Identify the antonym of the word 'pensive':

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A, 'joyous.' 'Pensive' means engaged in deep or serious thought, often with a hint of sadness. The antonym 'joyous' represents a state of great happiness and delight, contrasting with the contemplative and somewhat melancholic nature of being pensive. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect. 'Thoughtful' is not an antonym but rather a synonym, meaning showing consideration or careful thought. 'Curious' and 'introspective' are also not antonyms; 'curious' means eager to know or learn something, and 'introspective' means examining one's own thoughts and feelings.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Option A correctly uses the comparative degree by comparing the quality of two movies with the word 'better.' This sentence demonstrates a comparison between two items in terms of quality, making it the correct use of the comparative degree of an adjective. Choice B uses the superlative degree ('tallest') instead of the comparative degree. Choice C uses the comparative degree correctly but with an adverb ('harder') instead of an adjective. Choice D uses the comparative degree correctly, but it compares the temperature of two coffees rather than the quality of the coffee.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The given sentence combines multiple independent clauses without appropriate punctuation or conjunctions, creating a run-on sentence. A run-on sentence occurs when two or more independent clauses are joined without the necessary punctuation or coordination. In this case, the sentence lacks the proper conjunction or punctuation between 'store' and 'bought,' resulting in a run-on sentence. Choice B, 'Comma splice,' is incorrect because a comma splice involves joining two independent clauses with just a comma, which is not the case in the given sentence. Choice C, 'Dangling modifier,' is incorrect as there are no misplaced modifiers in the sentence. Choice D, 'Subject-verb agreement,' is also incorrect as the error in the sentence does not involve subject-verb agreement but rather the incorrect combination of independent clauses.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is 'and.' 'And' is the most appropriate conjunction here as it simply adds information about her love for animals without implying cause or effect. It connects two independent clauses in a neutral way, indicating that she loves animals and also volunteers at the shelter. The other choices, 'because,' 'therefore,' and 'so,' suggest a cause-and-effect relationship between loving animals and volunteering at the shelter, which is not the intended meaning in this context.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The word 'unscathed' means without harm or damage. The word 'scratch' shares the same root related to physical marks or damage, making it the correct choice. 'Category' and 'scar' do not have the same root as 'unscathed' and are not related to the concept of being unharmed, making them incorrect choices.