What literary device is used in the line 'The sea whispered secrets to the shore'?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Personification. Personification is the attribution of human characteristics to non-human things. In this sentence, the sea is given the human ability to whisper, which is a human trait, thus personifying the sea. The other options are incorrect for this specific sentence: Alliteration refers to the repetition of initial consonant sounds, Onomatopoeia is the use of words that imitate sounds, and Hyperbole is an exaggerated statement or claim not meant to be taken literally.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The word 'thunderous' is the most suitable choice in this context. It accurately conveys the idea of loud, intense, and enthusiastic applause, which aligns with the significance of the breakthrough mentioned in the sentence. 'Scattered,' 'polite,' and 'hesitant' do not adequately capture the level of excitement and appreciation conveyed by the word 'thunderous' in the context of a significant scientific breakthrough.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Option A uses the correlative conjunction 'either/or' correctly by presenting two exclusive options. The structure 'either...or' is used to show a choice between two alternatives, and in this sentence, it clearly presents the options of coming to the party or staying home. Choice B incorrectly separates the options with a comma after 'either,' disrupting the correlative conjunction pair. Choice C uses 'whether' instead of 'either/or,' which changes the meaning and structure. Choice D uses 'either' incorrectly, as it should be followed by 'or' to form the correlative pair.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Choice A uses the subjunctive mood correctly as it expresses a wish or hypothetical situation. The phrase 'I wish I could have gone to the beach' implies a desire to have done something in the past that did not happen, which aligns with the usage of the subjunctive mood. Choice B uses the past subjunctive 'were' correctly in the conditional statement 'If I were you,' which is a common usage as well. Choice C, 'He insisted that she stay home,' is also correct as it follows the rule that the base form of the verb is used after verbs like insist, demand, request, etc., in the subjunctive mood. Choice D, 'Although it was raining, we decided to go for a walk,' does not use the subjunctive mood. It is a complex sentence with a subordinate clause but lacks the specific mood required to fit the context.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The clause 'as the sun dipped below the horizon' functions as a subordinate clause because it provides additional information about the main clause 'We sat on the beach,' indicating a dependent relationship between the two clauses. An independent clause can stand alone as a complete sentence, which is not the case here. Appositive clauses rename or explain nouns, while noun clauses act as nouns within a sentence. In this context, 'as the sun dipped below the horizon' acts as a dependent clause, making it a subordinate clause.