English Midterm Study Guide

2015 - 2016

Refer to the pages below for EXTRA practice in preparation for your MIDTERM EXAM

Concept Writer’s Choice page numbers

Capitalization / 472
-Unit review / 481
Punctuation – usage and rules / 488
-Comma usage / 491 - 495
-End marks / 489
-Unit review / 507
Subjects, Predicates, and Sentences / 296
-Types of sentences / 297
-Sentences and sentence fragments / 299
-Subjects & predicates / 301
-Compound subjects & predicates / 305
-Simple and compound sentences / 307
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English Midterm Study Guide

2015 - 2016

Commas

Comma Rules
Commas make sentences easier to understand because they signal a pause or a
separation between sentence parts.
Use commas to separate three or mre items in a series. / No one knows whether Bigfoot is a man, a myth, or a monster
Use a comma to show a pause after an introductory word. / No, Bigfoot has never been captured.
Use a comma after two or more prepositional phrases at the beginning of a
sentence. / Despite years of searching, no one has gotten close to Bigfoot.
Use commas to set off words that interrupt the flow of thought in a sentence. / That doesn’t mean, however, that people will stop trying.
Use commas to set off names used in direct address. / Bethany, what would you do if you saw Bigfoot?
Use a comma before and, or, and but when they join simple sentences. / Felicia constructed the model, and Paul painted it.
Use a comma after the salutation of a friendly letter and after the closing of both a friendly letter and a business letter. / Dear Beth,
With love,
Use a comma to prevent misreading. / Instead of three, four o’clock is a better time.
In dates, use commas after the day of the month and the year. Do not use a comma if only the month and the year are given. / Shama arrived in this country on July 6, 1989, with her family.
She became a citizen in January 1996.
Use commas before and after the name of a state or country when it is used with
the name of a city. Do not use a comma after the state if the state name is followed by a zip code. / She used to live in Chicago, Illinois, but now she lives in Detroit, Michigan.
His address is 296 S. Pacific Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15211.
Use a comma or a pair of commas to set off an abbreviated title (except Jr. and Sr.) or a degree following a person’s name. / Lou Szupinski, Ph.D., wrote the book about fossils.
Use a comma or a pair of commas to set off a direct quotation. / Brer Rabbit said, “I am the smartest animal on this earth.”
“There’s not a creature in this woods,” he went on, “who can outsmart me.”.
  1. Which of the following is not a comma rule?

A.Use a comma to show a pause after an introductory word.

B.Use a comma between the title of someone’s first name and his or her last name.

C.Use a comma after two or more prepositional phrases at the beginning of a sentence.

D.Use commas to set off words that interrupt the flow of thought of a sentence.

  1. Which of the following is not a comma rule?

A.Use commas to set off names used in direct address.

B.Use commas to set off three or more items in a series.

C.Place a comma before a semicolon when writing a compound sentence.

  1. Which of the following is not a comma rule?
  1. Use a comma after a coordinating conjunction when writing a compound sentence.
  2. Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction when writing a compound sentence.
  3. Use a comma to prevent misreading.
  4. Use a comma after an introductory word or phrase.
  1. Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly with commas?

A.Last night I completed my homework ate dinner watched television took a shower and went to bed.

B.Last night, I completed, my homework, ate dinner, watched television, took a shower, and went to bed.

C.Last night, I completed my homework, ate dinner, watched television, took a shower and went to bed.

D.Last night, I completed my homework, ate dinner, watched television, took a shower, and went to bed.

  1. Which of the following sentences is punctuatedcorrectly with commas?
  1. We wanted to go on vacation to London, Paris and Rome.
  2. We ended up traveling to Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
  3. Next year I want to travel to, the Mediterranean, the Red Sea, and the Strait of Gibraltar.
  4. My parents think it is important to stay home save our money, and take a break.
  1. Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly with commas?
  1. Oh, I was unaware of a comma there!
  2. Yes I need a comma there!
  3. Why, is there a comma there?
  4. Well you always must consider the comma rules!
  1. Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly with commas?
  1. Beside the porch, under the flag, are the prettiest flowers ever!
  2. Out of the woods, into the meadow the wolves crawled.
  3. In 1921 in the middle of the night, a great storm began.
  4. Over the river, through the woods, to Grandmother’s house we go.
  1. Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly with commas?
  1. Queen Victoria was as they say, a formidable woman.
  2. The interrupter I believe needs a comma before and after it to emphasize its separation from the rest of the sentence.
  3. After demonstrating a decided lack of ethics, the CEO was, needless to say, dismissed from the company.
  4. It does, indeed look like rain.
  1. Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly with commas?
  1. Mrs. Jones where are you going to travel over spring break?
  2. Where are you going to travel Mrs. Jones, for spring break?
  3. Where are you going to travel for spring break, Mrs. Jones?
  4. Where are you going to travel, Mrs. Jones for spring break?

Use the above Comma Rule Guide to insert commas in the following sentences

  1. Instead of New York , Boston was our choice.
  2. Hakeem weeded the garden, and his mom picked the vegetables.
  3. Felipe’s first language is Spanish, and Andre speaks French
  4. Instead of twelve, six players got new uniforms.
  5. Ali was invited to dinner, but he wasn’t feeling well.
  6. Janelle came in first, four seconds ahead of Sonya.
  7. Your friend,

Bethany

  1. Now,it’s suppertime, and we’re getting ready to go out.
  2. When I turned forty, seven people wished me a happy birthday!
  3. Would you rather go out to dinner, or would you rather order in?
  4. I’m not sure,,however,,that I am willing to help you with your math homework.
  5. Nadine, are you going to the grocery store?
  6. Besides the United States,,Canada exports a lot of wheat.
  7. The address is 803 Church Street, Honesdale, Pennsylvania 18431.
  8. Al didn’t go on the class trip, and he wishes he had.
  9. Robert Capozza,Ph.D.,,wrote this book on fossils.
  10. His doctor is DenitaThurgood,,M.D.
  11. Throughout the world,,war devastates many lives.
  12. “Well done, my lad, ” said the captain.
  13. Tim cried out,,“I wish I had never run away to sea!”
  14. “There’s a cyclone coming,Em,” said Uncle Henry.
  15. December 4, 1982,,was the date on the yellowed newspaper.

Greek & Latin Roots

Directions: Write the definition of the greek or latin root on the space provided.

  1. Foli Leaf
  2. Miss/Mitt to send
  3. Mal bad
  4. Gen birth
  5. Geo/Terr Earth
  6. Ped/PodFoot

Capitalization/ Punctuation

For dinner tonight we are having spaghetti with tomato sauce which is one of my favorites.

  1. Which choice gives the sentence above the correct punctuation?

A.For dinner tonight, we are having: spaghetti with tomato sauce which is one of my favorites.

B.For dinner tonight, we are having spaghetti with tomato sauce, which is one of my favorites.

C.For dinner tonight, we are having spaghetti with tomato sauce; which is one of my favorites.

D.For dinner, tonight we are having spaghetti, with tomato sauce which is one of my favorites.

Since last friday, she has been studying for tuesday'sspanish test.

  1. Which words need to be capitalized?

A.Since and Spanish

B.Since, Friday, and Tuesday's

C.Since

D.Since, Friday, Tuesday's, Spanish

  1. Which of the following is NOT a rule of capitalization?

A.Capitalize the first letter of the first word in a sentence.

B.Capitalize cardinal directions; north, south, east, and west.

C.Capitalize the first letter of the first word in the beginning of a quote.

D.Capitalize the first word in a salutation (greeting) of a letter.

  1. Which of the following is NOT a rule of capitalization?

A.Capitalize seasons; winter, spring, summer, and fall.

B.Capitalize names of people and the initials that stand for their name.

C.Capitalize a title or an abbreviation of a title before a person’s name.

D.Capitalize the names and abbreviations of degrees that follow a person’s name.

  1. Which of the following is NOT a rule of capitalization?

A.Capitalize the pronoun I.

B.Capitalize names of cities, states, countries, and continents.

C.Capitalize names of non-specific places.

D.Capitalize bodies of water and other geographical features.

  1. Which of the following is NOT a rule of capitalization?

A.Capitalize names of clubs, organizations, businesses, institutions, and political parties.

B.Capitalize names of days of the week, months, holidays.

C.Capitalize the names of non-specific subjects such as, reading, science, and math

D.Capitalize names of ethnic groups, nationalities, and languages.

  1. Choose the sentence in which capital letters are used correctly. (no correct answer)
  1. We hoped that the President would answer Our Letters.
  2. we hoped that the president would answer our letters.
  3. We hoped that The President would answer our letters.
  4. We hoped that the President would answer our letters.
  1. Choose the sentence in which capital letters are used correctly.

A.The Delaware River separates Pennsylvania and New jersey.

B.The Delaware River separates Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

C. The Delaware river separates Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

D. The delaware river separates Pennsylvania and New jersey.

Types of Sentences

Write dec.if the sentence is declarative, int. if it is interrogative, exc. if it is exclamatory, or imp. if it is imperative. exampleint.Is Bobby home?

  1. ____Dec_____Thelightbulb is burned out.
  2. ____Interrogative_____Will you help me shovel the driveway?
  3. __exc______Wow, that was a fantastic movie!
  4. ___imperative______Please give Miss Kitty some milk.
  5. _declarative______Your red shirt is in the dryer.
  6. _exclamatory______What a cold day it is!
  7. ____interrogative_____Did you wear your boots today?
  8. __declarative______The cat is chasing the dog.
  9. ____imperative_____Don’t drop these eggs.
  10. ____interrogative_____Is it my turn now?

Subjects & Predicates

Directions: Draw a line in between the complete subject and complete predicate.

Circle the simple subject and simple predicate.

  1. Alma and Phil /swam laps together.
  2. My mom/ found the money.
  3. My friend’s dog and my neighbor’s cat /growl at each other.
  4. The third pig’s house /was made of brick.
  5. The straw basket /was full of apples and nuts.
  6. The small boy/ led the way to the castle and opened the door.
  7. The tired soldiers/ charged up the hill.
  8. The pizza and drinks/ were eight dollars.
  9. Cara and Tim/ closed their eyes during the scary movie.

Writing

  1. My father and grandfather have been working on cars together for nearly twenty-five years. Fixing cars is just part of our family's history. My grandfather became a mechanic when he graduated from high school and joined the military. After finishing boot camp, he was assigned to repair tanks and other military service vehicles. His training in the military allowed him to open up his own repair shop once he came home. Naturally, when my dad was growing up, he spent most of his weekends and after school hours helping my grandfather work in his shop. ______.

Choose the best concluding sentence to fill in the blank.

  1. After Dad graduated from high school, he got his mechanic's certification, and he and my granddad have been in business ever since.
  2. My father never really liked working on cars, but my granddad needed someone's help to keep the shop running.
  3. My family's car repair shop is still one of the most popular places in town to have your car troubles fixed.
  4. My grandfather says that he'll retire from the family business once I graduate from college and get a job.
  1. One serious problem facing a number of elderly people is living on a reduced income. When they retire, many older adults receive a pension from their company or benefits from the government. The amount of their monthly income is often significantly less than they received when they were fully employed. All of a sudden, retirees find that they can no longer continue the lifestyle to which they had become accustomed, even if that lifestyle was a modest one. Many find, after paying their monthly bills, that there is no money left for a movie or dinner out. ______.

Choose the best concluding sentence to fill in the blank.

  1. Unfortunately, without some financial help or planning, many elderly adults may have trouble making ends meet.
  2. Younger adults can avoid the struggles of living on a reduced income with better financial planning and investments.
  3. Luckily, my parents won't have to face this challenge because their mortgage has been paid off.
  4. Many Americans are working well past retirement age simply because they cannot afford to retire.

Read the paragraph below.

Growing a garden is easy. First, you need a fertile piece of land. Next, you should till the soil until it can sift throughyour fingers. Then you take the seeds and drop two or three into a small hole and cover the hole with the soil. Your hands will get dirty from digging. Water the seeds and watch for tiny plants to grow.

  1. Choose the sentence that is irrelevant. (Irrelevant – def. adjective - no connection to, not fitting in,

immaterial)

______

  1. Which of the following information would NOT be appropriate (Appropriate – def. adjective – belong, fitting, proper) to use in a research paper?
  1. The name of the governor of South Dakota.
  2. The nations that border Scotland.
  3. What you did last weekend.
  4. The nation that rules the Juan Fernandez Islands.

Read the following passage.

1) For thousands of years, people have removed minerals from the ground. 2) Minerals do not come from living things or from the remains of living things. 3) Minerals are solid substances found on or in the ground. 4) A gem is a stone that can be cut and polished to make jewelry. 5) Most gems are minerals. 6) Diamonds are minerals, and so are brightly colored gems, such as rubies, sapphires, and emeralds. 7) These four are called precious stones becausethey are rare and valuable. 8) They are the most costly gems.

  1. Which sentence should begin a new paragraph?

Analyze the following essay outline and identify the organizational pattern.

Issue: Motorized Vehicles
1. Increasing pollution
2. Increasing traffic congestion
3. Traffic accidents and related deaths
Fix: Riding Bicycles
1. Reduces the number of motor vehicles being used
2. Reduces pollution
3. Health benefits
  1. Which of the following organizational patterns best describes this essay outline?
  1. cause-effect pattern
  2. advantage-disadvantage pattern
  3. chronological pattern
  4. problem-solution pattern
  1. Which of the following statements is not true when organizing information in an essay?
  1. Always include an introduction and conclusion.
  2. Divide information into one-sentence paragraphs.
  3. Begin sentences with capital letter.
  4. Use transition words.

Read the following passage.

It is important to create a shopping list before going to the grocery store. First, you should check your pantry forneeded items. Next, you should look in the newspaper for sales on items you need prior to shopping. After locatingyour items and deciding where you will buy them, create your list of items and places to go. ______, you should note the sales price of certain items in case you forget them while shopping. Finally, you should create a column to check off items after you place them in your basket. Completing each of these steps will help youpurchase all of the necessary items and save time during your next trip to the store.

  1. Write the best transition word to complete the paragraph above. ___Then____(answers may vary)___

Paragraphs should be written in a manner that is both readable and understandable. When a passage includes a sentence that has little connection to the theme or interrupts the flow of the paragraph, then the sentence is irrelevant.

Read the following paragraph.

(1) People are much more annoying than animals. (2) Many people think of their pets as part of the family.

(3) I consider my dog Carlo to be one of my closest friends. (4) He's been a part of my family since I was five- years-old, and it really seems like we do just about everything together. (5) We love to spend the weekend hiking in thewoods. (6) During the summer, we spend almost every day swimming together at the lake. (7) He is just anenjoyable companion to have around. (8) With a special dog like Carlo, it is easy to understand why many people

treat their pets like family.

  1. Write the sentence that is irrelevant (meaning: no connection to, not fitting in) to the paragraph's

theme or flow.

______

Read the following paragraph.

Anna dashed into the house headed for the basement. (1) She had spotted the funnel cloud on her way home from school. (2) As the sky turned darker, she remembered all of the safety drills she had practiced with her family. (3) She wondered if her friend, Charles, had made it home from school; he was afraid of the dark. (4) She was not frantic because her parents had trained her on the proper procedures in case of a tornado.

  1. Write the sentence # in the passage that is irrelevant. ______

Use Credible Sources

  1. To figure out if a source you are using for research is credible, which question is most important?
  1. Is the source a book, a periodical, or a website?
  2. How long is the book or article?
  3. Is the author respected in his or her field?
  4. How much information will the source provide?
  1. To find out if animals are really able to communicate with humans, the best source of information would be ______.
  2. an article written by an expert in animal behavior
  3. an interview with someone who claims to understand animal speech
  4. a front-page article in a tabloid newspaper
  5. a film that depicts animals and humans talking with each other
  6. Which person would be the most reliable source for information when you are writing the essay "Dinosaurs, How They Lived"?

A.a person who has a web site