ATI TEAS ENGLISH EXAM TEST 2023
PRIORITY EXAM GRADED A +
Which of the following nouns represents the correct plural form of the word syllabus?
A. Syllabus
B. Syllaba
C. Syllabi
D. Syllabis
Answer: C.
The syllabi is the correct plural form of
• The other answer choices reflect incorrect plural forms. Specifically, syllabus does not change
the form at all, and the Latin root of syllabus would require some change.
• At the same time, syllaba while accurate plural for some words with Latin is incorrect in this
case. And syllabis is a double form of the plural, so it cannot be correct.
Which of the following words functions as an adjective in the sentence below? The welsh
kingdom of Gwynedd existed as an independent state from the early 5th century, when the
Romans left Britain, until the late 13th century, when the king of England took control of
Wales.
A. independent
B. century
C. king
D. control
Answer: A.
The word independent is an adjective that modifies the word state, describing what kind of state
the kingdom of Gwynedd was. The words century, king, and control are all nouns in this
context.
Bi, re, and un are:
A. Suffixes, appearing at the beginning of base words to change their meaning
B. Suffixes, appearing at the end of base words to enhance their meaning
C. Prefixes, appearing at the beginning of base words to emphasize their meaning
D. prefixes, appearing at the beginning of base words to change their meaning
Answer: D.
Prefixes, appearing at the beginning of base words to change their meanings.
• Suffixes appear at the end of words.
• Prefixes are attached to the beginning of words to change their meanings.
• Un+happy, bi+monthly, and re+examine are prefixes that, by definition, change the meanings
of the words to which they are attached.
Which of the following sentences shows the correct use of quotation marks?
A. Grady asked Abe, 'Did you known that an earthquake and a tsunami hit Messina, Italy, in
1908?'
B. Grady asked Abe, "Did you known that an earthquake and a tsunami hit Messina, Italy, in
1908"?
C. Grady asked Abe, "Did you known that an earthquake and a tsunami hit Messina, Italy, in
1908?"
D. Grady asked Abe, " 'Did you known that an earthquake and a tsunami hit Messina, Italy, in
1908'?"
Answer: C.
Answer choice C. is correct, because the quotation is a standard quotation (requiring double
quotes) as well as a question.
• Additionally, the question mark belongs inside the quotation marks.
• Answer choice A. correctly places the question mark inside the quotation marks, but the sue
of single quotes is incorrect for standard quotations.
• Answer choice B is incorrect, because it places the question mark outside the quotation marks.
• Answer choice D uses the layered quotes, which are unnecessary in this case, since the
sentence presents only one quotation instead of more than one.
Since, whether, and accordingly are examples of which type pf single words?
A. common, or basic, single words
B. compare/contrast words
C. cause-effect words
D. temporal sequencing words
Answer: C.
Cause-effect words. Signal words give the reader hints about the purpose of a particular
passage. Some signal words are concerned with comparing/contrasting, some with cause and
effect, some with temporal sequencing, some with physical location, and some with a problem
and its solution. The words since, whether, and accordingly are words used when describing an
outcome. Outcomes have causes.
Which of the answer choices identifies the misspelled word in the sentence below?
Donald considered the job offer carefully, but he ultimately decided that the low salary was not
acceptible given his previous experience.
A. carefully
B. decided
C. salary
D. acceptible
Answer: D. Acceptable is the correct spelling of the word
.
Which of the answer choices best combines the following four sentences into two sentences?
I'm usually good about keeping track of my keys. I lost them. I spent hours looking for them. I
found them in the freezer.
A. I lost my keys, even though I'm usually good about keeping track of them. I found them the
freezer and spend hours looking for them.
B. I spend hours looking for my keys and found them in the freezer. I had lost them, even
though I'm usually good about keeping track of them.
C. I'm usually good about keeping track of my keys, but I lost them. After spending hours
looking for them, I found them in the freezer.
D. I'm usually good about keeping track of my keys, but I lost them in the freezer. I had to
spend hours looking for them.
Answer: C.
Answer choice C offers the most effective combination of the sentences with the use of the
conjunction but and the dependent clause starting with after. All other answer choices result in
choppy or unclear combination of the four sentences.
Which of the answer choices gives the best definition of the underline word in the following
sentence? The warning against smoking may have been tacit, but Beryl instinctively knew that
her mother wanted her to avoid picking up the habit.
A. complicated
B. empty
C. wordy
D. unstated
Answer: D.
If Beryl knew something instinctively, it is safe to say that her mother's warning was not stated
outright. Therefore, answer choice D is the best options.
• Answer choice A makes little sense.
• Answer choice B makes sense only if Beryl suspects her mother does not care whether or not
she smokes.
• Answer choice C has a meaning that tis the opposite of the one implied in the sentence.
Which of the answer choices shows the correct punctuation of the city and the state in the
following sentence? After living in Oak Ridge Missouri all her life, Cornelia was excited about
her trip to Prague.
A. After living in Oak ridge, Missouri, all her life, Cornelia was excited about her trip to
Prague.
B. After living in Oak Ridge, Missouri all her life, Cornelia was excited about her trip to
Prague.
C. After living in Oak, Ridge, Missouri all her life, Cornelia was excited about her trip to
Prague.
D. After living in Oak Ridge Missouri all her life, Cornelia was excited about her trip to
Prague.
Answer: A.
Correct punctuation requires a comma after both city and state when both fall within the
sentence, even when the city and state fall within an opening dependent clause that has a
comma after it.
• All answer choices that do not have a comma after the state as well as the city are incorrect.
• Answer choice C is incorrect because it adds a comma after the Oak for no clear reason as the
name of the city in full is clearly Oak Ridge.
What transition should be added to the beginning of sentence 2 below?
A. I zoned out in class, turned work in late, talked out in class, and handed in assignments after
the due date. (2) Mr. Shanbourne just nodded.
B. Surprisingly
C. Actually
D. Furthermore
E. Instead
Answer: A.
The transition "surprisingly" indicates that the reaction was unexpected, or even contradictory
to the circumstance for the speaker not turning his work in on time and talking-out in class.
• The other answer choices do not make as much sense to coordinate these two sentences.
The following words all end in the same suffix, -ism: polytheism, communism, nationalism.
Considering the meaning of the three words, how does the suffix - ism apply to all of them?
A. Doctrine
B. Condition
C Characteristic
D. State of being
Answer: A.
The suffix -ism here suggests a doctrine that is followed, whether that be the doctrine of
polytheism (a religious doctrine), communism (a social doctrine), or nationalism (a political
doctrine).
What is the most effective way to rewrite the following sentence? She is saying that outfits the
students are wearing to school is being distracting and inappropriate?
A. Some of the outfits students wear to school, she is saying, are distracting and not
appropriate.
B. The outfits are distracting and inappropriate, she says, that students wear to school.
C. She says that some of the outfits that students wear to school are distracting and
inappropriate.
D. She says that it is distracting and inappropriate that students wear outfits to school.
Answer: C.
This version begins with a subject and verb and is followed by a clause.
• Choice A is incorrect because the words are out of order and don't logically follow the
previous sentence. The sentence should begin with "She says' because it is the school
principal's opinion being expressed. This choice is also incorrect because it uses the words not
appropriate instead of inappropriate.
• Choice B is incorrect because the clause "that students wear to schools" should come after the
word outfits.
• Choice D is incorrect because the word order changes the meaning of the sentence by stating
that any outfits are distracting and inappropriate.
Which both following is an example of a correctly punctuated sentence?
A. Beatrice is very intelligent, she just does not apply herself well enough in her class to make
good grades.
B. Beatrice is very intelligent: she just does not apply herself well enough in her classes to
make good grades.
C. Beatrice is very intelligent she just does not apply herself well enough in her classes to make
good grades.
D. Beatrice is very intelligent; she just does not apply herself well enough in her classes to
make good grades.
Answer: D.
The semicolon correctly joins the two sentences.
• Answer choice A is incorrect, because it uses a comma splice to join two independent clauses.
(To join two independent clauses, a comma needs to be accompanied by a coordinating
conjunction.)
• The colon in answer choice B is incorrect because the information in the second clause does
not clearly define or explain the previous clause
• Answer choice C is incorrect because it offers no punctuation to separate the two independent
clauses and thus creates more confusion than clarity.
What is the most effective way to combine the two sentences below? Some members of the
Sons of Liberty constructed a paper obelisk. An obelisk is the same shape as the Washington
Monument.
A. Some members of the Sons of Liberty constructed a paper obelisk, which is the same shape
as the Washington Monument.
B. Some members of the Sons of Liberty constructed a paper obelisk which is the same shape
as the Washington Monument.
C. Some members of the Sons of Liberty constructed a paper obelisk, that is the same shape as
the Washington Monument.
D. Some members the Sons of Liberty constructed a paper obelisk; which is the same shape as
the Washington monument.
Answer: A.
A comma should be used to separate the independent clause beginning with some members
from the non- essential phrase beginning with which is.
• Choices B is incorrect because it is missing the comma.
• Choice C is incorrect because it incorrectly uses that instead of which.
• Choice D is incorrect because it uses a semicolon instead of a comma.
Which of the following is a compound sentence?
A. Tabitha and Simon started the day at the zoo and then went to the art museum for the rest of
the afternoon.
B. Tabitha and Simon started the day at the zoo, and then they went to the art museum for the
rest of the afternoon.
C. After starting the day at the zoo, Tabitha and Simon then went to the art museum for the rest
of the afternoon.
D. Tabitha and Simon had a busy day, because they started at the zoo, and then they went to the
art museum for the rest of the afternoon.
Answer: B.
Answer choice B contains two independent clauses that are joined with a comma and the
coordinating conjunction and.
• Answer choice A, though it contains a compound subject and a compound verb, is still a
simple sentence.
• Answer choice C opens with a dependent clause, so it is a complex sentence.
• Answer choice D is a compound-complex sentence because it includes a depends clause as
well as two independent clauses.
Which of the following follows the rules of capitalization?
A. Dashiell visited his Cousin Elaine on Tuesday.
B. Juniper sent a card to Uncle Archibald who has been unwell.
C. Flicka and her Mother spent the day setting up the rummage sale.
D. Lowell and his twin Sister look alike but have very different personalities.
Answer: B.
Answer choice B incorrectly capitalizes Uncle Archibald, where Uncle Archibald is used as one
whole to a specific name, which makes it a proper noun. If the sentence said "her uncle
Archibald," then uncle would remain lower case.
• In answer choice A, the word cousin needs no capitalization, because it is used to describe
Elaine but is not used as part of her name. (The only distinctions are when the word is used
within a direct address or opens a sentence.)
• Similarly, mother and sister do not need to be capitalized unless they are the first word of the
sentence or are used to directly address someone.
What is the most likely meaning of the underlined phrase in the sentence below? The Western
perceptive expects moral actions to be quid pro quo to put it another way, a Westerner assumes
that if he or she does something considered "good," then he or she should and will be rewarded.
A. "something for nothing."
B. "good merit money."
C. "to each his own."
D. "this for that."
Answer: D.
Within the context of the sentence, it seems as if "quid pro quo" means something like "if I do
something, then I will be rewarded with something good."
• Choice A is not a good choice because it says "if I don't do anything, I will get something
good."
• Choice B is inappropriate because money is not mentioned.
• While choice C might seem like a good choice, the phrase is not put in another way to talk
about what people deserve as much as it talks about what people should do or how they should
behave.
• Choice D is the best choice because "something for something" implies the sort of exchange
descried in the passage.
Which of the following sets of words correctly fill in the blanks in the sentenced below? We
cannot allow the budget cuts to _______ the plans to improve education; the futures of
_______ children are not stake.
A. effect; your
B. affect; you're
C. effect; you're
D. affect;
Answer: D.
The word affect is a verb in this context and is the correct usage within the sentence. The
possessive pronouns your also correctly modifies children, so answer choice D is correct.
• All other answer choices incorrectly apply the words In the sentence.
Which of the answer choices gives the best definition of the underlined word in the following
sentence? The experience of being the survivor of a plane crash left on indelible impression on
Johanna, and she suffered from nightmares for years afterwards.
A. candid
B. permanent
C. inexpressible
D. indirect
Answer: B.
The context of the sentence suggest that the trauma of surviving the plane crash left long-term
memories that haunted Johanna for many years. As a result, permanent is the best meaning of
indelible.
• The other meanings make little sense in the context of the sentence.
• The only possible option is indirect, but there is nothing about the sentence to suggest that the
nightmares are indirect impressions of a traumatic experience.
Which of the following sentences contains an incorrect use of capitalization?
A. For Christmas, we are deriving to the South to visit my grandmother in Mississippi.
B. Last year, we went to East Texas to go camping in Piney Woods.
C. Next month, we will visit my Aunt Darla who lives just East of us.
D. When my sister-in-law Susan has her baby, I will take the train north to see her.
Answer: C.
The word east in answer homie C is simply a directional indication and does not need to be
capitalized in the context of the sentence. All other uses of capitalization are correct in the
context of the sentences.
• The word South should be capitalized when it refers to a region of the United States (as
indicated by the mention of Mississippi).
• The word East should be capitalized when it refers to the region of Texas.
• And the word north does not need to be capitalized when it is simply a directional indication
(as in answer choice D).
