Test Prep PRAXIS PRAXIS-WRITING-SECTION Questions & Answers

• Question 11:

  Identify the error in the following sentence:

  As Titus looked at the full shelves of his clock shop, he realized that it would take hours to find the clock who lost the tiny spring he found on the floor.

  A. looked at

  B. he

  C. it

  D. who

  E. No error

  Correct Answer: D

  Explanation: The correct answer is "who" because "who" should only be used to describe people, not things. Since a clock is clearly a thing, this sentence would be correct if "who" were changed to "that." Note that "who" can sometimes be used to refer to personified things to emphasize their human qualities. For example, that cartoon features a clock named Frank who sings, dances, and talks to the people in the village. In this case, the writer uses "who" to convey the clock's similarity to a person. By comparison, the clock in Titus' clock shop is just a clock.

• Question 12:

  Identify the error in the following sentence:

  Although James would rather walk to work then ride the bus, the sidewalks in his neighborhood were still covered with ice from the most recent winter storm.

  A. would rather

  B. then

  C. were still covered

  D. most recent E. No error

  Correct Answer: B

  Explanation: The correct answer is "then" because the word "then" has been used instead of "than." Though many people use these words interchangeably, the two words have different functions and cannot be used in place of each other in grammatically correct writing. "Then" is a measure of time; it tells the reader when something will occur. For example, I'll eat lunch and then go to the store. "Than" is used to compare people or things. For example, Mary likes Pedro more than Edward. To correct the sentence above, change "then" to "than" to show the comparison between walking to work and riding the bus.

• Question 13:

  Identify the error in the following sentence:

  When a person is hired at that company, they have to participate in at least six months of orientation with a trainer before working alone.

  A. is hired

  B. they

  C. at least

  D. working

  E. No error

  Correct Answer: B

  Explanation: because the plural pronoun "they" doesn't agree with the singular noun "person." Writers will sometimes use "they" to modify a singular noun like "person" because it sounds gender-neutral. While "they" does refer to either or both sexes, it is plural and can't be used to talk about one person. To correct this sentence, simply replace "they" with "he or she."

• Question 14:

  Identify the error in the following sentence:

  Because Juan had never been stung before, he had no way to foresee the life-threatening effect the bee sting would have on him.

  A. had never been stung

  B. he

  C. effect

  D. him

  E. No error

  Correct Answer: E

  Explanation: The correct answer is "No error" because there is no error in this sentence. One commonly misused word found in this example is "effect," which is often confused with "affect." In general, "effect" is a noun and "affect" is a verb. In this sentence "effect" is used correctly as a noun: it is the thing that happened to Juan after he was stung by the bee.

• Question 15:

  Identify the error in the following sentence:

  If he weren't so mean, Jamal would have agreed to loan his car to his twin brother weeks ago.

  A. he

  B. weren't

  C. would have agreed

  D. to loan

  E. No error

  Correct Answer: A

  The correct answer is "he" because the pronoun "he" has no clear antecedent. In other words, the reader cannot be sure if Jamal or his twin brother is mean. A simple way to correct this problem would be to replace the first "he" with either "Jamal" or "Jamal's twin brother," depending on the writer's intent.

• Question 16:

  Identify the error in the following sentence:

  Although Paloma did her very best on the test, she was disappointed to find that she had gotten several questions wrong because of simple multiplication errors.

  A. very best

  B. to find

  C. she

  D. wrong

  E. No error

  Correct Answer: C

  Explanation: The correct answer is "very best" because "best" is an absolute adjective. Some adjectives, including superlative adjectives like "best," cannot accept modifiers. When you think about the phrase "very best," it is redundant: if something is the best, then it can't be any more than that. It's already at the top of its category or class with no way to get better.

• Question 17:

  Identify the error in the following sentence:

  Days after the severe thunderstorms ended, the river was still moving too swift for anyone to swim in it safely.

  A. ended

  B. too

  C. swift

  D. safely

  E. No error

  Correct Answer: C

  Explanation: The correct answer is "swift" because "swift," an adjective, is modifying the verb "moving" in this sentence. Adjectives should only describe nouns and pronouns. Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. To correct this sentence, simply change the adjective "swift" to the adverb "swiftly."

• Question 18:

  Identify the error in the following sentence:

  Norah has several hobbies: collecting antique English china, visiting museums, and yoga.

  A. has

  B. hobbies:

  C. English china

  D. yoga

  E. No error

  Correct Answer: D

  Explanation: The correct answer is "yoga" because it is not parallel with the other hobbies in the series. While they are verbs followed by an object, "yoga" is a noun. To correct this sentence, "yoga" could be changed to "and practicing yoga" to give the final item in the series a verb with an object and give the sentence parallel structure.

• Question 19:

  Identify the error in the following sentence:

  The brutally cold days of winter in Minnesota makes Marty consider moving to Florida every year.

  A. brutally

  B. of winter

  C. makes

  D. consider moving

  E. No error

  Correct Answer: C

  Explanation: The correct answer is "makes" because the verb "makes" doesn't agree with the plural subject of the sentence, "days." While "Minnesota" is singular and seems to agree with "makes," it is not the subject of the sentence. Remember that the subject and verb of the sentence must agree, even if they are separated by words that make that agreement sound odd to your ear. If the subject is plural, the verb must agree with a plural noun regardless of the tense of any modifiers between those words. When in doubt, say the subject and verb together without any words in between. In this case, it becomes clear that "days makes" is the problem in this sentence.

• Question 20:

  Identify the error in the following sentence:

  The young and ambitious writer whom the students chose to be their commencement speaker proved to be a knowledgeable and inspiring orator on graduation day.

  A. whom

  B. chose

  C. knowledgeable and inspiring

  D. graduation

  E. No error

  Correct Answer: E

  Explanation: This sentence is correct as written.