LIBERTY UNIVERSITY | ENGLISH COMPOSITION (CLST 101)
ASSESSMENT –2026/2027 50 QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS .
DOMAIN 1: GRAMMAR & SENTENCE STRUCTURE (Questions 1-12)
Q1. (Multiple-choice) What is a comma splice?
A. A comma used correctly between two independent clauses with a conjunction
B. A comma that separates two complete sentences without a conjunction [CORRECT]
C. A comma used in a series of three or more items
D. A missing comma between a dependent and independent clause
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A comma splice occurs when a comma separates two complete sentences
(independent clauses) without an appropriate coordinating conjunction. This creates a run-on
error that must be corrected using one of five methods.
Q2. (SATA) Which of the following are correct methods to fix a comma splice? Select all that
apply.
A. Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction [CORRECT]
B. Use a semicolon [CORRECT]
C. Use a semicolon, a conjunctive adverb, and a comma [CORRECT]
D. Make two separate sentences [CORRECT]
E. Add more commas between the clauses
Correct Answers: A, B, C, D
Rationale: The five ways to fix a comma splice are: (1) comma + conjunction, (2) semicolon, (3)
semicolon + conjunctive adverb + comma, (4) two separate sentences, and (5) making one
clause dependent. Adding more commas does not fix the error.
Q3. (Sentence Correction) Identify and correct the error in the following sentence: "The
students finished their exams, they celebrated at the campus café."
A. The students finished their exams; they celebrated at the campus café. [CORRECT]
B. The students finished their exams, and, they celebrated at the campus café.
,C. The students, finished their exams, they celebrated at the campus café.
D. The students finished their exams they celebrated at the campus café.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: This sentence contains a comma splice—two independent clauses joined only by a
comma. The correction uses a semicolon to properly separate the two complete thoughts
without a coordinating conjunction.
Q4. (Multiple-choice) Which sentence demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement?
A. The group of students are preparing for their presentations.
B. Neither the professor nor the students was ready for the exam.
C. Each of the candidates have submitted their applications.
D. The collection of rare books is available for research. [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: In collective nouns like "collection," the verb agrees with the singular collective
unit, not the plural objects within it. "Collection" takes the singular verb "is." In option A,
"group" is singular and requires "is"; in B, "students" (plural) requires "were"; in C, "each" is
singular and requires "has."
Q5. (True/False) In the sentence "Either the manager or the employees is responsible for the
error," the subject-verb agreement is correct.
A. True
B. False [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: With "either/or" constructions, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. Since
"employees" is plural, the verb should be "are," not "is." The correct sentence reads: "Either
the manager or the employees are responsible for the error."
Q6. (Multiple-choice) Which sentence contains a pronoun-antecedent agreement error?
A. Every student must bring his or her textbook to class.
B. All students must bring their textbooks to class.
C. Each applicant should submit their resume by Friday. [CORRECT]
, D. Neither of the candidates has submitted an application.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: "Each" is a singular indefinite pronoun requiring a singular possessive pronoun.
While "their" is sometimes accepted in informal usage, formal academic writing requires "his
or her" or a revision to plural. The singular "each" does not agree with the plural "their."
Q7. (Sentence Correction) Identify and correct the pronoun-antecedent error: "If a student
wants to succeed, they must study diligently."
A. If a student wants to succeed, he or she must study diligently. [CORRECT]
B. If a student wants to succeed, it must study diligently.
C. If a student wants to succeed, he must study diligently.
D. No correction needed.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The singular indefinite pronoun "a student" requires a singular pronoun. While
"they" is increasingly accepted as a gender-neutral singular, formal academic writing
traditionally requires "he or she" or revision to plural ("If students want to succeed, they must
study diligently").
Q8. (Multiple-choice) Which sentence demonstrates correct parallel structure?
A. The professor enjoys teaching, to research, and writing articles.
B. The professor enjoys teaching, researching, and writing articles. [CORRECT]
C. The professor enjoys to teach, researching, and writing articles.
D. The professor enjoys teaching, to do research, and article writing.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Parallel structure requires that items in a series share the same grammatical form.
Option B maintains consistent gerund forms (-ing verbs) throughout the series: "teaching,"
"researching," and "writing."
Q9. (SATA) Which of the following sentences contain run-on sentences or fragments? Select all
that apply.
A. Because the library closes at midnight. Students must leave by then. [CORRECT]
B. The library closes at midnight students must leave by then. [CORRECT]
ASSESSMENT –2026/2027 50 QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS .
DOMAIN 1: GRAMMAR & SENTENCE STRUCTURE (Questions 1-12)
Q1. (Multiple-choice) What is a comma splice?
A. A comma used correctly between two independent clauses with a conjunction
B. A comma that separates two complete sentences without a conjunction [CORRECT]
C. A comma used in a series of three or more items
D. A missing comma between a dependent and independent clause
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A comma splice occurs when a comma separates two complete sentences
(independent clauses) without an appropriate coordinating conjunction. This creates a run-on
error that must be corrected using one of five methods.
Q2. (SATA) Which of the following are correct methods to fix a comma splice? Select all that
apply.
A. Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction [CORRECT]
B. Use a semicolon [CORRECT]
C. Use a semicolon, a conjunctive adverb, and a comma [CORRECT]
D. Make two separate sentences [CORRECT]
E. Add more commas between the clauses
Correct Answers: A, B, C, D
Rationale: The five ways to fix a comma splice are: (1) comma + conjunction, (2) semicolon, (3)
semicolon + conjunctive adverb + comma, (4) two separate sentences, and (5) making one
clause dependent. Adding more commas does not fix the error.
Q3. (Sentence Correction) Identify and correct the error in the following sentence: "The
students finished their exams, they celebrated at the campus café."
A. The students finished their exams; they celebrated at the campus café. [CORRECT]
B. The students finished their exams, and, they celebrated at the campus café.
,C. The students, finished their exams, they celebrated at the campus café.
D. The students finished their exams they celebrated at the campus café.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: This sentence contains a comma splice—two independent clauses joined only by a
comma. The correction uses a semicolon to properly separate the two complete thoughts
without a coordinating conjunction.
Q4. (Multiple-choice) Which sentence demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement?
A. The group of students are preparing for their presentations.
B. Neither the professor nor the students was ready for the exam.
C. Each of the candidates have submitted their applications.
D. The collection of rare books is available for research. [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: In collective nouns like "collection," the verb agrees with the singular collective
unit, not the plural objects within it. "Collection" takes the singular verb "is." In option A,
"group" is singular and requires "is"; in B, "students" (plural) requires "were"; in C, "each" is
singular and requires "has."
Q5. (True/False) In the sentence "Either the manager or the employees is responsible for the
error," the subject-verb agreement is correct.
A. True
B. False [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: With "either/or" constructions, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. Since
"employees" is plural, the verb should be "are," not "is." The correct sentence reads: "Either
the manager or the employees are responsible for the error."
Q6. (Multiple-choice) Which sentence contains a pronoun-antecedent agreement error?
A. Every student must bring his or her textbook to class.
B. All students must bring their textbooks to class.
C. Each applicant should submit their resume by Friday. [CORRECT]
, D. Neither of the candidates has submitted an application.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: "Each" is a singular indefinite pronoun requiring a singular possessive pronoun.
While "their" is sometimes accepted in informal usage, formal academic writing requires "his
or her" or a revision to plural. The singular "each" does not agree with the plural "their."
Q7. (Sentence Correction) Identify and correct the pronoun-antecedent error: "If a student
wants to succeed, they must study diligently."
A. If a student wants to succeed, he or she must study diligently. [CORRECT]
B. If a student wants to succeed, it must study diligently.
C. If a student wants to succeed, he must study diligently.
D. No correction needed.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The singular indefinite pronoun "a student" requires a singular pronoun. While
"they" is increasingly accepted as a gender-neutral singular, formal academic writing
traditionally requires "he or she" or revision to plural ("If students want to succeed, they must
study diligently").
Q8. (Multiple-choice) Which sentence demonstrates correct parallel structure?
A. The professor enjoys teaching, to research, and writing articles.
B. The professor enjoys teaching, researching, and writing articles. [CORRECT]
C. The professor enjoys to teach, researching, and writing articles.
D. The professor enjoys teaching, to do research, and article writing.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Parallel structure requires that items in a series share the same grammatical form.
Option B maintains consistent gerund forms (-ing verbs) throughout the series: "teaching,"
"researching," and "writing."
Q9. (SATA) Which of the following sentences contain run-on sentences or fragments? Select all
that apply.
A. Because the library closes at midnight. Students must leave by then. [CORRECT]
B. The library closes at midnight students must leave by then. [CORRECT]
