Which word best completes the sentence: 'The students _______ finished their exams.'

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: In the sentence, 'The students' is referring to a plural subject. Since 'students' is plural, the correct verb should also be plural. 'Have' is the correct verb form for the plural subject 'students' in this sentence. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because 'has' and 'is' are singular verbs, while 'was' is past tense and does not agree with the present tense of 'finished.' Therefore, the correct choice is B: 'have.'

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A. A compound sentence consists of two independent clauses joined by a conjunction or a semicolon. In sentence A, 'The sky is clear' and 'the stars are bright' are two independent clauses joined by the conjunction 'and.'<br>Choice B is a complex sentence as it has a dependent clause ('Although it was late') and an independent clause ('he stayed up').<br>Choice C is a simple sentence with only one subject and one verb.<br>Choice D is a complex sentence with a dependent clause ('While she reads') and an independent clause ('she listens to music').

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B. Parallel structure ensures that items in a series or list are in the same grammatical form. In choice A, 'to run' disrupts the parallel structure since 'hiking' and 'swimming' are gerunds. Choice C similarly breaks the parallelism by using 'to swim' in a different form. Choice D is incorrect because it lacks consistent parallelism, as 'hiking' is not followed by gerunds like 'swimming' and 'running.' Therefore, only choice B maintains proper parallel structure by using gerunds ('hiking,' 'swimming,' and 'running') consistently.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The subject 'Neither' is singular, so the correct verb form to use is 'is.' In this sentence, 'boys' is part of a prepositional phrase 'of the boys' and does not affect the verb agreement. 'Are' (choice B) is plural and does not match the singular subject. 'Were' (choice C) is past tense and not suitable for the present context. 'Be' (choice D) is an infinitive form and does not agree with the subject.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: In the context of the ATI TEAS English Practice Test, the word 'brief' implies something concise or of short duration. Therefore, the correct synonym for 'brief' is option A) Short. This is because both 'brief' and 'short' convey the idea of something not being lengthy or extended. Option B) Long is an antonym of 'brief' as it signifies the opposite - something of extended duration or length. Option C) Detailed is not a synonym for 'brief' as it suggests something that is thorough and comprehensive, which is contrary to the meaning of 'brief'. Option D) Wordy is also incorrect as it means using or containing an excess of words, which is the opposite of being brief. Educationally, understanding synonyms and antonyms is crucial for developing vocabulary skills, which are essential for effective communication and comprehension. By correctly identifying synonyms, test-takers can demonstrate their ability to grasp the nuances of language and select the most appropriate words in various contexts. Practice with such questions can help students enhance their language proficiency and perform better on standardized tests like the ATI TEAS.