The sheer number of people in the audience overwhelmed the actress as she peeked through the curtain before scene one. Which of the following correctly describes an error in the sentence above?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B. In this context, 'peaked' should be 'peeked,' meaning to take a quick look. The other choices are incorrect: A is wrong because 'sheer' is the correct term referring to the absolute or complete number of people; C is incorrect as 'through' is the right term indicating looking by going across something; D is inaccurate as 'scene' is the correct term for a part of a play or film.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The comma after 'delicious' is unnecessary as it separates the adjective 'delicious' from the noun 'stew'. In this case, 'delicious' is describing the type of stew, so the comma should be removed to maintain correct sentence structure. The other commas in the sentence are correctly used to separate items in a list and after introductory phrases, making them necessary for clarity and grammatical correctness.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is sentence C because it is a simple sentence containing only one independent clause. It expresses a complete thought with a subject 'The man in the blue pin-striped suit and checked tie' and a predicate 'looked somewhat out of place at the party.' Choices A, B, and D are not simple sentences. Choice A is a dependent clause as it does not express a complete thought on its own. Choice B is a prepositional phrase and does not form a complete sentence. Choice D is a complex sentence with a dependent clause ('because of his checked tie') along with the independent clause.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Sentence D is a compound-complex sentence because it contains two independent clauses ('Even though the puppy was much smaller than his mother' and 'his eyes were dark brown and shiny just like hers') and one dependent clause ('and his ears were long and floppy, too'). Choices A, B, and C do not meet the criteria for a compound-complex sentence as they lack a combination of independent and dependent clauses.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is 'D' - 'although.' This transition word is suitable in the context as it indicates a contrast between the excitement of looking forward to the picnic and the worry about rain. 'After all' (choice A) implies a conclusion or reasoning, which doesn't fit the contrast in the sentence. 'Likewise' (choice B) suggests similarity or agreement, which is opposite to the intended contrast. 'In other words' (choice C) signals clarification or providing more details, which is not needed here. Therefore, 'although' is the best choice to convey the contrast between anticipation and concern.