PRAXIS-Writing-Section Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST) - Writing Section - Practice Questions

Question 1

Determine whether the underlined portion of the sentence below is correct or whether it needs to be revised. Choose the correct option.

Sports are a significant part of life for people all across the world, as was demonstrated in 2006 when billions of people came together to be involved with the World Cup either through playing, watching or thru advertising.

Select an option, then click Submit answer.

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World Cup either through playing, watching or thru advertising.
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World cup either through playing, watching or thru advertising.
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World Cup either through playing, watching or through advertising.
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World Cup either through playing, watching or advertising.
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World Cup either through playing, watching or advertising for it.

Reference / correct answer:

World Cup either through playing, watching or advertising.

This sentence tests your knowledge of capitalization and awareness of parallelism. The original sentence is incorrect because choice “World Cup either through playing, watching or thru advertising” destroys the parallelism (i.e. thru advertising instead of simply “advertising”) and uses the informal spelling of through (i.e. “thru”). Only choices “World Cup either through playing, watching or advertising” and “World Cup either through playing, watching or advertising for it” correct the parallelism error; however, the list should strictly contain gerunds in order to be parallel, so “advertising for it” is not the best choice. By ending with “for it” the author is also implying that one may “play for it” and “watch for it,” and although one may play for the World Cup through a grammar stretch, one cannot possibly “watch for it” and do the same thing as one who simply “watches it.” Choice “World Cup either through playing, watching or advertising” uses the appropriate capitalization (because the World Cup is a major sports event it is a proper noun that must be capitalized) and maintains strict parallelism in the concluding list of ways to be involved.

Question 2

Determine whether the underlined portion of the sentence below is correct or whether it needs to be revised. Choose the correct option.

Since the work force is becoming increasingly competitive in light of technological advances and outsourcing, therefore, it is even more basic for students to complete high school and attain at least a bachelor’s degree.

Select an option, then click Submit answer.

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therefore, it is even more basic for students to complete high school and attain at least a bachelor’s degree.
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moreover, it is even more basic for students to complete high school and attain at least a bachelor’s degree.
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but, it is even more basic for students to complete high school and attain at least a bachelor’s degree.
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so it is even more basic for students to complete high school and attain at least a bachelor’s degree.
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it is even more basic for students to complete high school and attain at least a bachelor’s degree.

Question 3

Identify the error in the following sentence:

At long last the doctor – a total stranger; showed up at the house.

Select an option, then click Submit answer.

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At long last
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– a
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stranger;
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at the house.
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No error

PRAXIS-Writing-Section – Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST) - Writing Section