English 10 Prof. Rolens Practice Midterm Exam Answer Key 1 1) What is a subject in a sentence? Define the term subject. A subject is a noun that is doing the verb 2) What is a verb? Define the term verb and/or give three examples in a sentence. An action word- walk, run, sit, stand 3) What do you need to have a complete sentence? A subject A verb Sometimes a terminator Expresses a complete thought Circle the subject and underline the verb in the following sentences: 4) People like having lots of options. 5) Tijuana is my favorite city. 6) My computer has Microsoft Word and Pages. 7) The lamp in the corner of the room is beautiful. 8) George hates cooking after a long day at work. 9) I ran three miles in my sandals. 10) The cat on the table is friendly.
Identify the following as either a main clause or a subordinate clause, by circling Main or Subordinate : 2 11) Presents make people happy. Main/Subordinate 12) Because they were out of diet Dr. Pepper. Main/Subordinate 13) If we go on the roller coaster. Main/Subordinate 14) As long as you remember your wallet. Main/Subordinate 15) My aunt likes to drive along the coast. Main/Subordinate 16) What is the definition of a main clause? A group of words with a subject and a verb that CAN stand on its own as a sentence. 17) What is the definition of a subordinate clause? A group of words with a subject and a verb that CANNOT stand on its own as a sentence.
3 Fix the following incomplete sentences: 18) Feels really happy today. Add a subject: Greg feels really happy today. 19) Bob in Peru. Add a verb: Bob is in Peru. 20) Petra running along the river. Add a verb: Petra is running along the river. 21) Although I have five dogs. Add a main clause: Although I have five dogs, I also like bunnies. Identify the following, circling complete sentence or fragment (a fragment is another way of saying an incomplete sentence). If it is a fragment, correct it be re-writing it as a complete sentence. 22) Disneyland being fun. Complete sentence/fragment Add verb: Disneyland is fun. 23) I have five dollars in my pocket. Complete sentence/fragment 24) Where I hid the treasure. Complete sentence/fragment Add a main clause: I forget where I hid the treasure. 25) Gina arguing with Justin about dinner. Complete sentence/fragment Add a verb: Gina is arguing with Justin about dinner.
4 26) What is the definition of a comma splice? Two main clauses joined by a comma/two complete sentences joined by a comma 27) What is the definition of a fused sentence? Two main clauses joined by no punctuation/two complete sentences joined by no punctuation Fix the following fused sentences: 28) I like most movies my favorite movie is Deadpool. I like most movies; my favorite movie is Deadpool. I like most movies, and my favorite movie is Deadpool. I like most movies. My favorite movie is Deadpool. I like most movies, although my favorite movie is Deadpool. Although I like most movies, my favorite movie is Deadpool. 29) Because I like hamburgers I am always going to In-n-Out their fries are also delicious. Because I like hamburgers, I am always going to In-n-Out. Their fries are also delicious. Because I like hamburgers, I am always going to In-n-Out; their fries are also delicious. Because I like hamburgers, I am always going to In-n-Out, and their fries are also delicious. 30) I hate driving I love self-driving cars they are much safer than regular cars. I hate driving. I love self-driving cars. They are much safer than regular cars. I hate driving, but I love self-driving cars; they are much safer than regular cars. Fix the following comma splices: 31) My phone is broken, I need to get a new one, until then I cannot call you.
5 32) Although the weather in San Diego is beautiful, it can get a little boring, I actually miss the rain. 33) If I spend more time with friends, I feel happier, relationships are so important. 34) Because I like reading, I have a lot of books, murder mysteries are my favorites. 35) What is the definition of paraphrasing? Re-writing someone else s writing in your words 36) Paraphrase the following: I draw all the time. I draw cartoons of my mother and father; my sister and grandmother I draw because words are two unpredictable. I draw because words are too limited. If you speak and write in English, or Spanish, or Chinese, or any other language, then only a certain percentage of human beings will get your meaning. But when you draw a picture, everybody can understand it. Answers will vary- re-write the above information accurately and completely in your own words.
6 37) Can the subject of a sentence be inside a prepositional phrase? No Circle the correct verb that agrees with the subject of the sentence: 38) The truck (is/are) out of gas. 39) Each of the cars (has/have) new tires. 40) My uncle, the most famous of all the martial arts experts in Caracas, (is/are) the star of his own T.V. show. 41) Neither contestant (knows/know) the answer to the question. 42) The men in the overalls (is/are) glaring at me from across the street. 43) One of the problems with Apple computers (is/are) that they are expensive to repair. 44) Two of my uncles (is/are) married. 45) The dogs inside the house (is/are) barking loudly. 46) Some of the trees (seems/seem) haunted. 47) Most of the bread (is/are) sliced. 48) All of my cats (loves/love) tuna. 49) Some of the desserts (is/are) actually good for you. Verb Tense Inconsistency DIRECTIONS: Correct all verb tense inconsistencies in the following sentences. 50) I saw all of Stranger Things yesterday, and I really enjoy watching it. enjoyed 51) If I have a chance to go to Target later today, I have bought more milk. will buy/have to buy 52) I was driving on the freeway when I notice a weird smell. noticed 53) He wasn t ready for the rain, so he didn t have an umbrella, and gets soaked. got
7 DIRECTIONS: Read the following paragraph closely. Inconsistencies are more likely to occur within paragraphs and longer pieces of writing. Therefore, it is important to revise your writing for verb tense consistency. Read this paragraph and correct any verb inconsistencies. Circle the verb and write the correction above it. Worth 5 points (questions 54-58) The question of where the first Thanksgiving was held in the United States has been a subject of debate. According to one story, in 1619 a group of white American settlers in Virginia are hungry, and so a local Native were American tribe brought them good food out of compassion. The settlers are very grateful, and they have a nice were had meal with the Native Americans. They ate corn, and they drink wine. However, according to historians, the drank white settlers in Virginia in 1619 were fighting wars against Native Americans, pushing them off their land. Therefore, Native Americans probably are not bringing food to the settlers and wouldn t have tried to have a did not meal with them. That would have been too great of a risk for the Native Americans in a time of war.