OSSLT: Writing: spelling, grammar and punctuation

All 24 questions in this test

Every question and its answer choices. The correct answers and explanations appear when you take the test above.

1. Which word correctly completes the sentence? "The cold weather will ___ the number of people at the fair."

   1. affects
   2. effect
   3. effects
   4. affect

2. Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly?

   1. The museum was closed; and we visited the park.
   2. The museum; was closed so we visited the park.
   3. Because the museum was closed; we visited the park.
   4. The museum was closed; we visited the park instead.

3. Which sentence keeps the verb tense consistent?

   1. She opens the door and turned on the light.
   2. She opened the door and turned on the light.
   3. She opened the door and turns on the light.
   4. She will open the door and turned on the light.

4. Which word correctly completes the sentence? "The bakery sells ___ bread every morning."

   1. freshest
   2. freshly
   3. fresh
   4. freshness

5. Which sentence uses the apostrophe correctly?

   1. The students's lockers were painted blue.
   2. The students' lockers were painted blue.
   3. The students lockers' were painted blue.
   4. The student's lockers' were painted blue.

6. Which of these is a complete sentence rather than a fragment?

   1. Because the bus was late this morning.
   2. Because the bus was late, Mia missed class.
   3. When the bus finally came around the corner.
   4. Missing class because of the late bus.

7. Which word correctly completes the sentence? "Mr. Diaz asked ___ of us had finished the reading."

   1. which
   2. wich
   3. whose
   4. witch

8. Which sentence uses the correct verb after the word "each"?

   1. Each of the player has their water bottles.
   2. Each of the players have a water bottle.
   3. Each of the players has a water bottle.
   4. Each of the players have their water bottle.

9. Which sentence punctuates the quoted question correctly?

   1. "Where are you going." asked Lena?
   2. "Where are you going," asked Lena?
   3. "Where are you going"? asked Lena.
   4. "Where are you going?" asked Lena.

10. Which words correctly complete the sentence? "If I had known about the storm, I ___ stayed home."

    1. would has
    2. would of
    3. would have
    4. will have

11. Which sentence places the describing phrase correctly?

    1. A deer near the river, walking to school, I saw.
    2. Walking to school, I saw a deer near the river.
    3. Walking to school, a deer was near the river.
    4. Walking to school, the river had a deer near it.

12. Which word correctly completes the sentence? "The cat licked ___ paw after the long nap."

    1. its'
    2. it is
    3. its
    4. it's

13. Which sentence uses a comma correctly after an introductory phrase?

    1. After the game we went, out for pizza.
    2. After, the game we went out for pizza.
    3. After the game we, went out for pizza.
    4. After the game, we went out for pizza.

14. Which sentence uses "neither ... nor" correctly?

    1. Neither the twins nor their cousin were coming.
    2. Neither the twins nor their cousin is coming.
    3. Neither the twins nor their cousin are coming.
    4. Neither the twins or their cousin is coming.

15. Which sentence uses parallel structure?

    1. On weekends I like hiking, to read and cooking.
    2. On weekends I like hiking, reading and to cook.
    3. On weekends I like to hike, reading and to cook.
    4. On weekends I like hiking, reading and cooking.

16. Which sentence corrects the run-on "The rink was full we skated anyway"?

    1. The rink was full, we skated anyway.
    2. The rink was full, but we skated anyway.
    3. The rink was full we, skated anyway.
    4. The rink, was full we skated anyway.

17. Which sentence uses commas correctly in a list?

    1. We packed sandwiches, apples, juice and napkins.
    2. We packed, sandwiches apples juice and napkins.
    3. We packed sandwiches apples, juice, and, napkins.
    4. We packed sandwiches, apples juice, and napkins,.

18. Which word correctly completes the sentence? "Please ___ my apology for the late reply."

    1. except
    2. excerpt
    3. expect
    4. accept

19. Which word correctly completes the sentence? "My sister is taller ___ my brother."

    1. then
    2. than
    3. them
    4. that

20. Which word correctly completes the sentence? "We need to ___ the stage before the concert."

    1. set up
    2. setup
    3. set-upped
    4. sets up

21. Which sentence uses correct subject–verb agreement?

    1. The lists of chores is taped to the fridge.
    2. The list of chores is taped to the fridge.
    3. The list of chores were taped on fridge.
    4. The list of chores are taped to the fridge.

22. Which sentence uses the pronoun correctly?

    1. Our coach gave the trophies to Amir and I.
    2. Our coach gave the trophies to myself and Amir.
    3. Our coach gave the trophies to I and Amir.
    4. Our coach gave the trophies to Amir and me.

23. Which sentence is spelled correctly?

    1. The libary received a separate shippment of new books.
    2. The library received a seperate shipment of new bokes.
    3. The library recieved a seperate shipment of new books.
    4. The library received a separate shipment of new books.

24. Which word correctly completes the sentence? "The team packed ___ equipment before the bus arrived."

    1. their
    2. theirs
    3. they're
    4. there