Free TEAS 7 English & Language Usage Practice Test 4 — 30 Questions With Full Explanations

Question 1. Conventions of Standard English medium

Which option correctly punctuates this sentence, which begins with an introductory clause? "After the final exam grades were posted the office stayed open late."

• A. After the final exam grades were posted, the office stayed open late. (correct)
• B. After the final exam grades were posted; the office stayed open late.
• C. After, the final exam grades were posted the office stayed open late.
• D. After the final exam, grades were posted the office stayed open late.

Explanation: An introductory dependent clause is set off from the main clause with a comma, so option A is correct. Option B uses a semicolon after a dependent clause, which is not allowed, option C chops the subordinating conjunction away from its own clause, and option D shifts the comma so it splits exam from grades and changes the meaning.

Question 2. Conventions of Standard English medium

Which option correctly punctuates the appositive in this sentence? "The concert the last show of the season sold out quickly."

• A. The concert, the last show of the season sold out quickly.
• B. The concert, the last show of the season, sold out quickly. (correct)
• C. The concert the last show of the season, sold out quickly.
• D. The concert the last, show of the season sold out quickly.

Explanation: An appositive, such as the last show of the season, renames the noun beside it and must be framed by commas on both sides. Option B does this. Option A marks only the opening comma, option C marks only the closing comma, and option D splits the appositive itself, breaking the phrase apart.

Question 3. Conventions of Standard English hard

Which sentence shows a correct plural possessive?

• A. The two hospitals' policies differed on visiting hours. (correct)
• B. The two hospital's policies differed on visiting hours.
• C. The two hospitals policies differed on visiting hours.
• D. The two hospital' policies differed on visiting hours.

Explanation: For a plural noun that already ends in s, possession is shown by adding only an apostrophe after the s, so hospitals' is correct in option A. Option B uses the singular possessive for a two-hospital subject, option C drops the apostrophe entirely, and option D places the apostrophe inside the singular form.

Question 4. Conventions of Standard English easy

Which sentence places the apostrophe correctly in a contraction?

• A. The report doesnt address the staffing shortage.
• B. The report does'nt address the staffing shortage.
• C. The report doesn't address the staffing shortage. (correct)
• D. The report doe'snt address the staffing shortage.

Explanation: In a contraction the apostrophe marks exactly where letters were removed, so does not becomes doesn't. Option C places it correctly. Option A drops the apostrophe entirely, option B pushes it after the verb, and option D inserts it inside the first syllable, and all three misplace the mark.

Question 5. Conventions of Standard English medium

Which option correctly punctuates this sentence? "The pharmacy closed at six but the drop box stayed open."

• A. The pharmacy closed at six, but the drop box stayed open. (correct)
• B. The pharmacy closed at six but, the drop box stayed open.
• C. The pharmacy closed at six; but the drop box stayed open.
• D. The pharmacy closed at six but the drop box, stayed open.

Explanation: A comma belongs before a coordinating conjunction such as but when it joins two independent clauses. Option A places the comma correctly. Option B pushes the comma after the conjunction, option C sets a semicolon before the conjunction, which is redundant, and option D splits the subject of the second clause from its verb.

Question 6. Conventions of Standard English easy

Which sentence uses their, there, or they're correctly?

• A. The volunteers parked they're cars in the lot across the street.
• B. The volunteers parked there cars in the lot across the street.
• C. Their are several cars in the lot across the street.
• D. The volunteers parked their cars in the lot across the street. (correct)

Explanation: Their is the possessive form, there points to a place or signals existence, and they're means they are. The cars belong to the volunteers, so their is the right choice in option D. Option A uses the contraction for the possessive, option B uses the place word, and option C writes their where the existential there is needed.

Question 7. Conventions of Standard English easy

Which sentence uses its or it's correctly?

• A. The program saves it's data to the network drive.
• B. The program saves its data to the network drive. (correct)
• C. Its important to back up the files each night.
• D. The network drive lost it's connection twice today.

Explanation: Its without an apostrophe is the possessive pronoun, while it's always means it is. The data belongs to the program, so its is correct in option B. Options A and D use the contraction where a possessive is needed, and option C uses the possessive where it is, meaning it's, is meant.

Question 8. Conventions of Standard English medium

Which sentence uses affect or effect correctly?

• A. The change in shift times affected the entire nursing staff. (correct)
• B. The change in shift times effected the entire nursing staff.
• C. The change had a strong affect on staff morale.
• D. The change in shift times had a effect on the entire staff.

Explanation: As a verb, affect means to influence, which is what option A says the change did to the staff. Effect as a verb means to bring about, so option B misuses it, option C uses the noun affect, which names a facial expression rather than an influence, and option D breaks the article rule with a effect.

Question 9. Conventions of Standard English medium

Which sentence uses accept or except correctly?

• A. All the interns passed accept one who missed the deadline.
• B. We except your apology and will move on.
• C. All the interns passed except one who missed the deadline. (correct)
• D. Accept for the night shift, everyone attended the training.

Explanation: Except means excluding, and accept means to receive or approve. Option C uses except to exclude the intern who missed the deadline. Option A substitutes accept for except, option B uses the exclusion verb where receive is meant, and option D writes accept for the preposition except.

Question 10. Conventions of Standard English easy

Which sentence uses than or then correctly?

• A. The night shift is busier then the day shift.
• B. The night shift is busier than the day shift. (correct)
• C. First the nurse screens the patient, and than the doctor follows up.
• D. The doctor arrived then the nurse did.

Explanation: Than makes comparisons, while then marks time or sequence. Option B compares two shifts, so than is correct. Option A uses the time word for the comparison, option C uses than where the sequence word then belongs, and option D uses then where a comparison after arrived is needed.

Question 11. Conventions of Standard English hard

Which sentence uses who or whom correctly?

• A. Dr. Lin is the surgeon whom performed the transplant.
• B. Whom will attend the morning seminar?
• C. The nurse, whom transferred to pediatrics, starts Monday.
• D. Dr. Lin is the surgeon who performed the transplant. (correct)

Explanation: Who is the subject form and whom is the object form. In option D, who performs the verb performed, so the subject form is correct. Options A, B, and C all use whom where the subject of a verb is needed: performed, will attend, and transferred.

Question 12. Knowledge of Language hard

Which sentence makes a logical comparison?

• A. The rooms in the east wing are smaller than the west wing.
• B. The rooms in the east wing are smaller than those in the west wing. (correct)
• C. The rooms in the east wing are smaller than the west.
• D. The rooms in the east wing are smaller than the west wing has.

Explanation: A comparison must set like things against like things, so rooms must be compared with rooms. Option B compares the rooms with those, meaning the rooms, in the west wing. Options A and C compare rooms to the wing itself, and option D compares rooms to what the wing possesses, all of which are illogical.

Question 13. Knowledge of Language medium

Which sentence avoids cliches and jargon for a professional memo?

• A. The team should begin the implementation by the end of the month. (correct)
• B. At the end of the day, the team needs to get the ball rolling.
• C. We need to think outside the box and hit the ground running.
• D. Let's circle back and touch base before we kick things off.

Explanation: Clear professional writing prefers plain language over worn-out phrases. Option A states the action and the deadline directly. Option B leans on at the end of the day and get the ball rolling, option C stacks think outside the box and hit the ground running, and option D strings together circle back, touch base, and kick off.

Question 14. Knowledge of Language medium

Which transition word best completes this sentence? "The lab results looked promising; ___, the team repeated the test to be certain."

• A. likewise
• B. therefore
• C. however (correct)
• D. furthermore

Explanation: The second clause qualifies the first: the team repeated the test despite the promising results, so the contrast marker however fits. Likewise signals similarity, therefore signals a result, and furthermore signals addition, and none of those captures the cautious turn in the sentence.

Question 15. Knowledge of Language hard

Which sentence uses the correct idiomatic expression?

• A. The clinic complies to the new safety regulations.
• B. The clinic complies on the new safety regulations.
• C. The clinic complies for the new safety regulations.
• D. The clinic complies with the new safety regulations. (correct)

Explanation: The verb comply takes the fixed preposition with, so comply with the regulations is the only idiomatic choice. Options A, B, and C pair comply with to, on, and for, none of which forms a standard expression, so all three fail on the same idiom rule.

Question 16. Knowledge of Language hard

Which word best completes the sentence with the right connotation? "The supervisor ___ the intern's suggestion, calling it impractical during the staff meeting."

• A. applauded
• B. dismissed (correct)
• C. embraced
• D. entertained

Explanation: The context, calling it impractical, shows the supervisor rejecting the suggestion, so dismissed fits. Applauded and embraced are positive in meaning, which contradicts the rejection, and entertained means to consider seriously, which runs against the outright judgment expressed in the sentence.

Question 17. Knowledge of Language medium

Which sentence communicates the speed of the vehicle most precisely?

• A. The ambulance sped through the intersection. (correct)
• B. The ambulance moved through the intersection.
• C. The ambulance went through the intersection.
• D. The ambulance made its way through the intersection.

Explanation: Option A chooses sped, which tells the reader exactly how the ambulance moved, so it is the most precise. Moved and went leave the manner of motion unnamed, and made its way is both vaguer and longer without adding information.

Question 18. Knowledge of Language hard

Which sentence compares like terms in a logical way?

• A. The salary in Springfield is higher than Riverside.
• B. The salary in Springfield, unlike Riverside, is higher.
• C. The salary in Springfield is higher than that in Riverside. (correct)
• D. The salary in Springfield is higher, unlike Riverside.

Explanation: Comparisons must match like terms, so a salary must be compared with a salary. Option C compares the salary with that, meaning the salary, in Riverside. Option A compares a salary to a city, and options B and D set the salary against the city Riverside instead of against its salaries.

Question 19. Knowledge of Language medium

Which transition word best completes this sentence? "The flight was delayed by four hours; ___, the crew used the time to run extra safety checks."

• A. nevertheless
• B. consequently (correct)
• C. in contrast
• D. besides

Explanation: The second clause states what the crew did because of the delay, so the result marker consequently fits. Nevertheless signals contrast, in contrast introduces a comparison that does not exist here, and besides signals mere addition, and none of those links the delay to the crew's action as a result.

Question 20. Knowledge of Language hard

Which sentence uses the correct preposition?

• A. The technician was responsible of maintaining the backup servers.
• B. The technician was responsible on maintaining the backup servers.
• C. The technician was responsible at maintaining the backup servers.
• D. The technician was responsible for maintaining the backup servers. (correct)

Explanation: The adjective responsible takes the preposition for when it introduces a duty, so responsible for is the idiomatic choice. Options A, B, and C pair responsible with of, on, and at, none of which forms a standard expression for a duty, so all three fail the same idiom rule.

Question 21. Knowledge of Language medium

Which sentence would a clear writer prefer for a public notice?

• A. The pool will close for maintenance on the first of the month. (correct)
• B. We are moving the goalposts on the pool closure, heads up.
• C. The pool is going down for the count at the end of the day.
• D. Please bear with us as we get our ducks in a row on the pool.

Explanation: Option A states the fact plainly, which is what a public notice needs. Option B relies on the idiom moving the goalposts and the informal heads up, option C uses the slang going down for the count and the cliche at the end of the day, and option D leans on get our ducks in a row and the vague bear with us.

Question 22. Vocabulary Acquisition medium

Which word carries the root mal-, which means bad or wrong?

• A. magnify
• B. muscle
• C. malnutrition (correct)
• D. masterful

Explanation: The root mal- means bad or wrong, and malnutrition names a state of poor or faulty nutrition, so it is built on that root. Magnify comes from a root meaning great, muscle from a root that originally named a little mouse, and masterful from a root meaning master, so the distractors carry different meanings.

Question 23. Vocabulary Acquisition easy

The root graph- means writing or recording. Which word's meaning best reflects that root?

• A. gravity
• B. paragraph (correct)
• C. marathon
• D. calendar

Explanation: The root graph- means writing, and a paragraph is a section of written text, so it is built on that root. Gravity comes from a root meaning heavy, marathon from the name of a Greek town, and calendar from a word for an account book, none of which carries the writing meaning.

Question 24. Vocabulary Acquisition easy

The root chron- means time. Which word's meaning best reflects that root?

• A. horizon
• B. democracy
• C. telephone
• D. chronicle (correct)

Explanation: The root chron- means time, and a chronicle records events in the order they happened over time, so it is built on that root. Horizon begins with a Greek root for a boundary line, democracy with demos, which means people, and telephone with phon, which means sound, so the distractors carry different root meanings.

Question 25. Vocabulary Acquisition medium

The prefix auto- means self. Which word's meaning depends on that prefix?

• A. autobiography (correct)
• B. zoology
• C. nutrition
• D. portable

Explanation: The prefix auto- means self, and an autobiography is the story of a person's own life, written by that person, so it is built on that prefix. Zoology names the study of animals, nutrition comes from a root meaning to nourish, and portable from a root meaning to carry, so the distractors do not carry the self meaning.

Question 26. Vocabulary Acquisition medium

Which word contains a prefix that means before?

• A. reprint
• B. postpone
• C. preview (correct)
• D. unpack

Explanation: The prefix pre- means before, and preview contains it, because a preview is a viewing that happens before the official opening. Reprint begins with re-, meaning again, postpone with post-, meaning after, and unpack with un-, meaning reverse or not, so the other options carry different prefix meanings.

Question 27. Vocabulary Acquisition medium

Which word contains a prefix that means between or among?

• A. research
• B. intercity (correct)
• C. rewind
• D. misprint

Explanation: The prefix inter- means between or among, and intercity contains it, because intercity routes run between cities. Research begins with re-, meaning again, rewind with re-, meaning again or back, and misprint with mis-, meaning wrongly, so the other options depend on different prefixes.

Question 28. Vocabulary Acquisition medium

What does the suffix -able do to the word break in breakable?

• A. It forms a noun naming a person who breaks things.
• B. It forms a noun naming the act of breaking.
• C. It forms a verb meaning to break repeatedly.
• D. It forms an adjective meaning able to be broken. (correct)

Explanation: The suffix -able turns verbs into adjectives that mean capable of being acted on, so breakable means able to be broken. A person who breaks things takes -er, the act of breaking takes a noun suffix like -ing or -tion, and a verb meaning to break repeatedly would take a different ending, so the other options name the wrong jobs.

Question 29. Vocabulary Acquisition hard

Which word uses the suffix -ment to name the result of a verb's action?

• A. improvement (correct)
• B. improving
• C. improvable
• D. improver

Explanation: The suffix -ment turns verbs into nouns naming a result or state, so improve becomes improvement, which names the result of improving. Improving is a participle or gerund formed with -ing, improvable is an adjective formed with -able, and improver is a noun built with -er to name the person who improves.

Question 30. Vocabulary Acquisition hard

Read the sentence. "The border collie herded the sheep with astonishing dexterity, never tripping once." What does dexterity mean in this sentence?

• A. clumsiness
• B. loudness
• C. skill in movement (correct)
• D. stubbornness

Explanation: The context clue is never tripping once, which shows the dog working with smooth, controlled movement, so dexterity means skill in movement. Clumsiness is the opposite of that behavior, and loudness and stubbornness are traits the sentence never mentions, so they cannot be supported by the clues.