Have you considered testing out of your college classes? Well you can get ahead quickly if you do and one way to achieve this is by taking the CLEP exam, the College-Level Examination Program® tests, which most colleges and universities accept. Below you can view examples of 5 English Composition exam questions that you can expect to see on the test.
Sample CLEP Exam Question #1
After the movie John took his girlfriend out for desert, after desert John went home.
Which answer below corrects the flawed sentence?
A. dessert after,
B. dessert after
C. dessert, after,
D. dessert. After
Show Answer
Answer and Explanation:
Correct Answer is D. "dessert. After"
The sentence has what is called a comma splice. A comma splice incorrectly joins two or more independent clauses with a comma. Independent clauses by definition are a complete sentence and therefore need a period. Dependent clauses, those that don’t finish a complete thought, would conversely need the comma.
A dependent clause would read like this: “After John took his girlfriend out for dessert,” and would then follow with “he went home.”
Together: “After John took his girlfriend out for dessert, he went home.”
Sample CLEP Exam Question #2
Apples are good for your health, but they’re quick to eat.
Which answer below corrects the flawed sentence?
A. replace but with and
B. change they’re to there
C. change your to you’re
D. replace but with or
Show Answer
Answer and Explanation:
The answer is A, "replace but with and."
Both but and and are conjunctions of independent clauses, however but can only be used for two independent clauses that contrast each other.
Correct usage:
“Apples are good for your health, and they’re quick to eat.”
Sample CLEP Exam Question #3
The constituents of my county will likely elect chief Johnson for mayor.
Which correction needs to be made to the sentence?
A. capitalize constituents
B. capitalize major
C. capitalize chief
D. capitalize constituents
Show Answer
Answer and Explanation:
The correct answer is C. "capitalize chief" as the title is included with his name. Conversely, you would not capitalize the title of a person if it is not associated with his or her name. For instance, if it was Mayor Johnson, and elected for chief, Mayor would be capitalized and chief would not.
Sample CLEP Exam Question #4
My brother not only won the world title, but has held that record for the last 3 years.
Replace the underlined portion with the correct answer:
A. but has also held that record for the last 3 years.
B. but have held that record for the last 3 years.
C. but had held that record for the last 3 years.
D. it is correct as is.
Show Answer
Answer and Explanation:
The correct answer is A. “but has also held that record for the last 3 years” as the dependent clause included a comparison word or phrase, “not only” which needs it’s counterpart “but also” included in the remaining portion. Comparison words and phrases need a logical beginning and end to be true and complete. Other comparisons include either/or, neither/nor, both/and.
Another example: “Son you either go to class, or you’re grounded.”
Sample CLEP Exam Question #5
While on their honeymoon Jack and Jill found a hill they could both climb.
What correction is necessary to correct the sentence?
A. insert a semicolon after honeymoon
B. insert a comma after honeymoon
C. insert a colon after honeymoon
D. insert a comma after Jill
Show Answer
Answer and Explanation
The correct choice is B. "insert a comma after Jill" as correct usage requires a comma after the introductory clause. Semicolon usage is required when you link two independent clauses with no connecting words. For example:
“Jack and Jill went on a honeymoon; they found a hill they could both climb.”
Colon usage requires an independent clause. For example:
“Jack and Jill brought 3 things on their honeymoon: sun block, lip balm, and water.”
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on Thursday, May 24th, 2007 at 1:29 am and is filed under CLEP.
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I could really use some help with the colon and semicolon……..when to use them..
I think the explanation for question 5 has an error - it says:
“The correct choice is B. “insert a comma after Jill” as correct usage requires a comma after the introductory clause.”
but it should say:
“The correct choice is B. “insert a comma after honeymoon” as correct usage requires a comma after the introductory clause.”
lol, is this how easy the CLEP test really is? This’ll be so much better than sitting through two different classes where I already know the material.
it is a wonderful test with explnation I like it
thanks.
I would NOT trust this sample, people! The author could clearly use a refresher course in English himself. It’s means it IS, “its” is possessive. Also, the answer to #4 does not make sense! It says that answer A is correct, but goes on to explain that “but also” is necessary!
I would NOT trust this sample, people! The author could clearly use a refresher course in English himself. It’s means it IS, “its” is possessive.
Hi,
soon i ll join ajob test which ll be about English composition test. so, i need so help for this test. so kindly send me some test relating English compositions.
Best regards,
M.Yaseen
The answer to number 5 is wrong.
The correct answer is “B”- a comma after honeymoon. The introductory clause is “While on their honeymoon,” So the correct sentence punctuation would be as follow.
While on their honeymoon, Jack and Jill found a hill they could both climb.
What do you expect from the government, anyway? They never do anything right.
Wow… use these as practice if you want to FAIL the CLEP.
I am very weak to compose any wiritng so i requesting you to help me regarding issue.
i want to learn composstion