The following words all end in the same suffix, -ism: polytheism, communism, nationalism. Considering the meaning of these three words, which of the following best correlates to the meaning of the suffix?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: 'A doctrine.' The suffix -ism is commonly used to denote a system, doctrine, or belief. Words like polytheism, communism, and nationalism all represent specific doctrines or systems of belief. Therefore, the suffix -ism in these contexts indicates a particular set of ideas or principles. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because -ism does not typically refer to a condition, characteristic, or state of being, but rather to a specific ideology, doctrine, or belief system.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Option D is the correct answer as it uses a semicolon to correctly separate two independent clauses. In this sentence, 'Beatrice is very intelligent' and 'she just does not apply herself well enough in her classes to make good grades' are two independent clauses that are related but can stand alone as separate sentences. The semicolon is the appropriate punctuation mark to link these two closely related ideas. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because they either use a comma splice (A), a colon (B), or lack appropriate punctuation (C) to separate the independent clauses.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D. Organizing writing into paragraphs is a component of drafting, which occurs after prewriting. Prewriting involves generating ideas, organizing thoughts, and outlining content before beginning the actual writing process. Choices A, B, and C are all prewriting strategies. Brainstorming helps in generating ideas, visual mapping assists in organizing thoughts spatially, and asking questions helps in exploring different angles of the topic before structuring the content. Therefore, organizing writing into paragraphs is the only option that does not directly relate to prewriting.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The error in the sentence lies in the misspelling of 'worryed,' which should be corrected to 'worried.' This choice addresses the grammatical mistake in the sentence. Choice A ('families') is incorrect as the sentence refers to a singular 'family.' Choice C ('airport' should be 'airport') is grammatically incorrect. Choice D ('their' should be 'there') is also incorrect; 'there' is used to indicate a place, while 'their' shows possession, neither of which is the error in the original sentence.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: In this sentence, 'affect' is the correct verb meaning 'to influence,' and 'your' is the correct possessive pronoun. Therefore, the sentence should read, 'We cannot allow the budget cuts to affect the plans to improve education; the futures of your children are at stake.' Choice A is incorrect because 'effect' is a noun, not a verb, and 'your' is the correct possessive pronoun. Choice B is incorrect because 'you're' is a contraction for 'you are,' which does not make sense in this context. Choice D is incorrect because 'effect' should be 'affect' as the verb is needed to show influence.