Recommendation for individuals using a screenreader: please set your punctuation settings to "most."
Descriptive Statements:
- Demonstrate knowledge of the rules of spelling and commonly misspelled words.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the rules of capitalization for proper nouns (e.g., names, titles, places).
- Demonstrate knowledge of the rules of punctuation and the standard use of punctuation marks.
- Identify rules of standard English verb usage and variations of spelling depending on the tense of the verbs.
Sample Item:
Which of the following sentences uses quotation marks correctly?
- "I can never find my keys, said" Eden.
- "Are you going to pick up a salad" from the store? asked Charlie.
- "Do you want to grab a pizza for lunch?" asked my coworker.
- "I demand to speak to the manager! shouted" the customer at the store.
Correct Response and Explanation (Show Correct ResponseHide Correct Response)
Correct Response: C. The sentence, "'Do you want to grab a pizza for lunch?' asked my co-worker." uses quotation marks correctly. Quotation marks indicate the exact words used by a speaker. The opening quotation mark is placed before the spoken words, and the closing quotation mark is placed after the spoken words.
Descriptive Statements:
- Demonstrate knowledge of the standard use of nouns and pronouns.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the standard use of verb forms.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the standard use of adjectives and adverbs.
- Demonstrate knowledge of subject-verb agreement.
- Identify basic grammatical errors in standard written English text.
Sample Item:
Which of the following sentences illustrates the correct usage of pronouns?
- Them and you went for a run before the sun went down.
- The teacher gave the assignment to I and everyone.
- They searched for their lost book, but it could not be found.
- Them and I attended the celebration before it ended.
Correct Response and Explanation (Show Correct ResponseHide Correct Response)
Correct Response: C. The sentence uses "they" as the plural subject pronoun, which refers to a group of people and "it" as the singular object pronoun, which refers to the lost book. The pronouns "they" and "it" are used correctly in this context.
Descriptive Statements:
- Identify purpose for writing (e.g., persuade, inform, entertain, explain).
- Demonstrate knowledge of writing organization (e.g., sequence, cause and effect, problem and solution).
- Demonstrate knowledge of prewriting planning (e.g., outlining, brainstorming, researching).
- Demonstrate knowledge of effective introductions and conclusions used in writing.
- Demonstrate knowledge of effective topic sentences and supporting details used in writing.
Sample Item:
Which of the following concluding statements would be most effective for a journal article on building effective communication skills?
- Communication is a one-way process in which the speaker sends a message to the listener.
- Effective communication involves using jargon and technical words to impress the listener.
- Communication is much more than just words; it involves active listening, empathy, and nonverbal cues.
- Effective communication can be achieved by repeating thoughts in various ways; this helps ensure that the listener is hearing what was said.
Correct Response and Explanation (Show Correct ResponseHide Correct Response)
Correct Response: C. This statement emphasizes that communication goes beyond just words. It includes active listening, which is being fully engaged and attentive when someone is speaking; having empathy for the speaker, which involves demonstrating the ability to understand and share another person's emotions; and using nonverbal cues, which are messages that convey meaning without using words. Effective communication is a reciprocal process involving the exchange, reception, and interpretation of information.
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