I truly believe that one cup of coffee a day is neither too much nor too little caffeine for me, but exactly the right amount. Which of the following words is misspelled in the sentence above?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A) caffeine. The word "caffeine" is misspelled in the sentence provided, as it is spelled as "caffiene." This misspelling is a common error due to the placement of the "e" and "i" in the word. Option B) truly, Option C) neither, and Option D) exactly are all spelled correctly in the sentence. The focus of this question is on identifying the misspelled word, which is "caffeine." Educationally, this question tests not only spelling but also attention to detail and precision in reading. By identifying misspelled words, students can enhance their proofreading skills, which are crucial in academic and professional settings. Understanding common spelling errors like the one in this question can help students improve their overall written communication and avoid mistakes that may impact their credibility.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Choice D is the correct answer as it uses quotation marks to properly set off the spoken words. In this sentence, the spoken words by Philip are enclosed within double quotation marks and correctly punctuated with a comma before the attribution 'said Philip.' Choices A, B, and C contain errors such as missing commas, incorrect placement of quotation marks, or incorrect punctuation within the quoted speech. For example, in Choice A, there should be a comma after 'appetite' within the quotation. In Choice B, the comma should be placed inside the quotation marks. Choice C incorrectly places the attribution 'said Philip' within the quotation of spoken words, which is not the standard practice.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C) The comma after the word 'home' should be removed. In the sentence, "After a long, exhausting hike, Stephanie went home and fell asleep on the couch, which she had done many times before," the phrase "which she had done many times before" is a non-essential clause providing additional information about falling asleep on the couch. When we have a non-essential clause in the middle of a sentence, it should be set off by commas. However, if we remove the non-essential clause, the sentence reads, "After a long, exhausting hike, Stephanie went home and fell asleep on the couch." In this case, the comma after 'home' is unnecessary because it separates the verb 'went' from its object 'home,' causing a disruption in the sentence flow. The other commas in the sentence serve specific purposes: - The comma after 'long' is correct as it sets off an introductory word or phrase. - The comma after 'hike' correctly sets off an introductory participial phrase. - The comma after 'couch' is necessary to separate the main clause from the non-essential relative clause that follows. Understanding when to use commas is essential in writing to ensure clarity and coherence. This question highlights the importance of punctuation rules in constructing well-structured sentences. Students need to grasp these rules to effectively convey their ideas and improve the readability of their writing.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The complete subject in a sentence refers to the noun or pronoun that the sentence is about. In this case, the complete subject is 'The cherry tomatoes in our backyard.' It includes all the words that describe the subject and provide more specific information about it. 'Tomatoes' (Choice A) is just a part of the complete subject and not the entire subject. 'Ready to be picked' (Choice B) is a verb phrase, not the subject of the sentence. 'Finally ready' (Choice D) is an adjective phrase, not the subject of the sentence. Therefore, the correct choice is 'The cherry tomatoes in our backyard.'

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D, 'chocolate cookies and vanilla cupcakes.' In this sentence, the friendly baker is the subject, 'offered' is the verb, and 'chocolate cookies and vanilla cupcakes' receive the action of the verb, making them the direct object. Choices A, B, and C do not directly receive the action of the verb 'offered,' so they are not the direct object. Choice A is the verb phrase, choice B is a prepositional phrase, and choice C is the subject of the sentence.