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Topic 1: Conventions of Standard English
This domain tests grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, and mechanics.
Question 1: Punctuation - Comma Usage
Which of the following sentences is grammatically correct?
A. The patient reported symptoms including nausea, dizziness, and fatigue.
B. The patient reported symptoms including nausea dizziness and fatigue.
C. The patient reported symptoms including: nausea, dizziness, and fatigue.
D. The patient reported symptoms, including nausea dizziness and fatigue.
Correct ✔✔✔ANSW✔✔ A. The patient reported symptoms including nausea, dizziness, and
fatigue.
,Rationale: This sentence correctly uses commas to separate items in a series (list of three or
more items). Option B omits necessary commas; option C incorrectly uses a colon; option D has
a misplaced comma and missing commas between list items .
Question 2: Punctuation - Semicolon
Which of the following sentences contains a correctly used semicolon?
A. The patient arrived early; the nurse was ready.
B. The patient arrived early, the nurse was ready.
C. The patient arrived early; and the nurse was ready.
D. The patient arrived early: the nurse was ready.
Correct ✔✔✔ANSW✔✔ A. The patient arrived early; the nurse was ready.
Rationale: A semicolon correctly joins two independent clauses that are closely related. Option
B creates a comma splice; option C incorrectly combines a semicolon with a conjunction; option
D uses a colon inappropriately .
Question 3: Punctuation - Quotation Marks
Which of the following demonstrates correct punctuation of a quotation?
A. "You should have never invited Shane to that party," said Jessica, "if you didn't want him to run
into Blayne."
B. "You should have never invited Shane to that party," said Jessica. "If you didn't want him to run
into Blayne."
C. You should have never invited Shane to that party," said Jessica "if you didn't want him to run
,into Blayne."
D. "You should have never invited Shane to that party," said Jessica, "If you didn't want him to run
into Blayne."
Correct ✔✔✔ANSW✔✔ A. "You should have never invited Shane to that party," said Jessica,
"if you didn't want him to run into Blayne."
Rationale: When a quotation is interrupted by a speech tag, the second part begins with a
lowercase letter. The comma after the speech tag and the comma inside the quotation marks are
correctly placed .
Question 4: Punctuation - Introductory Phrase Comma
Which of the following sentences correctly uses punctuation?
A. Before the meeting starts can you ensure, that all the documents are in order?
B. Before the meeting starts can you ensure that all the documents are in order?
C. Before the meeting starts, can you ensure that all the documents are in order?
D. Before the meeting starts; can you ensure that all the documents are in order?
Correct ✔✔✔ANSW✔✔ C. Before the meeting starts, can you ensure that all the documents
are in order?
Rationale: A comma is required after an introductory phrase to separate it from the main clause.
Option C correctly places the comma after the introductory phrase .
Question 5: Apostrophe Usage
Which of the following sentences contains a correctly used apostrophe?
, A. The patients chart was updated.
B. The patient's chart was updated.
C. The patients' chart was updated.
D. The patient chart was updated.
Correct ✔✔✔ANSW✔✔ B. The patient's chart was updated.
Rationale: When referring to a chart belonging to a single patient, the apostrophe comes before
the "s" to show singular possession. Option A lacks an apostrophe; option C indicates plural
possession; option D uses "patient" as an attributive noun .
Question 6: Plural Forms
Which of the following is the correct plural form of the word "criterion"?
A. Criterions
B. Criterias
C. Criteria
D. Criterium
Correct ✔✔✔ANSW✔✔ C. Criteria
Rationale: "Criterion" is a Greek-derived word; its correct plural form is "criteria." "Criterions" is
sometimes used informally but is not considered correct in formal academic English .
Question 7: Subject-Verb Agreement
Which of the following sentences is grammatically correct?