Which of the following sentences best represents style and clarity of expression?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Choice C, 'Without adequate preparation, Zara expected to fail the test,' is the best option as it maintains clarity and conciseness. The subject 'Zara' is directly linked to the action 'expected to fail the test' with the cause 'Without adequate preparation' clearly stated at the beginning. This structure enhances the flow of the sentence and makes it easier to understand. Choices A, B, and D are less clear as they place the cause and effect in less optimal positions, resulting in a less effective and concise expression of the idea.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct plural form of 'syllabus' is 'syllabi.' In English, when a word ends in -us, the plural form is often changed to -i. Therefore, 'Syllabi' is the correct plural form. Choice A, 'Syllabus,' is the singular form, not the plural. Choice B, 'Syllaba,' does not follow the standard pluralization rule for words ending in -us. Choice D, 'Syllabis,' is an incorrect plural form that does not follow the standard English pluralization rules.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Relative pronouns are acceptable in a research paper for connecting clauses. Colloquialisms (choice A) are informal expressions that are not suitable for academic writing. Contractions (choice B) are considered too casual for a research paper. The second-person point of view (choice D) should be avoided in research papers as it can make the writing less objective and scholarly.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct use of quotation marks is in option C. In this option, the entire quoted sentence is enclosed within double quotation marks. This is the standard convention for punctuating direct speech in English. Option A has an incorrect placement of single and double quotation marks. Option B lacks opening double quotation marks for the spoken sentence. Option D incorrectly places the closing quotation mark outside the question mark, which is not the standard punctuation rule for quoted sentences.