Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is 'as a result.' This transition word is most suitable in this context as it indicates a logical consequence. The old clock not working for years led to Ally deciding to take it off the wall. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect. 'Conversely' suggests a contrast, 'then again' implies reconsideration or a contrasting point, and 'similarly' indicates a comparison, none of which align with the cause-and-effect relationship presented in the sentence.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: An indirect quotation does not require quotation marks as it paraphrases what was said without directly quoting it. Sentence B, 'John F. Kennedy announced plans to go to the moon,' is an example of an indirect quotation as it conveys the information without using the exact words spoken by Kennedy. Choices A, C, and D directly quote the individuals and thus require quotation marks, making them incorrect answers.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The subject 'Neither' is singular, so the correct verb form to use is 'is.' In this sentence, 'boys' is part of a prepositional phrase 'of the boys' and does not affect the verb agreement. 'Are' (choice B) is plural and does not match the singular subject. 'Were' (choice C) is past tense and not suitable for the present context. 'Be' (choice D) is an infinitive form and does not agree with the subject.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct contraction to use in this sentence is 'who's,' which is short for 'who is.' In the given context, 'who's' indicates the correct possessive form, clarifying that the clients are confused about who is in charge. Choice B, 'Whos,' is incorrect as it does not use an apostrophe to indicate the omitted letter. Choice C, 'Who'll,' is incorrect as it is a contraction for 'who will,' which does not fit the context of the sentence. Choice D, 'Who,' is incorrect as it is not a contraction and does not clarify the intended meaning of the sentence.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B because it maintains subject-verb agreement. In this sentence, 'she is' agrees with 'the lead scientist,' and 'does' agrees with 'she.' Choices A, C, and D have subject-verb agreement errors. In choice A, 'write' should be 'writes' to match the singular subject 'The lead scientist,' and 'does' should be 'do' to match the plural 'scientists in the group.' Choice C also has the same subject-verb agreement error as A. In choice D, 'do the research' should be 'does the research' to match the singular 'every scientist in the group.'