Free TEAS 7 English & Language Usage Practice Test 8 — 30 Questions With Full Explanations

Question 1. Conventions of Standard English medium

Read the sentence. Each of the recipes in the cookbook list a different baking time. Which option corrects the subject-verb agreement error?

• A. Each of the recipes in the cookbook lists a different baking time. (correct)
• B. Each of the recipes in the cookbook are listing different baking times.
• C. Each of the recipes in the cookbook list different baking times.
• D. Each of the recipes in the cookbook have listed a different baking time.

Explanation: The true subject is Each, not recipes, and the words after of form a prepositional phrase that never controls the verb. Because each is singular, it needs the singular verb lists, so option A is correct while B, C, and D each pair the singular subject with a plural or mismatched verb form.

Question 2. Conventions of Standard English medium

Read the sentence. The director asked my assistant and I to coordinate the food drive. Which option corrects the pronoun case error?

• A. The director asked my assistant and myself to coordinate the food drive.
• B. The director asked I and my assistant to coordinate the food drive.
• C. The director asked my assistant and me to coordinate the food drive. (correct)
• D. The director asked my assistant and we to coordinate the food drive.

Explanation: After the verb asked, the compound object must use the object form me rather than the subject form I; dropping my assistant shows that asked me is the natural frame. Myself is a reflexive pronoun that cannot replace a plain object, and we is a subject form, so only option C is grammatically correct.

Question 3. Conventions of Standard English medium

Read the sentence. The board approved the new budget, and then they voted on the expansion. Which option corrects the pronoun-antecedent error?

• A. The board approved the new budget, and then they voted on the expansion.
• B. The board approved the new budget, and then it voted on the expansion. (correct)
• C. The board approving the new budget, and then it voted on the expansion.
• D. The board approved the new budget, and then it had voted on the expansion.

Explanation: Board names a single group acting as one unit, so the singular pronoun it must refer back to it, not the plural they. Option C turns the first clause into a fragment, and D shifts the verb needlessly into the past perfect, leaving B as the only revision that fixes the pronoun-antecedent error.

Question 4. Conventions of Standard English medium

Read the sentence. The gardener waters the seedlings every morning and checked the soil for moisture each evening. Which option corrects the tense inconsistency?

• A. The gardener watered the seedlings every morning and checks the soil for moisture each evening.
• B. The gardener waters the seedlings every morning and will check the soil for moisture each evening.
• C. The gardener is watering the seedlings every morning and checked the soil for moisture each evening.
• D. The gardener waters the seedlings every morning and checks the soil for moisture each evening. (correct)

Explanation: Routine habits described in one sentence must stay in the same tense unless the time genuinely shifts. Because waters signals the present, the second verb must be checks, not checked, so only D keeps both verbs consistently in the present while A, B, and C pair mismatched tense forms.

Question 5. Conventions of Standard English easy

Read the sentence. Because the town pool closed at dusk. Which revision turns the fragment into a complete sentence?

• A. Because the town pool closed at dusk, the lifeguards locked the gates and went home. (correct)
• B. Because the town pool closed at dusk, the lifeguards locking the gates and going home.
• C. The town pool closed at dusk, the lifeguards locked the gates and went home.
• D. Because the town pool closed at dusk and the lifeguards locked the gates and went home.

Explanation: The original words begin with the subordinating conjunction because and leave the reader waiting for a main clause, so they form a fragment. Option A supplies an independent clause, while B repeats the fragment pattern with participles, C splices two clauses with a comma, and D keeps the whole statement subordinate.

Question 6. Conventions of Standard English medium

Read the sentence. The last train had already left, we walked home instead. Which option correctly fixes the comma splice?

• A. The last train had already left we walked home instead.
• B. The last train had already left; we walking home instead.
• C. The last train had already left, so we walked home instead. (correct)
• D. The last train had already left, walking home instead.

Explanation: A comma alone cannot join two independent clauses, so the original is a comma splice. Adding the coordinating conjunction so after the comma repairs the sentence, making C correct. A drops punctuation entirely, B pairs a semicolon with a fragment, and D leaves the second clause without a stated subject.

Question 7. Conventions of Standard English easy

Read the sentence. The teachers lounge is closed this week for repairs. Which option corrects the error in the sentence?

• A. The teacher's lounge is closed this week for repairs.
• B. The teachers' lounge is closed this week for repairs. (correct)
• C. The teachers lounge's is closed this week for repairs.
• D. The teachers' lounge' is closed this week for repairs.

Explanation: The lounge belongs to the teachers as a group, so the plural possessive teachers' needs an apostrophe after the s. Option A wrongly makes a single teacher own it, while C and D push apostrophes into impossible positions, leaving B as the only correct possessive form.

Question 8. Conventions of Standard English medium

Read the sentence. My aunt lives near the murray river and drives south to visit us every december. Which option uses capital letters correctly?

• A. My aunt lives near the Murray river and drives South to visit us every December.
• B. My aunt lives near the murray river and drives south to visit us every december.
• C. My aunt lives near the Murray River and drives south to visit us every december.
• D. My aunt lives near the Murray River and drives south to visit us every December. (correct)

Explanation: Proper nouns such as Murray River and the month December take capital letters, while the ordinary direction south stays lowercase because it is not a place name. Option D applies all three rules correctly; A, B, and C each mis-capitalize at least one element of the sentence.

Question 9. Conventions of Standard English medium

Read the sentence. My neighbor Mr. Chen who runs the corner bakery retired last month. Which option punctuates the nonessential clause correctly?

• A. My neighbor Mr. Chen who runs the corner bakery, retired last month.
• B. My neighbor, Mr. Chen, who runs the corner bakery, retired last month. (correct)
• C. My neighbor, Mr. Chen who runs the corner bakery retired last month.
• D. My neighbor Mr. Chen, who runs the corner bakery retired last month.

Explanation: The clause who runs the corner bakery adds extra, nonessential information about Mr. Chen, so a pair of commas must set it off from the rest of the sentence. Only option B places commas both before and after the clause; the other choices use one comma or none, which misleads the reader.

Question 10. Conventions of Standard English easy

Read the sentence. There is several empty tables near the window of the cafe. Which option corrects the subject-verb agreement error?

• A. There are several empty tables near the window of the cafe. (correct)
• B. There is several empty tables near the window of the cafe.
• C. There are several empty table near the window of the cafe.
• D. There is several empty table near the window of the cafe.

Explanation: In a there-construction, the verb agrees with the subject that follows it, and tables is plural, so are must replace is. Option A alone pairs the plural subject with the plural verb, while B, C, and D keep an agreement mismatch between is or are and the noun or verb form beside it.

Question 11. Conventions of Standard English medium

Read the sentence. The chef said the soup needs more salt. Which option punctuates the direct quotation correctly?

• A. The chef said, the soup needs more salt.
• B. The chef said, "the soup needs more salt."
• C. The chef said, "The soup needs more salt." (correct)
• D. The chef said "The soup needs more salt."

Explanation: A direct quotation is set off from the speaker tag with a comma, begins with a capital letter inside the quotation marks, and ends with a period placed before the closing mark. Option C shows all three principles; A drops the quotation marks, B fails to capitalize, and D omits the comma after said.

Question 12. Knowledge of Language easy

Read these two sentences. The power strip sparked. The technician unplugged every device in the lab. Which choice best combines them into one clear sentence?

• A. The power strip sparked, the technician unplugged every device in the lab.
• B. The power strip sparked, unplugging every device in the lab.
• C. After the power strip sparked, the technician unplugging every device in the lab.
• D. After the power strip sparked, the technician unplugged every device in the lab. (correct)

Explanation: The two sentences describe a cause and its result, so after makes the sequence explicit and joins the ideas into one clear sentence. Option A splices two clauses with a comma, B wrongly suggests the strip itself unplugged the devices, and C leaves a fragment, making D the best combination.

Question 13. Knowledge of Language easy

Read these two sentences. The band sold out the small theater. The band added a second show the next night. Which choice best combines them into one clear sentence?

• A. The band sold out the small theater, they added a second show the next night.
• B. Although the band sold out the small theater, it added a second show the next night.
• C. After selling out the small theater, the band added a second show the next night. (correct)
• D. The band sold out the small theater and adding a second show the next night.

Explanation: Selling out the theater happened first and prompted the second show, so after shows the sequence and produces one clear sentence. Option A splices two clauses with a comma, B uses although, which wrongly suggests a contrast, and D joins the verbs in mismatched forms, making C the best choice.

Question 14. Knowledge of Language medium

A tenant is emailing a landlord to request a heater repair. Which option uses the most appropriate tone and wording for that message?

• A. I am writing to request that the heating unit in my apartment be repaired as soon as possible. (correct)
• B. The heater is totally broken and we are freezing, so you need to fix it fast.
• C. You should really get someone out here to look at the heat thing.
• D. Hey, the heat is out, so get it fixed soon.

Explanation: A formal message to a landlord calls for polite, complete phrasing without slang, casual address, or demands. Option A states the request directly and courteously, while B, C, and D use informal words like totally and the heat thing, blame the reader, or issue commands that do not fit professional correspondence.

Question 15. Knowledge of Language medium

Read the sentence. The librarian asked us to return the books back to the shelf. Which option corrects the redundant wording?

• A. The librarian asked us to return the books back to the shelf.
• B. The librarian asked us to return back the books to the shelf.
• C. The librarian asked us to return the books back to the shelf again.
• D. The librarian asked us to return the books to the shelf. (correct)

Explanation: Return already contains the idea of carrying something back, so adding back repeats the meaning and adds wordiness. Option D deletes the unnecessary back and keeps the sentence tight, while A keeps the repetition, B leaves it awkwardly placed, and C multiplies it with the extra word again.

Question 16. Knowledge of Language medium

Read the sentence. The parking tickets were handed out by the attendant. Which revision changes the sentence to the active voice?

• A. The parking tickets were handed out by the attendant.
• B. The attendant handed out the parking tickets. (correct)
• C. The parking tickets being handed out by the attendant.
• D. The parking tickets got handed out by the attendant.

Explanation: The passive sentence places the doer, the attendant, at the end after by and builds the verb from a form of be plus a past participle. Option B makes the attendant the subject and hands out the action directly, while A keeps the passive, C leaves a fragment, and D stays passive with got.

Question 17. Knowledge of Language hard

Read the sentence. When the chef handed the server the order, she noticed it was missing an item. Which revision makes it clear who noticed the missing item?

• A. When the chef handed the server the order, the server noticed that it was missing an item. (correct)
• B. When the chef handed the server the order, she noticed that it was missing an item.
• C. When the chef handed the server the order, it was noticed that an item was missing.
• D. The chef handed the server the order, and the order was noticed missing an item by her.

Explanation: The pronoun she can refer to either the chef or the server, so the revision must name the person who spotted the problem. Option A replaces the pronoun with the server and removes the ambiguity, while C stays vague with the passive it was noticed and D shuffles the words without clarifying the reference.

Question 18. Knowledge of Language hard

Read the sentence. The reason why the team lost the relay race is because the final runner dropped the baton. Which revision is the most concise?

• A. The reason why the team lost the relay race is because the final runner dropped the baton.
• B. The team lost the relay race on account of the fact that the final runner dropped the baton.
• C. The team lost the relay race because the final runner dropped the baton. (correct)
• D. Because the final runner dropped the baton, the reason the team lost the relay race.

Explanation: The phrase the reason why ... is because piles up three ways of saying the same connection, and one because is enough. Option C trims the sentence to a direct subject and verb with a single cause clause, while A keeps the repetition, B substitutes equally wordy phrasing, and D leaves a fragment.

Question 19. Knowledge of Language medium

Read the sentence. The mural took three months to complete; ___, the project was worth every hour of work. Which transition best fits the blank?

• A. meanwhile
• B. for example
• C. similarly
• D. nevertheless (correct)

Explanation: The second clause concedes that the long months of work were worthwhile despite the time they cost, so a contrast transition such as nevertheless fits the blank. Meanwhile would shift to a different time, for example would offer an illustration, and similarly would signal likeness, none of which matches the concession.

Question 20. Knowledge of Language hard

A coach's note to the team reads: The game begins at noon, so the players should arrive early. Which revision keeps the meaning but uses the most informal, conversational register?

• A. It is recommended that all players arrive before the noon start time.
• B. The game starts at noon, so you guys should get here early. (correct)
• C. The game begins at noon, and the players should arrive early.
• D. The game will begin at noon; therefore, early arrival is requested.

Explanation: A conversational register calls for plain words and casual address rather than formal constructions. Option B uses starts, you guys, and get here, matching a spoken note to teammates, while A and D stay formal with recommended and therefore, and C remains neutral, making B the informal rewrite.

Question 21. Knowledge of Language medium

Read the sentence. The shelves in the garage are sturdier than the shed. Which revision makes the comparison logical?

• A. The shelves in the garage are sturdier than the shelves in the shed. (correct)
• B. The shelves in the garage are sturdier than the shed.
• C. The shelves in the garage are sturdier than painting the shed.
• D. The shelves in the garage, being sturdier than the shed.

Explanation: A logical comparison must line up the same kind of items, shelves with shelves rather than shelves with a whole building or an action. Option A restates shelves for the second term, while C compares shelves to painting, an activity, and D leaves a fragment, making A the only sound revision.

Question 22. Vocabulary Acquisition easy

Read the sentence. The puppies were rambunctious, tumbling over one another and barking until the owner hushed them. What does rambunctious mean as used in the sentence?

• A. tired and sleepy
• B. shy and quiet
• C. full of lively energy (correct)
• D. hungry and restless

Explanation: The clues tumbling over one another and barking describe wild, playful activity, so full of lively energy fits the puppies' behavior. Tired and sleepy and shy and quiet contradict the action, and nothing in the sentence suggests hunger, leaving C as the correct meaning.

Question 23. Vocabulary Acquisition medium

The committee needs to ___ more members before the spring vote. Which word completes the sentence with the most precise meaning?

• A. carry
• B. open
• C. build
• D. enlist (correct)

Explanation: Enlist means to recruit people to join a group or cause, which states precisely what the committee must do to gain members. Carry, open, and build describe physical or different actions and do not fit the context of adding people to an organization, making enlist the precise word.

Question 24. Vocabulary Acquisition medium

Which word contains the Latin root scrib-, which means to write?

• A. precise
• B. prescribe (correct)
• C. resident
• D. rescue

Explanation: Prescribe contains scrib-, the Latin root meaning to write, because prescribing once meant writing out a directive, the way a doctor writes a prescription. Precise, resident, and rescue carry unrelated roots such as those for cutting, sitting, and shaking out, so B is the only word built on scrib-.

Question 25. Vocabulary Acquisition hard

Read the sentence. The city curtails water use during the dry season, limiting sprinklers to two mornings a week. What does curtail mean as used in the sentence?

• A. reduce or restrict (correct)
• B. monitor or observe
• C. expand or extend
• D. charge for

Explanation: The detail limiting sprinklers to two mornings a week explains the action of the verb, showing that curtail means to reduce or restrict something. Monitoring and charging are absent from the context, and expand states the opposite, so option A is the closest meaning.

Question 26. Vocabulary Acquisition hard

Read the sentence. The boots were durable, surviving three winters of daily wear. Which word is the best antonym of durable as used in the sentence?

• A. sturdy
• B. waterproof
• C. fragile (correct)
• D. comfortable

Explanation: Durable describes something that lasts and resists wear, as the boots' three winters of use show, so its opposite is fragile, meaning easily broken or worn out. Sturdy agrees with rather than opposes the meaning, and waterproof and comfortable name unrelated features, making C the best antonym.

Question 27. Vocabulary Acquisition hard

Read the sentence. The witness gave a terse account, answering each question with a single word and offering no details. What does terse mean as used in the sentence?

• A. loud and forceful
• B. lengthy and detailed
• C. hesitant and uncertain
• D. brief and abrupt (correct)

Explanation: Answering each question with a single word and offering no details shows that terse means brief and abrupt. The context contains no sign of forcefulness, length, or hesitation, so option D, and only D, matches the witness's clipped manner of speaking.

Question 28. Vocabulary Acquisition hard

Read the sentence. The juggler was ambidextrous, tossing pins with equal skill from either hand. What does ambidextrous mean as used in the sentence?

• A. able to juggle without looking
• B. able to use both hands with equal skill (correct)
• C. unusually quick at learning new tricks
• D. easily distracted by the crowd

Explanation: The phrase with equal skill from either hand defines the juggler's ability, and the prefix ambi-, meaning both, reinforces that ambidextrous describes equal use of both hands. Looking away, learning speed, and distraction are not supported, making B the correct meaning.

Question 29. Vocabulary Acquisition hard

Read the sentence. The committee made a prudent choice, setting aside emergency funds before any crisis appeared. Which word is closest in meaning to prudent as used in the sentence?

• A. cautious and wise (correct)
• B. hasty and careless
• C. generous and open-handed
• D. stubborn and rigid

Explanation: Setting aside emergency funds before a crisis shows forethought, so prudent means cautiously wise in this context. Hasty and careless describes the opposite approach, while generosity and stubbornness are not implied by the action, making A the closest synonym.

Question 30. Vocabulary Acquisition hard

Read the sentence. The negotiator remained intransigent, rejecting every compromise the two sides proposed. What does intransigent mean as used in the sentence?

• A. eager to reach an agreement
• B. confused by the details
• C. unwilling to change position (correct)
• D. anxious about the outcome

Explanation: Rejecting every compromise demonstrates a refusal to bend, so intransigent means unwilling to change one's position. Eager to reach an agreement states the opposite, and being confused or anxious is not supported by the context, making C the right meaning.