is "missed." The subject is the person doing the action, which is "I" in this sentence. The complete verb is the action being done, which is "missed" in this sentence. The word "bus" is the object of the sentence, but it is not the subject or the complete verb. The word "often" is an adverb modifying the verb, but it is not the subject or the complete verb.

Question 19

Instructions: Select the answer that correct joins each pair of simple sentences with conjunctions or conjunctive adverbs and is punctuated correctly. Arthur was anxious about the benefit dinner. Only twenty people had responded to the invitation.

Accepted Answer

Option A correctly uses the conjunction "because" to show the cause and effect relationship between Arthur's anxiety and the low response rate. It is properly punctuated with a comma before the conjunction. Option B is incorrect because it uses the preposition "for" instead of a conjunction, and the word order is awkward. Option C uses the conjunctive adverb "since" which implies a chronological order rather than a cause and effect relationship, and it is also missing a comma before the conjunctive adverb. Choice A correctly uses the conjunction "because" to join the two simple sentences and is punctuated correctly with a comma before the conjunction. Choice B incorrectly uses the preposition "for" instead of a conjunction, and it is not punctuated correctly. Choice C incorrectly uses the conjunctive adverb "since" instead of a conjunction, and it is not punctuated correctly.

Question 20

Instructions: Select the letter of the answer that correctly identifies the subject and complete verb in each sentence. Two-paycheck families are becoming more common.

Accepted Answer

The subject of the sentence is "families" and the complete verb is "are becoming." The subject of the sentence is "families" and the complete verb is "are becoming."

Quiz 1: Writing Effective Paragraphs