PSSA Prep

In which sentence does the red group of words function as a noun?

• Although hard work is not always fun, it often pays off. 
• The best athletes have skills that that they worked hard acquire.
• Dribbling a basketball well, which can be difficult to do, takes a lot of practice.
• At the community center, Jonas found that hard work is needed to master a new skill. 

Read the paragraph:
Mary and Cindy have always wanted to act and sing in theatrical productions, and now they have their chance. A new drama course, which has everyone in the community excited, will focus on preparing students to perform on stage. Each participant in the class will receive a role in one of the plays and musicals to be staged throughout the course. The view of the instructor is that all students should perform in front of an audience.
Which red group of words functions as a noun?

• in theatrical productions
• which has everyone in the community excited
• of the plays and musicals
• that all students should perform in front of an audience

Read the sentences.
Travis wants to read more books about sports. He feels that his older sister should check them out of the library for him. His sister disagrees.
Which revision best combines the sentences into one sentence?

• Travis wants to read more books about sports and feels that his older sister should check them out of the library for him, and afterward his sister disagrees.
• Travis wants to read more books about sports and feels that his older sister should check them out of the library for him, so his sister disagrees.
• Although Travis wants to read more books about sports and feels his older sister should check them out of the library for him, his sister disagrees.
• Because Travis wants to read more books about sports and feels that his older sister should check them out of the library for him, his sister disagrees.

Read the sentence.
The principal’s speech was about the new afterschool activities that he gave on Tuesday.

Choose the best way to revise the sentence to correct the misplaced modifier.

• The speech by the principal on Tuesday was about the new afterschool activities he gave.
• The speech that the principal gave on Tuesday was about the new afterschool activities.
• The principal’s speech on Tuesday that he gave was about the new afterschool activities.
• The new afterschool activities that the principal’s speech was about he gave on Tuesday.

Read the paragraph.
The outdoors club had never gone fishing before. But when the club members heard that Lake George Campground offered fishing, they decided to travel to Lake George to try it out. The fishing was a lot of fun. Everyone who worked there was friendly and helped the club members make the most of their trip. This made the whole trip worthwhile.

Which red pronoun is vague or unclear?

• This
• Everyone
• their
• they

Read the paragraph.
(1) On Saturday, all of the people in the grocery store (this includes both customers and employees) are going to get free samples of a new product. (2) “Juice and More Juice” is the name of the new product. (3) A number of different juices was mixed together to make the new juice product. (4) The manager of the grocery store said that before this product arrived, there were no juices that contained elderberry juice on the store shelves.

Which change would correct the mistake in the paragraph?

• Change are to is in sentence 1. 
• Change is to are in sentence 2. 
• Change was to were in sentence 3.
• Change were to was in sentence 4.

Read the paragraph.
(1) Heathrow Airport in London is one of the world’s busiest most crowded international airports. (2) Traveling through the airport can be hectic and confusing. (3) Workers do their best to assist the many global travelers. (4) These helpful and friendly employees help to direct people from all over the world.
Where should a comma be added?

• after busiest in sentence 1
• after hectic in sentence 2
• after many in sentence 3
• after helpful in sentence 4

Read the paragraph.
(1) The White House, for the most part, is a very important building to visit. (2) There you will see the Lincoln—Room but first, you must see the outside of the White House. (3) Sometimes you can (see) the president walking on the lawn. (4) There is a great deal of history to learn, during a visit, to the White House.
Which sentence uses punctuation correctly?

• sentence 1
• sentence 2
• sentence 3
• sentence 4

Read the paragraph.
(1) Skilled musicians know that keys to success are, practicing often, listening to advice, and relaxing. (2) Many new musicians get too little practice, they have a hard time accepting feedback, or they forget that making music should be fun. (3) These new
musicians would do well to, establish a routine, set clear goals, and reward themselves for their hard work. (4) Musicians, learn, refine, and finally master, their craft by forming these good habits.
Which sentence uses commas correctly?

• sentence 1
• sentence 2
• sentence 3
• sentence 4

Read the sentence.
Our teacher always reminds us to read stories carefully because she keeps telling us to pay close attention to detailed information about the characters, setting, and plot of the stories that we read.
Which is the best way to revise the sentence to remove repetitive language?

• Our teacher keeps telling us to read carefully about character, setting, and plot.
• Our teacher keeps telling us to pay close attention to details in stories we read and to
  read them carefully.
• Our teacher always reminds us to read stories carefully by paying close attention to
  details about character, setting, and plot.
• Our teacher always reminds us, because she keeps telling us, to read stories carefully
  and to pay close attention to the characters, setting, and plot.