Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A. The sentence correctly uses commas to set off the non-essential clause 'which had been parked on a steep hill.' The use of commas before and after the clause helps to distinguish it as additional information that could be omitted without changing the essential meaning of the sentence. Choices B, C, and D lack appropriate punctuation to set off the non-essential clause, making them incorrect. In these options, the absence of commas or the placement of commas incorrectly within the sentence affects the clarity and structure of the sentence, violating punctuation rules for non-essential clauses.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C because there is a tense disagreement in the sentence. The use of 'was' (past tense) and 'she's' (contraction of 'she is' present tense) creates an inconsistency in the verb tense. The sentence should maintain consistency either in past tense ('She was a gifted pianist, although she struggled with the piece for her upcoming concert') or present tense ('She is a gifted pianist, although she's struggling with the piece for her upcoming concert'). Choices A, B, and D are incorrect as the issue in the sentence is related to verb tense disagreement, not transition words, diction, or sentence completeness.

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: A

Rationale: The correct answer is 'Slang.' Slang refers to informal words or phrases that are specific to a particular group of people, such as young people or a specific culture. In this scenario, the teacher is hearing non-standard words and expressions used by students, which aligns with the definition of slang. Jargon typically refers to specialized terminology used within a specific profession or group. Dialect refers to a particular form of a language that is specific to a region or social group. Vernacular refers to the everyday language spoken by people in a particular region or country.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct word pair to use in this context is 'him, I.' This is because 'him' and 'I' are the correct pronouns to refer to two individuals in the third person (him) and first person (I). The sentence should indicate that when it gets warm in the spring, 'him' and 'I' like to go fishing at Cobbs Creek. Choice A, 'me, him,' is incorrect as 'me' should be replaced with 'I' to maintain proper subject-object agreement. Choice B, 'he, I,' is incorrect as 'he' should be replaced with 'him' to properly refer to the other person involved. Choice D, 'he, me,' is incorrect as 'me' should be replaced with 'I' to maintain the correct pronoun usage.