Sample Writing
Skills Placement Test Essay
How to use the sample Writing pretest.
- Read the directions below.
-
Answer Key
Sample Writing Skills Placement Test Essay Directions
Examinees are presented with an essay similar to the
one below and are asked to look for errors in grammar, punctuations, usage, and
style. When examinees found what they believe to be errors, they move the
cursor to the appropriate part of the test and hit the enter key. An item
window appears offering five options for revising the area of text. Note
that the first option is always identical to the original wording in the text,
and thus represents a NO CHANGE options. Examinees can choose to revise
any section of the essay. After revising the essay, examinees are routed
to two items focusing on rhetorical strategies.
The essay below contains the same number and types of
errors that an operational unit would contain; however, for demonstration
purposes, only a handful of these segments have been selected for
revision. These segments are indicated by bold lettering, and the items
associated with them are shown on the next page.
Start of Essay
Segment 1
An increasing number of lakes and rivers in the northern
United States are being invaded by a mussel no larger than a fingernail.
Segment 2
The zebra mussel probably steamed aboard a transatlantic
ship sometime in the mid-1980's from the Caspian Sea into U.S. waters.
Despite its growth was explosive, partly because the species was preyed upon by
very few native predators in its new environment. As a consequence, the
zebra mussels did find plentiful food supply. They eat huge amounts of
phytoplankton, which tiny free-floating sea organisms that dwell in water.
Scientists are concerned when the mussels may compete aggressively with other
species that depend on the same food supply.
Segment 3
Others concerned by the invading species are industry,
public utilities, and boat owners. Zebra mussels cluster in huge colonies.
being anchored themselves to any hard surface. these colonies can clog
your water intake pipes of electric and water treatment plants. Fishery
specialists are currently casting about and baiting their hooks to gun down
control methods that will cause the lowest amount of damage to water supplies
and other aquatic species. Two of the alternatives exploring are
interrupting the species reproductive cycle and finding a bacterium
| Press "F"
When finished |
Use the arrow keys ( ) to
move the pointer to the part
of the essay you want to change. Then press <enter>. |
Press "H" for help |
Basic grammar and Usage: Ensuring Grammatical Agreement Segment
1
- An increasing number of lakes and rivers
- An increasingly number of lakes and rivers
- A number increasing of lakes and rivers
- A number increasingly of lakes and rivers
- An increasing of lakes and rivers
Style: Avoiding Redundancy Segment 2
- was preyed upon by very few native predators in its new environment.
- found very few predators in its new environment.
- found very few native predators and was seldom eaten in its new
environment.
- was seldom eaten or preyed on by native predator species in its new
environment.
Sentence Structure: Relating Clauses Segment 3
- Scientists are concerned when the mussels
- Scientists are concerned that if the mussels
- Scientists are concerned wherein the mussels
- Scientists are concerned that the mussels
- Scientists are concerned as if the mussels
Strategy: Making Decisions about Cohesive Devices Item 4
(end-of-passage)
The writer wishes to add a sentence at the end of
Paragraph 1 that will serve as a transition between Paragraph 1 and 2 and will
establish the main focus of the essay. Which of the following sentences
would most effectively fulfill that purpose?
- The zebra mussel will provide a difficult challenge for public utility
managers.
- The zebra mussel is only the latest in a series of newly introduced
species to thrive in the U.S.
- No one knows how far south and west the zebra mussel is likely to spread,
but scientists think they may be on the trail of important clues.
- Although small in size, the zebra mussel may become a huge problem for
pleasure boat owners in North American waterways.
- Despite its size, however, the zebra mussel may have a dramatic effect on
North American waterways.
Last updated:
December 13, 2006
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