Prof. Ayvaunn Penn's Writing & Grammar College Readiness Quiz

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Are your writing and grammar skills ready for college? Take this quiz to find out what you need to work on. Your answers to these questions will be emailed to the email address you provide below.

A copy of the answer key can be downloaded from ThePennSpeaks.com where you can also sign up for FREE online writing and grammar workshops led by Prof. Ayvaunn Penn.

Note: Written response sections of this automated quiz are word and case sensitive.

Email *

Name

Education level *

Part I: Parts of Speech

INSTRUCTIONS: Answer the questions in this section based on the following sentence:

BOB AND SALLY WENT TO THE STORE.

What/Who is/are the subject(s) of the sentence? *

1 point

What is/are the verb(s)? *

1 point

What is/are the conjunction(s)? *

1 point

What is/are the prepositional phrase(s)? *

1 point

What is/are the preposition(s)? *

1 point

What is/are the object(s) of the preposition? *

1 point

What is/are the article(s) describing store? *

1 point

What word(s) is/are the prepositional phrase(s) modifying? *

1 point

Is/are this/these prepositional phrase(s) functioning as a/an adjective(s) or a/an adverb(s)? *

1 point

Part II: Types of Sentences

INSTRUCTIONS: Correctly identify each sentence.

Bob and Sally are going skating. *

1 point

Declarative

Imperative

Interrogative

Exclamatory

Get the door. *

1 point

Declarative

Imperative

Interrogative

Exclamatory

Will you please get the door? *

1 point

Declarative

Imperative

Interrogative

Exclamatory

You scared me! *

1 point

Declarative

Imperative

Interrogative

Exclamatory

Sally and Bob went to the store. *

1 point

Compound

Complex

Compound Complex

Triple Compound

Simple

Sally went to the store, and she bought a pair of shoes. *

1 point

Compound

Complex

Compound Complex

Triple Compound

Simple

When Sally arrived at the store, they were nearly sold out of shoes. *

1 point

Compound

Complex

Compound Complex

Triple Compound

Simple

When Sally arrived at the store, she bought a pair of shoes, but she didn’t really need them. *

1 point

Compound

Complex

Compound Complex

Triple Compound

Simple

Part III: Punctuation

INSTRUCTIONS: Select the correct answer(s).

What type of punctuation goes at the end of a declarative sentence? *

1 point

Period

Question Mark

Exclamation Point

Quotation Marks

What type of punctuation goes at the end of an interrogative sentence? *

1 point

Period

Question Mark

Exclamation Point

Quotation Marks

When including the exact words of another person in your writing, those words should be placed within what type of punctuation? *

1 point

Period

Question Mark

Exclamation Point

Quotation Marks

Which sentence properly uses the colon? *

1 point

Bob went to the store: the red and blue dilapidated building at the end of the road.

Bob went to the store: he bought pickles.

Which sentence properly uses the semicolon? *

1 point

Sally went to the store; she bought blueberries.

Sally went to the store; Maya Angelou is cool.

Sally went to the store; and bought blueberries.

Select EACH sentence that correctly uses the comma. *

1 point

Sally, will you please go to the store for me?

My best friend, Sally, loves to come over for sleepovers.

Since the two of you have known each other for so long, you should consider reconciling your differences.

Sally went to the store, Bob followed.

Sally went to the store, and Bob followed.

Required

Part IV: Identifying Independent & Dependent Clauses

INSTRUCTIONS: Select the correct answer(s).

Select the answer that is true. *

1 point

An independent clause contains a subject and a verb and forms a complete thought.

A dependent clause contains a subject and a verb and forms a complete thought.

Select the independent clause from the following sentence: WHEN GOING OUT IN THE RAIN, IT IS BEST TO WEAR RAIN BOOTS. *

1 point

When going out in the rain

It is best to wear rain boots

Select the dependent clause from the following sentence: WHEN GOING OUT IN THE RAIN, IT IS BEST TO WEAR RAIN BOOTS. *

1 point

When going out in the rain

It is best to wear rain boots

Select the independent clause from the following sentence: BOB AND SALLY ALWAYS SIT TOGETHER WHEN THEY GO TO THE FOOTBALL GAME. *

1 point

Bob and Sally always sit together

When they go to the football game

Select the dependent clause from the following sentence: BOB AND SALLY ALWAYS SIT TOGETHER WHEN THEY GO TO THE FOOTBALL GAME. *

1 point

Bob and Sally always sit together

When they go to the football game

Part V: Complete Sentences Versus Run-On Sentences

INSTRUCTIONS: Select the correct answer.

Run-on sentences join two or more independent clauses without the proper punctuation. *

1 point

True

False

Which sentence is not a run-on sentence? *

1 point

Sally and Susan go to the mall on Fridays that’s where they hang out.

Sally and Susan go to the mall on Fridays, that’s where they hang out.

Sally and Susan go to the mall on Fridays and hang out.

Part VI: Essays & Essay Structure

INSTRUCTIONS: Select the correct answer.

Proper essay structure includes having an intro paragraph, at least one body paragraph, and a conclusion paragraph. *

1 point

True

False

The thesis statement is typically one sentence that states the main argument of the essay. *

1 point

True

False

The thesis statement is typically the last sentence in the first body paragraph of an essay. *

1 point

True

False

Only the intro paragraph and conclusion paragraph should have a topic sentence and concluding sentence. *

1 point

True

False

Transitions are not necessary in essays. *

1 point

True

False

Organizing thoughts in your essay is not as important as making sure to get all of your key points in. *

1 point

True

False

Each body paragraph topic sentence should relate directly back to the thesis statement in the essay. *

1 point

True

False

Concrete evidence – quotes, facts, statistics, evidentiary support for your argument – is only necessary in some of the body paragraphs of an essay. *

1 point

True

False

With the exception of quotes exceeding three sentences, it is not acceptable to leave quotes standing alone rather than embedding them in a sentence of your own creation. *

1 point

True

False

The first word of each sentence should always be capitalized whether in an essay or otherwise. *

1 point

True

False

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