Part 1
1. Revision involves
A. being consistent with paragraph indentation.
B. clarifying purpose and meaning.
C. checking for repeated words and confused words.
D. checking for correct capitalization.
2. Which of the following wouldn't constitute plagiarism?
A. Paraphrasing an article from a medical journal
B. Borrowing idea structure from an essay on hockey
C. Constructing a personal narrative without research
D. Copying and pasting from an Internet article on pets
3. How are the ideas in the following two sentences tied together?
The best time I had all summer was the night of Sherry's party. The worst was the next day.
A. No connection
B. A connective
C. Sentences closely connected in meaning
D. Word pointers
4. Which one of the following sentences contains two ideas joined by a connecting word?
A. Frank went fishing on Saturday; he caught many fish.
B. Mike ran after the bus.
C. Tina arrived at work earlier than usual.
D. Sally lives with her parents, although she could afford her own apartment.
5. Which of the following is something to check for during the proofreading process?
A. Confused words
B. Generalities
C. Negative messages
D. Clichés
6. Which of the following is the clearest and most effective sentence?
A. Visiting such a grand building, full of books and ideas, is a hobby that we participate in with excitement.
B. We love going to the library.
C. The library is a place we are greatly enamored with, and we find it most enjoyable.
D. All of us procure great enjoyment from travel to the impressive building.
7. A group of words that's missing a subject, a verb, or a complete thought is called a(n)
A. sentence fragment.
B. run-on sentence.
C. prepositional phrase.
D. independent clause.
8. Plagiarism is ________.
A. a minor academic offense.
B. easily avoided by paraphrasing.
C. limited to scholarly work.
D. borrowing without giving the original author credit.
9. An imperative sentence
A. shows emotion.
B. makes a request.
C. makes a statement.
D. asks a question.
10. An exclamatory sentence always ends in
A. an exclamation point.
B. a period or an exclamation point.
C. a question mark.
D. a period.
11. Which of the following is the clearest and most effective sentence?
A. The party included attractive females of all ages, and one was a sibling of a man known as John.
B. The sister of John was attractive more than others who attended a party.
C. John's sister was the prettiest girl at the party.
D. John is a man with a sister who is attractive, and they both went to a party together.
12. Which of the following is an interrogative sentence?
A. Please don't go.
B. She isn't telling him where she is going.
C. They questioned where he was going.
D. Where are you going?
13. Which of the following is true regarding audience?
A. If you don't address your intended audience, there is still a good chance that your message will be conveyed successfully.
B. An author should write for himself first; the audience is secondary.
C. Words and examples must be chosen appropriately to address the audience.
D. Consideration of the audience is less important than the message of an essay.
14. Which of the following sentences contains a compound predicate?
A. She washed the shells and dried them in the sun.
B. She raced along the path to beat him to the beach.
C. She placed the shells in a plastic bag while he dried himself off.
D. While he swam, she collected shells.
15. Which of the following is an action taken during the editing process?
A. Varying sentence lengths
B. Adding clichés
C. Checking consistency with paragraph indentation
D. Replacing specific examples with general statements
16. Choose the connective that best completes the sentence.
She left the party early. Afterwards, she went to a movie. She went home.
A. Next
B. Meanwhile
C. First
D. Finally
17. Which of these is a run-on sentence?
A. You and I and the whole team will go.
B. I went home and ate and ate.
C. I thought about what he'd said soon I realized he was right.
D. Before lunch, I played volleyball; after lunch I did again.
18. Which sentence contains a prepositional phrase?
A. They sang it, then sang it again.
B. They tried, although they didn't expect to win.
C. Running all the way, he got there early.
D. With the proper help, they'll complete the project early.
19. Which one of these statements would be considered inappropriate in formal writing?
A. Dr. Thomson arrives promptly each morning.
B. He reviews the reports of his assistants.
C. He hates to be late.
D. Next, he prepares to conduct his experiments.
20. Choose the connective that best completes the following sentence.
Everyone appeared to be having a good time. My impressions may have been wrong.
A. Of course
B. In other words
C. Furthermore
D. In fact
Part 2
1. Of these four words, which one is most likely to have a negative flavor or connotation?
A. Distract
B. Harangue
C. Confuse
D. Meander
2. Choose the word that best fills-in the blank.
She forcefully _________her view that something needs to be done to reduce crime in the city in front of city council.
A. murmured
B. snarled
C. commented
D. asserted
3. Choose the word that best fills-in the blank.
He went into a long__________about the outcome of the last election after it was mentioned on the news.
A. assert
B. quibble
C. fastidious
D. rant
4. A cliché is a___________expression.
A. creative
B. wordy
C. new
D. worn-out
5. In order to become a better writer, you must read
A. good writing.
B. only nonfiction.
C. Only novels.
D. anything except magazines.
6. When writing, you can most effectively use a dash to
A. get the reader's attention.
B. replace a semicolon.
C. add a formal touch to a sentence.
D. replace an exclamation point.
7. Antonyms are words that are
A. defined in a thesaurus.
B. the same in meaning.
C. pronounced the same.
D. opposite in meaning.
8. When using direct quotations in your writing, which of the following should be placed outside the set of quotation marks?
A. Question mark
B. Semicolon
C. Comma
D. Period
9. Of the following methods, the best way to increase your reading is by
A. joining a mail-order book club.
B. setting a goal to read five new pages every night.
C. forcing yourself to read subjects you dislike.
D. reading a new book every day.
10. Synonyms are words that are
A. defined in a thesaurus.
B. pronounced the same.
C. similar in meaning.
D. opposite in meaning.
11. Which of the following sentences is written in the passive voice?
A. I would not provoke that man if I were you.
B. The effects of cyanide are well known.
C. Having left the building, Elvis never returned.
D. They considered their options.
12. Read the word in parentheses; then decide which of these sentences most effectively translates an abstract concept into a mental picture.
A. (Rumors) Whispers of doubt filled the empty halls like the reek of rotten eggs.
B. (Honesty) Jamal told the truth when asked why his cellphone wouldn't work.
C. (Freedom) On her twenty-first birthday, Lola declared herself a woman.
D. (Studious) Lucy lay on her bed reading a back issue of National Geographic.
13. Choose the word that best fills-in the blank.
His time running this half marathon was ___________compared to his past performances.
A. abysmal
B. perturb
C. detrimental
D. repugnant
14. Listing your ideas in order to generate a topic for your writing project is
A. planning.
B. brainstorming.
C. webbing.
D. freewriting.
15. In order for a new word to be maintained in your vocabulary, you must________it.
A. use
B. pronounce
C. read
D. define
16. A thesaurus is a book that's useful for finding
A. frequently misspelled words.
B. definitions.
C. synonyms.
D. famous quotes.
17. Which one of the following sentences is written in the active voice?
A. Few people think seriously of doing something about accidents.
B. Accidents are considered by most people as unavoidable.
C. Accidents are witnessed every day.
D. It is said that definite steps can be taken to prevent many accidents.
18. Which sentence best describes webbing?
A. You write down words or ideas in chronological order.
B. You're generating words that suggest possible sentences or paragraphs.
C. You're generating words that suggest possible themes for an essay.
D. You write down words or ideas that occur to you in no particular order.
19. When we speak of the flavor of a word, we're talking about the extra understood meanings that it carries in addition to its main meaning. These extra meanings are called
A. connotations.
B. definitions.
C. denotations.
D. synonyms.
20. To put abstract ideas into close-up words, use__________descriptions.
A. general
B. concrete
C. impersonal
D. faraway
Part 3
1. You've been assigned a paper on fashion trends of the 1980s. Where would you begin to look for information?
A. Newspaper articles
B. Encyclopedias
C. Readers' Guide
D. Books on fashion design
2. The World Almanac is a book that contains what information?
A. Synonyms and antonyms
B. Biographies of famous people
C. Abstracts for articles published in magazines
D. Facts and statistics
3. When beginning to research a given topic, it's important to
A. remember your topic and stay focused.
B. browse different types of books and Internet sites.
C. look at books on every aspect of your topic.
D. understand that quality sources can't be found online.
4. You have found an article in the Readers' Guide that you want to locate. What information would be least important in finding it?
A. Title of the article
B. Volume and page numbers
C. Author's name
D. Subject heading
5. You've been assigned a research paper on the possible role of gender in playground behavior, and you're unsure where to begin your research. What would be the best way to start?
A. Scan through articles in Psychology Today
B. Ask the advice of a reference librarian
C. Do an Internet search on the most common playground problems for toddlers?
D. Browse books on gender roles
6. You're least likely to feel that an Internet source is reliable if the information is posted
A. on the website of a local university.
B. without a specific author.
C. on behalf of a university department.
D. on the United States Department of Labor website.
7. Planning a writing project involves determining
A. how to best research your topic.
B. main points, supporting ideas, and the order of your ideas.
C. where in the library the best materials can be found.
D. purpose, medium, and audience.
8. The call number given in a catalog entry gives us what information?
A. The title and author of the item in question
B. Whether or not the item is checked out
C. How recently the item was published
D. Where the item can be found within the library
9. Once you acquire these two basic skills, you'll be able to transform a vague idea in your mind into a coherent piece of writing. What are these two basic skills?
A. Doing interviews and browsing through books
B. Describing people and writing conversation
C. Using the Internet and the online catalog
D. Doing research and organizing your ideas
10. A lack of corroboration indicates that
A. supporting documents are difficult to find.
B. the subject is complex and difficult to understand.
C. the author isn't considered to be an expert in his field.
D. no other sources present the same information or point of view.
11. Where should you look to quickly find factual information on the causes of the American Civil War?
A. Readers' Guide
B. Concise Dictionary of American Biography
C. Encyclopedia
D. Dictionary
12. You're looking in a library for a book that focuses on early childhood education. The library uses the Library of Congress System. Which call number should you look under?
A. E-F
B. C
C. L
D. E
13. The call number of the book that you're looking for is R865.2. What do you know about the book based on this information?
A. It's a book that can be gained through interlibrary loan.
B. It's a book of or about Roman literature.
C. It's a book about medicine.
D. It's a reference book.
14. You've decided on an idea for an essay you've been assigned to write. What should you do next?
A. Conduct interviews, do some research, ask questions, and make a plan.
B. Ask the reference librarian to help you make a plan and prepare your outline.
C. Plunge right in and start writing. Then create your plan based on what you've written.
D. Look up your topic in the Readers' Guide and use an article you find as a basis for your plan and outline.
15. Which one of the following is an indicator that a source may not be accurate?
A. The author is using emotionally charged language and inappropriate words or employing a tone that reveals an obvious bias.
B. The author doesn't offer facts, statistics, or specific examples, but uses vague statements and sweeping generalizations.
C. The writing is sub-par or contains errors.
D. You're unable to find any other source that presents the same exact information or point of view.
16. You've come across a book in the card catalog that you think will be useful in your research of famous labor leaders. What three things should you copy from the card so that you know how to find the book?
A. The call number, the author's name, and the date of publication
B. The call number, the title, and the topic
C. The call number, the title, and the author's name
D. The call number, the topic, and the date of publication
17. Under the Library of Congress system, where would you begin to search for books on the legal system of Greece?
A. U
B. K
C. G
D. E
18. Which of the following skills is most important in learning how to write a research paper?
A. Knowing the rules of proper punctuation.
B. Knowing how to plan before you write
C. Knowing how to use proper grammar
D. Knowing how to use the Readers' Guide
19. At the library, the quickest way to locate varied, reliable information for your research paper is to
A. ask the reference librarian.
B. skim the Readers' Guide.
C. browse the encyclopedias.
D. search the card catalog before narrowing your topic.
20. In searching an online catalog for books by James Joyce, which of the following searches would be most effective?
A. The year he was born
B. The name of his publishing company
C. A title of one of his books
D. The author's name
Part 4
1. Any quotation taken word for word from a source must be enclosed in quotation marks and cited. This is called a(n)
A. direct quotation.
B. paraphrased statement.
C. end citation.
D. plagiarized statement.
2. The abbreviation "et al." is used when
A. the title of a work must be shortened.
B. a work has more than three authors listed.
C. two or more authors share the same last name.
D. two authors share the same last name and the same initials.
3. In an outline, capital letters designate
A. main topics.
B. classification.
C. subdivisions.
D. subtopics.
4. Any source information that's used within the body of an essay
A. must be included in the Works Cited page only.
B. must be included in a direct quotation.
C. must be included in parenthetical citations only.
D. must be included in parenthetical citations and on the Works Cited page.
5. Citation must be provided for
A. common knowledge.
B. familiar proverbs.
C. words and ideas borrowed from another author.
D. well-known quotations.
6. If you ___________ to visit your grandmother, you should go now; visiting hours will be ending soon.
A. retort
B. assert
C. intend
D. contend
7. Because information listed on a website can change from day to day, _________ must be included in the end citation on the Works Cited page.
A. the title of the site
B. the publication date
C. the URL
D. the date of access
8. Read the following paragraph. Then answer the question that follows it.
Stand before a mirror. Put the bow tie under your collar. Pull the right end so that it's an inch or two longer than the left end. Now take the right end with your right hand and loop it over the left end. Pull it up inside and then cross it, so that it hangs again on the right side. Pull tight. Now both ends should be about the same length.
Which of the following is an example of a paraphrase?
A. Stand before a mirror.
B. The author instructs the reader to pull the ends of the bow tie tight until both ends are just about the same length.
C. Take the right end with your right hand and loop it over the left end.
D. Put the bow tie under your collar.
9. When using MLA formatting, the final page of your essay should contain
A. the conclusion.
B. footnotes.
C. end notes.
D. the Works Cited page.
10. Parallel construction means that
A. each paragraph of an essay begins the same way.
B. the same grammatical construction is used in all similar headings throughout an outline.
C. the first paragraph and the last paragraph of an essay have the same number of sentences.
D. both sides of an argument are presented in an essay.
11. The basic reason for citation is to
A. justify your point of view.
B. provide a list of resources that the reader may want to view.
C. give proper credit to those authors whose work you have used.
D. make the writing project longer.
12. Which of the following are examples of coordinate headings?
A. A, B, C
B. 3, b, iii
C. ii, 2, B
D. A, i, a
13. To construct an effective ending to any type of essay, you should
A. ask the reader to take action.
B. include an interesting idea and describe it in detail.
C. end on a note that's likely to stick in the reader's mind.
D. relay a humorous anecdote.
14. The information included in the Works Cited page must correspond with
A. the conclusions you have drawn from your research.
B. the number of individual authors used in your research.
C. the information listed in the introduction of your essay.
D. the citations included within the body of your essay.
15. Which of the following options show parallel construction?
A. "To get rich," "Getting lazy," and "Being happy"
B. "Telling a story," "Being informed," and "The end"
C. "Being happy," "Being sad," and "Being depressed"
D. "Face the music," "Dancing in the rain," and "Show your stuff"
16. The first item in a Works Cited entry is normally the
A. title of the book or article.
B. author's last name.
C. name of the publication.
D. year of publication.
17. Which of the following study topics would use APA formatting?
A. Nursing
B. Spanish
C. Cultural studies
D. Literary criticism
18. Failing to accurately cite even a single source
A. will certainly cause problems with the logic of the essay.
B. will definitely result in errors with other citations.
C. isn't an error that will cause problems for the author.
D. can result in accusations of plagiarism.
19. A disadvantage of using a sentence outline instead of a topic outline is that a sentence outline is often
A. overreliant on big ideas.
B. underdeveloped.
C. not descriptive.
D. time-consuming to develop.
20. Read the following paragraph. Then answer the question that follows it.
Next, with your right hand, make the wide part of the right end into a loop, holding the two narrow parts between your thumb and your index finger. Take the left end with your left hand, put it over the right end, and push the wide part through the loop between your right hand and your neck. Pull tight. Then adjust the bows and ends to the same length.
Which of the following is an example of a direct quotation?
A. You'll need to make a loop with your right hand.
B. The narrow parts of the tie should be held between the thumb and index finger.
C. The final step is to adjust the bow so that the ends are even.
D. Pull tight.