Select the correct verb to complete the following sentence: Our family _____________ staying home for the holidays this year.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is 'A: is.' In the sentence, 'Our family is staying home for the holidays this year,' the singular collective noun 'family' requires a singular verb to maintain subject-verb agreement. 'Is' is the correct singular form of the verb to match with 'family.' Choice B 'be' is incorrect as it is the base form of the verb and does not agree with the subject 'family.' Choice C 'am' is incorrect as it is a first-person singular form of the verb 'to be,' which does not align with the subject 'family.' Choice D 'are' is incorrect as it is a plural form of the verb and does not match with the singular subject 'family.'

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: A strong thesis statement is a crucial element in academic writing as it clearly states the argument that will be supported throughout the paper. This statement serves as a roadmap for the reader to understand the main point of the paper. Choice A is incorrect because a strong thesis is not necessarily endorsed by a professor but is based on the writer's perspective. Choice C is incorrect as a thesis should reflect the writer's position, not necessarily the opinions of most people. Choice D is incorrect because a strong thesis should invite critical thinking and argumentation, rather than being immune to reasonable counterarguments.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is 'Chiefs.' When making the word 'chief' plural, the correct form is 'Chiefs.' Choices B, C, and D are incorrect as they do not follow the standard rules for forming plurals in English. 'Chieves,' 'Chievs,' and 'Chiefes' are not valid plural forms of 'chief.' It's important to understand the basic rules of pluralization in English to form correct plural nouns.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is a colon (C). In this sentence, the colon is used to introduce a list of items that the speaker wants you to bring. The colon is the most suitable punctuation mark in this context. Choice A (;) is incorrect because a semicolon is used to connect independent clauses or items in a list when those items contain commas. Choice B (.) is incorrect because a period ends a sentence and does not fit here as the sentence continues. Choice D (,) is incorrect because a comma is used to separate items in a list, but the sentence needs a punctuation mark that introduces the list.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is to 'Revise the content.' This step occurs last in the writing process as it involves reviewing the entire work to ensure clarity, coherence, and error-free writing. Choice B, 'Plan and conduct research,' typically takes place at the beginning of the writing process to gather information. Choice C, 'Select the topic and write the thesis statement,' is an early step to define the focus of the writing. Choice D, 'Organize the material into a logical format,' usually occurs after researching and outlining the content but before the final revision stage.