FTCE : English Language Skills

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for FTCE

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : English Language Skills

When does a dangling modifier occur?

Possible Answers:

None of these

When a modifier used in a dependent clause does not match up to a grammatical object in the main clause

When a modifier is not placed in close enough proximity to the object it modifies

When the subject of a dependent introductory clause matches the subject of the main clause

Correct answer:

When a modifier used in a dependent clause does not match up to a grammatical object in the main clause

Explanation:

Dangling modifier errors are extremely common, all the way to (and past) high school graduation. If a sentence begins with a dependent introductory clause, the subject of that clause must be the same as the subject of the main clause that follows, otherwise the modifier will modify a word that is not clearly present in the sentence, thus "dangling."

For example: "Having finished the repairs, the car drove out of Jim's Autobody Shop."

Example Question #1 : Pronoun Referents

A personal pronoun is ________________.

Possible Answers:

any word that takes the place of a proper noun

None of these

any word that takes the place of a noun

a word that takes the place of a proper noun specifically associated with a person or speaker

Correct answer:

a word that takes the place of a proper noun specifically associated with a person or speaker

Explanation:

Note here that some proper nouns can be replaced with pronouns that are not associated with a person, think of towns of countries, for instance. Personal pronouns only refer to people.

Example Question #2 : Pronoun Referents

In the given sentence, to which grammatical object does “they” refer?

If only Kevin and Charles had thought to talk to the umpires, they would have avoided the whole problem.

Possible Answers:

Kevin and Charles

None of these

The umpires

The whole problem

Correct answer:

Kevin and Charles

Explanation:

In order to avoid a dangling modifier, “they” must refer to the subject of the introductory clause, Kevin and Charles.

Example Question #1 : Ftce

A comparative adjective form is used to describe ________________.

Possible Answers:

None of these

distinguish one item from a group of more than three items in terms of a quality

two, and only two, proper nouns

two, and only two, objects being directly compared to one another in terms of a quality

Correct answer:

two, and only two, objects being directly compared to one another in terms of a quality

Explanation:

Comparative adjectives are used when two objects are being directly compared. "The sun is brighter than the moon," is an example of a comparative adjective. Superlative adjectives are used to distinguish one item from many. "Of all the bodies in our galaxy, the sun is the brightest."

Comparative and superlative adjective forms can be used to describe any noun in terms of any quality.

Example Question #1 : Standard Spelling

Which of the following words is misspelled?

Possible Answers:

Sufficient

Supplicant

Suffice

Suface

Correct answer:

Suface

Explanation:

"Suface" is not a word in English, this is a simple misspelling of the word "surface." All other words are correctly spelled.

Example Question #2 : Standard Spelling

A triangle with three sides of different lengths is called a ________ triangle.

Possible Answers:

Scalene

Scaleine

Scaline

Scaleen

Scaliene

Correct answer:

Scalene

Explanation:

The word to describe a triangle with sides of equal length is spelled "scalene."

Example Question #3 : English Language Skills

Capital letters should be used _______________.

Possible Answers:

for proper nouns and to begin sentences

only for proper nouns

in a non-standard spelling; all capitalization rules are idiomatic

only to begin sentences

Correct answer:

for proper nouns and to begin sentences

Explanation:

This is a  very basic question interrogating the test-taker's knowledge of the rules of capitalization. While the rules of capitalization (not to mention spelling and punctuation) remained unstandardized for the vast majority of the history of the English language, at this point the rules are mostly set. Proper nouns (names, whether of people or things) always require capitalization, as do the words beginning any sentence.

Example Question #1 : Commonly Confused Words, Misused Words, And Phrases

Which of the following words is misspelled?

Possible Answers:

Afterthought

Predgjudice

Judgment

Perjury

Correct answer:

Predgjudice

Explanation:

This is a simple case of standardized spelling knowledge. The correct spelling of “prejudice,” which means an opinion about something held without good reason or actual experience.

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