English and Language Usage Teas
Preparation Exam (Checked
Answers 2022/2023)
I truly believe that one cup of coffee a day is neither too much nor too little caffiene for me, but
exactly the right amount.
Which of the following words is misspelled in the sentence above?
a. caffiene
b. truly
c. neither
d. exactly - ANSWER - a. caffeine
This word is an exception to the "I before E" rule. The correct spelling is caffeine.
Which of the following words is an exception to a common spelling rule?
a. neither
b. vein
c. flying
d. coping - ANSWER - a. neither
The "I before E" rule would have this word spelled "niether," but this word is an exception
Which of the following is the plural of the word chief?
a. chiefs
b. chieves
c. chievs
d. chiefes - ANSWER - a. chiefs
The shear number of people in the audience overwhelmed the actress as she peeked through
the curtain before scene one.
,Which of the following correctly describes an error in the sentence above?
a. the homograph "peeked" should be "peaked"
b. the homograph "through" should be "threw"
c. the homophone "shear" should be "sheer"
d. the homophone "scene" should be seen - ANSWER - c. the homophone "shear" should be
"sheer"
The word "shear" means to cut and "sheer" in this form means "unqualified"
Which of the following sentences contains a homophone?
a. He was never going to be allowed into that exclusive party.
b. That is not really an accurate description of the event.
c. She sat in a garden chair at the side of the lawn.
d. That restaurant makes the best grilled cheese sandwiches. - ANSWER - a. He was never going
to be allowed into that exclusive party.
The word allowed has a homophone: aloud
Which of the following is a correctly punctuated compound sentence?
a. It took Desiree 5 years; but she finally completed her microbiology dissertation.
b. The pianist decided to play something dramatic and soulful.
c. I love all kinds of scented candles, and yesterday I found one that smells like licorice.
d. The cat sat curled up in the sunshine and when the sun set he finally walked away. -
ANSWER - c. I love all kinds of scented candles, and yesterday I found one that smells like
licorice.
Which of the following examples is the correct way for punctuating this quotation?
a. "I'm not going to spoil my appetite, said Philip, as he pushed the plate of cookies away."
b. "I'm not going to spoil my appetite" said Philip, as he pushed the plate of cookies away.
c. "I'm not going to spoil my appetite," said Philip, "as he pushed the plate of cookies away."
d. "I'm not going to spoil my appetite," said Philip, as he pushed the plate of cookies away. -
ANSWER - d. "I'm not going to spoil my appetite," said Philip, as he pushed the plate of cookies
away.
, Here's what I'd like you to bring tomorrow____ two dozen cupcakes, a carton of milk, and party
napkins.
Which of the following punctuation marks best completes the sentence above?
a. ;
b. .
c. :
d. , - ANSWER - c. :
A colon should be used here to introduce a list
It's really time for me to leave, and yet there are still so many things I'd like to do; next year I
think, I'll spend an extra week.
Which of the following punctuation marks is used incorrectly in the sentence above?
A. the comma after the word "think"
B. the semicolon after the word "do"
C. the apostrophe in the word "it's"
D. the comma after the word "and" - ANSWER - A. the comma after the word "think"
Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly?
a. One of my favorite places to visit is San Francisco California, and I'll never forget my trip there
from June 2011.
b. One of my favorite places to visit is San Francisco, California and I'll never forget my trip
there from June 2011.
c. One of my favorite places to visit is San Francisco, California, and I'll never forget my trip
there from June 2011.
d. One of my favorite places to visit is San Francisco, California, and I'll never forget my trip
there from June, 2011. - ANSWER - c. One of my favorite places to visit is San Francisco,
California, and I'll never forget my trip there from June 2011.
Which of the following is a correctly punctuated compound sentence?
a. Call me tomorrow; I'll let you know my decision then.
b. I burned the garlic bread, but not the lasagna.
c. They thought the trip would take three hours but it really took only two.
Preparation Exam (Checked
Answers 2022/2023)
I truly believe that one cup of coffee a day is neither too much nor too little caffiene for me, but
exactly the right amount.
Which of the following words is misspelled in the sentence above?
a. caffiene
b. truly
c. neither
d. exactly - ANSWER - a. caffeine
This word is an exception to the "I before E" rule. The correct spelling is caffeine.
Which of the following words is an exception to a common spelling rule?
a. neither
b. vein
c. flying
d. coping - ANSWER - a. neither
The "I before E" rule would have this word spelled "niether," but this word is an exception
Which of the following is the plural of the word chief?
a. chiefs
b. chieves
c. chievs
d. chiefes - ANSWER - a. chiefs
The shear number of people in the audience overwhelmed the actress as she peeked through
the curtain before scene one.
,Which of the following correctly describes an error in the sentence above?
a. the homograph "peeked" should be "peaked"
b. the homograph "through" should be "threw"
c. the homophone "shear" should be "sheer"
d. the homophone "scene" should be seen - ANSWER - c. the homophone "shear" should be
"sheer"
The word "shear" means to cut and "sheer" in this form means "unqualified"
Which of the following sentences contains a homophone?
a. He was never going to be allowed into that exclusive party.
b. That is not really an accurate description of the event.
c. She sat in a garden chair at the side of the lawn.
d. That restaurant makes the best grilled cheese sandwiches. - ANSWER - a. He was never going
to be allowed into that exclusive party.
The word allowed has a homophone: aloud
Which of the following is a correctly punctuated compound sentence?
a. It took Desiree 5 years; but she finally completed her microbiology dissertation.
b. The pianist decided to play something dramatic and soulful.
c. I love all kinds of scented candles, and yesterday I found one that smells like licorice.
d. The cat sat curled up in the sunshine and when the sun set he finally walked away. -
ANSWER - c. I love all kinds of scented candles, and yesterday I found one that smells like
licorice.
Which of the following examples is the correct way for punctuating this quotation?
a. "I'm not going to spoil my appetite, said Philip, as he pushed the plate of cookies away."
b. "I'm not going to spoil my appetite" said Philip, as he pushed the plate of cookies away.
c. "I'm not going to spoil my appetite," said Philip, "as he pushed the plate of cookies away."
d. "I'm not going to spoil my appetite," said Philip, as he pushed the plate of cookies away. -
ANSWER - d. "I'm not going to spoil my appetite," said Philip, as he pushed the plate of cookies
away.
, Here's what I'd like you to bring tomorrow____ two dozen cupcakes, a carton of milk, and party
napkins.
Which of the following punctuation marks best completes the sentence above?
a. ;
b. .
c. :
d. , - ANSWER - c. :
A colon should be used here to introduce a list
It's really time for me to leave, and yet there are still so many things I'd like to do; next year I
think, I'll spend an extra week.
Which of the following punctuation marks is used incorrectly in the sentence above?
A. the comma after the word "think"
B. the semicolon after the word "do"
C. the apostrophe in the word "it's"
D. the comma after the word "and" - ANSWER - A. the comma after the word "think"
Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly?
a. One of my favorite places to visit is San Francisco California, and I'll never forget my trip there
from June 2011.
b. One of my favorite places to visit is San Francisco, California and I'll never forget my trip
there from June 2011.
c. One of my favorite places to visit is San Francisco, California, and I'll never forget my trip
there from June 2011.
d. One of my favorite places to visit is San Francisco, California, and I'll never forget my trip
there from June, 2011. - ANSWER - c. One of my favorite places to visit is San Francisco,
California, and I'll never forget my trip there from June 2011.
Which of the following is a correctly punctuated compound sentence?
a. Call me tomorrow; I'll let you know my decision then.
b. I burned the garlic bread, but not the lasagna.
c. They thought the trip would take three hours but it really took only two.
