FTCE: General Knowledge Practice Exam Tests – Quiz 03

The semicolon is used to join two independent clauses that are closely related in thought. Option (b) correctly uses a semicolon to connect the independent clauses “After the storm, we went outside to assess the damage” and “to our surprise, the trees remained intact.” The semicolon indicates a stronger connection between the two ideas than a period would, emphasizing the relationship between the clauses. This usage aligns with the rules of proper punctuation in English grammar.

To find the total cost of 24 cupcakes, we first need to determine how many packs of 6 cupcakes Mary needs to buy. Since 24 cupcakes divided by 6 cupcakes per pack equals 4 packs, Mary needs to buy 4 packs. Each pack costs $10, so to find the total cost, we multiply the number of packs by the cost per pack: 4 packs * $10/pack = $40.

Both companies have the same total cost is the correct answer because it considers the flat rate of Company A and the per-person rate of Company B. This scenario-based question assesses the candidate’s ability to analyze costs and make decisions based on real-world scenarios, which is a crucial skill for educators and professionals alike.

The correct answer is option (a), the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary. This event occurred on June 28, 1914, in Sarajevo, Bosnia, when Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, was assassinated by Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb nationalist. The assassination served as the immediate trigger for the outbreak of World War I.

The correct answer is option (a), which describes the process of photosynthesis in plants. Photosynthesis is the biochemical process by which green plants, algae, and some bacteria convert light energy into chemical energy stored in glucose molecules, with the release of oxygen as a byproduct.

During photosynthesis, chlorophyll-containing chloroplasts in plant cells capture light energy from the sun and use it to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) into glucose (C6H12O6) and oxygen (O2). The overall chemical equation for photosynthesis is:

6 CO2 + 6 H2O + light energy → C6H12O6 + 6 O2

This process occurs in two main stages: the light-dependent reactions, which occur in the thylakoid membranes of the chloroplasts and involve the capture of light energy to produce ATP and NADPH, and the light-independent reactions (Calvin cycle), which occur in the stroma of the chloroplasts and involve the conversion of CO2 into glucose using the ATP and NADPH produced during the light-dependent reactions.

The correct answer is option (d), “The use of ‘are’ instead of ‘is’.” The subject “team” is singular, so the verb should also be singular. In this case, “is” should be used instead of “are” to match the singular subject “team.” Therefore, the corrected sentence should read:

“The team of researchers is conducting experiments to test their hypothesis.”

To find the perimeter of a rectangle, we add up the lengths of all four sides. For a rectangle with length L and width W, the perimeter (P) is given by the formula:

P = 2(L + W)

Given that the length of the garden is 15 feet and the width is 8 feet, we can substitute these values into the formula:

P = 2(15 + 8)
P = 2(23)
P = 46 feet

“The executive branch is chosen by and from the legislative branch.” In a parliamentary system of government, the executive branch (which includes the Prime Minister or equivalent position) is typically chosen from the members of the legislative branch (parliament or a similar body). The head of government (often the Prime Minister) is accountable to the legislature and is usually the leader of the majority party or coalition in parliament. This system contrasts with a presidential system, where the head of state and head of government are separate individuals, and the executive branch is independent of the legislative branch.

“The book that was written in the 19th century remains a classic.” A restrictive relative clause provides essential information about the noun it modifies, and it cannot be omitted from the sentence without changing its meaning. In this case, the relative clause “that was written in the 19th century” restricts or limits the meaning of “the book” by specifying which book is being referred to. Without this clause, the sentence could imply that multiple books remain classics, which may not be the intended meaning.

The correct answer is option (c), which accurately describes the process of mitosis. Mitosis is a type of cell division that occurs in somatic (non-reproductive) cells and results in the formation of two daughter cells that are genetically identical to the parent cell. During mitosis, the cell’s nucleus divides, distributing its duplicated chromosomes into two new nuclei. Each daughter cell receives an identical set of chromosomes, ensuring that the genetic information remains constant between generations of cells.

“The United States Constitution.” The Constitution of the United States is the foundational legal document that establishes the structure, powers, and limitations of the federal government. It outlines the framework for the government, including the three branches of government (legislative, executive, and judicial), their respective powers and responsibilities, and the rights and freedoms of citizens. The Constitution is considered the supreme law of the land, meaning that all laws and governmental actions must comply with its provisions.

“The group of students is going on a field trip next week.” In this sentence, the singular subject “group” is correctly matched with the singular verb “is.” The phrase “of students” is a prepositional phrase that does not affect subject-verb agreement; therefore, the verb agrees with the singular noun “group.”

“Rule of law.” The rule of law is a fundamental principle of democracy that emphasizes the equal application of laws to all individuals and the protection of individual rights and freedoms. Under the rule of law, no one is above the law, and governmental powers are limited by legal constraints. This principle ensures accountability, fairness, and justice within democratic societies.

“The concert starts at 8pm, so don’t be late.” This sentence correctly uses a comma to separate the independent clauses “The concert starts at 8pm” and “so don’t be late.” The comma before the coordinating conjunction “so” (which joins the two independent clauses) helps to clarify the relationship between the ideas and improves readability.

“Fighting against pathogens and foreign invaders.” White blood cells, also known as leukocytes, are a crucial component of the immune system responsible for defending the body against infectious diseases and foreign invaders. They play a vital role in identifying, targeting, and neutralizing pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites through various mechanisms, including phagocytosis, antibody production, and cytokine release.

“First Amendment.” The First Amendment to the United States Constitution, ratified in 1791 as part of the Bill of Rights, guarantees several fundamental freedoms, including freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, and the rights to assemble peacefully and petition the government for redress of grievances. These freedoms are considered essential to democratic governance and individual liberty and are foundational principles of the United States.

“She enjoys hiking, biking, and swimming.” This sentence demonstrates parallel structure by listing activities (hiking, biking, swimming) in a consistent grammatical form (gerunds). Parallel structure ensures that items in a series have the same grammatical structure, making the sentence clear, balanced, and easier to understand.

“The group of students is going on a field trip next week.” In this sentence, the singular subject “group” is correctly matched with the singular verb “is.” The phrase “of students” is a prepositional phrase that does not affect subject-verb agreement; therefore, the verb agrees with the singular noun “group.”

“The use of plural verb ‘are’ instead of singular ‘is’.” The subject “policy’s” (referring to the policy of the company) is singular, so the verb should also be singular. Therefore, the correct sentence should read:

“The company’s policy is subject to change based on market conditions.”

“Running down the street, Sarah caught the bus.” In the original sentence, the participial phrase “Running down the street” is a dangling modifier because it is unclear who or what is running down the street. To eliminate the dangling modifier, the subject (“Sarah”) should be placed immediately after the modifier, creating a clear and logical sentence.

To find out how many packs of muffins Sam needs to buy, we divide the total number of muffins he wants by the number of muffins in each pack.

“A chemical change involves the rearrangement of atoms to form new substances, while a physical change involves only a change in appearance or state.” In a chemical change, the chemical composition of substances is altered, resulting in the formation of new substances with different properties. This typically involves the breaking and forming of chemical bonds and is accompanied by changes in energy. In contrast, a physical change does not alter the chemical composition of substances; it only affects their physical appearance, state (such as solid, liquid, or gas), or phase (such as melting, freezing, or evaporating).

“The system of overlapping powers among the three branches of government to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.” Checks and balances is a fundamental principle of the United States government, designed to ensure that no single branch (executive, legislative, or judicial) accumulates too much power or becomes tyrannical. Each branch of government has the ability to limit the powers of the other branches through various mechanisms, such as veto power, judicial review, and confirmation of appointments.

“The blue car is faster than the red car.” In this sentence, the comparative adjective “faster” is correctly used to compare the speed of the blue car to that of the red car. Comparative adjectives are used to compare two or more things, and they often end in “-er” or are preceded by “more” when comparing longer adjectives.

“Both the federal government and state governments share powers and authority, with certain powers reserved for each level of government.” Federalism is a system of government in which power is divided between a central authority (the federal government) and constituent political units (state governments in the case of the United States). Both levels of government have their own spheres of authority, and certain powers are reserved exclusively for each level. However, they also share concurrent powers, where both levels of government can exercise authority over the same areas, such as taxation and law enforcement.

“If I were the president, I would implement new policies.” This sentence uses the subjunctive mood correctly to express a hypothetical or unreal situation. In English, the subjunctive mood is used to express wishes, suggestions, or situations that are contrary to reality. In this case, the speaker is imagining being the president, which is not currently true, so the subjunctive form “were” is used instead of “was.”

“The United States Constitution.” The Constitution of the United States, ratified in 1788, established the framework for the federal government and serves as the supreme law of the land in the United States. It outlines the structure of the government, delineates the powers of each branch, and enumerates the rights and responsibilities of citizens. The Constitution also provides a mechanism for amending its provisions to adapt to changing circumstances and societal needs.

“I enjoy reading novels in my free time.” This sentence demonstrates the correct use of the gerund form (“reading”) after the verb “enjoy.” In English, gerunds are verb forms ending in “-ing” that function as nouns, and they are commonly used after certain verbs, such as “enjoy,” to indicate activities or actions.

A chemical change, also known as a chemical reaction, involves the formation of new substances with different chemical properties. Rusting of iron is an example of a chemical change because it involves the reaction of iron with oxygen in the presence of moisture to form iron oxide (rust), which has different properties than iron.

“Conversion of light energy into chemical energy to produce glucose and oxygen from carbon dioxide and water.” Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants, algae, and some bacteria convert light energy into chemical energy stored in glucose. This process occurs in chloroplasts and involves the absorption of sunlight, carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and water from the soil to produce glucose (a carbohydrate) and oxygen as byproducts.