Identify the verb in the following sentence: The dog chased the fluffy squirrel around the oak tree.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: A verb is a word that expresses an action or state of being. In this sentence, 'chased' is the verb as it describes the action the dog is performing - chasing the fluffy squirrel. 'Around' is a preposition indicating location, 'squirrel' is a noun referring to the animal being chased, and 'the' is an article used to specify the squirrel. Therefore, the correct answer is 'chased.'

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is 'C: her.' Pronouns replace nouns. In this sentence, 'her' is a pronoun that replaces a specific female person's name, indicating ownership of the homework. Pronouns like 'her,' 'he,' 'it,' and 'they' are commonly used to avoid repetition of nouns and make sentences less repetitive and more concise. Choices A, B, and D are not pronouns. 'Quickly' and 'before' are adverbs, while 'finished' is a verb. Therefore, they do not replace nouns and cannot function as pronouns in this context.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is 'C: but.' Conjunctions are words that connect words, phrases, or clauses. In the sentence 'He went to the store, but they were already closed,' 'but' is a conjunction that joins two contrasting ideas - him going to the store and finding it closed. Choice 'A: went' is a verb, not a conjunction. Choice 'B: to' is a preposition, not a conjunction. Choice 'D: they' is a pronoun, not a conjunction.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The determiner in the sentence is 'few.' Determiners specify the quantity or identity of a noun. In this case, 'few' indicates the number of birds present. Choice A, 'happily,' is an adverb modifying a verb or an adjective, not a determiner. Choice B, 'branches,' is a noun referring to parts of a tree, not a determiner. Choice D, 'tree,' is a noun identifying the main subject of the sentence, not a determiner.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The past tense of the verb 'discover' is 'discovered.' In this case, the scientist already found a new species of butterfly, indicating a past action. 'Discovered' is the correct past tense form of 'discover.' The other options do not represent the past tense form of the verb. 'Discovers' is present tense, 'discovering' is present participle, and 'discovery' is a noun, not a verb tense.