Which sentence uses the phrase 'by the way' correctly?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Option C correctly uses the phrase 'by the way' to introduce additional information that is not directly related to the previous sentence, making it a natural and appropriate use of the phrase in casual conversation. Choices A, B, and D do not use 'by the way' in the same context as option C. Choice A incorrectly uses 'by the way' to convey winning the lottery, which is not a casual or incidental piece of information. Choice B incorrectly uses 'by the way' after a semicolon in a way that disrupts the flow of the sentence. Choice D correctly uses 'by the way' but the information provided about the movie starting time is not a casual or incidental addition, unlike in option C.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Option (C) incorrectly combines two independent clauses with only a comma, resulting in a comma splice. A comma should not be used to connect independent clauses; instead, a semicolon, conjunction, or period is needed to properly separate the ideas in the sentence. Choices (A), (B), and (D) do not contain comma splices and present their ideas in a grammatically correct manner.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Option C uses a semicolon to correctly separate the two independent clauses 'The movie was entertaining' and 'it was also thought-provoking.' This usage of a semicolon avoids a comma splice, which occurs when two independent clauses are incorrectly joined by a comma without a coordinating conjunction or appropriate punctuation. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because they all contain comma splices. In choice A, the comma splice is present between 'The wind howled' and 'the branches swayed.' In choice B, the comma splice occurs between 'He packed his bags' and 'checked the weather forecast.' Choice D has a comma splice between 'Tired and hungry' and 'she stopped for a quick bite at the cafe.'

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is 'B' because in the present tense, the third-person singular form of the verb 'paint' is 'paints.' When conjugating verbs, it is essential to match the verb form with the subject. 'Paints' is the correct form for the third-person singular subject 'artist' in this sentence. Choices 'A,' 'C,' and 'D' are incorrect. 'A' is in the past tense, 'C' is a gerund form, and 'D' is a noun, not a verb form, which does not match the tense and subject in the sentence.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is 'B: 'that won the award.' A relative clause provides additional information about a noun in the sentence. In this case, 'that won the award' is the relative clause specifying which book out of all books is being referred to. It is essential to recognize and understand relative clauses for better comprehension of sentence structures. Choice A ('The book') is the main noun phrase and not a relative clause. Choice C ('was a bestseller') is the main clause of the sentence, not a relative clause. Choice D ('award') is a noun but not a relative clause as it does not provide additional information about a noun in the sentence.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The phrase 'the lion's roar thundered across the savanna' is an example of personification. Personification gives human-like qualities to non-human entities. In this case, the lion's roar is described as 'thundered,' attributing the human characteristic of thundering to the sound the lion makes. This choice is correct because it personifies the lion's roar, making it seem powerful and imposing. The other choices are incorrect because a simile would use 'like' or 'as' to compare two unlike things, a metaphor would directly equate the lion's roar to thunder without using 'like' or 'as,' and hyperbole would involve exaggeration beyond belief, which is not present in the given phrase.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D, 'Tears made her eyes glisten in the moonlight.' This revision is clear and concise, emphasizing the cause (tears) and the effect (glistening eyes) in the moonlight, while maintaining the original meaning. Choices A, B, and C either change the original meaning, alter the cause-effect relationship, or introduce awkward phrasing, making them incorrect.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct preposition to use in this sentence is 'from' as it indicates the source of the borrowed money. 'Of' (Choice A) is incorrect as it does not convey the idea of obtaining something from a specific person. 'On' (Choice C) is also incorrect as it does not relate to borrowing money from someone. 'For' (Choice D) is incorrect as it implies a different purpose than borrowing money from her friend. Therefore, the most appropriate preposition in this context is 'from', making the sentence grammatically correct and conveying the intended meaning.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is 'B: Us.' In the sentence, 'Jessica invited Sarah and me to the party,' 'Sarah and me' serve as the object of the verb 'invited.' Therefore, the pronoun 'us' is the correct choice to replace 'Sarah and me' as the object pronoun. Choice A, 'We,' is a subject pronoun and does not fit in this context. Choice C, 'Ours,' is a possessive pronoun and is not appropriate for replacing the object pronoun 'Sarah and me.' Choice D, 'Myself,' is a reflexive pronoun, which is not suitable for this sentence where an object pronoun is needed.